xvi 



RISE AND PROGRESS 



that both grapes and peaches were forced ; and Pliny says that, 

 by means specular ia, or plates of the lapis specularisyTihe- 

 rius had cucumbers in his garden throughout the year. 



For a long period after the fall of the Roman empire, garden- 

 ing, as well as all other arts, fell into decay, and would possibly 

 have been almost forgotten, had not the monks, who were the 

 only class of men whose particular station in life enabled them 

 to accomplish the undertaking, continued to cultivate the fruits 

 of the earth. Their sacred profession secured them from open 

 violence, and the secluded life which they generally led, enabled 

 them to devote a considerable portion of their time to horticul- 

 tural pursuits, and which they found conduced both to their 

 health and comfort. Many of the old pear-trees growing at 

 this day, were planted by the monks, and some of the early sorts 

 were introduced into this country by them from different parts 

 of the continent, and are to be found in some of the monastic 

 gardens at the present time. 



In Italy, gardening was revived about the beginning of the 

 sixteenth century, under the patronage of the Medici family. 

 Their gardens were generally in the geometric style, similar to 

 those of Pliny, and they continued in that form till about the 

 middle of the last century, when a style more agreeable to 

 nature was introduced. About the beginning of the sixteenth 

 century, the taste for distributing statues, &c. in the gardens, was 

 re-established ; and about the end of the same century, hydrau- 

 lic devices were introduced, for which the gardens at Tivoli 

 were so distinguished. 



About the beginning of the seventeenth century, the formal 

 and stiff square-clipt hedges, straight walks, and trees uniformly 

 lopped, formed the distinguishing features of a fine Italian 

 garden. Since that period, gardening has progressively im- 

 proved in Italy ; but the Itahans are still far behind this country 

 in horticulture, although they have one of the finest climates in 

 the world in their favor. 



The Dutch have long been celebrated for their skill in the 

 culture of flowers, and this taste is thought to have originated 

 with their industry, about the beginning of the twelfth century; 

 the study of flowers being in some degree necessary, in afford- 

 ing patterns for the ornamental linen and lace manufactories. 



