OF GARDENING. 



xiii 



over these was a layer of reed, mixed with a great quantity of 

 bitumen, on which were two rows of bricks, closely cemented 

 with plaster. The whole was covered with thick sheets of 

 lead, on which the mould of the gardens was deposited, which 

 was so deep, that the largest trees could take root in it, and 

 with these the terraces were covered, as well as with plants 

 and flowers. 



These extraordinary and elevated gardens were built by 

 Nebuchadnezzar, for the purpose of gratifying his queen 

 Amistis, who, being a native of Media, could not be recon- 

 ciled to the flat appearance of Babylon, which, for many miles 

 round, was an immense level space ; and Media, her native 

 country, being rather hilly, and presenting that undulation of 

 surface, which has always been considered an indispensable 

 beauty in landscape. This is the first instance we have on 

 record of any attempt to give to a level surface that undu- 

 lating eflect which is so much admired in nature. It is there- 

 fore probable, from the above circumstance, that landscape- 

 gardening had been studied in Media to some extent, and that 

 the queen of Nebuchadnezzar had not been altogether an in- 

 attentive observer of the beauties of landscape. The erection 

 of these gardens, from whatever motive they may have been 

 erected, reflects greater credit on this king than any other 

 action of his life. 



We have another instance, of nearly the same date, of the 

 preference given to lofty situations for gardens. Diodorus 

 Siculus observes, " When Semiramis came to Chanon, a city 

 of Media, she discovered on an elevated plane a rock of 

 stupendous height, and of considerable extent. Here she 

 erected another garden, exceedingly large, enclosing a rock 

 in the midst of it, on which she erected sumptuous buildings 

 for pleasure, commanding a view both of the plantations and 

 encampments." This Amazonian queen had, it appears, a 

 taste for gardening as well as for war. 



Cyrus, the younger, was a great patron of gardening in 

 Persia; and in whatever part of his dominions he fixed his 

 residence, he carefully cultivated and established gardens. 

 Plutarch informs us, that Lysander, the Spartan general, 

 found Cyrus cultivating his garden with his own hands at 



