The Theorj Part L 



gF Intercftj by good Forttine^ is not general, nor to be 

 charged upon Perfons of greater and more elevated Minds 

 for whofe Sake, partly, I profefs to have v^ritten, to further 

 their noble Intentions, and to make way for their good 

 Tafte to flievv itfelf in Pubhck- I flatter myfelf, this Trea- 

 tile may be of ufe to fiich, and may condud them aright 

 in the planting of a handfome Garden. This at lead I am 

 fure of,. Tliat fuch a Garden, as I propofe in the following 

 Chapters, ftalldo a Private Man more Credit, than the fineft 

 Fruit and Kitchen-Gardens in the World y which, in truth,, 

 feem to argue, that their Mafter has more regard to his-. 

 Profit, than to any other Confideration. 



Supposing, then, that a Private Perfon, wealthy, and 

 •curious in the Art of Gardening, would be at the ncceffary 

 Expenee of planting a handfome Garden ^ I lead him. Seep 

 by Step, from the Choice he ought to make of a good Soil, 

 to the Execution and higheft Perfedion of his Garden, in- 

 ftruding him in whatever he ought to know, that he be not 

 impos'd upon by the Country-men and Artificers he Hiall 

 have occafion to employ. 



I SHEW him the way to know good Plants, and to fct 

 and raife them in little Time: I inftruQ; him to make Ba- 

 fons, and Fountains with Water-fpouts, to convey Water 

 into his Gardens ; to difpofe the Terraffes, Stairs, and^ 

 above all, to form a right Tafte of what concerns the gene- 

 ral Difpofitions of Gardens, and the Defigns of Parterres, 

 Grafs-Plots, Groves, Arbom-work, Cafcades, and other 

 fuitable Ornaments ; which may be learnt from the 25 Plates 

 inferred in this Volume. 



I PUP.POSE likewifc to give this Gentleman fo full In- 

 ftrudions in the Bufinefs of Gardening, that he may be able 

 Lewis XIV* l^^^^^f^^^ make his Ground, and to lay out and trace 

 T^e'iare ' bis Garden with his Domefticks, v^^ithout being obliged ta- 

 Diike of have recourfe to Tradefmen. But tQ this end, he muft be 

 a Lover of the Country, and of Agriculture ; a Knowledge 

 rum olim ma- fo agreeable, and always fo much efteem'd by Perfons of 

 fj'r^^^'yi^^' greateft Quality, that many Princes have not difdain'd, 

 pHn'^Hift!'* ^fter the Fatigues of War, to apply thtmfelves to it^ and 

 1- 18. c. 3, the Ancients^ efpecially^ held it in very great Reputation. 



