JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



formation are always subjects of intense interest, and anyone possessing 

 a garden would not have to go far in this book without getting ideas and 

 inspiration, and although architecture is strongly in evidence in all, or 

 nearly all, the plates of these Italian gardens, it is in beautiful harmony 

 with the whole of the surroundings. The author mentions the fact that 

 Livy alluded to the garden of Tarquinius Superbus in the year 534 B.C., 

 adjoining the Royal Palace, which abounded in lilies, roses, and 

 poppies, and tells of other early writers like Varro, Columella, and Pliny 

 the younger giving an interesting description of Pliny's garden. The 

 head gardener in those days was a great personality in the Italian 

 gardens, and was chief of all the slaves ; and the author tells us that 

 conservatories and hot-houses for the protection of the more tender 

 plants against cold, and for the cultivation of early melons and grapes 

 out of season, are mentioned as early as the first century. The love of 

 gardening amongst the ancient Romans must have been very great, for 

 we read of Hadrian's country villa, south of Tivoli, occupying a space of 

 over seven square miles. We cannot do better than quote the author on 

 these gardens : " A Roman garden was the image of the Roman genius, 

 and the love of order and symmetry was everywhere displayed. Laid 

 out by line and rule, with straight alleys and well-trimmed hedges, an 

 extravagant display of priceless statuary attested a wealthy nation. The 

 luxury and display must not, however, be attributed to a spirit of laziness 

 or inactivity ; for, as a rule, the senator or business man led a busy life. 

 The town houses were used mostly during the winter months or during 

 the Roman season, whilst, as Pliny says, the appearance of spring was 

 a signal for the aristocracy to disperse to their country seats, many of 

 which were conveniently situated within ' easy reach of the metropolis.' " 

 How little we have altered in nearly 2,000 years ! The illustrations of 

 Pompeian gardens are stiff and formal, but still there is good taste 

 combined with due regard to proportions admirably shown. In another 

 illustration we have good examples of balcony gardening, with orna- 

 mental plants in vases, &c, showing how deep the love of gardening had 

 become. It is of interest to know that the first public botanic garden 

 was formed, about 1545, by the Senate of Venice, at Padua, and the first 

 private botanic garden was made by Gaspar di Gabriel, at Padua, in 1525, 

 twenty years earlier than the public one. Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, 

 is a wonderful piece of work, and the plan given is easily read. Probably 

 no finer effect has ever been produced by the hand of man, and it is 

 only in a country like Italy that one could expect to find anything like it. 

 The luxuriant vegetation, the beautiful terraces one above another, the 

 fine architecture, the parterre, and the lovely water make it perfectly 

 unique, and there is little wonder that all lovers of the beautiful, 

 whether in gardens or scenery, make a point of visiting this place. Scores 

 of other exquisite gardens are admirably shown, and, although we must 

 confess we do not usually admire a formal garden, we are full of 

 admiration for the splendour, good taste, and beauty of the Italian 

 gardens so well depicted in the illustrations. Some are on a magnificent 

 scale, while others are quite small, but all are wonderful, and all compel a 

 feeling of the highest respect for the designers of such charming places. 

 There are 128 plates, besides smaller illustrations ; and, although the 



