PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 
NUMBER of years have already elapsed since the second 
l \ edition of this book appeared, and during that interval 
there has been a very great revival of gardening in England, 
and works on the subject have multiplied with extraordinary 
rapidity. Few volumes, however, have been devoted to the 
early history, and but little has been produced from the sources 
I endeavoured to open up, and to prepare for further investiga¬ 
tion. Although details of countless gardens in the kingdom 
have been published, no other attempt has been made to classify 
or arrange them chronologically. No one else has tried to 
review consecutively the changes which have taken place, and 
the fashions which have prevailed, or to follow the process of 
development which has gradually led up to the modern garden, 
and I believe this volume still remains the only work of refer¬ 
ence on the subject. 
In these circumstances it appears a new edition may be 
welcome. Here and there I have been able to add a few facts 
from original authorities to further illustrate each period, such 
as notes from the MSS. records of Westminster Abbey, from 
those of the Gardeners’ Company, or of Humphry Repton at 
a still later date. The most important additions are with 
regard to the work of Le Notre in this country. For some of 
this information I am indebted to the help of friends, particu¬ 
larly of M. Edouard Andre, Miss Sybil Buxton, and Miss 
Godden. The chapter dealing with the nineteenth century has 
been almost entirely rewritten. Many suggestions of possible 
developments thrown out fifteen years ago have proved 'pro¬ 
phetic, and are now facts, and have accordingly been treated 
Vll 
