228 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
gardens in the Guardian, with some more cutting remarks on the 
fashion of “ verdant sculpture.” He supposes that “ an emi¬ 
nent town gardiner ”... who has “ arrived to such perfection, 
that he cuts family pieces of men, women, or children in trees,” 
has sent him his catalogue of greens for sale. A most witty 
list of trees follows. Among them are “ Adam and Eve in 
yew, Adam a little shattered by the fall of the tree of know¬ 
ledge in the great storm ; Eve and the Serpent, very flourishing. 
St. George in box, his arm scarce long enough, but will be in 
condition to stick the dragon by next April ; A green dragon of 
the same, with a tail of ground-ivy for the present. (N.B.— 
These two not to be sold separately.) Divers eminent modern 
poets in bays, somewhat blighted, to be disposed of a penny¬ 
worth. A quickset hog, shot up into a porcupine, by its being 
forgot a week in rainy weather.” In the beginning of the Essay 
from which the above is taken, Pope quotes Homer’s description 
of the garden of Alcinous, in the Odyssey, and gives his own 
translation of the passage : 
“ Close to the gates a spacious garden lies. 
From storms defended and inclement skies ; 
Four acres was the allotted space of ground, 
, Fenc’d with a green inclosure all around. 
; Tall thriving trees confess the fruitful mold, 
The red’ning apple ripens here to gold. 
* * * * ❖ 
Beds of all various herbs, for ever green, 
In beauteous order terminate the scene.” 
If such was Pope’s ideal garden, it had little in common with 
the landscape style he helped so much to bring in. “ How 
contrary to this simplicity is the modern practice of gardening!” 
he continues. “ We seem to make it our study to recede from 
Nature, not only in the various tonsure of greens into the most 
regular and formal shapes, but even in monstrous attempts 
beyond the reach of the art itself. We run into sculpture, and 
are yet better pleased to have our trees in the most awkward 
figures of men and animals, than in the most regular of their 
own.” No one, even the most ardent advocate of the formal 
garden, can deny that Pope and Addison had much right on 
their side. But there was no reason to rush to the other 
