in high bloom and perfection, and engage him to look
:at Aranjuez as one o f the moft beautiful places in
Europe.
The whole o f thefe gardens may be thrown into
three grand divifions, diftinguifhed by the names of La
Huerta Valeticiana (a), Los Deieites, and E l Cortijo. In thè
Huerta Valenciana, agriculture and gardening are carried
on in the fame manner as in that fruitful province,
and they plough with horfes. In the Cortijo they ufe
oxen, as in Andalufia ; and in other places they fcratch
up the ground with mules as is itili practifed in fonie parts
o f Spain. Which ever way one looks round, a conltant
variety pleafes the eye and enraptures the mind. At
one moment the fturdy buffalo moves before you, drawing
his heavy burthen ; foon after, the flow camel with
his ponderous load ; while the fwift Zebra with his
itriped garment friiks over the plains-, I f you approach
the farm, every objeCt o f convenience is confulted, and
in the dairy every degree o f neatnefs. The Dutch cow
enjoys a luxuriant pailure, the brood mares greatly enliven
the landfcape, and the itables are filled with the
moft excellent horfes. An immenfe nurfery furniihes all
manner o f trees and plants, a cedar of Liba-nus, which
O
(a) :B y the term o f Huerta is underftood that kind of inclofùre Wè càll an orchard, but
‘with a greater variety of cultivation. When they fpeak of an ornamented flower garden
inear a,palace or nobleman’s houfe» the Spaniili-term'is jardini the feme as in French.
about
about twenty years ago was only a twig, is now thirty
feet high : the garden called the IJla is particularly beautiful
and rural. The Judas tree, which the Spaniards
call Arbol de Amor, being happily difperfed there, has
a very good effeft early in the fpring, when covered
with flowers without a fingle leaf; the banks of the
Ifla are further enlivened by elegant yachts', for the
am-ufement o f the royal family. The fine avenue which
alfo ferves for a public walk, called Calle de la Reyna
has nothing equal to it at Verfailles. The extenfive
flower garden on one fide, renders the walk extremely
pleafa-nt in an evening ; and were I to mention the
quantities of flowers and fruit, it would require many
details. A great many elms and oaks have been planted
this year, (1778) faid to be 101.000, which- mull likewife
include vines, olives, ihrubs, &e. They have lately
begun- to cultivate pine apples, unknown in every other
part of the kingdom.
At the noon-tide hour, when the freihnefs o f the
morning is paft, the fhad.y walks near the palace then
become an objecft o f lingular luxury, as well as the elegant
fountains, whofe fportive waters give fuch a eool-
nefs to the air. Whoever has enjoyed the agreeable moments
that pafs in pleafing eonverfe under thefe ihady
bowers, will furely be charmed with their admirable
effetft, independent o f every idea o f modern improve-
L 2 ments