R] iti
J í
;i
HISTOKY OF GARDENING. F a r t I.
: í i
■Y :
iX"}
; u .
! ■ y í
plants and flowers. The last of these wore mnch in demand ; bunches of flowers bcijig
presented to persons of rank, kings, lords, and ambassadors, and also used in temples and
private oratories. In the niiitli chapter of Humboldt’s work will be found an ample
account of tlie useful plants of Mexico. I t is singular that the potato, which one would
have imagined should have been introduced from the southern continent to Mexico,
should have been first canied there from Old Spain. It is not, Humboldt says, a iiative
of Peru, nor to be found between latitudes 12° and 50°.
904. The royal gardens o f Mexico and Tczcuco, and those of the lords of Iztapalapan
and Iluantepcc, have been much celebrated. One, belonging to the lord of Iztapalapan,
was laid out in four squares, and plautcd with great variety of trees, through which a
number of roads and patlis led ; some fonncd by fruit-bearing trees, and others hy espaliers
of flowering shmbs and aromatic plants. I t was watered by canals, and had in the
centre a fish-pond foiu hundred yards in diameter, where inmunerablc watcribwl resorted.
Hernandez says this garden contained many foreign trees. The garden of
Huantepec was six miles iu circumference, watered by a river, planted with numerous
species of trees and plants beautifully disposed, along with pleasure-houses. Many
foreign plants were cultivated, and every kind of medicinal plant belonging to that clime,
for the use of the hospital which was founded there. Cortez, in a letter to Charles V.,
in 1522, told him that tliis garden was the most extensive, the most beautiful, and most
delightful, which had ever been beheld. Bernard Diaz and other authors concur in the
same opinion. The Mexicans paid great attention to the preservation of woods, which
supplied them with timber and fuel. {History o f iVfe.r*co, vol. i. p. 379.)
905. The floating gardens o f Mexico have long been celebrated in histoiy. According
to the Abbé Clavigero, in his History o f Mexico, when tlie Mexicans were brought
into subjection to the Calhuan aud Tepanccan nations, and confined to the miserable
little islands on the lake, they ceased for some years to cultivate the land, because they
had none, until necessity and industry together taught them to form moveable fields and
gardens which floated on the waters of the lake. The mode of fonning these of wickerwork,
water-plants, and mud, may be easily conceived. The boat or basis is commonly
eight perches long hy three broad. They first cultivated the maize and useful plants
only ; but afterwards “ there were among them gardens of flowers and odoriferous plants,
which wore employed in the worship of the gods, and served for the recreation of the
nobles.” A t present they cultivate flowers, and every sort of garden-herbs, upon them,
all of which thrive sin-prisingly. In the largest gardens there is commonly a little tree,
and even a little hut to shcltei* the cultivator, a.nd defend him from rain or the sun.
When the owner of a garden wishes to change his situation, to remove from a disagreeable
neighbour, or come nearer to his own family, he gets into his little vessel, and by
his oivn strength alone if the garden is small, or with aid if it be large, he tows it after
liim, and conducts it where ho pleases with the little tree and hut on it. That part of
the lake where the gardens are, is a place of infinite recreation, where the senses receive
the highest possible gratification,
906. The floating gardens, or chinampas, mentioned by tho Abbe Clarigcro, says
Humboldt, still exist. They are of rivo sorts ; the one mobile, and bloivn here and there
by the winds ; and the other fixed, and united to the shore. The fonner alone merit tho
appellation of floating, and they are diminishing day by day. Ho assigns to them the
same origin as the Abbé Clavigero ; but thinks it probable that nature also may have
suggested the first idea ; and gives instances of small pieces of surface, netted with roots
and covered with plants, being detached fi-om the marshy shores of otlicr American lakes,
and floating about in the water. The bean, pea, apple, artichoke, cauliflowers, and a
great variety of other culinary plants, are cultivated on them.
907. The above description o f these gardens by Humboldt fiiUs greatly short in singularity
to that previously given by the Abbé Clavigero ; and that of Mr. Bullock fhlls
equally short of the fonner ; so that what was considered one of tho wonders of the
world thirty years ago, when it has undergone tlie test of close examination, comes at
last to be little more tlian an ordiiiaiy appearance ; and a chinampa in tlic Mexican lake
differs only from a small osier holt in- the Thames, in being planted with cabbages and
potatoes, instead of willows. “ The chinampas arc artificial islands, about fifty or sixty
yards long, and not more than four or five wide, separated by ditches of three or foiu* yards
in widtli ; and arc made by taking the soil from the intcn'eiiing ditch, and throwing it on
the chinampa ; by whicli means the ground is raised generally about a yard, and tlms
foi-ms a small fertile garden, covered with culinary vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Mexico
receives an ample supply from these sources.” {Bullock’s Mexico, p. 174.)
908. A conventual garden at Mexico is described by Humboldt {Voyage, ^c., liv. iii.
chap, 8,), in 1803, as one of the finest he had ever seen. The convent was a very jiic-
turcsque building ; and in the garden were immense groves of orange trees, peaches,
apples, chen-ics, and other fruit trees of Europe.
909. The botanic garden o f Mexico is situated in one of the courts of the viceregal
I- GARDENS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 343
palace of the city I t is laid out witli paved walks, bordered with oruomental pots
of flowers, and shaded witli creepers trained over them on trcUis work. The walks diverirc
from a large stone basin^ in the centre, constantly supplied by a fountain with water ;
fr f l i ’ta fl employed to irrigate every part of tho garden. All the
lililts, both of Europe and India, flourish in it. (Bulloch’s Mexico, p. 182.)
910. Bees are cidtivated in Mexieo, w i. the species employed are without stiims
Die bec^tho honeycomb, and tho hive. Captain IlaU observes, “ differ csseiitiallv item
those m England. The hive is generally made out of a log of wood, from two to three
feet long and eight or ten inches in diameter, hoUowod out, and closed at the ends by
circular doors, comciitod olosciy to the wood, but capable of being removed at pleasure
Some portons use cylindrical hives made of earthemvare, instead of the clumsy ap-
paiatus of wood ; these arc relieved by raised figures and circular rings, so as to form
ratlicr handsome ornaments in the veranda of a house, where they ai-c suspended by cords
irom tlie roof, m the same manner that the wooden ones in the villages arc liun<>i to the
caves of the cottages. On one side of the hive, half-way between the ends, there is a
small liole made, just large enough for a loaded bee to enter, and shaded by a projection
to prevent the rain from trickling in. In this hole, generally representing tlie mouth of
a man or some monster, the head of which is moulded in the clay of the hive, a bee is
constantly stationed.” {Travels in Mexico.)
911. Some o f the^ prettiest and most useful annuals in British gardens arc natives
ot Mexico and California; and among them may be mentioned the ncmophilas, the
gilias, the platystemoiis, the collinsias, the leptosiplions, the clintonias, and several othcr
cxtrcmcly beautiful plants. Among tlie perennial plants which have been imported
from Mexico may be mentioned the dahlia, the scarlet aquficgia, and several very
ornamental kinds of bulbs ; and among the sln-ubs arc liibes sanguineum and various
otiier kinds of Ribes, Gári-ya ellíptica, aU the mahoiiias, and several kinds of Ceanòthns
Mr. Hartweg, m 1848, added numerous new and beautiiul plants to those which had
been afrcady obtained from California ; and, among others, Castànea chrysopludia an
evergreen chestnut which forms a shrub from three to eight feet liigh, of a pyramidal shape
with persistent lanceolate leaves, green above and of a rich golden yellow beneath ; a
new 1 avia (Pàvia californica) ; several new pines and firs, aud other valuable plants.’
Sect. VI. Gardening in South America.
912. 77ie gardening o f South America, it may easily be conceived, is of a vci-y inferior
dcscnption,I ’ ft-om the •‘low ta.. U9..state VU UA of uA.civilisation,iAiocAi.j.uf.1, <and iiiu the uiic bounties uuiiuLiuis ui of H a line fine ciimace.climate. m Tiie
e
latter supplies almost cvciy thiiiir thing in the shape shanc of fr-uits and si.nd flowers,flowm-.s:. with witP little lit-f-io or av no
t,«
care ; and the gourd,'d, whicli wmeu forms lonns a pnncipai principal cmiiiary culinary vegetable, is proverbial for the
the
little culture it requires,ITl'rtO r for AY. its ,^C5 rapid growth, „ and » A 7*.for It its ample __ T_ produce.T -Wc TTr , have only
.
been able to collect a few scattered fragments of the efforts of man in our a rt in this new
and rising country ; and these we shall consider, first, as relating to gardening, as au
a rt of design and taste ; and, secondly, as an art of cniture.
Sdbsect. I. Gardening in South America, as an A r t o f Design and Taste.
913. Landscape-gardening, in all coimti-ics where aristocratical or religions prejudices
exist, -will ncccssai-ily be confined to the palaces of the nionai-chs, the châteaux of the
magnates, or the episcopal residences.
914. The grounds o f the palace o f S. Christovao, near Rio, Dr. Walsh informs us,
(bsplay httle taste. The palace, originaUy a private house, is a long edifice, having a
hiçade of two large pavüions, united by au open veranda. I t is situated on a,u eminence,
higlily susceptible of picturesque improvement ; but it stands alone, quite naked, the
spirit of the people being here as conspicuous as elsewhere, in improving the country by
cutting down trees, but never planting them. The approach passes through an open
screen, a fac-simile of that at Syon House, badly executed from an exact model ;
spoiled from the unsuitahlcness of the situation ; and rendered ridiculous by being surmounted
by pmc-applcs, not as ai-chitcctiiral members, but standing on long branchino-
stalks as unnatural as they arc mean. In the front of the building is a court-yard, with
a circular fountain in the centre, suiToimded by low, wMtcwashed walls, like a common
farm-yard. {Notices o f Brazil, p. 456.)
_ 915. The palace o f Lima had a good deal the air of a native court in India ; exhibiting
the same mtermixtui-e of meanness and magnificence in style, which, while it displays
the wealth and labour it has cost, betrays, at tlic same time, the want of taste and
jiMgment in the design. The entrance was by a dirty court, like that of a stable-yard.
{Capt. Hall’s Chili, Peru, and Mexico, in 1820, 1821, and 1822.)
9\6. The gardens in the neighbourhood o f Pedro Alves, a Brazilian town containing
about fifty houses, in the Mato country, about half-way between Eio Janeiro and Villa
Jtica, are described by Dr. Walsh as picturesque in appearance, and rich in the fruits and ! j