, I
in Charles the Second’s time in E n g lan d : unless, as sometimes happens, the king or
executive officer’s taste is behind that of the people ; in which case, if the people be free
aud enlightened, the arts of design and taste will, as they ought, become a republic,
governed by its own laws. This last state has in some degree takcn_ place in England
since the accession of the Brunswick line, a fine illustration of which is given by Eustace
(Tour, vol. i. p. 608.), iu comparing the taste exliibited in the royal palaces built or
altered by this race, with that displayed in the residences of private English gentlemen
since the revolution.
949. The religion o f a people is calculated to have some effect on their gardening. Those
religions whose offices ai-e accompanied by splendoui- and show, and which have numerous
fetes and spectacles, wiU be favourable to the culture of flowers and plants of ornament;
and those which forbid, at certain seasons, the use of animal food, will in some degree
encourage the production of fruits and culinary vegetables. >¥1101-6 those alteniating
days of rest, of such antiquity in society, and so conducive to the comfort of the labouring
classes (Graham's Sabbath, pvoi.), are to be spent wholly or partly in recreative
enjoyments, encoiu-agcment wiU be given to public gardens of different k in d s ; bnt
where they ai-e to be spent in a devotion founded in fear, and consequently gloomy and
austere in its offices, such a rehgiou cannot be said to encom-age gardening.
Sect. H. Gardening, as affected by different States o f Society.
950. In those states o f society, where property is in few hands, and the population
consists chiefly of lords of the soil and of slaves, the immensely rich may accomplish
great designs, which astonish by their magnificence ; but taste among such a people is
not likely to be refined : works of art are only prized as marks of w ealth ; their merit
is not understood; and tliercfore, declining in interest after the first burst of surprise,
they are soon viewed with indifference, and afterwai'ds neglected or destroyed. Gardening,
in such cii'cumstances, is not likely to be improved in any of its branches, or the
use of gardens rendered, general among any part of the population.
951. Jn those states o f society, where commerce is a leading pursuit, and property is irregularly
distributed among all classes; where there arc wealthy, rich, and thriving
citizens, and where the comforts of life are known and relished by every class, gardening
is likely to prosper in all its branches. The first-rate gardens of the wealthy will be an
example to the rich, act as a premium to operative gardeners and artists, and encourage
commercial gardens. The fine gardens displayed hy the wealthy comincrcialist iviU act
as a stimulus to the independent gentleman, too apt to be stationary in his improvements.
The retired tradesman will aspire to the same excellence as the merchant, and
stimulate him in his turn. Cottage-gardens will be found real ornaments to the coiinti-y,
and will supply useful food and agi'ecable fi-uits to the labouring class of society, who, as
they become more enlightened, will prefer employing their leisui-e hours in tliis way,
. rather than in grosser pleasures or habits.
952. In those states o f society, where agriculture is chiefly followed, and where property
continues much divided, the useful branches of gardening will be generally practised and
much improved, but not gai-deniug as an art of design and taste. Wholesome
culinai-y vegetables will be enjoyed by all classes, and agreeable fraits by most of the
inhabitants. Switzerland may be referred to as an example.
953. Times o f peace and commercial prosperity, under any government or state of
society, will be more favourable than thcir opposites. The long and flourishing peace of
the first two empires, Sir W. Temple observes, gave eai'lier rise and growth to leai-ning
and civilisation, and all the consequences of them, in magnificence and elegancy of
building and gardening; whereas Greece and Rome were almost perpetually engaged
in quan-els and wars, either abroad or at home, and were busy in actions done under
the sun, rather than those under the shade.
954. In mixed states o f society, where a pa rt o f the population are privileged orders or
hereditary proprietors, and the rest partly free and partly dependent, gai-dening is likely
to be encouraged, more especially as an art of design. The proprietor of an entailed
territory may be said to enjoy a sort of tangible immortality; for, by establishing in his
person and estate a sort of local and corporeal connection between Ms ancesti-y and posterity,
he sees neither beginning nor ending to his hfe and property. Such a being is
anxious to distinguish his little reign by permanent improvements; and tliose whicli are
most likely to answer his purpose will be building or gardening. However distant the
expected benefits of his efforts, they are sure to be enjoyed by his descendants, if not
by Mmself; and even if he exceeds his income, and contracts debts which he cannot
pay, he knows that the labom- and property of others, which he has embodied on Ms
estate, will remain for its benefit, and that posterity will give him credit for zeal and
ambition. Hence the magnificent country palaces of om- nobility are surrounded by
sumptuous gardens, and a stimulus is given to commei'cial industi-y, as applied to
gardening, wliich- could ai-isc from no other source.
ClIAP. II.
Gardening, as affected by different Climates, Habits o f Life, and Manners.
955. A ll gardening ts relative to climate and purpose. I t is obvious that gardeninff in
so far as respects the cultnre of plants, must differ in different climates, some of which
Will be found favourable for iniits, others for flowers, for culinary vegetables, and for
timber trees. Considered as an art of design, and as furnishing agreeable views and
scenes for exercise or recreation, it wiU be found to vaiy, not only with the climate, but
with the surface of the country, and the habits and manners of society.
Sect. I. Influence o f Climate, in respect to Fruits, culinary Plants, Flowers, Timber Trees
and horticultural S k ill ’
956. The gardening o f every country must vaiy according to the chmate; and the
practice of the art in one country cannot be applied to any other, unless that other
greatly resemble the former in chmate. “ Useftil hints,” Neill observes, “ may no doubt
be occasionally drawn from observing the modes in otlier countries. But it is scarcely
necessary to remark, that, in wai-m climates, the practice must differ veiy widely from
that which prevails in the temperate or the cold. In the foi-mer, the plants which require
to be fostered in our stoves either grow spontaneously, or are cultivated in the open
iieids; while the greater part of our common pot-herbs refuse to flourish in sultry reo-ions
Again, the far northern countries of Europe, Sweden, Nonvay, and Russia, pSsses^
peculiarities of climate ; snow covers the soil throughout the winter, and the summers
m-e uniuten-uptedly bright and wai-m. Even in Britain, such is the difference of chmate
between the favoured counties ofthe south-west of England, and that part ofthe island
which hcs to the north of the Cheviot Hihs, that the same nilcs cannot be applied to both
without veiy considerable modification. The horticulture of the north of France, of
Belgium, Holland, and Denmai'k, may in general be considered as approaching to that
of South Britain; and these countries may frequently afford mutual lessons to each
other, each availing itself of the other’s discoveries, and adopting its improvements.”
957. The finest climate fo r fruits, according to Sir William Temple, is that of Assyi-ia,
Media, and Persia. “ Those noble fruits, the citron, the orange, and the lemon, ai*e
the native product of those noble regions ; and though they have been from thence
transplanted and propagated in many parts of Europe, yet they have not arrived at such
perfection, m beauty, taste, or virtue, as in their native soil and chmate.” “ The reason
of it can bp no other than that of an excellent and proper soil being there extended under
the best chmate for the production of all sorts ofthe best fraits ; which seems to be fi-om
about twenty-five to about thirty-five degrees of latitude. Now, the regions under this
climate in the present Persian empire (which comprehends most of the other two, called
anciently Assyria and Media) are composed of many provinces, full of great and fertile
plains, bounded by high mountains, especially to the north, watered naturally with many
rivers; and those, by art and labour, divided into many more and smaller streams; which
all conspirc to form a country, in ail circumstances, tlie most proper and agreeable for
the production of the best and noblest fraits. Whereas, if we survey the regions of the
western world, lying in the same latitude, between twenty-five and tMrty-five degrees, '
wc shall find them extend either over the Mediterranean Sea, the ocean, or the sandy
ban-en countries of Africa, and that no part of the continent of Europe hes so southward
as thirty-five degrees; which may serve to discover the trae reason why the fi-uits of the
East have been always observed and agreed to transcend those of the West.” “ Persia,”
Chardin obsei-ves, “ is the first country, of the world for beautiful and superb flowers
properly so called.” The same observation wiU apply to the whole of India; but it is to
be observed, that the flowers of these and other hot and dry countries are less odoriferous
than in such as are temperate, and have a comparatively moist atmosphere. Moisture is
favourable for conveying all odours ; or, at least, for strengthening their impression on
the olfactory nerves.
958. The most suitable climate fo r culinary or herbaceous vegetables is one temperate
and moist; and in this respect, Holland, England, and tlic more temperate parts of
France and Flanders, are before the rest of Europe. Sir William Temple, who lived
much in Holland and the adjoining countries, says, gardening, in his time, was there in
the greatest perfection. The second counti-y in Europe for cuhnai-y gardening and
fiowers, appears to us to be Lombardy; and, considering that it is highly favourable for
fruits, it may, as already observed, be considered the most propitious country in Europe
for horticulture and ornamental gardening. There appear to be, also, corresponding
situations in America, China, and New Holland, especially in the latter country, which
may one day become a second America. Wherever the fruits of the gooseberry and
strawbcn-y, and the bulb of the turnip, and the head of the cabbage attain a good size,
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