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XII. On the Progress of Gardening. In a Letter from the Hon. Daines Barrington to the Rev. Mr. Norris Secretary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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Extract

As the progress in architecture from the earliest and rudest times hath frequently been the subject of dissertation, perhaps it may not be uninteresting to trace the gradual improvements in both fruit and pleasure gardens.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1785

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References

page 113 note [a] “When ages grow to civility and elegancy, men come to build stately “sooner than to garden finely, as if gardening were the greater perfection.” Bacon's Essays.

page 113 note [b] Eccles. ii. 4.

page 113 note [c] Athenæus speaks of a garden in a still more extraordinary situation, viz. that of a large ship, which belonged to Hiero king of Syracuse.

page 114 note [d] This is said to be large, .

page 115 note [e] Plutarch indeed mentions that they had or mounts in them, probably to command the adjacent country. Cicero, in his letters to Atticus, appears to be frequently anxious about his gardens, but he does not describe how they were laid out.

page 115 note [f] It is believed that these gardens or perhaps public walks were begun by Julius Cæsar “prope Cæsaris hortos.”

Phædrus also mentions a garden of Tiberius Cæsar near Naples, but it is only described as viridarium.

page 115 note [g] Often pines,

Fraxinus in sylvis pulcherrima, pinus in hortis. Virgil.

page 115 note [h] At Pliny's Villa some of the box was cut into the letters of his own name, and that of his gardener. See L. v. Ep. 6. The cypress is still much planted by the Italians from its growing as if it had been clipt. It also appears in some of the Herculaneum vignettes.

page 116 note [i] Columella, l. XI. c. 3.

page 116 note [k] I conceive that they were more frequently used for chaplets at their banquets, as I do not recollect either the Greek or Latin term for a nosegay.

page 117 note [l] See Pliny's Letters.

page 117 note [m] Pliny's Letters, L. 11. Ep. 17. The practice of grafting was well known to both Greeks and Romans. It appears also by Columella that the latter had more than twenty sorts of pears, and by the poem de Hortorum Cultura, that in the time of Claudian many kinds of lettuce were cultivated, as likewise other kitchen herbs.

page 118 note [n] Fitz Steven indeed states that the citizens of London in the time of Henry the Second had gardens to their villas; but mentions no particulars, except that they were large, beautiful, and planted with trees.

page 118 note [o] Annual Register for 1764, which however does not cite the authority.

page 118 note [p] I have re-examined the Romant de la Rose, and can only find that the garden had a path bordered with mint and fennel,

Par une bien petite sente

Bordee de fanoul et mente,

and that the flowers were violets and periwincle,

Violette y estoit moult belle

Et aussi parvanche nouvelle.

page 119 note [q] Or cutting trees into particular forms.

page 119 note [r] In Gloucestershire, Lel. Coll. vol. II. p. 661.

page 119 note [s] Henry the Eighth had during his reign either built or greatly improved so many of his palaces, that I find the following passage in Leland.

“Remember to conclude with promise to write a booke in Latine of the “king's edifices, as Procopius did of Instinian's the emperor.” Itin. vol. VII. p. 108. He also introduced the Kentish cherries. See Fuller's Worthies. Philemon Holland (in his additions to Camden), says that Richard Harris Fruiterer was employed for this purpose. These cherries were planted in many parishes near Tenham. Ibid.

page 119 note [t] It is believed that this palace was not resided in by any of Henry's successors, at least for any time.

page 120 note [u] Possibly rather a lime tree.

page 120 note [w] Leland, who wrote when Henry the Eighth reigned, seems to have had a easte superior to such ornaments of a garden.

“There is (near Warwick) Silence, a pratye woode, antra in vivo saxo, “fontes liquidi et gemmei, prata florida, antra muscosa, &c.” Lel. Itin. v. IV. p. 50. This passage is noticed by the late ingenious and learned Mr. Harris.

page 121 note [x] Monconys, t. III. p. 34 and 17.

page 121 note [y] Lord Burleigh first made these gardens which were very extensive being two miles in circuit. Peck's Des. Cur. vol. II.

page 121 note [z] Voyages de Mandelslo, t. 11. p. 598, Ben Jonson mentions figs, grapes, quinces, apricots, and peaches at Penshurst in Kent, and that during the same reign, Vincent Corbet had a famous nursery at Twickenham.

page 122 note [a] Lord W. Russel laid out the garden in Bloomsbury Square about the same time, and probably then planted the acacias which now grow before the offices. They are become of such a size as to be perhaps deemed timber.

page 122 note [b] Switzer, vol. I. Ichnographia Rustica, 3 vols. 8vo.

page 122 note [c] He had before indeed sent for Le Nautre and Perault, but it is believed that the latter declined coming into England. Le Nautre however planted the parks of St. James and Greenwich.

page 123 note [d] “All with a border of rich fruit trees crown'd.”

Waller speaking of the mall.

page 123 note [e] See Ashmole's History of the Order of the Garter. Monconys mentions, that in 1663 Spring Gardens (or Vauxhall) was much resorted to, having grass and sand walks, dividing squares of twenty or thirty yards, which were inclosed with hedges of gooseberries, whilst within there were rasberries, roses, beans and asparagus., T. ii. pag. 17.

page 123 note [f] Compton bishop of London introduced in the episcopal garden at Fulham, many foreign trees which still continue to grow there.

page 123 note [g] I have been informed that in the old books belonging to the master of the horse, there is an allowance to the avener, for hemp seed, with, which these birds were fed. As for the more common etymology of the name of this walk from, berceau or a cradle, there is not the least appearance of the limes having been arched over when first planted.

page 124 note [h] De Hortis 1672.

page 124 note [i] The most magnificent and extensive iron-work next to that at Hampton Court is perhaps the gates and rails at Leeswood near Mold in Flintshire. The gardens there are laid out by Switzer (author of the Ichnographia Rustica) in Bridgeman's first style.

page 125 note [k] Preface to Ray's Synopsis 1696. This great botanist mentions a tulip tree growing at Chelsea in 1684, and a hot-house belonging to a Mr. Watts which had a tea shrub. Ray meditated a work to be entitled, “Horti Angliæ.” See his letters. It may not be improper here to refer to Ayscough's Catalogue of the Sloane MSS. Article 4436 contains “Observatians on the Humble and Sensitive plants,” which were so early as 1661 in Mr. Chiffin's garden St. James's Park. The same accurate catalogue contains a list of the foreign plants cultivated at Hampton Court in 1692.

page 126 note [l] “Mazes well framed a man's height may perhaps make your friend wander “in gathering berries till he cannot recover himself without your help.” Lawson's New Orchard 4to. 1626.

page 126 note [m] Ichnographia Rustica, 3 vols. 8vo.

page 126 note [n] In the time of Charles the Second there were two other famous gardeners, viz. Lucre and Field, gardeners to the earl of Bedford. Cock was also then gardener to lord Essex. Switzer.

page 127 note [o] The gravel of England, and particularly of the county of Middlesex is most deservedly admired, and yet perhaps this is the first pit of any extent which had been dug for walks. Charles the Second covered the mall with cockles.

page 127 note [p] Switzer. London died in 1713. Ibid. His successors have been Bridgeman, Kent, and Brown.

page 127 note [q] Plenipotentiary at the peace of Utrecht.

page 128 note [r] At Beckett near Farringdon in Berkshire. I think there is a garden building also at Wilton, which is supposed to have been planned by Jones. I send herewith a plan and elevation of the former. See pl. VIII.

page 128 note [s] The old gardens near this building were also famous in their time having been executed at considerable expence.

page 128 note [t] Gilding (at least in gold) lasts longer than is generally supposed, witness that at the prebendal house of the late Rev. Dr. Blair at Westminster, which, though finished under the direction of Inigo Jones, is still very bright.

page 129 note [u] Gier. Lib. Canto XVI.

page 129 note [x] Nature's own work it seemed.

Nature taught art. Milton's Paradise Regained.

page 130 note [y] Kent indeed on his return from Italy painted history and portrait, but like Gainsborough he might also have studied landscapes.

page 130 note [z] Whate'er Lorraine light-touch'd with softening hue.

Or savage Rosa dash'd, or learned Poussin drew.

Thomson's Castle of Indolence.