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°f Fruit in unusual seasons. As at present the Romans train-Trees against their houses*

Of the Pleasure Gardens of the Romans.

Although we have a fuller account of the Roman PleasureGardens than of the other departments of their grounds, yet evenof them it is a matter of considerable difficulty to form a correctidea from the descriptions which we possess, so much so, that if♦en persons were to delineate their conceptions of the ground plot,scarcely two of them would produce plans bearing much resem-blance to each other. The following is all that I have been ableto collect upon the subject.

Tho Garden of Tarquin the Proud, within two centuries afterthe building of the City , is the first of which we havo mention.

It was within the Walls of tho City , and was occupied by bedsofRoses, Poppies, Lilies, odorous herbs, a stream of Water, &c.fIt is certain that these were arranged in mathematical order, andwithout any attempt at foreign ornaments. In the time of Catotho country Villas of the Romans were accompanied by groundscompounded of fields and garden, cultivated for alimentarypurposes, whose surplus produce, after the family of the Pro-prietor were supplied, was probably sold in the Fora Holi-torum of the City. As the people became more refined, the V ilia,or Country Residence of the Proprietor, was built entirelyseparate from his farming establishment; and often was con-structed in a different part of the country. From habitationsbarely affording the conveniences of life, they became repletewith luxuries. The beds of herbs and roots were exchangedin the neighbourhood of the Villa , for statuarized Walks andbeds of flowers, and every device that pleasure could desire,fashioned according to the reigning taste. Thus in the infant'lays of Rome , Varro defines a Villa , as being a farm house and

* Horace, Ep. i. 10. 32. Tibullus . iii. 3. 35. + Livy. i. 54. Ovid . Fastii. 7G4. and Dionysius Halicarnassus