DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50017#0020
xiv INTRODUCTION
at Twickenham, as left by himself at his death and
described by John Serie so minutely, that I marvel no
Pope-lover has tried to restore it. Possibly the next
tenant, if an American of taste, may do so. It is
not that Pope’s garden ideas would exactly chime with
ours, but his Garden would be an historical document
of priceless value, although the Grotto might strike us
now better suited to Rosherville—if that also were not
a delight of the Past.
We are accustomed to think of Dutch Gardening
as if it were introduced into England all at once
by William III. ; but a little historical enquiry will
show us that we had taken practical gardening lessons
from Holland as early as the reign of Elizabeth.
Thomas Fuller notes in his “Worthies” (1662)
that Gardening (in those early days it was of course
the Kitchen or utilitarian garden)
“ was first brought into England for profit about seventy
years ago, before which we fetched most of our Cherries
from Flanders, apples from France, and had hardly a mess
of rathe-ripe pease but from Holland, which were dainties
for ladies, they came so far and cost so dear. Since Garden-
ing had crept out of Holland to Sandwich, Kent, and thence
into this County (Surrey), where though they have given
six pounds an aker and upwards they have made their rent,
lived comfortably, and set many people on work.”
In this statement it looks as if Fuller’s language
at Twickenham, as left by himself at his death and
described by John Serie so minutely, that I marvel no
Pope-lover has tried to restore it. Possibly the next
tenant, if an American of taste, may do so. It is
not that Pope’s garden ideas would exactly chime with
ours, but his Garden would be an historical document
of priceless value, although the Grotto might strike us
now better suited to Rosherville—if that also were not
a delight of the Past.
We are accustomed to think of Dutch Gardening
as if it were introduced into England all at once
by William III. ; but a little historical enquiry will
show us that we had taken practical gardening lessons
from Holland as early as the reign of Elizabeth.
Thomas Fuller notes in his “Worthies” (1662)
that Gardening (in those early days it was of course
the Kitchen or utilitarian garden)
“ was first brought into England for profit about seventy
years ago, before which we fetched most of our Cherries
from Flanders, apples from France, and had hardly a mess
of rathe-ripe pease but from Holland, which were dainties
for ladies, they came so far and cost so dear. Since Garden-
ing had crept out of Holland to Sandwich, Kent, and thence
into this County (Surrey), where though they have given
six pounds an aker and upwards they have made their rent,
lived comfortably, and set many people on work.”
In this statement it looks as if Fuller’s language