Gardens

Inclosures devoted to shady walks and flowers appear in Egyptian mural paintings. Biblical allusions to gardens are frequent, and Oriental literature abounds with evidences of a pa ion for horticulture. Xenophon describes the gardens of Sardis and Epicurus, and Plato taught in gardens. Horace, Virgil and Ovid write of their popularity in Rome, and the Garden God presided at riotous orgies. The Romans introduced gardening into w. Europe, and during the Middle Ages every abbey and castle maintained it. Now every large city keeps up public gardens on account of their healthful and recreative value to the community. See BOTANICAL GARDENS, PUBLIC PARKS, KEW, JARDIN DES PLANTES, etc.