Study materials for BSc. Horticulture

1. PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECHTURE
the word, “garden” comes from the Old English word,
“geard”, which means “enclosure”.
Dr. S. H. Singh
Assistant Professor
Floriculture & Landscaping
COH, CAU, Thenzawl, Mizoram, India

2. Gardening In the Ancient World
People grew herbs or vegetables. However, when man became civilized an upper class emerged with the leisure to
enjoy purely decorative gardens
Gardening in Ancient Egypt
In the hot and arid climate of ancient Egypt rich people liked to rest in the shade of trees. They created gardens
enclosed by walls with trees planted with trees in rows
Gardening in Ancient Iraq
In the ancient world beautiful gardens were created in what is now Iraq. The Assyrians came from Iraq and in the
period 900 BC - 612 BC they ruled a great empire in the Middle East. Like the Egyptians upper class Assyrians
enjoyed gardens. They created large hunting parks but they also made pleasure gardens irrigated by water canals.
When the Assyrian Empire was destroyed in 612 the city-state
of Babylon created another huge empire. King
Nebuchadnezzar is supposed to have built the hanging
gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world.
In 539 the Babylonian Empire was destroyed by the Persians
who created yet another great empire. The Persians were
superb gardeners. They built underground aqueducts to bring
water to their gardens without it evaporating on the way. These
were called qanats.

3. Roman Gardening
When they conquered Egypt in 30 BC the Romans
introduced eastern ideas about gardening. Rich
Romans created gardens next to their palaces and
villas. The Romans were masters of the art of topiary.
Roman gardens were adorned with statues and
sculptures. Roman gardens were laid out with hedges
and vines
Hedges: a fence or boundary formed by closely growing
bushes or shrubs.
Topiary: the art or practice of clipping shrubs or trees into
ornamental shapes

4. 18th Century Gardening
In the early 18th century many people rebelled against
formal gardens and preferred a more 'natural' style.
However in the 18th century gardens often contained
shrubberies, grottoes, pavilions, bridges and follies such as
mock temples. Two of the most famous gardeners of the 18th
century were William Kent (1685-1748) and Charles
Bridgeman (1690-1738). In 1731 William Kent was
employed to redesign a garden at Chiswick. He also created a
garden at Rousham, which still exists much as he designed it.
an area in a garden planted with shrubs
a small picturesque cave, especially an artificial one in a
park or garden
Pavilions: a summer house or other decorative building used as a shelter
in a park or large garden

5. The first person to write of making a landscape was Joseph Addison in 1712. The term landscape architecture
was invented by Gilbert Laing Meason in 1828, and John Claudius Loudon (1783–1843) was instrumental in
the adoption of the term landscape architecture by the modern profession.
The Father of Landscape Architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted created famous gardens such as New York’s
Central Park.
19th Century Gardening
In 1804 the Horticultural Society was formed. (It became a royal society in 1861).
In 1829 Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward accidentally discovered that if plants were kept sealed under glass they
formed their own micro-climate. in 1830 Edwin Beard Budding (1796-1846) invented the lawn mower.
William Robinson (1838-1935) published his ideas in The Wild Garden in 1870. Robinson advocated planting
a mixture of trees and shrubs, perennials and bulbs.
Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) - cottage gardens
The most famous gardener of the 18th century was Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Kent and Bridgeman mixed
formal and informal elements in their gardens but Capability Brown adopted a completely informal style. He
wanted to 'improve' nature not rework it. Brown sought to remove the 'roughness' of a landscape and perfect it
but afterwards, it should be almost indistinguishable from a landscape created entirely by nature. After Brown
came the famous gardener Humphry Repton (1752-1818).

6. Origin and Evolution of Gardens:
The origin of the garden is rooted in the human desire to be surrounded by plants.
The first few gardens in recorded history were those of the ancient cultures of Egypt and China.
It was in these cultures that the two-opposing tradition in gardens originated, namely formalism and
naturalism.
Formalism
The Egyptian gardens developed at the edge of the deserts where the natural vegetation was sparse,
represented the development of an artificial oasis.
The enclosed garden is cool and leafy, typified by water and shade.
The Egyptian garden, copied their basic design everywhere though changed according to the local variation in
land, plants and climate, spread to Syria, Persia India and ultimately to Rome.
The grounds design became the important concept, whereas the plant was treated as merely an architectural
material. The plant was pruned, clipped and trained to conform to the plan. The resultant noble symmetry
included courtyards, terraces, staircases and fountains.
Formalism reached its peak in the age of Louis XIV.
The master architectural gardens and Andre Le Notre still remain unsurpassed examples of formalism design
predominant over nature.

8. Naturalism
Naturalism as a concept in garden can be interpreted as an attempt to live with nature rather than to dominate it.
The concept of naturalism has been traced to China, but it has reached its highest development in Japan.

9. Fusion of Naturalism and Formalism
The fusion of Eastern naturalism and Western formalism took place in eighteenth century England.
Cottage Garden were primarily utilitarian gardens, with fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers and shrubs, crowded in a
very small area.
Woodland Garden is a peaceful sheltered place based on natural grouping of trees and with appropriate under
planting of the shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs.
The first botanical garden was started at Padua, near Venice (Italy) in 1543.

10. Historical Development of Gardens and Gardening in India
Ancient India (Vedic Period)
The history of systematic gardening in India is as old as civilization of Indus of Harappan which existed
between 2500 B.C and 1750 B.C. During the period, people were living in well-planned dwellings. Harappan
pots were generally decorated with the design of trees. In every village, trees including Ficus religiosa (pipal)
and F. bengalensis (banyan) were planted for worship as well as for shade.

12. Aryan’s contribution in Indian gardening
The history of civilization which prospered in Punjab, Sind, Rajasthan and Gujarat dates back to 2500 B.C. before
the Aryans civilizations of about 1600 B.C.
The Aryans of the Vedic period were great lovers of trees and flowers. They were literary people and brought with
them the four Vedas viz., Rig Veda, Artharva Veda, Yuzur Veda and Sam Veda and the Puranas.
The first evidence of Asvatha tree, the Pipal (Ficus religiosa), comes from a seal from Mohen-jo-daro, of the
third millennium B.C.
Another seal from Harappa of the same period depicts a weeping willow (Salix babylonica).

13. The lotus has been mentioned frequently in the Sanskrit scriptures of Vedic times.
The Atharva Veda and possibly the Rig Veda mention the Asvatha tree, the Pipal (Ficus religiosa).
The epics of the Aryans, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, also mentioned about gardens, trees and
flowers.
The Asokavana where Sita was held captivity by Ravana, was composed mostly of Asoka (Saraca indica)
trees.
In both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata trees and creepers namely Ficus religiosa, Saraca indica,
Terminalia arjuna, Mesua ferrea, Cassia fistula, Shorea robusta, Butea monosperma are mentioned.
The tree Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba) as it was closely associated with the life of Lord Krishna.
The Lotus was a popular flower and regarded by both the Hindus and Buddhists as a symbol of purity.
During the later Aryan period the Aryans developed some wishful thinking in the form of Kalpavriksha, the
wish granting tree, the Kalpalata, a similar creeper.
One sculpture depicting such a tree dating back to the third century B.C and now preserved in the Calcutta
Museum was identified as the Banyan tree.

20. Gardening in Buddhist India
The association of different trees with the life of Lord Buddha is well known. Buddha was born in 563 B.C.
His birth is believed to have taken place under the Asoka tree (Saraca indica). Further, Buddha attained his
enlightenment under a Pipal tree, spread his new teachings under shady banyan and mango trees and
breathed his last in a Sal (Shorea robusta) grove.

21. Kanishka and Gupta era
The golden age of Hindu culture is considered to be period between 100 and 600 A.D. during the rulers of
Kanishka and the Gupta kings.
Kalidasa during the rule of Chandragupta II mention several flowering trees including the Asoka tree
(Saraca asoka), Kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Butea monosperma,
Parijatham (Nyctanthes arbortristis), Bauhinia variegata, Mimusops elengi, Albizzia lebbek and screwpine.
The great Emperor Asoka (264-227 B.C.) adopted arboriculture as one of his state policies. He encouraged
the planting of avenue trees. His son Prince Mahendra took a sapling of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa)
from India and planted it at Anuradhapur in Sri Lanka (250 B.C.).

22. The creeper ‘Madhavi latha’ (Hiptage madablota) occupied a prominent place in his play ‘Sakuntala’. In the
same play, we find the mention of pleasure gardens. In Meghduta he describes the women of Alakapuri to
have used Kadamba flowers to decorate their hair in the monsoon and carried pink lotuses in their arms.
Vatsayana (300-400 A.D.) in his book ‘Kamasutra’ gives a glimpse of the joyful civic life of that period. He
narrates four kinds of gardens:
 Pramododyan meant for the enjoyment of the royal couples
 Udyan where the kings played chess, enjoyed the dances of the maids and jokes of the court jesters
 Brikshavatika the garden where high-placed persons in the king’s court enjoyed life with courtesans
 Nandavana which was dedicated to Lord Krishna.

23. Mughal Period of Indian Gardening
Before the Mughals came to India, Firoz Tughlaq had developed about twelve hundred gardens around Delhi
and more elsewhere.
Among the Mughal emperors, Babur had high aesthetic sense and was fond of gardens and he made gardens
at Panipat and Agra.
Aram Bagh at Agra is still being well maintained by the Archeological Department. Mughal gardens are
synonymous with formal style of gardening. The square or rectangular flower beds are special features of
Mughal gardens. Another important contribution was the introduction of exotic plants like cypress, rose,
carnation, narcissus, daffodils, lilies, tulips, etc.,
Babur introduce the Persian rose in India.
Akbar built a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri, complete with gardens, trees and flowers.
He was the first Mughal to enter Kashmir and establish a garden, Nasim Bagh, close to the Dal lake.
The tomb garden of Akbar at Sikandra is an example of gardening art during that period.

26. Jahangir and his wife Nur-Jahan were great admirer of garden and flower. The gardens at Shalimar,
Achhabal and Verinag in Kashmir were created by him. The tomb garden at Itimad-ud-Daulah in Agra, in
memory of his father-in-law, was also his creation.
Shah Jahan built the Red fort in Delhi which has a beautiful garden. The gardens around Taj Mahal in Agra,
in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, was also his creation. The small but pretty garden at
Chashma Shahi in Kashmir was laid by one of his governors.
The best garden created by Shah Jahan was Shalimar garden in Lahore
Sher Shah Suri who ruled for a short period after defeating Babur, constructed the famous Grand Trunk
Road and planted avenue trees on both sides.
Among the Nawabs of Oudh, the last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, established Sikandar bagh now the National
Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow

28. Gardening in the Era of Rajputs Kings
The garden at Amber Fort near Jaipur was started by Man Singh and completed by Jai Singh II. This
beautiful garden has three terraces and a lake.
The Mandor garden near Jodhpur was built by Raja Abhai Singh. The city of Jaipur was founded by Jai
Singh II, who built a palace in the heart of the city with beautiful gardens.
The garden palace at Deeg, Rajasthan was founded by Suraj Mal. With fountains, water courses and other
features, it is one of the most beautiful gardens ever created by any Rajput king.

29. Gardening during Britishers Period
The arrival of the British in India changed the whole pattern of gardening.
The Mughal gardens in India were laid out in formal (symmetrical) patterns, but the English changed the
style into informal patterns by laying out parks and gardens.
Indians gardens had only scented trees and shrubs, climbers and bulbs, but had no flowering annuals
The Britishers brought with them beautiful annuals and biennials such as Phlox, Carnation, Verbena,
Dahlia, Lakhspur etc and idea of flower arrangements for interior decoration, which was taught by them.
The greatest contribution by the Britishers was the establishment of Botanical gardens starting from the one
established near Calcutta.

30. Botanical gardens developed by Britishers in India:
1. Horticulture Research Institute, Saharanpur in 1750.
2. Indian Botanical Garden, Sibpur, Kolkata in 1787.
3. Govt. Botanical Garden, Ootacamund in 1848.
4. Agri-horticultural Society Garden, Kolkata in 1872.
5. Sim’s Park Conoor, Tamil Nadu in 1874 by J.D. Sim.
6. Llyod Botanical, Garden Darjeeling in 1878.
7. Botanical Garden Coimbatore, 1908.
8. Bryant Park, Kodaikonal, Tamil nadu in 1909
9. Rashtrapati Bhavan Garden, New Delhi was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen in 1929 on advicse of
Lady hardinge.
10.Forest Research Institute, Dehradun in 1934

31. Post-Independence Period-
Several radical changes Remarkable achievements like
a) Conscious planning for improvement of total environment
b) Commercial floriculture
c) Teaching and research of Ornamental Horticulture at graduate and post graduate level.
Several important gardens in different cities and passive recreational facilities. Important gardens are Buddha
Jayanti Garden, Delhi;
Rose Graden, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.
State Departments like Urban Development, Archeololgical and Tourism are actively improving total
environment of buildings by conscious planning and planting. Green belts are being provided in industrial are
to reduce pollution.

32. For successful flower growing scientific research is must. For this Indian Council of Agricultural Research is playing
important role. Nine Research centers in different agro-climatic zones are set up. Other than this-
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Banglore
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow
Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Bombay
Agricultural Universities like-
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana;
University of Agricultural Sciences, Banglore;
Dr.Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan;
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidalaya, Kalyani
are the places where scientific research of floriculture is being conducted. Availability of technical trained persons is must.
Till 1971, no university was providing education up to M.Sc. level in L&F. PAU is the first university then others like
Solan, Kalyani, Coimbtore, Pune, Kanpur,
I.A.R.I etc.

33. Important points to be remember:
Plants native to India:
Balsam, Primula, Muskrose, Orchids, Tulip.
Among trees Sita Ashoka, Pipal, Banyan
Nagkesar, Amaltas,kadam, Swarn etc. Champa, Neem, Palas, Arjun tree, Kachnar, Karanj, Chalta, Barna.
Some shrubs like Bela,Pili Chameli, Rukmani, Har Shingar, Clerodendron inermae, Chandni, Crossandra.
Some climbers like Passiflora sp. Madhvi lata etc.
Kadamba associated with Lord Krishna
Semal with Lord Shiva
Bauhinia with Saraswati, Goddess of wisdom
Amaranths with Goddess Kali
Yellow Amaltas with prosperity in trade.
Kalapvriksha,which fulfills all desires