Gardening in peace and war

953. Times of peace and commercial prosperity, under any government or state of society, will be more favourable than their opposites. The long and flourishing peace of the first two empires, Sir W. Temple observes, gave earlier rise and growth to learning and civilisation, and all the consequences of them, in magnificence and elegancy of building and gardening; whereas Greece and Romo were almost perpetually engaged in quarrels and wars, either abroad or at home, and were busy in actions done under the sun, rather than those under the shade.