Gardens of the Great Mughals

Among the many books dealing with various branches of Indian Art, it is remarkable that none have so far been devoted to the subject of India Gardening; although, in its traditional, artistic, and symbolic aspects, the Mughal paradise Garden supplied the leading motive in Mughal decorative art, and still underlies the whole artistic world of the Indian craftsman and builder. This attempt to break fresh ground, this venture into the hitherto unexplored field of the Indian Garden, naturally presents great difficulties; not the least being the short time difficulties; not the least being the short time allowed me for the preparation of this volume, owing to my desire to illustrate the bearing of Indian garden-craft on the pressing problem of new Delhi, as well as on the larger subject of the Indian handicrafts. I hope, therefore, that alike my Indian and my English readers will be as lenient me as they can.