उपवनविनोद (आचार्य शार्ङ्गधर - वृक्षायुर्वेद, भू-जल संधान एवं उद्यान-विज्ञान सटीक)

SCIENCE OF ARBORI-HORTICULTURE IN ANCIENT INDIA 17
"After the trees are planted one should water them in the morning and
evening in summer, at the end of the day in winter, and during the rainy
season only when the earth is dried".
Śukrāchāryya¹ also gives the following directions: "The trees are to be
watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in
winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e. afternoon) in spring, and never in the
rainy season."
IX. CONSTRUCTION OF A GARDEN HOUSE
The construction of a garden and its dedication to public use is mentioned
as early as in the Vedic period (R. V, III. 8. 11.). We find Sāṅkhāyana in his
Gṛhyasūtra describing a Vedic ceremony—"The consecration of a garden"
(V. 3, 2, et sqq.).²
According to the Śukranīti (IV. iv, 104) a fair garden should always be laid
out to the left of the dwelling house. But Vātsyāyana's Kāmasūtra has very
nicely and elaborately dealt with this topic. After giving details of the construc-
tion of a house, he says that "attached to it there must be a vṛkṣavāṭikā
(or puṣpavāṭikā), or a garden with wide grounds, if possible, where
flowering plants and fruit trees can grow as well as kitchen vegetables (तत्
भवनमासन्नोदकं वृक्षवाटिकावद्विभक्तकर्मकक्षं निवासं गृहं कारयेत्, 3, p. 114). In the middle of the
ground should be excavated either a well, or a tank, or a lake ( मध्ये कूपं वापिं
दीर्घिकां वा खनायेत् ) This garden is to be looked after by the mistress of the house.
It is the duty of a good housewife, says Vātsyāyana, to procure the seeds of
the common Indian kitchen vegetables and medicinal herbs and plant them
each in its season ( भार्याधिकारिकमधिकरणम्-28. p. 241). On neat and clear spots
in the garden where the ground has been well dressed, the lady of the house
plants beds of greens and vegetables and also clumps of the tall sugarcane,
patches of stunted shrubs of the mustard and similar herbs, and the thickets of
the dark Tamāla ( परिवृतेषु etc. 6, p. 236). The flower garden equally receives
her care; she has to see that it is laid out with beds of plants that yield an
abundance of flowers,—those that regale the nose with their sweet perfume,
like Mallikā. Jāti, or the Nava Mallikā, as well as those that delight the eyes,
like the Japā with its crimson glory, or the Kuraṇṭaka with its unfading yellow
splendour; besides these there should be in this garden rows of shrubs yielding
fragrant leaves and roots like Vallaka and Uśīra ( कुब्जकाम्रतक etc. 7, p. 236). In
the garden there are arbors and sometimes vinegroves ( वृक्षवाटिकां मृद्धीका मण्डपं )
where are built sthaṇḍilas or raised platforms with pleasant and comfor-
table seats for rest or recreation ( वृक्षवाटिकायां च स्थण्डिलानि मनोज्ञानि कारयेत् ),
flowers should be spread on these seats in these sweet sylvan retreats and a
1 Chap. IV. Sec iv, 105-106. S.B.H. XIII. p. 165.
2 S. B. E. 29, pp. 135-136.
3