A History of Agriculture in India v2.c76.3

v2.c76.3

Evidence of the structure of the Mughal gardens and plants grown in them is in the Persian classics illustrated during the reign of Akbar. Among them is *Diwan-i-Anwari*, a collection of poems by the Persian poet Anwari, who flourished in the latter part of twelfth century. It contains some excellent paintings on gardens and gardening. A painting by Mahesh shows two gardeners at work. They have an exotic appearance and are possibly from Iran. (Abu-l-Fazl mentions that Akbar imported gardeners from Iran and Turan.) One of them is plucking flowers, whereas another is digging with a spade. In the foreground is a plantain and some flowering annuals, and in the background a pair of elegant cypresses, a mango and a palm. In the centre is a squarish tank with a fountain (Fig. 35). It provides a good idea of a small garden during the reign of Akbar.