HORTICULTURE OF THE OLDEN TIME. 



369 



The volume is divided into three hooks. 



1st. " Treats of Grasses, Rushes, Come, 

 Reeds, Flags, Bulbous or Onion rooted 

 Plants." 



2d. " Most sorts of Herhs used for meat, 

 medicine or sweet smelling." 



3d. " Hath Trees, Shrubs, Bushes, Fruit- 

 Bearing Plants, Roses, Rosins, Gums, 

 Heaths, Mosses, Mushrooms, Corall and 

 their several kinds." The Latin and 

 English name is given to each plant, which 

 is placed over the picture of the plant; then 

 follows the kindv**, description, place, time, 

 names, natures and virtues. 



A few extracts from some of the chapters 

 on fruit may not be without interest to the 

 readers of the Horticulturist ; the spelling 

 of the words however, I think it expedient 

 to modernize in some degree. 



" Of the Pear tree — The description — 

 To write of Pears and Apples, would re- 

 quire a particular volume ; the stock or 

 kindred of Pears are not to be numbered ; 

 every country hath its peculiar fruit ; my- 

 self knows one curious in grafting and 

 planting of fruits, who hath in one place 

 of ground, at the point of three score sun- 

 dry sorts of Pears, and those exceeding 

 good, not doubting but if his mind had been 

 to seek after multitudes, he might have got- 

 ten together the like number of those of 

 worse kinds ; besides the diversities of 

 those that be wild, experience showeth sun- 

 dry sorts ; and therefore I think it not amiss 

 to set down the figures of some few, with 

 their several titles, as well in Latin as 

 English, and one general description for 

 that, that might be said of many, which to 

 describe apart, were to send an Owl to 

 Athens, or to number those things that are 

 without number :" 



The following are the named varieties. 



1. Pyrus Superba, The Catherine Pear. 



2. Pyrus PrcECocia, The Jenneting Pear. 



3. Pyrus JacobcEa, St. James Pear. 



4. Pyrus Regale, The Pear Royal. 



5. Pyrus Palatinum, Burgamot Pear. 



6. Pyrus Cydonium, The Quince Pear. 



47 



7. Pyrus Episcopatuvi, The Bishops Pear. 



8. Pyrus Hy?neale, The Winter Pear. 



" The general description. — The Pear 

 tree is for the most part higher than the 

 Apple tree, having boughs not spread 

 abroad, but growing up in height ; the 

 body is many times great ; the timber or 

 wood itsel/' is very tractable or easy to 

 be wrought upon, exceeding fit to make 

 moulds or prints to be graven on, of color 

 tending to yellowness ; the leaf is some- 

 what broad, finely nicked in the edges, 

 green above, and somewhat whiter under- 

 neath; the fiowers are white; the Pears, 

 that is to say, the fruit, are for the most 

 part long, and in form like a top ; but in 

 greatness, color, form and taste, very much 

 differing among themselves ; they be also 

 covered with skins or coats of sundry colors ; 

 the pulp or meat differeth, as well in color 

 as in taste ; there is contained in them ker- 

 nels, black when they be ripe ; the root 

 runneth strait down with some branches 

 running aslope." 



" The Place. — The tame Pear trees are 

 planted in orchards, as be the Apple trees, 

 and by grafting, though upon wild stock, come 

 much variety of good and pleasant fruits. 

 All these before specified, and many sorts 

 more, and those most rare and good, are grow- 

 ing in the ground of Master RiciiArxD Point- 

 er, a most cunning and curious grafter and 

 planter of all manner of rare fruits; dwell- 

 ing in a small village near London called 

 Twicknam ; and also in the ground of an 

 excellent grafter and most painful planter, 

 Mr. Henry Banbury, of Touthill-st., near 

 Westminster, and likewise in the ground of 

 a diligent and affectionate lover of plants, 

 Mr. Warner near Horsey, down by London, ^ 

 and in divers other grounds about London. 

 Most of the best Pears are at this time to 

 be had Avith Mr. John Millen in Old-st., 

 in whose nursery are to be found the 

 choicest fruits this kingdom yields." 



Among other virtues and qualities as- 

 cribed to the pear, the author says, " Wine 

 made of the juice of Pears, being taken in 

 small quantities comforteth and warmeth 

 the stomack, and causeth good digestion." 



The Apple. After some general descrip- 



