Chap. 15.] FRUITS RECENTLY INTRODUCED. 297 



CHAP. 14. (14.) THIKTT DIFFERENT KINDS OF POMES. AT WHAT 



PESIOD FOREIGN FRUITS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED INTO ITALY, 

 AND WHENCE. 



There are numerous varieties of pomes. Of the citron 60 we 

 have already made mention when describing its tree; the 

 Greeks gave it the name of " Medica," 61 from its native coun- 

 try. The jujube 63 -tree and the tuber 63 are equally exotics ; 

 indeed, they have, both of them, been introduced only of late 

 years into Italy ; the latter from Africa, the former from Syria. 

 Sextus Papinius, whom we have seen consul, 64 introduced them 

 both in the latter years of the reign of Augustus, produced 

 from slips which he had grown within his camp. The fruit 

 of the jujube more nearly resembles a berry than an apple : 

 the .tree sets off a terrace 65 remarkably well, and it is not un- 

 common to see whole woods of it climbiug up to the very roofs 

 of the houses. 



Of the tuber there are two varieties ; the white, and the one 

 called "syricum," 66 from its colour. Those fruits, too, may 

 be almost pronounced exotic which grow nowhere in Italy but 

 in the territory of Verona, and are known as the wool-fruit. 67 

 They are covered with a woolly down ; this is found, it is true, 

 to a very considerable extent, on both the strutheum variety of 

 quince and the peach, but still it has given its name to this 

 particular fruit, which is recommended to us by no other 

 remarkable quality. 



CHAP. 15. THE FRUITS THAT HAVE BEEN MOST RECENTLY 



INTRODUCED. 



"Why should I hesitate to make some mention, too, of other 



6 « See B. xii. c. 7. 61 Of Media. 



63 Its fruit will ripen in France, as far north as Tours. It is the Zizy- 

 phus vulgaris of Lamarck. It resembles a small plum, and is sometimes used 

 as a sweetmeat. The confection sold as jujube paste" is not the dried jelly 

 of this fruit, but merely gum arabic and sugar, coloured. 



63 A variety of the jujube, Fee is inclined to think. A nut-peach has 

 also been susr^ested. 



64 a.u.c. 779. 65 Or perhaps embankment : " agger." 



66 A reddish colour. For the composition of this colour, see B. 

 xxxv. c. 24. 



67 " Lanata ;" perhaps rather the "downy" fruit; a variety of quince, 

 Fee tbinks. Pliny probably had never seen this fruit, in his opinion, 

 and only speaks after Virgil, 'Eel. if. L 51. " Ipse ego cana legani tenera 

 lanugine mala." 



