54 



with Astronomy, Gooj^raphy and Physic, but is chiefly noted 

 for his productions on Botany. lie commenced publishing in 

 1552. He wrote " Frugura Historia," 8vo. — " Herbarium 

 Belgicum, 8vo. — But his chief work appeared in 1583 in which 

 he included all his other Botanical writings under the title of 

 •• Sterpium Historioe Peraptades," in folio — ^Each Pemptade 

 is divided into five books. The first Pemptade, contains nu- 

 mei-ous dissimilar plants in alphabetical order ; the second. 

 Florist's Flowers and the umbeUiferous.Tlants ; the third. Me- 

 dicinal Roots — Purgative Plants — Climbing and Poisonous 

 Plants — with most of the cry ptogami he was aware of; — the 

 fourth, Grain ; Pulses ; Grasses ; Water, and marsh Plants ; 

 the fifth, edible Plants — Gourds — esculent Roots — oleraceous 

 and spinous Plants ; — and the sixth. Shrubs and Trees — The 

 appendix is compiled chiefly from Dioscorides, Cato and Pliny, 

 relating to the progress of Botany and Agriculture, aritong the 

 Romans : as well as being in commendation, of Gardens, with 

 rules for laying them out, and advantageously managing 

 them.* 



We have seen in the preceding chapter that the Gardens of 

 the age were extensive, and from the slight mention we have of 

 some of their inhabitants, it is pretty certain they were well 

 stocked. We however have no particular list of them until the 

 timeofTusser. That his Catalogue would be a correct one of 

 our horticultural products at a much earlier period, is certain. 

 In the reign of Edward the HI, Cucumbers were cultivated , 

 it is a mistake however to consider that Melons were likewise, 

 for the Melons of those, and of later writers, were the Pompions 

 of our times. f It is certain however from concurrent testimo- 

 nies that the cultivation of edible vegetables and fruits was 

 exceedingly neglected. A bushel of Onions in the reign of 

 Richard the H, usually cost about twelve shillings, estimating 



* Pultuey's Sketches of Botany — Hallcr's Bibliolheca Botanica," 

 t See this in Lytcs Herbal, A. D. 1619. 



