152 



crained the alfention of men of science, the rapid progress of 

 Horticuhure from this era is no longer astonishing. The Bo- 

 tanist applied his researches to the increase of the inhabi- 

 tants of the Garden ; and the better explanation of their habits. 

 The V(^getal)l(^ Physiologist adapted his discoveries to prac- 

 tical purposes by pointing out the organs and functions which 

 are of primary importance ; and the Chemist by his analysis 

 (liscoxered tlieir constituents, and was consequently enabled 

 to point out improvements which Practice could only have 

 stumbled on by chance and perhaps during a lapse of ages. 



Tho general introduction of forcing houses likewise gave to 

 our Science a new feature. Green-houses we have seen were 

 in use in the 17th Century, but no regular structures roofed 

 with Glass, and artificially heated, existed until the early part 

 of the one succeeding. Though a pine apple had been present- 

 ed by his Gardener to Charles the II. (p. 112.) it is certain that 

 they only were successfully cultivated here about 1723, by Mr. 

 Henry Talende, Gardener to Sir Matthew Decker at Richmond ; 

 Mr. Loudon gives the date as 1719. Mr. Bradley says that Mr. 

 Talende having at length succeeded in ripening them, and 

 rendered their culture "easy and intelligible,'' he hopes Ana- 

 nas may tlourish for the future in many of our English Gardens. "f 

 That forcing was rare, and but of late introduction is further 

 proved by Mr. Lawrence, who in 1718 observes that he had 

 heard that the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle in Lincoln- 

 shire, hastened his Grapes by having fires burning from Lady- 

 day to Michaelmas behind his sloped Walls, a report to which 

 he evidently does not give implicit credence, but which" it is 

 easy to concieve."f That such however, was the fact, is con- 

 firmed by Switzer, who further adds in 1724, that they were 

 covered with Glass. The walls were erected, he say s, at the sug- 

 gestion of Mr. Facio whom we have before mentioned, (p. 122.) 



* Bradley's general Treatise on Husbandry and Gardening, 

 t Lawrences Fruit, Gardener's Kalender. p. 22. 



