52 A HISTORY OF GARDEXIXG IN ENGLAND. 



Medlars were also grown, and were kept before being eaten, as 



is still the fashion. In the Prolofj^iic to the Reeve's Tale, Chaucer 



refers to this custom, speaking of the old age of the Reeve : — 



" But if I fare as doth an open-crs* 

 That ilke fruit is ever longer the wers 

 Til it bo roten in mullockt or in stre."f 



In the description of the garden and arbour in The Floxvcr and 

 the Leaf, a medlar tree in full bloom, that "to the herber side 

 was joyning," is thus picturesquely described : — 



" And as I stood and cast aside mine eie 

 I was ware of the fairest medlar tree, 

 That ever yet in all my life I sie. 

 As full of blossomes as it might be. 

 Therein a goldfinch leaping pretile 

 Fro bough to bough ; and as him list, he eet 

 Here and there of buds and floures sweet." 



Plums are not often mentioned, either by the poets, or in old 



accounts, but we know that both damsons and bullaces were 



grown in this country, though probably in no great quantities. 



In the Romaunt of the Rose Chaucer classes them among 



homely fruits : — 



" And many hoomely trees there were 

 That peches, coynes,J and apples bere 

 Medlers, ploumes, peres, chesteynis, 

 Cheryse, of which many one fayne is, 

 NoteSj aleys and bolas 

 That for to seen it was solas." (L. 1373.) 



Gardeners of this date paid great attention to grafting. The 



art of grafting a pear on a hawthorn was known at a very early 



period. John Gardener directs the stocks for grafts of both 



apples and pears to be planted in January, the apple on an apple 



stock, and the pear " a-pon a haw-thorne." The grafting, he says, 



should take place any time between September and April. 



" Wyth a saw thou schalt the tre kytte 

 And li'ith a knyfe smowth make hytte 

 KIcnc a-tweyne the stok of the tre 

 Where-yn that thy graffe schall be 

 Make thy Kyttyng' of thy graffe 

 Bv-twvne the newc ^c the olde staffe." 



* = a medlar. f = rubbisJi and straw. J = qrdnces. 



