APPLES AND PEARS 



PART I 



CHAPTER I 

 HISTORICAL NOTES 



THERE is every reason to believe that the Roman generals 

 during their stay in Britain introduced seeds of their 

 native fruits. Some of the hardiest of these were capable 

 of withstanding the rigours of our climate, and after the 

 departure of the Romans it is assumed that these became 

 " wildings," owing to want of knowledge on the part of the 

 inhabitants of these islands. It is, however, recorded that 

 there were fruit markets in London in the eleventh and 

 twelfth centuries ; and also that there were fruit gardens 

 around the Cathedral at Canterbury ; whilst the royal archives 

 mention that Edward I. commanded "Peares" to be planted 

 in his garden at Westminster. The numerous abbeys and 

 schools of the monks may also be supposed to have kept 

 alive the culture of fruits in these early days, but up to the 

 time of Henry VIII. there appears not to have been any 

 general cultivation of fruit, for we read that the dessert for 

 the royal table and for the nobles was imported from the 

 Continent. King Henry VIII.'s fruiterer, Harris, introduced 



A 



