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knowledge, the fruit of which is supposed to have tempted Mother Eve 

 in the Garden of Eden, is said to have borne Apples. Then, again, 

 according to the legends of some of the old writers, the golden fruits in 

 the orchard of Hesperus, which were guarded by a sleepless dragon, 

 eventually slain by Hercules, were also Apples. Other ancient 

 authorities, however, inform us that it is the Orange, and not the 

 Apple, that is referred to in those legends. According to their 

 historians, the Apple appears to have been extensively cultivated by the 

 nations of antiquity. Cultural knowledge to some extent appears also 

 to have advanced considerably among these people, as they practised 

 several of the arts in propagation and otherwise that are now common 

 with modern growers. The art of pruning appears to have been 

 generally practised. Pliny informs us that the art of grafting was well 

 known and largely practised in his time, and he speaks of its value in 

 the most enthusiastic and extravagant terms. This writer also informs 

 us that in the villages around Rome the culture of the A pple was a most 

 profitable industry, and that single trees were often let for one season 

 for a sum equal to about 2 10s. of our money, and gave a better 

 return than could be obtained from an ordinary farm. This appears to 

 be a somewhat highly-coloured statement, yet we must remember that 

 Pliny is generally regarded as one of the most reputable and reliable of 

 the ancient historians. 



In Britain the ancient Druids reverenced both Apple and Oak trees, 

 for the reason that the Mistletoe grew upon them only. The Mistletoe 

 being the only parasitical plant known to these people, from its habit of 

 growing upon the trees named, was supposed to have a divine origin, 

 and was consequently highly venerated. It must be understood that 

 the only fruit known to the ancient Britons was the wild or Crab Apple. 

 There is some uncertainty as to when the improved fruit was first 

 known in Britain, but there is good reason for believing that the 

 Romans when they invaded England introduced such varieties as were 

 cultivated in their own country. For several centuries history is mute 

 as to any progress that may have been made, and there are no reliable 

 records till the reign of Henry VIII. We are informed that in the 

 16th year of that monarch's reign Pippins were first introduced to 

 England " from beyond the seas." They were called pippins on account 

 of the trees being raised from the pips or seeds, instead of being grafted 

 plants. The first-named variety on record is the Nonpareil, which is 

 said to have been taken to England from France in the time of Queen 

 Mary. Gerard, in his " History of Plants," published near the end of 

 Queen Elizabeth's reign, mentioned six desirable kinds, including the 

 " Quoining" (Queening or Queen of Apples), Summer Pearmain, Winter 

 Pearmain, Nonpareil, Costard and a dwarf sweet-fruited sort called 

 Paradisus (Paradise). These names are still to be found in modern 

 catalogues, but, except in the case of the last-mentioned one, it is 

 doubtful whether they are identical with the original varieties. As 

 regards the Paradise, the sort now known as such, and used as a stock 

 for dwarf trees, seems to be identical with the kind mentioned by Gerard. 

 This writer also speaks highly in praise of cider, though that beverage, 



