1881.] TRANSACTIONS. 39 



the great varieties of pears and the abundant corn crops at 

 Home. Cato left many hints of value to the farmer or horticul- 

 turist of to-day. Seneca raised asparagus such as our markets 

 have never seen. Many implements of husbandry similar in 

 principle and structure to tiiose of which we boast so much, 

 and which we claim to be of modern invention, were known to 

 them. Such was their pride in these pursuits that their most 

 distinguished families were named from the products of the earth, 

 or from implements or animals intimately connected with its 

 cultivation. 



Tims the Fabii deriving their name from faba, a bean, were 

 renowned for tlie cultivation of this esculent. The Pisones were 

 named ivoxn j^iso, to bray or bruise (presumably corn as in a mor- 

 tar). The Lactucini from the lettuce. Tlie Porcii were originally 

 swine-herds. The Ovinii were originally breeders of sheep — the 

 Caprillii bred goats — the Taurini, bulls. 



But while it is true that agriculture is always a preliminary of 

 civilization, it is equally true tliat tlie progress of any nation in 

 civilization and reiinement is marked first by fruit production 

 and secondly by floi'iculture and landscape gardening. 



First comes the struggle for existence and the supply of the 

 active wants and necessities of man, then the gratification of 

 the luxurious cravings of the palate, and lastly the gratification 

 of taste. 



As soon as man had passed the ruder stages of existence, from 

 the life of the hunter and shepherd to that of a proprietor in 

 the soil, and had begun the observation of particular plants, 

 their change and decay, their life and propagation, their special 

 properties, so soon did they begin to assume for him a spiritual 

 meaning ; they were personified and became tlie symbols of 

 moral and s])iritual qualities. Thus from time immemorial the 

 never-dying Cypress and the blue Asphodel (springing up with 

 every recurring season from its bulb buried in the earth) have 

 been the emblems of immortality. Among the early Egyptians 

 the Lotus was tlie symbol of fertility. Among all nations, and 

 the most ancient, peace and victory have been symbolized 

 respectively Ijy the Olive and the Palm, love and marriage by 

 the Rose and Myrtle, modesty and purity by the Violet and the 



The Christian era from its very beginning has been especially 

 marked by this symbolization of plants and flowers. The death 

 of our Saviour and all its surroundings is supposed to be set forth 

 in the Passion-Flower, from wlience it derives its name. As one 

 writer expresses it : " The leaves represent the spear which 

 pierced His side, the tendrils the cords which bound His hands 



