46 THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



is a grizelin or pale red, and of all others is surest to 

 ripen in our climate ; so that I have never known them 

 to fail one summer these fifteen years, when all others 

 have ; and have had it very good upon an east wall. 

 A black muscat, which is called the Dowager, and 

 ripens as well as the common white grape. And the 

 fourth is the Grizelin Frontignac, being of that colour, 

 and the highest of that taste, and the noblest of all 

 grapes I ever eat in England ; but requires the hottest 

 wall and the sharpest gravel ; and must be favoured by 

 the summer too, to be very good. All these are, I 

 suppose, by this time pretty common among some 

 gardeners in my neighbourhood, as well as several 

 persons of quality ; for I have ever thought all things 

 of this kind, the commoner they are made, the better. 

 Of figs there are among us the white, the blue, and 

 the tawny : the last is very small, bears ill, and I think 

 but a bawble. Of the blue there are two or three 

 sorts, but little different, one something longer than the 

 other ; but that kind which swells most, is ever the 

 best. Of the white I know but two sorts, and both 

 excellent ; one ripe in the beginning of July, the other 

 in the end of September, and is yellower than the first ; 

 but this is hard to be found among us, and difficult to 

 raise, though an excellent fruit. 





