Chap. I . of GARDENING, &c. 47 



And as for Great-Britain and Ireland^ why Grcac-Bri- 

 may we not think that the ancient ^^^^^^^'^^Tl. a^ 

 and fince them the Inhabitants of thefe 

 Iflands, were always Lovers of Planting, &c. 

 at leaft fuch as were for the more immediate 

 Ufe of the Laboratory and Kitchin, and alfo 

 of Foreft-Work, fince the Oak is known by- 

 all to have been facred to them ? 



Tis not improbable to fuppofe that the 

 Romans^ upon their Conqueft of thefe Iflands, 

 introduced (amongft other Arts) that of 

 Husbandry and Gardening to a great Per- 

 fedion 5 feeing it was always a Maxim of 

 Policy amongft them, to amufe the People 

 they conquer'd, by this means 5 and not only 

 fo, but for this Reafon ( as well as upon the 

 Account of the Terror of their Arms ) the 

 Unconquer'd very often admir'd and fubmit- 

 ted to their Government ^ of which Speci- 

 mens may be feen in moft of the Roman Hifto- 

 ries, but efpecially in Julius Cdifars Com- 

 mentaries^ where the Reafons made ufe for 

 their Submifljon to the Roman Yoke (as fome 

 call'd it) was the Politenefs and Bravery of 

 their People, in Peace as well as War : x\nd 

 that the fucceflive Governments of Great- 

 Britain encouraged the Planting and Prefer- 

 ving of Wood, Husbandry, and the like, the 

 Laws by them made is a fufiicient Demon- 

 ftration. 



Alfo, when we come nearer to the Hiftory 

 of thefe Times, and perufe the Writings of 

 the Botanicks, we fliall find the fame forts of 



Trees, 



