OF SELBORNE 177 



ness comparatively modern ; but must prove a great means of 

 preventing cutaneous ails. At this very time woollen instead of 

 linen prevails among the poorer Welch, who are subject to foul 

 eruptions. 



The plenty of good wheaten bread that now is found among 

 all ranks of people in the south, instead of that miserable sort 

 which used in old days to be made of barley or beans, may 

 contribute not a little to the sweetening their blood and correct- 

 ing their juices ; for the inhabitants of mountainous districts, to 

 this day, are still liable to the itch and other cutaneous disorders, 

 from a wretchedness and poverty of diet. 



As to the produce of a garden, every middle-aged person of 

 observation may perceive, within his own memory, both in town 

 and country, how vastly the consumption of vegetables is increased. 

 Green-stalls in cities now support multitudes in a comfortable 

 state, while gardeners get fortunes. Every decent labourer also 

 has his garden, which is half his support, as well as his delight ; 

 and common farmers provide plenty of beans, peas, and greens, 

 for their hinds to eat with their bacon ; and those few that do 

 not are despised for their sordid parsimony, and looked upon as 

 regardless of the welfare of their dependants. Potatoes have 

 prevailed in this little district, by means of premiums, within 

 these twenty years only ; and are much esteemed here now by 

 the poor, who would scarce have ventured to taste them in the 

 last reign. 



Our Saxon ancestors certainly had some sort of cabbage, 

 because they call the month of February sprout-cale ; but, long 

 after their days, the cultivation of gardens was little attended to. 

 The religious, being men of leisure, and keeping up a constant 

 correspondence with Italy, were the first people among us that 

 had gardens and fruit-trees in any perfection, within the walls 

 of their abbies l and priories. The barons neglected every 

 pursuit that did not lead to war or tend to the pleasure of the 

 chase. 



It was not till gentlemen took up the study of horticulture 

 themselves that the knowledge of gardening made such hasty 

 advances. Lord Cobham, Lord Ila, and Mr. Waller of Beaconsfield, 

 were some of the first people of rank that promoted the elegant 



1 " In monasteries the lamp of knowledge continued to burn, however dim 1 /. 

 " In them men of business were formed for the state : the art of writing was culti- 

 " vated by the monks ; they were the only proficients in mechanics, gardening, and 

 " architecture." See Dalrymples Annals of Scotland. 



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