48 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



' Hot pescodes ' one began to crye 



' Strabery rype ' and ' cherryes in the ryse '^ 



One bade me come nere and by some spyse 



Pepcr and safforne they gan me bede 



But for lack of mony I mgyht not spede." 



London Lyckpeny. 



Peaches are mentioned by Lydgate among " the fruits which 

 more common be," but only inferior varieties were in cultiva- 

 tion. Medlars were also grown, and were kept before being 

 eaten, as is still the practice. In the Prologue to the Reeve's 

 Tale, Chaucer refers to this custom, speaking of the old age of 

 the Reeve : 



" But if I fare as doth an open-ers^ 

 That ilke fruit is ever lenger the wers 

 Til it be roten in mullock^ or in stre."' 



In the description of the garden and arbour in The Flower and 

 the Leaf, a medlar-tree in full bloom, that " to the herber side 

 was joyning," is thus picturesquely described : 



" And as I stood and cast aside mine eie 

 I was ware of the fairest medlar tree, 

 That ever yet in all my life I sie. 

 As full of blossomes as it might be. 

 Therein a goldfinch leaping pretile 

 Fro bough to bough ; and as him list, he eet 

 Here and there of buds and fioures sweet." 



Plums are not often mentioned, either by the poets, or in old 

 accounts, but it is known that both damsons and bullaces were 

 grown in this country, though probably in no great quantities. 

 In the Romaunt of the Rose, Chaucer classes them among 

 homely fruits : 



' ' And many hoomely trees there were 

 That peches, coynes,* and apples bere 

 Medlers, ploumes, peres, chesteynis, 

 Cheryse, of which many one fayne is, 

 Notes, aleys and bolas 

 That for to seen it was solas." (L. 1373.) 



Gardeners of this date paid great attention to grafting. The 

 art of grafting a pear on a hawthorn was known at a very early 



^ =branch, twig. ^ —a medlar. 



^ =rubbish and straw. * =quinces. 



