134 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



currant of Corinth, classed with grapes. The red currant is 

 referred to under Gooseberries or Flaberries. Parkinson, how- 

 ever, gives them a chapter to themselves, and explains the dif- 

 ference between them and those " sold at the Grocers." He 

 describes the red, white, and black kinds, and says the white 

 are " more desired . . . because they are more dainty and lesse 

 common."^ The fact that currants in Kent, the chief fruit- 

 growing county, were called " gozel " or " gozell " seems to 

 point to the introduction of some of the new varieties from 

 France. The black were evidently not much in favour ; " both 

 the leaves and fruite have a kinde of strong evill sent, but yet 

 are wholesome, not so pleasant as any of the former [the red and 

 white], and eaten by many.^ Of gooseberries there were four 

 well-known varieties — " the common," the " red," the " blew," 

 and " the hairy or prickely greene." Coles, writing a few years 

 later than Parkinson, adds a fifth — " the great Dutch goose- 

 berry " — and says all of these, " with divers others, do grow in 

 many gardens about London in great abundance, whence they 

 are carried into Cheapside and other places to be sold."^ Rasp- 

 berries, both white and red, were grown, and were eaten " in 

 summer-time, as an afternoon dish to please the taste of the sick 

 as well as the sound. "^ The cornel-tree or Cornelian Cherry (Cor- 

 nus mas) was introduced about this time, and found a place in 

 orchards along with barberries , service-berries , and almond-trees . 

 Before closing this rapid review of the fruit of this period, a 

 few words must be said about vineyards and grapes, which 

 were still grown, but not so much as in earlier times .^ Many of 

 the larger gardens had vineyards attached. Barnaby Googe 

 says they were invariably placed on the western side of the 

 garden, and it is curious to note that such is the position of the 

 one mentioned in Measure for Measure (Act IV., Scene i) : 



" He hath a garden circummured with brick, 

 Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd ; 

 And to that vineyard is a planch ed gate, 

 That makes his opening with this bigger key. 

 This other doth command a little door. 

 Which from the garden to the vineyard leads." 



^ Paradisus in Sole, Parkinson, 1629. 



^ Thcatrum Botanicum, Parkinson, 1640. 



^ Adam in Eden or Nature's Paradise, W. Coles, 1657. 



* Paradisus, Parkinson. ^ See pp. 21-27. 



