170 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



for want of being ^more known; and foreigners seem 

 astonished at the size and flavour of this fruit in England. 

 It cannot be propagated with success in the warmer parts 

 of the world ; but in this happy island we procure, by 

 the aid of stoves, the finest fruits of the hottest climes ; 

 we may therefore justly say with the poet 



' On foreign mountains may the sun refine 

 The grape's soft juice, and mellow it to wine : 

 With citron groves adorn a distant soil, 

 And the fat olive swell with floods of oil ; 

 We envy not the warmer clime, that lies 

 In ten degrees of more indulgent skies." 



It has been a question agitated among physicians, 

 whether fruits be safer before or after meals. The answer 

 to this seems to depend on a knowledge of the stomach. 

 In a weak stomach, they are more apt to be noxious when 

 empty, than when distended with animal food. Here like- 

 wise they cannot be taken in such quantity as to hurt. In 

 strong stomachs there is little difference ; there they 

 would seem to promote appetite. In weak stomachs even 

 when full, if taken in too great quantity, they may be 

 very hurtful, by increasing the active fermentation of the 

 whole. Tha ancients alleged, that the mild fruits should 

 be taken before, and the acerb after meals, as being fitter 

 to brace up the stomach, and promote digestion. (Lec- 

 tures on the Materia Medica.) 



The gooseberry-bush is propagated by cuttings or 

 suckers ; but the former way is preferable, as the roots 

 are less likely to shoot out suckers. Straight shoots 

 should be selected about eight inches long, and planted 

 about half the length, in good mould or light earth. The 

 best time for planting them is in the autumn, just before 

 the leaves begin to fall. It is desirable to sow the seeds 

 of ripe gooseberries, as by this means you have the 



