86 



far as Britain beyond the Ocean." This 

 would make their introduction to England 

 as early as the 42d year before Christ, 

 although they are generally stated not to have 

 been brought to this country until the early 

 part of the reign of Nero, A. D. 55. 



Some idea may be formed of the Roman 

 gardens, by the luxurious manner in which 

 Lucullus lived in his retirement from Rome 

 and the public affairs. He had passages 

 dug under the hills, on the coast of Cam- 

 pania, to convey the sea- water to his house 

 and pleasure grounds, where the fishes 

 flocked iri such abundance, that what were 

 found at his death sold for more than 

 twenty-five thousand pounds. Pliny men- 

 tions eight kinds of cherries as being culti- 

 vate^ in Italy when he wrote his Natural 

 History, which was about the 70th year, 

 A. D. " The reddest cherries," continues 

 he, "are called apronia; the blackest, actia; 

 the Caecilian are round. The Julian cherries 

 have a pleasant taste, but are so tender 

 that they must be eaten when gathered, 

 as they will npt endure carriage." The Du- 

 racine cherries were esteemed the best, but 

 in Pkardy the Portugal cherries were 

 most admired. The Macedonian cherries 

 grew on dwarf trees; and one kind i& men- 



