FRUIT and its CULTIVATION. 



Part I. HARDY FRUITS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 The Apple. 



THE Apple is one of the oldest, most highly esteemed, and 

 most valuable of our hardy fruits. It has been- cultivated 

 from time immemorial. The ancient Greeks and Romans 

 were well acquainted with it, and grew many varieties. 

 It is said that we owe its introduction to this country to 

 the Romans, but there are strong reasons for believing 

 that it was cultivated here prior to the Roman Conquest. 

 It is true the Romans may have introduced some of their 

 favourite kinds, but there is little doubt that the ancient 

 Britons cherished the apple both for food and beverage 

 purposes. In proof of this we have the fact of the Romans, 

 when visiting Somerset, discovering a town bearing the 

 name of Avallonia, which existed on the site of Glaston- 

 bury. The meaning of this ancient British word is 

 " apple orchard,*' and hence it is assumed that orchards of 

 apples existed in the district. We further learn that when 

 the Britons retreated before their conquerors to Wales, and 

 thence to Brittany, they esteemed their apple trees so highly 

 that they carried them with them. 



