36 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



perhaps we Westerns scarcely prize it as we ought, 

 for we see it more often shorn and dismembered, 

 with its roots cramped under paving stones, than 

 in the grandeur of its natural form. It is one of 

 the noblest of trees, however, and revels in a site 

 by the water side, as many a fine specimen in the 

 Thames valley bears witness. 



The almond and the pomegranate, also of eastern 

 origin, belong to the same period of English his- 

 tory. " The natural place of the almond is in hot 

 regions," says Gerard; "yet we have them in 

 London gardens and orchards in plenty." The 

 pomegranate, apparently, did not take so kindly 

 to English soil, for of it he makes this remark, 

 " I have recovered divers yong trees hereof, by 

 sowing seeds of graines, of three or four cubits 

 high, attending God's leisure for floures and 

 fruit." 



The walnut was the next tree of importance to 

 be planted in quantity. Acres of w r alnut trees 

 flourished in different parts of Surrey and brought 

 a fair revenue to their owners. According to the 

 annals of the time they grew " in the fields neere 

 the common high-wayes." 



The horse-chestnut followed quickly on the steps 

 of the eastern plane, and is said to have been 

 brought from the mountains of Tibet in 1550. Not 

 much could have been known of it in Parkinson's 

 time, who ventures upon the statement that the 

 nuts of the horse-chestnut " are of as good use 

 for the fruit " as the sweet chestnut. It has always 

 maintained its place in British affections ; and 

 Londoners, as long as the old trees last, will never 



