Alexander Neck am. 57 



draws of a garden in the latter half of the 

 twelfth century corroborates the opinion that 

 that institution at the outset corresponded to 

 our kitchen-garden ; but his description was 

 taken from some princely or baronial establish- 

 ment, and bespeaks a certain share of taste in 

 arranging the herbs, plants, and fruit-trees. 

 His narrative, although it is of no service as a 

 guide to the resources of the humbler classes 

 in this respect, is very precious, from its early 

 date and the superior intelligence of the 

 writer, as a kind of clue to what was then in 

 cultivation and use ; and, in addition to what 

 I have enumerated from other sources, he 

 recites fennel, savory, cresses, melons, the 

 cucumber, the poppy, anise, mustard, white 

 pepper, wormwood, peaches, pears of St. 

 Regie, citrons or lemons, pearmains, oranges 

 (Mala aurea)) almonds, dates, and figs. How 

 some of these were reared, he omits to 

 explain ; he characterises them as features 

 only in a noble garden, it is true ; but artificial 

 warmth was not available, and in the open 

 air the almond would scarcely bear, and the 

 date and the orange would not live. 



