415 ICLPiNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



After CRESCENTIIS the next book of pomological interest is the 

 very scarce work of ANTONINI VENUTI "De Notensis Agricultura 

 Opusculorum," which was published at Naples in 1516. Nearly 

 every kind of fruit has a chapter devoted to its cultivation and uses, 

 very largely culled from PALLADIUS and other Roman authors. 

 It is, however, of the greatest interest, as being probably the first 

 book published which deals exclusively with fruits. 



About this time France became the leading country in the production 

 of garden literature. 



The sixteenth century was a happy period for the industrious 

 compiler, and such men as CHARLES ESTIENNE, brother of the famous 

 printer, prepared many books based on the writings of the ancients, 

 mingled occasionally with original observations. His " Praedium 

 Rusticum " was such a work, and deserves notice as the foundation of 

 the more famous " Maison Rustique." Nothing of first-rate impor- 

 tance, however, appeared until 1600, when OLIVIER DE SERRES published 

 his remarkable " Le Theatre d' Agriculture," a work which may truly be 

 said to mark the departure from tradition and authority to the wider 

 field of experiment and observation. 



DE SERRES possessed in a large degree the " divine curiosity " 

 which was so much a mark of the seventeenth century. At his home 

 at Pradel, near Villeneuve, he founded what was probably the first 

 experimental farm, and after a life spent in questioning Nature he 

 employed his old age in setting down his experiences in garden and 

 farm. His book is written in a charming style, and even nowadays 

 is well worth reading, as its instructions in many garden operations 

 can hardly be improved upon. The success of his book was instan- 

 taneous, and at the date of his death in 1619 it had already reached 

 its eighth edition. His life has been written by HENRY VASCHALDE,* 

 and his name is still honoured in France as the Father of French 

 Agriculture. For pomologists his memory is kept alive by the late 

 pear named after him by its raiser, M. BOISBUNEL, of Rouen. The 

 value of the " Theatre " is mainly cultural ; some lists of fruits are 

 given, but with few descriptions. We find, however, several fruits 

 which are still grown, such as ' Bon Chretien d'Hiver,' ' Caillot Rosat/ 

 among pears, and ' Court Pendu/ ' Passe pomme,' ' Blanc doux/ 

 ' Chataignier,' among apples, all of which may be found in French 

 gardens to-day. 



To gain any real idea of the fruits cultivated at this time it is 

 necessary to turn to the remarkable catalogue prepared by LE LECTIER. 

 This industrious man was Procureur Royal at Orleans, and in his 

 leisure moments a keen pomologist. In his garden he collected all 

 the fruits of his time, and they numbered some 260 pears, 35 apples, 

 and 27 peaches. By good fortune a unique copy of this catalogue 

 has been preserved and is now at the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris. 

 This list of fruits has been reprinted by LEROY in his " Dictionnaire 



* Olivier de Serves, by Henry Vaschalde, Paris, 1886. 



