SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 177 



half, some a quarter, and some full ripe, on the same tree, 

 and one fruit of the same tree do come a year or two after the 

 other; I pulled off a little one by stealth (the man being 

 mightily curious of them) and eat it, and it was just as other 

 little green small oranges are — as big as half the end of my 

 little finger. Here were also a great variety of other exotique 

 plants, and several Labyrinths, and a pretty aviary." He 

 visited this garden on a former occasion, May 8th, 1654, and 

 says of it : " One of the neatest and most celebrated in England "; 

 but either the oranges were not there then, or he did not see 

 them. 



Gardeners seem to have understood that a certain amount of 

 air was necessary for plant life, but I think they by no means 

 realized the power of light. Sharrock, writing on the subject, 

 comes to the conclusion that " the coldness and briskness of the 

 free air . . . produces verdure," and to prove this, he takes for 

 example flowers shut in rooms, the leaves of which become 

 paler, and the " whiting the leaves of Artichokes, Endive, 

 Mirrhis Cichory, Alexander, and other plants, which is done 

 by keeping them warm without the approach or sentiment of 

 the cool fresh aire." It is astonishing how they were able to 

 keep delicate plants alive by sheltering them in dark places 

 during the winter months. " Some defend their Mirtles, 

 Pomegranates and such other tender Plants, either by houses 

 made of straw like Bee hives, or of boards (with inlets 

 for the sun by casements, or without them), Litter of Horse 

 Stables being laid in very cold weather about the houses of 

 defence." 



English gardeners at this time studied the works of French 

 ones, and adopted many of their methods for the care of these 

 " tender greens," as well, as those in other gardening operations. 

 Jean de la Quintinye was the most famous French practical 

 gardener at the time that Le Notre was their chief garden 

 designer, and it is known that he came to England, and also 

 corresponded with the principal Englishmen of rank who 

 devoted themselves to horticulture. His works were trans- 

 lated by John Evelyn, and later were abridged and reissued 

 by London and Wise, and were very largely consulted in 

 England. John Rose, who was considered the best practical 



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