218 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



happens to yours, which I believe y rs are more subject to near 

 London than we are, here where I myself take the chief care 

 of my curious trees. I have not yet been able to procure a 

 tree of the true lotus (Zizyphus lotus), nor the larch tree, both 

 which Mr. Evelyn says grow well in our climate, and may be 

 raised from seed ; these seeds and any other exotics I doubt not 

 to raise, I mean trees, for smaller plants are too numerous for 

 me to attend ; if you could procure me a small tree of each of 

 those kinds I w* 1 repay you with thanks, being S r y obliged 

 and humble servant, 



H. Goodricke. 



There are three or four very fine larch trees in the grounds at 

 Ribston now, which are probably the very ones sent in answer 

 to this appeal. Sir Henry Goodricke was the introducer of the 

 well-known Ribston pippin. He had three pippins sent him 

 from Normandy about the year 1707 ; one of them grew up, and 

 was the original Ribston Pippin tree ; it was blown down in 

 1839, but a sucker from the root is now a fair-sized tree, and 

 still bears occasional fruit. 



Before quitting the period under review, some mention must 

 be made of the decorative lead and iron work which served as 

 embellishments to the gardens of this date. Lead vases and 

 statues continued to be placed as ornaments in vistas or against 

 backgrounds of cut yews, and where they have remained in 

 situ add greatly to the charm of existing old gardens. Although 

 quantities have perished, many are now coming to light, and 

 are eagerly sought for by collectors to adorn the modern formal 

 garden. The statues are usually rather rough in workman- 

 ship, yet many are artistic and graceful. The most typical 

 subjects were the seasons, and many examples of these remain ; 

 or Cupids, such as the charming groups at Melbourne, in 

 Derbyshire ; or shepherdesses or shepherds, as at Canons 

 Ashby. Sometimes copies from the antique or other classical 

 figures were chosen — for example, the " Mercury " at Mel- 

 bourne, or the " cymbal player " at Castle Hill, Devonshire. 

 Portrait statues were more rare, and there are few as fine as the 

 first Duke of Marlborough and the Prince Eugene, now at 

 Glemham, in Suffolk. 



