NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 173 



I must repeat my wish, that this curious work may soon see the light. It appears from 

 it, that the country was so remarkably healthy at that time, that it was a strange thing to 

 hear of a person being sick ; that the east wind did not extend far west ; and that the cli- 

 mate was as mild at that period as it now is. 



NOTE M M. 



See Busching's Geography, vol. 1. Temple's Works, vol. 3. Walpoliana. There 

 can be no doubt but that several species of some of these trees existed in a wild state at 

 home, previous to their introduction from foreign countries. It is presumable, for in- 

 stance, that the chesnut always grew in Italy, and the cherry in France ; but different 

 kinds, on account of their superior excellence arising from cultivation, were imported by 

 the ancient Romans. Wherever their arms extended, they availed themselves of the 

 choice fruits of the conquered countries, and the great generals who brought them to 

 Rome took pride in giving them their own names, as in memory of some great service or 

 pleasure they had done their country ; so that not only laws and battles, but several sorts 

 of apples or mala, and of pears, were called Manlian, and Claudian, Pompeian, and Tibe- 

 rian, and by several other such noble names. Thus, in process of time, the inhabitants of 

 Italy, who formerly lived on acorns, made the whole world tributary to their subsistence, 

 as well as to their glory. Humboldt, in his Account of New Spain, (vol. 2.) says, that 

 the prunus avium is indigenous in Germany and France, and has existed from the most 

 remote antiquity in their forests, like the robur and the linden tree ; while other species of 

 cherry-trees, which are considered as varieties, become permanent, and of which the fruits 

 are more savoury than the prunus avium have come to those countries through the Ro- 

 mans from Asia Minor, and particularly from the kingdom of Pontus. 



Turnips and carrots are considered indigenous roots of France ; our cauliflowers came 

 from Cyprus ; our artichokes from Sicily ; lettuce from Cos, and shallots, or eschallots, 

 from Ascalon. The art of gardening was introduced into England from the continent 

 about 1509, prior to which most of the present produce of kitchen gardens was imported 

 from the Netherlands. 



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