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XXVI. On the Forcing-houses of the Romans, with a List of 

 Fruits cultivated by them, now in our Gardens. By the Right 

 Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S. $c. 



Read April 4, 1809. 



JVXr. Knight was the first person among us members 

 of the Horticultural Society, who observed in reading Mar- 

 tial, strong traces of the Romans having enjoyed the luxury 

 of Forcing-houses. I shall cite the principal passages upon 

 which he has founded this observation, the truth of which is 

 not likely to be controverted, and add such remarks as pre- 

 sent themselves upon the Roman Hot-houses, with a few 

 words on the subject of our own. 



Pallida ne Cilicura timeant pomaria brumara, 



Mordeat et tenerum fortior aura nemus : 

 Hibernis objecta notis specularia puros 



Admittunt soles, et sine faece diem, &c. Martial, lib. viii. 1 4 . 



Qui Corcyraei vidit pomaria regis, 



Rus, Entelle, tuae prasfcrat ille domus. 

 Invida purpureos urat ne bruma racemos, 



Et gelidum Bacchi munera frigus edat ; 

 Condita perspicua vivit vindemia gemma, 



Et tegitur felix, nec tamen uva latet. 



