THE 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



INTRODUCTION 



TO 



THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



Next in importance to the cultivation of culinary vegetables 

 is that of fruits. Fruits have attracted the attention of man 

 from the earliest period, and are supposed to have been the 

 first vegetable production on which he fixed as an article of 

 food. Of all fruits cultivated, the apple and fig are the most 

 ancient. The vine is next in order ; the fruit of which not 

 only served as food, but also as a beverage. The almond, 

 vine, and pomegranate were cultivated in Canaan, and, with 

 the addition of cucumbers and melons, were known to the 

 Egyptians from time immemorial. The Romans, in the zenith 

 of their glory, had the merit of not only introducing many 

 fruits into Europe, but also of bringing many of them from 

 Italy into Britain. After the Romans deserted this island, the 

 fruits which they brought were probably either neglected or 

 entirely lost, for we find many of them a second time re- 

 introduced by the Norman conqueror, and also by Henry the 

 Eighth ; and during the dark ages, they were carefully culti- 

 vated by the clergy, who, William of Malmsbury informs us, 

 not only planted orchards wherever they resided, but also vine- 

 yards, and made wine. Wherever a monastery has stood, the 

 remains of fruit-trees may be found ; the monks were gene- 

 rally good gardeners, and displayed great skill in the choice of 

 situation for their orchards ; indeed this choice often regulated 

 the situation of the cathedral, for they seldom established 

 themselves in situations unfavourable for the rearing of fruits. 



