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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