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 d repay you with thanks, being S r y r 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. 
