182 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 22, 1858. 
arts of peace. By the strenuous endeavours of that 
distinguished general, the natives were inspired with a 
love of the Roman language and acquirements, and 
when the legions were finally withdrawn from the 
Island, a.d. 426, the Britons were left comparatively a 
polished, but enervated people. The art of cultivating 
the ground was a principal object of improvement, and, 
during their possession of the island, became so ex- 
: tended, that not only were large quantities of corn 
annually exported from it, but, during the government 
of Agricola, he was enabled to augment the tribute 
Which had formerly been imposed upon grain. 
About a.d. 278, the Roman settlers, finding that 
some parts of the island were not unfit for vineyards, 
obtained permission of the Emperor Probus, to plant 
Vines, and make wine of their produce, a liberty which 
had been refused to them by the narrower-minded 
policy of his predecessor Domitian. Probus, also, to 
preserve his soldiers from the dangerous temptations 
of idleness, employed them in covering with vineyards 
the hills of Gaul and Pannonia; and two large districts 
are described, the digging and planting of which were 
by military labour. ( Vopiscus Hist. August., 240. JSit- 
tropius, ix. 17. Aurel. Victor in Probi vita. Victor 
1 Junior.) 
Erom the remains of Roman villas, and other records 
of the state to which they had brought the arts of 
civilisation in this island, we have every reason to 
believe, although particular evidence is wanting, that 
gardening was likewise improved by them, so as to be 
in every respect similar to its practice in their mother 
country. The Britons amalgamated with the Roman 
settlers, who were very numerous. The veterans even, 
whether they received the reward of their services in 
land or money, usually settled with their families in the 
country where they had spent their youth; and in 
Britain, far removed from the influence of the tyranny 
and convulsions which shook the city, and their native 
land generally, there were many extra temptations to 
adopt this as their home. 
The seeds of improvement having thus strongly 
germinated, no untoward circumstances were after¬ 
wards capable of entirely preventing their further 
growth; for though continually checked, yet, on a re¬ 
view of ages, the superior civilisation of any one over 
its immediate predecessor is always apparent. 
Immediately after the departure of the Romans, viz., 
about a.d. 450, the Saxons formed a settlement in our 
island, and a series of civil wars succeeded, until the 
inhabitants pretty generally hailed Egbert, about 
a.d. 726, sole sovereign of the realm. Christianity 
being introduced in a.d. 507, this period may be 
reckoned as an epoch in the gardening annals of this 
i country. Independent of the tendency it had to 
: soften the manners of the people, and render them 
more domestic, it gave encouragement to the progress 
of the useful arts, and of these gardening was one of 
the most congenial; for it helped innocently to beguile 
otherwise unoccupied hours, and was the means of 
affording luxuries to the palate, which were by no 
means held in contempt by the monks and recluses of 
those times. These were persons of education when 
compared with the laity, and had an intercourse with 
foreign countries, through their brethren, which facili¬ 
tated the communication of improvement; even their 
fasting from animal food was of benefit to horticul- 
i ture, for it rendered them more desirous of superior 
vegetables, and condiments arising from their tribes. 
I Thus, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Erance, countries 
1 always abounding in the ministers of religion, became 
| distinguished for their culinary vegetables and fruits. 
I It may be added, as another truly valuable advantage 
to horticulture, secured to it by religious establish- 
I ments, that, whilst the country at large was devastated 
by war, their property was usually held sacred; and, 
consequently, many varieties of vegetables were pre- I 
served, which, otherwise, would soon have become ex¬ 
tinct, if cultivated only in less hallowed ground. 
From the example of the ecclesiastics, the higher 
orders of the laity acquired a similarity of taste, and 
from these, again, the fondness for the products of the 
garden, and its improvements, extended in wider j 
circles. 
Gardens and orchards are mentioned, as being in the 
possession of the inhabitants of monasteries, and other 
religious establishments, in the oldest chartularies. Of 
orchards, many traces still remain. One in Icolnmkill, 
or Iona, one of the Hebrides, is described by Dr. 
Walker ( Essays , ii., p. 5), as having existed there 
probably from the sixth century. The Monastery of 
St. Columba was founded there, a.d. 566 ( Gibbons 
History of Pome, c. xxxvii.). Camden and Leland 
also mention various other instances in England. The 
Vine, we have seen, was introduced by the Romans, 
and was particularly admired, and attended to, by the 
carousing population of that age, if for no other of its 
qualities than the liquor yielded by its fruit. Guin- 
uydden, Guin-bren Guin-ien, or Fion-ras, its names in 
the Welch, Cornish, Armorican, and Irish dialects, is 
literally the wine tree. Vineyards were flourishing 
here at the commencement of the eighth century, as is 
testified by Bede ( Eccles. Hist., b. i., c. 1.); and, in 
the year 962, we find, in a deed giving lands near 
Southampton, from Edgar, “ Ring of all Britain,” to 
the Monastery of Abingdon, a clause stating, that the 
gift includes “ a vineyard situated near Wsecet, to¬ 
gether with the vine-dressers” (vineam circa Wamet 
sitam, cum vinitoribus. Historia Monasterii de 
Abingdon , 321). 
(To be continued.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Poison for Earwigs. — J. II. inquires for this aid in destroying 
earwigs. We shall be obliged by any reader furnishing information on 
the point. 
Crickets [A Constant Subscriber). —Scotch snuff scattered about the 
place they infest will drive them away. Phials with a little beer in 
them, and placed in a slanting position, will trap them. 
Hay Fever (A Subscriber) .—This periodical catarrh is, indeed, a great 
affliction. We have known those who found no relief but in remaining 
near the sea during the w'hole of June and July. AVe know of no 
effectual remedy, and we shall be much obliged by any one sending us 
information upon the subject. 
Names of Plants \{B. A. S .).—We had this plant from “Z. A.” 
(page 138), the specimen then sent being so much pressed, that even 
with much trouble it was impossible to make it out clearly. We could 
discern it was near to the Mitellas, and, this being more like a fair 
specimen, we have no doubt about it. It is the Tcllima grandiflora 
which is so nearly allied to the Mitella, as to have given it a mere 
transposition of the name. (T. I).).-— Your specimens are very dimi¬ 
nutive ones, too much so for examination, but the plants are as follows : 
—1 .Lychnis alpina. 2. Cerastiuni tomentosum. 3. Melittis grandiflora, 
4. Coronilla emerus. 5. Ornithogalum umbellatum. (A. M. V .).— 
The Fern is Pteris scrrulata , a stove species ; and the silvery-leaved 
plant is Convolvulus cneorum , the Silvery-leaved Bind-weed. Most of 
our hardy Ferns delight in peat loam and a little leaf mould. This 
should be well worked up with the spade, from a foot to eighteen inches 
deep, and then no fear but the Ferns will do well under the shade of 
trees, if well watered when planted, if they should be dry at the 
time of planting. (A. M. 11.). —Does your plant ever flower? If so, 
send us a flowering specimen, and we will inform you what it is; but 
from the sprig sent we are unable to name it. ( Alethea ).—Your Ferns 
are : — 1 . Polystichum aculeatum. 2. Athyrium Filix fasmina, in a 
slender form. 3. Lastrcca Filix-mas. 
Strawberries in Pots ( Devoniensis ).—AVithout egotism, we believe 
that the directions given in this work are second to none. A few weeks 
ago, minutiae were given, which would meet your case. AVe have 
grown in large pots, and in boxes large and small; but for profit we 
prefer smallish pots, not much more than half the size you use. AA r e 
shall be very glad if you succeed thoroughly Avith them. In the lati¬ 
tude of Plymouth, we would also prefer young plants to old ones. 
But, supposing we were to use again these old strong plants of yours, 
we Avould place them against a north wall or fence, until the first or ! 
second week in July, and just given them enough of Avater to keep ] 
them from flagging. AA r e Avould then bring them into the sun and I 
water them, and in the course of a week would repot them into similar¬ 
sized pots, after gently getting rid, by means of a pointed stick, &c., 
of fully one-half of the old soil. Treat them as recommended a few 
weeks ago. If you were to keep the pots in the sun all the summer, and 
