Prunier, and the Fruit Prune; the Germans name the Fruit Pflaumen and the Hollanders Pruym.

Now concerning the Abricot, which among the Romans was called Mala Epirotica, the Greeks call it Meλia 'Apusviana; and tho' the Romans firft found them in Greece, it is not improbable that the Greeks might firft bring them from Armenia, as the Greek Name feems to declare. Some fuppofe the Abricot to be the Bepinxonia, which is rendred by fome Chryfomela, i. e. Mala Aurea or Golden Apple. Malus Armeniaca is the most common Latin Name among the Botanical Authors; the Arabians call it Mex and Mirmex; the Italians Armoniache, Moniache, Bachofe and Grifomele; the Spaniards Albiricoques, Alvaricoques and Alberchigas; the French call this Fruit Abricot and Carmaignoles; and the Germans, St. Johan Pfferfick. We have about five Sorts in our English Gardens.

Of the POME GRANADE or POMGRANATE.

THE Pomgranate is call'd in Greek Poid and

TPeci, but by Hippocrates Zidas; fome La

tin Authors call it Malus Punica and Malus Granata; the Arabians call it Kuman; the Italians, Malo Granato and Pomo Granato; the Spaniards, Granadas and Pomanas; the French Pome de Granade and Migraine; the Germans call it Granatoepffel, and the Hollanders, Granatappel; the Flowers of this kind of Tree arc indifferently by fome call'd Balauftium, but others only give that Name to the double Bloffoms; Hippocrates has call'd the Fruit Eidas, fo the Rind of that Fruit is call'd Vidov and Zidov, and in Latin Pfidium and Sidium, but more frequently Malicorium, or Cortex Granatorum. It is thought by fome this

Fruit is call'd Malus Granata from Granado, which now ftands where Carthage did; from whence it was first brought into Europe. We have now about four forts in England.

Of the CITRON and LEMON.

S the Citron is a Fruit which has given fome Pain to the Antients in their Character and Description of it, 'tis uncertain, whether the Citrons we now cultivate in our Gardens be the fame fort they obferved. The Mnλia Medixn, or Malus Medica is fuppofed to mean the Pome Citron, or Apple Citron; fome Fruit of which fort I have feen ripen in England, but the large long fort is more common with us. Theophraftus calls it Malum Medicum and Perficum, or Apple of Media and Perfia, from which Parts it was first brought into Europe. The Italians call this Fruit Cedri and Citroni; the French, Citrons; the Germans, Citrinoepffel; the Hollanders, Citreen. To this Tribe belong the whole Race of Lemons, which is very numerous, and bring very good Fruit with little Care. I have gathered both Citrons and Lemons from my own Trees, which were as good as thofe we receive from abroad; the Trees in my Opinion being more hardy than the Orange.

TH

Of the QUINCE.

HE Quince is call'd in Greek Mnλéa Kuo'wfrom whence the Latin Malus Cydonia, tho' fome name it Malus Cathonéa, from an Ifland in the Archipelago. Pliny fays it took its Name of Malus Cydonia, from Cydone, a Town

in Crete; from whence, he fays, it was firft brought among us: But however it be, there is not Difference enough between the Latitudes of thefe Places to make any confiderable Alterations in its Culture with us. There is one Sort of Quince in Portugal, which rejoices so much in that warm Climate, as to be fit for eating raw as foon as it is taken from the Tree; and, as I am well inform'd, is then a very pleasant Fruit. Perhaps a good South Wall with us might bring that fort to the fame Perfection. But for the Generality Quinces are too harsh in moft Parts of Europe to be eaten raw, which makes me fufpect that fome of them might have their Original several Degrees more South than Crete; for fince we find the Fruit of them meliorated, and brought to an agreeable Ripenefs by Fire, which neither our Strength of Sun, nor Time of lying in the Fruitery will bring them to, it is not unreasonable to fuppofe they had their Birth in a very warm Climate; for furely there never was any Tree created that had not all the natural Powers on its fide to affift it in its Progress to Perfection: But in Europe we find only the fort I have mentioned above, which has Sun enough to give it full Ripeness, and that kind perhaps had its Original as my Authors relate. The Arabians call this Fruit Saffargel; the Italians, Melocotognio, which is a Corruption of the Roman Name Malus Cathonea; the Spaniards name it Membrilio and Marmello, from whence it's fuppofed the Word Marmelade took its Rife; i. e. from the Confection made of Quinces: The French call it Pome de Coing, and from them perhaps our Word Coince or Quince: In Germany it is named Kuttenopffel, and the Hollanders, Queapple: It may be per

haps,

haps, that the fort of Quince which Columella calls the Muftea, which he fays is early, is that fort which ripens upon the Tree in Portugal.

Of the PEAR.

S for the Pear I have very little to add to what I have related before of its Original, but that it is fo nearly ally'd to the Quince, that whatever Pears are graffed upon Quince Stocks come forwarder, and ripen much fooner than those which are graffed upon free Stocks; from whence I still am of Opinion, that the Quince had its Birth in a very warm Country; because, as I have obferv'd in fome Parts of my Works, every Plant, tho' it be transplanted feveral Degrees more into Cold than its firft Station was, yet it will keep Time in pushing out its Buds at the Date of its own Spring; and fo it is likely the Quince, whofe Sap moves earlier than the Pear, comes from a Climate, whofe Spring is fowarder than any where any of the Pears had their Birth. Upon this Occafion I am led to confider, that between Montpelier and London, there is about three Weeks difference in Point of the Growth, and Ripening of Fruit; therefore, if by any Contrivance we can force our Trees to bloffom three Weeks earlier than ordinary, and preserve those Bloffoms from the perpendicular Frofts, our Fruit may come to ripen with the French Fruit, which grow even as much South as Montpelier. A Gentleman, who is now with me, makes it a Question, whether thofe forts of Pears, which fometimes bloffom at Christmas, had not their Original in a Climate where the Spring happens at that time of Year? And it is not unneceffary to obferve the forts that

C 3

happen

happen to do fo; for every Obfervation, how trifling foever it may appear at first View, may serve another time to demonftrate things of the greateft Confequence.

The Name the Arabians give the Pear is Humeethe; and by their knowing this and fome other Fruits, which I have mention'd with Names given by them, I conclude they enjoy those Fruits in the greatest Perfection; for their Country is very hot. I have heard that in Arabia Felix, many of the Kinds which I have here fpecified are much fuperior to thofe of the fame Tribe cultivated in Europe. The Arabs likewife call the Pear Cirmetre and Kemetri; the Italians, Pere, and the Spaniards, Pyras; in France it is call'd Poire; in Germany, Bir, Biren, and Piren, and in Holland, Berre.

T

اد

Of the VINE.

HE Greeks call the cultivated or Vine

bearing Vine αμπελ@ οινοφόρ@ which by the Latins is named Vites, Vinifera and Sativa, and Culta. The wild Vine is in Greek" AuжENG ypia, and in Latin, Vitis filveftris; this wild fort, if it be the fame with that which the Italians call Labrufca, was growing about three Years ago in Camden-houfe Gardens, now in the Poffeffion of the Lord Lechmere. It was planted there by the curious Mr. Balle, who had it brought from Italy, and I think that fort is no where else in England. The Arabians call the Vine Harin Karin or Karni; the Italians, Vite Venefera; the Spaniards, Vid and Parra; in French, Vigne; in Germany, Weiureb; and the Hollanders call it Wijngaert or Wijnftacke.

Of