The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener.

The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener.

Table of contents

Title page

To the Right Worshipfull WILLIAM OVGLANDER Esq; one of the Honourable House of Parliament, Son and Heir to the Late Sr JOHN OUGLANDER, &c. The Honourable Example of piety, the worthy Pattern of good endeavours, and great observer of the Works of Nature.

THE PREFACE TO THE READER, Declaring why this TREATISE Was written, the use and profit of it.

THE GARDNERS PRACTICE in Preparation for a Garden of Pleasure.

First for the Situation.

THE GARDNERS PRACTICE in the Garden of Pleasure: in the knowledge of propagating, preserving and maintaining of Flowers, and curious Trees therein contained.

First of Flowers.

Amorantus: or Christerious Purantus.

Anstartion indecom.

Angulshenelus.

Batchelors Buttons.

Bee-Flower.

Balm of Christ.

Bears-Ears.

Bell-Flowers.

Crows-foot.

Crokus.

Crains-Bill.

Cullenbines.

Crown-Imperial.

Cornflag.

Cornation Gilliflowers.

Clove-Gilliflowers.

Cowslips.

Daysies.

Daffodillies.

Dragons-Claw.

Emrose.

African.

Everlasting-Pea.

Everlasting-life.

Flower-deluce.

The Flower of the Sunne.

French Marigolds.

French Pinks.

Foxes-glove.

Globe-flower.

Green Cowslips.

Holihock.

Herbit.

Humble-plant.

Hearts-Ease.

Jerusalem-Cowslips.

Indian-wheat.

Catterpillars.

Lillies.

Larks-heel.

London-pride.

Lupins.

Ladies-Thistle.

Lowe in idle.

Ladies-liveries.

Ladies-smocks.

Marmadle deparve.

Muscabious.

Monks-hood.

Marble-flower.

Nurssusuly.

Oxslips.

Oak of Paris.

Pionys.

Primrose-tree.

Princes-feathers.

Poppies.

Pinks.

Purple-Primrose.

Pawmers.

Queens-Gilliflower.

Rose-campions.

Rose-Rubee.

Rocket-flower.

Stock-Gilliflowers.

Snap-Dragons.

Sweet Williams.

Scarlet Beans.

Snails.

Snow-drops.

Start up and kisse me.

Tulips.

The Sensitive plant.

Thrift.

Turkey-caps.

Violets.

Wall-gilliflowers.

THE GARDEN of PLEASURE as it treateth of CURIOUS TREES. Here followeth short Descriptions and Directions for the raising and maintaining of such curious Trees as are placed in Gardens of Pleasure now in England, either for their Fruits, Flowers or Pleasure.

Apricock.

Almonds.

Bay.

Box.

Ciprus.

Fig-tree.

Figs of India.

Filleroy.

Gesamits.

Holyander.

Horn-Fig-trees.

Creeping Vine.

Lowaray.

Laurell.

Lowrex.

Lorestrinus.

Lignae-vitae.

Mirtill-trees.

Orange-trees.

Pomegranate-tree.

Peach-trees.

Perry winckle.

Sweet-Bryer.

Tamarus.

The Gilli-Rose.

The Province-Rose.

The Cinamon-Rose.

Vines.

THE GARDENERS PRACTICE IN The Physical and Fruitfull Garden, in the Knowledge of Raising, Growing, and Maintaining of Herbs and Trees contained therein.

First as it treateth of HERBS.

Angelica.

Alicompane.

Alexander.

Annis.

All-Hail.

Bares-britch.

Balm.

Basyll.

Blessed-Thistle.

Bares-foot.

Bugloss.

Burrage.

Bloodwort.

Burnat.

Betony.

Camomill.

Comfrey.

Cives.

Cammell Beg.

Chervill.

Carowaies.

Clary.

Course-Mary.

Cummin.

Coriander.

Celandine.

Dragons.

Dill.

Evat.

Fether-few.

Fennell.

French Honey-suckles.

French-Mallows.

Gromwel.

Gladin.

Gooses-tongue.

Germander.

Garlick.

Horse-Redish.

Herb grasse.

Hore-hound.

Hyssop.

Housleek.

Jerusalem-Sage.

Kings-mallow.

Kapons-tayles.

Lovage.

Liquorish.

Lavender-cotton.

Lavender-spike.

Lavender-slip.

Lemon-time.

Mallows.

March.

Madrath.

Marygolds.

Mother-wort.

Nip.

Orpine.

Pepperwort.

Pot-Margerum.

Prick-Madam.

Purple-grasse.

Penny-royal.

Poppy.

Rosemary.

Roman-Sage.

Rubarb.

Spare-mint.

Saffren.

Sage.

Summer-savoury.

Setterwort.

Stone-crop.

Shalot.

Sweet-Maudlin.

Seurvy-Grass.

Sweet-Fern.

Sweet-Covey.

Sweet-Marjorum.

Sweet-Oak.

Taragan.

Time.

Tansie.

V. laren.

Wormwood.

Winter-savoury.

THE PHYSICAL GARDEN as it treateth of TREES. A short Description or Direction for the Propagating of each TREE which is Fruitfull and Physical, usually planted in a Fruitfull or Physical Garden.

Barberry.

Currants.

Gooseberries.

Mulberries.

Quinces.

Rasberries.

Roses.

Savin-tree.

Strawberry-tree.

THE GARDENERS PRACTICE IN THE Kitchin Garden, how to advance the nature and growth of Herbs, Roots, and Pulse contained therein.

Artichokes.

Sparrow-grass.

Beets.

Cucumbers.

Colliflowers.

Cabidges.

Carrots.

Corn-sallet.

Goards.

Indian suckory.

English-Beans.

French-Beans.

Jerusalem-Artichoaks.

Kidney-Beans.

Lettice.

Leeks.

Millions.

Onions.

Purslane.

Parsley.

Parsnips.

Peas of all sorts.

Potatoes.

Pumpkins.

Radish

Spinage.

Skarots.

Sorrell.

Small Suckory.

Turnips.

Tongue-Grass.

The Conclusion.

The Propagation of the Seed-Royal.

THE ALPHABETICAL TABLE Of all the Plants in the foregoing Treatise, being the Garden of Pleasure.

FLOWERS.

The Table of the Trees.

An Alphabetical TABLE of all the Plants in the foregoing Treatise, being the Physical and Fruitfull Garden.

HERBS.

The Table of Trees.

The Alphabetical Table of all the Herbs, Roots and Pulse contained in the Kitchin Garden.

§

§

[Page]

[Page] THE Compleat Gardeners PRACTICE, DIRECTING The Exact Way of GARDENING.

In three PARTS. The

GARDEN of PLEASURE,

PHYSICAL GARDEN,

KITCHIN GARDEN.

How they are to be ordered for their best Situation and Improvement, with variety of Artificial Knots for the Beautifying of a GARDEN (all engraven in Copper) the choisest way for the Raising, Governing and Maintaining of all Plants cultevated in GARDENS now in ENGLAND.

Being a plain Discourse how HERBS, FLOWERS and TREES, according to Art and Nature may be propagated by Sowing, Setting, Planting, Replanting, Pruning; also Experience of Alteration of Sent, Colour and Taste, clearly reconciling as it treateth of each HERB and FLOWER in particular.

By STEPHEN BLAKE Gardener.

Search the World, and there's not to be found

A Book so good as this for Garden ground.

London, Printed for Thomas Pierrepoint, and are to be sold at the Signe of the Sunne in St Paul's Church-yard, M. DC. LXIV.

To the Right Worshipfull WILLIAM OVGLANDER Esq; one of the Honourable House of Parliament, Son and Heir to the Late Sr JOHN OUGLANDER, &c.
The Honourable Example of piety, the worthy Pattern of good endeavours, and great observer of the Works of Nature.

[Page]

[Page]

SIR,

LEt the heighth of your understanding, and the greatness of your learning, condescend so low as to take a view of the words and works which your Servant hath bound up in this Volume: to give you a description thereof in metaphoricall expressions I have not Scholarship enough, but I have confidence enough to speak and publish the truth of these Experiments which I have gathered, with a diligent Eye and a painfull Hand from all such Plants as are cultivated in Gardens now in England: the truth of the Discourse contained in this Treatise, hath enboldened me to enrich it with your Noble Name; now Sir I will be accountable of the Work: I have from time to time took a due observation of that part of [Page] Gods vegetable Creatures which are placed within the compass of my Calling, and with pains, care and diligence, I have writ down the knowledg of propagating of each Plant, to help me the better in my Calling; for in viewing of it I am put in mind of those Herbs and Flowers that the Winters cold breath hath bereaved of life, or otherwise I might forget them though I might know them very well formerly: they are so infinite in their number, so various in their nature, that my Head cannot carry in mind what Experiments my Eye and Hand hath seen and done without the help of my Pen: upon this account I have set down these Observations which I know to be true, and I doubt not but it is a laudable Piece: now I think fit to publish it to the World for the advancement of Gods Creatures, and for the good of my self and others that shall put it in practice, that it may be a rule to guide the ignorant, and confirm the judgement of those that have good experience. The reason why I undertook this Work is this; I have made diligent enquiry after such Books of such Authors as might help me in my Practice, and I could find very few, and for those that are they did not answer my desires, because they only treated of the use and vertue of Herbs, the beauty, variety and preheminence of Flowers, the goodness and profit of Fruit-Trees, but they have written little or nothing as to the practicall part of the advancement of the nature and growth of Herbs, Flowers, and Trees; and for that which is written, seems to me, and other Men which have experience, as fancies, dreams, and conceits which might come into their heads as they were sitting in their Studies; for I and others have found (by wofull experience) that their direction concerning the propagating of any Plant, to be more hurtfull than usefull; but this is not my intended Discourse, for in the ensuing Treatise, I have spoken little against Authors, and took less from them; for mine is the Gardeners practicall part, which hath never been written by any, and having good [Page] experience therein (a talent God hath given me to improve) I think it not fit to lay it up, but to unfold my Napkin, that it may contribute to a publick good.

I further humbly conceive, that it was my duty to dedicate it to you before any other whatsoever, because I was a Plant nourished up within the pale of your habitation, and I hope not altogether unfruitfull: yet considering I was nursed up with your bounty, preserved with your love and care, then the fruit is no more mine but yours worthy Sir, and I know it is very usefull for all as have a desire of such a Work as tendeth to the propagating of Plants, wherein is abundance of excellent things both for food, medicable and physicall Arts for the use and comfort of mankind, that God in all things may be glorified; every sensible man knoweth this, and he hath so much reason (if he will but set his understanding awork) whereby he can discern the wisdome of a Creator, in forming such a harmony of Creatures, and in giving of them such various operations in their severall natures, and that all things are so ordained that it shall be no way usefull without knowledge and labour: then let all degrees of men know, whether they be high or low, rich or poor, they ought to labour either in body or mind, that they may some way or other cooperate and contribute to the common good, or else they are unworthy of the blessings of this life: yet all men desire a good name, with reputation and honour, whether they are deserving yea or no.

Now my counsell is to all such, that they will look upon you, worthy Sir, as an example of all good endeavours, (to wit) your great love, care, and diligent search after the knowledge of those Plants which are mentioned in this Book, and that they will take notice of your more estimable vertues, as constance in times of distraction, such a setled devotion in times of faction, such lowliness of mind in such heighth of Estate: much more my eyes and ears have [Page] gathered from your eminent parts which my Pen cannot express.

And Sir, let me intrude farther on your patience, to acquaint you with this Treatise, wherein I have faithfully declared the way of contriving, modelizing and situation of a Garden of Pleasure, with artificiall Knots to be amplified therein, for the variety of delight, pleasure and contentment of all noble and ingenious persons. I have given rules and directions for the advancement of a physicall Garden and a Kitchin Garden, and for each of these I have given a right information, how each Herb, Flower and Tree in particular is to be propagated in its own nature; also Experiments of alteration, ingemination in the fructition, or by conviction, with varieties, properties and beauties appertaining to Plants either for food, physick or pleasure; and I suppose it cannot be altogether unwelcome to you and the rest of the Nobility of this Nation, if they take into their consideration, those excellent effects that I shew from the practice of a skilfull Gardener, as Fruit so desirable, Herbs so vertuous, Flowers so beautifull, how delightfull all these are placed in uniform ranks, whose beauteous lustre beautifies the Banks, the Earths Cabinet, wherein is its chiefest treasure and School of Divinity: on the contrary, by reason of the ignorance of the Gardener in artificiall work, Noblemen are deprived of their pleasure, their minds are discontented, and the place is disgraced, if in propagating of Plants they will follow old errors, by reason of the dulness of their brains, and stubbornness of their wills, which will not let reason work, to know the times and the seasons, the difference in Climates, the mixture, the operations of the Earth, and the vast difference in the vertue of Plants; for want of these Observations the owner is deprived of his profit and earnest expectations of fruit, which cannot choose but be a trouble to Master and Gardener: to prevent these dangers I give this my testimony, which is a true relation [Page] how Plants may be propagated and made fruitfull without any sensible error, it being some part of the best invention of my lean brain; I now right worthy Sir recommend it to you as yours, and my self as obliged to you by the Law of nature and gratitude, submit my self to your loyall will, and shall study the remainder of my dayes as now I do, how I may be truly worthy for to be

Your Worships in all humble service to be commanded whilest I have a being. Stephen Blake.

THE PREFACE TO THE READER, Declaring why this TREATISE Was written, the use and profit of it.

[Page]

READER,

INcomparable are the works of the eternal God, the Creator of all things that live, move, or have any being; for by his Wisdome he formed the world of a composition of Elements, and of those Elements he created all kind of Creatures, and man being a Creature of the expresse Image of his Creator, it pleased God his Creator to give him power to rule and govern all Creatures else, and man having reason given him to exercise himself therein, then it is reason that man should be accountable to God of what improvement he hath made of that measure of knowledge which was given him; then it followeth by consequence, that he which cannot give a reason for the judgement which he holdeth, and the actions [Page] which he doth, that man is without reasonable knowledge, and if he die so, the end of that man is miserable: Then it fits the time, the place and the work, that I give you some reasons why I writ this Treatise, and a brief account of what it is, and what the use and profit of it will be, or otherwise I shall condemn my self to be one of those miserable men. Reason at the first set my understanding awork, to know to what end I was made, presently the Word told me, and Reason confirmed it, that I was made to set forth the greatnesse and the goodnesse of God in his wonderfull works he hath set before me, and unless I should blind my eyes by winking at the light of Nature, I could not chuse but see the wisdome of a Creator in forming the whole Creation, and in giving such a Decree that all his work must once come to a period; but whilst it hath a being underneath the Sun, it must be in actual labour according to its course of Nature; nay the Sun it self never resteth, but still is running of a race to enlighten a dark World; the Moon goeth her circuits, the governing of the Sea and mans body; for the observation of times and seasons, the Stars and Planets are alway travelling of their circuits; the Wind passeth to and fro and never abideth in one place, the Air is continually moving in and out at the nostrils of all living Creatures; it is that which giveth life, beauty, vertue vertue and perfection to all sensible and unsensible Creatures: the fresh Waters are alwayes ascending and descending through the Air and the Earth for the preservation of the whole Creation: The Clouds are continually riding on the wings of the Wind, the dropping of their moisture to stop the mouth of a thirsty Earth: The Sea hath no rest, but is at all times ebbing or flowing: The whole body of the Earth hath such motions, operations by assimulations, which doth give nourishment to all Plants therein; the fire is alwayes craving and never satisfied; the Stones are in a posture of growth for the increase of their number, the perfecting [Page] of their nature; the innumerable company of Vegetables spread over the face of the earth, do participate, draw and contract into their several natures, the operations of the teeming womb of the Earth; the endless and hidden company of Fish in the boundless Sea, have an order and discipline according to their kinds, they can discern what tendeth to the good or evil of their life: The universality of Fowls, according to their distinct kinds, have unity and copulation one with another, they know how for to build their nests, and to provide for their young: The Worms know the times and the seasons, they provide for the Winter in the Summer, they will not engender but with their fellow-creature: The numberlesse and powerfull hosts of Beasts have a government, whereby they know their Superiour and Inferiour, they are offensive and defensive, they know their prey and pasture, and have generation one with another. And lastly, according to Creation, is the harmony of Properties, Phisiognomies, Languages, Speeches, Actions, Judgements; of the innumerable and triumphant Army of men, which by reason and labour subdues and brings to their use and subjection all creatures else, they multiply by conception. These are the humane labours wherein all things work according to their several natures; now I communicated with my self, how to know the difference betwixt men and bruits, I found in respect of gemination, appetites, sleeping, waking, wrath, lusts, diseases, seeing, hearing, beginning and ending; what befalleth the body of the beasts, befalleth the body of man, as the one dieth so dieth the other; yea they have one breath, all are of the dust, and turn to the dust again, and man hath no preheminence over a beast save this, that man hath a spirit that goeth upward, which giveth him a spiritual understanding, whereby he can discern the work and will of God and his own duty, and he is able to give a reason for each, which maketh him a reasonable creature: But all men are not thus able to give a reason for that, yet all men have a spirit, but that spirit (by the generality of men) is kept in subjection [Page] to the flesh, for it must not labour no more than for the satisfying of the same; these men are unreasonable men, for they have only a knowledge, and so hath the beast, For the ox knoweth his owner, and the asse his masters crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider, Isa. 1. 3. So it is plain and evident, that man with a bare knowledge of those things which necessity and custome hath taught him, without a spiritual consideration, and a temporal knowledge of the several workings of the course of nature under the Sun, is no better than the Ox and the Ass that knoweth their owner and his crib. Now let thee and me consider this, it is unconsideratenesse that undoes worldly men, for without consideration accompanied with reason and labour, no man can understand the use of external things which are visible every moment to the sight, how then shall a man understand eternal things which are invisible in the Heaven of Heavens, where no mortal eye can approach, but by an extraordinary means of reasoning and labouring betwixt the body and the spirit: The generality of men are far from this spiritual understanding, for they have no reason but what custome hath taught them, no faith but what is builded on other mens foundations: The discovery is this, Let the custome be never so evil and hainous in the sight of God and good men, yet if it be but a general one they will follow it, and for a wise man to perswade them to the contrary, he were as good to throw feathers against the wind, or shoot arrows at the Moon: And for their faith, let it be never so contrary to natural reason, never so false to spiritual understanding, yet they will keep to it, and lay it on the Clergy mans shoulders, whether they are able to bear it yea or no, they will venture all and learn nothing; as simple passengers do that are going over the Seas for a far Countrey, when they are aboard, there they lie like the ballast not knowing whither they are going, nor will they search out by reason how Mariners guide the Ship with Globe, Map, Crosse-staff, Scoul, Rudder and Compasse, why then for all they know the Pilot may be a Devil to carry them [Page] to a burning Sodom, as well as a Saint to convey them to a glorious Jerusalem: Thus stands the case with ignorant and dull spirited men in their passage towards eternal life; and it is plainly seen, that they manage their affairs so in this life, by imprisoning the spirit in the corrupt body of clay, that will not let their inventions to work no farther than filthy lucre doth draw them; truly the reason is this, the flesh and the Devil warreth against the soul, and bringeth the natural and spiritual understanding into this total ectipse of utter darkness.

Again, my soul wondreth to see how laborious carnal men are in bodily labour, and in the workings of the spirit they are so idle, dull and stupid, that they will not open an eye or an ear to give wisdome any entertainment, can they give a reason for this? Sure they cannot. Now I wish all men would study even as I do, how they may be able to give a reason for their words and actions; the truth of it is, the god of this world hath so blinded their eyes that they cannot see the reasons of the working of the course of nature, nor how they labour for that which they do not enjoy: They will part with their understandings before they will part with their money: See what Solomon saith of them, Prov. 1. 19. So are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gain, which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. These words are of efficacy enough to perswade me, that those men that look no higher than their barns, no farther than their fels and flocks, no nigher than their chests and apparel, are men without wisdome or spiritual understanding if so bruit, then I think it is reason man should labour to obtain wisdome: For wisdome is better than rubies, and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it, Prov. 8. 11. So Reader, let this wise Kings counsel, and my weak argument serve to prove why man should labour for wisdome and reason, which is to understand the working of the course of nature, as God hath fitted, created and [Page] ordained it. Much more I have to say, and I could have enlarged upon each of these principles but for passing the bounds of my Preface, and being too troublesome to the Reader.

Now I shall conclude the introductory part with this advice to all sleepy headed, ignorant and customary men, that they will take the Wise mans counsel, as he saith, Eccles. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest.

Truly the weighty considerations of these words, and the perswasions of reason was the grand cause of my studying this work, and with truth and honesty I have finished it, which told me I must publish it to the world; and as my duty I have done it for the preventing of publick dangers, not for the gaining of filthy lucre, or purchasing of vain glory, but for the gaining of a free conscience, and purchasing of the society and love of just and wise men: Let these few reasons serve to acquaint thee why I writ and published this work.

Now I will give you a brief account what it is, and what the use and profit will be.

For asmuch as divers men have took in hand to set forth in order the perfect way of propagating of those excellent, amiable, desirable, medicinable, physical, profitable and mysticall Arts, which are derived from the hand, and are placed within the compasse of a Gardeners Calling, those Authours have written many large and methodical Volumes upon this subject, and have greatly furnished our Students with such Books, but little or nothing have they given unto the practical man, that which is set down is too dark for their apprehension; yet let me not judge hardly of these Authours meanings, for I assure [Page] my self, had they had so much of the practical part, as I have, that they would have delivered their Art in a great deal better method than I have done, in expressing themselves in the quintessence of wit and refinings of Scholarship unto the learned, which would have fitted their minds, as well as the apparel fitteth the body; so that they circumvent the apprehension with their learned style, they make those helplesse rules which they set down for to passe blamelesse, whereas if they did illustrate in their writings, a weak capacity might comprehend what is incredulous or improbable, also what is laudable and full of practice.

But whereas the vulgar sort of people have tired their apprehensions, with the perusing of such Treatises as are so full of Oratory of words, and so filled and varnished (as it were) with Quirks. Quiblets and Paradoxes, speaking little absolutely, but imaginations very obscure and promiscuously written and composed together, running far wide of the practice, and for the major part suspitious and incredulous, seeming to men of experience as an Emblem, so that the Studies of them which study naturall work, and deliver it in methodicall expressions, prove unfruitfull unto the unlearned sort of men, and I my self being wanting of Scholarship, had a sympathy with those in their wants, which caused me for to write this plain and extemporary Work in the following Treatise, which was meerly drawn from the very practicall part, that it might red ound to an extraordinary and publick profit, &c. which I suppose will be as followeth:

First of all, there is the expert way for the situation of a Garden of Pleasure, so that in it you may have large, sound, plenty, beautifull and wholsome fruit, which is accomplished by the observation of the year as the chiefest part, next in the laying of the ground for to keep it fruitfull, declaring what errors are in it to be observed, and how they may be prevented with [Page] great and easie Rules, how Gardens may be laid in descents, that it may be best for to draw or amplifie every Knot prescribed therein by the most severe, commendable, and workman-like way as may be imagined.

Secondly, There is presented to thy view plenty of Knots and whole Garden plats, and such as are meerly inacted and sprung from my own Study, yet I will not say but some of them have reference to some other thing; yet let me tell you that if they were the same, yet they were worthy of the Impression after my own way and method of drawing of them, for I have given an easie scale to each particular Knot, which sheweth plainly what each Plat doth contain, being drawn upon the ground, and that no other Author hath done.

Thirdly, You have an Inventory of all Plants cultivated in Gardens now in England, and those are divided into three generall parts; the first is a Garden of Pleasure, consisting of Flowers and curtous Trees: the second is a Physicall Garden, describing how it ought to be planted with physicall Simples, as Herbs and Trees of that nature; the third is a Kitchin Garden, where it is most properly shown, how such a Garden should be planted with salletting Herbs, Pulse and Roots.

The profit of this Work will be more than I can or will stand to reckon up to him that doth put it in practice: 1. In that thou canst not think of any Plant but presently thou hast my judgement for the propagating of it, which I assure thee are certain and true Rules: 2. You have a Catalogue of Plants, also fit places for the planting of them in; with apt times and seasons for the sowing, planting and replanting of all Plants whatsoever. If this Catalogue seem indifferent to thy judgement, yet it will turn to thy profit, if it be but only for to put thee in mind of particulars.

Lastly, What the lack of these things may be to the practicall man, a wise man will understand; therefore I shall cease to give any farther information, and for any vindication of the [Page] Work, I shall not give it, let it vindicate it self: so I leave this my testimony, and conclude my Preface, resting a servant unto all men, as I am

Thine in truth and love. S. B.

THE GARDNERS PRACTICE in Preparation for a Garden of Pleasure.

[Page]

First for the Situation.

IF a Man would have a Garden situated according to his desire, it would be so, that it might be shelving or declining on the South-East Sun; so that the Sun at its first rising may reflect upon the Garden, for the vanishing of vapours, dispelling of mists, and quallifying of cold air and frosts, which oftentimes perish Herbs and Flowers in their first gemination, and nipping of fruits at the first knitting, which causeth them to fall at an untimely birth; or if you please, before they come to perfection.

The air is farther to be observed for Plants that are at their full growth. Being planted in a bad air, though the soyl be never so rich, yet the Herbs are never so vertuous, the Flowers never so beautifull, the fruit of the fruit-trees is never so sound, as those that are planted in a clear air. Yet seeing that all men cannot obtain this, though they have never so earnest a desire, therefore let the Inhabiter learn how to dispence with his own habitation, so that he may make the best improvement that may be upon all advantages, for the making of his Garden fruitfull. And let the Purchaser learn, that in purchasing, the choice of air is the chiefest thing to be looked after: for if the soyl be bad, it may be improved with labour and soyl, and made rich: or if it should be so barren, that it could not be made rich under two or three years time, by any art in digging and dunging of it; yet a man may remove thir barren earth and bring good mould in its stead; or otherwise it may be laid a top of the other: so a man may have a Garden fruitfull, if the air be good, with industry and charge. But if the air be bad, all the cost, care and skill that [Page] may be used, cannot change it, or remove it for a good; Therefore the air is the chiefest to be looked upon for health, pleasure and wealth.

Secondly, What means is best to be used for the situation of Gardens of pleasure, according to every mans respective place, which is the modelizing and contriving of it.

The modelizing of a Garden, is to compose it of the bigness according to the cost intended for it, in the making of it up, and for the keeping of it afterwards. This rightly understood, the second thing in modelizing, is to raise it by a direct square, from that part of the house where it is appointed to be; for if it be not took by a true square, there will be a confusion in all the work that is to be done in that groundplat, intended for a Garden: besides that it will never answer the face of the house, but all things will seem to stand askew, when there is any prospect took of it from a window, or a Balcony of the said house.

The ready way to prevent these mistakes is thus: having appointed the place and the quantity of ground, according to the former directions; then lay a line upon one side thereof, as I told you, by a direct square from the foundation of the house; then look how many yards you will have your Garden in length, so many yards measure out by the line side, beginning at the house: and when you are come to the end of the account of your measure, there stick down a stake; so done lay another line across at that said stake, which must be one corner of your Garden, in that corner place the square, so that one part of it agree with the first line; then cause the second line to come exactly straight by the eye of the other part of the square: this observed, measure out so many yards as you would have the Garden in breadth; and if it be to be laid at a full square, then measure just as many as before: this done you are come where the next corner must be, there stick down a stake in all respects as you did at the first corner; then take up your first line, and lay it across as you did before, making of it agree with the square. Do thus till you come to that place where you begun, leaving a stake at every corner, which will stand at a just square, which is the first and chiefest part of modelizing of a Garden of pleasure.

[Page] Secondly, Lay two lines from each corner cross-wayes to the next corner opposite to it, and where these lines cross, there is the center of the Garden-plat, and in that place set another stake; let this stake and the rest be drove in stifly, so that they may not be easily pulled up; and also let these stakes be as straight, and as long, and stand as upright as it may be possible; for if the Garden-plat be unlevell, you will have an occasion to raise your lines by these stakes, as I shall shew you afterward in the levelling of a Garden.

Thirdly, A form for a Garden-plat thus laid out, what remains but that I make some queries, what kind of earth it is, and what air and shelter it hath, and what work may be intended to be amplified in this space of ground: but I will first speak of the improvement; so that in the future ages the Garden may be fruitfull, and then of draft-work.

The improveing of a thing is to bring it from barrenness to fruitfulness; for barrenness is a disease, and improvement is a cure; therefore I must know the disease, before I can give directions for the cure. To be brief, if I know what earth it is, and what place and manner it lyeth in, reason telleth me the cause of barrenness, and experience teacheth me the cure. viz. If it be a cold wet and clayey ground, then contrive it with high walks, which in the making of them will make motes: but if the Garden should be large and spacious, and springs lye in the middle, then dig trenches where the walks of the Garden are intended, and lay in those trenches stones and wheat-straw; it is no matter whether it be in any order yea or no; it will convey the small springs and issues out of the earth, better than those gutters which are laid by a Mason with lime and sand. Yet further observe, that stones thus laid in the ground, if they have not a vent for that water which it receiveth, they are of no use: therefore lay them so, that they may be somewhat falling from the center of the Garden, to those motes afore-named, or to any other respective place.

The second cure which is more available for stubborn and barren earth is this: levell it about Michaelmas or Candlemas, when opportunity shall best serve: the next Midsummer following or thereabout dig the quarters at a spit depth, casting [Page] off the stones and roots out of it, breaking the clods; which will be then as dry as dust. Now consider what good this will do; and if you please I will name some of those benefits to you. First, The Sun by reason of the looseness of the earth, killeth all the weeds that are displanted there, and it breaketh the heart of the stubbornness of the earth. Secondly, The rain mollifieth it, and maketh it to shiver; whereas before if it were digged in the wet time, it bindeth it and maketh it the stronger. Thirdly, The reason of this loosness is, the air hath recourse and influence into it, whereby it purgeth it, and maketh it fruitfull: for let me premise a word or two; earth and water are that whereof bodies are made; but air is that which giveth life and vertue to all things that are sensible and insensible. I cannot stay here, but must insist upon that promise which I made, touching the levelling of a Garden.

I am come now to the levelling of a Garden, either by descents, or a true levell-fall, and that which is better than either is a true water level: the last of these shall be the first I will speak of before I give you the directions. If you please to look back into the second Page, there you shall find that I spoke of modelizing, and I also gave directions for it; that is, to leave the stakes standing at the corners and the centers thereof. This observed, here followeth the levelling of it.

First of all find out the highest corner thereof by your eye; then go to that place with a water-levell, and they are placed like a levelled Canon, against that corner cross-wayes opposite against you, which is generally the lowest part of a piece of ground: your levell thus placed, fill it with water, so that it may stand at both ends alike; then lay your eye to the uppermost part of the levell, as if you were shooting at a mark; take your sight exactly on the furthermost stake, and mark the place well: do so likewise of that in the center; then strain a line from that place where your levell lyeth, to that place where you fixt your eye upon the lowermost stake; then consider how many yards, foot or handfuls that is from the ground, just half so many set another line below that; again strain it as far towards the upper corner at that height, [Page] as the ground will give you leave, which if the ground be of a true fall, before it will be just at the center: be it more or be it less, take your gage from the uppermost line; then fasten it, and stick some pegs down as may be just as high as the line; so done, you may take away both lines, and do so cross-wayes again, leaving pegs in like manner. Now understand, that earth which riseth above the pegs being brought down, will make good what is wanting there, and abate what is too much in the other: so the Garden-plat will be levell, without bringing of any to it, or carrying any from it. I think this experiment would sometimes have saved many a Noblemans purse, and a Gardners credit.

Next for laying a Garden by a true fall: that is done with great ease, if you know how to levell it, or did observe what directions I gave you for it. You may remember what was said for setting of lines, to make the Garden of a levell; then it is no more but to set the line at the lowermost stake, a foot or a yard, more or less under the levell-mark, according as you would have your Garden fall; and this bringeth it exactly to pass, if you observe to lay cross lines, as was said of the levell-work, for casting the ground by.

Next for laying Gardens in the ascents, it must be done in the selfsame manner, one quarter after another levelled, as I prescribed for a whole Garden, according as the ground will rise, either one yard or two yards, more or less, with half paces, or steps to walk up out of one part of the Garden into the other. I have more and greater things in hand for the advancement of Garden-plats, either for pleasure, physicall or profitable, viz.

How to levell ground to make it fruitfull.

How to divide ground into quarters for knots.

The expert way of laying of Grass-work.

The manner of setting of hard quick-set and Poll-work.

The ready way to make borders and beds according to the new art.

The way of purifying of earth, for to receive curious plants.

The best way for laying of walks, either with Grass, gravell or Taris-morter.

[Page] The way of making high walks and mounts.

How to make bowling Allyes with great ease and little cost.

Rules for cutting of a wilderness and maze-work.

Also one hundred proper drafts, as were never so drawn by any, with rules and directions how they may be amplified in the ground, with an information and a farewell on them in verse.

The advancement of a physicall Garden by improving the earth.

Preparations for Indian plants.

Contrivance for a physick-Garden for profit and pleasure.

Means for the saving of plants from hurtfull worms.

Errors discovered in the practice of digging.

The means of improving a Kitchin-Garden.

The ready way to cleanse and destroy weeds.

Seasons for digging for improvement.

All these experiments I shall not fail to bring forth, if God permit me life.

But what remaineth at the present, but that you modelize and contrive your Garden-plats, by these few directions which I gave you, or others, which you may better like of; and also to beautifie them with such knots as follow hereafter of my invention, or those that may be invented by your self, which probably may please your fancy better than mine.

[Page]

1 This Figure represents Lines how they ought to be layde before you begin to drawe a large Knott but especially that following, And allso note that these Lines are not to be stirred till the Knott be finisht, and so by the use of these Lines and two lines more you may draw any Knott. This figure is supposed to contayne. 18: yards square & allowing. 21: Inches to each footpath.

[Page]

[Page]

2

[Page]

[Page]

3

a Scale by one foote Measure

[Page]

[Page]

4

This is a Scale of 20 Foote

[Page]

[Page]

5 Heere I have made the true Lovers Knott
To ty it in Mariage was never my Lott.

This Scale will serve for 3: other Knots folowing. a Scale of 32: Foote

[Page]

[Page]

6 Running Drafts

[Page]

[Page]

7

[Page]

[Page]

8 Cross Diamonds in the paper I doe frame
And in the ground I can draw the same.

[Page]

[Page]

9

This Scale by 9: Inch Measure

[Page]

[Page]

10

This Scale is 18: Foote

[Page]

[Page]

11

a Scale by Foote Measure

[Page]

[Page]

12

by the foote Measure

[Page]

[Page]

13 Four severall Quarters fit for to be drawne with herbe or box for to set Flowers there in.

These workes neede no Scale being so plaine

[Page]

[Page]

14 Heere is other foure fit for the same purpos as the last

This by 19: Inches page weere. This by twentie.

[Page]

[Page]

15 This Knot may be drawne with foure Lines onely as it is heere

This Scale by prescribed. one foote

[Page]

[Page]

16

It is by twenty two a Scale Inches Measure

[Page]

[Page]

17

This Scale by 10: Inch Measure

[Page]

[Page]

18

a Scale of 28 foote

[Page]

[Page]

19

a Scale of 30 foote

[Page]

[Page]

20 a Scale by the foote etc: Also a forme how to lay your Lines.

[Page]

[Page]

21 This is a good patern for a Wilderness as well as for a Quarter of Herbes.

a Scale of 24 foote

[Page]

[Page]

22 a Labyrinth

This scale by two foote and two Inches

[Page]

[Page]

23 a forme how to lay Lines for the folowing worke.

[Page]

[Page]

24 The Flower of Deluse Ovall. Heere I have in the paper the Ovalls so round put And in the Ground the same I can Cut.

a Scale of 40 foote

[Page]

[Page]

25

a Scale by the two foote Measure

[Page]

[Page]

26 The halfe Moones.

Every black and white in this Scale is two foote and two Inches vpon ye worke Grass worke.

[Page]

[Page]

23 a forme how to lay Lines for the folowing worke.

[Page]

[Page]

24 The Flower of Deluse Ovall. Heere I have in the paper the Ovalls so round put And in the Ground the same I can Cut.

a Scale of 40 foote

[Page]

[Page]

25

a Scale by the two foote Measure

[Page]

[Page]

26 The halfe Moones.

Every black and white in this Scale is two foote and two Inches vpon ye worke Grass worke.

[Page]

[Page]

27 The Figure of a whole Garden.

This ye a foote and half.

[Page]

[Page]

28 a plaine Ovall for Flowers.

by: 15: Inches Grass worke

[Page]

[Page]

29 This is the Triangle Ovall.

a Scale by two foote.

[Page]

[Page]

30 a plaine Wilderness.

a Scale of Yards.

[Page]

[Page]

THE GARDNERS PRACTICE in the Garden of Pleasure: in the knowledge of propagating, preserving and maintaining of Flowers, and curious Trees therein contained.

First of Flowers.

Amorantus: or Christerious Purantus.

THere are divers names and divers colours of them, but one in nature. Their names are thus; Amorantus purple, Amorantus scarlet, Amorantus cleery; many more that I'le not stand to speak of. Now I'le give you a description of them; Amorantus is like the Princes feather in shape; it flowreth in the Spring, and it is sown in the same, and seedeth the same year, and dyeth presently after: the seed is of a purple colour; this is for no use but only for the beauty and preheminency of the Flower, and therefore we nurse it in Gardens in England, and hold it in great estimation. It is supposed that the seed of this Flower came first from the Indies, and they call it there Ʋtter: it is the Flower of which they make the scarlet-dye; the Heathens with the juyce of this Flower will make their skins look as if they were imbrued in blood. Now I shall speak something to the propagating of it.

First, The season for sowing of it is in the beginning of March, on this manner; we make a hot bed with horse-dung, as we do for Purslin; then we sow a quantity of this seed upon that bed, setting glasses over it, covering the bed with Mats: this done, it cometh up the sixth day, so soon as it is come up, you must give it a little air in the middle of the day, covering of it again at night; water it moderately as you see occasion: this carefully done, it will grow to be half a foot [Page] high by May; then you may transplant it from these hot beds into borders or pots, or other places wherein you take most delight, sheltring of it for the first week, till it be well rooted again: this done, it will come to flower by the latter end of May. There is little or no experiment to be used about this plant, because it dyeth yearly; therefore it is only propagated in its own nature as aforesaid; so I leave the ordering of it to your care, and proceed to the next.

Anstartion indecom.

It is known by no other name, and it is a Flower that is raised every year. If you will have it every year, I describe it to you thus; it hath a seed something like a pepper-corn; this seed when it is sown, it cometh up something like the honey-suckle, and flowreth in June, and it is a Flower of great rarity amongst the Gentry and Gardeners of this Land. Now followeth the ordering of it.

The season fit for it is in March, in the encrease of the Moon; the place for it is to make a hot bed, covering of it pretty thick with mould; let this bed lyeten dayes, covering of it with a little straw to keep in the heat, and at the third dayes end take off your straw, and set some bended sticks over the bed; then prick in your seeds at a handfull distance; then cast a Mat on the top of your sticks; this done you shall see your seed to come up the fifth day, as I told you before. Now take notice that you must give these plants some air once a day, if the weather be warm: this done, you may transplant them in the middle of May into the out-borders of your Garden of pleasure, there setting of them at half a foot distance, and one chase in a border: this done, it will flower, and the flower will keep fresh long on the stalk; it seldome beareth seed in England without great care and industry. I should speak much more of it, but that it is of a tickle nature, as to the alteration of it in germination, which I have been informed by others, and being not well acquainted with it, I shall cease to give any arguments to the contrary, and leave those experiments with you which are set down.

[Page]

Angulshenelus.

It was never called by any other name: I'am not very well acquainted with this Flower, and therefore I shall not affirm any thing of experience; but take this description, as I received it from a friend: he saith this Herb or Flower, whether you please to call it, hath such a property that there is none like it, viz. saith he, when this Flower hath its seed full ripe in its self, then if you go to it and touch it with your hand, presently the Cod that the seed lyeth in breaketh, whatever he be that toucheth it: from the nature of this Flower, viz. saith he, I have gone to one that hath been counted for a Maid, and I have desired her to touch the Cod A cunning invention. wherein lay the seed of this Flower; what if I should, saith she, why then, saith he, if you have lost your Maiden-head, then this Cod will break at your touching of it; she cannot believe that, but boldly toucheth it, then it breaketh, and she is convinced of her fault and confesseth, thinking the seed were sensible of her fact; by this saith the Author I have found out my desire, as to the knowing whether a woman hath lost her Maiden-head or not: this I thought worthy of the reciting. Now I will give you a description of it.

It is much like your purple-valaren in shape, but in colour Descrip. of a whitish green, the Flower being of a blewish colour: it never groweth above a foot high, and it flowreth in August, and hath a hundred seeds in a Cod, and it is much like Rose-campion seed.

It is raised of the seed in the Moneth April, in the same Ordering. manner and place as you do your Clove-gilliflowers, as you may see hereafter, and at the Moneths end it will be fit to be transplanted into the borders amongst orher Flowers, or you may let it stand in the same beds if you please: this done, it will grow up and flower as aforesaid, and when the winter cometh the top-branches dye, and at the top of the root remaineth a small spring being well shelterd, but be as carefull as you will, the third year dyeth both root and branch, saith the same Author.

[Page]

Batchelors Buttons.

Descrip. It is a Flower that runneth on the ground like Water cresses, with stalks like Pease, with a thick round furrey leaf like Balm, but only it hath a bright green colour; the Flower is a round double Flower of the colour of a white and red speckled Cornation, but something less; this Flower seldome leaveth any seed behind, the branches of it dye when winter cometh, and springeth again in the spring.

Now for the propagating of it; if you have it not already in your Garden, then you must procure slips of it, not that it hath slips from the branches which may be set to grow, but they must be such slips as have both root and branch, and such are easie to be had where they are growing, for they spread mightily in the ground; now having got such slips as I told you of, prepare a border, either a border round a quarter of herbs, or an out-border of your Garden, as I told you in the former part of this Book, then set your line at the uppermost part of the border, then your slips a hands breadth asunder only one chase in a border, for they encrease exceedingly, this must be done in March or August, those that were set in August will flower early, but those that are set in the Spring will not flower till July or August, those that are set in August will flower in May, June and July; now observe, that as soon as they have done flowering you must cut off the top-branches with a pair of Garden-shears, then it will spring presently after; and take notice, this Flower never groweth out of a Garden being once planted, though the old stock dyeth yet it sendeth forth young shoots in its stead, which causeth them to spread mightily; and therefore if you will keep them in uniform manner, you must transplant them once in two or three years, as I directed you before.

Bee-Flower.

It is so called because it beareth a Flower in shape like a Bee; whether I may properly call it a Flower or the seed I'le not dispute, but such a like thing in shape and colour; it putteth [Page] forth at the time of seeding, therefore I call it a Bee-Flower: I shall cease to give you any further description of it, because I think it not worth the labour.

If you have a desire to raise them, if you can procure the seed, it is easily done by sowing of them in good mould in the Spring time, with other Flowers in borders or beds, setting a mark where you sow them, you shall see them come up with a sharp leaf, and in June or July they bring forth seed, and dye the same year: I have spoken with some which have been mightily taken with this Flower.

Balm of Christ.

Or if you please the hand of Christ; the Romans in former time were wont when they found any excellent Herb or Flower, to dedicate it to their Saints, and call it by their names, so I conceive that the name of this Flower was derived from some Romish Author because it hath this title, and indeed it is a great rarity to see a Flower representing the figure of a hand, as this doth when it is in the fulness of its perfection: it will be needless to describe it any further.

Now for the propagating, if you can procure the seed of it at the beginning of April, then sow it, but with a great deal of care and curiosity, viz. First find out the warmest place in your Garden, and there make a bed of Barley-straw and Bran, then cover it with fine mould three inches thick, then prick in your seeds half an inch deep, then shelter this bed a nights with a Mat, you shall have your seeds to come up the tenth day; you shall find that making of beds with Barley-straw and Bran to be the excellentest way of raising of Flowers that ever was invented, for why your beds that are made with horse-dung forceth gemination too soon, and does not continue that height which the plant was forced up, for which cause the plant decayeth, and those that are made only of earth they are too cold for outlandish plants; if you will take my counsell and sowe it after this manner before described, transplant it in May into a box of earth, and you shall have the balm of Christ to flourish in July, which is a great rarity to the beholders of this Nation: there are few experiments more to be used than have been described; it will dye [Page] when winters cold breath comes, therefore remember every year to raise it as I told you.

Bears-Ears.

By some called Rickaluses, by others French Cowslips, and purple Cowslips; it hath a leaf like your None so pretty, Descrip. very thick and jagged, and keeps green all the year, they never rise above a handfull high, only the stalk, the Flower on that stalk is much like the double Cowslip, and the Flower is not much unlike in number of leaves and in shape, but in colour they differ; the colours are these, the pink colour, the scarlet, the morey colour, and the purple, these naturally flower all at one time, and that is in March and April: these are Flowers of great estimation, and a great many of curiosities are used about them, in the propagating of them from seed and slip.

Now I will give you my own experience which I found true by my practice; Rickaluses are encreased by seed and slip: first of the seed, if you can get the seed of the best colours, then sowe it in a box in March or the beginning of April in speciall good mould, you must be carefull to water the seed well for the first summer, the second summer it will flower about that time as I told you before, you may let these remain in the box, so they stand not too thick where they will grow continually, you may take slips from them to transplant into other places: take notice that the putting of them inboxes is not because they will not endure the cold winter, but to have them early.

There are ordinary means for raising of them by seed and slip, the seed you may raise in beds with other Flowers, the slip is to be set in August and March in this manner; having gotten your slips prune them handsomely, and setting of them at a distance atop of a border, or by a borders side, watering of them for the first ten moneths if the season should be dry, by that time they will be rooted and come to perfection, but they flower not that year.

Bell-Flowers.

There is a white and a blew, they differ not much one [Page] from the other in nature, therefore the directions of one will serve for both: first I'le give you a description; they spring up with branches like Safforn-Crocus in the beginning of January, if the weather be not too much unseasonable, and flower in the latter end of March, the Flower is in shape like a Bell, it hath only five leaves, presently after it is flowering the stalk withereth and beareth no seed, but the root remains in the ground alwayes and springeth every year, they are a Flower numbred amongst those that have Bullous roots.

The preserving of them in their nature is thus; at any time after they are flowering you may transplant the root into new places, or set them again in the old; or if you have them not, then you may send for the root to some other place where they may be had, the place proper to set them in is in your intervails of herball or out-borders of Grass-work in this manner; make holes in your ground with a diber half a foot asunder, put in each hole a root, be sure you make not your holes too deep, for then it will keep back the Flower from coming early, it lying so low and so cold, otherwise you may get them early by putting of them in boxes and housing of them: lastly take notice that you must replant them every two year, or else the roots will grow thick and the Flower will be small.

Crows-foot.

There are single and double, there are distinct colours, as Descrip. white, red and purple, the double sort beareth a Flower something like the double stock-Gilliflower in bigness, set with many leaves like the inner part of the Emrose, it spreadeth with many stalks of two foot high, with many dark green leaves, and shaped like the Vine leaves with a weak stalk, it flowereth in July and August, and beareth its seed a little after.

The chiefest way of propagating this is of the slip, in the Moneths March or August, the slip is taken partly from the root, for the branch dyeth every year, and the slip of such branches will not take root. I shall not need to describe every particular in planting of them, the places fit for them is in the borders next the walks in your Garden at a foot distance, [Page] for they spread very much: you must save the seed of this Flower, or take of some of the slips and set, for he'le stay with you but two years, then he dyeth; you may raise it of the seed also even as you do any other ordinary Flower, and therefore I'le not stand to treat of it.

Crokus.

Of these there are two sorts, the striped Crokus and the Safforn Crokus, these are both winter Flowers, for they Descrip. flower at the beginning of February even to the latter end of March, they are a very pretty Flower, and they are so well known I need not stand to describe them, only I'le tell you what properties they have; and though it be said that all Herbs and Flowers bear seed, this I could never find to bear any, for flower, stalk and branches soon vanish after their first appearing, nothing remaineth but the root, and this root ought to be took up presently after he is flowered, which is in April, and when you have taken them up, reserve the suckers by themselves and the bearers by themselves, you may keep them in a box with a little earth a Moneth or two if you please, and plant them at your leisure.

The manner and place of planting of them: the properest place to plant them is in borders where Tulips are planted, between every Tulip-root you shall set a Crokus-root, at what time the Crokus hath done flowering a little after the Tulips will begin; we usually take up Crokus as well as Tulips every other year, because they should not lye too deep in the earth, for they'le run downwards and encrease with so many suckers that they'le be hindered of their large growth; and by having too many suckers about them, and by lying so deep in the cold earth, they'le be hindered of their early flowering, for these reasons we transplant them every year, or every other year: from the Qualon-Crokus you may save Safforn.

Lastly, Some may enquire for experiment of moloration in the nature of the plant, in ingemination there can be none, for it is out of mans element, because they are not produced of seed, but encrease of themselves by the root in the earth: now if any man should desire to alter the colour of this Flower, [Page] I think it a vanity, for no man can devise more rarity of colours than nature doth bestow in flowers; but for promoting of the nature of this or any other which springeth of a bullous-root, take these observations: First, fill some boxes of the finest mould that may be had, and as dry as may be, then put it into boxes, then set these boxes in some garret, or room, or other, where it may have the Sunne and Wind, but no rain come at it, have so much patience as to let it stand for a twelve moneth, then get Sheeps-bloud, the juyce of a Laren, Camomile, Mallows and Lapeons tails, mix these juices and Sheeps-bloud together, then water this dry earth with this substance, then take your Bullous-roots, as crotus Tulips, crown Imperials, Lillies, Snow-drops and the like, then plant them in these boxes at the times and seasons as I have directed you formerly, and anoint the roots with this substance at their planting, water them continually with the same, let them have no rain, or any kind of water else, but only this; besure they have Sunne, Wind and Air enough, for otherwise your flowers will corrupt; this done, your flowers will spring out of an exceeding large growth, and produce them very early, and I can positively say, that it will make them differ from what they were formerly. So much for that.

Crains-Bill.

It is a flower of a Bullous-root about the bigness of the top Descrip. of a mans thumb, long and flat, on one side rising with branches like great rushes spreading every way, with a stalk rising in the middle, whereon groweth the flower with a few small long leaves, hanging down of his head; it is a flower of the Spring, being once planted in a ground, there it remains: it will not be worth my labour to describe every particular of it; to be short, the time of planting of them is in April or August, the place in some out-border in a physical or a kitchin-garden, and there if they be but kept clean from hurtfull weeds, they will flower yearly and increase, so you may plant more ground with the suckers, or pleasure your friend with them.

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

Cullenbines.

There is a speckled Cullenbine and the purple Cullenbine, Descrip. the white and the blew: and many other mixt colours, which I shall not stand to name. The branches of Cullenbines die every year, and the root springeth again; the leaves are for good use for pot-herbs; and for physical uses, as you may see in Herbals; the seed of this flower doth ripen the latter end of July, and if you let it shed of it self, it will spring up again, if the earth be cleansed from weeds; so where they are once, soon the falling of the seed keepeth the Garden replenisht with them, yet the old stock dieth standing four or five years: the time for sowing of these is chiefly in August, so that they may flower timely; the place ought to be in some borders, next a privy walk; be sure you let them not stand too thick, for then they will grow small and single; let them be cleansed from weeds. Thus much may serve for the ordinary sort of Cullenbines.

Now there is a more tenderer sort, which we call the thrice double converted Cullenbine; these are not much unlike the former, but only they are much larger, and much exceeding the other in orient colour; these flower at the same time the other do, they seldom bear seed, but if you can procure either seed or slip, you shall order them, as followeth:

Prepare some fine boxes of earth, and therein sow your seed, or set your slip, having a diligent care over them afterward: by watering of the slip, and transplanting of the seedlings, sheltering of them from the frost and snow, you shall have them to flower early in the Spring: I cannot stand to set down every particular; there may be many means used to set forward the nature of them, but no way to alter the form, setting forward of the nature is but a watery substance, which I shall not speak of here, but refer it to that place where I treat concerning Cornation Gilli-flowers.

Crown-Imperial.

Crown-Imperial, or Imperial-Crown, counted the worthiest of Spring-flowers, for it flowreth at the beginning of [Page] April; now understand that there are two or three sorts, as the great Imperial, the Italian Imperial: they differ not so much, but if you know one you may know the other.

Imperials at the first coming up are so like Lillies that they Descrip. have been took for Lillies by some; they rise to three foot high, and at the very top shouteth out six flowers, hanging directly downward, above them rises sharp leaves, eight in number, sharp and small, and a handfull long, standing directly upright, which resembleth an Imperial-Crown: this flower keepeth fresh three weeks off the stalk; in the middle of the flower standeth six blewish pearls; the stalk of this flower perisheth every year after it hath born its seed, which is about the middle of June, the root remaineth in the ground, which is as big as a mans fist, yellow and round, it stinketh mightily: I need not give you any farther description.

The propagating of them is either by seed or slip: First, The seed that is raised as are Tulips (of which I treat hereafter) in the same time and place setting of the slip, is presently after his flowering, then if you have them not, you may procure them, and set them in your borders with your Tulips, betwixt every Tulip an Imperial root, so by that time your Imperials have done flowering, your Tulips will begin, so you shall have your borders to flourish all the Spring.

And not to be troublesome to you, the Imperial-roots must be removed every year, and the suckers took from the old mother, and planted in a bed by themselves at a handfull distance, and the next year you may replant them into the borders amongst your bearers, they flower the second year.

Lastly, To produce any thing by Art from this flower contrary to Nature, if it may be done upon any, it may be done upon this; for you may take the root out of the ground for a moneths space, and in that time you may water it, or anoint it with such contrary colours as you desire most to have the flower of, then this root is forc'd to participate this watery substance of contrary colours into its nature; and some think that this must force the root to bring forth a flower [Page] like those colours, like that substance that it was watered with, but I am not of that judgement; yet some alteration may be, but not according to mans expectation; for sow a Turnip in a sandy ground, which is that which his nature requires, and sow it in the rankest ground that is, and it is a Turnip still: so Imperial roots being set in these substances, it will be an Imperial still; and therefore they are but conceits, and not experiments, which I can affirm for truth; yet some alterations will be, and many times contrary to what a man doth expect, every seed will spring up to be the like of his mother, yet some difference may be in shape and forme, as one Physiognomy of a brother may differ from another, and that is not as man pleaseth. Let this suffice.

Cornflag.

This is a flower which springeth of a bullous-root, rising with many leaves two foot high in the shape of a sword, in Descrip. the middle of those rise in the branch with shorter leaves, one in the same forme as the other; this beareth a flower resembling the Flowerdeluce in shape, a matter of six leaves, and every leaf is of three fingers breadth, purple at the top, and blew towards the bottome; this flower is in his prime in May, and the seed is ripe in June, then dieth the branch, the root remaineth in the ground, and springeth yearly.

The ordering of them I shall set down in few words: First, If you have them not, you shall procure the seed in the moneth of August, then you shall sow it in this manner; Prepare a border of good mould under some wall, where it may be sheltered from the cold Winter, your bed being finely raked, cast your seed on it of such a thickness, as reason shall best direct you, then riddle a quantity of fine mould, and cast upon these seeds, so that they may be covered half an inch deep; this done, you shall see your seed spring up a matter of three weeks after with a single blade, shelter these all the Winter there, and in the latter end of March replant them into the out-borders of your garden of pleasure at a foot distance, one range in a border, the second year they will [Page] flower: the fourth year you shall replant them again, for otherwise they will grow so thick that it will spoil their flowering: and for planting of them, take slips which are took from the root in the moneth of March, and set them one chase in a border, as I told you of seedlings. Thus much for our English Corn-flag.

There is also the Indean Corn-flag, which is of a more statelier growth, a curiouser colour, and tenderer in nature, but it flowereth at the same times, and is sown and planted at the same seasons as the former, only with a great deal more care, for the seed, root or branch will not endure the cold Winter, therefore we sow it in boxes, transplant it into others, and by putting these boxes into houses in the Winter, giving of them air in seasonable dayes, we raise and preserve this Italian Corn-flag: now concerning any experiment of alteration, I never could find any man of such an ambitious desire as to do any such thing, but for the setting forward of the nature of it, water it with such a water wherein hath been Sheeps-dung and Pigeons-dung: So I cease and proceed to the worthiest of flowers, which is

Cornation Gilliflowers.

Of Gilliflowers there are divers kinds, as the Cornation-Gilliflower, Of Kinds. the Clove-gilliflower, the Wall-Gilliflower; these I shall referre to another place, and speak here only of the Cornation-Gilliflower, which for beauty and delicious smels, and excellent properties deserves letters of gold. I wonder that Solomon did not write of this Flower, when he compared his Spouse to the Lilly of the valley: but whether there were any of these flowers in those dayes, or in those places we will not enquire, but proceed to the flower it self. To give a description of it were vanity, being so generally known by every one, yet few know the nature of it; therefore I shall only speak of the titles of them, and proceed to the ordering of them.

They are only tituled and distinguished by their colours, Names. chiefly thus; the Crystaline, the Granado, the fair maid of Kent, the Fools-coat, the Dover, the Bandeleer, the mixt Clove, the painted Lady, the old Mans Head, the London-white [Page] the Emperors-robes, the Patern of Nature, the Scarlet, the Wine-colour, the Widdow, the Peach-colour, the Purple: these and all these are intermixt, which doth make so many mixt colours that I will not stand to name, but will proceed to sowing, planting and replanting. First, Of these I'll begin with sowing, and therein are matters of consequence; first, it is the way to have plenty and store of these flowers; Secondly, it is the chiefest art in the practice indoubling and redoubling of them.

For sowing of them you ought to consider what ground is Sowing. fit for them; it must be a well tempered ground, by no means too rank, and in a convenient place, where it may be warmed by the reflection of the Sun: the place appointed, dig it and cleanse it from stones, then lay it out into small beds of two foot and a half in breadth, then rake them finely, take a quantity of seed and sow it of a thickness, as you think best, then get a little fine mould and riddle through a riddle, cover these seeds with it a matter of three quarters of an inch thick; these seeds will come up the sixteenth day with two spindles like grasse. Now I have shown you the manner of sowing of them; now you must consider the times and the seasons for them.

The season fit for it is the first full Moon in April, and the Season. first full Moon in May, and likewise in August, the same manner as I told you.

Now observe those that are sown in April ought to be watered in the dry weather, and in the first full Moon of August they ought to be replanted to a better earth in some border by a wall-side where they may be sheltered from the cold the Winter following.

The planting of them is done thus; when your border is digged and evenly raked, then go to your place where your seedlings grew, then take them up with a setting stick, which is the fittest instrument for that purpose; so done, prune them, which is to cut off all the superfluous grosse top blades, slipping off some of the under blades, then go to your place, as before mentioned; and by a direct line set the one from the other six inches distance, and so let them stand while the next March, covering of them from frost and snow a nights then [Page] in March you may remove them into knots or pots, or any other proper place where you shall have a desire, or shall stand for the beauty of your Garden; these plants being set in a better mould than before, and diligently watered, will come to flower by the next July following. Thus much of the seedlings sown in August.

Now for those that are sown in the Spring, being ordered in like manner as the other, preserved with the same care, will come to flower the second Summer.

Next for the setting of the slips, the time for it is in April, Of slips. May, June and August, the Moon being three dayes before the full; in this manner, we go to such stocks, and slip off such slips as we can conveniently; these slips we clip off the tops praise with a knife, and under we slip quite off, then slitting the lower most part of the slip that we put in the ground; this done, set them in a convenient place, as I told you of the seedlings, at a hand-breadth asunder, the next Spring or fall following transplant them into borders, three chase in a border at a foot difference. Thus farre of the ordinary means for ordering of the common sort of Cornation-Gilliflowers.

Now followeth extraordinary means for the propagating of the rarest sort of these flowers, with some answers to such vain opinions, as some men affirm to be true by words, but never proved to be true by actions.

First, For altering the colour by incisions; it hath been Colour. given out by some that Aris, and Bisse, and Verdigrease; these and such like may be dissolved betwixt the bark and the body of the Cornation, and that these mixt colours will cause a mixture in the flower. To this I answer, That this will never cause the effect, upon several trials that I have made; for any thing dissolved betwixt the bark and wood of a tree, causeth that part of the bark to die, which is of a stronger nature than any flower whatsoever: I could shew you many more of these arguments, but I will only propound this one Question to you: Do you think that you can any way give sullenance either to man or beast, any way but at the mouth, so that it may be concoctedin the man, and dissolved into the several parts of a man? Nothing can be applied to any [Page] part of man to cause it to grow as aforesaid: in like case it is with flowers, for the root is the place where sustenance must be had for the maintaining of the branch, then if any alteration may be made, it must be a watery substance applied to the root, and not to the branch, but it is not Aris nor Bis that the plant will participate of, but it must be the corruption of itself, or the corruption of some other: Now I will instance to you, what I have done, viz. I took Camomil, Valaren, Flag-roots, Solendine-leaves, these beaten together into a salve, and applied to the roots of the flowers when they are planted or removed, and watering of them with the same, hath propagated the flower in bigness, so that it hath made it as big again as any of the ordinary natural flowers, but I could never find that I could alter the form of them; sometimes the colour of them will alter that are thus ordered, but the alteration or mixtures of colours is a law in nature more than experiment in art.

Secondly, There have been certain wayes given for grafting and inoculating of these flowers.

But I wonder whether they mean the root or the branch; if inoculating in the branch there is no bud, and to inoculate without a bud that is impossible to me: now we'll enquire about their grafting, what manner of grafting they did mean, whether it be clift-grafting, or whip grafting, or grafting betwixt the bark and the wood? If they meant any of these, or all these; if clift-grafting, I could never get any such thing as a science, for that purpose, and for any of the rest I think it more strange.

But what grafting may be done is by addition, grafting, Grafting. and addition grafting is done thus; take two young plants of four moneths growth, take a part of the bark of the root of each of them alike, then join them artificially together, then bind them with a little soft flax, and anoint it with the juice of Valeran, which is of a healing nature, then commit them to the ground, those will incorporate into one body, which will bring forth a very large flower if they be both of one kind; if of two several kinds, then there will be two several kinds of one stock, which is rare; but some have told me this will make a mixt colour, but I could not give any credit to their [Page] words, as to believe them, for why, each of them keeps their own nature: For example, the least bud of an Apricock inoculated upon a plum-stock, keepeth his own nature, and bringeth forth an Apricock, then of necessity we must needs think, that if this keep his nature where there was no substance, that the Gilliflower grafted (as before spoken of) where there was body and substance, must needs bring forth flowers according to their kinds. I can keep you a long time upon these like things, but so much for this point.

Now for altering the sent of these flowers, there be divers Of Sent. things they say will cause this effect, which I think altogether needlesse, because it hath a passing smell of it self; therefore if you have any desire to make use of what Authors have said for altering of the sent of flowers, make trial upon such as have little or no sent, as Fowerdeluces, Scarlet-beans, Emrose or Tulips, because they are flowers that Ladies love to have so nigh their noses, which have little or no sent, and it would be a rare art to cause them to have a sent, as Authors say; and it is a great wonder, that if they could alter the sent of them, that they do not produce some of those flowers; now if you will make use of this experiment, I can tell you what will follow, you shall lose your labour; and I give you my reason; the sweetest and lushiousest meat turns into the foulest and stinkingst excrement; so it is with these infusions and molerations which man doth imagine may infuse a sweetnesse to any flower; for the flower doth not draw the substance as it is, but converts it into its own nature and intercisial form that it hath.

Here followeth some directions for the preservation of your choisest Divers wayes for the preservation of Gilli. flowers. Gilliflowers.

1. Observe that they have good mould.

2. That they have pots.

3. That they have cradles.

4. That they be not kanker-eaten.

5. That they be not bound too hard in the mould.

6. You must observe you let not too many flowers grow upon a stalk.

7. That they be housed in the Winter.

8. That you get layers.

[Page] 1. For the first of these, you must understand that every thing bringeth forth fruit according to its mother; the mother here is the earth, therefore if poor earth then poor flowers.

2. For the second, Pots are necessary for the keeping of hurtfull worms from the roots, and sheltering of them from the storms in the cold weather, and from too much moisture and too much drithe, for too much wet doth keep the plant cold, and too much drithe doth famish the plant: now these pots do preserve them from both, and if they are made of a stately fashion they do beautifie the Garden. And lastly, you may have your flowers at such times in the year by removing of them from place to place, as cannot be effected by those that grow out of Pots.

3. Thirdly, Cradles are necessary; you must understand to keep the wind from breaking and beating of them to and fro, and keeping of them in uniform manner; these cradles are made of white rods, six standing, and two woven round about, and the lower end sharp to put into the earth, and these keep the flowers up.

4. Fourthly, If flowers be kanker-eaten it will destroy them, for it is a worm that eateth the root; this you shall discern by the branches, when they look of a dead colour, then search the root, when you have found this kanker, take tarr and the yelk of an egg, and mans ordure, and apply this to the kanker-eaten, and that will cure it.

5. Fifthly, If your flowers stand too long unremoved, or the ground stirred about them, and fresh mould put to them, the ground will be bound stiff about the root, which must be remedied by opening the earth about them, and putting in of fresh mould; this must be done early in the Spring, or otherwise you will hinder it more than farther it.

6. Sixthly, If you let too many flowers grow upon a stock, they will be very small, and in danger to kill the stock; therefore you must when you see there is like to be great store of flowers, cut the most of them away, for the preservation of the stock, and the enlarging of your flower, and for the preserving of seed; for if you would have good seed, you must [Page] not suffer above five or six Flowers to be upon a stock, these must be of the top Flowers, at the first flowering, the seed will come to perfection by the latter end of August, and when you see the seed black in the cod, then cut off the branch and hang it up in the house till it be thorow dry, then you may rub it out, this seed you must sow in your own Garden for two years, and afterwards you must change it, or else your Flowers will degenerate and grow single.

7. Seventhly, Housing of the Plants is necessary for preserving of them from frost and snow which would kill them; and for getting of them to flower early, observe that you are to give them sun and air on such dayes as it is to be had, and to set them forth in rainy dayes, for rain water is much better than conduit for them, but if rain-water may not be had, water them with standing water, and be sure that they have it often, for all vegetable creatures do partake more of the element water more than the element earth; to prove this, take any plant and burn it, look how much ashes so much earth, and all the rest which vapour'd away was a watery substance which vapoured up out of the earth, then watering often is needfull.

8. Eighthly, To get Laires is very needfull, and it is done thus; you may buy small pots for the purpose, which are like a tunnell, with a hole at the bottom to let out the water if there should be too much, it hath a slit of one side, these pots we fill full of earth, and set it by Cornation-Gilliflowers side, and bring one of the choicest slips that we can see in at the slit, so that the top of it shall be above the top of the small Laire-pot, and the lower part of it is in the pot and in the earth, so this putteth forth root, this must be done in August, and next March you shall cut off the slip that is so rooted and plant it in another pot, that Laire-pot which the slip came out of will serve for the like use again.

Further queries and observations there are concerning producing Various things. of these Flowers contrary to nature and seasons:

1. The first dispute is, whether Cornation seed bringeth forth a single Pink, I answer some do and the most do not, for those that comes single were of the under-seed, therefore if there were diligence and care in the saving the seed, (as I [Page] told you before) there would be very few single Pinks, but those that are by diligence replanted may be made double, but if you will not bestow the pains, you may plant them in some border or bank-side, there to remain for strowing Flowers: another curiosity is to have Cornations almost while Christmas, and it is very probable this might be done if you will take these directions.

2. In June and July till the latter end of August, cut away all such buds or branches that you see are like to bring forth a Flower, and afterward let such as will spring forth alone, and by Michaelmas these will be budded forth, this must be done by your pot-Flowers, because they must be carried in, in the cold nights they must be set into a room, and set abroad again adayes, by this means you shall have the buds open, and keep this Flower even while Christmas.

3. Other things I have been told that would cause this effect, & that was by enclosing the Flower in soft wax at the time they begin to open, & so let them stand enclosed while Christmas, or any time of the winter that you have a desire to have a Cornation-Gilliflower, then (saith he) take off your wax in a sun-shine day, and the sun will open the Flower, and by this means you may have them at any time; you may believe this if you please, but it were good for you to find it true by experience, for my part I think it cannot be so, for the stalk withereth before that time of the year, and if the stalk be dead the Flower cannot be alive, and that is a sufficient reason.

4. Many other vain things I have been told concerning alterations, which are very uncertain truths which I shall not bestow the pains to set down, but shall proceed with laudable and creditable and profitable things for him that is employed therein: I do not intend to please any man in writing of this Treatise, unless he will be pleased with the bare truth and no more: so I'le speak a word or two of the continuance of this Flower.

If it may be carefully looked to it may continue five or six Continuanee. year, or otherwise not half so long.

Some men are of opinion when they see this beautifull Flower, as to think it is of an art of their own or others, but [Page] they are mistaken, all the art of man is to find out the art of nature it self, for if any thing be not used in its own nature Nature. and season it will come to no effect, therefore what I have discovered of the nature of this or any other Flower (as far as my capacity can truly understand) I give it to all men; yet I know (Reader) that it may be contrary to your judgment, for so many men as there are so many minds, but the truth that I have here set down, I shall dispute it face to face with as many as have an objection against it.

One thing more I give you and then I have done: if you The last experiment. shall have any of these Flowers stolen, and if you would be revenged on the party, or would put a jest or a jeer, you shall accomplish your desire thus; take an Elecompane root dry and beaten to powder, then sprinkle it upon your Gilli-flowers, or put it into the midst, then give your Flowers to the party that you desire to be revenged of, let it be a he or she they will delight in smelling to it, then they will draw this powder into their nostrils which will make them fall a sneezing, and a great trouble to the eyes, and by your leave will make the tears run down their thighs: other things there are which may be bought at the Apothecaries, which I will not give you the receit of, for fear it should come to a malicious mans hands, then the effect would be evil.

Clove-Gilliflowers.

These differ little from the former in nature, to give a description of them it were needless, I'le only speak a word of the propagating of them: they are sown of the seed and planted of the slip as the former, but for the most part they grow single without much pains and care, therefore I think it best to set them of the slip if they may be had, if not you must take the pains to sow them as aforesaid, and out of a great Propagating. quantity of seed it is very probable you will have but a few double ones, for the seed is of so great a rate that they commonly mix it with others that came of single Pinks, or else of the under-seed: if you set them of the slip, the best time is the first full Moon of August, so that they may take root by the Spring, (all things observed as I told you of the ordinary sort of Cornation-Gilliflowers) you may remove them in [Page] March again at the full of the Moon; take notice that the Moon is of great force, for we find in the Scripture, that the Seasons of great force Moon is appointed for times and seasons, and I observed it by this more than any other, for those slips that were set just at the full Moon were so great that they brake in the hores or the husk, and these are as bad as those that are too small, therefore set them three or four dayes before the full Moon: it will take up a great deal of time to set down every particular, but he that knoweth how to order Cornation-Gilliflowers may order these; I shall speak something to the worth of this Flower, but my pen is not worthy to subscribe it, for all The worthiness of them. other Flowers are inferiour to them, because they are preserved, conserved, and also pleasant syrups for the palate of man. Many other things of them there are which the Apothecary well knows.

Cowslips.

Double Cowslips are fit to be planted in a Garden of pleasure for the use of their Flowers in sallets, for the bedecking Reasons why. of the Garden, because they flower early when other Flowers are scarce, being once planted there they continue alwayes; they never bear seed, therefore they must be planted.

The time of planting of them is either in the Spring or the Fall, the place is in the edge of the upper part of your borders, Ordering. having prepared your ground then slip your plants into as many slips as you can, cutting off the top leaves within three inches of the root, and strain your line and prick them in three inches one from another where they will grow very well, if you water them, this must be while they are well rooted, and afterward they need no care but weeding, now remember to clip off the dead leaves and stocks after your Cowslips have done flowering, then the leaves will spring green and fresh again which is very pleasant to behold.

Daysies.

There are three or four kinds, as the wild Daysie, the French Daysie, and the Garden double Daysie; the Garden Descrip. Daysie it is I intend to treat of, of these there are two or three [Page] sorts of colours, but one in nature; the colours are these, the white, the red, the purple and the speckled: This flower never beareth any seed; the time of flowering is in May and June, a fine ornament to a Garden, and the flowers are used in Nosegayes: The branches of this flower dieth every year, and the root sendeth up young again; so where they are once planted they alwayes continue.

The place, time and manner of planting of them, is as Planting. I told you of the Couslips, onely the choisest sorts be set in knots or beds, so I need not trouble my self nor you to give any farther reason for the ordering of them.

Daffodillies.

These are very well known to them that know any thing; Of sorts. there are many sorts, and for little use, and I might describe them as Mr. Purchas hath done, and truly I think it a needless curiosity, I will only describe to you their names; there is the wild Daffodilly, and the Garden Daffodilly, the French Daffodilly, and the Italian Daffodilly; all these but the wild are cultevated in Gardens, because they flower early in the Spring, and are commonly used in flower-pots; it's a flower seldom beareth seed; presently after it is flowering, the stalk dieth, and the leaves remain green.

They are propagated by slips taken from the old root; the time for it is in April presently after they are flowered; the place for the ordinary sort is in some borders by a privy walk, where you may plant them half afoot asunder, and no deeper, and that they may be just covered.

The Italian, and the French, and great double sorts are planted in the intervals of Herb-knots, or in the out-borders of Grasse-knots, in manner as I told you of the former; some make a curiosity to plant the great double sorts in boxes, because they would house them in the Winter, to the end that they would have them flower early in the Spring; you may, if you please, take up this root, and keep it in the house in a little sand a quarter of a year, and plant it again, and it will grow, in which space you may see if there be any alterations, in sent, colour or form, as some have said.

[Page]

Dragons-Claw.

It first riseth up with dark-green leaves like black Elivert, and afterwards they grow more smaller and jagged; with these leaves riseth a stalk of the substance of a Mallow-stalk, and this stalk shouteth forth many branches; and on these branches there are many flowers of a blewish colour, in the shape and bigness of a womans thimble; the time of their flowering is in the moneth of May, June and July; for the top branches being broken off, the sides send forth more, which causeth it to continue so long a flowering; the seed is ripe in August, the stalk dieth presently after the root springeth, the next year after, and having yeelded its seed three years the root and branch dieth: the general use that it is for, is for the beautifying the Garden, and for flower-pots.

This flower is propagated of the seed only; the time for it is the beginning of April; the place fit for it is in a piece of Sowing. ground which we reserve only for a Nursery, only for raising of flowers in, there you may sow it with others, or by themselves in the end of a bed, having committed them to the earth, you shall see them spring up in a fortnights time with two small green leaves; being carefully watered they will be big enough to be removed, for they will spread mightily, so they will not have room enough to grow in the bed where they are sown, therefore transplant them into beds or borders in your Garden of pleasure, and in August they will come to flower, and the next year they will flower by the latter end of May.

There is another season in sowing of them, and that is in the latter end of August; but the plants that were sown at this Another season. season must be carefully looked after, and sheltered from the frost and snow, they will come to flower in the Spring seasonably, and die at the third years end (as I told you before) therefore save that seed and sow it again; there is nothing more of curiosity belongeth to this flower, so let these short and plain directions serve.

Emrose.

Considering that flowers are more for beauty than for vertue; [Page] this flower challengeth the title of praise: First, for its early flowering; for in warm places some begin to flower presently after Christmas, and then others begin; so some are continually flowering while June; others by art and nature flower twice a year, as in March and September. Now to give you a description of them, they are of a set colour seldom or never speckled, the ordinary colour is red, blew and purple; the Emroses held most in estimation are, the scarlet, the London white and the black; these colours being of large kinds, I have known a root of each sold for ten shillings; others have told me they have known them sold for three pound a root.

Of these flowers there are double and single; the root is 2. like a Ginger-race in shape and bignesse; this flower beareth a weak seed something like sweet Madeling-seed, and that will seldome grow; and I suppose that Emrose-seed never grew, though it be commonly sold for that purpose; yet I have found by experience that it will not grow; and as many Gardeners as ever I had conference with, did ever affirm such a thing to be true: therefore if you will have Emrose, you must set them of the root, and I will be brief and willing to show you where and how.

The fittest season for setting of them is in June, the Moon being at the full; but if opportunity doth not then serve, you Of planing. may plant them any time betwixt that and the latter end of August, but (as I said before) it is best to remove them in June, for then there will be the stalks above ground, and some flowers, and afterwards there will be none; so that in the taking of them up you may cut them with a spade, but that's not all, you'll never find all your roots, unless you will sift the earth, and that is a great deal of trouble.

The fittest place in planting of these roots is in beds amongst Of place. your Cloves, or else at the edge of your borders where you plant Tulips, and sometimes in beds by themselves, for the common sort make a little trail of an inch deep, then break the roots into a many small peeces, and lay them into this trail at a hands breadth distance, the least peece will grow and flower the next year following.

Here followeth experiments worthy of observation, Emrose-roots Experiments. [Page] must be removed once in two years, because they do so increase and multiply, so that you shall have twenty or thirty roots about one old bearer, these being so thick, and growing barren, will cause them to bear very poorly, which is a very sufficient reason that they must be removed every year, or every other year at least.

Secondly, Whether there might be any alteration in the colour by any skill or care that may be used. Many men have 2. said this may be done, and they have given some blind reasons for it, which I shall wave, and tell you how you may propagate the natural growth, viz. Take Tulip-roots, Lettice, Sheeps-dung, Strong-waters, mix these together into a salve and apply it to the root, and so commit the root to the earth, and it will cause this root to send forth a large flower, and more speedilier than those that are not so ordered: those roots ought to be planted in a box for to have them come timely, not but that any Emrose-roots will endure any weather.

Lastly, To produce Emrose at all times in the year, is easily done, if the Winter be not too violent: First take notice 3. that you may take up Emrose-roots at any time, and keep them in your house, though for a year, then set them again, and they will grow. Having this advantage, if you have a desire to have them in Harvest, you must plant them in the later end of May, and they will flower at that time; and to have them flower later, plant them at the later end of July. Now observe that there is such a Law and Nature, that any Herb being deprived of its natural season, yet it will bud forth its flower afterwards having liberty, alwayes provided it be sheltered from the cold: so it is plain, that a man may put such flowers as have bullous roots, you may put them forward or backward by keeping of them in season or out of season out of the earth.

African.

By some called the African-Marigold, all that can be spoken [...] names. of this flower is, that it serveth for beautifying of a Garden, for they flower towards the later end of Summer, when most flowers are nigh done; another thing, they have not been long in England, it came to use first out of [Page] Africa, and you know that things that are new are rare in estimation.

It rises first like young ashes in shape and colour, afterwards Descrip. spreadeth it self into many branches, and before it flowereth it riseth to be a yard high, the flowers are in shape like the double Marigold, but three times as big, and of a yellow colour; if you smell to it, it will put you in mind of honey: the seeds are small and black, something like Oats; this seed is ripe about September, the branch and root dieth presently after.

It is propagated by sowing of it in hot beds, as you may see of Sowing. Amorantus in this Book; this must be done in the beginning of March, so that they may be ready to transplant into borders at the beginning of May, so that you may have them to flower timely.

The second and the ordinary way of raising of them is in 2. the middle of April; it is done thus, when you have prepared a bed fit for that purpose, then sow them, you must get other earth and cover them with, for if you should rake them you cannot cover the seeds, they being so long they will not fall in, then cover them, as I directed you three quarters of an inch thick; this done, if the weather be seasonable, you shall see your seed come up the eighth day, and when they have stood in this bed five weeks you may replant them into borders, two rowes in a border, each plant nine inches asunder, there let them remain, they'll come to flower in August, or in September. A little after the seed cometh to perfection, and the plant dieth, you may pull it up and hang it in the roof of the house while it is dry, and this will cause the seed to ripen, then you may rub it out, and sow this seed for two years, and the third year you must change it, or else your flowers will degenerate and grow single.

Everlasting-Pea.

It cometh up with many branches out of one root; these Descrip. branches run out to four-foot length much like the veines of Cucumbers, on the stalks are narrow small leaves set on close to the stalk without any stem, and at the top of every branch runneth spindles which will take hold of any thing that they are nigh, they spring up at the first of April, and flower in the [Page] later end of May; the flower is mixt with a blew and purple colout of the bignesse of the Snap-Dragon flower; the seed of it is like a small gray pea.

The time of planting of it is in the beginning of April; the place fit for it is in some border next a wall, where you may Setting. prick them down athalf afoot distance, they'll spring up in a fortnights time, and after they are of a pretty height, you must support them with small sticks; they seldome flower the first year, but the second year, and so onward, so they'll continue alwies with you: Hence it is they call it Everlasting-Pea. The branch dieth every Winter and springeth again, as was said. I shall not trouble you with any more directions for the propagating of it, it being of such a hardy nature that it is altogether needlesse.

Everlasting-life.

It is so called by reason of its long continuance on the stalk, and being gathered, it will keep fresh two moneths in the house: I'll give you a short description of it; it springeth up about the beginning of May, and by August it flowereth; it rises up with a stalk two-foot high; there is but one flower of a stalk, and that putteth out like the Fennel-flower, with many small leaves like the inner part of a Marigold; this flower is white, it seldome or never leaveth seed behind it, the branch dieth yearly, and the root remaineth in the ground, which is like the root of the Spare-mint.

If you will have this Flower in your Garden, you must procure the root in the Spring-time, then provide a bed by it self, Planting. dresse it in order, as you do for any other flower, then plant three chace of these slips in a bed, the bed being two foot and a half in breadth, water them well at the first planting, plant nothing else amongst them, for they increase and spread mightily; this done, you shall have them to flower that Summer, and continue with you alwayes they being cleansed from weeds.

Flower-deluce.

I cannot describe them more than they have been by others, The Dignity. as to the preheminence of them; the King of France's Arms is a witnesse, and our English Quoin is a testimony that this [Page] flower is and was in great estimation: Farther consider, that no inferiour person dares put this flower in his Coat of Armes, though he may put it in his Gardens: waving this Discourse, I will shew you the ordering of them.

This Flower leaveth a tender seed, therefore if you have Seed. a desire to sow them of the seed, you must have a special care in the ordering of it; the time is in the later end of April, in a natural fertile earth, the Moon being in the increase; this being done (in manner as I told you of Cornation Gilliflower-seed) the twentieth day it will come up with one blade, which groweth very slowly, therefore it must be diligently weeded, and the first Winter it must be covered from the cold, the second year they'll get strength, and shift very well for themselves, the third year they flower: but you must take notice, that they must be rep anted every year about that time that they were sown.

I have discoursed with many Gardeners, and one amongst Of flowering at certain Seasons. the rest told me, that he could have them to flower in any moneth in the Summer time: I demanded of him how? He told me it was by housing of the root in boxes of earth in the Winter time, giving of them the benefit of the Sunne, when opportunity did serve, and by watering of them now and then with warm water, and this will cause them to spring forth presently, and flower by the later end of April (saith he.) Now reason told me that it could not be so soon, yet it may cause it to flower a moneth before its natural season, as any man of natural reason may understand.

Now to have the flower late, you must nip off the springs as fast as they begin to spindle to flower till the middle of June, and then forbear; this will cause them to flower about about Michalmas.

The next thing is, to know the right manner of planting Of planting. and replanting of them for the increase of their number, and the perfecting of their nature.

First, The time for planting and replanting of them is in the The time. later end of July, or the beginning of August, presently after they are flowering: the place fit for it, for the preheminence of your Garden, is in the intervals of your Herb-work, or in the trails of Grasse-work.

[Page] The manner is as followeth; when you have taken up The place your roots, slip the small suckers from the old bearers, and set them in a border by themselves at a hand breadth distance, there let them stand while that time twelve moneth, then replant them into those places where you do your old bearers: some of them will flower the first year, others not till the second after their planting.

The manner of planting the great bearers, is to make How. holes at a foot distance in those respective places as I told you, putting of them no deeper in the earth than they may be just covered.

Now we will enquire of colours, and colouring of this Flower; the natural colour is the blew; the colours held Alterations. most in estimation is the white and blew, the yellow and white, the blew and purple; there is another colour that I have been told of, that is the red and white.

Experiments of force of nature may be as easily acted on this Flower, as any other whatsoever. The first experiment Experiments. is, you may take them out of the earth, and keep them in a room in sand two moneths, in which space you may steep them in morical substances, whereby you may make some infusions and alterations, and crosse the nature and the seasons of the plant, whereby you may bring about pretty fancies.

Other experiments may be made by grafting of them, 2. which is subtil, viz. take the root of this, and the Foxes-glove, cut a part on the side of each of these roots off with a sharp knife of each part alike, letting the strings of the bottom of the root alone, then join them together, and tie them with a little soft flax, and so plant them in a box of earth, these two roots will unite into one body, and the effect will be pretty, for there will be two several Flowers in one body.

Lastly, This Flower is a great ornament to a Garden, and for beautifying of rooms, being placed in Flower-pots, and an excellent shape it hath, which my artlesse pen cannot describe in writing, but in draught work, my Pen, Rule and Compasse hath walked a station, and set it forth in its own shape and fashion, and so I leave this worthy Flower to your care.

[Page]

The Flower of the Sunne.

It is well known to those that have it, and so is any other Flower; therefore I shall give a short description of it, to satisfie those that are not acquainted with it. This Flower, when it is at its full growth, is at the height of a man, onely with one stalk, and that is as big at the nether end of a mans hand-rist; upon the stalk are many leaves something like Mallow-leaves, in colour and in bigness, but they are not divided: this one plant beareth but one Flower, and that is at the very top of all, and is of a great bigness, so that some of them are thirty inches about, and of a black and yellow colour, bending it self down, and inclining after the Sunne; it flowereth in August.

The season fit for sowing of them is in April, on this manner: Prepare a border, then prick in these seeds with your finger at half afoot asunder; they come up suddenly after their setting, they ought to be replanted after they are half afoot high into a rich earth, where they may have good store of rotten dung under them, to the end they may grow large; you must water them often, for it is a plant requireth much moisture, so it will grow up and flower, and bring forth seed which you may save and sow again: the root and branch of this Flower dieth every year.

French Marigolds.

These are something like the African Marigold, that is to Descrip. say, as like as any two several kinds may be like one another, howsoever yet they are not so neer alike, but there is a difference in every part: for seeing the one, and not seeing the other, it puts you in mind of the other, this is at such time till they come to flower, then there is a great deal of difference in the colours of the Flowers, for this is more delightfull than the other, for it is intermixt with purple and yellow like your double Wall-flowers; this flowereth in July, being sown in natural earth, being produced from hot beds they flower sooner.

Concerning the raising of them, I shall not need to trouble my self to set it down how, or where, but see the directions [Page] for Africans, as you raise them, so you mayraise these.

I shall only give you a few observations; if you low them Of raising. in natural earth, you need not replant them, those that are sown in hot beds must be replanted; you nor I need not trouble our selves with any more curiosity than hath been spoken, for they continue not long with us, they die that year; so I hope out of your own capacity, and what hath been spoken may sufficiently serve for the propagating of this Flower.

French Pinks.

French Pinks, otherwise called French-Daises, by others None so pritty; and seeing the names are so obscure, I will give you a description of this Flower; it never riseth not above half afoot high, but lieth on the ground with some stalks about afoot long, these stalks are reddish about the bignesse of a Peas-vine, of a hard substance, with many thick leaves set in order upon them, thick and jagged, a whitish green colour about the bignesse of a ten shilling-piece, round also, at the top of the braches rise little spindles of a handfull long of a red colour; on these branches grow many small Flowers no bigger than a single peny, five leaves in number white and red speckled: their time of flowering is from the latter end of May, even to the later end of July, they never bear any seed, therefore take the propagating of them with slips, as followeth.

The fit time for it is in the later end of August, or the beginning of March, for they cannot endure any drithe, therefore Time. set them in these seasons, and now I will give you my directions how it ought to be done: having gotten slips, then prepare a border which is round an Herb knot, and if you have none, prepare a border next the wall, having drest this border by a direct line, and made the sides of it firme, then set your line against the side of the border, two inches below the top, then prick in your slips by your line at two or three inches distance, so that nothing appear but the tops of them; if you do this in August, they will flower the next Spring following timely; those [Page] that be set in the Spring will not cast their Flower so soon.

Lastly, Remember that you cut the leaves and dead branches off after they have done flowering, then they will spring again fresh; where they are once planted they alwaies continue and spread mightily, so that they will run out upon your walls; to prevent this, and keep them in uniforme order, strain a line at the bottome of your border, and cut them off with a spade by that line; those slips you may set again, or pleasure your friends with them, which you please.

Foxes-glove.

It is a Flower that springeth up with a blade like the Corn-flag, Descrip. through which shouteth up a stalk which beareth many Flowers set in order one above another, and of a reddish colour, and in the shape of a drinking bowl.

This Flower is richest on the branch in July, it continueth fresh long on the stalk, it beareth a seed which is ripe in the latter end of August.

The propagating of this Flower is either by seed or root; First, of the seed, and that you shall sow in the beginning of April, the Moon being in the increase, in beds of natural earth, in manner as I told you of the seed of the Flower-deluce; the plants sprung of this seed groweth very slowly, so that it will be two or three years before it come to flower; in which space you must replant it once or twice at the Spring or fall, and have it weeded carefully, and after it is come to perfection they are very hardy.

Next I give you directions for setting of them of the root; thus having roots of your own, or procuring of them from some other place, slip all the young roots off the old, set the old by themselves, and the young by themselves, in the intervals of your knots, or in borders where your fancy most leadeth you.

Lastly, I advise you to cut off the dead branches when they have done flowering close by the earth, and remove them once ntwo years.

[Page]

Globe-flower.

It is known by no other name that ever I did hear of, yet there are two sorts, that is, single and double, they are of Descrip. one nature; to give you better knowledge of them, this plant groweth up to two foot high, with many branches of one stalk, spreading with green leaves, in shape like the Ivy-leaf, but lesser, rough and jagged; this plant beareth many Flowers, which are yellow, round, and of the bignesse of a Wallnut; it flowereth in the latter end of April; the branches die every Winter, and springeth again early; having stood four year root and branch dieth: This Flower is propagated by seed or slip; the slip is it which is taken from the side of the old mother, which is taken from part of the root, and part of the branch; this is to be done at the later end of March; the place for planting of it, is where you plant your pot-flowers, I hope I need not stand to insist upon every particular that appertaineth to this Flower. Having given you the knowledge of ordering of more choiser Flowers, I think your own discretion may guide you how to order this. So to be short, you may buy the seed and sow it in the Spring with other Flowers, and it will come forward without any great care or curiosity.

Green Cowslips.

So called, because part of the Flower is green, for there are leaves that are mixed amongst the Flowers, which maketh them appear to be green; they flower early in the Spring, and never beareth any seed.

This Flower is set only of the slip in the Spring, or in August; the place fit for it is upon the edge of borders, you shall do it thus; slip them into as many pieces as you can, then prune them with your knife, which is to cut off all the leaves within an inch of the root, then set them down by a line one by one upon the edge of your border, water them while they are rooted, then afterward they need no care but cleansing of the weeds from them, thus you shall have them alwayes after.

[Page]

Holihock.

Or Mallows, there are many kinds and full of many vertues, but first I will describe which they are, and then I'le treat of them in particular.

First, For worthiness and beauty that are placed in Gardens of pleasure, is the white, and red, and double Holihock; next the red, white, yellow, and blew, double Holihock; forasmuch as they are called Mallows, I take them to be two or three distinct kinds, for there is the Kings-Mallow, Divers kinds. March Mallow, and French-Mallow, these bear single Flowers, and so will the Holihock without good industry; but that is not all, they differ in vertue; as the Kings-Mallow, the French-Mallow, these are for physicall uses, and the Holihocks are very wholsome for the body, and a very pleasant Flower they bear: I shall not treat of every sort in this place, because they fit not the Garden of pleasure, I shall reserve the French-Mallow, March-Mallow, or Kings Mallow, to the Treatise of the physicall Garden.

Holihocks I have described, what they are in order to their places and names, I think it is needless to write any farther description of them they are so generally known: I now proceed to the propagating of them.

First, To have them early from the seed, you shall sow Sowing. them in hot beds in the middle of March, the seed is of a quick spirit and cometh up the sixth day, these plants must be covered or else you will lose your labour; by May day you shall replant these seedlings into borders next the walls, set them at the innermost part at a yard distance, set them nigh the wall, because they spread much: another reason is, you may nail the body of it to the wall to keep the wind from breaking of them, these will flower by the latter end of the summer.

A second and ordinary way of sowing of them is in the 2. middle of April, in beds of ordinary earth, where you may let them remain till the next August, then replant them as you did the former.

The third best way is, to sow them in the middle of August, 3. so by the coming on in winter they will have four or [Page] five leaves; be sure you shelter these plants in the frost and snow, and the seedlings will flower as soon as the old standards, which is in July and August, the seed is ripe about Michaelmas, which you may save and sow again.

Herbit.

If I am mistaken in the name I will give you a description whereby you shall know it; it hath many jagged thick leaves rising half a foot from the ground, in the midst of it riseth a stalk like the stem of a Cowflip, though something bigger and higher, it is bare without leaves, the Flowers have many small leaves in the middle with five greater set round it, this Flower is the bigness of a double Primrose white and red speckled, the time of flowering is in May, it seldome bringeth seed to perfection, the nethermost leaves keep green all the year.

This plant is set of the slip in the Spring of the year, I suppose it is needless to stand telling of you how in every particular; the place fit for it is in a quarter laid out into beds for Flowers (as before,) this being so planted it will endure any weather till the fourth year, and then it dieth naturally, therefore take off some of the slips from the branch and root, and set them, which will renew their nature and keep the Garden flourishing.

Humble-plant.

I suppose the name of it was derived from the nature of it, Of the name. for the nature of it is thus; when it is in its perfection, if a man or a woman go to it and touch it with their hand this plant will bow to them, therefore an humble plant.

It's a plant that riseth never above a span in heighth with a Descrip. broad head, only a single stalk with small sharp whiteish green leaves set thereunto about the top, the foot of the stalk is without leaves, it putteth forth a blossome before it yeeldeth its seed, which I cannot fitly call a Flower: the seed is in shape and colour like the Spanish-Broom seed, though not half so big, and a smooth glistering seed.

In the propagating of this plant there must be a great deal Care in propagation. of care and diligence; this plant is only raised of the seed; [Page] observe the time and season for it, that is in the beginning of April, the Moon being ten daies old, or in the encrease, at least the season being temperate for the time of the year, then order this seed as followeth.

First, Get a small quantity of horse-dung, lay this in a bed 1. of two foot square and a foot high, lay upon your dung some barley straw and some bran, which may make it rise to a hands breadth higher, then get a quantity of Pigeons dung and lay atop of that an inch in thickness, then sift some freckled mould and lay atop of all about two inches in thickness, then prick a small stick through the middle of your bed, so that it may reach to the bottome and stand an inch above the too of the bed; the use of this stick is to let up the steme of the heat below, when you see the plant shall want it: now these things observed, cover the bed with some litter for four and twenty hours both top and sides, and when the time is expired, then take the litter off from the top of it, and prick in the seeds in such a circumference as a million glass may cover them; I suppose no body will be willing to buy any more seeds than may be planted therein, for they are usually sold at twelve pence a seed.

Now for the further care of the plant, be sure that your bed 2. be not too hot, for if it be it will spend the spirit of the seed before it hath taken root, and then it will fade immediately: to prevent the bed for being too hot, you shall make a hole with a stick of one side, or both, to let out the steme; these things observed, the plant will come up moderately the sixth day, and afterward you must give it a little air, by raising of the glass up on one side, for without air your plant will never come to any colour or perfection; if the plant stand at a stay by reason of the coldness of the bed, then stir the stick of the middle of the glass to let up the steme and the heat which is at the bottome to the plants, with this care I have raised them up in five weeks time, fit to be transplanted into boxes of freckell earth, and then I left them, they left not me.

For the further preservation of them, I have been satisfied Preservation. by my brother Gardeners and by my own reason, they may be preserved in boxes all the summer, and in the winter housed in the same, so they will continue two years before they die.

[Page]

Hearts-Ease.

Or Wall Flowers, by others yellow Gilliflowers, I cannot stand to dispute why this Flower hath severall names.

The nature of this plant requireth to have a dry and a rich soyl; for fear you should mistake, there are two kinds sometimes The nature. called by one name, the one is single and coveteth to grow upon walls, the other is double and desireth such earth as I told you of.

This Flower yeeldeth a pleasant smell, and keepeth green its leaves all the year, and flowereth the most part thereof; Descrip. this plant is in shape and substance like the stock-Gilliflower, the Flower is yellow intermixt with purple, this plant being planted in earth that it liketh it continueth five or six years, the double Wall-flower seldome beareth seed to perfection, therefore I shall not trouble my self to set down directions for the ordering of the seed, yet it is generally sold and sown, but seldome or never hits.

This plant may be set of the slip, at any time of the year save the middle of the winter and the middle of the summer, Planting. the place fit for them is in the borders of high walks: having prepared such a place, then dress your slips, which is to slip off all your under-sprouts and leaves, then twist the nether end which you intend to put in the earth, and thrust them in with a dove-tail setting stick, about eight inches asunder by a line, two rows in a border; if this be done in the beginning of September, most of them slips will flower in the Spring quarter, those slips that be set in the Spring, if they be well watered at the first planting they'l come to flower in Autumn.

For preservation and doubleing of them, first I advise you Preservation. to cut most of the under branches away, this will help to enlarge the rest of the Flowers and preserve the plant: secondly they would be moulded up with fresh mould, by these means many times such as are single are turned double.

The other kind of Wall-flowers are single with five leaves Another sort of Wall. flowers. only, they love to grow upon walls and are seldome set of the slip because walls are not a convenient place for it; they [Page] are sown of the seed thus, take a quantity of seed and cast it upon an old wall or pavement where you have a desire it shall grow, this seed will spring forth without any more care and come to flower and bear seed, which seed will fall and grow up of it self, so where they be once sown they alwayes continue, the time for sowing of them is when you please, for if you sow them in the winter, they will spring in the summer, so it is no matter when. So much for Wall-flowers, it may be some may think it too much.

Jerusalem-Cowslips.

The least hair hath a shadow, and every shadow hath a substance, and this small Flower hath a property which maketh it to be cultivated in Gardens, though it be but small, yet it is pretty.

It hath many spindle leaves like soft rushes, in the midst is Descrip. a stalk of a handfull high, very small, with a Flower atop of it of five leaves, usually of a blew colour, in the shape of a Cowslip, the root of it is a Bullous-root with many knots, which increase in the earth, for the Flower never bringeth seed to perfection.

The time, place and manner of planting of them, is as I told of Crocuses, where they are once planted they alwaies continue.

Indian-wheat.

Indian-wheat or Christmas-flower; it is known of a broad Descrip. blade like a flager-leaf, these leaves spring out of the earth, on the stalk are a matter of four smaller leaves, of one root springeth but one stalk, and that stalk never beareth but one Flower rising to two-foot and a half high; the Flower is like the Dragon when it first begins to open in the husks, under the Flower grow seeds in colour and shape like a reddish seed, only flatter of one side; the time this plant flowereth is presently after Christmas, if it be housed from the cold; the seed never cometh to perfection in England, but in the Indies from whence it had its name.

This plant is propagated by sowing of it upon hot beds in Marck, these beds are only to be covered with mats, the seed [Page] is of a quick nature and cometh up suddenly after it is sown; the plants coming thus of seed are to be transplanted into boxes (as I told you) and after it hath yeelded its Flower it dieth.

Catterpillars.

Is a plant men fancie to have in a Garden, because it beareth a seed so much like a Catterpillar, that at a distance one Descrip. may take the seed for it; the branches of this plant lieth on the ground like Clovergrass with many knots and small green leaves, it beareth a Flower like the Broom-flower.

This plant though it be little worth yet it hath a peevish Raising. nature, for one must sow the seed many times before they will grow if it be not ordered carefully, the surest way to get them, is to prick in some of these seeds on your hot beds with choice seed, and at the replanting water them well at the first, and afterward they will grow very well and yeeld their seed in August, presently after root and branch perisheth.

Lillies.

I write Lillies because they be of the plurall number, for there are many kinds of the wild sort; the water-Lillie, the Reasons. Lillie of the vale; the garden-Lillies are these, the white, the red, the yellow, or cur-Lillie; the worthiest of all both for pleasure and antiquity, for use and vertue is the white Lillie.

Although that all these are generally known by the sight, yet the nature and the properties are not so well known, therefore I shall describe them to you; this Lillie beareth a seed in four quarters, being but a small seed, and small in quantity, and if you sow it, it will be long before it come to perfection; and seeing the root is so common, I think it needlesse to bestow the pains to shew you the difficulty of the raising of them from the seed.

In planting of them, take notice that the root seems to be Planting. set with leaves like a Hartichoke, and brittle, therefore you must be carefull in the taking of them up, and planting of them again, for fear of breaking of them; the place fit for [Page] the planting of them is under some stone or brick wall which incloseth your Garden on the Sunnie part thereof, for of all Flowers this delighteth most in heat and drithe: When you have provided your ground in such a fit place, the manner of planting of them is thus, lay a line upon your border in the midst thereof, so that you may plant but one row in a border, then the way is to make a trench with your planting hoe a matter of four inches deep, then set your great Lilly-roots, such as bore Lillies the last year in this drill, a matter of six inches difference one from another, the suckers are best planted by themselves at four inches distance in another place, those you may set with a Diber; the time for this is in August, for that is presently after they have done flowering: some will plant them in February and March, but they will prosper nothing so well as those that were planted as aforesaid, it may be a reason, because they spring in February, and the removing of them in the Spring will hinder their growth.

Some would have Lillies to be coloured by art, and they A question. have set down directions for it, and that is, you shall take them up out of the ground about Michalmas, and hang them up in the smoke for the space of a moneth, and then steep them in Claret-wine two daies and two nights, then commit them to the earth again, and this they say will alter the colour: Gravos Marcombe is the Author of this.

I answer to the first of these, for the keeping of the root Answer. so long in the smoke, I have not the faith to believe that ever they will grow when they are committed to the earth, for sure in that time they will be dried up so, that they will have no more moisture than a dried chip; for if you be pleased to take notice of this root, there is no substance in it, as in others, no sooner is it out of the earth, but presently it withereth and falleth asunder: I thought good to give you these reasons, that you might not lose your labour about what Authors have said concerning the alteration of Lillies.

But if you have any desire to make any incisions by applying of liquors, do it seasonably at the removing of the root, Of alteration. for it is so loose a root that the liquor will go into every part, but I think it a needlesse curiosity, for thereis no Lillet o compare [Page] with the white Lillie, nor no Lillie that there is any likenesse of altering of the colour but it, and why should you alter the best to make it the worst?

Red Lillies, and yellow Lillies, or cur Lillies, these differ Other sorts. not from the white, but that they are of a contrary colour and growth, not to half the stature; they differ not in nature, as the one is propagated, so is the other.

The last observation of Lillies: all sorts of Lillies being Observations. once planted, there they continue, yet if they be not removed every year, or every other year at the least, and the suckers taken away and set in another place, they will grow small and wild.

To conclude, Lillies were held in great estimation in Solomons daies, when he commended his Spouse to the Lilly of the valley: You may consider that it was the Flower that he took most delight in, or at least the admirablest Flower that was in those daies; but as the world hath grown in years, so doth it still grow in knowledge more every day than other; for I am perswaded, that the most part of the Flowers cultivated Industry. in a Garden, do grow naturally in some part or other after the similitude which we have them in, though not in that perfection that they are brought to with diligence, care and industry.

Larks-heel.

Larks-heel or Larks-spur; it is a plant so well known I need not give a description of them, therefore take the nature of Nature. them as followeth: they are a plant that are propagated only of the seed, it is a plant that dieth every year, and springeth no more, therefore they must be sown yearly, if you will have them every year.

The time of sowing of the seed is in April, the place fit for Sowing. them is in a bed by themselves in your quarter of Flowers, for they spread a great deal of ground, and will not let any thing grow nigh them; if the plants grow too thick, you'll do well to pull some of them up, and plant them again, or throw them away, whether you please, for the rest will prosper much the better: In August these plants usually flower, and after the flower fadeth, there springeth a cod, wherein are eight or ten [Page] seeds, small, round, coal black and rough: of Larks-heel there are three sorts of colours, though but one in nature, those are the perfect white, blew and purple, very pritty Flowers they are all.

London-pride.

It's a plant that dieth every year, and when it is at its full Descrip. growth, the plant is a foot and an half high, with a stalk like the sweet William, but it is strong, it supporteth it self; at the top of every stalk spring many small branches of an equal height,, atop of every branch is a Flower of a pritty Pink, speckled colour, the Flower is five leaves in number, at the outer part of every leaf of the Flower groweth a prickle: This Flower flourisheth most in the latter end of July.

For the propagating of them I will be short with you, the Ordering. time is in the latter end of April, the place is in the quarter which you reserve for Flowers, in that manner as I have shown you of other small seeds of Flowers, in which bed you may let them stand till they flower, soon after they have yeelded their seed the whole plant perisheth.

Lupins.

Many sorts there are, viz. the blew, the yellow, the white, the purple, and the great Lupin; these and all these differ as The names and kinds. well in shape as in colour; they differ also in growth, every sort of seed hath a difference in greatnesse, and in colour also, to puzzle my self and trouble the Reader with the description of each is altogether needlesse, I shall give you some observations, how all sorts of Lupins may be raised of the seed, and not stand to name in particular how each is to be raised, for one direction will serve for them all.

The time of planting of all sorts of Lupins, is in the middle of April, and so till May; the place is in beds or borders, Of planting. according as your fancy is, or the quantity of your seed; if you have a great quantity, then you may plant them in trails, in beds or borders, in manner as they plant Peas; these are for the blew and yellow (which are the ordinary sorts) but the greater sorts require more room.

[Page] Lastly, Observe that any sort of Lupins committed to the Observations. earth in their season, will spring up without any further care, so they need nothing but weeding; in the latter end of July all sorts of Lupins come to flower, which are very beautifull in a Garden; after the shading of the Flower springeth cods in the shape of a Bean-cod, bigger or lesser according to their kinds; the cods are rough like a Peach; the seed will come to perfection in the latter end of August, and may be set again in the same Garden where it grew for many years, and it will not degenerate.

Ladies-Thistle.

It hath only one stalk upon a root, with long leaves, and as Descrip. broad as a mans hand; these leaves are prickley, and of the colour of a Cardus-leaf; the plant never groweth to above two foot high, and in August it flowereth; the flower is of the colour of the great wild thistle-flower, but greater and without prickles; the seed is long and rough, of a gray colour.

This plant is set of the seed in the later end of March, the place is in a border; when you intend to have them flower, each seed being set half afoot asunder, and half an inch deep, it cometh up suddenly, and flowereth the same year, and the time as aforesaid: the branch when Winter cometh dieth, and springeth again in March, the third Winter after it soon dieth root and branch.

Lowe in idle.

Lowe in idle, or two faces under a hood, is a Flower that Descrip. is much like Violets in all respects, but only it flowereth at such times at Violets does not, that is in June and July; this Flower beareth a seed, of which it may be raised, if slips might not be had.

The time for setting of them in the slip, or sowing of them in the seed, is in March; the place is either in the side borders Sowing. of high walks, or on the edge of low borders, in manner as I told you of Cowslips; if you sow them of the seed, then you shall make drils by a line with a stick half an inch deep, each drill at a foot asunder, if it be on the side border [Page] of your high walks; if on your low borders, one is sufficient in these drils, thinly cast your seed, then cover it, and it will grow up, and cover the whole border suddenly, where it will alwayes remain, for it renewes its nature by the branches taking root as they lie on the ground.

Ladies-liveries.

This is not a Flower, yet many people fancy to have it in the Garden of pleasure, because it hath such a pretty property Descrip. with it, for it shouteth up with many blades like spire-grasse, of an inch in breadth, each blade is striped red, white, yellow and green; some call it Truelowe-grasse, it hath a root like such grasse, though it runne not so farre; this root if you set in any part of your Garden, there it will grow and continue alwayes.

This plant I thought fit to set down for brevities sake, because I would not exempt any.

Ladies-smocks.

Otherwise called Blew-caps and White-caps. It is a plant that the nethermost leaves keep green all the year, those leaves Descrip. are green and jagged, of the length of a mans finger, set on close to the ground; in the midst of these leaves riseth a stalk with a few smaller leaves on it, and on the top of the stalk are four or five Flowers, white, or blew, according to their kind: This Flower is single, with five leaves, in shape and bignesse like a Dogg-rose; the time they chiefly flower in, is in April and May, it seldom bringeth seed to perfection.

This plant is set of the slip, at any time of the Spring or Planting. the fall, in the edge of borders for the keeping of them up, and for the beautifying of the Garden; if you set them in the fall, it is much better than in the Spring; for those that are set in the Spring in dry weather, usually cometh presently after, then your borders will be so dry, without watering, will cause the slips to die; those that are set at Michaelmas will be well rooted by that time the Summer cometh, and so flower in their season; these slips being thus planted continue always, [Page] nothing dieth but the stalk whereon is the Flower, which you shall cut off after the Flower fadeth for the keeping of your border handsome.

Marmadle deparve.

Or otherwise called the Worlds wonder, and I think it no wonder that it should be so called, for it hath a quality naturally as no other Flower hath, and that is this, it beareth a Flower of one colour as it may be to day, and on the morrow Various descriptions. after of another, and sometimes two or three colours at once; the colours are chiefly these; first red, white, purple, peach, yellow, and cinamon, these are distinct colours; there are mixt also, as the white, and the red, the purple, and the yellow, and so of the rest; the shape of this Flower is much like a heart, with the smallest end upward, no bigger than an Acron, this Flower is of no continuance, for it continues not long upon the stock not touched, and being pulled off it withereth presently, so that it is of no use but for the ornament of the Garden.

There is two kinds of these plants, that is, the single and the double, the single dieth yearly, the double will continue two years, if it be shelter'd from the frost and snow in the winter.

This plant is in growth like unto the stock Gilliflower, Descrip. it riseth not so high, it spreadeth close to the ground, with sharp-pointed leaves, with a stock of the bigness of a mans thumb, each Flower bringeth a seed and no more, which is in shape and colour like the Pepper-corn, but something greater.

The fit time for sowing of it is in the Moneth of March, the Moon being in the encrease, these seeds are tender and Sowing. very dear, for I never bought them for less than two pence a feed, therefore they ought to be raised with great diligence, and thus it must be ordered; it must be sown in a hot bed, but you need not make it purposely, for about that time we fow Colliflowers, Cowcumbers, and Musmillions, and in some part of one of these beds you may prick down your seeds, three fingers asunder, so done cover them with a glass, the sixth day they will come up with two round thick [Page] leaves, the next leaves that shoot forth will be long and sharp-pointed, when this plant hath six leaves, they ought to be transplanted into a border or pots of good mould, so done about the beginning of August they will come to flower (in manner as aforesaid.)

There are other wayes of sowing of them, that is in beds of 2. freckled mould in the latter end of April, for if they should be sowed before they would not grow, those that are thus sown toward May day, may be let stand in the same bed and it will be Michaelmas before they come to flower, the year being so far spent they will not come to perfection, therefore I think it best to take the pains to sow them in hot beds (as was said) so I'le leave these directions to your charity, and rest to speak any more here of the Worlds wonder.

Muscabious.

Be not Flowers of distinct natures and properties, but distinguished in colours, as the purple, white, red, and damask-colour Flowers.

Scabious is a plant that groweth to great stature as it is in number of branches, though they be but small they spread and grow to three foot high, with some leaves growing jagged, and others smooth, of a dark green colour, standing from the branches upon stems, every plant yeeldeth abundance of Flowers, in shape and bigness like the great double Emrose; this Flower smelleth like honey; the time of their flowering is from June till Michaelmas and after, the seed of this plant groweth atop of all, standing in order naked being enclosed in nothing, these seeds when they are ripe have many beards whereby it entangleth one in another, it is a hollow loose seed and the lightest of all others.

These plants are propagated from the seed, the time for it is in April or August, for indeed August is the best, for then it sheddeth its seed; and it is to be noted, that at such time as plants shed their seed, is the naturall time of sowing, if they be such plants as keep green all the year.

Then in August prepare a bed of earth in a quarter which Raising. you reserve for Flowers, so done mingle with your seed some earth, or otherwise it will not untangle, so that you will [Page] sow it too thick or too thin; so done get some other earth and cover your seeds half an inch thick; these things observed, and your seed new and good, it will come up in three weeks space like Gruncel; let it alwaies grow on this bed, and next summer following it flowereth, then if you rail in this bed with little sticks, it will keep the wind from breaking the Flowers, keeping the plants in uniform order: when the seed is ripe upon the stalk, then cut the stalks off within a hands breadth of the ground, the plant will spring again, so you shall preserve seed and plant, thus you may do for three years, the fourth root and branch dieth.

Monks-hood.

Or old mans head: it riseth up like the branches of Carawaies, with small stalks never above two foot high, every plant yeeldeth many Flowers, which are set with many small whiteish grey leaves, the Flower is of the bigness of the ordinary Cornations, with a few green prickles growing among the Flowers.

This plant is sowed of the seed only in the latter end of April, usually after this manner; we dig a border by a walk side, when this border is digged and raked, then lay a line in the middle of the border, and by the line make a drill, then cast the seed thinly into that drill, for it is very small, then cover it; this done it needeth no more care, it cometh up well, and by the mid-August after it flowereth, and dieth as soon as it yeeldeth its seed.

Marble-flower.

It is a plant of a small stature, and the stalks are of a soft Descrip. substance and of a whiteish green colour, the leaves are of the same colour in shape like the wild poppy-leaves; this plant beareth many Flowers which have no more than four leaves apiece, and of a perfect white colour, the time of flowering is in July, the seed is ripe presently after, then dieth the plant.

This plant is raised only of the seed in the Spring time: I shall not stand to set down every particular concerning the ordering of it, but so as you raise Monks-hood so you may [Page] raise this, you may have that at one end of the border, and this at the other.

Nurssusuly.

They are a kind of Daffodillies; the difference is, these flower after the Daffodilly, and is of a milk white colour, something smaller, growing upon longer stalks.

These are planted of the root, as I told you of the Daffodillies; the place is chiefly upon borders of high walks, because they are of a hardy nature, and nothing else might so well grow there as they, because of the drithe you may set them in any place else, and they will grow and flower yearly, neither weeds, nor grasse, nor any thing that groweth nigh them will kill them; some will plant them in their Orchards round their fruit-trees.

Oxslips.

The double sort are planted in Gardens, because they flower early in the Spring, and for using of the Flowers in Salets, and for strewing Flowers.

Oxslips are set of the slip onely in the Spring or fall; the place fit for it is on bank-sides; where they are once set they alwayes continue.

Oak of Paris.

It resembleth a young Oak plant, the leaves being much smaller, body and branches also are of a short substance: the Descrip. plant spreadeth at the top, whereon are many pretty Flowers; they flourish chiefly in August, the seed groweth in great cods eight square, wherein is brown seed as small as Parsley-seed; after this seed is ripe the plant dieth.

This plant is propagated of the seed only in the beginning of May; the place fit for it is in a bed, in a quarter amongst other Flowers, but sow no other seed amongst them, for they are a tender plant, so that another will kill them: this observed, sow them as I have directed you to sow Muscabions; this done they will grow up (if the seed be good) according to the description.

[Page]

Pionys.

Of these Flowers there are two or three sorts; first the male Poiony, next the Rose-Poiony, the small Rose-Poiony, or the Poiony-Rose; the colours are all these, it is naturally red, there are searlet colours (supposed to be made so by art) the male Piony never beareth seed to perfection, but the rest do, which you may raise Pionies of: the way here I shall not stand to treat of, because it is so nigh the nature of Tulip-seed, and must be ordered alike, and it will be so long before it come to flower; I will save the pains to set it down here, but refer you where it treateth of Tulip seed, and so give you a short direction for the ordering of the root.

The fittest time for planting of Piony roots is in July, presently Planting. after their flowering, yet you may do it in March, or September; the place and manner is thus: First, the place is in the out-borders of your Garden, the ground being good, where you must set them a yard distance, no deeper than the root may be covered: Now if you have but small store of roots, and would willingly have great store of Pionies, you may cut every great root into half a score pieces, and set them in like manner, and they will grow, but they will not flower till the second year; those that are set whole will flower the next Spring following.

The old Piony-roots should have the suckers took from them once a year, in so doing you need not remove the old root, but make the Flowers much the larger.

The male Piony is planted at the same times and seasons in a box, because it is of a more tenderer nature; and for the causing of them to flower early; some have told me they have had them flower at the beginning of April, but I'll not affirm what I hear by relation for fear I should not make it good by my action.

Primrose-tree.

If you know it not by that name, I will give you this description; when this plant first springeth it hath many broad, long leaves lying on the ground, whitish green in colour, jagged on the sides, full of veins; afterward riseth the stalk, [Page] being bore without leaves, at the lowermost part, and at the top a few small one; this stalk riseth to four-foot high, and it resembleth the Daisie very much; this plant beareth its flower in June, it beareth a seed that seldome will grow by mans industry, but I have known it grow naturally of it self; sometimes the branches of this plant die in the Winter and spring again; this plant hath certain young springs come from the Of planting. side of the old mother, which may be taken off, and set in good earth, and they will grow; thus you must do if you have them of your own, if you would have them to multiply; and if you have them not, you must procure them of the slip, if you will have them. The place fit to plant them in, is in a bed with other Flowers, where they will prosper without any more trouble; I shall not trouble my self to write any more of them.

Princes-feathers.

Otherwise called, My Love lieth a bleeding; yet forasmuch Of Kinds. as they are called by two several names, they are partly of two kinds, but both in one shape, though they differ in colour; that which is called the Princes-feather hath green leaves with red and white speckled Flowers, bendingof it self down, and many of them put together in a mans hat at a distance, you would take it for a feather: That which is called, My Love lieth a bleeding, hath red branches, red leaves and red Flowers, hanging its head down: There is a difference in the seed also, that of the Princes-feather is white, that of My Love lieth a bleeding red, both as small or smaller than Mustard-seed, glistering like a Marble-stone; the nature of them are alike, therefore the ordering of them I will set down alike.

The time for raising of these curious Flowers is from the Sowing. later end of April till the middle of May, in manner as followeth; prepare a border, or a bed being finely raked, take the seed and mix them with a little earth in a dish or bole, for these seeds are so small that you cannot sow them otherwise, but that they will be unevenly sowed; this observed, commit them to the earth with an even hand, according to the quantity of your seed, then riddle a little fine earth, and cast [Page] uodn the seed a matter of half an inch thick, if the season prove dry, afterward you shall water it in the evenings and mornings sometimes; this done, you shall see this seed to spring up like Bloudwort about the twelfth day. When these plants come to have five leaves, you may remove some of Transplanting. them, or all of them into another bed or border, and set them by a line each plant half a foot distance: they would be watered at their first planting, for then the time of the year is commonly dry; these plants will hang their heads the first three dayes, while such time as the root is well fixed in the earth, then the plant riseth and flourisheth bravely, and needeth no more labour but only weeding: In the later end of July they begin to flower; and if you note, this Flower hath a quality as no other hath, and that is this; it appeareth at the first in the same shape and colour as it is in the fallnesse of its perfection, and that will be five weeks after: this Flower keepeth long fresh in a Garden, and being gathered it fadeth quickly, therefore they are little used in Flower pots: this plant after the seed is ripe dieth suddenly.

Lastly, To have them sooner than ordinary, you may raise them upon hot beds, as I told you of Amorantus.

This Flower hath a property of colouring as none hath, of it self it coloureth red, writing upon paper, it serveth as well as the best Ink in the world; it coloureth Cloath, or any thing that the juice of it toucheth.

I have shewed a pritty experiment with this Flower; I took Experiments. the juice of it, and went to the white Lilly, and gave it strokes with it, presently the Lilly appeared white and red striped; all that saw this Lilly thought it grew so naturally, which indeed is strange to behold. Many rarer things may be done with the juice of this Flower, if a man be studious thereabout.

Poppies.

Blew, white, black, red, double and single, wild and Garden Poppies there are: I shall only speak here of the blew Kinds. and white. Double Poppies I shall not need to give any description of them, because they are so well known: nor shall I need to make any distinction of the directions for [Page] the propagating of them, they being of alike nature.

Both these sorts are raised of the seed only; the time for it Preparetions. is in the beginning of March; the place for it is in a bed in a quarter which is reserved for Flowers onely, in manner as I shewed you concerning the Princes-feather: if your seed be good, in a short time it will come up: and observe, if your plants should be thick, then pull some of them up, and set them in another place, or cast them away; by the later end of July following your plants will flower according to their kinds. The white Poppie is for general uses, and for distilling, as the Physicians Herbals will shew you. The red is also good for the cure of many maladies.

The second season of sowing of Poppies is in the later end of 2. August, or the beginning of September, in place and manner as aforesaid. These plants will come to flower in the later end of May following.

Lastly, Where Poppies are once, they likely alwayes continue, though the plant dieth every other year, yet the seed that it sheddeth springeth up again naturally.

Pinks.

Two sorts there are, viz. the matted Pink, and the grasse Pink. I need not trouble my self to write any more of them they are so well known; I will only acquaint you the easiest and the best way of propagating them by seed and slip, which may be most for pleasure.

First, For sowing of them of the seed; the time which is Easie way seasonable for it is in the middle of April, the place in some high border side, or a high wall side, provided that there be but earth drest conveniently and finely: if the bank-side be ten foot high, then make as many drils at a direct line, and at an equal distance one from another; in those drils sow your seed with an equal hand, then cover it and fix the face of your bank smooth again.

Now understand that these seeds will come up in ranks, which will be very pleasant to the beholders; these plants must be well weeded the first Summer, the second Summer they will spread so that they will cover the bank themselves, so that no weed can possibly grow there, then these Pinks will [Page] flower, which will cause such a beautious sight as hath nor been seen in England, unlesse it were the like. Besides this, they will alwayes continue there, and need no labour, but cutting off the dead stalks after they have done flowering.

The time for the setting of the slips is in the beginning of September, the place is in the edge of borders, round grasse-work, Of slips. or herb-work, a single chace in every border, set at three inches distance: so done they'll come to flower the later end of the next May following.

Purple-Primrose.

These are Flowers that differ not from the white Primrose in shape and growth, but only in bearing purple Flowers; and that which is more rare, they flower twice a year, in March, and in September: These Flowers are set only of the slip, at two several seasons, and those are presently after their flowering.

The place fit for it is in borders, at the uppermost part Planting. thereof, directly at a hands breadth asunder; if this be done in the Spring time, the slips must be well watered till they have taken root; if in the fall, you have no more care or trouble with them but to keep them weeded, to cut off their dead leaves and stalkes after their flowering, for the renewing of their nature, and to cause them to look the pleasanter.

Pawmers.

So called because the seed is the figure of a Pawmer, and Descrip. upon this account men hold such a thing a great rarity, and though of little use, yet they will bestow the pains to propagate it as followeth.

About May-day this plant is only to be raised of the seed in Ordering. this manner; prepare a place in a border under a wall, or some other warm place, there prick in your seeds with your finger, at a hands breadth asunder, (I suppose you will not set many of them, because they are no more usefull) and so by July they will come to flower, and a moneth after the seed is ripe, and the plant dieth.

[Page]

Queens-Gilliflower.

Some call it the white Gilliflower, whether it hath any more names I cannot tell; yet I know it is usuall to give divers names to one and the same plant.

It hath many leaves growing and spreading close to the Descrip ground, something long, sharp-pointed, of a dark green colour, being hard, rough, rugged, and grayish underneath, of little or no sent, but of a fine pleasant sharp tast: above these rise a stalk two foot in heighth, and at the tops of the stalks and branches stand many tufts of small white Flowers which smell sweet, and in their places, being fallen, come cods wherein is a brown flat seed, and at one time you shall have Flower and seed ripe upon the stalk: the root is somewhat black and woodish with divers great strings, the top branches die every year, but the root and the under leaves perish not, but abide many years, the sides (partly from the root) send forth many young slips every year.

By this description I hope you understand the nature of this Nature. plant; I shall not need to stand to treat of every particular in reference to its ordering: to be short, get of the slips of this plant either in Spring or fall, and set them in a convenient bed or border of good earth, &c.

The Flowers of this plant are good in nosegaies or to be placed in Flower-pots, the leaves are a good pot-herb and serve for many physicall uses.

Rose-campions.

Be these, the white, the red, the purple, they differ not in form but in the colour, let one description serve for all: Rose-campions have white hoary leaves and soft, sharp at each end; the stalks are of the same colour, weak and small as a Hop-vine, not well able to support themselves: from one root springeth many of them which spread mightily: in June and July this plant hath its Flower richest in the branch, these Flowers are made of five leaves, the seed lieth in bags which are round and of the bigness of a mans fore-finger, and when this seed is full ripe it will rattle in the husks; the seed is as small as Gunpowder and of a dark brown colour; [Page] on this plant will be ripe seed and a rich Flower at once: this plant riseth to three foot high, the second year the whole plant dieth naturally.

This plant is propagated only of its seed, and in short I will Ordering. show you the way, viz. prepare a bed or one end of a bed in the quarter which is appointed for Flowers, so done sow your seed, then cover it thinly with a little ridled earth, let this be done in the beginning of April or the latter end of August: now observe, that those that are sown in August, if the winter following be hard they must be covered with a little straw, and the Spring following when your plants are grown up, make a frame of rods round your bed to support the plants, for they are altogether weak of themselves, so oft as the seed falleth it groweth naturally.

Rose-Rubee.

Or Sattin flower: it rises with a stalk of a foot high, bare Descrip. at the bottome, towards the top are many leaves like the smooth Charlock leaves or wild Turnop leaves, and on the tops of the stalks are many small Flowers, composed of five leaves betwixt a blush and a scarlet colour.

The naturall time for the sowing of the seed of this plant is in the latter end of August, in a bed by it self as was said of Rose-campion seed: so done, by the next March these plants flower in manner as was described: after the Flower is gone there appeareth a bag wherein is composed many small seeds, after these are ripe the plant fadeth and springeth no more.

Rocket-flower.

It's needless to give you any description of them because they are so well known and so little worth, yet shall I not wholly exempt this plant, by reason it is one that helps to make up the inventory of kiltevated Flowers, the leaves when they are young serve well insallets.

This plant is raised of the seed only, the season for sowing Of raising. of it is in mid-April, in a bed as I told you of Rose campion seed, in the same manner and with the same care, by the middle of June it will come to flower, and a little after the [Page] seed is ripe (which is as small as any seed whatsoever and of a whiteish red colour and glistering) the plant fadeth and springeth no more.

Stock-Gilliflowers.

This Flower hath the preheminency of a Garden for ority of colour, delicious smell, and for continuance of flowering, for they flower almost all the year: and again they cast such a pleasant sight afar off or nigh, and are such a pleasant ornament, as cannot be better expressed than they express themselves, for some of them are of a crimson and a purple die, others of a scarlet, and some have intermixt colours, as white and red, purple and blew, so overspreading the bush with a passing beauty, some double, and some single: but the chiefest of my work shall be to show the ordering of the double stock.

First, I must make some queries, what is meant by a double Double sorts. stock, whether the double and single are two distinct kinds or no? I answer, they are, and they are not, for the double is made by art of nature, the single comes naturally: now you must understand there is two sorts of nature, the one voluntary, the other of industry, for naturally every creature liveth, but by nature and industry every creature cometh to the fulness of perfection, and so man by nature and Of nature. industry cometh to the fulness of wisdome, whereas naturally he is a fool.

Well then I hope you confess it is truth (and this fits my discourse) that we must use industry in the propagation of Gilliflowers, wherein there is some art in doubling and redoubling of them.

The first thing needfull to know in this art is, the distinct The art of doubling. times and seasons for the sowing of them: true it is you may sow them betwixt March and August, and they will grow very well so that the earth be fixt for the seed, but yet they will prove single if you do not take the right times and seasons for them: the right season is the first new Moon in April, when it is about fifteen dayes old, and in May also observing the Moon, these are the fit seasons: now I will show you what earth the seeds require, that is a dry, loose, and something [Page] stony, but by no means barren: the fittest place for it is in a border by some wall, where they may have the reflection of the sun, and a shelter from the storm: such a convenient place prepared, sow your seeds as you think fit according to the quantity of it, then cover it with a little fine mould as thin as you can possible, forget not to water it if the season be dry: all this done you shall see your plants come up the eighteenth or the twentieth day: let these plants be weeded, and so stand while that day two moneths that they were sown, then remove them into a richer earth of the same nature: but one thing you must observe, such plants as have crumpled heads, them reserve by themselves, for those will be double if you will order them as followeth: in the next September following remove them again at the full Moon, and that will keep them back from flowering untill the next Spring: be sure these plants be sheltered from the frost and snow the winter following, for we found by experience, that the last winter killed all the Stock-Gilliflowers, both old and young, unless it were such as were sheltered.

Thirdly, Replant these plants the first full Moon in March following, and be sure that they be transplanted into a better earth which is as rich as it may be possible, to that place where you have a desire they shall be, and the most of these will be double, if in their farther growth, before they come to flower, you guild off some of the leaves, and cut off some of the branches that would deprive the Flower of its sap.

Fourthly, There are subtle wayes of grafting of them, the effect of it is to have two severall colours of one stock, it is done in manner as I told you of the Cornation-Gilliflowers, so of these, and with a great deal more ease you may obtain your desire.

Fifthly, The ordinary sowing for ordinary and single Flowers is at any time you please, for they usually grow best to be single Flowers when they have least care took of them.

Sixthly, Means for setting of slips of double stocks that they may not degenerate but be double and large, still the time for it is the first full Moon in May, the Flower is ricked [Page] in the branch, then slip off as many slips of the under leaves as you can conveniently, then plant them in such earth, and in such a place as you replanted the seedlings in: Let these slips be often watered with such water wherein have been steeped Sheeps-dung; these plants thus planted, and those raised of the seed, will continue three or four years before they decay, and then they must be supplied with younger in the room.

Seventhly, To plant seedlings for pleasure, and that is upon the border of a high walk (where there is no hedge) set by a direct line, each plant seven inches one from another, and so to grow up in a frame made with small sticks, and to be kept clipt with a pair of sheers on each side, and on the top where a plant riseth higher than ordinary, so that they may stand like a hedge, and a pleasant hedge indeed: but if such a convenient place is not to be had, then you may plant them in uniform order insome out-border.

Lastly, Some may surmise, or be ready to conjecture, because I have not set down rules for inoculation and transforming of shape, and altering of sent and colour, nor any objections to the contrary, that I do not understand whether any such thing may be done yea or no. To this I answer, That Natures fancy. these intercisions or supplies, are but conceits took up upon trust, and never made good by practice, and therefore I shall not dispense with the time to answer them in particular, and swell up my Book about such uncertain, vain and needlesse curiosities which are unpractical, and that which is more, they were never affected, so I wave the Discourse.

Snap-Dragons.

They are not distinct kinds, but distinct colours, viz. the white, the red and the peach colour, so I will give a description which shall serve for all. This plant spreadeth at the middle with many branches, the bottom of the stalk is bare without branch or leaf, the top of the plant riseth by degrees above the rest, whereon are many small leaves, green and sharp pointed, of the same colour of the stalk, on every branch are many Flowers knit double, in the shape of a Peas blossome: the time of flowering is chiefly in July, the seed is ripe [Page] soon after, which lieth in bags, it is very small and of a brown colour: after the seed is ripe, the uppermost branches die, the lowermost spring again two year after its first flowering, then root and branch dieth.

This plant is propagated of the seed only; the time is in March or August, but it is best in August; it is done as followeth: Prepare a bed or a border, and there sow the seed, in manner as I told you of others, so done it will come up in a fortnights space, it need not be removed; all the care is to shelter it the Winter following from the frost and snow; the Summer following these plants will flower, and continue with you according to the description.

Sweet Williams.

It is a plant that springeth every year, when it is at its full growth, it lieth one half of the ground, the other rising up; Descrip. the whole branches being nigh three foot in length, with many knots or joints, where springeth many small leaves set close on to the stalk, betwixt the stalk and the leaves springeth tufts whereon are many small Flowers, four leaves in number of a Pink colour, rising all of a height, that at a distance you would take it for one united Flower: this plant continueth flowering both June and July, it seldom or never beareth seed to perfection.

Now this plant is set of the slip in March or September; the Propagation. slips must be such as have part of the root and of the branch, and that is easie to be had where they grow, for the root spreadeth in the ground mightily. The place for planting of them is in banks or border sides: I shall not need to stand to declare every particular of it, but as you set the Bachelors-buttons, so set these: where they are once planted they alwayes continue, they need no more trouble, but after their flowering cut off the old vines, and they will spring anew again.

Scarlet Beans.

Various are the wayes which I could enter upon the description, and the ordering of this plant or Flower, which I shall omit: The description is thus: This plant riseth in all respects [Page] like the Kidney or French Bean; the Flower is of a scarlet colour, which continueth long on the stalk, and after it fadeth springeth cods, wherein are likely five Beans, something bigger than the Kidney-bean, in the same shape, and of an intermixt purple and red colour; these Beans or seeds are set in the middle of April, and so till May-day, if opportunity do not then serve, or the weather contrary to the season.

The place fit for it is in out-borders of Gardens of pleasure, where they may runne up against the trees, or supported with sticks against the wall; this done, by the later end of July they will come to flower, and yeeld their seed ripe in the middle of September, and then dieth the plant.

Lastly, This plant yeeldeth a great increase of seed, which The increase. you may plant again, and it will prosper very well without any changing for three years: These Beans are very good for to eat, insomuch that they are prized before the Kidney-bean.

If you have a great quantity of the seed, and would plant Profit. them for food, you may do it in a Kitchen-garden, the ground being hot and sandy, well dunged; plant them in rowes of two foot and an half distance, and when they are grown up, if they be stuck with small sticks, they will be much the better, yet they will bring a good increase without.

Snails.

They are so called, because the seed is twisted much like it in shape and bignesse, and of the colour of a dry Tobaccoleaf: This seed is ordinary to be bought at most seedmens; and if you set it in the Spring time, it will grow and bring forth its seed the same year, and after that the plant dieth.

Snow-drops.

They rise with many spirish blades, thick and of a soft substance, Descrit. set close to the ground, bending with their tops down to the ground again, through which rise many small stalks of half a foot in length, upon which groweth Flowers of the [Page] bignesse and shape of an Acorn, five leaves in number, of a milk white colour bending downward: The time of this Flower is in the beginning of April, the roots are bullous-roots, which you may transplant after their flowering.

The place that they are commonly planted in is upon borders in intervales, with Crokus, and other Flowers with bullous-roots. Let this short direction serve, for I think it is as much as is needfull, it being a Flower of such a hardy nature.

Start up and kisse me.

Or otherwise called Wag-wantons. This is a plant that riseth to half a foot in height, with many small brown leaves, Descrip. with a few branches spreading from the stalk, whereon groweth Flowers of a sky colour, being but a small Flower spreading of it self full abroad; in the middle standeth three or four knots alwayes wagging, of the colour of the flower; the time this flowereth is in April, and after the Flower is gone, are round husks wherein is seed much like Violet seed.

This plant is sown of the seed, or set of the slip in March, in manner as you do Violets, and such like. I cannot stand to dispense any more time about it, but must go to that of more consequence, which is

Tulips.

I am come now to that Flower which Authors have left a large description of to posterity, and also vain disputes, how Tulips are made by art into those several colours that they are in. To give an answer to those things I shall omit the pains, and not raise my discourse out of other mens words: so I'll set down what I have found by experience, and what the nature of them is.

First, In nature: Here is a wonderfull work, and many rare and excellent things to be observed from this work in nature: First, consider how beautifull it is, and of what a hardy nature it is of; other Flowers that are beautifull are of a tender nature, it is not so with this, considering what a stately form it hath: but this I shall wave; I will speak how Tulips are tituled.

[Page] Tulips are distinguished and called in the oraty of the colour each Tulip hath; that which is held most in estimation Of names. is the Scarlet, the Princes-robes, and the Fools-coat, the Chimney-sweeper, and the black and yellow, especially if they have the shape of the Crown Tulip. The ordinary sort of Tulips are these, the Wind colour, the London-white, the yellow, the purple, the peach colour, the Maiden-blush, the red, the white, the Cinamon, the Widow-Tulip. Ordinary mixt colours are these, the Lords-livery, the Priests-vestures, the red and white, the yellow and red, the orange and damask, the purple and red, and many more, which I cannot stand to name. All these colours, or any other, doth sometimes alter their colour by nature as well as by industry of themselves; and forasmuch as the colour of Tulips do differ one from another, is of an apt nature, and not of a forced nature; and seeing that they are apt to alter of themselves, I will endeavour to shew you how you shall find the nature of this Flower.

First, If you have Tulips already in your Garden, when they are flowering, take notice of what colour they are, then stick a small stick by each particular Flower, and write upon the stick what colour each Flower is; now by the setting down of this stick, you shall know what colour they were when the Flower is faded, and nothing remaineth but the root in the earth: Let these sticks or marks stand till such time as you remove them; the time of removing them is presently after they have done flowering, and that is about the beginning of June: in the removing of them, all the art and knowledge consists, either for the enlarging of them, or to have them flower at contrary seasons, or to alter the colour.

First, For altering the colour: Having set the marks to know what colour they were, take up your roots, and lay Colour. each colour by themselves, so done prepare your ground to set them in; if you set them in the same place where they were taken up, some fresh mould must be gotten and well ridled, so lay it upon the border where you have a desire to set them.

But happily you may set them in a wrong place for ornament, [Page] therefore I will give some directions for the place; if the Garden be crosse-work, then it is proper to set them in a border round it; if Herb-work, then Tulips must be set in a quarter cast out into beds, in such a manner as is in the draft-work of this Book.

Secondly, These Tulip-roots thus taken up, you must seprrate the young suckers from the old bearers, and plant them Suckers. in a bed by themselves, at a hands breadth one from another, the old bearers must be planted at eight inches difference either in bed or border, no deeper than that there be half an inch of earth above the root, for if you do, they lie cold in the ground, and cannot get the benefit of the Sun and air to cause them to spring timely.

Thirdly, Concerning the altering of colour, having taken Colour altered. notice of what colour they were before, set the red Tulips by themselves, and the white Tulips by themselves after these directions; take a quantity of wild or Garden-herbs, and Sheeps-dung, and Pigeons-dung, beat these Herbs and the dung together, so done put some of this into the holes where you set your Tulip-roots, anoint the roots with the same, and set them into the holes, and put in more atop of them, covering of them with earth; this done, upon several trials it hath altered the colour, some after one manner, and some after another, but still the red and the white carrieth the greatest sway.

Again, I have been told, and I have conceited it to be true, that is in the planting of a red Tulip, to alter the colour, I should take a white Tulip-root, Lettice-leaves, Solendine leaves, Camomile, and the white Thistle and Peas-flower, and beat all these together, and so I did, and committed them to the earth, as I did the former, and I did imagine that the root would partake of those several coloured juices, and convert it into its own nature, which should cause so many orites of colours as was mixt in the juices, but I found by experience that it was nothing so, for I found no more alteration in those than I did in the former, which was only the enriching of the earth with the strength of the substance of the Herbs and dung; so Flowers do not convert any colours as they are, but into its own colour and intercisial form as every one hath. [Page] Some think that there is several juices in the earth which is the cause of it, as is said, that if Garlick be set by Gilliflowers, that they will be the sweeter, because that they think that the Garlick doth draw away the strongest juice; this is as uncreditable as the stories of Robinhood; for sure if Flowers draw juice, so does the Crab-tree, I mean drawing or receiving of Disputes of Nature. it, as it is; then mark, an Apple grafted upon a Crab-tree must needs turn a Crab, for it receiveth its juice from the Crab-stock; and as they say the Crab-stock draweth sower juice, and if it be so, from whence should the Apple receive its sweet juice? Why then it is plain, that the Apple graft converts the sower juice of the Crab-stock into its own nature, and becometh of a pleasant taste, and so it is with all plants else: so it is not Garlick by Roses can make them the sweeter, nor contrary colours applied to Tulips that will alter the colour, and seeing there are divers colours it is an art of nature, and those things which I direct you to apply to them in the former page, is that which doth agree with their nature, for it inlargeth the Flower, and altereth the colour as soon as any thing whatsoever applied unto them.

Fourthly, There is certain wayes of grafting of them to Grafting have two Flowers spring from one root, and that is done thus; Take two Tulip-roots of two several colours, one as big as the other, and cut off a part from the side of each, proportionably alike, so that you cut not the strings at the bottom, then joyn them together, and bind them with a little flax, and set them in the earth, and the next year, according to what they are grafted, they will bring forth Flowers of two several kinds, seeming to spring from one root; some are so simple to think that they will be mixt colours; but that is answered where I treat of Flower-deluce-roots, and prove to the contrary.

Fifthly, To have Tulips of the seed, is to sow it in the later Of Seed. end of August in a fine fertile earth, for it is a very tender feed, though when it is come to perfection the plant is the hardiest of all others. The plants that come of seed will be very small the first year, and beareth no Flower while the fourth year; and seeing Mr. Purchas and others have took up their time to study curiosities about ordering this seed; and that this Flower [Page] is grown so common that the roots may be had almost any where, I shall not insist any more upon ordering this seed.

Sixthly, Tulips must be removed every year, or every Removing other year; the time fit for it is in the later end of June, in manner as aforesaid; the reason is, if they be not removed, they grow too deep in the ground, and the ground groweth stiff about them, and they send forth suckers from the old bearers; these things hinder the timely bearing, and maketh the Flower the less.

Seventhly, Concerning sent. In the former Treatise of Gilliflowers I had an occasion to speak of the alteration of the Ofsent. sent of Flowers, and if it could be done on this, as I know it is impossible, it would make this Flower exceed all Flowers, for here is nothing wanting in this Flower that nature did bestow in any other, except sent; and what may be done in altering the sent, Authors say it is thus: Take two or three Cloves, as much Mace, and a stick of Oinamon, two grains of Musk, and a little Amber-grease, these beaten together, adde unto it a few drops of Damask-rose-water, then take a fine Camebrick rag, and spread this upon it; lay this to a Tulip-root, then commit it to the earth; this done, water them now and then with Damask rose-water, and some other sweet drugs this cost with diligence performed, say they, the Tulip that springeth from that root will be as sweet as any Flower whatsoever. This you may believe if you please; but I can assure you that you will lose your labour and cost: My reason is, as I said before, plants do not contract any substance, as it is either sweet or sowr, black or white, but into its own sent, colour and for me that God and Nature gave it.

Lastly, Some things may be done in crossing of the nature Crossing of Nature. of this Flower, by keeping of the root out of the earth to put it backward for flowering at contrary seasons, for you may keep it out of the earth a quarter of a year and set it again, and it will grow and flower; thus you may keep them back from flowering one Summer, and the next Summer they will flower the timelier, and the Flowers will be much the larger. I cannot insist upon every particular, but I hope I have shewed you the principal things of concernment, and I [Page] have answered some of the groundlesse opinions that men have took up upon trust concerning the ordering of this Flower.

The Sensitive plant.

A strange nature this plant hath, and that is, if a man touch it with his hand, it will crumble it self up together; hence the name of it is derived, or called the Sensitive plant.

It riseth to a span high, with weak stalks, but tough with Descrip. small brownish leaves, with a few tufts at the top of the branches, where groweth small Flowers, and it beareth a small seed presently after.

This plant is raised on a hot bed of the seed under a glass: In the beginning of April, and at May transplant it into a box of fertile earth, where it will remain two years, if it be housed in the Winter, and carefully looked after.

Thrift.

It is matted close to the ground like matted grasse, with spiry Descrip. blades like matted Pinks; it spreadeth mightily upon the ground, and it beareth a Flower in May, which is double, and of a whitish Pink colour: This Flower standeth upon a naked stalk of an handfull long, and after the Flower fadeth and beareth no seed.

This Flower is set of the slip only, for the keeping up of borders, and for the distinguishing of knots; these slips may be set at any time of the Spring or fall, and where they are set they alwayes continue.

Turkey-caps.

They spring up like red Lillies to two-foot high, and afterward brancheth out into five or six branches, on each branch groweth a Flower which is red, and in the form of a cap, standing with the tops exactly downward; the time of its flowering is in July, and after the Flower fadeth, it leaveth the seed behind it, which seldome cometh to perfection.

This Flower is set of the root only; the time for it is presently [Page] after its flowering, or at its first springing in March, in the same places and manner as was told you of Lillies, after the stalk dieth the root springeth again yearly, the roots would be removed every year, or every other year, or else the Flowers will be but small.

Violets.

Both double and single are sown and planted in Gardens for several uses as well as for pleasure.

In August and the beginning of March they set up the slip in borders or banks, and in April you may sow them of the seed in drils, as was shown of Pinks, where they will alwayes remain. I need not trouble my self to write any more of them.

Wall-gilliflowers.

I am now come to the last Flower in my Treatise, it needeth no description; it is only propagated of the seed, by sowing of it amongst rubbish, or upon wals, at any time of the year you please; for it is a seed of that hardinesse, that it maketh no difference betwixt the Winter and the Summer, but will flourish in both equal, and beareth its Flowers all the year; therefore I advise you to sow it upon some wall or stony bank: Now after this seed is once sown and hath taken root, it will naturally of it self overspread much ground, and will hardly ever after be rooted out. This beareth its seed much like to the Stock-gilliflower, but that it is much smaller, and the lightest of all seeds; and as it scattereth it cometh up naturally of it self; and seeing it requireth no more labour, I will not insist any more upon it.

So endeth the Treatise of Flowers.

[Page]

THE GARDEN of PLEASURE as it treateth of CURIOUS TREES.
Here followeth short Descriptions and Directions for the raising and maintaining of such curious Trees as are placed in Gardens of Pleasure now in England, either for their Fruits, Flowers or Pleasure.

Apricock.

AN Apricock is a tree that is placed against a wall for the gaining of fruit from them; for if they be set abroad for standards they will never bring fruit to perfection; neither will those against the wals some years, if they be not preserved with mats, and that is done thus; Drive some Tenter-hooks at the uppermost part of the wall, and upon those hooks with a pole hang your-mats in the Evening, and in the Morning take them off with the same, and these mats will preserve the fruit from frosts, winds and blasts, which oftentimes perisheth fruit at the first knitting: thus you may preserve any other wall fruit.

Apricocks are propagated by inoculation and circumcising; the experiments I refer to the Treatise of Fruit-trees.

Almonds.

There be two sorts, the sweet and the sowr; the sweet sort are planted against wals, as the Apricocks are, and propagated as the other are in all respects.

[Page]

Bay.

Bay-trees are planted sometimes against pillars, or on each side of doors of Gardens of Pleasure, but chiefly in fore-Courts at a yard difference, to the end that they shall spread the wall, and not grow too big, for then they would not be nailed to the wall, but would endanger to throw it down, and stand very unseemly.

These trees are raised of seed or slip: First of the seed; the time for it is in the middle of April, in a good earth; and if the seed be new and sound, it will come up suddenly, and by the third year it will be four foot high: The setting of the slips is in this manner; in September go to a Bay tree, and cut off all the strait shoots that are joyning to the body, and set them slope-waies in good earth, and they will take root most of them at that time twelve moneth, they may be took up and set in those places where they shall remain.

Box.

With Box, knots and borders are set, but now it is almost out of fashion, for the roots of it drieth and improverisheth the earth, so that nothing can grow nigh it, so it is chiefly now used for setting of hedges upon the edge of high walks, where it shall annoy nothing but cast a pleasant sight alwayes: this is set of the slip in September, and the least slip of it will grow, though it be but slowly.

Ciprus.

There is two kinds, that is the great Cipruss and the dwarf-Cipruss: the great kind will grow to twelve foot high; the dwarf-Cipruss seldome grows to above four or five foot high; they are both planted for pleasure thus: The great kind is planted at ten foot distance, more or lesse in grasle-knots, according to the space of the Garden, usually at the corners thereof, and for to keep them in a pleasant form, you shall set a stake by them, which is strait, to the end that the plant may grow up by it, and be bound to it with wier, and clipping off of the loose branches with a pair of sheers, and keeping of it so clipt that they grow no bigger than a mans [Page] body, and cutting of them all off at an equal height, which is usually at nine foot high, and when they are at their full growth they will be kept in this form with twice or thrice clipping in the year.

The dwarf-Cipruss is usually planted by pole-hedges, two foot and an half distance, so that when they are grown up they might be a hedge themselves, cut at three foot and a half high: The place that they are thus planted, is round the quarters of a Garden, and it is the newest work that is growing, witness his Majesties new Garden at St. Jameses.

These plants are raised of the seed in April, sown in exceeding good earth, and sometimes in hot beds: The plants thus come of seed ought to be transplanted into other beds, and set at half a foot distance, sheltered the first Winter, and the third transplanted for pleasure as aforesaid.

Fig-tree.

Fig-trees are planted against the house, because they run up to such an height that no wall will be high enough for them.

These are set of the slip which springeth from the root of the old Fig-tree, as usually all Fig-trees put forth, unless such as be set in pavements, where the stones hinder them from coming up.

Figs of India.

Figs of India, or Indian-figs: it is such a strange kind of plant that I cannot call it an Herb, Flower, nor Tree.

It groweth on the ground like an heap of Cucumbers laid Descrip. up together without either branch or leaf, or any thing like it; at the bottom it hath a root which is white, and of a soft substance, and those kind of parts which I cannot give a name for, which I told you are like Cucumbers, take root, whereby it increaseth; and for me to give you any farther account of them, I shall go beyond my knowledge, but these are to be seen in the Earl of Meaths Garden in Ireland.

[Page]

Filleroy.

There are many sorts of them, but all are of one nature and held in great estimation.

They are trees that grow to three foot high, spreading with branches to the very bottome, and in the beginning of Descrip. March this plant putteth forth so many Flowers that it covereth it self, these Flowers are made of four leaves and of a reddish colour, and after the Flowers shed there springeth leaves which are of a swarthy green colour and as broad as a shilling, afterward appeareth a green berry, and in August it turneth red as a Cherry, and something bigger than a great Pea, by Michaelmas it is full ripe, then it is coal black and loseth the outer husk, the seed is in the middle, which is black also and smooth as glass.

The propagating of this plant is chiefly of the seed in this manner, in the beginning of April make hot beds of a foot high, laying of two inches of earth on it, then cast the seed upon that, then lay another inch of earth upon that, let both be ridled well; make a shelter over the bed with sticks and mats, and in short time the seeds will come up and there they must stand till the fall, and then transplant it into ordinary beds, but they must be sheltered the winter following or else the cold will endanger to kill them: many curiosities more there are used about them which I will not treat of, a wise man knows one thing by another.

Gesamits.

Of these there are two sorts, the white, and the yellow, the yellow is little set by because it hath no sent, yet it flowereth early even at the beginning of May, the white Gesamit flowereth not while June, this tree beareth a Flower, in sent, colour and shape, like the white stock-Gilliflower, both these kinds are set of the slip in Autumn, in a moist rich soyl, so they will take root by the Spring: the place they are severally transplanted to after they have taken root, is against walls or bowers, so that they be nailed or tied up, for they cannot stand of themselves: these directions are sufficient, there is no curiosity belongeth to these plants.

[Page]

Holyander.

It is a tree that keepeth green all the year, it groweth to Descrip. four foot high, with five or six branches rising together even from the very root, on these branches stand leaves in order one against another much like the Laurell leaves, and atop of every branch springeth a Flower like the white Lillie.

These plants are not raised in England but are brought in boxes of earth out of Italy, so I shall cease to give any directions for the propagating of the tree: this tree is to be seen in the Lord of Brobston's Garden, where you may be satisfied whether I have given you a right information of it yea or no.

Horn-Fig-trees.

It is a tree hath few branches scattering one from another Descrip. with here and there a leaf, the bark of the body is of a brown colour, the whole tree groweth to be a little higher than a man, atop of every branch putteth forth a kind of a fruit like a Key ball, and at the first it hath a kind of a red husk on it, which maketh it appear at a distance like a Flower, and when that sheddeth the fruit is as hard that is underneath and as rough as the Pyone Apple.

This tree is raised either of the seed or slip, but best of the seed, for it is done with as much ease as the Pippin-kernels are raised, but it is hard to procure the seed or slip, for the tree is very scarce.

Creeping Vine.

So called, because if it be set against a wall or a house, it will take hold it self without any nailing, and run up to the very top, and needeth no care but pruneing: you may say, what need it have any pruneing, seeing every branch will take hold of the wall? I answer, the reason is, because one branch will grow over another else, and therefore they must be prevented while they are young by cutting off.

I need not trouble my self in setting down waies for the planting of them, for it is done with as much ease as the ordinary Vine.

[Page]

Lowaray.

This tree groweth to ten foot high, with branches springing Descrip. from the body of the root, even from the very bottome to the top, being very strait shoots covered with a grey bark, the leaves are of a pale colour, round at the bottome and sharp at the top: at the and of every old branch springeth a Flower in the form that the Vine putteth forth her Flower, but of a blew colour.

This tree is raised of the sucker which springeth from the root, these being taken away in September and set in any ordinary earth, they will grow as soon as a willow: the place that they are usually set in is by bowers, to the end that they may cover them, for you may bend this tree which way you please and they will not break.

Laurell.

Is so generally known that I need not speak any thing in describing of it, I shall only speak two or three words of the raising of it, and the place of planting of it in for ornament.

First for the raising of it; if you have good store of Laurell trees, at Michaelmas cut off so many young branches as you can, that are two foot in length and longer, the longer the better, then find out a place that is very moist earth and rich, lying something in the shade, there plant your cuttings, laying of them slope-waies, so that there be a foot of them in the ground and the rest above; thus done let these cuttings remain there till the next March, and by that time they will have roots of an inch long, then you may transplant them to wall-sides or pales, where they may be set at four foot distance, and kept nailed to the walls or pales: those that have great store of them make hedges of them by walks sides, supporting of them with poles, and so keep them cut at the top: about London they make a great profit of the cuttings of Laurell.

Lowrex.

This plant spreadeth like a bush even close to the ground, Descrip. [Page] and seldome groweth to be three foot high, the leaves are green and two inches in breadth, made of the fashion of a long ovall, and are so thick set on, that a man cannot see into the body of the plant: this plant keepeth green all the year, and beareth a berry, but it never cometh to any perfection, therefore it is set of the slip, and the least slip of this plant will grow.

The raising of it and planting of it, is as I told you of the Laurell cuttings, therefore let one direction serve for both: the place that this plant is set in, is in physick-Gardens, because it is a physicall plant.

Lorestrinus.

The branches of this plant are weak, so they are usually Descrip. planted against walls, arbors, or upon frames of close walks: it keepeth its leaves green all the year, which are of a brownish green, shooteth out with long branches, like the young Vine shoots, and the old shoots beareth a tufty white Flower which flourisheth in May.

This plant is planted of the slip as most plants are that keepeth green all the year, so I shall not need to insist upon the manner of it, for it is done with as much ease as any of the other; so nothing remains but that it be planted in the places according to the description.

Lignae-vitae.

Is a tree that is not very common, I do not know that ever I saw above three of them in my life, yet if the slips of them may be had, I am confident that it would grow almost any where, but it never beareth seed which cometh to perfection, and that maketh it so much a stranger in England: and for your better understanding I give you this short description, it is a tree which hath branches like the Saven, the body of it is smooth and strait, and of a ruddy colour, with never a twig upon it, but at the very top, which is very pleasant to behold: this tree at his full growth is as big as a mans thigh; and a matter of twelve foot in heighth, the body of it is the best wood in the world for musicall instruments and for your new Engine turning-work; I think it needless to speak any [Page] thing of the propagating of it more than I have.

Mirtill-trees.

Of Mirtils: there is the sweet Mirtill, the smooth Mirtill, and the prickly Mirtill, and some will have them distinguished into more names, yet he that knoweth the one may easily know the other.

All Mirtils keep green all the year, and have a thick leaf Descrip. as broad as a groat; that they call the prickly Mirtill hath a sharp-pointed leaf full of veins: the sweet Mirtils leaves are smooth and round: that they call the smooth Mirtill, differeth not in any thing from the sweet, but only the sweet hath a bloom which hath a sweet savour: no Mirtill tree groweth to any great stature, for it is a great tree counted that is so big as a mans thigh and six foot high.

The propagating of each of these sorts is chiefly of the berry or seed on this wise, prepare boxes of as good mould as may be had, set the seeds therein, so done, let the boxes be sheltered anights: the time for this is in the beginning of April, this observed, if the seed be good it will come up in a little more than three weeks space, let the plants stand in these boxes till the next September, then draw out such plants as stand too thick, and plant them in other boxes, and let some remain in the same, where they may stand alwaies if the boxes be big enough and deep enough: these plants must be housed in the winter as long as they stand in boxes, but some when they are three years growth transplant them against walls, where they will prosper very well if it be upon the South part thereof.

Orange-trees.

And Lemon-trees will grow very well in England if they have houses built on purpose, so that they may be wheeled in and out upon truckels, in the boxes of earth that they grow in, but yet they seldome bring any fruit to any perfection, they are only for a sight, they are pleasant trees to behold, for their leaf never fadeth but keepeth green all the year: I think I may spare the labour to give any further information of them, or any directions for the propagating of them, for I [Page] think few of my countreymen will dispence of so much charge for to have nothing but a sight for it.

Pomegranate-tree.

Is the stateliest tree in shape or growth of all others, it is a tree also that never fadeth its leaf, the leaves are long and of a yellowish green colour, of a thick substance: this plant groweth not to its full stature in England, and I never saw it out, therefore I cannot give a right description of it: these plants will be raised no where but at home, which is in Spain, and being brought hither when they are young plants, in boxes of earth, they may be preserved in warm chambers to bring untimely fruit.

Peach-trees.

Of Peaches: there is the double Peach-flower, the smooth Peach, and the rough Peach, the early Peach, and the winter Peach, all these are planted against walls, at twelve foot distance, and preserved as you may see of Apricocks: for the raising of them I shall wave it here, and speak of it in the Treatise of fruit-trees, I only name them here, because they are cultivated in the Garden of pleasure.

Perry winckle.

It runneth training on the ground with many joynts, Descrip. whereat shoot out leaves of a dark green, shining leaves somewhat like the Bay leaves but not half so big; at every joynt cometh Flowers of a paleblew colour, some are white, some of a dark reddish colour; the root is a little bigger than a rush, the branches creepeth far about.

This plant is set of the slip only, and it may be set any where, it refuseth no ground, being set either in the Spring or the fall: the best place to set it in is upon bank-sides, where little or nothing will grow, this taketh root and spreadeth a great deal of ground presently, and keepeth the bank whole of it self without weeds, for it killeth them.

[Page]

Sweet-Bryer.

It is planted underneath windows for its sweet savour sake, the suckers that come from it may be planted, they will grow up very well, but to have great store of sweet-Bryer, save the seeds while the Spring of the year, and then sow it in beds of loose earth and it will grow without fail, the plant sprung of that seed by that time a twelve moneth they will be big enough to transplant into hedgerows, as some have them planted round their quarters of their Gardens, others plant them in maze-form, keeping of the sides cut and the top, and pleasant walking it is there.

Tamarus.

Is a tree so well known that it needeth no description, it is usually planted to grow over doors or bowers, for it shadeth and covereth much; it's a tree that never beareth seed, therefore it is only planted of the sucker or the slips which comes from the body, or the root being took of in September and planted where you have a desire they should grow, and it may be done without any curiosity.

The Gilli-Rose.

Or the Gilderland-Rose; it riseth to six foot high with Descrip. a body as big as a mans wrist with a reddish bark, the leaves resemble the Vine leaf, though much less and of a darker colour, upon one branch groweth but one Flower, after the Flower sheddeth there appeareth a seed but it never cometh to perfection, this tree decayeth not in eight or nine years where it liketh its air and earth.

Of the sucker this Rose may be raised: the time for getting and setting of the sucker is in February the latter end thereof, placing of it in a very warm place, so done it will come to flower the third year after: another way is, which is more certainer, for to inoculate it upon a Damask-Rose stock.

[Page]

The Province-Rose.

There be two or three sorts, and that is, the Provincerosal, the Province-vicar, the red Province, and the damask Province: a great enlargement I could make upon these, but the summe of all is, Province-Roses must be inoculated upon damask Rose stocks, so I shall give you the way of inoculation, and that briefly.

First, Observe the time, and that is about the first of June, when the plant is full of sap: now followeth the manner; Go to a Province-Rose tree, and cut off one of the likeliest young shouts that you can see, then go to a young damask-Rose stock, which must not be above a year old; this observed, take off a bud from off the cutting which you brought from the Province-rose; the bud took off evenly and square, then lay it upon the damask-rose stock, a matter of a foot from the ground let it be, so mark out just such a proportion of bark by that, then take it out with the point of your knife, then set the other in its room, which if you did it artificially, will just fill up the place, or else it is worth nothing; but if it do joyn right then it is very likely if will grow, then bind it with a little flax, leaving the middle open for the bud to grow out; set two or three of these buds of one stock, but if one grow it is enough. Now when you see the bud incorporated with the stock, then unbind them for the band will do them hurt; after the bud is shotten forth an handfull length, then cut the stock off above it: these are certain and easie wayes of inoculation of Roses, but if you are not satisfied with these short directions, see the Treatise of inoculation for fruit trees.

The Cinamon-Rose.

A great quoil there is about this Rose: Some think it was coloured by a morical substance, being a damask Rose before: Others are of that opinion that it was inoculated upon a Barbary stock; but whilst men hold these opinions, it doth plainly appear, that they do believe, that colours in Flowers were made by mans art; but I am not of that opinion, for I believe they are only preserved by mans industry, and all mans [Page] art is to find out the working nature, and all that is here required in the promoting of this plant in its own nature, is to inoculate it upon a damask Rose stock, which may stand in a warm convenient place where the unkind Winter may not nip it.

Vines.

Of Vines there are many kinds, and many Authors have given large descriptions, praises and directions for the promoting of Vines, whose large and historical Discourses have drowned the sense or the method of it to the Reader: This Discourse I shall omit, and speak a few words in brief, how Vines are propagated of such ordinary sorts as grow in England.

First, I will give you an account of them: There is the white Muskadine, the red Muskadine, the small sugar Grape, the Murcot, the ordinary French white and red Grapes, and the English white and wild Grape: In the raising and maintaining of these, I find but four things requisite, and that is, Planting, Pruning, Gelding, and Cures for hurtfull distempers.

For the first, Before you plant, get such plants as are rooted, though some say, that cuttings will root very well, but I have found by experience, that one in ten will hardly come to any thing; and if they do shoot out the first year, they decay afterward: The way to get rooted plants is thus; Go to an old Vine, and bring most of the young Vines that grow nigh the root, and bring them under the earth, and bring the tops up to the wall again; this ought to be done in September, and those Vines let lie under the earth while that time twelve moneth, and by that time they will have taken root, then they may be cut from the old mother, and planted against walls, houses, bowers, or close walk frames; and in setting of them, observe that they stand not too nigh the wall, and not above a foot deep, and that you put about them some Pigeous-dung and good mould, and that the plant be cut off a yard above the ground: these are certain and sure wayes of planting of Vines.

The second is Pruning, and that is one of the necessariest [Page] things that belongeth unto them, for if they be not pruned they will soon decay and give over bearing of fruit, and grow out of all shape and form. The time for pruning of them is in February, for if it should be done before, the cold would nip the cuttings and kill them, and if it should be done after, the Vine would bleed out most of its sap, which will hinder its growth, and keep it from bearing that year. Now the pruning is thus; cut off all such as were of the last years growth, save such as are leaders, and those must be left to spread further against the wall, and in cutting the branches off cut them so that you leave one joint or eye from whence springeth the Grape.

For the third, Gelding of the Vine is requisite for the preserving of the Flowers and the Grape: First Understand that gelding is to pluck away the sprouts where they grow thick, and the leaves which deprive the grape of its sap, and keep the benefit of the Sun from it, which the Vine loveth above all plants.

Lastly, Hurtfull Distempers which annoy Vines is canker eaten earth, bound and barrennesse of the soil: First, for canker eaten, that is usually at the root, which is eaten by worms; the cure is to anoint it with tar and Herb-grasse, and pouring some Chamber-lie on it, which will cure the distemper, and keep the worm from eating of the root any more. Secondly, If they be earth bound, then open the earth from about the root in September, and lay a little chaff or bran about it, and so let it lie till February, and then take the chaff away, and put good mould in the room. Barrennesse in a Vine is sometimes the cause of its too deep planting, and in the barrennesse of the earth; if the cause be in the earth, it is soon remedied with the taking that away, and bringing better in its stead; if it be too deep and an old Vine, there is little remedy: I am forc'd to end here.

THE GARDENERS PRACTICE IN The Physical and Fruitfull Garden, in the Knowledge of Raising, Growing, and Maintaining of Herbs and Trees contained therein.

[Page]

First as it treateth of HERBS.

Angelica.

IT is called by no other name, and so well known I need not describe it.

This plant is sown of the seed, or set of the slip; the slip is that which springeth from the old mother-root, which may be more properly called young plants: the time for the getting and setting of these is in the beginning of March at the first springing, or in September after the old branch decayeth. The place of setting of them (if you have a great quantity) is in beds by themselves laid out at two foot and an half in breadth, two rows on a bed, each plant afoot asunder; the earth would be very rich, because the plant is of a speedy growth, and where it is once set it alwayes continues, yet the old plant dieth being six years old, and sendeth young suckers from its sides, which keepeth the bed alwayes flourishing; and (as I said before) if the earth be not made rich at the first planting, it cannot be easily hope afterward, because the plant ought not to be removed.

Secondly, Observe that the branches of Angelica dieth [Page] every year, and beareth a seed in like manner as the Parsnip doth, and the seed is much like it, but that it is thicker and weightier, it hath a stronger sent than the herb, and as much vertue, and so it is great profit to sow or plant Angelica near any Market Towns where there live any Apothecaries or strong Water men, for it is the excellentest of all Herbs for Waters or Cordials, and commonly sold at a dear rate.

Thirdly, In sowing of it, it is to be noted, that it hath a peevish nature, for if you take never so much pains and care with it it will not grow, and yet sometimes as it shades naturally of it self, so it will come up if the plants grow in a moist place; therefore I advise you to cast the seed in a mighty moist place in August, raking of it lightly, and by the next Spring some of this seed will come up, and some the next year after; every Michaelmas take these plants out of that place, and set them in beds, the first year they will be worth little, the second year they may be cut, and the third year it beareth seed: This is as much as need to be done or understood in the ordering of Angelica.

Alicompane.

It shooteth up with long broad and whitish leaves, hoary Descrip. and soft in the handling, set upon three foot stalks, with a lesser toward the top: This plant hath divers great and large Flowers, like those of the Corn-marigold, and the middle thrim being yellow, which turn into down, and underneath are small brownish seeds, the root is great and thick, branching forth divers wayes, black on the outside and white within, and as tart of taste as Mustard-seed.

This plant is set of the slip which sendeth from the root, being set in any kind of earth it will prosper very well and continue in that place alwayes.

Alexander.

Alexander is also called Alexandre and Horse-pisle; it hath winged leaves much like young Elders, and beareth its seed in tufts like Parsnips, and it is black and [Page] three square, pretty great and weighty.

It is propagated either of the seed or slip; if you sow it of the seed it is no great matter when, nor is it material where, it being committed to any ordinary digged earth, it cometh up naturally, and continueth there alwayes.

The leaves of it are boiled with Beef, and in the Spring time it is used for a Pot-herb; the root is used for sauce.

Annis.

It will grow in England if it be carefully manured, but seeing that the leaves of this plant are for no use, it will be lost labour to raise it, considering the seed may be bought any where.

All-Hail.

All-hail, or Clowns All-hail, by others Woundwort. It hath leaves thick and round of the breadth of a six-pence, Descrip. gray, rough and full of sap; the branches that they grow on lie on the ground much like Germander, but it runneth not out so long; it beareth a little blewish Flower, but never leaveth seed to perfection; the nethermost leaves keep green all the year.

This Herb set of the slip in the Spring time in borders, or any ordinary earth, and it will prosper very well and spring yearly.

Bares-britch.

This Herb doth resemble the smooth Thistle, rising up with a stalk, and at the top the leaves turn something Descrip. round, and in the middle springeth tufty downy Flowers, of a brownish colour, growing in rough husks, and underneath is grayish rough seeds.

This plant groweth wild in some parts, but it is nursed up in Gardens for physical uses; it is usually set of the slip in the Spring, and it flowereth that Summer, and after it hath yeelded its seed three times the plant dieth.

[Page]

Balm.

Balm beareth a seed which it may be raised of, but the Herb is so common that it is needless to trouble you with its description. The time that they usually set the slip of this Herb is in the beginning of April, if in case that you can get but few of the roots, they may be slipt into many parts, and each part will grow if it have but part of the branch with it. The place that it is usually planted in, is in beds by it self of two foot and an half broad, four rows of it in a bed, and let it have all the bed to it self, and let it be well watered at the first planting, it requireth no more trouble, but springeth yearly: The dead branches would be cut off when Winter cometh.

Basyll.

Garden seed Basyll hath one upright stalk, rising up to one Descrip. foot high, whereon are set small branches with two leaves upon a joint set one against another, whereat spring a small Flower whitish in colour, and after it fadeth it leaveth one seed in a bag, which is black, and something bigger than Hysop-seed; this Herb hath the sweetest sent of all others; at the approaching of Winter this Herb dieth; it is propagated only of the seed; the time for it is in the later end of April; in this manner, dig a bed finely in a quarter which is reserved for sweet Herbs, rake it likewise, then sow your seed on it, and cover it with a little fine mould thinly. Now observe, if that it be like to rain after, the bed ought to be covered, for if the seed take wet before its gemination, it turneth all to a gelly, and so is lost.

Lastly, This seed cometh up the ninth or tenth day, and then it would be watered in dry weather, till such time as it covereth the bed. The use of this Herb is for broth or for stewing meats, and the like.

Blessed-Thistle.

It is called Cardus Benedictus, Holy-thistle, and Cardus; I suppose it need not any further description.

[Page] This Herb is raised of the seed only in March, it must be sown in a loose rich earth, in a warm place under some pale, hedge or walk, you should prick in the seeds with your finger in the bed at three fingers breadth asunder; for if it should be raked, the beards that are at the end of the seeds would not let them be covered, and that is the reason I advise you to prick them in with your finger.

The second season of sowing of it is in the later end of April, then it may be sown without any trouble in any ordinary earth, and will prosper very well, and so this Herb dieth at the approaching of Winter, then you may save the seed and sow it in the Spring, in like manner as I told you.

Bares-foot.

This Herb shooteth up branches two foot high, with many joints, whereat shoot out springs with five dark green Descrip. leaves upon them shaped like a Bares-foot, and pale coloured Flowers fashioned like a cup, hanging with the top downward. This Flower is upon the branch in May, it hath clumped roots which spread in the ground, and are of a stinking savour.

This Herb is set of this root onely, either in the Spring, or in the fall; it delighteth in a shadie place, where if you set it, it will grow without any more trouble, and spring every year after according to the description.

Bugloss.

I suppose this is so well known, it needeth no description.

Bugloss may be sown either in March, or the later end of August thinly, for it spreadeth much ground, if it be sown in the Spring, it will be late in the Summer before it come to flower, therefore it is best to sow it in August. It continueth three year before it dieth, but the branches die every year, only the root remains which springeth again.

The vulgar uses of this Herb is, the Flowers and the leaves are put into Claret-wine and Beer, to give it a pleapleasant [Page] taste; the Flowers also are used in Sallets and Syrups.

Burrage.

This Herb is much like the former, but that it groweth not to such a stature, and the leaves are shorter and broader. I need not write any thing of the time of sowing of it, for sow it when you will it will come up at its natural season, and if you suffer it to seed, the seed that falleth comes up naturally, and in time will overspread the Garden, therefore I advise you to sow it in some reversion, or some waste place in the Garden.

Bloodwort.

Bloodwort hath leaves shaped and striped like the Hartstongue leaf, but they are of a red colour; these leaves are set on close to the ground, through which rise stalks like the dock, and beareth a seed in like manner, which is red and three square, glistering like the Sorel seed.

This Herb is sowed of the seed in the Spring time, it would be in a small bed by itself; it cometh up soon after its sowing, and will come to cover the bed suddenly; it beareth not seed till the second Summer after its sowing, and the fourth year it dieth, but it seldom leaveth the ground without young in the stead; for if you suffer it to bear seed, as it falleth it cometh up naturally: This Herb is very good in broth, and bloud puddings of all sorts.

Burnat.

There is a wild kind, and a Garden kind; of the Garden kind there is only double and single; one description will serve for both. Burnats have winged leaves rising thick from the very root, being much crumpled and jagged, and of a palish green colour; through the midst of them riseth a stalk two foot high, whereon are many branches, and at the top of each groweth a knob something like a button, red and white speckled, in which groweth yellow seed something like redish seed; the branch dieth yearly.

Of this seed this Herb is sown, or set of the slip in March [Page] or April, in the end of a bed or border by it self, where it will grow and flourish according to the description: it requireth no more care than to cleanse it from weeds, this herb is used in Claret-wine and in sallets in the beginning of March, for it springeth very early.

Betony.

Garden Betony is so well known I need not write the description of it, therefore take the ordering of it as followeth:

This herb is set of the slip only for it never beareth seed to any perfection; the time for setting of it is in March or April, the place for it is usually in the edge of borders, or otherwise for to have a great quantity of it for stilling of it in cordiall waters, then in beds by it self without any curiosity, for it is a hardy herb, and will continue a long time being once planted.

Camomill.

Is known so well, and the manner and time for setting of it, so I shall wave that, and speak of the place only; the first fit place that I shall name is round upon the edge of borders next to gravell walks; the second place is upon banks of earth made couch-fashion; to the end that a man might sleep upon a Camomill bed; the third way is, to set walks with it, and of each side of the walk a water table laid with white sand which is a very pleasant sight: the fourth way is, to distinguish knots with it, and that is thus, set Camomill in the same form as you would lay Grass-work, and truly the best Garden that ever I saw in his Majesties Dominions had a knot thus set.

Lastly, Be pleased to take notice that Camomill set as was prescribed, must be kept mown and clipt once or twice a week for the summer time, or else it will grow out of form and hollow at the bottome and soon decay.

Comfrey.

A description of it is vain, and a direction for the planting of it is needless, for it will grow in any place where it is set; [Page] I only name it to put you in mind of the planting of it somewhere about your house, for its vertue is generall for man and beast, as the Physicians Herbals will show you, and I hope you will bestow the labour to plant it once, for inso doing you need not do it more.

Cives.

Sometimes called Rush Leeks, Chives and Chivet, I hope that by one of these names there is no man but will know them; the ready way for setting of them, is to slip them into as many heads as they have, and that will be sometimes twenty on one bed, so done prick them into a bed finely digged and raked, at two fingers distance, so that they may come to cover the body themselves, for the keeping of the ground moist, and for the less expence in weeding, and there they will alwayes remain; yet they ought to be removed after they have stood four years, because they will grow so thick that they will want moisture.

Cammell Beg.

The leaves of this keepeth close to the ground and something resemble Violet leaves, but only thicker and of a darker Descrip. green, and in the middle standeth a stalk some eight inches in heighth, whereon groweth one knapped Flower like the Flower of Betony, the stalk and some part of the leaves die yearly, and the under leaves alwaies keep green.

This plant is set of the slip only, which must have part of the root and branch, the best place for setting of it in, is upon the edge of borders for the keeping of them up; this herb is for speciall uses being employed physically.

Chervill.

It is called Merah Chervill, sweet Chervill, and sweet Sisly, it is supposed there were three kinds of them, that is, the wild Chervill, the sallet Chervill, and the sweet Chervill; one description will serve for the Garden kinds.

Both sorts the leaves resemble tongue-grass but of a fresher Descrip. green colour, the stalks rising up a yard high, spreading with white Flowers at the top, after which comes long black [Page] shining seeds, the herb is sweet to smell and tast, where once it is growing it continueth many years, but the branch perisheth in the winter.

This herb is sown only of the seed, that is to say, there is no other way of gaining of it: there are two seasons for the sowing of it, the one is in the beginning of April, and the other in the latter end of August, these are the times: the place is in a bed amongst sweet herbs, in manner as I shewed you of Basill, so done it will come up according as it was described.

Carowaies.

At the first coming up a man at a distance may very well take them for Carots, but as they grow up bigger they differ more, for the Caroway is of a darker green and yeeldeth its Descrip. seed like the Fennell.

The time and the only time for sowing of Carowaies is in the latter end of August, for I have often tried it in the Spring, and I could never have it to grow, and I sowed but once in August and it prospered very well, therefore sow it in August, and the next summer it will yeeld seed, and after the branch dieth, but springeth again and yeeldeth seed every summer for many years without any care.

Clary.

The leaves are thick, gross and woolly, and of a light Descrip. brownish colour, very broad spreading upon the ground as it were, and in the middle riseth a stalk of two foot high, with many branches spreading, whereon are many Flowers like those of Sage, and each Flower leaveth its seed behind it like that of Radish, but something smaller.

This herb is sown of the seed, and it requireth a good ground and to grow in a bed by itself: there is two seasons for the sowing of it, one in the Spring and the other in the fall; that which is sowed in the fall a hard winter will kill it, therefore it is best to sow it in the Spring: the vulgar uses of this herb is for frying with eggs and other things, for it strengtheneth the back and encreaseth venery.

Course-Mary.

Or Ale-Coust, and by some Balsom-herb, it is known [Page] of a long whitish leaf, sharp pointed at both ends and finely cut about the edges, the stalk hath many such like leaves though smaller, with a tust at the top when it flowereth like that of sweet Maudlin, and it never yeeldeth seed.

This herb is set of the slip only; I hope I need not stand to shew every particular of it, but as you set sweet Maudlin so set this: the time for it is in March, and where it is once planted it flourisheth every summer for many years after, this herb is used in Ale and clarified Whey.

Cummin.

Besides it is called Bullwort, Amios, Bishops-weed, and Cummin-royall; for a better knowledge of it, it groweth four foot high, with round stalks, and many branches growing of them with long green leaves, from the top of the branches are white fussy Flowers, after this fadeth the seed soon appeareth, which is like Parsly-seed, but four times as big, the root and branch perisheth every winter.

It must be sown in the Spring, in a good earth which is very moist, and it will prosper as was said: the common use of this seed is, to tole Pigeons to a Dove-coat; there are besides speciall and physicall uses which I need not to set down it is so largely spoken of in many Herbals.

Coriander.

It resembleth Flax and beareth its seed much like it, but Descrip. it is hollow, something big and very light and of a whitish colour, the plant peritheth as soon as the seed is ripe.

The time of sowing Coriander seed is toward May day, there be those that sowes half acres of it and more, I suppose I cannot give them directions, but what I have observed from them I will give you, they usually sow in a light rich ground, and but thinly, for each plant spreadeth much ground: the use of this is for strong waters, the seed of it I mean, whereby those that sow it have great profit.

Celandine.

The leaves are in the form of Turnip-leaves, of a whitish Descrip. yellow colour and full of yellow sap, the root is reddish [Page] and full of yellow sap also; the branches rise to a foot and an half high, full of yellow Flowers, and yeeldeth small seeds.

And for the ordering of it, I will be short with you; if it be sown in any place in digged earth, it will grow and prosper, and never forsake you, and if you did but know the worth of it, you would not neglect the doing of it.

Dragons.

I shall not need to stand long to describe it, for it is very easie to be known by this, that is, the lowermost part of them are absolutely like a Snake, and as big as the biggest Snake whatsoever, and two foot from the ground spreadeth out winged leaves, made in the shape of a Dragons-claw of a whitish green colour, above that riseth that which we may call the Flower; it is made in the fashion of that they call Cookowpintle, and in this lieth much small seed, which is as small as the smallest, of a brownish colour; the branch fadeth every Winter, and springeth again the first of April, and at the seventh or eighth year dieth root and branch, but it leaveth suckers behind it.

Of the sucker this Herb is to be planted in the choisest earth that may be had, or else it will not prosper; the time for it is about the middle of April; of the seed also this plant may be raised, but it is very difficult; I cannot permit the time to explain every particular of it.

Dill.

This Herb is not without its vertue, nor is it fit I should Descrip. exempt it out of the inventory, and I know that you need not my judgment in the sowing of it, for nature doth it better than you or I; for sow it when you will it will come up at its natural season.

Evat.

It hath long slender stalks rising to three foot high, beset Descrip. with leaves round about one against another, in shape and [Page] colour like that of Arssmart, and on the top standeth downy white Flowers, which the wind carry away; it never yeeldeth seed, the leaves have little sent, but as bitter as wormwood in taste; the root is like Spare-mint root in tufts, spreading far: of the root this Herb is planted wither in the Spring or Autumn, and it will grow almost in any place where it is set and never decay: this is a special Herb in Physick, and will well reward your labour, if you know the worth of it.

Fether-few.

Otherwise called white Wort, in the North of England they call it white Rue; I suppose I need not give any description of so common an Herb.

This Herb may be set of the [...] either in the Spring or the fall, refuseth no ground, and continueth many years without any replanting; if men that live in the Countrey, and have Cattel, did but know the worth of this Herb, they would find that it would do them as much good as a Horse-Doctor.

Fennell.

There be three sorts of Fennell, viz. Fennell-flower, sweet Fennell, and the ordinary great Fennell: The first two dieth yearly being sown of the seed, so I shall only trouble you with the common Fennell, and I suppose that can be no great trouble to you; for put either seed or slip in the earth. and it will grow.

French Honey-suckles.

French Honey-suckles has not long been inhabited in England, therefore I will give a description. This Herb hath leaves a foot long coming forth even from the root, in some places two inches in breadth, and in other places a hand breadth, scolloping out with five or six scollops between the bottom and the top, being of a fresh green colour, and smooth; it hath branches springing up to four foot high, with many of those said leaves on them, and many yellowish Flowers, which leave a brown, rough, flat seed behind them, [Page] the nethermost branches green all the year.

This Herb is propagated of seed or slip, but chiefly of the seed; the time for sowing of the seed is in April; the place is in a border, where it shall remain the season being temperate, and the earth good; it cometh up suddenly, but it beareth no Flower till the second year.

French-Mallows.

This Herb, hath strait stalks, which grow up to three or four foot high; if it be not cut it hath a round jagged crumpley Descrip. and pale coloured leaf, something broader than a mans hand, with many small white Flowers of the stalks made of five leaves a peece, each Flower yeeldeth one seed, and of a three cornered fashion, and of a gray colour.

This Herb is to be sown only in the Spring, not in beds in a quarter where pot-herbs are sown, but in a bed by it self; and if the ground be good the seed cometh up the sixth day, and by August it cometh to flower, according to the description, and when the Winter cometh on it perisheth, but whilest it is young it is very good in Sallets, and it is a good pot-herb at all times, whilst it is green.

Gromwel.

Two kinds there are, the wood Gromwel, and the Garden Gromwel. There is a great deal of difference betwixt these two kinds; I shall onely describe the Garden kind.

It hath woody branches like the Mustard-branches, but Descrip. slenderer and lower, many short leaves and blewish Flowers, standing in brown husks, and in each husk after the Flower fadeth, there appeareth one seed in a husk, which are small and of a sky colour, glistering like pearls; the branches perish yearly, but if you suffer the seed to shade, it cometh up naturally of it self.

So if I should give any directions for times and seasons of sowing it, it were needlesse, for the description sheweth it; so there is no more to be said, sow it when you will, it will come up at its own season. The virtue of these seeds are incomparable for curing of the stone and gravel, and women when they be in labour.

[Page]

Gladin.

It springeth up with spiry blades like the flag, and Descrip. beareth a Flower something like the Flower-deluce, but of a yellow colour, it hath double roots spreading in the ground.

Of the root this Herb or Flower is set without any curiosity, and in any ordinary place, and there it will continue alwayes, and flower in July: the root of it is excellent in Physick.

Gooses-tongue.

A common thing it is to give three or four names to one and the same thing; for fear there should be any mistake in the name, I will give you this short description of it: This Herb is in all parts at the first springing like sweet Maudlin only, it is of a darker green colour, and afterward it rises up with branches spreading, beset with jagged leaves, and tufts atop, of downy stuff like that of Coursemary; it never yeeldeth seed; it hath a sweet savour and stringed roots, whereby it spreadeth and increaseth.

This Herb is set of the slip, which is taken from the root, in a bed in a quarter amongst pot-herbs, where it will grow without any industry, and continue alwayes green, it should have the top branches cut off at the comeing in of Winter. Note also this Herb is one of the best of pot herbs.

Germander.

It runneth with small branches on the ground which will take root; it is set thick with small leaves, of a brownish colour; Descrip it beareth the smallest Flower of any other, and no seed; it keepeth green all the year and never decayeth. Now this Herb is set only of the slip in border sides, for the keeping of them up. Others distinguish knots with it; it must be kept alwayes cut, for it runneth and spreadeth farre else. Note it is a stinking Herb, yet sovereigne in Physick.

[Page]

Garlick.

It is a needlesse curiosity to describe that which all men know so well, and to pen down the vertues, it were double labour, seeing the Physicians have done it so often; so I will onely put you in mind of the setting of it in March, and taking of it up at Michaelmas for your several uses, so that you might not want it, when you have occasion for it, and that my Physical Garden should not be without it.

Horse-Redish.

At its first springing it hath jagged and torn leaves, as it were of a light green colour, the next that spring are broader Descrip. and longer, and only cut a little on the edges, then runneth up spindle stalks, whereon are white Flowers, seldom any seed to perfection.

The manner of planting of this is of the root, and so easie and so plain that you cannot misle, for put the least piece of the root of it in the ground, and it will spring up (as was said) and in three years time it will come to be as big as the small of a mans leg, and then it should be taken up for the vertue that is in it, or else it will decay, and be worth nothing.

Herb grasse.

Herb-grass or Rue: It is a common Herb, yet there is great difficulty in the planting of it, for it will not grow in any place, let the earth be never so good, for where it doth like it groweth very slowly, and so doth all sorts of Herbs and trees that have most vertue in them.

Secondly, It is to be observed, that this Herb is to be propagated of the slip only, for it never beareth any seed, therefore take the observations in the planting of it, as followeth.

In September get the slips of this Herb, which must be slipt from the body, and not from the branches; this observed, then look out a convenient border, either under a wall, a hedge or a pale, to the end that it may have shadow, and if it be possible under the shadow of a Bay-tree; for this Herb [Page] is an hot Herb, and delighteth least in the Sunne of all others; as for example, Pulse which is cold, as Musmillions and Cucumbers, these are cooler, and desire the benefit of the Sun, and heat of manure.

Thirdly, You see it is plain, that Herb-grass requireth a shady place, where it may have the Sunne only some small part of the day, then ser it (as I told you) in a shady border, and let the earth be very good, though Authors have said that it abhorreth dung, yet I have found by continual experience, that dung well qualified maketh it prosper mightily, so nothing remains but that you set it so, and it will prosper very well; but the first year and the second it will grow but very slowly, till it be well rooted, and afterward it will flourish for nine or ten years, if no accident befall it (as some suppose) that if an evil woman break any of it, that it will soon fade and die presently after; if it be so, my judgement is, that there be few or no women can break off this Herb, but it must of necessity die: To prove whether it be so or no, it would take up an extraordinary Discourse, which I shall wave, and leave this vertuous Herb to be propagated by your care for your use and profit.

Hore-hound.

Of these there are two sorts; there are the wild kind, which hath a stinking smell; but that which I here prescribe, and intend to treat of, is the sweet Hore-hound, which is nursed in Gardens for its Physical vertues: I suppose it is needless to give any description of it.

The way of propagating of it is of the slip, which hath part of the root; the time for doing of it is either in the Spring, or in the fall, according as opportunity shall best serve: The manner of it is without any difficulty, even as I told of Betony, and so done, it prospereth very well, and springeth every year after.

Hyssop.

There is only two sorts, that is, the yellow and the green; they differ not in nature, though in vertue: one direction will serve for both in the propagating of it, and [Page] therein I shall be very brief. The best and the easiest way for raising Hislop is of the seed.

First, The ordinary way of raising of it of the seed, is in the later end of April; the place fit for it is in beds two foot and an half in breadth, in the quarter with the sweet Herbs, in that form, as you may see in the draft-work in the beginning of this Treatise: I shall save the labour to write the manner of sowing of it, but so as Basil is sown, so is this.

The second way of sowing of it is in drils, round beds, wherein is Tulips, and other Flowers of bullous-roots; the seed in like manner is sown in drils, for the distinguishing of knots, either division-work, or running-drafts. Now take notice, that Hissop-seed thus sown, or any other way, being thinly covered; it cometh up suddenly, and by the later end of the Summer it will come to seed, if you cut it not; but I advise you to cut it every fortnight, after it is grown to a handfull high, for it is for profit, pleasure, and for the preservation of the Herb; for that which is kept from seeding will flourish seven or eight years, and the other not half so long.

Thirdly, This Herb may be set of the slip, at that time, manner and place, as was said of the seed, and it will flourish accordingly; if it be well watered at the first planting, and afterward if the season be dry.

Lastly, Hissop is the best of strowing Herbs, both for sent and for growth, and being distilled the water of it is very precious.

Housleek.

Housleek or Singreen is an Herb of general uses, and though it be no art in the planting of it, I name it for its worth, and to put you in mind that you may plant it upon wals or thatcht houses of the slip in Cow-dung and earth, and it will prosper very well, and spread and continue with you without any more trouble.

Jerusalem-Sage.

It hath many rugged leaves to the sight and handling, they Descrip. [Page] are at a span in length, sharp pointed at the upper end; the lowermost part growing close to the earth, spreading every way, and of a greenish gray colour; in the middest groweth many spindles, something like Cowslips, with Flowers on them like those of English-sage. This Flower never yeeldeth seed; it is propagated of the slip, as followeth.

In March or September get the slip of this Herb, and set it in a bed of good mould, and it will prosper, or otherwise it will not. Now observe, after these slips are rooted, they will continue many years in that place without any more trouble; and the leaves and Flowers are for sovereign Medicines, although I cannot find the Physicians have treated of it either by name or description; yet the vertues are these; it cureth sore brests, applied Poultiswayes, and made up into salve; it cureth all manner of green wounds, and drunk inwardly helpeth women in travel, and many other vertues it hath, which I cannot dispense with time to repeat.

Kings-mallow.

Kings-mallows or March-mallows; these are much like the Pot-mallows, or Hollihock, but a great deal bigger in body, and leaves something rounder; the branches grow not so high as the other, and something crookeder.

The raising of this Mallow is of the seed in March; the place fit for it is in some out-border of the Garden, where it may grow without any replanting, and so at the later end of August next after the sowing, it beareth a small Flower in comparison of the Hollihock, much like it, and afterward the seed (which seldom comes to perfection) having done so three years, root and branch dieth.

Kapons-tayles.

By some named Capons-feathers, and by others Caponherb.

It hath winged leaves rising from the root of a foot long, Descrip. of a fresh green colour, smooth to the sight and in handling; [Page] in the middest riseth branches to four foot height, weak and bending, with many such like leaves as the former, though not so big; the top of the branches are huskey Flowers, of a sad white colour, which dry on to the stalk, and never yeeldeth seed; the roots are long and white, full of knots and spreading, which shoot up young branches every year.

Of the root this Herb is planted, either in the Spring or fall; the fittest place for it is in a bed with other pot-herbes, and being done, it needeth no more industry, but will prosper according to the description. This Herb is excellent good for broath, and for Puddings made of bloud.

Lovage.

It hath stalks growing to a mans height, hollow like Bean stalks, with many branches spreading from the sides of Descrip. them, whereon are leaves much like those of Angelica, and of a strong stinking savour; the branches and stalks perish yearly, and the root sendeth up the like again.

Now for the ordering of it I will be short, for the Herb is hardy, and requireth no more than to be set in the earth of the slip, which is taken from the root, either in the Spring or the fall, and it will continue, as was said in the description.

Liquorish.

I suppose the root of it is well known of all those that are troubled with colour, that take any thing to prevent it; the Descrip. branches that springeth from the roots are in all respects like young Ash-plants at four foot high; this may serve for the knowledge of it.

The way of planting of it for profit, as many do now plant three or four Acres of it (more or lesse according to their opportunities and abilities) would take up a large Discourse, and very probable I might outrun my judgement in some particulars: Those that are Plantaginers of it differ in the way and judgement of planting of it; so I will wave the quantity, and speak of the nature and quality. My reason is, [Page] because I think that those need not my judgment that plant such great quantities, so take the way of planting of a bed for a houshold use as followeth:

In March provide a bed of good earth either light or sandy, and of three spit deep; such a bed of earth provided, and layed out at three foot in breadth, then set three chace of roots at a foot distance, each root a foot asunder; now note, the roots must be but half a foot in length at the most, pricked in with a diber, so that there be but an inch of earth above them; atop of this you may sow any salletting the first year, the second year it would have the bed to it self, and the earth loosened about it, and the third year in January or February it should be taken up, and in the taking of it up, note that such roots as run downward are good Liquorish, and those that run side-waies are not so good, but it is better for planting again than the other, which you may plant in the manner as was said before in the March following, and by this industry you may come to have acres of it, as is at the neat houses nigh London.

Lastly, See what profit is made of planting of Liquorish, viz. the Apothecaries give fifty shillings for a hundred weight of the roots, and upon this account some have made five hundred pounds upon the encrease of six acres of land.

Lavender-cotton.

Or white Lavender: the branches of it are like Cypruss, but of a white colour, and riseth not altogether so high as the Lavender slip doth; it beareth a yellow downy Flower, and leaveth no seed: the herb is bitter in tast, and little better in sent.

Of the slip this herb is set either in March or September, after two sorts or waies, first when it is set for physicall uses or for profit, it is in beds in manner as you set Rosemary: secondly when it is set for pleasure, it is either in borders or knots, and to see a knot set of Lavender-cotton, drawn in a large scope of ground, either division or in running draft-work, done by the hand of an artificial workman, and let grow to a foot high and half, a foot a breadth, being kept clipt evenly with a pair of shears, is a rare prospect, and casteth the [Page] pleasantest sight of all works of a Gardeners inventing, and also this knot so planted and so kept, will continue so twelve or fourteen years before the herb dieth.

Lavender-spike.

Sometimes called Spike: I think it is altogether needless to write any description of it.

This herb is set of the slip only, the best time for it is in the latter end of March in beds of good mould, setting two chase in a bed, each slip at half a foot distance, and the bed of two foot and a half breadth; it must be well watered at the first planting or else it will not take root, but if it may be so ordered, by July most of those slips will spindle up with a knapple like the Flower of Betony, yeelding the pleasantest sent of all other herbs.

Lastly, It is profitable to plant this herb for distilling and for other physicall uses, and especially for oils which are of most vertues approbated to any pain or distemper of man which cometh by aches or old bruises.

Lavender-slip.

This herb which is known so well to be planted of the slip only, with little labour but it yeeldeth more profit: the fittest time for the planting of it, is in the beginning of March, so that it may take root before the dry weather cometh; and it is also observed, that the sooner of the year it is planted, the longer it will continue before it decayeth.

For the planting of it, though it be such an ordinary thing, yet I have seen errors in it, that is, they plant it too thick, for some I have seen plant three rows in a border, of two foot and a half in breadth, when one is enough, therefore I advise those that set it, to set but one, each slip near half a foot asunder, and also observe to twist the nether end of the slip.

Lemon-time.

I wonder that the Physicians have left this herb out of their Herbals, considering that it is for severall uses, as distilled for waters, and a good pot-herb and nursed in Gardens also, [Page] this forceth me to give a short description of it, that they and you might be acquainted with it.

This herb is much like the pot-Marjerom in shape, but little Descrip. bigger in leaf and branch than the ordinary green Time, and it spreadeth upon the ground, sometimes taking root; the colour of it is betwixt a light yellow and a green, the sent of it is pleasant and sweet, it beareth its Flower like the pot-Marjerom, but never yeeldeth any seed; it keepeth fresh all the year and never decayeth, where it is planted of the slip, which is taken from part of the root; this may be done either in April or August; the place is sometimes in beds by it self when it is planted for its use, and others plant knots of it for pleasure, and being kept clipt often and clean (as Garden knots ought to be) it out-lasteth the planter.

Mallows.

Or Garden-Mallows, otherwise called Holihocks: in the Treatise of Flowers I had an occasion to speak of the double kinds of Holihocks, and of their severall kinds and colours, how they are raised and planted for ority of the Garden of pleasure; these Mallows that I prescribe here are single kinds, and sown in the physicall Garden for physicall or kitchin uses.

The time of sowing is either in March or in August, in a remote place or an out-border; by reason of their high growth they would be unhandsome in the middle of a Garden, therefore sow them against the pales or wall, and they will prosper very well in any ordinary earth: now note, that seed which is sown in March seldome cometh to flower that year, those that are sown in August come to flower the next summer at its naturall season, which is in July: and lastly note, that Mallows spring four or five years, and only loseth its branch in the winter and then it dieth.

March.

This herb is much like Parsly at the first coming up, but of a darker green colour and of a stinking sent, afterward it Descrip. spreadeth into bushy branches, never rising to above two foot high, carrying of its leaves to the very top, yeelding of its [Page] seed in like manner as the Parsly doth in shape and colour, but much smaller and of as strong a sent as the herb: the branch perisheth yearly, and springeth again for three or four years and then dieth.

This herb is raised of the seed, it is no great matter at what time, for where it groweth, as the seed sheddeth naturally so it cometh up again, therefore the time cannot make much difference: let the place be in a bed which is reserved for such like strong herbs, as Rue, Wormwood, Featherfew, Savin, Southern-wood, and Germander, for these like herbs agree best together, and are for the curing of desperate diseases: but as is said, if the seed be committed to the earth, if it be but new and sound, it will come up at its naturall season, and your Garden will never be without it: this may serve for the propagating of it.

Now I'le describe some of the vertues of this herb, my reason is this, I have run my eye over Culpeppers Physician and other Herbals, and I found that the name and description of this herb was not there, and the vertue of it is so needfull and usefull that I must describe it, viz. it cureth Fellons and Gangreens of the flesh applied Poultiss-way, it preventeth in Cattell the Murrain and the Pestilence, giving them a drench of it: many more vertues it hath which I would wish both Physician and Patient to study how to know them.

Madrath.

Many long four square stalks trailing on the ground it hath, something reddish and full of joynts, whereout shoot Descrip. forth long narrowish leaves rough and hairy, betwixt them riseth Flowers pale and yellowish, after they fade cometh small round heads, green at the first and black afterwards, wherein is contained the seed: the root runneth down into the ground even four foot (if it may have good earth so deep,) and spreadeth many waies also, and are of a red colour.

This is planted of the root in March, in manner as followeth:

First, Provide a bed in a warm place for matter of foyl, for it will endure any air: now the bed being cast something high at three foot a breadth, and good store of rotten dung [Page] under them, then set the roots in manner and distance, as was shown of Liquorish; so done, the Summer following it shooteth up with branches, according to the description, that would be cut off at the Winters approaching, and that is all that need to be done till the third year, and then the root ought to be took up for its use and vertue; the use is for Diers for dying, and the Physical vertues the Herbals will shew you.

Marygolds.

There be double and single flowered ones, and both of them yeeldeth seed; and if it be sown in any place which is digged, it will grow and keep the Garden full, but if the ground be barren, they will degenerate and turn single.

The use of the Flower of this Herb is for the pot for broth, and the like; and those that do think of the Winter in the Summer, do gather the Flowers, and dry them in the shade, and put them up in paper bags for the like uses and others, viz. for to make Posit-drinks for those that have any distemper at their hearts: It is also thought that it is as effectual as Saffron.

Mother-wort.

It hath brownish strong stalks rising two or three foot Descrip. high, with many leaves cut deep into the very stem, something like the Vine-leaf, rough and crumpled, of a sad green colour, but many veins therein; there are many branches and one stalk, which also yeeld at the tops thereof a purple coloured Flower, as small as that of Balm, but in the same manner as that of Hore-hound, after which come small blackish seeds in great plenty: The bottome of the plant keepeth green many years before the root perisheth.

This Herb will seldom grow of the seed, therefore it must be set of the slip or sucker, which is taken partly from the root: The time for it is either in the Spring or fall, in a border or a bed of good earth, where it will prosper and come to perfection, according to the description.

[Page]

Nip.

Garden Nip is much like Balm in the leaf, but that they are sharper pointed, whiter and hoary, growing on four Descrip. square stalks, shoot up to three foot high, with many small branches set thereunto, having smaller leaves than those at the bottome. This Herb yeeldeth a strong sent, something sweet like Balm; the Flowers grow in large tufs at the tops of each branch, something like that of Sparemint, of a whitish purple colour: The root remaineth in the ground like that of the Mint, and all the Winter some of the nether most leaves keep green: The seed that this Herb yeeldeth, is like Purslain in all respects, but only it hath one white speck, and that is where it grew to the cod, and at that place it springeth its branch again.

Of the seed or slip this Herb may be propagated; the seed (if it hit) it is long before it comes to perfection, and it is very tickle in gemination, as I have found by experience: The best time for sowing of it (if you will go to the trouble) is in the later end of August; but I think it better to set it of the slip (if it may be had) for that way it will prosper very well in any ordinary earth: The time and manner of doing of it, is (as I told you of Balm in the former part of this Treatise) in a bed by it self.

Orpine.

It hath round and brittle stalks with fat and fleshy leaves of Descrip. a pale green colour; the Flowers are white growing in tufts; the roots are divers, thick, round tubelous roots, and the branches fade yearly: This Herb is set of the root onely in a bed reserved for it self: The time is either in the Spring or fall and without any curiosity, being committed to the earth, in its season it will grow and flower as was said.

Pepperwort.

The root sendeth up leaves in shape like the Coursemary cut on the edges, carrying the colour of the Horse-reddish Descrip. leaves, it hath a hard small round stalk with many branches like the same, very thinly set with leaves, and at the top of [Page] every branch are small white Flowers which leaveth a small seed that seldome cometh to perfection; after the seed falleth the branch dieth, and the root remaineth in the ground, which sendeth up the like again: This root is something like the wild Parsnip.

The way of propagating of this Herb is of the root; the time for it is in March; the manner thus; Cut your roots into short pieces of three inches in length, so done (a bed of earth prepared for that purpose) then prick in them pieces of roots at half a foot distance, by May they will shoot up with leaves, and by the later end of Summer with stalks (as was said:) Now note that these roots must remain in that place untouched three years, if you would have them at their full vertue, and then they may be took up, and the roots set again.

Pot-Margerum.

I imagine it is altogether needlesse to describe it, seeing it is so common an Herb; therefore take the propagating of it by seed and slip, as followeth.

First, Of the seed: The season for it is either in the latter end of April, or the latter end of August; the place is in a bed by it self, in a quarter with other sweet Herbs, and done in the manner, as I shewed you of Basil.

Secondly, Of the slip, that is done at the same seasons, but sometimes not in the same places; for we set it on border sides to keep them up, where it will spring as well as in a bed, and it will continue alwayes where it is once rooted in bed or border, for it putteth forth side suckers which flourish after the old plant dieth: I think it is but lost labour to write any thing more of it, the Herb being so hardy, and so well known.

Prick-Madam.

Or Prick my Dame. Divers trailing branches upon the ground it hath, composed of a soft substance, Descrip. not divided into branches or leaves, but all parts alike, which are round prickles like those of the Furse, but as big as a Goose quill; if you touch it, a small matter breaketh it, and [Page] it is not prickley at all, though it seem so to be; the colour of it is a blewish green, and beareth a yellow Flower in August, and a long seed a little after like that of Muscove, but seldom to perfection.

This Herb is set of the slip in borders sides, either in the Spring or the fall, one chase in a border upon the uppermost edge thereof; for after it is rooted it runneth upon the ground like Penny-royal, and taketh root with its branches, therefore it would be kept cut in order by a direct line at the nethermost part of the border, and then it appeareth pretily: it keepeth green all the year and continueth many so. This Herb is eaten in Sallets in the Spring time.

Purple-grasse.

In Physicians Herbals I cannot finde this Herb named or described, therefore I will describe this Herb and its vertues.

This Herb runneth on the ground like Clover-grasse, with Descrip. leaves and stalks of a purple-colour, spotted as it were with blackish bloud, and beareth a Flower in July like that of the five leaved grasse, and of the same colour, wherein is small seeds of a brownish colour, which are very light, so that the wind will carry them away; the topmost branches fade at the latter end of the Summer, but the undermost spring up again.

The vertues of this Herb are for the curing of inward strains, and such as spit bloud, and it is a sovereign remedy for the Bloudy-flux; a great quantity of the juice of it give Cattel to drink when they are troubled with the Lask, it cureth them; it's also used for a Pot-herb.

Now for the ordering of it I will be short; it is thus: In the Spring or the fall get some suckers of this Herb, and set in a place that you see convenient for such a purpose; let it be but well watered at first, it prospereth and continueth alwayes with you in that place, and spreadeth and encreaseth very much.

[Page]

Penny-royal.

By some Orgament, Run-ground, and Ground-royal; I hope there is no body but knoweth it by one of these names without any description.

This Herb is set of the slip only, for it beareth no seed, though it beareth a Flower. Now note, although this Herb be very common, and flourisheth mightily where it is once rooted, yet it is difficult planting of it at the first to have it grow, for if it be planted in dry earth and a dry season, it will not take root without abundance of water: To save this labour, set it in the beginning of March in borders sides, and it will prosper very well, and spring every year after: It requireth no more trouble but cutting off the branches after it hath flowered, and how good the vulgar vertues of this Herb are, there are but few but know it.

Poppy.

There are many kinds of them, and in the Treatise of Flowers I describe what some of them are, so I shall only speak of the white Poppy in this place, because it is raised for the physical vertues that are in it.

This may be sown in September, and it will prosper very well in any ordinary earth, and will come to flower about the later end of May, and that which is sown in the Spring will flower later, and both sowings after they have yeelded the Flower, and the seed, both root and branch dieth; and if you suffer the seed to scatter, it cometh naturally up of it self.

Rosemary.

Of this there is gilded Rosemary, English Rosemary, and Spanish Rosemary; the last of these is needless to be propagated, or to be discoursed of.

First, For the propagating of our English Rosemary, I will speak of that briefly: Of seed and slip this Herb is raised, and I think I may very well wave the Discourse of the raising of it of the seed, seeing the Herb is so plentifull, and slips any where may be had where there are any Inhabitants.

[Page] Now followeth the manner of setting of it thus: Prepare borders of good earth, either round a quarter of Herbs, or in strait borders in quarters; if the earth be barren it must have good store of rotten dung: This observed, lay it into two foot and an half beds or borders, and set three chase of the slips, each chafe eight inches distance, and the slips half a foot asunder; in setting of them twist the nether end of the slip, and thrust it down so deep that there be but three inches appear above the earth. The time for this is almost betwixt January and May, but that which is set after the middle of March, must be continually watered, or else it will never take root, and that which does by industry, will decay sooner than that which is set in February, and will not endure the Winter half so well: we have experience that cold Winters will kill Rosemary by this last past, as many Gardeners about London can witness by wofull experience.

Lastly, The seasons are to be observed, and the governing of the young plants first; if February be not temperate then there is no setting of it, but if it be, it is the only time.

Roman-Sage.

Roman-Sage, or the Sage-tree: It hath a body like a Whipcrap-tree, Descrip. rising to four foot high, as big as a mans arm, with many branches shooting forth from the sides, with no leaves but upon the top of them onely, which maketh it have a spreading head; the leaves are of a brown colour, and in handling much like Sage, and is made of a round fashion about three fingers in breadth; the body is of the same colour; it yeeldeth no seed but a kind of Berries, which never cometh to perfection; this tree keepeth its leaf green all the year.

The slips of this tree if they be set in March in a good earth, there is no doubt of its growth, and will come to perfection according to the description; alwayes provided that they be transplanted having stood on year, so that there may be no want of room and fresh earth.

[Page]

Rubarb.

Rubarb or Rewborme, or otherwise called Araponick: Of these there are divers kinds, which are distinguished into almost as many names, as there is vertues in them, viz. China Rubarb, Garden patience, or Monks Rubarb, great round leaved, dock or bastard Rubarb, and English Rubarb, and as many more: If I should describe them all, it would take up a page or two; so I will onely give a short description how they may all be known when a man sees them.

All sorts of it resemble the Burdock in shape before it spindleth Descrip. to a stalk. Now observe, there is difference in kinds, as it differs in colours and stature, but little in form, viz. the China Rubarb hath many green leaves near two foot in breadth, and not much longer, rising upon a foot stalk from the root, which are of a red colour; after this springeth the stock with lesser leaves on it, growing to a yard high, and beareth white stringey Flowers, all in a cluster like that of the Dock, and yeeldeth a three square seed, of a dark brown colour, as big as a small Pea, something glistering to the eye. The time that it flowereth is in June, and the seed is ripe in July; the branches perish at the coming on of Winter, and the root remaineth and sendeth forth the like branches again.

Monks Rubarb groweth up with large stalks, with somewhat broader and longer green leaves, not dented at all: The stalks being divided into a great many small branches, which bear reddish Flowers, and three square seed like unto the other: the root is long and yellow like unto the wild Docks, but a little redder, and much bigger.

Bastard Rubarb hath yellowish green leaves rising from the root on long brownish foot stalks, among which riseth up pretty big stalks about two foot and an half high, and at the top thereof standeth long brownish Flowers, wherein is hard three square seed much like that amongst Rubarb, though not so big, yet the root groweth something greater. Let this serve for a description, so I will proceed to the propagating of it, and that in particular.

[Page] First, China Rubarb which Physicians make such division in names, and quoil about the nature of it; so that they say, it is unpossible to produce any plants in our English clymate, to be so vertuous, as that which comes out of its naturall Countrey: But I will not dispute this, but prosecute the raising of it as briefly as may be.

The season fit for the sowing of it is in the beginning of April; the place must be where it may have the benefit of the Sunne, and a shelter from the cold, the earth as loose, and as fat as may be; such a place provided, cast it up into a bed, and prick in the seeds half an inch deep; so done, let the bed be sheltered with a mat at nights, and in three weeks space the seed will come up by the latter end of May; the plants need not be covered till the next Winter following, and then it must be sheltered likewise, and in the Spring following it would be transplanted into a like earth, and that Summer some of it will spindle to seed, and the third year it cometh to its full growth; the fifth year it hath its whole vertue; the vertue is in the root chiefly, and then it is taken up.

Monks Rubarb, and bastard Rubarb, may be raised of the seed at that time as I told you of the China Rubarb, with lesse curiosity and trouble, especially the bastard Rubarb. True it is, I should insist upon some particulars further in the ordering of this, but that I have been something large in the information, so that I cannot permit any more time about it, but must speak something of others.

Spare-mint.

Of Mint there are many sorts, as Mackarel Mint, Horse-Mint, white Mint, and wild Mint, these I wave.

Of Spare-mints there are two sorts, that is, smooth Mint, and crudled Mint, or crumpled Mint.

The way of propagating of them both, is of the root, and in this manner, for the saving of labour, and the surenesse of the work for to have the roots to grow, that is [Page] thus; when you have prepared a bed or a border where you have a desire they shall grow, then make three or four drils in the bed with a planting Hoe, then lay your roots into those drils with the Spire end upward; so done, fill up the drils again with the head of your rake; let this be done either in March or September, and those roots will spring without any further care, and never leave you nor forsake you.

Saffren.

If you please to look into the Alphabetical Table, there is Crokus named, and in the page Saffron-Crokus exprest; Now what is to be understood by this is, that Saffron-Crokus, or Crokus, differeth not in shape from this, but in colours, as blew Crokus and yellow, which are sometimes called Saffron-Crokus, because they differ not in form, but in vertue.

This Saffron which I here prescribe is planted only for its vertue and profit, which it returneth to the Planter thereof, as in Cambridgeshire and Saffronwalden, where they plant many achers thereof. Now I'll speak a word or two in reference to the planting of it.

This Herb or Flower is planted of the sucker from the root, for it never beareth seed: The time that it is chiefly planted in is presently after its flowering, which is in April; the manner is without any difficulty; for if the root be committed to the earth it will grow so, therefore there needeth nothing, but to set every plant decently in order, so that every plant may have its proportion of ground which would be four inches.

Lastly, Observe that in the gathering of the Saffron that you must be carefull to see to it every morning, for the Saffron cometh up in the middle of the Flower like horns as it were, and the Sunne causeth them to perish two or three dayes, therefore it is that I counsell you to be watchfull over it.

[Page]

Sage.

I discovered Roman Sage to you, or the Sage-tree. This Herb is the common English Sage, and of that there is red and green; a man would think that it were a needless thing to write any thing of the propagating of it, seeing every one can say, set Sage in May and it will never decay, truly that is a long day, but if that were true, the last Winter would not have killed the most of the Sage about London.

But so set Sage in the beginning of May in good earth, cast into beds of half a foot high, and two foot and an half broad, setting three chase in each bed of slips, each slip half a foot asunder, watering of it well at the first planting, till it hath taken root, and then this Sage set in May, may not for six or seven yeares decay.

Summer-savoury.

So called, because it perisheth so soon as the Winter approacheth.

This Herb is raised of the seed only; the season for it is in the later end of April, after this manner: Prepare a bed of earth in a quarter amongst the other sweet Herbs, and the bed being finely raked, then cast the seed thereon, then get some fine mould well ridled, and cast thinly thereon, so that it cover the seed not above half an inch thick, yet I know some Ideots have written, that they should be covered three inches thick, and in so doing you had as good cover it three yards thick for any expectation of the growth of the seed. To be short, the seed sown (as I told you) will come up in a weeks space, and covereth the bed suddenly, and needeth no replanting, or any more trouble, but only cleansing from weeds.

Setterwort.

Or black Eleyvert: it is known of a stinking smell, it is much like the Bears foot, it hath winged leaves, and runneth up with stalks like Parsnips, and beareth the seed in like manner, [Page] the root lieth in a clumper as big as a bushell; if it have stood long, the root of this herb yeeldeth such a strong stinking smell, so that a man in the digging of it up will be even sick with it, so that of all herbs or roots of herbs there is none that yeeldeth so noisome a savour: of this root this plant doth encrease, and if any part of it be set in any kind of digged earth, it will grow without any further trouble, and spring every year after, but observe the time, and that may be at any time but when the branch flourisheth, and he that will not observe this, and bestow this small pains to have this vertuous herb in his Garden, if he have Cattell, he is a very unwise man, if he did but know what diseases it doth prevent in Cattell.

Stone-crop.

This is not unlike Prick-Madam in any thing but that it is smaller, with divers trailing branches upon the ground, set with fat roundish blewish green sprouts pointed at the ends, it beareth a Flower which standeth somewhat loosely, not composed together but stands stragling, this herb also keepeth green all the year.

Of the slip it is propagated by setting it in dry banks, on stonewals, and mud-wals, for there it delighteth most to grow, and will shift for it self whereever it be planted, for it neither careth for heat nor cold, but abideth its place alwaies without any alteration, this herb is good in sallets and for physicall uses.

Shalot.

Or Spanish Garlick: it hath heads in the ground like Garlick Descrip. though not so big, it runs up with blades like that of Chives, but a great deal bigger and longer, there is never any appearance of any Flower or seed, but continueth according as I described it, the sent of it is strong, being eaten it never offendeth the breath. By this short description you may know it as well as if I had filled up a page with it.

This herb or root is propagated by the off-set or sucker, setting of them in March in beds of ordinary earth, prickt in each root at a hands breadth asunder just within the earth, [Page] this done, by the next Michaelmas following each root will encrease to be ten, then they ought to be taken up and kept in a chamber all the winter till the next March, and then set again in manner as was said.

Sweet-Maudlin.

I hope I may spare the pains to write a description of an herb that is so common, so only take the nature of it, and that is, it beareth a seed which is something downy, wherein I can see little or no perfection, or any kind of spirit that may tend to growth, yet seedsmen do sell it upon that account and unexperience, men by it thinking to raise the herb of it, but they are mistaken, it is the slip and the slip only that it is encreased by, and that is done in the Spring time in this manner; having gotten slips, then prepare a bed, and set them therein with a diber so thick as they may cover the bed when it cometh to spread, and that will be in a short time after. I need not to give any farther observations, only remember to clip off the branches when it begins to put forth its Flower, so that will renew its nature, and make it to look the more beautifull, and continue the longer.

Seurvy-Grass.

Many thick leaves round and green it hath, smooth on the edges; these leaves are sometimes springing from the root Descrip. upon stems, and others upon stalks spreading upon the ground, never rising above a foot in heighth, and the tops spread with white Flowers, and after they fade cometh bags wherein is contained small seeds.

This herb is sown of the seed only, the best season for it is in the latter end of August, it mattereth not what earth it be so it be fine, dry and clear from rubbidge, and have some shelter, it will grow up and prosper very well the winter following, and it will be the first sallet-herb in the Spring, by May it cometh to flower, and yeeldeth not its seed in a good while after.

Sweet-Fern.

It hath roots that remain in the ground like those of Spare-mint, Descrip. [Page] spreading and encreasing, which sendeth up sprouts crumpled at the first of a pale green colour, and after it brancheth out into jagged leaves as it were, of a darker green colour than the former, something like that of sweet Sisly, these grow not but to a small heighth, and never yeeldeth either Flower or seed; this herb yeeldeth as pleasant a sent as Basill, the branches dye at the coming of the winters cold breath, and the root sendeth up the like again the next Spring; this herb is frequent in Gardens in Barkshire.

Of the root only this herb is propagated, by setting of it in ordinary earth at its first springing, which is in the beginning of April; now I advise you to plant it in an out-border, because it spreadeth mightily where it is planted, so by that means it will not run amongst other herbs that are placed in quarters.

Sweet-Covey.

Or Muscovey, is an herb that where once it is sown there it continueth, by the reason of the scattering of its seed which springeth up again. I need not describe it nor speak any thing more of the nature of it it is so well known, for where it hath gotten any interest it will hardly be destroyed if you desire it.

Sweet-Marjorum.

There are two sorts, and that is winter sweet-Marjorum and summer sweet-Marjorum: first for the summer sweet-Marjorum, that is sown of the seed in the latter end of April, in beds of good mould finely delved and evenly raked, and the seed cast with an even hand upon it, then rake it not but cover it thinly with mould, as I told you in the sowing of Basill; this needeth no further care but watering and weeding, and at the coming of the frost it withereth.

Winter sweet-Marjorum is sown at the same time and in the same manner, and it continueth green all the winter following, and it is for the same use and vertue as the other is, and a great deal more in estimation, because it can be had when the other is not.

[Page]

Sweet-Oak.

Is an herb which perisheth yearly, and leaveth a seed which is as small as the Rose-campion seed. I cannot stand to describe every part of this herb, nor cannot speak of every particular in the observation of propagating of it, for I have already gone as far as my bounds, so I will only acquaint you with this, that is, you may sow it when you have sowed the seed of the herb before-mentioned, in the same manner, and preserve it with the same care.

Taragan.

I suppose it is well known, so a description is unneedfull.

This herb is also sown at the same time and season as the former, but the seed is more difficulter to take in the gemination, but in the fructition much harder: this herb may be set of the off-set; but seeing that it is of no long continuance, and of no great vertue but only for its sent, therefore I shall not dispence with the labour to set down every particular way for it.

Time.

It is not to be questioned but that the generality of men and women do know this herb, and how and when it may be planted to grow; but yet let me put you in mind of a decent form in each particular, in the propagating of it by seed and slip.

First, There is two seasons for it, the one is in mid-April, and the other at the latter end of August, that which you sow or set in April, especially that which is sown, will not come to flower that summer, and ought not to be cut till the latter end thereof, because it should spread the ground and keep the Sun from scorching of it, at the latter end of the next summer following it will come to flower and seed.

Secondly, For sowing or setting of it in August, I hold this the best season, for it will endure the winter, and will have taken good root against the summer, and be fit to be cut for the severall uses when the other is sown; now observe [Page] that this be sown and set in a decent manner, and I shall spare the ink and paper to set it down, but see as Hysop is done so is this.

The last thing that is to be taken notice of is, that it be kept clipt, so that it bring forth neither Flower nor seed, for if it does it will not continue half so long, and this you may know to be true by the Garden knots that are sown or planted with it, and that being clipt alwayes to make it show pleasant, continueth fresh seven or eight years, when that which is sown in beds and let run to seed continueth not above half so long.

Tansie.

The double kind is planted in Gardens for its vulgar and physicall uses, the place would be in some reversion or outpart of a Garden, for it spreadeth very much where it is planted, and abideth there alwayes only losing of its branches every winter. I pray you excuse me for writing any directions for the planting of it, it being such a vulgar hardy herb it is needlesse.

V. laren.

Of it there is two sorts in form and colour of Flowers, and that is the purple Valaren and the blew Valaren, they differ in seed as well as in colour, yet they differ not so much in stature and growth but that one description will serve them both.

It hath leaves round and of a dark green, smooth on the Descrip. edges and all parts else, many of them set on upon one stem much like that of Box, these are set all upon stalks, and the bigger of them are springing as it were from the root, and spreading on the ground, the stalk riseth to three foot high, and on the top are many Flowers set one above another of a blewish or a purple colour, glistering as it were, the time it begins to flower is at the latter end of June, and so continueth till after Michaelmas, this causeth some seed to be ripe when Flowers are rich in the branch, the nether most part of this herb keepeth green all the year, and continueth many before it dyeth.

[Page] Now for the raising of it my words must be few, that is, this Herb may be sown of the seed, or set of the slip in the latter end of March or in August, in a bed by it self in the usual manner of sowing and planting of others, and it will prosper according to the description.

Wormwood.

Of this there be three sorts, viz. Sea Wormwood, Field Wormwood, and Roman Wormwood, and the last of these is onely cultivated in Gardens for its cordiall and physicall uses.

This Herb is set of the slip or sown of the seed; but the sowing of the seed I shall wave, because nature doth it better than I can teach you; the slip is set in the Spring time, which is taken from the head of the root, it prospereth well in any earth being something shaded.

Winter-savoury.

This is the last Herb in the Physical Garden, as it fals out in the Alphabetical order, though the vertues are the best of all others for vulgar uses.

Of Winter-savoury there is three sorts in form of leaves, and only one in nature and vertue.

I will now give some directions for the propagating of this Herb, though most men know it, yet it may serve to put them in mind of that which they know, in mid-April, and the later end of August either of these seasons the seed of this Herb is sown, and the slip is set; I shall not trouble you with the manner, but as Hysop was sown in like manner is this; so done it prospereth very well.

[Page]

THE PHYSICAL GARDEN as it treateth of TREES.
A short Description or Direction for the Propagating of each TREE which is Fruitfull and Physical, usually planted in a Fruitfull or Physical Garden.

Barberry.

I Will be as short on this and all the rest as possibly may be, so that I may but give an information. The plain way of propagating of each Tree as this, is of the sucker, which springeth partly from the root, and being taken away in September, and set in the nursery, where suckers, slips and seedlings are set, and after they have taken root they may be transplanted into the quarters of the Garden in uniform order where they are to remain.

Currants.

Currants are generally white, black and red, but yet each of these sorts differ in greatness as well as in goodness, according to the care as is used about them, in the raising of them from suckers to fruitfull trees; the thing is plain, yet there are mistakes many times in it, therefore I would willingly give my evidence in it to insist upon it presently after Michaelmas [Page] take your suckers from your Currant trees, and if you have not ground ready for them to transplant them where they should alwayes grow, then plant them in a piece of ground by themselves at a foot distance, which may be fitly called a nursery, let them stand there while that time twelve moneth, then plant them into the middle of Strawberry beds at a yard distance, each tree bound to a stake, so that the wind may not break them, and put them out of uniform order.

Lastly observe, let these suckers be taken yearly from the roots of the old bearers, or otherwise they hinder them from being fruitfull, they must be pruned also, which is to cut away the superfluous branches which run above the rest and never bear fruit.

Gooseberries.

Are distinguished into many sorts, usually thus, Dutch and English; first with the Dutch, there is white and red, which are the worthiest of all other both to the pallate and the eye: of the English kinds there are white and red also, and many others, but I will only name these, that is, the long yellow and the round yellow, the amber and the christall, the nepture and the wild, all these are set of the sucker, as I told you of Currants in like manner, and transplanted into like places.

Many arguments of curiosity I could raise in the propagating of them, which would appear to men of experience to be needlesse, my self being sensible of the same I passe that, and only desire you to remember to prune them, so that the fruit may be the larger, and the trees renew their nature and appear the more pleasanter.

Mulberries.

Are white, red and black, these trees seldome send forth any sucker neither are they to be grafted upon other stocks to advance the fruit, but the way is to get young sprouts from the body, and to set them in good earth in September or thereabouts, so that they may take root, and at two or three years end to be replanted into certain places where they may remain, [Page] so done it is without question but these slips or cuttings will come to be trees, and bring forth fruit according to its mother.

Quinces.

Are supposed to be of divers kinds by reason that they yeeld contrary fruits in vertue and in shape; I shall not end the controversic here by any arguments, but shall refer you to a Book of mine which is coming forth entituled The Gardeners Rule, at the latter end of which is a Treatise of fruit-trees, wherein you shall find, that all old errors and unpracticall conceits are clearly reconciled by reason and argument; so I shall not speak any farther of the propagating of them here, for then it would be double labour. I name this plant here, because properly it belongeth to a Garden and not to an Orchard, and more especially to the physicall or fruitfull Garden.

Rasberries.

Of these there are red and white, which are greater and lesser, fruitfull and unfruitfull, according to the soyl, air, and ordering that they have. Upon these words I could draw as many arguments as would fill up a sheet of paper, but that is not my intent in this or any other part of this Book, for it would be little pleasing and less profitable.

Rasberries are set of the slips or suckers which it sends from the roots, which spreadeth in the ground, these being drawn up in September out of beds where they stand too thick, so taken up then pruned, which is to cut off the slips or suckers above the root at a foot and a half in length, and so much of the root that it be not too cumbersome; having beds of earth prepared of three foot a breadth, then prick in three chase of these plants at nine inches distance, very few of these will bear any fruit the next summer, but the second summer is that which bringeth the greatest encrease if the year be fruitfull.

Lastly to be short, Rasberries must be pruned every year, for some alwayes dye, and the other spring up where they have been long planted.

[Page]

Roses.

Omitting those that I spoke of in the Garden of pleasure, the rest are these, the Rose of Monday, the damask Rose, the red Rose, and the white Rose, and some tell me of a monethly Rose, but I was never satisfied whether there is such a one yea or no neither by experience nor theoditary, therefore I must wave it and speak of the rest.

Of the Rose of Monday; this Rose is in all parts like the damask Rose, only the colour maketh the difference, for this Rose is damask and red striped, the propagating of it is by slip or inoculation: if you are not experienced in inoculation, then be pleased to turn back to the place where it treateth of the province Rose, and there is a guide set down for it, and for the directions for setting the slip, I hope I may omit the pains for to set it down, for a wise man may well understand one thing by another.

Now for the ordering of the damask Rose, I will give a few plain directions.

First, If you have them already and would willingly encrease them, in the beginning of February, cut off all the young sprouts as come from the body, and pluck up all such as shoot from the root, then cut them all at a foot in length; now in the planting of these slips I shall omit that curiosity of casting up of beds for them, as I and others have done, so I will give you an easie and a profitable way, which is to lay a piece of ground levell well raked, then set in those said slips in that ground by a direct line at fifteen inches asunder, a moneth after, you may cast some Turnip-seed upon that ground, and it will not be only profitable for the table, but also shadow the face of the ground, and keep it from being too dry.

Secondly, These slips thus planted will have taken root by that time twelve moneth, and be grown to a greater stature, and may be transplanted into borders round quarters of herbe, or else a whole quarter or quarters of them, and Strawberries cast into beds, so that the Strawberries may grow under the Roses, and the Rose-trees to stand at three foot distance one way and five foot the other, that the Strawberry beds may [Page] be three foot broad and two foot paths between, and the Rose-trees supported with stakes.

Thirdly, Roses may be raised of the seed, but this Rose with more case than any of the rest, many Authors have set down certain wayes for it which are contrary to reason; if I thought that any man were so undiscreet to put it in practice, I would lay down some arguments for to prevent such errors.

Next for the propagating of the red Rose, which is by cuttings of the youngest shoots from the oldest standers, which cuttings ought to be a foot long, and if they be lesse they may grow very well; before I show you how to set them, prepare borders of two foot and a half in breadth, and paths of two foot between; the beds being laid a foot high, then set a line upon the border, so that there may be three rows of slips set in the border proportionably, then prick in the cuttings by the line side eight inches one from another, and so deep that one half be in the ground and the other above, let them stand slope-wayes in this bed or border, they may alwayes remain, for they are not to be removed without great hinderance of the bearing of them.

Lastly, Some directions for the causing of Roses to flower plentifully, that is to cut them with a pair of shears the first full Moon after Christmas day; what is to be observed in cutting is, that such sprouts that were of the last years growth, be cut off at the heighth of the old bearers; whereunto I adde, that if Roses be planted in wet ground, that they will never flower plentifully, therefore observe to set them in the dryest soyl.

Savin-tree.

I suppose though it be not common in every Garden, yet the strange and admirable vertues that it hath makes it common in every ones mouth, so I will only speak of the nature and the raising of the plant: first it requireth a place which is somewhat shady, as most plants do that are of a hot nature, and keepeth green all the year; further observe, this tree yeeldeth no seed neither, it seldome or never sendeth any sucker from the root, therefore it is only propagated of the [Page] slip which is taken from the branches, the time for doing of this is at the beginning of the winter, the place would be as I told you its nature requireth, in a shady place in an extraordinary good mould, and if it were helpt with Pigeons dung, it would be much the better for to cause the slips to take root the sooner: now note, that these plants would be planted at such a distance, as that they might have room to grow when they are great, for they care the least for moving of any other plant whatsoever.

Strawberry-tree.

This tree should have been placed in my Garden of Pleasure, I hope you will place it in yours for the rarities and preheminency belonging to it, and it being but a stranger in England, I will describe it in few words so that it may be known.

This plant riseth near to five yards in heighth, spreading with many branches toward the top, which maketh it to Descrip. stand in a stately form, the leaves of this tree are green as the Bay-trees, and keep so all the year, they are also of the same shape though not half so big, the ribs of them are something reddish, and the bark of the body of the tree is of a reddish green colour something rough and dented, the middle of the tree as to say amongst the branches are bare and without sprouts or leaves, at the top springeth berries upon stalks, when they are ripe they are absolutely like Strawberries, and may be eaten though not half so good, yet they are usually eaten.

There is no way that I could find of propagating of this tree, but by slips taken from the branches and set in good mould, to the end that they may take root and become trees, but most of them thus done seldome take root. There is another way which is more certain, and that is to make a branch as it groweth upon the tree to pass thorow a pot which hath a hole in the bottome of it, and then to fill the pot full of earth, and that will cause it to take root as it groweth on the tree, and then it may be cut off and planted in that place where it should remain.

The End of the Physicall Garden.

THE GARDENERS PRACTICE IN THE Kitchin Garden, how to advance the nature and growth of Herbs, Roots, and Pulse contained therein.

[Page]

I Have not leisure to insist upon every particular at this time, but if it please God to permit me life I shall give these rules and directions for the propagating of those plants mentioned in the Alphabeticall Table belonging to the Kitchin Garden, thus:

Propagation,

1. The season fit for sowing or planting.

2. The time and place fit for it.

3. How to order the ground.

4. The quantity and the quality of seed.

5. The knowledge of replanting of seedlings.

6. The art in slips, suckers and roots.

7. How to prune, cleanse, and dress plants.

Experiments,

1. The preservation of plants from hurtfull distempers.

2. To produce them early or late.

3. How to alter sent and colour.

4. The art of transforming plants.

So only take these short observations upon these plants as followeth in this Treatise, viz.

[Page]

Artichokes.

By their distinct kinds, form and vertue, are called thus; the Protector head, the Rabits head and the Dogs head; or otherwise, red, white, and brown Artichokes; the red and the brown are propagated by art and care to a huge greatness in reference to those that are and grow naturally.

The way of propagating of Artichokes is of the slip in an extraordinary rich soyl, not as it is naturally rich but improved with dung, for they delight in any stiff clayey ground so that it hath but dung enough.

Secondly, The time and manner of setting of them is thus, when the ground is digged and laid levell or even, then set the slips in half a foot deep by a line, so that they stand two foot and a half asunder: the season that is best for it some suppose it to be in September, but experience tells us, that the last winter most or all of those slips thus set were killed, therefore I think it best to set them in March, in that manner as aforesaid.

Thirdly, The preservation of them from perishing in the winter, is to shelter them from frost and snow, and that is done by trenching of them and laying of new dung about them which will not freez, but will keep the plant from the frost.

Sparrow-grass.

If I should enter upon an historicall discourse of this herb I should never have done, I will only acquaint you that this herb is raised of the seed, and usually after this manner; they prepare beds of good earth of three foot a breadth, and two foot path between in breadth likewise, then cast in the seed thinly thereon, this is done in the latter end of March; the next September they transplant these plants, the seedlings into beds of the same breadth of extraordinary rich sandy ground, the next summer following it spindleth into small spindles which are worth little, but the third Spring after its sowing riseth good Sparrow-grass: now note, that every September rotten dung must be laid upon the beds, and in the beginning of March to be raked off, and the ground loosened [Page] with a forkabout the plant, for if they should do it with a spade it would cut the roots.

The way of producing of it early is done by raising of it upon hot beds; I will permit a little time to show you how and when, in the latter end of February make a hot bed of horse-dung, of three foot high and three foot broad, and of a length according to your Sparrow-grass you intend to sow; the bed thus made, then lay-fine mould atop of it so that it may raise it two inches higher, so done take up the oldest Sparrow-grass roots that you have, that are like to decay where they stand, and lay them one by one as thick as you can upon this hot bed, lay as much more earth upon the roots as is under them, cover the bed with some litter, the fourth day the roots will sprout up young Sparrow-grass, by reason of the heat of the dung, and the steme being kept in with the litter which causeth this hasty growth: now observe, that when these sprouts are thus shot up, the litter must be took away, and pent-houses of rods made over the beds, whereon you shall lay Mats to preserve them from the frost and cold; remember to give the bed air once a day if the weather be seasonable: so done you may pull good Sparrow-grass from the bed at the fortnights end.

Beets.

Both red and white are for generall and Kitchin uses, they are raised of the seed, and you may sow it when you please and it will come up, but it is when it please, and that is at its naturall season: you may also sow it in any ordinary earth and it will grow, but the better the earth is, the better is the herb and yeeldeth the greater encrease also; the root will grow to a huge bigness, which is for many uses, especially the root of the red Beet.

Now I advise you to sow Beet seed in speciall rank ground in the beginning of September, and by the latter end thereof it is very probable that some of the seed will be come up, and the rest will not appear till the next Spring following: the next summer they will run to seed if you suffer them, and after they have yeelded their seed three times the root and branch dieth, yet where they are once sown, by reason of [Page] scattering of the seed, they will not leave your Garden.

Cucumbers.

Are long and short, the long are counted the best both for salleting and pickleing: the raising of them is both alike, all the art that I shall endeavour to lay down in few words here is, the raising of them timely for salleting, for those that come late in the summer are only used for Gerkings: to insist upon the raising of them early, about the middle of March, make beds of new horse-dung of two foot and a half high, and near that breadth, then make a band of straw or hay and pin it upon the uppermost part thereof, then lay some fine ridled mould atop near three fingers thick, then cover this bed with some litter or straw, and make a pent-house over it as I told you of the Sparrow-grass bed, whereon must lye Mats, then steep your Cucumber-seed in milk and suet for four and twenty hours, by that time the bed will be hot, then prick in your seeds at two fingers distance upon the bed, and lay on the litter again; be carefull afterward for once or twice a day to see that the bed be not too hot, for then it will force gemination too soon and the plants will never hold it: now observe, that if the seed appeareth before the third day, then that bed is too hot and too hasty a gemination, but if they appear not before the fourth or fifth day, then those plants are like to come to good, if they be carefully looked after for the future, and that is to set glasses over them all night and in boisterous dayes till towards the middle of April, then transplant them from that bed, into holes or trenches wherein is laid new horse-dung, and Pigeons-dung if it may be had, with four inches of good mould atop of it, then set four Cucumber plants in the compass of a Musmillion-glass, and with a glass over each four plants; let these plants be watered with such water as hath stood in the Sun, wherein hath been steeped horse-dung; by these directions, if you had any knowledge or insight in it before, you may have Cucumbers fit for a sallet by mid-May if the Spring be any thing favourable, and that is counted great rarities.

The second and the ordinary way of raising Cucumbers for sallet to have them about mid-summer, is to raise them in [Page] mid-April upon a hot bed, not so hot as the former, only covered with Mats, and the first week in May transplanted into holes, as was said before: you need not go to the charge to cover them with glasses, for any thing else will serve that will only keep the frost from them anights; let these be watered as the former every evening or every other evening if it rain not, I cannot stay to treat upon every particular.

Lastly, The ready way of planting or sowing of Cucumber-seed is, to prepare holes which will hold a Wheelbarrow of good rotten dung or more, let each hole be four foot asunder, and earth atop of the dung, and then half a score seeds pricked in each hole, but if four of them come up it is enough, and what more cometh up, pull them away or else they will hinder one another and come to nothing: note that the time of sowing is about May day, let these be well watered the summer following and gelded, and by August their fruit will come to perfection.

Colliflowers.

They are raised of the seed, and I shall spare a great deal of labour in setting down the directions for it, if you please to look back how beds are made for Cucumbers, in the same manner and at the same time so make for these, and they are governed up alike, only these are without glasses: at the middle of May transplant them into rich and forward ground, setting each plant two foot and a half distance, watering of them well at the first planting, and by the latter end of July they will come to flower so that you may have a dish of them.

The second season of the sowing of Colliflower-seed, is in the beginning of September, in beds of very good mould; being sown there and come up, at a moneths end transplant them into another bed of three abreadth, setting each plant at a hands breadth asunder in ranges by a line, then make a shelter over them with sticks and mats, to shelter the plants from the frosty nights the winter following, the next Spring transplant them in like manner as I told you of the other, and by mid-summer or soon after they will come to flower.

[Page]

Cabidges.

Mistake me not, I mean the propagating of Cabidge-seed to be Cabidges again, which oftentimes through negligence and ignorance turn or come to be Cail or Colworts: but I cannot stay to reckon up Colworts and Cabidges, how many sorts there are, and what a great commodity it is, especially amongst the Plow-men, but I shall proceed with all the brevity as may be possible, what is to be observed in the sowing and governing of the seed that it degenerate not.

First of all observe the season, that is, if you sow seed for winter plants to be planted out of the Spring, do it at the latter end of August, in a light earth, the Moon being at the full, five or six weeks after transplant them into another earth, laying or setting them at half a foot distance, to the end that each plant may have its proportion of ground and be restrained of its high growth; at the latter end of February, and in March at the full Moon, these may be planted into quarters of earth, where they may stand at a yard distance: now note, the best ground for these to be planted in, is the strongest clay or mawm earth, that is, with this provisoe, that there be abundance of dung under it; these Cabidges must be kept whole with earth about the stalks as the weeds rise, and the under leaves stripped off to cause the Cabidges to grow the greater.

Lastly, You may sow this seed in March for winter Colworts, for they may be transplanted about the latter end of May, or in the beginning of June, in manner as aforesaid. I cannot go farther, I have spoken more than I intended.

Carrots.

I shall only give three directions for the propagating of them, which vulgar people are not acquainted with though they may sow of them yearly; the first is the earth that the seed is committed to, that it be of a like nature and not wet when it is delved; also observe that the Moon be of the first quarter, the time of the year is even from the beginning of March till May.

Secondly, Observe the quantity of seed that you sow it [Page] not too thick; and for a better help thereunto, consider your quantity of ground, and then note, that three pound of seed soweth an acre, and so proportionably sow your own.

Thirdly, That you let them not grow too thick, for then they will be very small and worth nothing: the best way to prevent this, is to hoe them as our London Gardeners do, so that each Carrot stand ten inches one from another, or thereabout.

Corn-sallet.

Whether any Countrey men know it yea or no, I shall not dispence with the time to describe it; but sow it in your Garden in the beginning of September, in a good earth, the seed being sound and new, I dare promise you that it will grow and come to be cut by the next March for Sallets, and by the latter end of April it cometh to flower, and in June the seed is ripe, which if you save it you may sow it again; or if you let it scatter of it self, sometimes it will grow naturally.

Goards.

As they are known to be in distinct forms, and something in nature, so they bear their names according to the Country from whence they are brought, that is, the Italian Goard, the lowland Goard, and the Cocker Goard; if I am mistaken in the names, I am not mistaken in the properties, and the form; for there is one sort which is nigh a yard long, and sometimes as big as the lowermost part of a mans thigh, with that end which is farthest from the stalk, and so it cometh lesse and lesse by degrees. Another sort is long, and both ends alike for matter of bigness; the other is bigger and shorter; all these grow in like manner as Pumpkins do, as for stalk and shels, and they say, the leaves differ not much. Now for the raising of them (if you have a desire) I will give you my directions, as far as I have observed by others, viz. at the same time as they set Cucumber-seed, in the same manner they do the Goard-seed, and what they require afterward I cannot affirm it to you; but it is said, they are as easily raised [Page] as Cucumbers: The stalk and root perisheth yearly, as they do.

Indian suckory.

It is so well known I need not write any thing of its use and virtues, but for the nature of it, it is very probable I have observed more of it than those that have cultevated it longer than I have done, and in my observation I have found it to be of a strong nature; so that if you commit it to the earth in the Spring or Autumn, it needeth no farther care, but being cleansed from weeds, so it will continue till it hath yeelded its seed three times, and then root and branch dieth.

English-Beans.

Or great Garden Beans; I name them here, because they are usually set in Gardens, though sometimes in Fields: In which place soever you plant them in, I find but one Objection, and that is, some plant them here and there, according to their fancy, and not by a direct line; the errour is this, those that are set at random and not by a line, they have not their proportion of ground, nor can you cleanse them, hoe them, or gather them, without great injury in breaking of them down; therefore learn of the Gardeners and Husbandmen about London, for if they plant twenty acres together, it is all set in rows by a line, each row some eighteen inches difference one from another, and the Beans the other way, some six.

French-Beans.

They are much like the former, but something thinner, and of a tenderer nature; they are ripe something sooner, and require an hotter soil, these may be set in the same manner as I described before of the English-Beans. Let that suffice.

Jerusalem-Artichoaks.

The property of this plant is so that nothing is usefull, but the root, and it remainet hin the ground, some as big as a [Page] Hens egg, some bigger, some less, and of divers shapes, some long, some round, some crumpled and all full of dents, and of a reddish colour, from which riseth a stalk near eight foot high, resembling that of the Flower of the Sun, though not so big a stalk. This stalk perisheth yearly, the root continueth in the ground, as was said. Of the root these Artichoaks (so called) are propagated, either by cutting of the great ones into small pieces, or else setting the little roots (descending from the mother) in beds of earth by themselves, in March without any difficulty, for they are very hardy and will grow in any place, but they prosper best in a light mould. Now note, that once a year these roots may be taken up, and the great ones reserved for to be eaten, and the little ones set again.

Kidney-Beans.

My Countrey men I suppose call them French-Beans, like Ideots; for why, names that are given things which are newly found out, are given them, according to what they resemble, and it is so that this Bean resembleth a Kidney, and therefore it is fitly called a Kidney-Bean; let that passe. There is red, white, purple, and speckled of them; but the nature of them is one, and my directions for the planting of them shall be one, and that briefly. In the latter end of April provide a hot natured ground; if it be something sandy it is the better, so that it be but well holpen with rotten muck the year before; when the ground is digged, they may be either planted or set in ranges by a line at eighteen inches distance; those that go to the trouble to set them, usually take the pains to stick sticks for them to run up upon, to the end to keep them from the ground for to save their fruit, and to cause it to ripen the sooner; those that plant them in drils, take no farther care but only hoing the ground, being hot and dry they ripen very well, and bring good increase.

Lettice.

Many sorts there be, but of all others the French Lettice is the best; but that being sown in England, it doth often degenerate from its own nature, because it findeth not the air and [Page] the earth so temperate here, as in its own Countrey; therefore if it be raised here, it must be done with care and judgment; and as for our ordinary English Lettice, it may be it would appear as light as vanity to the vulgar sort of people, to give any directions for the raising and governing of them, although there is matter of consequence in the work, yet I shall wave it, and only put you in mind, that you may sow Lettice any moneth, from the latter end of February to the latter end of September: yet take notice, that those which be sown in the middle of the Summer ought to be watered, and those that are sowed in September for salletting early in the Spring, would be covered with straw, or sown under a warm pale that might shelter it from the sharp winds.

Lastly, If you have a desire to save seed of Lettice, let it be of such as was sown in September, let them not be cut or medled with, till the seed be full ripe in it, and that will be in July.

Leeks.

A short account may very well serve for the raising and governing of this Herb or root, and so it shall be. Leeks are sown in the beginning of March in a rich soil, for that it delighteth in much, in which place they may remain all the Summer following, and in September be transplanted into a rich soyl, laying of them in rows at half afoot asunder, as the ground was digged: The end of removing of them, is to cause them to grow the bigger, and so the next Lent those Leeks are drawn up by the roots for their uses; and if you have any desire to let them stand for seed, that is a fit place.

Millions.

Millions or Musmillions be these, the black Million, the white Million, great Roman Millions, water Millions, and many more, a man may raise and bring them up to be bigger than ones fist, but never come to be ripe or to any perfection, so I shall wave them and speak of our ordinary green Musmillions which are raised in England, and come to perfection.

[Page] And about these Musmillions here is such a deal of charge, care, quoil and trouble, such a multitude of arguments, and such abundance of vain conceits, so that if I could have made an Almanack of my pate, and set down all that I have heard of them, it would be a sufficient subject of it self; or otherwise if I should set down all that I have known to be put in practice, I believe that twenty pages would not contain it, so I shall passe it having no time nor liberty, neither desire to insist upon it for the present; but in the future I hope I shall: So only take these few Experiments, whereby I have raised Musmillions, and sometimes mist, as the proudest, and the greatest conceitedst man hath done, which hath been actual in this thing.

The first thing considerable in the propagating of Millions is the season, and thereabout men differ in their judgments; for some would have them raised at the latter end of February, or at the beginning of March, some at the beginning of April, and others not till the latter end thereof▪ this hath been put in practice, and every one of them have had good success at one time, and bad at another. Now my experience and my judgement is this, that is, it is best to raise them at the latter end of March, or about the beginning of April.

The wayes for it are various and strange, and one mans judgment differeth from another, in this more than any other thing which is practical in a Garden. I cannot stand to dispute, but take my following experience for your directions.

At that time as I told it is best to raise them, then make a hot bed of hors dung, in manner (as I told you) for Cucumbers, but let it be something higher, and something thicker, at the top thereof if you lay some bran it would be much the better; so done, get the finest earth that may be, and cover the bed with it two inches thick or more, supporting of it from tumbling down (as I told you of the Cucumber beds) then get your glasses, and see how many of them will stand conveniently upon the bed, then clap them down, the rim of them makes a mark, within that circle put a dozen or more of seeds, after the bed hath stood a day and [Page] been covered with litter, and in the meantime the seeds being steeped in milk, then set the glasses over them, lay litter between them, and over them, and round the bed, and mats upon bended poles over that, be watchfull the second and third day that the bed be not too hot, and if it be, then take away the litter from the sides, and make holes also in the sides to let out the steem, and when it is qualified that it be not over-hot, then lay the litter there again, about the fourth day, if it be so ordered, the seed cometh up, which if it come up sooner it seldom holdeth, and if it lieth much longer it seldom cometh up at all; but I will passe that the seed come up (as was said) give the plants a little air once a day, not by taking of the glasses clean away, but by lifting up of one side of them for an hour or two, or such a matter, which will give them a green colour, and stay them for spending of their spirits.

Secondly, After the plants have been a fortnight sprung up, it is very probable that they may seem to decay or stand at a stay, the reason is, because they want that supply of heat which the bed did afford to them before, because it hath stood long, and the heat is qualified; the cure is to get new hors-dung and litter one amongst another, and lay very thick against the sides of the bed, then under every glasse thrust down a small stick to the bottom of the bed, the use of it is to let up the heat and steem which is at the bottom, and that which the new laid dung and litter have infused in up, at those holes into the glasses, which doth warm, moisten and revive the plants.

Thirdly, The plants having stood here a moneth, and preserved with this care, then prepare beds or ridges to transplant them in, as followeth. First, Let the place be extraordinary warm, sheltered from all winds; then make your beds thus; Get hay and litter, and make a trench some half a foot deep and a yard wide, then lay the litter or hay therein, so that it may be half a foot thick; this done, get new hors-dung, so much of it, that it may raise it two foot in height above the litter ridg fashion; that done, get sticks of a yard long or thereabouts, as big as a walking cudgel, drive them into the middle of the bed at a yard distance, so low [Page] that there be but a hands breadth appear above the dung; this observed, cast the earth that licth by against the sides of the bed, then riddle fine mould, and lay it atop at a hands breadth in thickness, lay a little straw thinly upon this bed, and the next evening after transplant your Million plants four and four together thereon, and observe that they be set round those sticks, as I told you of, and a glass over each parcel of plants, upon your glasses lay straw or mats made apurpose.

Fourthly, The plants thus planted out, they are there to remain, and not to be stirred any more; and in this, especially in the governing of them afterwards, you are to consider three things; the first is, That they have air once a day, and covered again at nights; let not the glasses be took quite away, but be moved up on one side, while such time as the Million vines grow too great for the glass, then you may take them away in some part of the day, and set them over the fruit in the night. Secondly, Watering is not the least thing to be considered in it, both as for the time, manner, and for the substance of it; the best time to do it in, is in the morning soon after the Suns approaching; the manner of it is not to pour it all over the plant with a watering pot, as some do, but to put it in a hole, or holes by the root, so that it may soak leisurely carrying an earthly substance with it; the water also must have the substance of Pigeons-dung, and hors-dung in it, and standing in tubs in the ground, so that the Sun may have power upon it to qualifie the coolness of it, and to clarifie that unnatural property that it hath in it for the advancing of such a pulse as Millions, that delight only in heat and moisture. The third is, That they be gelded, and that is to nip off the leaves and fruit that spring very thick leaving but half as much as Nature commonly putteth forth upon every vine; the end that this is done for, is to cause the fruit to come to perfection the sooner which remaineth, and also to have it the larger and ripe the sooner.

These are the ordinary wayes of raising Musmillions, or as I may more fitly say, the principle things to be observed, yet there remains in each principle many particulars, which [Page] when time shall serve I shall treat of at large: in the mean space take these plain and serious truths, as you shall find them if they be put in practice.

Onions.

I may not stand to multiply words where necessity requires not; I suppose that Onions are so well known that there are few people that need any directions for the vulgar way of raising of them, yet there is matter of consequence to be observed in the raising of them for profit and greatness, and in that particular I will speak a word or two. For the first, consider the quantity of seed, and the quality of the ground, if it be stiff it requireth the more seed, and to be sown the sooner; if it be light, the latter and the lesser quantity of seed will serve: to guide you the better therein, ten pound soweth an acre for large Onions, which are to be hoed with hoes of three inches in breadth, so that every Onion may have six inches compass to grow in: The season for sowing of them in, is the first full Moon in March; another season is to sow them the first full Moon in August, so that they may be Scalions by the next Easter, but they never serve for dry Onions.

Purslane.

I may say of this as Culpepper saith of Saffron in the English Physician, pag. 328. It is well known, saith he, generally where it groweth: Now I say of Purslane, if you know it not already, and would willingly have it, then purchase the seed, and you shall obtain your desire, by ordering of it, as followeth: At May day, or a little before, make a bed of dung a foot high, of a yard in breadth, as long or as short as you please, according to the quantity as you would have of them: Get then some riddled mould, and lay thereon near half an inch in thickness; so done, cast the seed therin with a little mould upon it, so that it doth no more than cover it; if the season be dry after it, then water it, the seventh day it usually comes up, and after that it must be continually watered every evening, and by June it will be fit to be cut; these directions will well serve if they be duly observed, for [Page] the raising of it in its naturall season for salletting: but for the producing of it early or late, and for planting of it for pickling, I shall passe at this time.

Parsley.

Parsley is sown of the seed in March, it delighteth in a rich ground, and continueth even the longest of all seeds before any of it cometh up, but after it hath gotten above the ground, it prospereth so, that the more you cut it the better it groweth; the second Spring after it is sown it runneth to seed, and after that it usually dieth.

Parsnips.

To speak any thing for the sowing and governing of a small quantity, it would be altogether needlesse, seeing hardly any Countrey man is without them in his Garden. For the ordering of a great quantity, take it in short thus, viz. four pound of seed soweth an acre, then guide the quantity of seed by your ground at this rate. Now the manner of sowing of it is severall, for some sow the ground before they dig it, if it be light and sandy, but that I do not approve of: The best way is to sow it after the ground is digged, when it lieth as rough as may be possible, then the seed may be covered the better: if the ground be stiff and wet, then lay it as smooth as you can before it is sown.

Lastly, To cleanse these Parsnips from weeds after they be come up, it is better to do it with a hoe than to weed it by womens hands, for when they are hoed it taketh away the Parsnips where they be too thick, which doth as much hurt as weeds, considering they have not room to grow one by another, it also looseneth the earth, when weeders would beat it down, and make it the harder; and that which is more, an acre of Parsnips will be hoed three times for the price that it will be weeded once.

[Page]

Peas of all sorts.

Which are usually planted are these, the hasting Spur and the ordinary Hasting, the sugar Peas, the blew Rousewell and the grey Rousewell, the sanddige Peas, and the bunch Peas: for to treat of all these in particular is needless as to the manner: the times of planting of them differ, to have them early or late; to have forward Peas, plant them at Alhollentide or before in this manner; when the ground is digged then hoe up ridges at two foot distance, and in the tops of those ridges make drills with one corner of your hoe, therein cast the Peas in pretty thick, because the winter following the cold, mice and worms will be apt to destroy them: the reason why I counsell you to sow them on the tops of such ridges is, because they should lye dry and warm, for all kind of forward Peas delight in hot and dry soyl.

Lastly, Take notice, that Peas must be hone betwixt the chases the first time, and the second time the earth and weeds must be raised up about them with the hoe: there is much more belongeth to the planting of Peas for the guiding of great quantities for profit, which I am very well acquainted with, but too much engaged to treat of now.

Potatoes.

They are not known in the South parts of England, yet in the North parts they are planted in poor and rich mens Gardens, for the goodness that they yeeld to their tables in the winter when no other roots are to be had; in Ireland they are so generall and so common, that I never saw any man that had land and habitation there but that he had store of Potatoes for his use, and those which plant them for profit have twenty or thirty acres of them, more or less according to their abilities.

It were needless for me to set down the order of planting of them, seeing it is not generally to be put in practice, for I have not seen of them but in those places which I named, and it were vanity for me to give them directions.

[Page]

Pumpkins.

Are known of most Countrey people, and I may say that there are few of them but would have great and sound Pumpkins if they took this advice; about May day or a little before, make a bed of Cow dung and Swines-dung, of a foot high and three or four foot in breadth, and as long as you please, lay thereon so much earth as will raise it an inch higher, then prick in your seeds afoot one from another, so that they may have room to grow, then lay a little chaff atop of the bed for keeping of the ground and the plants moist, and when the plants are come up, water them with such water as standeth by a dunghill once or twice a week, this done I hope by Michaelmas that you will have Pumpkins as big as a Kilderkin of Beer, and being baked and well buttered is good chear.

Radish

If I should enter upon every particular of what belongeth to the raising of Radish, to have them young and good nine moneths in the year, it would take up a large discourse, which I will pass, for I hope you are well acquainted with the manner, so I will only put you in mind of the seasons: first to have them early, sow them in the latter end of February, if frost and snow hinder not it will prosper, and you may have good Radishes by the latter end of April if the ground be rich and forward, so they maybe sown every moneth after till July, for the having of them fresh and young one under another: another season is to sow them in September for to have them in March. Let so much suffice.

Spinage.

Smooth and prickly, are both so well known I need but name it: this herb may be sown in as many seasons as I told you of the Radish, and it will prosper very well in good earth, it would be often cut after it is come up, else it runneth to seed presently if it be sown in the Spring time; but it is much better to sow it in September, for then it is checkt of its high growth, and isready to be eaten in sallets when others are a sowing.

[Page]

Skarots.

It may be they have some other name, and if I am not mistaken, Gravous Marcom calls them Creases, in his Book entituled The whole Art of Husbandry. If you know them not by neither of these names, you may know them by this, they have roots resembling Parsnips, many of them upon one head and as big as a mans middle finger; the branches that spring from it are much like those of Creases, running upto two foot high or more, whereon the tops groweth tufts of small brown seed something longish: of the seed or the slip Skarots are raised, of the seed it is difficult, and long before it cometh to perfection, therefore I shall not trouble you with the manner of it: to set them of the slip, it is done in March, and placed in an extraordinary rich ground: first know what the slip is that is taken from the head of the root, where many of them are set together upon white strings as it were, and set in such ground and such times as I told you, at a foot distance, each plant being kept hoed afterward, at two years end they may be taken up in great roots and reserved to be eaten, for they are the best of all others either boyled or baked in Pies, the slips or suckers may be set again.

Sorrell.

The Garden kind is for many Kitchin uses, it is sown in the Spring time in any ordinary earth, and it will prosper very well without any further care: I only name it because I would not have the Kitchin Garden without it.

Small Suckory.

This differeth not much from the Indian-Suckory, but that it is much smaller, and not so sharp-pointed leaves, and the tast is not so bitter. I shall wave the manner of the ordering of it, because that discourse of Indian-Suckory may very well serve for this.

Turnips.

Be white and yellow, the ordering of them is one: the seasons for sowing of them in, is in March, April and June, [Page] those that are sown in the two first moneths, require a hot, sandy and a light ground, those that are sown in June desireth a stiff clayey ground rather than a ight: now all that is to be observed in the doing of this is, that the ground be not over-seeded; the just proportion that good ground will have of good seed, is after the rate of three pound in an acre, and they must be hoed with a six inch hoe after they have sprung up to a reasonable heighth, three hoings serves for one crop sufficiently.

Tongue-Grass.

Or Pepper-Grass, I think others call it Smallage, it is something like Parsly at its first springing, but of a lighter green colour, afterward it shooteth up with many small stalks, and the tops thereof be set with many white Flowers, which leaves store of red seed, which if it be suffered to scatter cometh up naturally; this herb when it is young is used in fallets and hath a mighty hot biting taste: for the raising of it, you need but commit it to the earth, and it groweth, and flowereth, and seedeth, and as the seed falleth it springeth again of it self without any more trouble.

Now I have done here with the nature of plants and their propagation by seed.

The Conclusion.

I Shall (as it fits the Work and the place) conclude my Treatise upon the working of Nature and the propagation of the seed Royall.

In the workings of Nature (as God hath created and decreed it to stand) Man is in respect of properties and motions no less than a little World, I may not write down those properties and motions, for if I did then my Conclusion would be larger than my Book; but to be short, I find that if a man could rightly know himself he might comprehend all things else in the Creation, yea the Creator himself; all wise men witness this truth against such as are Atheists either in opinion or practice, who hold such a sleepy-headed conceit, that the [Page] Creation was from eternity, and that all things comes from the course of Nature. For the first of these, the Scriptures make known to the weakness of our capacity how it was created, but they that are Atheists believe not the Bible, then let them learn how to confute or confirm these observations following.

Canst thou behold any building or artificial work so rare,

But presently conclude that the band of an Artificer was there?

Canst thou see the Earth so great, the Firmament so wide,

The Ocean Seas how they ebb and flow by time and tide?

But presently in thy faithless heart confess and say,

That this great work was undone on one day;

Till one by Wisdom, Glory, Power and Strength

Formed the Heavens, and the Earth at the length,

And by his Wisdom and Love created each living creature,

He is the true God, or the principal of Nature:

And so canst thou change the nature of the Cornation-seed

Into a hurtfull, stinking Hemlock weed?

Then herein Gods Laws thou maist plainly see,

That his work must be acknowledg'd in each Herb, Flower and Tree:

Thus God that was and is, by his Creation we him know;

And man that was his work him still doth show.

Secondly, They say, that all things come by the course of Nature: True, But by whom had Nature its beginning? I answered you that before; yet to know this better, look on the greatest Oak-tree, and on the Acorn, such as the Acorn is, so was once the Oak, and how an Acorn did contract the substance of the earth into its nature to bring it into so great a growth man knoweth not, but man knows it is so: so by the beginning of the nature of one plant and the perfection thereof, I easily conceive the whole universal world had a beginning by a higher principle than man, which is God.

Thirdly, They cannot be convinc'd what keepeth Nature still awork: To understand this consider, when once the simple Atheists eyes first saw the witty inventions of man in making of Clocks and Engines, thou couldst not tell the [Page] cause of their going, till thou wast shewed the weights that went in a privy place by opening of the door unto thee, then thou diddest understand the cause: so it would be with thee, if the God of wisdom would draw the Curtains of the skies, then the door would be opened where thou maist plainly see Gods weight of eternal glory, which setteth the whole course of Nature awork: Thus wise men discern one thing by another: then thou dull spirited man, humble thy self for thy lack of wisdom and reason, and for thy too much ignorance, and lay thy mouth in the very dust.

And this bringeth me to my last reason, viz.

The Propagation of the Seed-Royal.

I know all sensible and unsensible creatures doth increase by that seed which is in it self: Now the Seed-Royal is mans seed only, by reason of that union which is in election to be partaker of with the Godhead: But first understand, there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body, which maketh but one man, they being united together, for the spiritual body must dwell in the natural body, then it is fit the Spirit should rule Nature its dwelling place: But on the contrary, the natural body keepeth the spiritual a prisoner in one corner of the house, for fear he should bring him to the study and obedience of heavenly principles, then he should be took off the caring and coveting for the corrupt things of this life, then Satans kingdom would be destroyed. There is also a natural seed, and a spiritual; the seed of the body is that which Nature breedeth in the secret members, and it is propagated by the sowing of it in the secret womb of its mother the flesh, and when it entereth into the troublesom world, it is nursed up with the fruits of its mother Nature: Now the seed of the Spirit is that which is given a man to improve in the mind, and it is bred in the soul and understanding, and it is propagated by the sowing of it in the treasure of the heart, and nursed up with the fruits of its Mother the Church, then a man must fence it with faith, plant it with reason, dressing of it with diligence, watering of it with grace, watching of it with patience, sheltering of it with care, weeding of it with the sword of the Spirit, protecting of it with prayer, looking [Page] for the increase thereof with a lively hope; this done, the seed of the Spirit will grow up and bring forth fruit to perfection, then he might gather it with the hand of truth, dispose of it with the eye of charity, set forth the goodnesse of it with the tongue of praise; this mans person is cloathed with righteousness and adorned with holiness, his heart is full of wisdom, his lips utter knowledge, his ears encline to understanding, his desires and his deserts are the fullness of love, his feet walketh in the way of peace, and at his end he shall be translated into the Heaven of Heavens, before the blessed and beatifical sight of the glorious Trinity, and there receive an immortal Crown, with power to rule in unity and love, and to rest with Saints and Angels in joy and glory to all eternity.

FINIS.

THE ALPHABETICAL TABLE Of all the Plants in the foregoing Treatise, being the Garden of Pleasure.

[Page]

FLOWERS.

A

AMorantus, p. 7

Anstartium indecom, 8

Angulshenelus, 9

African, 32

B

BAchelors-Buttons, 10

Bee-flower, ib.

Balm of Christ, 11

Bears-ears, 12

Bell flowers, ib.

C

CAterpillars, 46

Crows-foot, 13

Crokus, 14

Cranes-Bill, 15

Cullenbines, 16

Crown-Imperial, ib.

Corn-flag, 18

Cornation-Gilliflowers, 19, to 27

Clove Gilliflowers, 27

Couslips, 28

D

DAyses, ib.

Daffodillies, 29

Dragons-claws, 30

E

EMrose, 31

Everlasting-pea, 33

Everlasting life, 34

F

FLower-deluce, 34, 35, 36

Flower of the Sun, 37

French-marigold, ib

French-pinks, 38

Foxes-glove, 39

G

GLobe-flower, 40

Green Couslips, ib.

H

HOlly-hock. 41

Hearbit, 42

Humble-plant, 43

Hearts-ease, 44

I

JErusalem-Couslips, 45

Indian-wheat, ib.

[Page]

[...]

[Page]

[...]

L

[Page]LIllies, 46, 47

Larks-heel, 48

London-pride, 49

Lupins, ib.

Ladies-thistle, 50

Love in idle, ib.

Ladies-liveries. 51

Ladies-smocks, ib.

M

MArmadel deparve, 52

Muscabions, 53

Monks-hood, 54

Marle-flower, ib.

N

NUrssusus, 55

O

OXslips, ib.

Oak of Paris, ib.

P

PIonies, 56

Primrose-tree, ib.

Princes-feathers, 57

Poppies, 58

Pinks, 59

Purple-primrose, 60

Pawmers, ib.

Q

QUeens-gilliflower, 61

R

ROse-campions, ib.

Rose-rubee, 62

Rocket-flower, ib.

S

STock-gilliflowers, 63, 64

Snap-dragons, 65

Sweet-Williams, 66

Scarlet-beans, ib.

Snails, 67

Snow-drops, ib.

Start up and kiss me, 68

Sensitive plant, 73

T

TƲlips, 68, to 72

Thrift. 73

Turkey-caps, ib.

V

VIolets, 74

W

WAll-gilliflowers, ib.

The Table of the Trees.

A

APricock, 75

Almonds, ib.

B

BAy-tree, 76

Box, ib.

C

CIprus. ib.

Creeping-vine. 79

F

FIg-tree, 77

Figs of India, ib.

[Page] Filleroy, 78

G

GEsamits, ib.

H

HOliander, 79

Horn-fig-tree; ib.

L

LAurel, 80

Lowary, ib.

Lowrex, ib.

Lorestinus, 81

Lignae vitae, ib.

M

MIrtil-trees, 82

O

ORangr-trees, ib.

P

POmgraenate-tree, 83

Peach-trees, ib.

Perriwinkle, ib.

S

SWeet-bryar, 84

T

TAmarus, ib.

The Gillierose, ib.

The Province-rose, 85

The Cinamon-rose, ib.

V

VInes, 86, 87

An Alphabetical TABLE of all the Plants in the foregoing Treatise, being the Physical and Fruitfull Garden.

HERBS.

A

ANgelica, 88

Alieompane, 89

Alexander, ib.

Annis, 90

All-hail, ib.

B

BAres-britch, ib.

Balm, 91

Basyl, ib.

Blessed-thistle, ib:

Bares-foot, 92

Buglos, ib.

Burridge, 93

Blood-wort, ib.

Burnat, ib.

Betony. 94

C

CAmomil, ib.

Comfrey, ib.

Cives, 95

Cammel-beg, ib.

Chervil, ib.

Carrawayes, 96

Clary, ib.

Ceursemary, ib.

[Page] Cummin, 97

Coriander, ib.

Celandine, ib.

D

DRagons, 98

Dill, ib.

E

EVat, ib.

F

FEtherfew, 99

Fennel, ib.

French-honey-suckles, ib.

French-mallows, 100

G

GRomwell, ib.

Gladin, 101

Gooses-tongue, ib.

Garmander, ib.

Garlick, 102

H

HOrse-redish, ib.

Herb-grasse, ib.

Horehound, 103

Hyssop, ib.

Housleek. 104

I

JErusalem-sage, ib.

K

KIngs-mallows, 105

Kapons-tails, ib.

L

LOvage, 106

Liquorish, ib.

Lavender-Cotton, 107

Lavender-spike, 108

Lavender-slip, ib.

Lemon-time, ib.

M

MAllows, 109

March, ib.

Madrath, 110

Marygolds, 111

Mother-wort, ib.

N

NIp, 112

O

ORpin, ib.

P

PEpper-wort, ib.

Pot-margerum, 113

Prick-madam, ib.

Purple-grasse, 114

Penny-royal, 115

Poppey, ib.

R

ROsemary, ib.

Roman-sage, 116

Rubarb, 117

S

SParemint, 118

Saffron, 119

Sage, 120

Summer savoury, ib.

Setterwort, ib.

Stone-crop, 121

Shalot, ib.

Sweet Maudlin, 122

Scurvy-grass, ib.

Sweet fern, ib.

Sweet-covey, 123

Sweet Margerum, ib.

[Page] Sweet Oak. 124

T

TAragon, ib.

Time, ib.

Tansie, 125

V

VAlaren, 125

W

WOrmwood, 126

Winter-savoury, ib.

The Table of Trees.

B

BArberry, 127

C

CƲrrants, ib.

G

GOosberries, 128

M

MƲlberries, ib.

Q

QUinces, 129

R

RAsberries, ib.

Roses, 130

S

SAvin-tree, 131

Strawberry-tree, 132

The Alphabetical Table of all the Herbs, Roots and Pulse contained in the Kitchin Garden.

A

ARtichoaks, 134

B

BEets, 135

C

COwcumbers, 136

Colliflowers, 137

Cabidges, 138

Carrors, ib.

Corn-sallet, 139

E

ENglish Beans, 140

F

FRench Beans, ib.

G

GOards, 139

I

INdian suceory, ib.

Jerusalem Artichoaks, ib.

K

KIdney Beans. 141

L

[Page]LEttice, 141

Leeks. 142

M

MIllions, ib. 143, 144

O

ONions, 146

P

PƲrslin, ib.

Parsley, 147

Parsnips, ib.

Peas of all sorts, 148

Potatoes, ib.

Pumpkins, 149

R

RAdish, ib.

S

SParrow-grasse, 134

Spinage, ib.

Skarots, 150

Sorrel, ib.

Small Suckory, ib.

T

TƲrnips, ib.

Tongue-grasse. 151

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener.

Blake, Stephen, Gardener.

Edition statement

1664

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A28337

ID [STC]

Wing B3139

ID [STC]

ESTC R18838

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12258322

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12258322

ID [VID]

57633

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A28337)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 57633)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 168:3)

Source

— The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener., Blake, Stephen, Gardener..

Extent

[17], 154, [6] p., 80 leaves of plates : ill.

Printed for Thomas Pierrepoint, ...,. London :: 1664.. (Reproduction of original in British Library.) (Includes index.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.