Chapter XXXI: Front Matter (31)

Wee haue had also another kinde in former times that grew as high as any man, and branched into diuers stalkes, euery one bearing a head thereon, almost as bigge as the first.

There is another kinde, called the Muske Artichoke, which groweth like the French kinde, but is much better in spending, although it haue a lesser bottome.

The French Artichoke hath a white head, the scales whereof stand staring far asunder one from another at the ends, which are sharpe: this is well known by this qualitie, that while it is hot after it is boyled, it smelleth so strong, that one would verily thinke it had bin boyled in stinking water, which was brought ouer after a great froste that had well nigh consumed our best kindes, and are now almost cleane cast out again, none being willing to haue it take vp the roome of better.

There is a lowe kinde that groweth much about Paris, which the French esteeme more then any other, and is lower then the former French kinde, the head whereof as well as the leaues, is of a fresher greene colour, almost yellowish.

Then there is the Thistle Artichoke, which is almost a wilde kinde, and groweth smaller, with a more open and prickly head then any of the former.

And lastly, the Chardon as they call it, because it is almost of the forme and nature of a Thistle, or wilde Artichoke. This groweth high, and full of sharpe prickles, of a grayish colour. Iohn Tradescante assured mee, hee saw three acres of Land about Brussels planted with this kinde, which the owner whited like Endiue, and then sold them in the winter: Wee cannot yet finde the true manner of dressing them, that our Countrey may take delight therein.

All these kindes are encreased by slipping the young shootes from the root, which being replanted in February, March, or Aprill, haue the same yeare many times, but the next at the most, borne good heads.

Wee finde by dayly experience, that our English red Artichoke is in our Countrey the most delicate meate of any of the other, and therefore diuers thinking it to bee a seuerall kinde, haue sent them into Italie, France, and the Lowe Countries, where they haue not abode in their goodnesse aboue two yeare, but that they haue degenerated; so that it seemeth, that our soyle and climate hath the preheminence to nourish vp this plant to his highest excellencie.

The Vse of Artichokes.

The manner of preparing them for the Table is well knowne to
the youngest Housewife I thinke, to bee boyled in faire water,
and a little salt, vntill they bee tender, and afterwardes a
little vinegar and pepper, put to the butter, poured vpon them
for the sawce, and so are serued to the Table.

They vse likewise to take the boyled bottomes to make Pyes,
which is a delicate kinde of baked meate.

The Chardon is eaten rawe of diuers, with vinegar and oyle,
pepper and salt, all of them, or some, as euery one liketh for
their delight.

CHAP. LI.

_Fabæ & Phaseoli._ Garden and French Beanes.

The Garden Beane is of two colours, red or blacke, and white, yet both rise from one; the small or fielde Beanes I make no mention of in this place; but the French or Kidney Beane is almost of infinite sorts and colours: we doe not for all that intend to trouble you in this place, with the knowledge or relation of any more then is fit for a Garden of that nature, that I haue propounded it in the beginning.

Our ordinary Beanes, seruing for foode for the poorer sort for the most part, are planted as well in fieldes as in gardens, because the quantity of them that are spent taketh vp many acres of land to be planted in, and rise vp with one, two or three stalks, according to the fertilitie of the soyle, being smooth and square, higher then any man oftentimes, whereon are set at certaine distances, from the very bottome almost to the toppe, two long smooth fleshy and thicke leaues almost round, one standing by another at the end of a small footestalke: betweene these leaues and the stalke, come forth diuers flowers, all of them looking one way for the most part, which are close a little turned vp at the brimmes, white and spotted with a blackish spot in the middle of them, and somewhat purplish at the foot or bottome, of the forme almost of Broome or Pease flowers, many of which that grow vpward toward the toppe, doe seldome beare fruit, and therefore are gathered to distill, and the toppes of the stalkes cut off, to cause the rest to thriue the better; after which grow vp long great smooth greene pods, greater then in any other kinde of Pulse, which grow blacke when they are ripe, and containe within them two, three or foure Beanes, which are somewhat flat and round, eyther white or reddish, which being full ripe grow blackish: the roote hath diuers fibres annexed vnto the maine roote, which dyeth euery yeare.

The French or Kidney Beane riseth vp at the first but with one stalke, which afterwards diuideth it selfe into many armes or branches, euery one of them being so weak, that without they be sustained with stickes or poles, whereon with their winding and claspers they take hold, they would lye fruitlesse vpon the ground: vpon these branches grow forth at seuerall places long footestalkes, with euery of them three broade, round and pointed greene leaues at the end of them, towards the tops whereof come forth diuers flowers, made like vnto Pease blossomes, of the same colour for the most part that the fruit will be of, that is to say, eyther white, or yellow, or red, or blackish, or of a deepe purple &c. but white is most vsuall for our Garden; after which come long and slender flat pods, some crooked, and some straight, with a string as it were running downe the backe thereof, wherein are contained flattish round fruit, made to the fashion of a kidney: the roote is long, and spreadeth with many fibres annexed vnto it, perishing euery yeare.

The Vse of these Beanes.

The Garden Beanes serue (as I said before) more for the vse of
the poore then of the rich: I shall therefore only shew you
the order the poore take with them, and leaue curiosity to
them that will bestow time vpon them. They are only boyled in
faire water and a little salt, and afterwards stewed with some
butter, a little vinegar and pepper being put vnto them, and so
eaten: or else eaten alone after they are boyled without any
other sawce. The water of the blossomes distilled, is vsed to
take away spots, and to cleer the skin. The water of the greene
huskes or cods is good for the stone.

The Kidney Beanes boyled in water huske and all, onely the ends
cut off, and the string taken away, and stewed with butter &c.
are esteemed more sauory meate to many mens pallates, then the
former, and are a dish more oftentimes at rich mens Tables then
at the poore.

CHAP. LII.

_Pisum._ Pease.

There is a very great variety of manured Pease known to vs, and I think more in our Country then in others, whereof some prosper better in one ground and country, and some in others: I shall giue you the description of one alone for all the rest, and recite vnto you the names of the rest.

Garden Pease are for the most part the greatest and sweetest kinds, and are sustained with stakes or bushes. The Field Pease are not so vsed, but growe without any such adoe. They spring vp with long, weake, hollow, and brittle (while they are young and greene) whitish greene stalkes, branched into diuers parts, and at euery ioynt where it parteth one broad round leafe compassing the stalke about, so that it commeth as it were thorough it: the leaues are winged, made of diuers small leaues set to a middle ribbe, of a whitish greene colour, with claspers at the ends of the leaues, whereby it taketh hold of whatsoeuer standeth next vnto it: betweene the leaues and the stalkes come forth the flowers, standing two or three together, euery one by it selfe on his owne seuerall stalke, which are either wholly white, or purple, or mixed white and purple, or purple and blew: the fruit are long, and somewhat round cods, whereof some are greater, others lesser, some thicke and short, some plaine and smooth, others a little crooked at the ends; wherein also are contained diuers formes of fruit or pease; some being round, others cornered, some small, some great, some white, others gray, and some spotted: the roote is small, and quickly perisheth.

The kindes of Pease are these:

The Rounciuall.

The greene Hasting.

The Sugar Pease.

The spotted Pease.

The gray Pease.

The white Hasting.

The Pease without skins.

The Scottish or tufted Pease, which some call the Rose Pease,
is a good white Pease fit to be eaten.

The early or French Pease, which some call Fulham Pease,
because those grounds thereabouts doe bring them soonest
forward for any quantity, although sometimes they miscarry by
their haste and earlinesse.

_Cicer Arietinum._ Rams Ciches.

This is a kinde of Pulse, so much vsed in Spaine, that it is vsually one of their daintie dishes at all their feasts: They are of two sorts, white and red; the white is onely vsed for meate, the other for medicine. It beareth many vpright branches with winged leaues, many set together, being small, almost round, and dented about the edges: the flowers are either white or purple, according to the colour of the Pease which follow, and are somewhat round at the head, but cornered and pointed at the end, one or two at the most in a small roundish cod.

1 _Faba satiua._ Garden Beanes.
2 _Phaseoli satiui._ French Beanes.
3 _Pisum vulgare._ Garden Pease.
4 _Pisum vmbellatum siue Roseum._ Rose Pease or Scottish Pease.
5 _Pisum Saccharatum._ Sugar Pease.
6 _Pisum maculatum._ Spotted Pease.
7 _Cicer Arietinum._ Rams Ciches or Cicers.
]

The Vse of Pease.

Pease of all or the most of these sorts, are either vsed when
they are greene, and be a dish of meate for the table of the
rich as well as the poore, yet euery one obseruing his time,
and the kinde: the fairest, sweetest, youngest, and earliest
for the better sort, the later and meaner kindes for the
meaner, who doe not giue the deerest price: Or

Being dry, they serue to boyle into a kinde of broth or
pottage, wherein many doe put Tyme, Mints, Sauory, or some
other such hot herbes, to giue it the better rellish, and is
much vsed in Towne and Countrey in the Lent time, especially
of the poorer sort of people.

It is much vsed likewise at Sea for them that goe long voyages,
and is for change, because it is fresh, a welcome diet to most
persons therein.

The Rams Ciches the Spaniards call _Grauancos_, and
_Garauancillos_, and eate them boyled and stewed as the most,
dainty kinde of Pease that are, they are of a very good
rellish, and doe nourish much; but yet are not without that
windy quality that all sorts of Pulse are subiect vnto: they
increase bodily lust much more then any other sorts, and as it
is thought, doth helpe to encrease seede.

CHAP. LIII.

_Cucumer._ The Cowcumber.

Of Cowcumbers there are diuers sorts, differing chiefly in the forme and colour of the fruit, and not in the forme of the plant; therefore one description shall serue in stead of all the rest.

The Cowcumber bringeth forth many trailing rough greene branches lying on the ground, all along whereof growe seuerall leaues, which are rough, broad, vneuen at the edges, and pointed at the ends, with long crooked tendrils comming forth at the same ioynt with the leafe, but on the other side thereof: between the stalks & the leaues at the ioynts come forth the flowers seuerally, euery one standing on a short foot-stalke, opening it selfe into fiue leaues, of a yellowish colour, at the bottome whereof groweth the fruit, long and greene at the first, but when it is thorough ripe, a little yellowish, hauing many furrowes, and vneuen bunches all the length of it, wherein is a white firme substance next vnto the skin, and a cleare pulpe or watery substance, with white flat seede lying dispersed through it: the roote is long and white, with diuers fibres at it.

The kindes.

The first described is called, The long greene Cowcumber.

There is another is called, The short Cowcumber, being short,
and of an equall bignesse in the body thereof, and of an
vnequall bignesse at both ends.

The long Yellow, which is yellowish from the beginning, and
more yellow when it is ripe, and hath beene measured to
be thirteene inches long: but this is not that small long
Cowcumber, called of the Latines, _Cucumis anguinus_.

Another kinde is early ripe, called The French kinde.

The Dantsicke kinde beareth but small fruit, growing on short
branches or runners: the pickled Cowcumbers that are vsually
sold are of this kind.

The Muscouie kinde is the smallest of all other, yet knowne,
and beareth not aboue foure or fiue at the most on a roote,
which are no bigger then small Lemons.

The Vse of Cowcumbers.

Some vse to cast a little salt on their sliced Cowcumbers, and
let them stand halfe an houre or more in a dish, and then poure
away the water that commeth from them by the salt, and after
put vinegar, oyle, &c. thereon, as euery one liketh: this is
done, to take away the ouermuch waterishnesse and coldnesse of
the Cowcumbers.

In many countries they vse to eate Cowcumbers as wee doe Apples
or Peares, paring and giuing slices of them, as we would to our
friends of some dainty Apple or Peare.

The pickled Cowcumbers that come from beyond Sea, are much
vsed with vs for sawce to meate all the Winter long. Some
haue striuen to equall them, by pickling vp our Cowcumbers at
the later end of the yeare, when they are cheapest, taking the
little ones and scalding them thoroughly well, which after they
put in brine, with some Dill or Fenell leaues and stalkes: but
these are nothing comparable to the former, wee either missing
of the right and orderly pickling of them, or the kinde it
selfe differing much from ours (as I said of the Dantsicke
kinde) for ours are neither so tender and firme, nor so sauoury
as the other.

The rawe or greene Cowcumbers are fittest for the hotter time
of the yeare, and for hot stomackes, and not to be vsed in
colder weather or cold stomackes, by reason of the coldnesse,
whereby many haue been ouertaken.

The seede is vsed physically in many medicines that serue to
coole, and a little to make the passages of vrine slippery, and
to giue ease to hot diseases.

CHAP. LIIII.

_Melo._ Milions or Muske Melons.

There bee diuers sorts of Melons found out at this day, differing much in the goodnesse of taste one from another. This Countrey hath not had vntill of late yeares the skill to nourse them vp kindly, but now there are many that are so well experienced therein, and haue their ground so well prepared, as that they will not misse any yeare, if it be not too extreme vnkindly, to haue many ripe ones in a reasonable time: yet some will be later then others alwayes.

The Melon is certainly a kinde of Cowcumber, it doth so neere resemble it, both in the manner of his growing, hauing rough trailing branches, rough vneuen leaues, and yellow flowers: after which come the fruit, which is rounder, thicker, bigger, more rugged, and spotted on the outside then the Cowcumber, of a russet colour, and greene vnderneath, which when it groweth full ripe, will change a little yellowish, being as deepe furrowed and ribbed as they, and besides hauing chaps or rifts in diuers places of the rinde: the inward hard substance is yellow, which onely is eaten: the seede which is bigger, and a little yellower then the Cowcumber, lying in the middle onely among the moister pulpe: the smell and changing of his colour, fore-shew their ripenesse to them that are experienced: the roote is long, with many fibres at it. The fruit requireth much watering in the hot time of the day, to cause them to ripen the sooner, as I haue obserued by diuers of the best skill therein.

The Vse of the kindes of Melons.

The best Melon seede doe come to vs out of Spaine, some haue
come out of Turkie, but they haue been nothing so good and
kindly.

Some are called Sugar Melons, others Peare Melons, and others
Muske Melons.

They haue beene formerly only eaten by great personages,
because the fruit was not only delicate but rare; and therefore
diuers were brought from France, and since were noursed vp by
the Kings or Noblemens Gardiners onely, to serue for their
Masters delight: but now diuers others that haue skill and
conueniencie of ground for them, doe plant them and make them
more common.

They paire away the outer rinde, and cut out the inward pulpe
where the seede lyeth, slice the yellow firme inward rinde or
substance, & so eate it with salt and pepper (and good store of
wine, or else it will hardly digest) for this is firmer, & hath
not that moisture in it that the Cowcumbers haue. It is also
more delicate, and of more worth, which recompenseth the paine.

The seed of these Melons are vsed as Cowcumbers physically, and
together with them most vsually.

CHAP. LV.

_Pepo._ Pompions.

We haue but one kinde of Pompion (as I take it) in all our Gardens, notwithstanding the diuersities of bignesse and colour.

The Pompion or great Melon (or as some call it Milion) creepeth vpon the ground (if nothing bee by it whereon it may take hold and climbe) with very great, ribbed, rough, and prickly branches, whereon are set very large rough leaues, cut in on the edges with deepe gashes, and dented besides, with many claspers also, which winde about euery thing they meete withall: the flowers are great and large, hollow and yellow, diuided at the brims into fiue parts, at the bottome of which, as it is in the rest, groweth the fruit, which is very great, sometimes of the bignesse of a mans body, and oftentimes lesse, in some ribbed or bunched, in others plaine, and either long or round, either greene or yellow, or gray, as Nature listeth to shew her selfe; for it is but waste time, to recite all the formes and colours may be obserued in them: the inner rinde next vnto the outer is yellowish and firme: the seede is great, flat, and white, lying in the middle of the watery pulpe: the roote is of the bignesse of a mans thumbe or greater, dispersed vnder ground with many small fibres ioyned thereunto.

Gourds are kindes of Melons; but because wee haue no vse of them, wee leaue them vnto their fit place.

The Vse of Pompions.

They are boyled in faire water and salt, or in powdered beefe
broth, or sometimes in milke, and so eaten, or else buttered;
They vse likewise to take out the inner watery substance with
the seedes, and fill vp the place with Pippins, and hauing laid
on the couer which they cut off from the toppe, to take out the
pulpe, they bake them together, and the poore of the Citie, as
well as the Country people, doe eate thereof, as of a dainty
dish.

The seede hereof, as well as of Cowcumbers and Melons, are
cooling, and serue for emulsions in the like manner for Almond
milkes, &c. for those are troubled with the stone.

CHAP. LVI.

_Fragaria._ Strawberries.

1 _Cucumis longus vulgaris._ The ordinary Cowcumber.
2 _Cucumis Hispanicus._ The long yellow Spanish Cowcumber.
3 _Melo vulgaris._ The ordinary Melon.
4 _Melo maximus optimus._ The greatest Muske Melon.
5 _Pepo._ The Pompion.
6 _Fragari vulgaris._ Common Strawberries.
7 _Fragari Bohemica maxima._ The great Bohemia Strawberries.
8 _Fragari aculeata._ The prickly Strawberry.
]

There be diuers sorts of Strawberries, whereof those that are noursed vp in Gardens or Orchards I intend to giue you the knowledge in this place, and leaue the other to a fitter; yet I must needs shew you of one of the wilde sorts, which for his strangenesse is worthy of this Garden: And I must also enforme you, that the wilde Strawberry that groweth in the Woods is our Garden Strawberry, but bettered by the soyle and transplanting.

The Strawberry hath his leaues closed together at the first springing vp, which afterwards spread themselues into three diuided parts or leaues, euery one standing vpon a small long foote-stalke, greene on the vpperside, grayish vnderneath, and snipped or dented about the edges; among which rise vp diuers small stalkes, bearing foure or fiue flowers at the tops, consisting of fiue white round pointed leaues, somewhat yellowish in the bottome, with some yellow threads therein; after which come the fruit, made of many small graines set together, like vnto a small Mulberry or Raspis, reddish when it is ripe, and of a pleasant winy taste, wherein is enclosed diuers small blackish seede; the roote is reddish and long, with diuers small threads at it, and sendeth forth from the head thereof long reddish strings running vpon the ground, which shoot forth leaues in many places, whereby it is much encreased.

The white Strawberry differeth not from the red, but in the colour of the fruite, which is whiter then the former when it is thorough ripe, enclining to rednesse.

The greene Strawberry likewise differeth not, but that the fruit is green on all sides when it is ripe, saue on that side the Sun lyeth vpon it, and there it is somewhat red.

The Virginia Strawberry carryeth the greatest leafe of any other, except the Bohemian, but scarce can one Strawberry be seene ripe among a number of plants; I thinke the reason thereof to be the want of skill, or industry to order it aright. For the Bohemia, and all other Strawberries will not beare kindly, if you suffer them to grow with many strings, and therefore they are still cut away.

There is another very like vnto this, that Iohn Tradescante brought with him from Brussels long agoe, and in seuen yeares could neuer see one berry ripe on all sides, but still the better part rotten, although it would euery yeare flower abundantly, and beare very large leaues.

The Bohemia Strawberry hath beene with vs but of late dayes, but is the goodliest and greatest, both for leafe next to the Virginian, and for beauty farre surpassing all; for some of the berries haue beene measured to bee neere fiue inches about. Master Quester the Postmaster first brought them ouer into our Country, as I vnderstand, but I know no man so industrious in the carefull planting and bringing them to perfection in that plentifull maner, as Master Vincent Sion who dwelt on the Banck side, neer the old Paris garden staires, who from seuen rootes, as hee affirmed to me, in one yeare and a halfe, planted halfe an acree of ground with the increase from them, besides those he gaue away to his friends, and with him I haue seene such, and of that bignesse before mentioned.

One Strawberry more I promised to shew you, which although it be a wilde kinde, and of no vse for meate, yet I would not let this discourse passe, without giuing you the knowledge of it. It is in leafe much like vnto the ordinary, but differeth in that the flower, if it haue any, is greene, or rather it beareth a small head of greene leaues, many set thicke together like vnto a double ruffe, in the midst whereof standeth the fruit, which when it is ripe, sheweth to be soft and somewhat reddish, like vnto a Strawberry, but with many small harmlesse prickles on them, which may be eaten and chewed in the mouth without any maner of offence, and is somewhat pleasant like a Strawberry: it is no great bearer, but those it doth beare, are set at the toppes of the stalks close together, pleasant to behold, and fit for a Gentlewoman to weare on her arme, &c. as a raritie instead of a flower.

The Vse of Strawberries.

The leaues of Strawberries are alwaies vsed among other herbes
in cooling drinkes, as also in lotions, and gargles for the
mouth and throate: the rootes are sometimes added to make it
the more effectuall, and withall somwhat the more binding.

The berries themselues are often brought to the Table as a
reare seruice, whereunto claret wine, creame or milke is added
with sugar, as euery one liketh; as also at other times, both
with the better and meaner sort, and are a good cooling and
pleasant dish in the hot Summer season.

The water distilled of the berries, is good for the passions
of the heart, caused by the perturbation of the spirits, being
eyther drunke alone, or in wine; and maketh the heart merry.

Some doe hold that the water helpeth to clense the face from
spots, and to adde some cleerenesse to the skinne.

CHAP. LVII.

_Angelica._ Garden Angelica.

Hauing thus furnished you out a Kitchen Garden with all sorts of herbes, roots & fruits fit for it, and for any mans priuate vse, as I did at the first appropriate it; let me a little transcend, and for the profit & vse of Country Gentlewomen and others, furnish them with some few other herbes, of the most especiall vse for those shall need them, to be planted at hand in their Gardens, to spend as occasion shall serue, and first of Angelica.

Angelica hath great and long winged leaues, made of many broade greene ones, diuided one from another vpon the stalk, which is three foot long or better somtimes, among which rise vp great thicke and hollow stalkes with some few ioynts, whereat doth alwayes stand two long leaues compassing the stalke at the bottome, in some places at the ioynts spring out other stalkes or branches, bearing such like leaues but smaller, and at the tops very large vmbels of white flowers, that turne into whitish seede somewhat thicke: the roote groweth great with many branches at it, but quickly perisheth after it hath borne seede: to preserue the roote therefore the better, they vse to cut it often in the yeare, thereby to hinder the running vp to seede: the whole plant, both leafe, roote and seede, is of an excellent comfortable sent, sauour and taste.

The Vse of Angelica.

The distilled water of Angelica, eyther simple or compound, is
of especiall vse _in deliquium animi, vel cordis tremores &
passiones_, that is, swounings, when the spirits are ouercome
and faint, or tremblings and passions of the heart, to expell
any windy or noysome vapours from it. The green stalkes or the
young rootes being preserued or candied, are very effectuall to
comfort and warme a colde and weake stomacke: and in the time
of infection is of excellent good vse to preserue the spirits
and heart from infection. The dryed roote made into pouder,
and taken in wine or other drinke, will abate the rage of lust
in young persons, as I haue it related vnto me vpon credit:
A Syrupe made thereof in this manner, is very profitable to
expectorate flegme out of the chest and lunges, and to procure
a sweete breath. Into the greene stalke of Angelica as it
standeth growing, make a great gashe or incision, wherein put a
quantitie of fine white Sugar, letting it there abide for three
dayes, and after take it forth by cutting a hole at the next
ioynt vnder the cut, where the Syrupe resteth, or cut off the
stalke, and turne it downe, that the Syrrupe may drayne forth;
which keepe for a most delicate medicine.

CHAP. LVIII.

_Dracunculus hortensis siue Serpentaria._ Dragons.

Dragons riseth out of the ground with a bare or naked round whitish stalke, spotted very much with purplish spots and strakes, bearing at the toppe therof a few greene leaues very much diuided on all sides, standing vpon long foote-stalkes, in the middle whereof (if the roote be old enough) commeth forth a great long huske or hose, green on the outside, and of a darke purplish colour on the inside, with a slender long reddish pestell or clapper in the middle: the roote is great, round, flat and whitish on the outside, and whiter within, very like vnto the rootes of _Arum_, or Wakerobin, and tasting somewhat sharpe like it.

The Vse of Dragons.

The chiefe vse whereunto Dragons are applyed, is, that
according to an old receiued custome and tradition (and not the
iudgement of any learned Author) the distilled water is giuen
with Mithridatum or Treakle to expell noysome and pestilentiall
vapours from the heart.

CHAP. LIX.

_Ruta._ Garden Rue, or Herbe Grace.

Garden Rue or Herbe Grace groweth vp with hard whitish wooddy stalkes, whereon are set diuers branches of leaues, being diuided into many small ones, which are somewhat thicke and round pointed, of a blewish greene colour: the flowers stand at the tops of the stalkes consisting of foure small yellow leaues, with a greene button in the middle, and diuers small yellow threds about it, which growing ripe, containe within them small blacke seede: the roote is white and wooddy, spreading farre in the ground.

The Vse of Rue.

The many good properties whereunto Rue serueth, hath I thinke
in former times caused the English name of Herbe Grace to be
giuen vnto it. For without doubt it is a most wholesome herbe,
although bitter and strong, and could our dainty stomackes
brooke the vse thereof, it would worke admirable effects being
carefully and skilfully applyed, as time and occasion did
require: but not vndiscreetly or hand ouer head, as many vse to
doe that haue no skill. Some doe rippe vp a beade rowle of the
vertues of Rue, as Macer the Poet and others, in whom you shall
finde them set downe, to bee good for the head, eyes, breast,
liuer, heart, spleene, &c. In some places they vse to boyle the
leaues of Rue, and keep them in pickle, to eate them as Sampire
for the helpe of weake eyes. It is very auaileable in glisters
or drinkes against the winde or the collicke, and to procure
vrine that is stayed by the paines therof. The distilled water
is often vsed for the same purposes aforesaid: but beware of
the too frequent or ouermuch vse thereof, because it heateth
exceedingly, and wasteth nature mightily.

CHAP. LX.

_Carduus Benedictus._ The Blessed Thistle.

Carduus benedictus or the blessed Thistle, hath many weake tender branches lying for the most part on the ground, whereon are set long and narrow leaues, much cut in or waued about the edges, hairy or rough in handling, yet without any hard or sharpe thornes or prickles at all, that the tenderest hand may touch them without harme: but those that grow toward the toppes of the stalkes are somewhat more prickly, and the heads which grow on the tops of the seuerall branches are somewhat sharpe, set with prickles like a Thistle: the flower is yellow, and the seede lying within the woolly or flocky doune like to all other thistles, are blackish, long and round, with a few haires on the head of them: the roote is white, and perisheth euery yeare after it hath giuen seede.

The Vse of the blessed Thistle.

The distilled water hereof is much vsed to be drunke against
agues of all sortes, eyther pestilentiall or humorall, of long
continuance or of lesse: but the deception of the herbe giuen
in due time, hath the more forcible operation: it helpeth to
expell wormes, because of the bitternesse, and is thereby also
a friend to the stomack ouercharged with chollar, and to clense
the liuer: it prouoketh sweate and vrine, is helpefull to them
are troubled with the stone, and to ease paines in the sides.

1 _Angellica._ Angellica.
2 _Dracunculus hortensis._ Dragons.
3 _Ruta hortensis._ Garden Rue, or Herbegrace.
4 _Carduus benedictus._ The blessed Thistle.
5 _Alkakengi siue Solanum Halicacabum & Vesicarium._ Winter Cherries.
6 _Asarum._ Asarabacca
7 _Liqueritia._ Licoris.
]

CHAP. LXI.

_Solarium vesicarium, siue Alkakengi._ Winter Cherries.

The Winter Cherry hath a running or creeping roote in the ground, of the bignesse many times of ones little finger, shooting forth at seuerall ioynts in seuerall places, whereby it quickly spreadeth a great compasse of ground: the stalke riseth not aboue a yard high, whereon are set many broade and long greene leaues, somewhat like vnto the leaues of Nightshade, but larger: at the ioynts whereof come forth whitish flowers made of fiue leaues a peece, which after turne into green berries, inclosed with thin skins or bladders, which change to bee reddish when they grow ripe, the berry likewise being reddish, and as large as a Cherry, wherein are contained many flat and yellowish seed lying within the pulpe: which being gathered and strung vp, are kept all the yeare to be vsed vpon occasion.

The Vse of Winter Cherries.

The distilled water of the herbe and fruit together, is
often taken of them that are troubled with the sharpnesse or
difficultie of vrine, and with the stone in the kidneyes, or
grauel in the bladder: but the berries themselues either greene
or dryed boyled eyther in broth, in wine, or in water, is much
more effectuall: It is likewise conducing to open obstructions
of the liuer, &c. and thereby to helpe the yellow Iaundise.

CHAP. LXII.

_Asarum._ Asarabacca.

Asarabacca, from a small creeping roote set with many fibres, shooteth forth diuers heads, and from euery of them sundry leaues, euery one standing vpon a long greene stalke, which are round, thicke, and of a very sad or darke greene colour, and shining withall: from the rootes likewise spring vp short stalkes, not fully foure fingers high, at the toppe of euery one of which standeth the flower, in fashion very like the seede vessell of Henbane seede, of a greenish purple colour, which changeth not his forme, but groweth in time to containe therein small cornered seed: the greene leaues abide all the winter many times, but vsually sheddeth them in winter, and recouereth fresh in the spring.

The Vse of Asarabacca.

The leaues are much and often vsed to procure vomits, fiue or
seuen of them bruised, and the iuice of them drunke in ale or
wine. An extract made of the leaues with wine artificially
performed, might bee kept all the yeare thorough, to bee vsed
vpon any present occasion, the quantitie to bee proportioned
according to the constitution of the patient. The roote worketh
not so strongly by vomit, as the leaues, yet is often vsed for
the same purpose, and besides is held auaileable to prouoke
vrine, to open obstructions in the liuer and spleene, and is
put among diuers other simples, both into Mithridatum and
Andromachus Treakle, which is vsually called Venice Treakle. A
dram of the dryed roots in pouder giuen in white wine a little
before the fit of an ague, taketh away the shaking fit, &
therby cause the hot fit to be the more remisse, and in twice
taking expell it quite.

CHAP. LXIII.

_Glycyrrhiza siue Liqueritia._ Licorice.

Although there are two sorts of Licorice set downe by diuers Authors, yet because this Land familiarly is acquainted but with one sort, I shall not neede for this Garden, to make any further relation of that is vnknowne, but onely of that sort which is sufficiently frequent with vs. It riseth vp with diuers wooddy stalks, whereon are set at seuerall distances many winged leaues, that is to say, many narrow long greene leaues set together on both sides of the stalke, and an odde one at the end, very well resembling a young Ashe tree sprung vp from the seede: this by many yeares continuance in a place without remouing, and not else, will bring forth flowers many standing together spike-fashion one aboue another vpon the stalkes, of the forme of Pease blossomes, but of a very pale or bleake blew colour, which turne into long somewhat flat and smooth cods, wherein is contained small round harde seede: the roote runneth downe exceeding deep into the ground, with diuers other smaller roots and fibres growing with them, and shoote out suckers from the maine rootes all about, whereby it is much encreased, of a brownish colour on the outside, and yellow within, of a farre more weake sweete taste, yet far more pleasing to vs then that Licorice that is brought vs from beyond Sea; because that, being of a stronger sweet taste hath a bitternesse ioyned with it, which maketh it the lesse pleasing and acceptable to most.

The Vse of Licorice.

Our English Licorice is now adaies of more familiar vse (as I
said before) then the outlandish, and is wholly spent and vsed
to helpe to digest and expectorate flegme out of the chest and
lunges, and doth allay the sharpenesse or saltnesse thereof.
It is good also for those are troubled with shortnesse of
breath, and for all sorts of coughes. The iuice of Licorice
artificially made with Hyssope water, serueth very well for all
the purposes aforesaid. It being dissolued with Gum Tragacanth
in Rose water, is an excellent Lohoc or licking medicine to
breake flegme, and to expectorate it, as also to avoyde thin
frothy matter, or thin salt flegme, which often fretteth the
lungs. It doth also lenisie exulcerated kidneyes, or the
bladder, and helpeth to heale them. It is held also good for
those that cannot make their water but by drops, or a small
deale at a time.

The dryed root finely minced, is a speciall ingredient into all
Trageas or Dredges, seruing for the purposes aforesaid, but the
vse of them is almost wholly left now adaies with all sorts.

Thus haue I shewed you not only the herbes, rootes and fruites, noursed vp in this Garden, but such herbes as are of most necessary vses for the Country Gentlewomens houses: And now I will shew you the Orchard also.

THE ORDERING OF THE ORCHARD.

The third part, or ORCHARD.

CHAP. I.

_The situation of an Orchard for fruit-bearing trees, and how to amend the defects of many grounds._

As I haue done in the two former parts of this Treatise, so I meane to proceede in this; first to set downe the situation of an Orchard, and then other things in order: And first, I hold that an Orchard which is, or should bee of some reasonable large extent, should be so placed, that the house should haue the Garden of flowers iust before it open vpon the South, and the Kitchen Garden on the one side thereof, should also haue the Orchard on the other side of the Garden of Pleasure, for many good reasons: First, for that the fruit trees being grown great and tall, will be a great shelter from the North and East windes, which may offend your chiefest Garden, and although that your Orchard stand a little bleake vpon the windes, yet trees rather endure these strong bitter blasts, then other smaller and more tender shrubs and herbes can doe. Secondly, if your Orchard should stand behinde your Garden of flowers more Southward, it would shadow too much of the Garden, and besides, would so binde in the North and East, and North and West windes vpon the Garden, that it would spoile many tender things therein, and so much abate the edge of your pleasure thereof, that you would willingly wish to haue no Orchard, rather then that it should so much annoy you by the so ill standing thereof. Thirdly, the falling leaues being still blowne with the winde so aboundantly into the garden, would either spoile many things, or haue one daily and continuall attending thereon, to cleanse and sweepe them away. Or else to auoide these great inconueniences, appoint out an Orchard the farther off, and set a greater distance of ground betweene. For the ground or soile of the Orchard, what I haue spoken concerning the former Garden for the bettering of the seuerall grounds, may very well serue and be applyed to this purpose. But obserue this, that, whereas your Gardens before spoken of may be turned vp, manured, and bettered with soile if they growe out of heart, your Orchard is not so easily done, but must abide many yeares without altering; and therefore if the ground be barren, or not good, it had the more neede to bee amended, or wholly made good, before you make an Orchard of it; yet some there be that doe appoint, that where euery tree should bee set, you onely digge that place to make it good: but you must know, that the rootes of trees runne further after a little times standing, then the first compasse they are set in; and therefore a little compasse of ground can maintaine them but a little while, and that when the rootes are runne beyond that small compasse wherein they were first set, and that they are come to the barren or bad ground, they can thriue no better then if they had beene set in that ground at the first, and if you should afterwards digge beyond that compasse, intending to make the ground better further off, you should much hurt the spreading rootes, and put your trees in danger: the situation of hils in many places is grauelly or chalky, which is not good for trees, because they are both too stonie, and lacke mellow earth, wherein a tree doth most ioy and prosper, and want moisture also (which is the life of all trees) because of the quicke descent of raine to the lower grounds: and besides all these inconueniences there is one more; your trees planted either on hils or hill sides, are more subiect to the fury and force of windes to be ouerturned, then those that growe in the lower grounds; for the strongest and most forcible windes come not vsually out of the North East parts, where you prouide best defence, but from the South and West, whence you looke for the best comfort of the Sunne. To helpe therefore manie of the inconueniences of the hils sides, it were fit to cause manie leauels to bee made thereon, by raising the lower grounds with good earth, and sustaining them with bricke or stone wals, which although chargeable, will counteruaile your cost, beside the pleasure of the walkes, and prospect of so worthy a worke. The plaine or leuell grounds as they are the most frequent, so they are the most commendable for an Orchard, because the moulds or earths are more rich, or may better and sooner be made so; and therefore the profits are the more may be raised from them. A stiffe clay doth nourish trees well, by reason it containeth moisture; but in regard of the coldnesse thereof, it killeth for the most part all tender and early things therein: sea-cole ashes therefore, bucke ashes, streete soyle, chaulke after it hath lyen abroad and been broken with many yeares frosts and raine, and sheepes dung, are the most proper and fittest manure to helpe this kinde of soyle. The dry sandy soile, and grauelly ground are on the contrary side as bad, by reason of too much heate and lacke of moisture: the dung of kine or cattell in good quantity bestowed thereon, will much helpe them. The amending or bettering of other sorts of grounds is set down toward the end of the first Chapter of the first part of this worke, wherevnto I will referre you, not willing to repeate againe the same things there set downe. The best way to auoide and amend the inconueniences of high, boisterous, and cold windes, is to plant Walnut trees, Elmes, Oakes or Ashes, a good distance without the compasse of your Orchard, which after they are growne great, will bee a great safeguard thereunto, by breaking the violence of the windes from it. And if the soyle of your Orchard want moisture, the conueying of the sinke of the house, as also any other draine of water thereinto, if it may be, will much helpe it.

CHAP. II.

_The forme of an Orchard, both ordinary, and of more grace and rarity._

According to the situation of mens grounds, so must the plantation of them of necessitie be also; and if the ground be in forme, you shall haue a formall Orchard: if otherwise, it can haue little grace or forme. And indeed in the elder ages there was small care or heede taken for the formality; for euery tree for the most part was planted without order, euen where the master or keeper found a vacant place to plant them in, so that oftentimes the ill placing of trees without sufficient space betweene them, and negligence in not looking to vphold them, procured more waste and spoile of fruit, then any accident of winde or weather could doe. Orchards in most places haue not bricke or stone wals to secure them, because the extent thereof being larger then of a Garden, would require more cost, which euery one cannot vndergoe; and therefore mud wals, or at the best a quicke set hedge, is the ordinary and most vsuall defence it findeth almost in all places: but with those that are of ability to compasse it with bricke or stone wals, the gaining of ground, and profit of the fruit trees planted there against, will in short time recompense that charge. If you make a doubt how to be sure that your Orchard wall shall haue sufficient comfort of the Sunne to ripen the fruits, in regard the trees in the Orchard being so nigh thereunto, and so high withall, will so much shadow the wall, that nothing will ripen well, because it will want the comfort of the Sunne: you may follow this rule and aduice, to remedy those inconueniences. Hauing an Orchard containing one acre of ground, two, three, or more, or lesse, walled about, you may so order it, by leauing a broad and large walke betweene the wall and it, containing twenty or twenty foure foote (or yards if you will) that the wall shall not be hindered of the Sun, but haue sufficient comfort for your trees, notwithstanding the height of them, the distance betweene them and the wall being a sufficient space for their shadow to fall into: and by compassing your Orchard on the inside with a hedge (wherein may bee planted all sorts of low shrubs or bushes, as Roses, Cornellian, Cherry trees plashed lowe, Gooseberries, Curran trees, or the like) you may enclose your walke, and keepe both it and your Orchard in better forme and manner, then if it lay open. For the placing of your trees in this Orchard, first for the wals: Those sides that lye open to the South & Southwest Sunne, are fittest to bee planted with your tenderest and earliest fruits, as Apricockes, Peaches, Nectarius, and May or early Cherries: the East, North and West, for Plums and Quinces, as you shall like best to place them. And for the Orchard it selfe, the ordinary manner is to place them without regard of measure or difference, as Peares among Apples, and Plums among Cherries promiscuously; but some keepe both a distance and a diuision for euery sort, without intermingling: yet the most gracefull Orchard containeth them all, with some others, so as they be placed that one doe not hinder or spoile another; and therefore to describe you the modell of an Orchard, both rare for comelinesse in the proportion, and pleasing for the profitablenesse in the vse, and also durable for continuance, regard this figure is here placed for your direction, where you must obserue, that your trees are here set in such an equall distance one from another euery way, & as is fittest for them, that when they are grown great, the greater branches shall not gall or rubbe one against another; for which purpose twenty or sixteene foot is the least to be allowed for the distance euery way of your trees, & being set in rowes euery one in the middle distance, will be the most gracefull for the plantation, and besides, giue you way sufficient to passe through them, to pruine, loppe, or dresse them, as need shall require, and may also bee brought (if you please) to that gracefull delight, that euery alley or distance may be formed like an arch, the branches of either side meeting to be enterlaced together. Now for the seuerall sorts of fruit trees that you shall place in this modell, your best direction is to set Damsons, Bulleis, and your taler growing Plums on the outside, and your lower Plums, Cherries, and Apples on the inside, hauing regard, that you place no Peare tree to the Sunward, or any other tree, lest it ouershadow them: Let your Peare trees therefore be placed behinde, or on the one side of your lower trees, that they may be as it were a shelter or defence on the North & East side. Thus may you also plant Apples among Plums and Cherries, so as you suffer not one to ouer-growe or ouer-toppe another; for by pruning, lopping, and shredding those that growe too fast for their fellowes, you may still keepe your trees in such a conformity, as may be both most comely for the sight, and most profitable for the yeelding of greater and better store of fruit. Other sorts of fruit trees you may mixe among these, if you please, as Filberds, Cornellian Cherries in standerds, and Medlers: but Seruice trees, Baye trees, and others of that high sort, must be set to guard the rest. Thus haue I giuen you the fairest forme could as yet be deuised; and from this patterne, if you doe not follow it precisely, yet by it you may proportion your Orchard, be it large or little, be it walled or hedged.

CHAP. III.

_Of a noursery for trees, both from sowing the kernels, and planting fit stockes to graft vpon._