Chapter II: Part 2

Then _Onions_, which differ not much from the nature of Léekes, they loue a fertile Soyle, and would be sowne with the séeds of Sauory: when they come vp if they grow too thicke, as is often séene, you shall plucke vp some and spend them in the Pot and in Sallets, to giue the rest more roome, and some you shall take vp and replant in other beds, which you may preserue for séede: those _Onions_ which you would not haue to séede, you shall cut off the blades in the midst, that the iuyce may descend downeward, and when you sée the heads of the _Onions_ appearing aboue the earth, you shall with your féet tread them into the ground: there be some very well experienst Husbands, which will take the fayrest, goodliest and soundest Onions they can get, and in this moneth of March set them thrée fingers déepe in the earth, and these of all other bring forth the purest and best séede, for which purpose onely they are preserued: as soone as your séed-Onions are knotted, you shall vnderproppe them with square cradles, made of stickes, least the waight of the boules which carry the séede, should breake the blades.

[Sidenote: Of gathering Onion-seede, or the Onion.]

The time of gathering your séede is, when it is all turned purely blacke, and the time of gathering the Onions is, when the heads doe forsake the earth, after they be gathered you shall lay them on a dry floore for a fortnight, or more, and then binde them vp in ropes, and hang them where they may haue the ayre of the fire, onely note that shall gather your Onions in the increase of the Moone, as they were sowne, and not otherwise.

Many other Pot-hearbs there be, which for as much as they differ nothing, eyther in sowing, planting, or ordering, from these which I haue rehearsed, I will héere omit them, and thinke this sufficient, touching the sowing and ordering of all manner of Pot-hearbs.

CHAP. IIII.

_Of the sowing of certaine Hearbs, which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinall, yet euer in the Husbandmans Garden._

[Sidenote: Of Arage.]

Of Hearbes which are medicinall, I will begin with _Arage_ or _Orache_, which being colde and moyst is very excellent against the hot Gout: it is to be sowne in any moneth, from February till December: it loueth much moisture, and therefore must be oft watered: it must be sowne excéeding thinne, and quickly couered, for the ayre is offensiue.

[Sidenote: Of Lumbardy Loueage.]

Next it is _Lumbardy_, _Loueage_, which being hot and dry, is very purgatiue, it desireth a very fruitfull ground, but if it be sowne where it may haue much shadow and some shelter accompanied with moysture, it will grow in any ground, the moneths for sowing thereof, is, from the midst of February till Haruest.

[Sidenote: Of Fennell.]

_Fennell_ is also hot and dry, and it comforteth the stomacke, openeth the inward vessels, and helpeth disgestion; it may be sowne in any moneth, and vpon any indifferent ground, especially if it be a little stony, the séede would not be very old, though of all other it be the longest laster.

[Sidenote: Of Anise.]

_Anise_ is hot and dry, it dissolueth humors and obstructions, and is very comfortable to weake stomacks, it delighteth in a good and loose mould, and is to be sowne in the height of the Spring onely.

[Sidenote: Of Comin.]

_Comin_ is of the nature of _Anise_ and _Fennell_, and mixt with either, is very soueraine against all inward sicknesses procéeding from cold, it loueth a fruitfull rich earth & much warmth, and therfore the later it is sowne in the Spring, it is so much the better, and aboue all things it would be sowne in the hottest time of the day, & if it be mixed with other séeds, it is so much the better, and appeareth the sooner.

[Sidenote: Of Coliander.]

_Coliander_ is of the nature of the earth, cold & dry, it helps disgestion, & suppresseth vapours which offend the braine, it may be sowne vpon any indifferent ground, & in any month except December and Ianuary, the elder the séedes are the better so they be sound, and they desire much watering.

[Sidenote: Of Rue.]

_Rue_ or _Hearb-grace_ is hot and dry, & is very soueraigne against all inward infection, putrifactions, and impostumations, it ioyeth in any reasonable ground so it grow warme and dry, the moneths fittest for the sowing thereof, is March, Aprill or May, and the mould would be firme and not subiect to ryuing, whence it procéedes that no meanure is so good for the encrease thereof as horse-dung and ashes mixt together: the beds would be made high & discending, that no moysture may stay thereon, they must be carefully wéeded, for in their first growth otherwise they are soone choaked.

[Sidenote: Of Organie.]

_Organie_ is hot and dry, and excellent against any sicknesse of the liuer, the ground in which it most ioyeth would be a little stonie, and full of rubbish, yet by no meanes vndunged, the moneth fittest for the sowing thereof is March and September, the Moone being in _Libra_ or any other moist signe, it must be continually watred till it appears aboue the earth, but after forborne, for being once well bred, it is euer certaine.

[Sidenote: Of white Poppy.]

White _Poppy_ is cold and moyst, and much prouoketh sléepe: it delights to be sowne in a rich, warme, dry ground, in the moneths of March, September or Nouember.

[Sidenote: Of Germander.]

_Germander_ is hot and dry, and excellent against the Kings euill; obstructions of the Spléene and hardnesse of Vrine; it is a hard hearbe, and will prosper in any ground, it is to be sowne, either in the spring or fall of the leafe, and is most comly for the setting forth of knots in Gardens.

[Sidenote: Of Cardus Benedictus.]

_Cardus Benedictus_, or the blessed Thistell, is hot and dry, it is very soueraine against most inward sicknesses, stancheth blood, and is a great comforter of the braine, it delighteth in a rich ground and a loose well tempered mould, it must be sowne very shallow, and not couered aboue two inches déepe, the first quarter of the Moone is best to sowe it in, and in the moneths of March, May or September, if you sowe a little fine flaxen Wheat with it, no doubt but it will prosper the better.

[Sidenote: Of Angellica.]

_Angellica_ is hot and dry, it openeth and dissolueth obstructions, is an excellent cordiall against poyson, and all infections, it helpeth the collicke, and cureth the biting of madde dogges or venemous beasts, it loueth a fruitfull dry mould, but may not indure the trouble of wéedes, it is to be sowne in March or Aprill, & it flourisheth in Iuly & August, it hath a swéet odour, and helpeth all euill & infected ayres.

[Sidenote: Of Valerian.]

_Valerian_ is hot & dry and preuenteth infection, it helpeth stitches and other griefes procéeding from windy causes, it loueth to grow in moist and low places, the ground being well meanured, and till it be shot at least a handfull high, it must be kept with continuall watring, the moystest time of the yéere is the best to sowe it in.

[Sidenote: Of Elecampana.]

_Elecampana_, is hot and moyst, and good for offences in the lungs, or any outward ioynt, being troubled with paine procéeding from colde: it is better much to be set then sowne, yet notwithstanding it may safely enough be sowne at any time after mid-March, the ground being rich, soft, and loose, and the séede strowed very thinne, and at least two fingers distance one from another.

[Sidenote: Of Pepperwort.]

_Pepperwort_ is hot and drye, yet of the two much more hot, it is good against all kinde of aches, and other paine in the ioynts, or sinewes: it delighteth in a rich blacke Soyle, fat and loose: it would be sowne in February, and remoued in September.

[Sidenote: Of Philipendula.]

_Philipendula_ is very hot and dry, and is good against abortiue births, Stone, Strangury, or any griefe procéeding from colde causes: it may be sowne in any barraine, stony, or grauelly Soyle, in the months of May, Aprill, or September: it neither desireth much wéeding, nor much watering, but being once committed to the ground appeareth sodainely: and thus much of those Hearbes which are fit for Medicine, of which though there be many others, yet they differ not in their ordering from these already declared.

CHAP. V.

_Of diuers sorts of Sallet-Hearbes, their manner of sowing and ordering._

[Sidenote: Of Lettuce.]

Amongst the many numbers of Sallet-Hearbes I thinke it not amisse to beginne first with _Lettuce_, which of all other whose vertue is helde in the leafe, is most delicate, tender, and pleasant: the ground then in which it most delighteth, is that which is most fertile, best laboured, and of the finest mould, being soft, loose, and more enclining to moysture then drinesse: it may be sowne in any moneth of the yeare, from February to Nouember; it is very quick of growth, and will appeare aboue the earth in foure dayes after the sowing: it would at first be sowne thicke, and carefully kept with morning and euening watrings, if the season be dry, but not otherwise: after it is growne and faire spread aboue the earth, which will be in a moneths space or there-abouts, you shall chuse out the fairest and goodliest plants, and taking them vp with the earth and all, about their rootes, replant or remoue them to a new bed of fresh mould, and there set them a foote distance one from another, and fixe their rootes fast and hard into the ground: then couer or presse them downe with Tyle or Slate stones, to make them spread and not spring vpward, by which meanes the leaues will gather together, and cabbadge, in a thicke and good order, for it is to be vnderstood, that the oftner you remoue your _Lettuce_, the fairer and closer they wil cabbage. There be diuers which obserue to remoue _Lettuce_ as soone as sixe leaues are sprung aboue the ground; but I like better to remoue them when they begin to spindle: they are most estéemed in the moneths of Aprill, May, and Iune, for in Iuly they are supposed to carrie in them a poysonous substance.

[Sidenote: Of Spynage.]

Next the _Lettuce_ I preferre the hearbe _Spynage_, which delighteth in a well-dunged earth, and may be sowne in Aprill, March, September, or October: it would not be mixed with other séedes, because it prospereth best alone.

[Sidenote: Of Sparagus.]

_Sparagus_ ioyeth in a fertill moist ground, the mould being made light which couers it, and the ground well dunged, the Spring is the best time to sowe it, and it must be sowne in long furrowes or trenches made with your finger, and not vniuersally spread ouer the bed as other séeds are: it loueth moysture, but may not endure the wet to lye long vpon it, and therefore the beds would a little descend it: must not be remoued till the rootes be so feltred together, that they hinder the new branches from springing vp, which commonly is two yeares.

[Sidenote: Of Colworts.]

_Colworts_ or _Cabbadge_ séede delighteth in any well husbanded ground, and may be sowen in all sorts and seasons as _Lettuce_ is, and must also in the like manner be remoued, after the principall leaues are come forth, which will make them to gather together, and cabbadge the better: and as they may be sowen in any season of the yeare, so likewise they may be remoued at all seasons likewise, except the frost or other vnseasonable weather hinder you: and although some men will not allow it to be sowen in clay grounds, grauell, chalke, or sand, yet they are deceiued; for if the earth be well ordred, they will grow plentifully, onely you must obserue when you remoue them to let them haue earth roome enough.

[Sidenote: Of Sage.]

_Sage_ is in Gardens most common, because it is most wholesome, and though it may be better set from the slip then sowen in the séede, yet both will prosper, it loueth any well drest ground, and may be sowen either in February, March, September, or October: it loueth also to grow thick and close together, and will of it selfe ouercome most wéedes: it asketh not much dung, neither too great care in watring, onely it would be oft searched, for Toades and other venemous things will delight to lye vnder it, the more Sunne and ayre it hath, the better it is.

[Sidenote: Of Purslane.]

_Purslane_ is a most excellent Sallet-hearbe, and loueth a fertile soile, and though it may be sowen almost in any moneth, yet the warmest is the best, as Aprill, May, Iune, or Septemb. Buck ashes are an excellent meanure for them, and for most Sallet-hearbs else, but aboue all they loue dry dust and house-swéepings, they are apt to shed their séede, whence it comes that a ground once possest of them will seldome want them, they may also be remoued, and will prosper much the better.

[Sidenote: Of Artichokes.]

_Artychokes_ loue a fat earth, and may be sowen in February or March, the Moone encreasing, the séedes must not be sowen together, but set one by one a good distance asunder; they must lye somewhat déepe, and be firmely couered; yet if you can procure them, I rather wish you rather to set them from Slips or young Plants, then sowe them from the séedes, for they doe so naturally loue the earth, that you can hardly slip so wast a leafe from an _Artychoke_ as will not take roote; if you sowe the séede, you must be carefull to wéede and water them well, for the first leaues are very tender: also if you remoue them after their first springing, the fruit will be bigger and better.

[Sidenote: Of Garlicke.]

_Garlicke_ is best in September and Nouember, to be set from the cloue, in & about the borders of beds, or other séedes, halfe a foote one from another, and in February, March, and Aprill, to be sowen from the séede: it must be ordered as you order _Onyon_ séede, it loues not much wet nor extreame drought, onely it desires a good mould which is rich and firme, yet not too much dunged.

[Sidenote: Of Raddish.]

_Raddish_ loueth a fertile ground, that is well dunged, chiefly with mans ordure, that is déepe trencht, and hath an easie and light mould, and the séedes would be placed either in rowes, or about the borders of beds, as you doe _Garlicke_: the manner of sowing it is with a dibble or round sticke, to make a hole into the ground almost a foote déepe, and then into that hole to put not aboue two séedes at the most, and then close the hole vp againe, and let the holes be foure fingers one from another, it may be sowen in most months of the yéere if the frost hinder not, and to make the roote large & tender, and to kéepe the branch from séeding; you shall as it springs crop off the principall leaues which grow against the heart of the root: to tread them downe into the earth after they haue fast roote is good also.

[Sidenote: Of Nauew.]

_Nauew_, if the earth haue any small goodnesse in it will grow plentifully, neither is offended with any ayre, onely the mould would be loose and rough, for otherwise it many times turneth to Rape: the séede naturally commeth vp very thicke, therefore it is expedient to remoue them and plant them thinner, for that best preserueth their natures, they may be sowne in February, March, Aprill, September, or October.

[Sidenote: Of Parsneps and Carrets.]

_Parsneps_ or _Carrets_ are of one and the selfe nature, they delight in a good fat earth, and would be sowne reasonably thicke, in long déepe trenches like furrowes, hauing a gentle and easie mould either in the moneth of Ianuary, February, or March, or in September, October, or December, they must be carefully well wéeded, and if the earth be fat, they néede not much watring or other attendance.

[Sidenote: Of Pompyons.]

_Pompyons_, _Gourds_, or _Mellons_, desire a very good ground, or by Nature or Art, the séedes must be sowne very thinne, as at least halfe a foote one from another, they would lye reasonably déepe, yet the mould very gentle which couers them, they are subiect to spread and runne ouer much ground, therefore as they grow you must direct their stemmes so as they may not annoy one another, and when they flower you shall lay broad Tiles or Slate stones vnder them, that the fruit nor flower may not touch the earth; if you plash them vp against trées or walles where they may haue the reflection of the Sunne, the fruit will be larger, pleasanter, and sooner ripe: they néede no wéeding nor watring after you sée them appeare aboue the earth, and the best seasons to sowe them in, is February, March, or Aprill, those are the best _Pompyons_ which haue the smallest séedes, and are of the most yellowest complexion.

[Sidenote: Of the Cowcumber.]

_Cowcumber_, is a delicate, pleasant, yet very tender fruit, and delighteth in an extraordinarie fat earth, especially during the opening or sprouting of the séede, therefore the best and most vndoubted safest way for sowing them is, first in some corner of your Kitchin garden to make a bed of two or thrée yards square of olde Oxe dung, and Horse dung mixt together, and at least a yard or better high from the earth, then couer this bed of dung with the richest garden mould you haue, better then halfe a foote thicke: then thereon place your séedes halfe a foote likewise one from another, and be most sure that your séedes be hard and sound (for any softnesse in them sheweth rottennesse) then couer them foure fingers thicke with the like mould: then within seauen or eight dayes, after you shall sée them appeare aboue the earth, but in any wise let them continue still till the principall leaues be come forth, and they begin to créepe out in length, then with your hand griping the whole plant, take it vp by the rootes with the earth and all, and plant it in a bed new digged & trimmed for the purpose with a rich loose mould, and so replant and remoue each roote seuerally one after another, and they will grow and bring forth in great plenty. Now by the way you must obserue, that as soone as you haue sowne your séedes you shall prouide a Mat, Canuasse, or other couering, which being placed vpon stakes ouer the dung bed, shall euery night after Sunne-set be spread ouer the same, and not taken away till the Sunne be risen in the morning, for this will defend the séedes from frosts and other cold dewes which are very dangerous. Now if any demand why these séedes are thus sowne first on the bed of dung, they shall vnderstand that besides the warmth and fertility thereof, that the séedes are so pleasant and tender, that wormes and other créeping things in the earth will destroy them before they can sprout, which this bed of dung preuenteth. The months most fit for sowing these séedes, are Aprill, May and Iune onely, for other are much too colde, and in this manner you may sowe any tender séede whatsoeuer.

[Sidenote: Of the Beane of Egipt.]

_Beanes_ of _Egipt_ delight in a moyst watrish ground, rather fertile then any way giuen to barrainnesse, yet will plentifully enough prosper in any indifferent earth: they are rather to set then sowe, because they must take strong roote, and be fixed somewhat déepe into the earth, and the moneth which is most proper for them, is the latter end of Ianuary, all February and the beginning of March onely.

[Sidenote: Of Skerrets.]

_Skerrets_ are a delicate roote, white, tender, and pleasant, little differing in tast or excellencie from the _Eringo_. They delight in a rich mould, moyst and well broken, and must be set déepe in the earth: after they be a finger length aboue the ground they would be remoued, and planted in a fresh mould, which will preserue them from spéedie séeding, for when they runne to séede, they loose the vertue of their roote. The moneths fittest for the sowing of them is March, Aprill, and May, and if you desire to haue them all Winter, you may then sowe them in September and October. And thus much for Sallet-hearbs, and rootes of all natures, of which kindes though there be diuers other, yet you shall vnderstand, all are to be ordered in the manner of these before rehearsed, that is to say, such as haue their vertues in the stalke or leaues, like _Spynage_, _Sparagus_, _Purslayn_, and such like, those which cabbadge or knit together in hard lumps, like _Lettuce_, _Colworts_, and such like, and those whose goodnesse liues in their rootes, like _Raddish_, _Carrets_, _Skerrets_, and such like.

[Sidenote: A most necessary obseruation.]

Now for a most necessarie obseruation, euery Gardner ought to beare this rule in his memorie, that all Pot-hearbs must be sowne thicke, and but thinly couered, as namely not aboue thrée fingers: all hearbs which cabbadge must be sowne thicke, and déeper couered, as a full handfull at least, and in their remouing planted thinne, and well fixt into the earth: and all rootes must be sowen thinne and déepe, as almost a foote either let into the ground, or strewed in déepe furrowes, digged and laide vp for the purpose, in which the quantity of your séede must onely direct you: for if you haue occasion to sow hardly a handfull, then you may set them one by one into the ground at your leasure, but if you haue occasion to sowe many Pecks or halfe Pecks, then you shall turne vp your earth into déepe furrowes, and in the bottome thereof scatter your séeds, and after rake it into a leuell, and you shall not onely saue much labour, but gaine your purpose.

CHAP. VI.

_Of Flowers of all sorts both forraigne and home-bred, their sowing, planting, and preseruing._

Hauing written sufficiently of Pot-hearbs and Sallet-hearbs, which are the ornaments of the Husbandmans Kitchin or Table, I will here speake of flowers, which either for their smels, beauties, or both, are the graces of his Chamber. And first, because my maine ayme and scope is English Husbandrie, I will begin with those flowers which are most proper and naturall for our climate, of which because I holde _Roses_ both for their smell, beauties, and wholesomnesse to excéede all other, I thinke it not amisse to giue them the first place and precedencie before all other.

[Sidenote: Of Roses.]

You shall vnderstand then that _Roses_ are generally and aunciently but of thrée kindes, the Damaske, the red, and the white, and what are different from these are but deriuations from them, being by grafting, replanting, and phisicking, somewhat altered either in colour, smell, or doublenesse of leafe.

[Sidenote: Of the Damaske Rose.]

To speake then first of the Damaske _Rose_, it is fit that all husbandmen know, that _Roses_ may as well be sowne from the séede, as planted from the roote, Syen, or branch onely, they are the slower in comming vp, more tender to nourish, and much longer in yéelding forth their flowers, yet for satisfaction sake and where necessitie vrgeth, if of force or pleasure you must sowe it from the séede, you shall chuse a ruffish earth loose and well dunged, and you shall cast vp your beds high and narrow: the moneth which is fit for their sowing is September, and they must be couered not aboue four fingers déepe, they must be defended well all the Winter from frosts and stormes, and then they will beare their flowers plentifully all the next Spring following: yet this is to be noted, that all _Roses_ which rise from the séede simply, their flowers will be single like the _Eglantine_, or _Cyphanie_, therefore after your plants are two yéeres olde, you must graft one into another, as you doe other fruit, and that will make them double and thicke: also you must remember that those yellow small séedes which are in the midst of the _Rose_, are not true _Rose_ séedes, but those which lye hid in the round peare knob vnder the _Rose_, which as soone as the leaues are fallen away, will open and shew the séede. And thus much touching the sowing of all sorts of _Roses_, which is for experience and knowledge sake onely, for indéede the true vse and property of the _Rose_ is to be planted in short slips about fourtéene inches long, and the small tassels of the roote cut away, they would be set halfe a foote into the ground, in the same manner as you set ordinary Quick-set, and of like thicknesse, rather a little slope-wise then vpright: and though some thinke March the best season, yet doubtlesse September is much better for hauing the roote confirmed all the Winter, they will beare the sooner and better all the Sommer following; you must be carefull to plant them in faire weather, and as néere as you can vnder shelter as by the sides of walls, and such like couert where the Sunne may reflect against them, and if they be planted on open beds or borders, then you must with Poales and other necessaries support them and hold them vp, least the winde shake their rootes and hinder their growing.

[Sidenote: Of the red Rose.]

The red _Rose_ is not fully so tender as the Damaske, neither is it so pleasant in smell, nor doubleth his leaues so often; yet it is much more Phisicall, and oftner vsed in medicine, it is likewise fitter to be planted then sowen, and the earth in which it most ioyeth would be a little rough or grauelly, and the best compasse you can lay vnto it, is rubbish or the sweeping of houses, the moneths to sowe or plant it in is March or September, & the time to prune and cut away the superfluous branches is euer the midst of October.

[Sidenote: Of the white Rose.]

The white _Rose_ is of lesse smell then the red, and will grow in a harder ground, his vse is altogether in Phisicke as for sore eyes and such like: it will grow into a Trée of some bigge substance, and is seldome hurt with frosts, stormes, or blastings: it would likewise be planted from the roote against some high wall, either in the moneth of February or March, and the oftner you plant and replant it, the doubler and larger the flower will be: for the earth it much skilleth not, because it will grow almost in euery ground, onely it delights most in the shadow, and would be seldome pruned, except you finde many dead branches.

[Sidenote: Of the Cinamon Rose.]

The _Cinamon Rose_, is for the most part sowen, and not planted, whence it comes that you shall euer sée the leaues single and little, the delicacie thereof being onely in the smell, which that you may haue most fragrant and strong, you shall take a vessell of earth, being full of small holes in the bottome and sides, and fill it with the richest earth you can get, being made fine and loose, then take Damaske _Rose_ séedes which are hard, and sound, and stéepe them foure and twenty houres in _Cinamon_ water, I doe not meane the distilled water, but faire Conduit water, in which good store of _Cinamon_ hath bin stéeped, or boyled, or milk, wherin good store of _Cinamon_ hath bin dissolued, and then sow those séedes into the Pot, and couer them almost thrée fingers déepe, then morning and euening till they appeare aboue the earth, water them with that water or milke in which the seedes were stéeped, then when they are sprung vp a handfull or more aboue the ground, you shall take them vp mould and all, and hauing drest a border or bed for the purpose, plant them so as they may grow vp against some warme wall or pale, and haue the Sunne most part of the day shining vpon them, and you shall be sure to haue _Roses_ growing on them, whose smell will be wonderfull pleasant, as if they had béene spiced with _Cinamon_, and the best season of sowing these is euer in March, at high noone day, the weather shining faire, and the winde most calme.

[Sidenote: To make the Cinamon Rose grow double.]

Now if you would haue these _Roses_ to grow double, which is an Art yet hid from most Gardners, you shall at Michaelmasse take the vppermost parts of the Plante from the first knot, and as you graft either Plumme or Apple, so graft one into another, and couer the heads with earth or clay tempered with _Cinamon_-water, and they will not onely grow double, but the smell will be much swéeter, and looke how oft you will graft and re-graft them, so much more double and double they will proue.

[Sidenote: Of the Prouince Rose.]

The _Prouince Rose_ is a delicate flower for the eye more then the nose, for his oft grafting abateth his smell, but doubleth his leafe so oft that it is wonderfull, therefore if you will haue them large and faire, you shall take the fairest Damaske _Roses_ you can get, and graft them into the red _Rose_, and when they haue shot out many branches, then you shall graft each seuerall branch againe with new grafts of another grafted Damaske _Rose_: and thus by grafting graft vpon graft, you shall haue as faire and well coloured _Prouince Roses_, as you can wish or desire: and thus you may doe either in the Spring or fall at your pleasure, but the fall of the leafe is euer helde the best season.

[Sidenote: To make Roses smell well.]

Now if your _Roses_ chaunce to loose their smels, as it oft happeneth through these double graftings: you shall then plant _Garlicke_ heads at the rootes of your _Roses_, and that will bring the pleasantnesse of their sent vnto them againe.

[Sidenote: Generall notes touching Roses.]

Now for your generall obseruations; you shall remember that it is good to water your _Roses_ morning and euening till they be gathered; you shall rather couet to plant your _Roses_ in a dry ground then a wette, you shall giue them much shelter, strong support, and fresh dung twise at the least euery yeare, when the leafe is fallen, you shall cutte and prune the branches, and when the buds appeare you, then begin your first watring.

[Sidenote: Of Lauender.]

_Lauender_ is a flower of a hot smell, and is more estéemed of the plaine Country housewife then the dainty Citizen: it is very wholesome amongst linnen cloathes, and would be sowen in a good rich mould, in the moneths of March or Aprill.

[Sidenote: Of the white Lilly.]

The white _Lilly_ would be sowen in a fat earth, in the moneths of October and Nouember, or in March or April, and the séedes must be sowen excéeding thinne, not one by any meanes touching another, and the mould which couereth them must be sifted gently vpon them.

[Sidenote: To make Lillyes of any colour.]

If you would haue your _Lillyes_ of a purple colour, you shall stéepe your séedes in the Lées of red wine, and that will change their complexion, and also you shall water the Plants with the same Lées likewise: if you will haue them scarlet red, you shall put _Vermillion_ or _Cynaber_ betwéene the rinde and the small heads growing about the roote: if you would haue them blew, you shall dissolue _Azure_ or _Byse_ betwéene the rinde and the heads, if yellow _Orpment_, if gréene _Verdigreace_, and thus of any other colour.

[Sidenote: To make Lillyes flourish all the yeere.]

Now to make them flourish euery moneth in the yéere, you shall sowe your séedes some a foote déepe, some halfe a foote, and some not two inches, so they will spring one after another, and flourish one after another.

[Sidenote: Of the wood Lilly.]

The wood _Lilly_ or _Lilly_ of the vale, delighteth most in a moyst ground, and may be sowen either in March or September, it is very faire to looke on, and not so suffocating in smell as the other _Lillyes_ are.

[Sidenote: Of the flower de Lice.]

The _flower de Lice_ is of excellent beauty, but not very pleasant to smell to, it loueth a dry ground & an easie mould, and is fittest to be sowen in the moneth of March.

[Sidenote: Of Pyonie.]

_Pyonie_ or the blessed _Rose_, loueth a good fat earth being somewhat loose, and may be sowen either in March or September, it asketh not much watring, onely some support because the stalkes be weake.

[Sidenote: Of Petillius.]

_Petillius_ or _Indian eye_, may be sowen in any ground, for it desireth neither much water, nor much dung, and the best season for sowing, it is Iune or September, for it will beare flowers commonly all the Winter.

[Sidenote: Of Veluet flower.]

_Veluet flower_ loueth a rich fertile ground, and must be much watred: the season best for the sowing is August, for commonly it will beare flowers all the Winter.

[Sidenote: Of Gylliflowers.]

[Sidenote: Of grafting of Gylliflowers.]

_Gilliflowers_ are of diuers kindes, as _Pynks_, _Wall-flowers_, _Carnations_, _Cloue Gilliflowers_, and a world of others, which are of all other flowers most swéet and delicate: all but the _Wall-gilliflower_ loue good fertile earths, and may be sowen either in March, Iuly, or August. They are better to be planted of Slips then sowen, yet both will prosper. They are very tender, and therfore the best planting of them is in earthen Pots, or halfe Tubs, which at your pleasure you may remoue from the shade to the Sunne, and from the roughnesse of stormes to places of shelter, they grow vp high on long slender stalkes, which you must defend and support with square cradles made of stickes, least the winde and the waight of the flowers breake them: these _Gilliflowers_ you may make of any colour you please, in such sort as is shewed you for the colouring of _Lillyes_, and if you please to haue them of mixt colours you may also, by grafting of contrary colours one into another: and you may with as great ease graft the _Gylliflower_ as any fruit whatsoeuer, by the ioyning of the knots one into another, and then wrapping them about with a little soft sleau’d silke, and couering the place close with soft red Waxe well tempered. And you shall vnderstand that the grafting of _Gylliflowers_ maketh them excéeding great, double, and most orient of colour.

[Sidenote: Of the smels of Gylliflowers.]

Now if you will haue your _Gylliflowers_ of diuers smels or odours, you may also with great ease, as thus for example: if you will take two or thrée great cloues, & stéepe them foure and twenty houres in Damaske _Rose_ water, then take them out and bruise them, and put them into a fine Cambricke ragge, and so binde them about the heart roote of the _Gylliflower_, néere to the setting on of the stalke, and so plant it in a fine, soft, and fertile mould, and the flower which springeth from the same, will haue so delicate a mixt smell of the Cloue and the Rose-water, that it will bréede both delight and wonder. If in the same manner you take a sticke of _Cinamon_, and stéepe it in _Rose_ water, and then bruise it, and binde it as afore-said, all the flowers will smell strongly of _Cinamon_: if you take two graines of fat Muske, and mixe it with two drops of Damaske _Rose_ water, and binde it as afore-said, the flowers will smell strongly of Muske, yet not too hot nor offensiue, by reason of the correction of the _Rose_ water: and in this sort you may doe either with _Amber-greece_, _Storax_, _Beniamin_, or any other swéet drugge whatsoeuer; and if in any of these confections before named, you stéepe the séedes of your _Gylliflowers_ foure and twenty houres before you sowe them, they will take the same smels in which you stéepe them, onely they will not be so large or double, as those which are replanted or grafted.

[Sidenote: Of the Wall Gylliflower.]

Now for your _Wall Gylliflower_, it delighteth in hard rubbish, limy, and stonie grounds, whence it commeth that they couet most to grow vpon walles, pauements, and such like barraine places. It may be sowen in any moneth or season, for it is a séede of that hardnesse, that it makes no difference betwixt Winter and Sommer, but will flourish in both equally, and beareth his flowers all the yéere, whence it comes that the Husbandman preserues it most in his Bée-garden; for it is wondrous swéet, and affordeth much honey. It would be sowen in very small quantity, for after it haue once taken roote, it will naturally of it selfe ouer-spread much ground, and hardly euer after be rooted out. It is of it selfe of so exéeding a strong and swéet smell, that it cannot be forced to take any other, and therefore is euer preserued in its owne nature.

[Sidenote: Of the Helytropian.]

The _Helytropian_ or flower of the Sunne, is in nature and colour like our English _Marigold_, onely it is excéeding huge in compasse, for many of them will be twenty, and foure and twenty inches in compasse, according to the fertilenesse of the soyle in which they grow, and the oft replanting of their rootes, they are excéeding goodly to looke on, and pleasant to smell, they open their flowers at the rising of the Sunne, and close them againe at the Sunne setting, it delighteth in any soyle which is fertile either by Art or Nature, and may be sowen in any moneth from February till September, the oft planting and replanting of the roote after it is sprung a handfull from the earth, maketh it grow to the vttermost bignesse, it would haue the East and West open vpon it, onely some small Pent-house to kéepe the sharpnesse of the winde from it.

[Sidenote: Of the Crowne Emperiall.]

The _Crowne-Emperiall_, is of all flowers both forraigne and home-bred, the delicatest and strangest: it hath the true shape of an Emperiall Crowne, and will be of diuers colours, according to the Art of the Gardner. In the middest of the flower you shall sée a round Pearle stand, in proportion, colour, and orientnesse, like a true naturall Pearle, onely it is of a soft liquid substance: This Pearle if you shake the flower neuer so violently will not fall off, neither if you let it continue neuer so long, will it either encrease or diminish in the bignesse, but remayneth all one: yet if with your finger you take and wipe it away, in lesse then an houre after you shall haue another arise in the same place, and of the same bignesse. This Pearle if you taste it vpon your tongue, is pleasant and swéet like honey: this flower when the Sunne ariseth, you shall sée it looke directly to the East, with the stalke bent lowe there-vnto, and as the Sunne ariseth higher and higher, so the flower will likewise ascend, and when the Sunne is come into the _Meridian_ or noone poynt, which is directly ouer it, then will it stand vpright vpon the stalke, and looke directly vpward, and as the Sunne declineth, so will it likewise decline, and at the Sunne setting looke directly to the West onely. The séedes of this flower are very tender, and therefore would be carefully sowen in a very rich and fertile earth well broken and manured. The seasons most méete for the same, is the latter end of March, Aprill, or May, for the flowers flourish most in May, Iune, and Iuly. As soone as it is sprung a handfull aboue the earth; you shall remoue it into a fresh mould, and that will make it flourish the brauer: the roote of this flower is like an Apple, or great flat Onion, and therefore in the replanting of it, you must be carefull to make a hole large and fitte for the same, and to fixe the mould gently and close about the same. In the Winter it shrinketh into the earth, and is hardly or not at all discerned, by meanes whereof I haue séene diuers supposing it to be dead, to digge vp the earth, and negligently spoyle the roote, but be not you of that opinion, and in the Spring you shall sée it arise and flourish brauely.

[Sidenote: Of the Dulippo.]

The _Dulippo_ is but a little short of the _Crowne Emperiall_ in pleasantnesse and rarenesse, for you may haue them of all colours whatsoeuer, in such sort as was shewed you for the _Lillyes_, _Gylliflowers_, and other rootes: they are tender at their first springing from the séede, and therefore must be sowen in a fine rich mould, in the warmth of the Sunne, either in March, Aprill, or May: but after they are once sprung aboue the ground, they are reasonable hard, and will defend themselues against most weathers: the roote of this flower is shaped like a Peare, with the biggest end downeward, and many small thréeds at the bottome; therefore you must be sure when you remoue or replant it, to couer all the roote in fresh mould, and let not any part of the white thereof be vncouered: this flower by monethly replanting, you may haue to flourish in all the Summer moneths of the yeare, for in the dead of Winter it shrinketh into the ground, and is hardly or not at all perceiued, the stalkes of these flowers are weake, therefore to support them, and defend them from the shakings of the windes with little square frames of stickes, will be very good and necessary, it must be oft watred.

[Sidenote: Of the Hyacinth.]

The _Hyacinth_ is a flower more delicate to the eye then nose, and is of a good strong nature, for it will endure any reasonable earth, and may be sowne in any moneth of the Spring, from the beginning of February till midde-Iune: it onely hateth tempests and stormes, and therefore is commonly sowen or planted néere vnto walls or other shelter. You may haue them of any colour you please, as is shewed before of other flowers, and in this alteration or mixture of colours their greatest glorie appeareth, they will flourish all the Summer long, and if they stand warme, appeare very early in the Spring.

[Sidenote: Of the Narcissus.]

The _Narcissus_ is a very curious and dainty flower, and through his much variety and alteration in growing, they are supposed to be of diuers kindes, but it is not so, for in as much as they are séene to be of diuers colours, that is but the Art of the Gardner, as is before exprest in other flowers, and whereas some of them grow single, some double, and some double vpon double, you shall vnderstand that such as grow single, grow simply from the séede onely, those which are double and no more, are such as haue béene planted and replanted, the small thréeds of the rootes being clipt away, and nothing left about it that is superfluous, and those which are double vpon double, are the double plants grafted one into another. This _Narcissus_ loueth a rich warme soyle, the mould being easie and light, it may be sowne in any moneth of the Spring, and will flourish all the Summer after. Before it appeare aboue ground it would be oft watred, but after it skils not how little, for it will defend it selfe sufficiently.

[Sidenote: Of the Daffadill, Colombine, and Chesbole.]

[Sidenote: An excellent Caution.]

Not vnlike vnto this is your _Daffadill_ of all kindes and colours, and in the same earths and seasons delighteth either to be sowen or planted, and will in the same manner as your _Narcissus_ double and redouble his leaues; so will your _Colombine_, your _Chesbole_, and almost any hollow flower whatsoeuer. Many other forraigne flowers there are which grow plentifully in our Kingdome: but the order of their planting and sowing differeth nothing from these which I haue already declared, being the most tender and curious of all other, therefore I will end this Chapter with this one _caution_ onely, that when you shall receiue any séede from any forraine Nation, you shall learne as néere as you can the nature of the soyle from whence it commeth, as hot, moyst, colde, or dry it is, and then comparing it with ours, sowe it as néere as you can in the earth, and in the seasons that are néerest to the soyle from whence it came, as thus for example: if it came from a clime much hotter then ours, then shall you sowe it in sandie mould or other mould made warme by strength of meanure, in the warmest time of the day, and in those moneths of the Spring, which are warmest, as Aprill or May, you shall let it haue the Sunne fréely all the day and at night, with Mats, Penthouse, or other defence shield it from sharpe windes, frosts, or colde dewes.

[Sidenote: A new manner of planting flowers and fruits.]

I haue séene diuers Noblemen and Gentlemen, which haue béene very curious in these dainty flowers, which haue made large frames of wood with boards of twenty inches déepe, standing vpon little round whéeles of wood, which being made square or round according to the Masters fancie, they haue filled with choyse earth, such as is most proper to the flower they would haue grow, and then in them sowe their séedes, or fixe their Plants in such sort, as hath béene before described, and so placing them in such open places of the Garden, where they may haue the strength and violence of the Sunnes heate all the day, and the comfort of such moderate showers, as fall without violence or extraordinarie beating, and at night draw them by mans strength into some low vaulted gallery ioyning vpon the Garden, where they may stand warme and safe from stormes, windes, frosts, dewes, blastings, and other mischiefes which euer happen in the Sunnes absence, and in this manner you may not onely haue all manner of dainty outlandish flowers, but also all sorts of the most delicatest fruits that may be, as the _Orenge_, _Limond_, _Pomgranate_, _Poncythron_, _Cynamon-tree_, _Oliue_, _Almond_, or any other, from what clime so euer it be deriued, obseruing onely but to make your frames of wood, which containes your earth, but déeper and larger, according to the fruit you plant in it, and that your Alleys through which you draw your Trées when you house them be smooth and leuell, least being rough and vneuen, you iogge and shake the rootes with the waight of the Trées, which is dangerous. And least any man may imagine this but an imaginary supposition, I can assure him that within seauen miles of London, the experiment is to be séene, where all these fruits and flowers with a world of others grow in two Gardens most abundantly. Now for such flowers or fruits as shall be brought from a colder or more barraine ground then our owne, there néedeth not much curiosity in the plantation of them, because a better euer bringeth forth a better encrease, onely I would wish you to obserue, to giue all such fruits or flowers the vttermost liberty of the weather, & rather to adde coolenes by shaddow, then encrease any warmth by reflection, as also to augment showers by artificiall watrings, rather then to let the roote dry for want of continuall moysture; many other notes and obseruations there are, which to discouer, would aske a volume larger then I intend, and yet not be more in true substance, then this which is already writ, if the Reader haue but so much mother-wit, as by comparing things together, to draw the vses from the true reasons, and to shunne contrary by contraries, which what Husbandman is so simple, but he can easily performe, and hauing the true grounds of experience, frame his descant according to his owne fancie, which is a Musicke best pleasing to all men, since it is not in any one mans power to giue a generall contentment. And thus much for flowers, and their generall and particular ordering.

CHAP. VII.

_How to preserue all manner of seedes, hearbs, flowers, and fruits, from all manner of noysome and pestilent things which deuoure and hurt them._

[Sidenote: Of Thunder and Lightning.]

It is not enough to bequeath and giue your séedes vnto the ground, and then immediatly to expect (without any further industrie) the fruit of your labours, no goodnesse seldome commeth with such ease: you must therefore know that when you lay your séedes in the ground, they are like so many good men amongst a world of wicked ones, and as it were inuironed and begirt with maine Armies of enemies, from which if your care and diligence doe not defend them the most, if not all, will doubtlesse perish, and of these enemies the worst and most violentest is _Thunder_ and _Lightning_, which in a moment killeth all sorts of flowers, plants, and trées, euen in the height and pride of their flourishing, which to preuent, it hath béene the practise of all the auncient Gardners, to plant against the walles of their Gardens, or in the middest of their quarters, where their choysest flowers grow, the _Lawrell_ or _Bay_ Trée, which is euer helde a defence against those strikings.

[Sidenote: Of Caterpillers.]

Next vnto _Thunder_ and _Lightning_ are _Caterpillers_, which are a kinde of filthy little wormes, which lye in Cobwebs about the leaues, deuouring them, and poysoning the sap, in such sort, that the Plant dieth spéedily after: the way to kill these, is to take strong Vrine and Ashes mixt together, and with it to dash and sprinkle all the Plants cleane ouer, and it will both preuent their bréeding, or being bred will kill them: the smoake of Brimstone will doe the like, yet if they be excéeding much abundant, the surest way to destroy them, is to take olde, rotten, mouldy Hay, and setting it on fire, with the blaze thereof burne the Cob-webs, and then with the smoake smother and kill the wormes, and they will hardly euer bréede in that place againe.

[Sidenote: Of Toades and Frogges.]

Next these are _Toades_ and _Frogges_, which are very poysonous and great destroyers of young Plants, chiefly in their first appearing aboue the ground, and the auncient Gardners haue vsed to destroy them by burning the fat of a Stagge in some part of the Garden beds, from which earth all creatures that haue poyson in them, will flye with all violence: other Gardners will watch where the Kite pearcheth on nights, and gathering vp her dung, scatter it vpon the beds either simply, or mixt with the shauings of an olde Harts horne, and no venemous thing will come néere it.

[Sidenote: Of the field Myce.]

Next these are field _Myce_, which will roote séedes out of the earth, and deuoure them aboundantly, which to kill you shall take _Henbane seede_, and beate it to pouder, and then mixing it with swéete Oyle, fresh Butter, or Grease, make thereof a bayte; and when you finde where they scratch or roote, lay some part of the bayte in that place, and they will gréedily eate it, and it will kill them: there be other Gardners which will take a Wéesell, and burning it to ashes, scatter the ashes on the beds, and then no field _Mouse_ will come néere them.

[Sidenote: Of Flyes.]

Next these are _Flyes_, as flesh-_Flyes_, _Scarabs_, _Hornets_, _Dores_, and such like, which are great destroyers of Séeds and Plants, when they appeare in their first leafe, and are soft and tender, which to destroy, you shall either take _Orpment_ mixt with milke, or the pouder of _Allome_, or the ashes of any of these _Flyes_ burnt, and with it sprinkle your beds and young plants all ouer, and it will kéepe _Flyes_ that they will not dare to come néere them.

[Sidenote: Of the greene Fly.]