profitable insructions [sic] for the manuring, sowing, and planting of kitchin gardens very profitable for the common wealth and greatly for the helpe and comfort of poore people. gathered by richard gardiner of shrewsberie. gardiner, richard, of shrewsbury. 1603 approx. 60 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a01448 stc 11571 estc s114902 99850124 99850124 15309 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a01448) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 15309) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1271:10) profitable insructions [sic] for the manuring, sowing, and planting of kitchin gardens very profitable for the common wealth and greatly for the helpe and comfort of poore people. gathered by richard gardiner of shrewsberie. gardiner, richard, of shrewsbury. [32] p. by edward allde for edward white dwelling at the little north doore of paules at the signe of the gunne, imprinted at london : 1603. signatures: a-d⁴. running title reads: profitable instructions of kitchin gardens. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic 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proofread 2002-05 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion profitable insrvctions for the manvring , sowing and planting of kitchin gardens . very profitable for the common wealth and greatly for the helpe and comfort of poore people . gathered by richard gardiner of shrewsberie . imprinted at london by edward allde for edward white dwelling at the little north doore of paules at the signe of the gunne . 1603. the author his preface , to his louing neighbours and friends , within the towne of shrewsburie in the countie of salop. r. g. wisheth all happines and felicitie in christ iesus . right welbeloued in christ iesus , neighbours and friends of this my natiue soile of shrewsburie , i wish you all felicitie and happinesse in the true knowledge of our redemption in the merrits of our onely sauiour iesus christ , to whom with the father , & the holy ghost , be all honor , praise and thankes for euermore . beloued it is generallie knowne vnto all men in this towne , that i haue euer in good minde , desired the prosperity of the same , and in all good actions to my power and knowledge haue preferred the same , without desire of lucre or gaine thereby , and did alwayes desire to doe the vttermost of my skill , as well to the common causes , as also to priuate mens workes , and now in my olde age , or last daies , i would willingly take my last farewell with some good instructions to pleasure the general number : as for spiritual instructions and good aduertisments therein , i leaue you to the good admonitions of the godlye clergie , and to your good proceedings in the same , which god graunt for his mercies sake , amen . amongst all the practises , knowledges and experiences which euer i receiued from gods mercies in temporal blessings , i doe vndoubtedly perswade my selfe , that my practise and experience in gardē stuffe , or the good benefits therein , dooth best benefit , helpe and pleasure the generall number of people , better then any other practise that euer i tooke in hand in temporall causes whatsoeuer . and therefore good neighbors and friends ( of this my natiue soile ) accept this my short and simple penning of this my practise and experience in gardening causes heerein mentioned . and if any other man , now or heereafter finde occasion to better in writing any thing which i haue omitted for want of full perfection by experience therein , i doe most hartily desire him , ( that so shal finde cause to better any thing omitted by me or amend any thing by me penned ) so to doe , that god may be glorified in his good gifts , the generall number the better comforted , and the poore the better releeued with garden stuffe : whereas yet in this countie of salop , gardening stuffe : is to small purpose , but i hope in god as time shall serue , my good beginning will be an occasion of good proceedings therein , and no doubt ( b●loued ) if any man will hartily desire to doe good in these actions , then vaine , fruitlesse and superfluous things may bee taken out of good gardens and sundry good commodities , to pleasure the poore planted therein : then no doubt the almightie god will the better blesse your encrease , and blesse your walking in your garden in that minde : and then no doubt but your good conscience will delight you as well as the great blessings that god will blesse the garden withall● then shall you no doubt visibly beholde in your garden , the blessed fauour and mercy of ou● most mercifull god to your euerlasting comfort , not onely in the great increase there to beholde , but also other wayes to your great comfort , which i omit at this p●esent . and when you make sale to the poore , consider you are the lords stewards to sell with consciences● and to lend and giue : also doe it willingly , for we haue the vnfallable promise of god for double recompence , if we so fauourablie will performe to all , and specially to the poore and needy : which god graunt for his mercies sake , wee may haue grace to doe , and also to haue ● speciall care to satisfie , content or pay the tithes thereof to the ministers of the holy worde , and not to suffer a bad custome to corrupt the conscience therein , which god forbid . and also i desire thee good reader to beare with my grosse and simple penning in so good a cause , and willingly to accept my good will therein . and in so dooing i shall thinke my trauail herein to be well bestowed , and my good purpose the better performed , which god graunt for his mercies sake . amen . edward thorne gent. in commendation of the worke , and the author thereof . he that desires with skilfull hand , to frame a garden plot , and to manure and make it apt for herbes that serue the pot , or choise to make of seeds and plants , and best of both to know : and them in seasonable time , to plant , to set , and sowe , let him peruse this little booke , which vndertakes the charge , of all the fore recite● points , to shew the course at large , of carrets first , and cabbage close , and how to keepe them sound : and pars●ips also to preserue , and turnips faire and round . of lettice next , and garden beanes , and onions of the best : of coucombers and artichockes , and radish with the rest , these and such other hearbes and seedes , hath gardner , in good will : vnto sallopi●n neighbours his , entreate● of with skill . his talent lent h● doth not hide , if all were vnderstood , but sets it foor●h with willing minde , to doe his neighbours good . the poore which late were like to pine , and could not buy them breade : in greatest time of penury , were by his labours fed . and that in reasonable rate , when corne and coine was scant , with parsnep and with carret rootes● he did supply their want . the rich likewise and better sorte , his labours could not misse which makes them many times to thinke , that salop london is . then rich and poore in friendly sorte , giue gardner all his due , who shewes himselfe in all his acts , so kinde a friend to you . and wish as he doth well deserue , his welfare and his health , that hath so greatly profited , salopians common wealth . hovv to make choyce of the best carrets , to plant for good seedes , and how and when to plant them . after the sun his entring into libra about the twelfth of september , then prepare your ground readie to set your carrets , for seede , make choice of the fairest carrets and best , yellow colours , to the number as you will set your beds , being made ready before you take vp y● carrets , euery bed being a yard and a quarter broad : then set your carrets in two rowes , one rowe on either side the bed , sixe or seauen inches from the edge of the bed , and full three quarters of a yard one from another . then haue you nothing to doe with them vntill about the last of aprill , at which time they will bee growne about a yard in height : then you haue neede to take care of them , for the winde will easily breake them by the ground : then must you prepare some kinde of packe-threed or lynen threed to ●et about them as a girdle , about two foote high from the earth as neede shall require by the growing of the braunches : gird some higher then other some . then shortly after you must haue stakes in a readines , and as the carrets must stand one against the other in the bed : so likewise the stakes must stand one against the other , to euerye foure carrets two stakes . the stakes must bee a yard and a halfe aboue the ground , and a sure holde within the earth for danger of winde : then must you prepare pack●-threed or other threed to goe from stake to stake all the length of the bed , one course of lynes must be about two foote high , and another course of lynes must bee n●ere the top of the stakes , so that there must bee two courses of lynes on the vtter side of the stakes on both sides the bed . then must you haue crosse lynes , to euery two carrets a crosse lyne made fast to the side lynes , the crosse lynes must be both aboue and beneath , as the side lynes doe goe , and a crosse rod to euery two stakes tyed fast with somelynnen thréed or thrumbes : then both the vpper course and nether course of the rods and the short lynes must haue a lyne going amidst of the bed , so that by that meanes euery carrets branches will stand in a square both in the vpper and nether coarse of rods and lynes , in sure manner for the winde . if this bee not done perfectly , the losse of carret séedes will bee more in value then the charges of stakes , roddes and lynes . the stakes must bee set in this manner : first two stakes at the end of the bed , then ouer passe foure carrets , and in the middest betweene two carrets set a stake on either side the bed , and the lines & rods as aforesaid , then as the carret branches doe grow , they must be somewhat tended to keepe them in good order within the lynes : this being done about the last of august , the carret séedes will begin to bee ripe , and as they doe change to some browne colour , so to bee cut from time to time , vntill the last bee sufficiently ripe about the first of october : then place the carret seedes as you doe cut them on a chamber floore to drie , & when they be drie , beate the seedes out with small staues , or beast with the edge of a lath , and clense them from the composte or refuse ( as you finde best by experiēce ) with ridle and siue . there are three kindes of carrets , two of them are profitable and the third is not : the great long yellow carret , and the great short carret are principall good , but the common or wilde carret , which is pale yellow coloured and small and long , is to be refused , for they yeeld small profit , neither are they so good meate as the other two kindes by much . the séedes of the two best kindes of carrets doe change into diuerse colours : and if you choose a roote of any colour that doth best like you , then set the same for séede , and so shall you haue store of rootes of that colour that so is set for séede when time serueth : if you doe make choyse of the best carrets and set them for seedes as aforesaid , then your séedes are very bad and not profitable to bee vsed by any , but deceiueth the sower and yeeldeth not so good rootes as the set roote séedes doe by much . how to haue principall good cabadge seedes to sow , whereby you may haue good store of good cabadges as time serueth . when you haue cabadges in your garden that bee ripe to cut , make your choice of the best and fairest cabadges for seede in this maner , that you may haue the benefit of the best cabadges and good séed of the same stocks or rootes . also when your cabadges bee ripe , take a hand sawe and cut the cabadge off , as neere to the cabadge as you can , and haue so much of the stocke as you may : but take heede least you rent the stocke in cutting it with the sawe , you must cut those cabadges which you would so preserue for séedes in the new of the moone , of the first ripe cabadges , and so let them grow to beare seedes the yeere following , and that seede will be as good as may be ( whatsoeuer is said to the contrary ) and if you desire to haue much cabadge seedes to sowe and to sell : then your best way is to prouide some place in the garden where the shadow of them may doe least harme to other séedes or fruits . then prepare the ground in narrow beds and take vp the cabadge rootes with as much earth at the roote as you can in the new of the moone in october : and place them one row in a bed almost a yard a sunder , and then another row in an other bed likewise : so that euery row or euery roote be almost a yard one from another , and then let them stand vntill they be growen almost a yard high , then beset the braunches with rises and gird the braunches & rises , with a string of packe thréed or such like , or els the weight of the braunches and the winde will breake them to the losse of the seedes : and when the seedes doe beginne to bee ripe , then take héede to them , for the birds called the bull finch will destroy them sodainely , vnlesse you do prouide to saue the séedes with nettes to be set theron sundry waies as seemeth you best to doo : and when your cabadge seedes bee ripe , cut them and dry them , cleanse them and keepe them vntill the best times to sowe them : of which times i will make mention at large , as he●●eafter followeth in order . if you take heede to choose the principall cabadges for séedes as aforesaid , you shall both the better pleasure your selfe , and do●e good to the common wealth : also let not gaine nor deceipt alter , nor corrupt a good conscience heerein to the hurt of any . how to make your best choyse for parsnep seedes . prepare such place in your garden as is most conuenient for the setting of parsneps for séeds : first digge and make your ground ready in beds , like as you would sowe any other seedes , then make choice of the fairest parsnep roots , and plant them in the beds a rowe of rootes on either side the bed , about sixe inches from the edge of the bed , and a rowe of rootes along the midst of the bed or beds , and set euery roote so néere as you can , to be xv . inches one from another : and when the first séedes doe begin to be ripe , then cut them daily as cause requireth : for the seedes of parsneps are very apt to fall when they be ripe , to the losse of the best séede ( if they be not heedefully looked vnto . ) thus doone , you shall haue good parsnep seedes to pleasure any person in that behalfe , otherwise it is not so good nor so profitable . the best way to haue principall seedes of turneps to sowe . there be sundrie kindes of turneps , and to write therof particularlie would be somewhat tedious : but the best kinde for the common wealth , is the large round turnep , which are but of late come to this countie of salop : the best way to haue excellent seedes of those turneps , is thus : make the beds a yard and quarter broade , then choose the onely round and faire rootes , and set them thrée quarters of a yarde one from another , two rowes in a bed . these seedes will not abide or brooke any binding or supporting of them : but your best way is to let them growe in their owne kinde , and let them fall to the earth ( as they will by nature ) and when the séedes doe begin to be ripe , take heede , for sundrie kindes of birdes will deuoure it , kéepe it with nettes or otherwise , which i omit to your be●t consideration therein : and when the seedes be fully ripe , cut them and drie them to your purpose : your best time to set them for séedes , is in the new of the moone , in october or nouember . the best meanes to haue principall lettice seedes , which will be both great , hard and white cabadge lettice . there be sundrie kindes of lettice , the one is principal , the other two are indifferent , and the fourth is the wild lettice . the best are very white seedes : the second are russet white séedes , and are callad lumbard lettice : the third are black seedes , some of al these three sorts wil close , but the perfect white is the best . this sort is to bee chosen and the seedes thereof to be sowed , and when the lettice are young and smal , then you must take the wéedes cleane from them , and also you must wéede so many of the lettice away vntill they be two or thrée inches a sunder , and whē those remaining , do touch almost one another , then draw away more of them vntil they be 6. or viii . inches a sunder , then they must growe vntill they be closed , and if there be any which seeme that they will not close , take them away , and let those which are best closed remaine for séedes , and so from yeare to yeare euer choose the best closed for seede : and you shal haue such cabadge or closed lettice , by these meanes in two or three yeares , the best that may bee had . this being mine own order for close lettice séede , i commonly haue such lettice , that many doe say there are not the like to be had in london , or so good . the manner of sowing or times when to sowe● i omitte vntill in order in this my treatise it shall more at large appeare . the best way to obtaine seede beanes for gardens . there be thrée kindes of beanes , whereof there is but one perfect good for gardens , that is the great and large white beane : and when your beanes are fully ripe , choose yearely the greatest of them for séede , and you shall finde great profit in so doing , if you haue cause to sowe many of them , and your beanes will prooue very profitable in the common wealth . for to haue good onion seedes . about the first of februarie when you perceiue the extremity of wint●r to be past , and the weather somewhat faire , then take your onions & set them ●or séedes in the new of the moone , where the sun is alwaies to shine in his course both winter and summer : and when they growe high , dresse them with rises or roddes ●or breaking with winde : and when the seede is ripe , dry it well in the heate of the sunne , then let it remaine with the pulse or refuse till after the first of februarie : i desire that all which would sow onion or others aforesaid in gardens , to prouide séedes of their own growing & not to be deceiued yearely as commonly they be , to no small losse in generall to all this land , by those which bee common sellers of garden seedes . i cannot omitte nor spare to deliuer my minde , concerning the great and abhominable falshoode of those sortes of people which sell garden seedes : consider thus much , admit that all those which be deceiued in thys land yéerely , in buying of olde and dead séedes for their gardens , had made their accompts of their losses : first their money paide for false and counterfeit seedes , their great losses in manuring and trimming their gardens , and the rents paide for gardens throughout this land : then consider how many thousands are yeerely deceiued in this manner by them , and also consider howe many thousand poundes are robbed yeerely from the common wealth by those catterpillers : i doe vndoubtedly perswade my selfe if a true accompt might bee had thereof , those that doe willingly deceiue others by false séedes , doe robbe the common wealth of a greater summe then all other the robbing théeues of this whole land doe by much , and more worthie in conscience to be executed as the most notorious théeues in this land , ( one other profession of people excepted . ) and although the lawes of this realme as yet take no holde whereby to punish them , the almighty god doth beholde their monstrous deceipt , and except those doe repent with speed , both god and man will abhorre them as outragious théeues : the almightie god turne their hearts or confound such false procéedinges against the common wealth : and also i would wishe all those that are seede sellers would haue a care to sell good s●edes for gardens , and would also haue a care to sell in reason● and conscience , for the dearth of seedes for gardens is a great hindrance to the profit of gardens , and a great losse to the common wealth . also my good wil shall not be wanting to do good therin , whiles it shal please god that i doe remaine heere in this life , his holy will be done at his good pleasure . there be many other séedes do belong to gardens of lesse accompt & so common in vse : that i purpose to omit leauing them to the practise of others which vse gardens , because i desire not to bee tedious , but to procéede to my speciall purpose in those causes which best do concerne and benefit the common wealth , which god graunt for his mercie sake . and before good seedes ( prouided as aforesaid ) be vsed or sowed in any garden , i wish you to prepare to mucke or make your garden sufficient rank to receiue such séedes as is conuenient , or els you make spoile of good seedes to your owne losse , and then shall you misse greatly the profit of your garden in your house keeping : you must haue a speciall care to mucke wel your garden once in two yeares , or else you shall lose more in the profit of the garden , then the mucke is worthe by much : if your garden be pared , and made cleane from weedes about the first of nouember , then it is good to lay your mucke thereon all nouember , and till the midst of december , and if you can so prepare your garden in this time as aforesaid , then it is best for to fallow or digge it so farre as you haue so mucked , and in so doing , your gardens will be most excellent to recei●e good seedes in the last end of february or in march , according to the nature of the séedes therein to be sowed : and if you omit the dunging and fallowing the garden till after the feast of christ iess , i● take it best ( as i finde by experience ) thus to doe . when you purpose to sowe your garden , some few daies before , let it bee cleane pared and the weedes carried to some conuenient place in the garden to rotte , then mucke well if there bee cause that yeare , then digge the garden very small , and as you digge it , picke out the rootes of the weedes as cleane as you can , and rake it well , then will it be in good order to sowe : but the first manner of fallowing and dunging is best , if you doe not omit the time : and when all the parings and wéedings all the whole yeere is wel rotten , then it wil be very fine and good earth to make leuell or plaine any part of the garden and is verie good to rancken the garden in want of other mucke . a declaration of diuers manners of seedes to be sowed in gardens , and a reason by experience which is the best manner and most profitable . there bee two manner of sowing of gardens heere in this countie of salop , and as i finde by experience those two maners vsual & common , are very vnprofitable . the one maner is to open the bed and set the earth on both sides , then to sowe the séedes on the bed , then to draw with a rake the earth from both sides to couer the seedes , but when the seedes doe growe in sight , there is nothing growing within a quarter of a yard to the edge of the bed , wherby much ground is lost on both sides of the bed , and very vnprofitable to the owner . the second manner of vsuall and common sowing of gardens , is when the bed is made , the seedes are sowed thereon , and then earth is sifted thervpon , to couer the séeds , and when the seedes be sprong and begin to growe , they be so ebbe vnder the earth , that euery small frost or colde raine which commeth dooth destroy the new spring of the séedes , and sometimes all is lost thereby . a third way there is , but not vsuall or common , which is when the bed is ready made● the seeds are sowed theron , then one taketh the rake & choppeth the teeth of the rake very thicke ouer all the bed , then the seedes doe fal into the hoales which the teeth of the rake did make , and thereby many seedes doe fall in one hole , and doe destroye one another , except you doe remedie that by pulling some of them away the first wéeding● the onely best way to sow beds in gardens , as i did euer finde by experience , is when the bed is made● to take a staffe of the greatnes of a mans thombe or somewhat greater , of a yarde and a halfe long , makeing the ende thereof somewhat sharpe , and then with the sharpe ende thereof strike a small rigall or gutter on either side of the bed , within two or thrée inches of the edge of the bed , and about an inch deepe , then sowe your seedes in those two gutters somewhat thin , thē strike other two rigals or gutters in like manner , and so by two and by two till you come to the midst of the bed , & those gutters must bee made foure or fiue inches a sunder according to the nature of the séedes which you doe sowe : so that the bed ready made being a yard and quarter broad will take for onion seedes seauen gutters or rowes , and for carrets and parsneps likewise seauen , and for turneps fiue gutters is sufficient on either side the bed , one in the midst , and then two other , as you may well sée the places where : but for expedition in sowing time , the best way is , as one person doth strike the gutters or rowes , with the staffe , so let another follow in sowing the rowes , and you shall finde great expedition therein , for two persons in this manner will sow● more in two or three howres , then two persons will or can sowe otherwise , in a whole day , and this kinde of sowing dooth saue the one halfe of the séedes , and defendeth the seedes best from weather , because it is reasonable deepe in the ground : you must haue a speciall care that the rowes be striken straight , and you must take heede to sowe the rowe or gutter , first striken , before you strike another rowe or gutter , for the striking of the second rowe will fill the first with earth , that it will be too ebbe to be sowed after , then it is both comely and profitable . i doe assuredly prooue by experience there is no manner of sowing so perfectly good as this manner is , for all kinde of seedes , but onely pumpions , cucumbers , beanes & radish seedes , they must be otherwise set further a sunder as reason and experience doe agree therein , and in manner héereafter more at large is expressed : and when your séedes be sowed in rigols or rowes in manner aforesaid , then they are to be couered thus : ●ake the rake and with the head thereof drawe it very light ouer the rigols along the bed , vntill the bed be plaine and the rigols filled , with the backe side of the head of the rake , and if you then doe beate them plaine with the head of the shouel , the beds wil be the more comely , and breed lesse weedes by much . the manner how and when to sowe carret seeds , and what grownd is best to their liking , and the manner to vse them in their growing . first see that your grownd be sufficient ranke as aforesaid : then sow your carret seeds very thin in the rigols or rowes as aforesaid , the best time is about the last of februarie , or beginning of marche , when the weather is seasonable and faire , then you néede not to care for the age of the moone , so that it bee not within three dayes of the change , for i doe perfectly know by experience , that any time else is not amisse , so that the weather be dry and faire . carrets do best like in a dry ground : and if the garden be in shadowe or somewhat wet at sowing time , then it is not perfect good for carrets . such ground is better to sowe parsneps and cabadges in , then carrets , for the carrets wil mislike in the spring time , and also be eaten with wormes that bréed in themselues , by their owne kinde and nature : and when your carrets be faire and young aboue the ground , then you must prepare people to weede : when the weeds are able to be taken vp , then must you haue speciall care to the carrets that growe in the rowes or other wayes , for you must weede or take out of them , til there be two inches betweene euerie one of them , and throw those drawne carrets away with the weedes , if you doe take pitty to pull them out , or detract the time too long before you do weede them as aforesaid , your carrets will be very small , and yéeld you small profit : you must wéede them wel from weedes as néed doth require , and so soone as they be of any bignes , about midsommer you must draw away so many of the carrets till those that remaine bee at the least thrée or foure inches a sunder , and also if any of the carrets do happen to shoote to beare séed , pull them vp likewise , for the best séeds of carrets , some of them will shoote , & must be takē out least they hinder the rest that grow , throw thē away : if you misse so to doe , your carrets will bee small to your purpose . the good carrets which are to be drawen from the rest , will easily bee drawen into a good ground with hand , and the easier to bee drawen in the fore noone and best after a shower of raine . and you may haue good profit by those carrets so drawen and sowed , for they are nouelties and desired of many soe timely in the yéere . then about the twentith of iuly , your carrets in a good ground will be somewhat faire to sell : and if you sell them then or shortly after , so that you take them vp before the fourtéenth of august : you may as you rid the ground of carrets , sowe turnips séede or radish séede in their place , so that you haue the best kinde of turnip séede to sow , and in so dooing you may haue two croppes euery yere and both with good profit . and if it happen that the carret seedes doe faile in the spring time by hardenes of weather , or by wormes of the earth : then about the midst of may or the end of may you may set cabadge plants in those places , where the carrets doe want , and in want of cabadge plants you may sowe good turnips séedes , or radish séedes thereon . and thereby haue good profit : also the short kinde of carrets will grow in worse and colder ground then the long carrets will , and doe well agree with the clay land also . how and when is best to sowe and plant to haue good cabadges , both timely about midsomer and late in the yeere . if you will haue timely cabadges , then sowe your cabadge séedes in rigols as afore said about the last of august three or foure daies before the ful of the moone , where they may haue the warmnes of the sunne in winter . so neere as you can , and keepe them cleane from weeds , then let them grow , till three or foure daies befo●e the ful moon in march or aprill next after , then set your cabadge plants a yard a sunder , and as you choose plantes to sette , choose the fairest and lykelyest of them for your purpose , for the small and refuse plantes will growe to bee small cabadges , and as many as doe séeme eyther wilde or very small throwe them away , for the losse is not great , and in this manner you may haue timely close and hard cabadges : also it is a principall time to sowe cabadges in february or march , three or foure daies before the full of the moone as aforesaid , then sowe the seedes very thinne in rowes , and keep thē cleane from weeds , and when they be faire and large to plant , in may or about the first of iune , is best to plant them three or foure daies before the full of the moone , and if necessity doe compel you , it wil serue the whole quarter after the ful of the moone : and also as they growe , from time to time take care to kill the wormes which eate the leaues : and take heede that no leaues bee broken of those which you would haue to bee cabadges , for it is hurtfull to the closing of the cabadges . and when the first planted cabadges be ripe , sell or spend them shortly , for within fourteene daies after they be hard they will grow so fast within that they wil rent and cleaue a sunder , and so perish and rot : and when your cabadges doe ripe and bee hard sell them or spend them , for there is small profit to kéepe them , because the snailes and other wormes doe pearce them dayly , but those which doe close farre in the yeare in september and october may bee better kept in winter for your purpose : but of al wormes or caterpillers knaues , which are the greatest deuourers of cabadges and doe consume many of them at one time : those catterpillers doe neuer repent , vntill they come to tyburne or the gallowes . therefore take good care to your enclosures for your better safetie . for sowing of parseneps , and best vsing of them . some wil sowe parsenep séeds at michaels tide , to haue timely parsneps , and doth serue their purpose , to haue them about twenty dayes sooner then those which do sowe in february or march , but it is not best to sowe many in that order , but a few for nouelties : but to sow to haue best profit , as when the weather is fayre in februarie or in march , sowe your parseneps , not respecting the age of the moone , but the goodnes of the weather , and when they be ready to weede , haue care to wéede them cleane in time : if they be too thicke sowed , pull them out also with the wéeds , till euery parsenep be two inches a sunder at the least , thē wéede them as cause is , and let them grow till they bee to serue your turne . parseneps will growe well in worse ground then carrets , and reasonably well in colde gardens : and if you doe sowe your parsneps in rigols as my accustomed manner is , it is best for your purpose and profit : and this kinde of sowing in rigols doth saue the better halfe of the séedes , of any kinde whatsoeuer , as by experience is prooued . for sowing of turneps , and the best time when . if you desire to haue timely turneps , you may do thus : a wéeke before the full moone , or a wéeke after the full moone , in the end of aprill or in may , sowe your turnep seeds , and when they are ready to weed , then pull out with the wéeds , so many of the turneps , till the rest of the turneps be a hand bredth a sunder : and as they doe grow ripe about midsomer , drawe the greatest first , to make them thinner all ouer , & whē they be of any greatnes , sel or spend them away , for those timely sowed turneps wil not tarry good but a few daies : for they will be hard roots , & be eaten with wormes , and grow to séedes , and so will many turneps , which bee sowed before midsommer . but those which are sowed in iuly , and to the 14. of august , wil remaine good all winter . and when they bee to serue your turne , take the greatest first , and let the rest remaine , and they will increase much , when they haue some libertie , and at all times it is to be chosen , to sowe and wéede as aforesaid : & looke from what ground you take your first fruites away before the 14. day of august , you may thereon sowe good turnep séede to good profit . but if you sowe after the 14. of august , it is to no good purpose , but to haue small turneps little worth , and empayre your ground for no profit : you may in this manner haue two croppes of turneps in one place of land in one yeare , and both perfect good . the best meanes to haue principall close lettice , and to haue them as timely as is possible . the first of september or within fouretéene daies then next after , is best to take your lettice séedes and sowe them in a drie banke , or dryest place in the garden reasonable thinne , wéede them cleane when there is cause , and let them grow as they doe prooue , till thrée or foure daies before the full of the moone in march , then take them vp and plant them in new digged ground , sixe or eight inches asunder , and kéepe them cleane from weedes , and you shall haue timely lettice . and by this meanes i haue yéerely such close or cabidge lettice , better cannot be had , and they will be ready some yéeres in aprill , and the beginning of may : i do also sow lettice séeds in february and march , in manner aforesaid , and plant them againe as aforesaid . and thereby i haue principall close lettice : till midsommer you may haue very good lettice , and not remooue them : so that they be well asunder , but the other manner is best . and keepe some of the best of them for seedes : my lettice bee yéerely solde for two a penney , for one of them is a reasonable dish for a table , and as white as is possible , and many doo say , the like lettice are not to be had in london . and i do suppose , that this kinde of lettice is not common to be had in london as yet , or else the gardiners there no doubt do not carefully prouide for principall lettice . but if any request me for principall lettice seedes : i haue ready to performe his desire , whiles they doe endure vnsolde , yearely if it please god , whiles i remaine liuing . the nature and quallity of garden beanes , and how you may haue best profit by them . if you desire to haue timely beans to serue your purpose , as a fewe for nouelties , set them about the middest of december , where the sunne hath some power in the garden . and if you desire to haue profit by beanes , this may be your best course , in any shadow garden , or vnder the shadow of fruite trees , where nothing will growe but nettels and other wéeds , pare cleane that ground about the middest of ianuarie , or all februarie , and then digge the said ground , and in digging thereof , let the rootes of wéedes or nettles be cleane picked out , then set your beans therein , and as there is cause wéed them cleane , and when the beanes be faire blowed fiue or six ioynts of them , then you were best to pinch off about a handfull , or a span of the toppes of them with your hand , or cut them away , but they will more easier and sooner be pinched then cut . then by this means the beanes so pinched or cut , will stand stiffe of themselues , that there needeth no rises nor boughs to bee sticked amongst them , to keepe them for breaking with the winde , and they will also beare the more beanes , and the sooner will be ripe , because there be no rises or boughs to shadow them . but if it happen that great tempestes of winde or raine do throw some of them downe . then take a fewe rises or sprigges to support them which so doo fall , and in this manner , of one pecke of beanes so set , i haue receiued sixtéene peckes of seasonable drie beanes in gaine , in shadowe ground where nothing else wil grow but nettels , and other weedes vnder trees , those beanes so set in shadow places or vnder trees , must bee somewhat thinne , about seauen or eight inches a sunder . and in this manner they will beare beanes sufficient good store either to be eaten greene , or kept drie for seedes to be set againe . of onion seedes to be sowen . the best time and season to sowe any one séedes in the marches of wales , is about the first of march , when the weather is somewhat faire & seasonable , then prepare to sowe your onion séeds . and if your garden be dunged or fallowed in december as aforesaid , then is it most principal for sowing of onion seeds . and the drier the garden is , the sooner you may sowe it . and if it be somewhat wet and cold , then the longer you can tarrie , the better it is . so that you doe sowe before the last of march , according as your garden doth prooue in drinesse , for colde and wet earth is altogether bad for onion seede . and when your onyon or iubballes do beginne to waxe somewhat readie to be vsed or spent , then make them reasonable thinne , for if they grow to thicke , they will bee verie small , but if you draw them reasonably , you shall haue faire onyons and best for your profit . the best time to sowe onyon seede , is a weeke before the full of the moone , and the wéek after . and best when the weather is very drie and faire . the meanes to haue faire large cucumbers , & the best order for them within the countie of salop , or in the marches of wales . about the last of aprill , or the beginning of may whē the weather prooueth to be somewhat faire & warme , then take the séedes of cucumbers and put them in newe milke ouer night . and if the next day after prooue a faire sunne shine day , take the seedes and put the milke and all in a pewter platter in the heate of the sunne three or foure houres , then put thē into the earth where you would haue them to growe , and they will spring and appeare aboue the ground within foure or fiue daies . and if you do not so place them in the heate of the sunne , then the next day after their wetting in milke , set them in the earth likewise , and when they bee sprung aboue the ground , the snailes and wormes will deuoure them , except you finde meanes to preuent them . the ground vpon which you sowe cucumbers seede must be very ranke and faire , where the sun giueth best heate in the garden , or most principal in a faire banke , that sheweth it selfe to the noone sunne . if your cucumber seedes do happen to grow too thicke , then take out the woorst till they be a yard a sunder , for the more roome they haue , the better they will beare the fairer fruites , you may remoue the plants of cucumbers when they be young , and plant them in another place , conuenient as aforesaid : there are sundrie other means vsed with horsedung to set and plant cucumbers : which is not to my liking , and which i omit , as not so good as aforesaid . and to haue milons , gourds , or pumpions , do the like as is expressed heerein by cucumbers , if the spring season doe serue your purpose thereunto . the meanes to haue principall faire artichokes , and how to haue them in all sommer time . if you desire to haue timely artichokes , then take vppe your olde rootes , in the latter halfe of september , or the first halfe of october , then choose the fairest plants and pull them from the olde rootes , then plant them in a very ranke earth , trenched about three quarters of a yard déepe , with dung mixt with some earth , and set your plants therein , and you shall haue timely artichokes in the spring next following . and al●o in the beginning of march take vppe the olde rootes which haue borne fruites three times , then take the greate● plantes and set them as aforesaid . take also the middle ●ort of plants , and set them by themselues , likewise as aforesai● well dunge● . so by this meanes i haue had faire and la●ge ●●tic●o●es all the sommer . and many of those ●hich be set in se●tember and october , as aforesaid , will be●re faire artichokes both betimes in the spring , and al●o in august and september the same yéere : best time o● the age of the moone to plant them , is thrée or foure daies before the full of the moone . the olde rootes of artichokes , and the small slippes growing on them , are not to bee set for artichokes , except you plant or set the small slippes for encrease , or to sell or giue for encrease to others , for commonly they will not beare fruites the first yeare that you doe set them : there be sundrie kindes of artichokes , the largest kinde is best to bee chosen for your purpose , there bee but two kindes principall good héere in this land to my knowledge , if you desire to haue great store of artichokes to sell , then your best way is to make ( as it were a nurcerie for plants ) in this manner , make certaine bankes the greatnesse of a bushell , round like a loafe of breade , so that you may goe betwixt them , and set one plant in the toppe of euerie hillocke , and from thence yearely chuse the fairest plants to set . the meanes to prouide radish rootes best for your profit . in march or aprill where you haue sowed either carrets , or parsneps , or both , when your carets or parsneps are aboue ground , then you may perceiue wher the ground is bare , then set the seede of radish a fewe , fiue or sixe in a bed , and so ouer all your beddes , if you so please , & when this radish rootes bee readie , then take them away , for those timely radish rootes will tarrie but a few daies good , for they will shoote for seede , and they will also hinder the growing of the other fruites , if you sowe radish onely without mixing of any other hearbes or fruites , you may set them from march , till the first of august , at which time it is too farre in the yeare for that purpose . and if you doe sowe radish by themselues , set them sixe inches a sunder , and let them be kept cleane from weedes , and when they be readie to be spent , away with them as you may , for they will perish both by growing to seede , and also by wormes : if you do desire to prouide radish seedes for another yeare , your best way is to sowe a bedde , and when the rootes be readie to spend , leaue the best and fairest for seedes , and let them so left for seedes , be halfe a yard a sunder , and when the seede doth begin to bee ripe , then the birdes will de●oure it , except you doe prouide in time for safeguard thereof : and your radish for seedes must be sowed in beddes in the month of march. the best vse for porret and leekes . because porrets and leekes is a necessarie and profitable hearb for house-keeping , i cannot omit to write therein : if you desire to haue porret for your purpose , then you must first haue good seedes thereof , and to obtaine good seedes : in august or about the first of september , prepare your ground well mucked and well digged , in place where the sun hath reasonable power in the garden . then take vp your porret and set them before the twelfth of september , or else the porret will not take sufficient roote to beare fruite the sommer following : if you faile this to do , you shall not haue profitable seedes , for they will bee light and deafe , without perfect substance to growe when you sowe them . and also you doe loose halfe the waight of seedes , which otherwise is to bee had by timely setting of porret , and the buyers are deceiued by those seedes of porret which is set so late in the yeare . porret seedes will growe in some shadowe place reasonable well and large , so that you doo not sowe them to thicke● and the porret for leekes to be spent , will also prooue well in a shadow place , and you may set or plant them to be eaten or spent in leekes when you please , in august , september , or october , do very well , for seedes as aforesaid . how to preser●e and keepe carret rootes , and to haue them readie to serue all the winter , and till the last of march next after with very small charge . in the two months of october and nouember , when you haue leisure in drie weather , then prouide a vessell or wine caske , or some other : then lay one course of sand on the bottome of the vessell two inches thicke , then a course of the carret rootes , so that the rootes do not touch one another : then another course of sand to couer those rootes , and then another course of rootes , and in this manner vntill the vessell be● full to the top , and if you haue a ground seller , you may packe them in some corner in this manner , you must cut away all the branches of the carrets close by the roote , and somewhat of the small endes of the carrets , and they must be so packed in sande vnwashed and about the last of december : sometime when the●e is no frost , you must then vnpacke them againe , and then the carret rootes will begin to spring in the top of the roote , then if you desire to keepe them vntill a longer time , then you must pare off the vpper end of the roote , that they ●annot spring any more in the top , and then packe them againe in sand as aforesaid , so may you keepe them well till lent or easter . and in this manner you may preserue and keepe the rootes of parsneps and the turneps , for i haue prooued it to bee true and profitable . i could yet heerein take occasion to write of diuers rootes and hearbs , for sallets , to bee planted and sowed in gardens , which do not serue my purpose , for i rather desire to prouide sufficient victuals ●or the poore and greatest number of people , to relieue their hungrie stomackes , then to picke dainty sallets , to prouoke appetite to those that doe liue in excesse , the which god amend . beloued in christ iesus , i desire you to accept of this my good enterprise , in respect i desire the benefit of the common wealth héerein , and is a speciall meane to helpe and relieue the poore , as by experience was manifest in the great dearth and scarsitie last past in the countie of salop and else where , for with lesse garden ground then foure ackers planted with carrets , and aboue seauen hundreth close cabbedges , there were many hundreds of people well refreshed thereby , for the space of twenty daies , when bread was wanting amongst the poore in the pinch or fewe daies before haruest . and many of the poore said to me , they had nothing to eate but onely carrets and cabedges , which they had of me for many daies , and but onelie water to drinke . they had commonly sixe waxe poundes of small close cabedges for a penny to the poore . aud in this manner i did serue them , and they were wonderfull glad to haue them , most humbly praising god for them . and because i did manifestly see and knew , that so littl● gardē ground , as lesse then foure ackers , did this great effect in the common wealth , and especially in helping th● poore thereby : therefore i desire all good and godly people to accept of my good will therein , and to put in practise this my experience and knowledge herein mentioned . and then i haue my wished desire . that the almighty god may be glorified in his owne workes , and the poore the better relieued thereby , and thus for gods loue and your owne profit also . and if any person desire to know of one further then i haue héerein expressed , if you come to me , i hope you shall not want your desire , for as i was willing to write , so am i willing to instruct as many as will request my good will therein , most willingly while it please god i remaine in this mortall life to the end . and thus the almighty god blesse your good proceedings therein . it is not vnknowne to the citty of london , and many other townes and cities on the sea coast , what great aboundance of carrets are brought by forraine nations to this lād , whereby they haue receiued yéerely great summes of mony and commodities out of this land , and all by carelesnes of the people of this realme of england , which do not endeuor themselues for their owne profits therein , but that this last dearth and scarsitie hath somewhat vrged the people to prooue many waies for their better reliefe● whereby i hope the benefit of carret rootes are profitable , i will reueale my knowledge héerein : and first the vse of them amongst the better sort by the cookes . the cookes will take carrets deuided in péeces , and boile them to season their stewed broth , and doth wonderfull well therein as dayly is knowne in seruice to the better sort . also carret rootes are boyled with powdred béefe , and eaten therewith : and as some doe report , a fewe carrets do saue one quarter of béefe in the eating of a whole beefe : and to be boyled and eaten with porke , and all other boyled meat of flesh amongst the common sort of people , & amongst the poorer sort also : carrets of red colours are desired of many to make dainty sallets , for roast mutton or lambe with uineger and pepper . also carrets shred or cut small one or two of them , and boyled in pottage of any kinde , doth effectually make those pottage good , for the vse of the common sort . carrets well boyled and buttred is a good dish for hungrie or good stomackes . carrets in necessitie and dearth , are eaten of the poore people , after they be well boyled , instéed of bread and meate . many people will eate carrets raw , and doe disgest well in hungry stomackes : they giue good n●urishment to all people , and not hurtfull to any , whatsoeuer infirmities they be diseased of , as by experience doth prooue by many to be true . carrets are good to be eaten with salt fish . therfore sowe carrets in your gardens , and humbly praise god for thē , as for a singuler and great blessing : so thus much for the vse and benefit had in the common-wealth by carrets . admit if it should please god , that any city or towne should be besieged with the enemy , what better prouision for the greatest number of people can bee , then euery garden to be sufficiently planted w●th carrets ? i doe desire al people , which haue cause to sell garden fruites or séedes to the vse of others , that they would sell in reason and conscience , and for thier better instr●ctions , i haue heerein mentioned a bréefe rate , how they may well be offorded and soulde , and how i doe make sale of fruites and seedes to others as heerein is expressed . and so long as it shall please god i doe remaine in this mortall life , i will be ready to performe the same to the vttermost of my power in good will , to the benefit of the common wealth , and especially to the poore inhabitants of t●is towne of shrewesburie . the price of carret seedes of both the be●t kindes : that is to say , the large yellow carret and the great shorte yellow carret , the best and fairest roots chosen to set to beare seedes as before is express●d : my price of those principall carret seedes , is after the rate of two shillings the waxe pound , without deceipt . large yellow carrets of those two best kindes after the rate of two pence the stone , ten waxe waights to euery stone , and also the like large carrets which i 〈◊〉 ●●epe and preserue in sande as aforesaid , til ianuarie , fe●ru●●y , and marche , my price is iii. pence the sto●e . the small roots of yellow carrets , of both the best kinds all the rate o● si●e waxe pounds for a penney . principall close cabadge séeds , after the rate of iiii . d . the ounce , the which seedes are hardly saued in this c●un●●e of salop , for being deuoured with birds . faire and large close cabadges , after the rate of two waxe pounds for a penney : and the smal close cabadges better cheape ●o the poore , as occasion shall serue . turnep séedes of the best and largest kinde , after the rate of xii . pence the pound . faire and large turneps , at y● rate of ii . pennce the stone . principall garden beanes of the best kinde , good and drye to s●t , after the rate of ii . pence the quart . like gardē beans greene to eat , at the rate of i. d. y● quart . faire harticho●ks● of the grea●est sort , at i. d. a péec●e , and the other , two or thrée for i , d. as they prooue in greatnes . these aforesaid , & all other garden fruits , rootes and séeds whatsoeuer , which i haue to sell , are at a reasonable price , and perfect good without deceipt , and so many as will bee content to buy with reason , come and welcome . and if any other person desire to buy any store of principall carret seedes , as before is expressed , to sell for reason to others , to benefit the cōmon wealth , i am willing to serue his turne better cheape thē before is declared , because i am willing to procure the vse of carrets , knowne aswell to all people in this parte of england as wales , which god graunt for the better helpe and comfort of the poore , and although i do not know in al this land where to buy the like ●arret seeds for v , s. a pound , yet my price is i●j s the waxe pound , or lesse , as cause is to my liking , till the peole may haue store of their owne growing for their gardens , which is my desire , if it may so please god. an exhortation to loue , wherby all good works do effectually proceed eyther to the glory of god , or benefit of the comm●n-wealth . beloued , the holy word saith : that if we haue faith to remoue mountaines , if we haue not loue , it dooth not preuaile vs any thing . this loue required of vs , doth consist in few words , that is . loue god aboue all things , & thy neighbour as thy selfe . to loue god aboue all thinges , is humbly to giue him most hearty thankes for our creation & our redemption , in the merits of our onely sauiour iesus christ , and also to loue him in a heartie desire , to obey him in the precepts conteined in his most holy worde , and also to loue him for all his benefits both spirituall & temporall , to loue him for his wonderfull prouidence of heauen & earth , and all that is therin , for the helpe & comfort of mankinde , and to loue thy neighbor as thy selfe , is to cherish him , and courteously to admonish and intreate him , to auoid sinne , and to comfort him with those blessings which the lorde hath made thee steward of for that purpose : and when the lord calleth th●e to make accompt of thy stewardship , if thou willingly doe endeuour thy selfe to performe the loue aforesaid , then true faith , and true repentance , will bring thee ( as it were ) hand in hād , to the presence of the lord , where thou shalt make a ioyfull accompte , onely accepted in the merrites of christ iesus . this is the totall summe of thy stewardship , whatsoeuer thou bee , and if thou careleslye omit to doe thy office heerein , thou makest a hard accompt for thy selfe , which god forbid , if it bee his good pleasure therein . and therefore loue god aboue all thinges , and thy neighbour as thy selfe . and then i shal surely and effectuallye haue my desire heerein , and greatly for the profit of the common wealt● . and thus i desire thee good reader , to take in good parte this my last farewell to my nati●e soyle of shrewsburie , except i be urged in conscience further to procéede , as cause and time dooth require therein , and for the better ●xpelling of sinne , which is the onely hindrance of all good workes : let vs humbly end with hartie prayer to our heauenly father as followeth . o heauenly father , haue mercie vpon this common-wealth and congregation , & graunt that we doe not resist nor quench thy holy spirit any longer , but that we may vtterly abo●ish and ●orsake cont●nt ō ambition , ●aine glory , and al manner of crueltie , periuerie & sm●oth dis●ēbling ipocrisie , & all other greeuo●s sinnes daylyē committed against ●ay deuine maie●tie : graunt al●o o heauenly father , that the p●ea●●er● & distributers of thy holy word & gospel , haue not cause any lōger to mourne , lament , and gree●e , in that they cannot preuaile against these notorious sinnes aforesaid , & many other● daily committed , not in the space of ●ortie yeares past , to any good purpose , whe●eby sinne is growne to be rotten ripe , dayly vrging the presence of thy iudgemēts against vs● and graunt likewise if it be thy good pleasure● that our owne great number of bookes , wherin thy hol● word is conteined , & by thy great mercie we doe poss●sse th●m in peace many yeares past , that they be notwitnes against vs in the day of thy feareful visit●●ion . graunt also for thy mercies sake that all th●se which do seeme to professe thy holy worde and gospel , may also truely & effectually practise t●e same in their liues and conuersatiō without shamele● ipo●●sie or blinde selfe lou● . o lord behoulde and reforme the gr●at m●ltitude of seditious persons , that haue presumed into the place of auncient pe●ce●makers , whereby thy holy word and gospell hath taken s●all effect in ●his comm●● wealth , for ma●y yeares past , by reason thereof o lorde re●orme their abuses , & shorten thei● contentious proceedi●gs , for th●ne elect sake , graunt also o heauenly fath●r , that v●fained loue & charitie , may possesse the hearts of all men : & that sedition and b●inde selfe loue may be v●terlye vanquished vnto sathan , from whence it dooth proceede into the hearts of t●e vngodly , against the true peace of thy holy worde and gospel . grace mercy and peace from god our heauenly father , bee with v● all , now and euermo●e . amen . finis . the garden of eden, or, an accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in england with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth, as well in seeds and herbs, as the secret ordering of trees and plants / by that learned and great observer, sir hugh plat. plat, hugh, sir, 1552-1611? this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a54994 of text r33966 in the english short title catalog (wing p2386). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 138 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 92 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a54994 wing p2386 estc r33966 13640527 ocm 13640527 100886 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a54994) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 100886) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1040:3) the garden of eden, or, an accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in england with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth, as well in seeds and herbs, as the secret ordering of trees and plants / by that learned and great observer, sir hugh plat. plat, hugh, sir, 1552-1611? bellingham, charles. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a54994 of text r33966 in the english short title catalog (wing p2386). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread 175 p. printed for william leake ..., london : 1654. engraved frontispiece. dedication signed: charles bellingham. includes index. imperfect: pages cropped, stained, with loss of print. reproduction of original in the cambridge university library. eng gardening -early works to 1800. fruit-culture -great britain. a54994 r33966 (wing p2386). civilwar no the garden of eden· or, an accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in england, with particular rules how to advance their plat, hugh, sir 1654 23851 14 5 0 0 0 0 8 b the rate of 8 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 john latta sampled and proofread 2006-06 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the garden of eden . or , an accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in england , with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth , as well in seeds and herbs , as the secret ordering of trees and plants . by that learned and great observer , sir hugh plat , knight . the fourth edition . london , printed for william leake , at the crown in fleetstreet betwixt the two temple gates . 1654. to the honourable and most perfect gentleman , francis finch junior , of the inner temple , esquire . sir , you may please to pardon my forward inscribing this book to your name . were it a work of mine own composition , i should have thought on a meaner patron . but the memory of that learned knight the authour ( to whom i had so neer alliance ) may excuse this presumption . he was a great searcher after all sorts of knowledge , and as great a lover of it in all others . and i humbly conceiv'd i could not doe him a higher service than by placing his book under your protection , who are not more honour'd by those many noble families whence you are descended , than by that large portion of learning and vertue which have so enriched your noble mind ; and rendred you precious to all that know you . i hope that candor and sweetness which accompanies all your actions , will also shew it selfe in acceptation of this offering from him who is ambitious of no other title than sir , the most humble and most devoted of all those that honour you charles bellingham . the pvblisher to the reader . i shall not blush to tell you , i had some ambition to publish this book , as well to doe right to the learned author ( my ever honoured kinsman ) as to check their forwardnesse who were ready to violate so usefull a work . there are some men ( of great name in the world ) who made use of this author , and it had been civil to have mentioned his name who held forth a candle to light them to their desires ; but this is an unthankfull age . and what ever you may think of this small piece , it cost the author many yeares search , and no small expence , there being not extant in our language ) any work of this subject so necessary and so brief . he had consultation with all gentlemen , scholars , nay not a gardiner in england ( of any note ) but made use of his discoveries , and confirm'd his inventions by their own experience . and what ever they discover'd ( such was his modesty ) he freely acknowledges by naming the authors , sometimes in words at length , as mr. hill , mr. taverner , m. pointer , m. colborn , m. melinus , m. simson , and sometimes by t. t. a. p. &c. what ever is his own hath no name at all , unlesse sometimes ( and that not often ) he add h. p. at the end of the paragraph . and when he refers you to some other part of the book , 't is according to the number or section , not the page , for that onely serves for the table . he wrote other pieces of natural philosophy , whereunto he subjoyned an excellent abstract of cornelius agrippa de occulta philosophia ; but they fell into ill hands , and worse times . as for this collection of flowers and fruits , i would say ( if i had not so near relation to it ) that no english man that hath a garden or orchard can handsomely be without it , but at least by having it will finde a large benefit . and all ladies and gentlemen by reading these few leaves may not only advance their knowledge and observation when they walke into a garden , but discourse more skilfully of any flower , plant , or fruit then the gardiner himself , who ( in a manner ) growes there night and day . farewell . c. b. the author's epistle to all gentlemen , ladies , and all others delighting in god's vegetable creatures . having out of mine own experience , as also by long conference with divers gentlemen of the best skill and practice , in the altering , multiplying , enlarging , planting , and transplanting of sundry sorts of fruits & flowers , at length obtained a pretty volume of experimentall observations in this kind : and not knowing the length of my daies , nay , assuredly knowing that they are drawing to their period , i am willing to unfold my napkin , and deliver my poor talent abroad , to the profit of some , who by their manuall works , may gain a greater imployment than heretofore in theirusual callings : and to the pleasuring of others , who delight to see a rarity spring out of their own labors , and provoke nature to play , and shew some of her pleasing varieties , when shee hath met with a stirring workman . i hope , so as i bring substantiall and approved matter with me , though i leave method at this time to schoolmen , who have already written many large and methodicall volumes of this subject ( whose labours have greatly furnished our studies and libraries , but little or nothing altered or graced our gardens and orchards ) that you will accept my skill , in such a habit and form as i shall think most fit and appropriate for it ; and give me leave rather to write briefly and confusedly , with those that seek out the practicall and operative part of nature , whereunto but a few in many ages have attained , then formally and largely to imitate her theorists , of whom each age affordeth great store and plenty . and though amongst these two hundred experiments , there happen a few to faile under the workmans hand ( which yet may be the operators mistake not mine ) yet seeing they are such as carry both good sense and probability with them , i hope in your courtesie i shall find you willing to excuse so small a number , because i doubt not , but to give good satisfaction in the rest . and let not the concealing , or rather the figurative describing of my last and principall secret , withdraw your good and thankfull acceptation , from all that go before ; on which i have bestowed the plainest and most familiar phrase that i can : for ▪ jo. baptista porta himself , that gallant and glorious italian , without craving any leave or pardon , is bold to set down in his magia naturalis , amongst many other conclusions of art and nature , four of his secret skils , ( viz. concerning the secret killing of mē , the precipitation of salt out of sea water , the multiplying of corn two hundred fold , which elswhere i have discovered : & the puffing up of a little past , to the bignesse of a foot-ball ) in an obscure and aenigmatical phrase . and i make no question , but that if he had known this part of vegetable philosophy , he would have penned the same as a sphinx , & roll'd it up in the most cloudy and dark some speech that he could possibly have devised . this author , i say , hath emboldened me , and some writers of more worth and higher reach then himself , have also charged me , not to disperse or divulgate a secret of this nature , to the common and vulgar eye or ear of the world . and thus having acquainted you with my long , costly , and laborious collections , not written at adventure , or by an imaginary conceit in a scholars private study , but wrung out of the earth by the painful hand of experience : and having also given you a touch of nature , whom no man as yet ever durst send naked into the world without her veile ; and expecting , by your good entertainment of these , some encouragement for higher and deeper discoveries hereafter , i leave you to the god of nature , from whom all the true light of nature proceedeth . h. p. knight . an alphabeticall table to the book . a. annis seeds to grow in england page 78 apple cornels to set 101 apple agreeth not with a pear-stock 120. notè contra 121 apples kept without wrinkles 164 apricot multiplied 127 apricot , which is best 136 apricots fair 157 apricots to bear well 148 apricot stones to set 155 apricots in what ground 146 apricots to prosper 105 arbour when to cut . 90 arbour aloft 94 artichocks from frost 39 , 41 , 79 97 b. barking to help 159 barking of trees 107 barly growing without earth 47 barrenness in trees , upon what cause , and how helped 163 bayes to plant 36 & 100 beasts of hearbs to grow speedily 76 birds of hearbs to grow speedily 76 blossoms from frost 104 to stay blossoming 157 borders of hearbs delicate 77 box tree to plant 100 branches to root 70 , 102 , 105 briony sap to gather 62 c. candying of growing flowers 42 canker avoided 107 carnations growing in winter 50 , 96 carnations old and revived 52 carnations how to set 69 carnations plants to carry far 69 carnations seed to gather 72 carnations of divers kinds upon one root . 75 carnation pots of a stately fashion 49 , 50 carnations to multiply 83 carnations early 65 carots kept long 66 carots to grow large 35 , 67 carots when to sow 68 cats at the roots of trees 99 cherries when to plant 101 cherries growing long upon the tree 105 cherry stock wilde , of what bignesse to graft on 110 cherry upon a plum stock 113 cherries fair 157 cherry to grow large 119 cherries in clusters 265 chestnut tree to plant 111 cions how to chuse 119 cions made the stock 120 cions how to carry far 126 cions to prosper 146 cions and stock sutable 164 coleflower seed to gather and plant 73 coleflower to bear late 74 coliander to sow 81 colour of a flower altred 71 , 138 cowcumbers to multiply 63 crabstock , at what bignesse to be grafted 109 d. dogs at the tree roots 99 dung for pot-herbs 35 dwarf-trees 150 dwarf-trees in an orchard 52 depth for trees 108 e. earth barren strengthned 77 earth , see ground eldern to plant 36 , 100 elme no stock to graft on 120 elme to lop truly 152 early fruit 56 , 64 , 103 , 145 f. fearn to enrich ground 33 flower de luce of seed 91 flowers to grow gilded 41 flowers candied as they grow 42 flowers to keep backward 66 , 67 or forward 64 , 65 flowers to grow upon trees 71 , 67 flowers grafted one upon another 71 flowers single made double 85 flowers from frost 96 fruit early . see early . frets of hearbs in a delicate manner 77 fruit hanging long upon the tree 104 frut without stones 136 frut hiden with leaves 136 167 g. garden enriched philosophically garden ground rich 70 garden within doors 44 garlick to grow large 35 grafting in the bud , with all the rules 111 grafting in the cions , with all the rules 117 grafting , how often in the yeere 135 grafting between the bark and tree 139 grapes kept long 67 , 92 , 97 grapes growing long upon the vine 105 ground to temper 33 ground enriched with fearn 33 ground enriched with soot 33 ground enriched with horn 34 ground enriched 99 , 100 gilding of leaves , and flowers growing 41 h. hasels when to plant 101 hedge of fruit trees for a garden 72 hedge when to cut 90 hedge of white-thorn , how to use 72 hearbs with great heads 34 hearbs to grow upon trees 71 hearbs grafted one upon another 71 hops , how to order 98 horn to enrich ground 34 i. inoculation , witb all the rules thereof 111 k. kernels when to set 70 l. leaves growing gilded 41 leeks to grow great 36 lettice to sow 37 lettice seeds to gather 37 lettice to grow great 37 lopping of trees for beauty 108 139 lopping of trees for bearing 147 m. medlar upon a white thorne 110 medlar stock for a quince 137 mellons to grow great 63 mellons to order 57 musk-mellon to prosper 94 mellons to multiply 63 misseltoe to find 86 misselchild 86 mosse to kill 160 mold rich for orchard or garden 33 , 99 n. nursery , what ground it requireth 134 nuts , when to set 70 nuts set 111 o. oake , when not to be felled 109 oake , how to lop 152 onions and baysalt sowed together 34 onions how to order 79 orchard of dwarf-trees 52 , 103 orchard ground how to keep 140 orchard wet , how to help 146 orchard barren to bear 99 p. parsnips kept long 66 parsnips when to sow 68 parsnips to grow large 35 , 68 peaches in what ground 149 peach stones to plant 102 , 155 peach upon a plum-stock 123 peare , in what ground 149 peare stocks , of what bignesse to be grafted on 110 peare , not to be grafted upon a white thorn ibid. pear tree when to plant 101 pescods early and late 80 , 90 pineapple when to set 102 pinks of carnations , and in carnation time 72 piony of the seeds 91 pippen upon what stocks 137 pyramides of hearbs to grow speedily 76 plants , when to set 102 plants rooted , how to remove without harm 88 plums growing long upon the trees 105 plum-stocks white , of what bignesse to graft on 110 plum agreeth not with a cherry stock 113 plum-stones when to set 101 pompions to grow great 38 pompions to multiplie 63 poplar to grow 100 pot-hearbs , what dung they require 35 pots for carnations , of a stately fashion 49 , 75 proining of trees for beauty 108 proyning of trees for bearing 147 purslane seed to gather 37 q. quinces when to plant 101 quince grafted upon medlar 121 quinces to grow delicate 155 r radish 91 radish to grow large 35 roots when in their best strength 40 roots to grow long and great 67 roots old removed 88 roots of trees , how to be ordered in setting 149 roses grafted , upon what stocks 38 rose musk to bear late 40 roses growing in winter 50 roses to bear late 65 , 82 roses to defend from frost 65 roses early 65 roses late 66 , 82 , 95 roses to multiply 83 rose to bear twice in one yeer 89 rose of gelderland , how to plant 90 s. salt sowed with onions 34 sap in trees checked 162 sappinesse in wood avoided 153 sap of hearbs , how to gather 82 sap of trees , how to gather 156 seeds how old they may be 34 seeds how to choose 34 , 84 seeds to multiply 67 seeds to sprout speedily 84 seeds to grow full and plump 91 seeds kept from fowle 91 sent of flower altered 71. 138 snayles to kill 35 soot to enrich ground 33 spring when to set 102 stock gilliflower made double 85 stock and cions sutable 164 stock gilliflowers how to plant 69 stock gillyflowers to continue long growing 88 stock when it is big enongh to be grafted on 110 stock made to prosper 131 stock to multiply 134 stones when to set 70 strawberries wild into gardens 38 strawberries how to water 38 strawberries early 64 strawberries large 92 suckers planted 111 spinage when to sow 91 t tast of a flower altered 71 , 138 timber or tree togrow of any fashion 148 trees old recovered 56 , 103 trees coming of a branch 70 tree to bush in the top 55 , 9 trees to prosper 105 tree from barking , or canker 107 tree , at what depth to set 108 trees to top 108 tree bark-bound , helped 31 tree let into another 124 tree how to transplant 134 , 143 tree transplanted , how it altereth . 137 tree-gum in winter 140 tree to grow tall 55 tree made to root higher 141 , 162 tree with a wreathed body 142 tree-gum in autumn 158 tree to burnish 160 tree barren to bear 143 tulip to double 86 turneps kept long 66 turneps to grow large 35 v. vine cutting to choose 35 vine when to plant 35 vine young , when to proin 35 vines old , recovered 56 , 103 , 145 vine to carry grapes long upon it 105 vineyard how to keep 141 vine bleeding helped 145 vineyard to plant 54 w walnut tree to plant 111 walflowers how to plant 69 wardens in what soyl 159 warden agreeth not upon a white-thorn 110 water philosophicall for gardens 167 water artificiall for gardens 75 93 wax artificiall for graffing 124 weather ill to work in 109 white-thorn for what cions 110 white-thorn stock at what bignesse to be graffed on 109 woods speedy 106 worms to kill 70 the garden of eden . or , a briefe description of all sorts of fruits & flowers , with meanes how to advance their nature and growth in england . i shall not trouble the reader with any curious rules for shaping and fashioning of a garden or orchard ; how long , broad , or high the beds , hedges , or borders should be cōtrived ; for every man may dispose it as his house or quantity of ground requires . and ( to deale freely ) i look on such work as things of more facility then what i now am about . every drawer or embroiderer , nay ( almost ) each dancing-master may pretend to such niceties ; in regard they call for very small invention , & lesse learning . i shall therefore speake to that which common searchers passe over , or never aymed at , being somewhat above their reach , who neglect the cause of what they find effected . yet i shall begin with the ground , soile , or earth it selfe , as the foundation of all ; still confessing what light or assistance i had from those who imployed their hours this way as well as my selfe . 2. break up your ground , and dung it at michaelmas . in januar. turn your ground three of four times , to mingle your dnng and earth the better , rooting up the weeds at every time . proved by mr. t. t. 3 in winter time , if you cover the ground which you meane to break up in the spring , with good store of fern , it keepeth down grass and weeds from springing up in winter , which would spend some part of the heart of the ground , and it doth also inrich the ground very much , for all manner of roots and hearbs . by mr. and. hill . ashes of fern are excellent . 4. quaere , of enriching ground with soot , which mr. stutfield ( that married my lord north's brothers daughter ) assured me to have found true in pasture grounds , the same onely strewed thinly over . 5. shavings of horn strewed upon the ground , or first rotted in earth , and ( after ) that earth spread upon the ground , maketh a garden ground very rich . probatum at bishops hall , by h. p. 6. onions & baysalt sowen together , have prospered exceeding well . 7. the surest way to have your seeds to grow , is to sow such as are not above one year old , t. t. 8. if hearbs be nipped with the fingers , or clipped , they will grow to have great heads . t. t. 9. chuse such seeds as be heavy , & white with in , t. t. 10. swines & pidgeons dung are good for potherbs and sifted ashes laid about them , killeth snails , t. t. 11. if you would have garlick , parsnep , radish , turnep , carot , &c. to have a large root , tread down the tops often , else the sap will run into the leaves , t. t. 12. take the cutting of a vine from a branch that spreadeth most in the midst of the tree , and not from the lowest nor the highest branch , having five or six joynts from the old stock , and it would be a cubit long or more : plant it in octob. or march . t. t. 13. proine not your young vines untill they have had three years growth . t. t. 14. every slip of a bay tree will grow , strip off the great leaves , and set them in march when the sap beginneth to rise . t. t. 15. every plant of an eldern will grow . t. t. 16. first , put some good fat dung into water , and therein water your leekes one night , and make your beds of good fat dung , that the dung may be a foot at the least in depth : then cover the bed with fern , and set the leekes with a great planting stick , and fill not the holes with earth , but water them once in two dayes and no more ; after this maner of setting i have seen leekes as great as the stemme of a spade . t. t. 17. sow lettice in august for winter . t. t. 18. after the lettice is all blowen , and some of the bolles begin to bear a white poff , then cut off the whole great stem , and lay it a drying in the sun : and when it is dry , beat it up and down with thy fist upon a boord , & put altogether in a dish , & blow away softly all the dust . t. t. and if you sow or set your lettice in the shade they will be very great . 19. when it hath bolles , cut it up , and lay all the hearb to dry in the shadow then beat it out . t. t. 20. strawberries which grow in woods , prosper best in gardens : and if you will transplant them forth of one garden into another then enrich the last ground by watering the same either with sheeps dung , or pidgeons dung infused in water ; by master hill . 21. the muske and yellow rose , and all those double and centiple roses , may well be grafted in the bud upon the sweet-brier . by mr. hill . 22. if you would have pompions to grow exceeding great , first plant them in a rich mold , then transplant those sets into other fat mold , watring them now and then with the water wherein pidgeons dung hath been infused , then take away all the hang-bies , maintaining only one or two main runners at the most , and so you shall have them grow to an huge bignesse . proved by mr. hill . you must nip off these side branches about blossoming time , with their flowers and fruits ; and take heed you hurt not the heads of the main runners , for then your pompions will prove but dwindlings . 23. in winter time raise little hills about your artichokes close to the leaves , because they are tender ; and if any extream frosts should happen , they might otherwise be in danger to perish . 23. if you cut away the old branches of a muskerose , leaving onely the shoots of the next year to bear ; these shootes will bring forth musk roses the next year , but after all other musk-rose trees . by mr. hill . 25. the roots of every tree and plant , are most full of sap when their tops or heads are most green and flourishing : and when the bark of the tree will pill and loosen from the body , then will the rind also loosen from the root ; and when the tops begin to wither or stand at a stay , then doe the rootes likewise . and therefore that common opinion , that rootes are best and of most force in winter , is erroneous . so as if i should gather any roots , for the use of physick or surgery , i would gather them either at their first putting forth of leaves , or else between their first springing , & the springing up of their branches , when they begin to encline towards their flowring . by a. h. 26. if every evening you lay a great colewort or cabbage leaf upon the top of every artichoke , this will defend the apple from the violence of the frost . by goodman the gardiner . 27. a branch of box or rosemary will carry their leaves gilded a long time fair , notwithstanding the violence of rain , if you first moisten the leaves with the gum of mastick , first dissolved in a hard egge according to art , and leafe-gold presently laid thereon . do this in a summers day , when all the dew is ascended , and when the sun being hot , may presently harden the mastick , and so bind down the gold fast unto it . quaere , if myrrhe and benjamin will not do the like , dissolved as before . 28. make gum water as strong as for inke , but make it with rose-water ; then wet any growing flower therewith , about ten of the clock in a hot summers day , and when the sun shineth bright , bending the flower so as you may dip it all over therein , and then shake the flower well ; or else you may wet the flower with a soft callaver pensill , then strew the fine searced powder of double refined sugar upon it : do this with a little box or searce , whose bottom consisteth of an open lawn , & having also a cover on the top ; holding a paper under each flower , to receive the sugar that falleth by : and in three houres it will candy , or harden upon it ; & so you may bid your friends after dinner to a growing banquet : or else you maycut off these ers so prepared , and dry them after in dishes two or three dayes in the sun , or by a fire , or in a stove ; and so they will last six or eight weeks , happily longer , if they be kept in a place where the gum may not relent . you may doe this also in balme , sage , or borrage , as they grow . 29. i hold it for a most delicate and pleasing thing to have a fair gallery , great chamber or other lodging , that openeth fully upon the east or west sun , to be inwardly garnished with sweet hearbs and flowers , yea and fruit if it were possible for the performance whereof , i have thought of these courses following . first , you may have faire sweet marjerom , basil , carnation , or rose-mary pots , &c. to stand loosely upon faire shelves , which pots you may let down at your pleasure in apt frames with a pulley from your chamber window into your garden , or you may place them upon shelves made without the room , there to receive the warme sun , or temperate raine at your pleasure , now and then when you see cause . in every window you may make square frames either of lead or of bords , well pitched within : fill them with some rich earth , and plant such flowers or hearbs therein as you like best ; if hearbs you may keep them in the shape of green borders , or other forms . and if you plant them with rosemary , you may maintain the same running up the transumes and movels of your windowes . and in the shady places of the room , you may prove if such shady plants as do grow abroad out of the sun , will not also grow there : as sweet bryars , bayes , germander , &c. but you must often set open your casements , especially in the day time , which would be also many in number ; because flowers delight and prosper best in the open aire . you may also hang in the roof , and about the sides of this room , small pompions or cowcombers , pricked full of barley , first making holes for the barley ( quaere , what other seeds or flowers will grow in them and these will be overgrown with green spires , so as the pompion or cowcomber will not appear . and these are italian fancies hung up in their rooms to keep the flies from their pictures : in summer time , your chimny may be trimed with a fine bank of moss , which may be wrought in works being placed in earth , or with orpin , or the white flower called everlasting . and at either end , and in the middest place one of your flower or rosemary pots , which you may once a week , or once every fortnight , expose now and then to the sunne and rain , if they will not grow by watering them with raiue water ; or else , from platformes of lead over your windows , raine may descend by smal pipes and so be conveyed to the roots of your hearbs or flowers that grow in your windowes . these pipes would have holes in the sides , for so much of them as is within the earth , and also holes in the bottome , to let out the water when you please in great showers and if you back the borders growing in your windowes with loose frames to take off and on , within the inside of your windows , the sun will reflect very strongly from them upon your flowers and hearbs . you may also plant vines without the walls , which being let in at some quarrels , may run about the sides of your windows , and all over the sealing of your rooms . so may you do with apricot trees , or other plum trees , spreading them against the sides of your windowes . i would have all the pots wherein any hearbs or flowers are planted , to have large loose squares in the sides ; and the bottoms so made , as they might be taken out at ones pleasure , and fastned by little holes with wiers unto their pots , thereby to give fresh earth when need is to the roots , and to remove the old and spent earth , and so in your windowes : see more of this in numb. 30. 30. to have roses or carnations growing in winter , place them in a room that may some way be kept warm , either with a dry fire , or with the steam of hot water conveyed by a pipe fastened to the cover of a pot , that is kept seething over some idle fire , now and then exposing them in a warm day , from twelve to two , in the sun , or to the rain if it happen to rain ; or if it rain not in convenient time , set your pots having holes in the bottom in pans of rain water , & so moisten the roots . i have known master jacob of the glassehouse to have carnations all the winter by the benefit of a room that was neare his glasse house fire ; and i my self , by nipping off the branches of carnations when they began first to spire , & so preventing the first bearing , have had flowers in lent , by keeping the pots all night in a close room , and exposing them to the sun in the day time , out at the windowes , when the wather was temperate : this may be added to the garden ( mentioned nu. 20. ) to grace it in winter , if the roome stand conveniently for the purpose . 31. you shall oftentimes preserve the life of a carnation or gilliflower growing in a pot , that is almost dead and withered , by breaking out the bottom of the pot , and covering the pot in good earth , & also the old stalks that spring from the roots ; but every third or fourth year , it is good to slip and new set them . 32. if you make an orchard of dwarf-trees , suffering none of them to grow above a yard high ; then may you strain course canvas over your trees in the blooming time , especially in the nights and cold mornings , to defend them from the frosts : and this canvas being such as painters use , may after be sold with the losse onely of a penny upon the ell . you may use it onely for apricots , and such like rare fruit whose blossoms are tender ; or else to backward them after they be knit , if you would have them to beare late when all other trees of that kind have done bearing . in this dwarf orchard i would have the walks between the trees either pavedwith brick , or graveled , and the gravel born up with bricks , that the sun might make a strong reflection upon the trees , to make them bear the sooner . and to bring forth the better digested fruit , i would also have the plot so chosen out , that all easterly and northerly winds may be avoided by some defence . i would have it but a small orchard ; and if it were walled in , it were so much the better . help this orchard with the best artificial earths and waters that are . i think a vineyard may thus be planted , to bring forth a full , rich , and ripe grape : or if you could happen upon a square pit of a yard deep , whose banks are sloaping ▪ & whose earth have been philosophically prepared ( as before num. 10. ) & that your trees were bound sloaping to the sides of your orchard , and backed with boards , or lead , for reflexion , that so your trees would prosper and beare most excellent fruit : and to keep your trees low , when your stock is at such height as you would have it , nip off all the green bunds when they come first forth , which you finde in the top of the tree , with your fingers ; and so , as often as any appeare in the top , nip them off : and so they will spread but nor grow tall ; even as by nipping off the side buds onely , you may make your tree to grow streight and tall , without spreading , till you see cause : and thus with your fingers onely , and vvithout any toole , you may keep your young trees grovving in what form you please . 33. to have early fruit , you must have an especial care to plant or graffe such fruits , as are the earliest of all other , and then adde all artificial helps thereto . 34. two quarts of oxebloud or horse bloud for want thereof , tempered with a hat full of pidgeons dung , or so much as will make it up into a soft paste , is a most excellent substance to apply to the principal roots of any large tree , fastening the same about them , after the root of the tree hath taken ayr a few dayes , first , by lying bare : and it will recover a tree that is almost dead , and so likewise of a vine . for this will make a decaying tree or vine to put forth both blossoms and fruits afresh . this must be done to the tree about the midst of february , but apply it to the vine about the 3d or 4th of march . this is of m. nicholson gardiner . 35. get a load or two of fresh horse dung , such as is not above 8. or 10. dayes old , or not exceeding fourteen : lay it on a heap till it have gotten a great heat , & then make a bed thereof an ell long , and half a yard broad , and eighteen inches high , in some sunny place , treading every lay down very hard as you lay it ; then lay thereon three inches thick of fine black sifted mold ; prick in at every three or four inches distance a muske mellon seed , which hath first bin steeped twenty four hours in milk : prick the top of your bed full of little forks of wood appearing some four or five inches above ground ; upon these forks lay sticks , and upon the sticks so much straw in thicknesse , as may both keep out a reasonable showre of rain , and also the sun , & likewise defend the cold ( some strain canvas slopewise onely over their beds ) let your seeds rest so untill they appeare above ground , which will commonly be in six or seven dayes . you must watch them carefully when they first appeare ; for then you must give them an howers sunne in the morning , and another in the afternoon ; then shall you have them shoot an inch and a halfe by the next morning ; then strew more fine earth about each stalk of such plants as have shot highest , like a little hill to keep the sun from the stalks : for if the sun catch them , they perish ; and therefore you shal often see the leaves fresh , when the stalks wither . heighten your hills , as you shall perceive the stalk to shoot higher and higher . the plants must remain till they have gotten four leaves , and then remove them , taking up earth and dung together carefully about every root : make a hole fit for every of them good ground , placing them ( if the ground serve ) upon an high slope bank , which lyeth aptly for the morning sun , if you may ; let this bank be covered with field sand two inches thick all over , except neare about the plants ( this ripeneth & enlargeth the fruit greatly ) then cover each plant with a sugar pot , gilliflower pot , or such like , having a hole in the bottom ; or else prick in two sticks acrosse , archwise , and upon them lay some great leaves to keep your plants from rain , sun and cold . after they have been planted a day or two , you may give them two houres sun in the morning , and two in the evening , to bring them forward , but , till they have stood 14. dayes , be sure to cover them from 12 to 4 in the afternoon every day , and all night long . these pots defend the cold , and keep out all worms from spoyling your plants ; and therefore are much better then leaves . note , that you must defend them in this manner in the day time , until your plants have gotten leaves broad enough to cover their stalks and roots , from all injury of weather ; and then may you leave them to the hot sun all the day long . if there be cause , you must with rain water , water them now and then , but not wetting the leaves . and if by any exceeding cold , or moysture , your plants doe not shoot forward sufficiently , but seem to stand at a stay , then take some blood and pidgeons dung tempered ( as before in num. 34. ) apply the same to the roots of the young plant ; leaving some earth betwixt the roots , and the same will make them to shoot out very speedily . remember to plant three plants together ther in each place , being round , and a little deep , and of the bignesse of a round trencher . now when they have shot out all their joynts ( which you shall perceive when you see a knot at the very end of the shoot , which is somewhat before the flowring time ) then some do use to cover every knot , or joynt , with a spade or shovel full of fine and rich earth ; and thereby each knot will root , and put forth a new shoote ( quaere , of the same course in pompions or cowcumbers ) by means whereof you shall have great increase of mellons . when your mellons are as big as tennis balls , then if you nip off at a joynt , all the shoots that are beyond them , the mellons will grow exceeding great ; for then the sap doth not run any more at waste . but some hold , that you shall have greater mellons though not so many , if you suffer their shoots to run on without earthing the knots ; and then , when when you see your mellons of the bigness of tennis balls ( as before ) then nip off , at a joynt , all the shoots that are beyond the mellons , but meddle not with the chief runner . this of mr. nicholson gardiner . lay your young mellons upon ridge-tiles , to keep them frō the ground , and for reflection . 36. make a high bank , slopewise like a penthouse , that openeth to the sun , and is by some means defended from all hurtfull winds : plant your strawberries therein , and water them with the infusion of some apt dung , now and then , when the weather is dry . 37. bow down the branches of roses , having buds upon them , into a vessel of wood pitched , standing within the ground , to keep them long upon the stalk , or to prevent frosts if you see cause . 38. quaere , what pigeons dung and bloud , applyed to the rootes of roses , or carnations , will do , in the forwarding of their bearing . 39. plant roses , according to the manner set down for strawberries before ( num : 36. ) to have them before all others . 40. make a lay of sand , and a lay of carot rootes , cutting away the toppes close to the root , with some of the small ends of the carots ; do this in october or novemb : in dry weather : and about the last of december where there is no frost , unpack them againe ; and if you will then keep them longer , you must pare off the shooting at the upper end of the root , and then lay them in sand . this out of gardiners kitchin-garden , printed 1599. so of parsneps and turneps . 41. quaere , if binding the bark somewhat hard with a packthred , or rather with brawn-bands , will not keep roses , and other flowers and fruits , long from blowing , by staying the sap from rising . 42. to have rootes prosper and grow great , you must trench your dung about the depth of your root which you would sow ; and if the root once get into the dung , then it forketh , and gathereth fibras , whereas otherwise it will grow wholly into a long , round , and fair root , of mr. andr. hill 43. but if you desire to multiply your seed , not respecting the rootes , then mix your dung first well rotted with good mold , and therein sow your seeds and they will encrase much : so as for seeds the dung must lye in the top , and for roots in the bottom by mr. andr. hill 43. gather your carot or parsnep seeds &c. from the highest spiring brances , and out of some friends garden , where you may be sure of the best ; sow these seeds about march , or april : and at drawing time choose the fairest roots of all other ; cut off their tops somewhat low , and set them againe , and then let them feed the next yeare ; then take the seedes from the highest toppes and sow them , and so shall you have most faire and large roots . this of master hunt , the good horseman . 44. take off the tops as far as the green goeth , viz. till you come to the wood , from carnations , gilliflowers , &c. slit them upward thorough the nethermost joynt , thrusting between the joyns some fine searced earth , made first into pap ; and with the same pap close the ends round about as big as a walnut : make holes in your pots , and put in your tops so earthed ; these do seldome or never faile . by minisris hill . also , the old root is here preserved , and you may carry these tops thus earthed 100 miles in a box . quaere , if this secret will not also extend to stock gilliflowers , wall-flowers , &c. 45. cut off a bought from any tree ; and two inches from the bottom , take away the bark round about , prick it into the ground , and it will grow . quaere . 46. in the end of february or march , wet the ground first , and about eight or nine of the clocke at night , by candle-light , gather up all the wormes in dishes , and so you may destroy them . 47. a rich mold for a garden : see among the trees . numb : 29. 48. set or sow kernells in november , nuts in february , stones of fruit in march , all in the increase of the moon . 49. quaere , of graffing roses , the splicing way , and so of thyme , rosemary , hysope , &c. to be graffed in this manner , either one upon another , or graffing them upon the boughes or branches of trees , if happily they will take . 50. whether the colour , sent , or tast , may be altered in a flower or hearb , by art , see the title , trees and plants , numb : 90. 51. instead of privy hedges about a quarter , i commend a fence made with lath or sticks , thinly placed and after graced with dwarf apple , and plumme trees , spred abroad upon the stick . 52. when you would have a strong and speedy white-thorne hedge about your garden , set your plant high and sloping , and not flat , after the common manner . prick in the cuttings , with the slope side downward , that the rain may not get in between the wood and the bark . weed these hedges twice every yeare , and as the sprowts doe grow of some length , let them be platted , or brayded upward from the ditch ; defend them from cattell with a dry or dead hedge . 53 let carnations or gilliflowers shed their leaves , and leave the cods standing upon the root till the end of october , v●z . so long as you may for the danger of frost : then cut off the stems with the cods upon them ; stick them upright in some dry place in an upper roome , and so let them rest untill the spring , then sow them . your carnation seed will prove faire large pink , and beare in carnation time ; by s. 54. your coleflower seed will not ripen till michaelmas , or a week after ; let it stand so long or longer , if you feare not frost , before you gather the seeds , which grow in yellow cups ; and being ripe , are also yellow themselves . be sure you gather the cups before the seedes be shed ; put these seeds with their cups or cods in a box , but cover not the box , and keep the box in some place from the frost ; prick them in about the full of the moon in aprill , when cold weather is spent : remove them when they have gotten four leaves , and in the full of the moon in any case . remove some of them in severall moneths , and so you may save them growing with coleflowers till christmas . your ground cannot be too rich for them ; the best removing is not till june and july , and those of least growth , are best to remove late , to bear in winter . cover each coleflower in frosty weather , every night with two of their great leaves , fastned in two places , with two woodden pricks . do this also in cold gloomy dayes , when the sun shineth not . 55. graft the branches of carnations the splicing way , as in small twigges of trees , placing upon each branch a severall coloured flower , but let the branches which you graft , be wooddy enough . by s. 56. cause large carnation pot to be made , viz. double in bignesse to the usuall pots , let them have ranks of sloping holes , of the bignesse of ones finger , each rank one inch distant from another . set in the midst of the pot a carnation , or a lilly , and in every of the holes , a plant of thyme or hysop ; keep the thyme or hysop as it groweth , even with clipping , or in the forme of frets or borders , and set these pots upon faire pillars in your garden , to make a beautifull shew . also , you may either of stone or wood , make pyramides , losinges , circles , pentagons , or any forme of beast or fowle , in wood , or burnt clay , full of slope holes ( as before ) in gilliflower pots ; these being planted with hearbes , will very speedily grow greene , according to the forme they are planted in : and in this manner may you in two yeares space , make a high pyramid of thyme , or rosemary . in hot weather , they would be shaded with some strained canvas from the sun , * and watered now and then by some artificiall meanes . also , a fret or border may be cut out in wood or lead , and after placed in a garden when the hysope or thyme sides are growne to some height to be let thorough the cuts , and alwayes after kept by clipping , according to the worke of the border , or fret : let the earth settle well before you sow your seeds ; water with an infusion of dung , or good earth , because otherwise the earth within your molds will spend , and then your plants will decay . 57. sow english annis seeds when the moon is at the full in february , or any time between the full and the change : if frosts will not suffer you to take the full moon , hatch them into the ground , with a rake stricken thick upon them : then strew new hors-dung thinly upon the ground , to defend the seedes from the frost . these will ripen about bartholomewtide ; then respecting the moon as before , sow againe , and these seeds will be ripe sooner then those which were sowen in february . these seeds will also come up well , being self-sowen , only break up the ground about them when they begin to ripen . that ground which you would sow in february , breake up about michaelmas ; let it lye and crumble all the winter : then when you meane to sow , stir it up againe , that it may be mellow ; for , the mellower the better . a black rich mellow ground is best , and they like well in a rich dunged ground : proved by s. 58. having well earthed your artichocks , then strew upon them some fresh hors-dung , one inch in thicknesse , and so leave them all the winter : by 23. 56. 59. sow onion seeds in february within eight dayes after the full at the farthest ( but the neerer the full , the better , so all will go to seed , or head , and not grow to scallions : after you have sowed them , cover them as you did your annis seeds , before in num. 57. by s. 60. sow the early pease as neer midsommer as the moon will suffer , if you would have them come about six weekes after michaelmas : but if you would have them ripe in may , then sow them in the beginning of september , somewhat before or after , as the moon will give you leave : at the full is good , or three dayes before the full , and till eight dayes after the full , is also good : these will be ripe in may . make your holes about one inch and a halfe deepe , wherein you set your pease ; let the ground be rich , mellow , and ordered , as before , ( numb. 57. ) in annis seeds ; beare them up with stickes , as they doe the gardenpease ; cover them after they be set with new hors-dung about halfe an inch thick , all over ; and ( if you may possibly ) plant them so , as that they may be defended from the north , and northeast , by reason of some hedge or wall . quaere , of covering them with un sleakt lime powdered , after they have been steeped in some apt liquor a convenient time ; by s. 61. sow coliander seeds in february , respecting the moon as in annis seedes , ( num : 57 ) but they need no dunging : by s. 62. in aprill make a deep overthwart cut or gash into a briony root , taking away the earth first from it ; put in a goos-quill a little under the slit , sloping the quill at the end which you thrust into the root : but first make a hole with your knife to get in the quill , and so you may gather great store of the water of briony , placing a receiver under the quill ; by s. 63. quaere , if one may not prevent the early budding of the rose , by crosshacking the bark ( as in trees to kill mosse , or to stay their sap from rising . ) 65. you may multiply many rootes from a province rose , and the double musk-rose , ( quaere , of carnations ) if you buy a grafted rose tree , that hath gotten many sprowts from the place graffed , and setting the root so as the body may lye sloping neer the earth : then lay as many of the branches as you may conveniently into the earth , loosing every slip a little from the body , and pricking with an aule about the joynt that is next the slip , from whence many sprowts will issue . and thus may you have great store of province roses without graffing in the bud , because each of them standeth upon his owne roote ; whereas the bud is maintained from one roote , whch also maintaineth many other branches . by s. see before in numb. 53. 65. put some of your seeds in a sawcer of faire water , set it a while upon a chafingdish of coales ; and if they be good , they will sprowt in a short time , else not . 66. quaere , in what time seeds may be made to grow in earth , moystened with warme water now and then , and the same placed in a warme roome , over a fornace , with a small temperate heate under the same . 67. remove a plant of stock gilliflowers when it is a little woodded , and not too greene , and water it presently ; doe this three dayes after the full , and remove it twice more before the change . doe this in barren ground , and likewise three dayes after the new full moone , remove againe ; and then remove once more before the change : then at the third full moon , viz. eight dayes after , remove againe , and set it in very rich ground , and this will make it to bring forth a double flower ; but if your stock-gilliflowers once spindle , then you may not remove them . also , you must shade your plant with boughs for three or foure dayes after the first removing ; and so of pinks , roses , daysies , featherfew , &c. that grow single with long standing . in removing , breake not the least root . make tulipees double in this manner . some think by cutting them at every full moone before they beare , to make them at length to beare double . num : 71. 68. by sitting upon a hill late in an evening , neere a wood , in a few nights a fire drake will appeare ; marke where it lighteth , and there you shall finde an oake with misletoe therein , at the root whereof there is a misell-childe , whereof many strange things are conceived . beati qui non crediderunt . 69. gather your grapes at the full of the moon , and when they are full ripe , slip each bunch from the stocke whereupon it grew , and hang those bunches along by beames , in the roofe of a warme chamber , that doth not open to the east , or to the north , and these will keepe plump and fresh till our lady day , or thereabout : or else with every bunch , cut off some of the stock whereupon the stalke grew , and then hang up the bunches . both these wayes be true ; by s. 70. make a ●●●tle square or round hole in a tree , or in some great arme there of , of halfe an inch , or an inch deep , fill it with earth , sow therein some rosemary seeds , wall-flower , carnation , or other seeds ; and these will grow first in the earth , and after root in the sap of the trees , and seeme in time as if they were graffed . 71. remove both double and single stock-gilliflowers , when they are halfe a foot high , and then they will stand six or seaven yeares : whereas otherwise they will decay very speedily : see before , num. 67. 72. if you remove any rooted plants of hearbe or flower , though it be somewhat forward in the summer , so as you do it in the evening , after the heat is past ; and plant it presently , and water it , there is no danger of the parching heat of the sun the next day . but in any case heave up the earth with the root carefully , so as you do not breake the least sprigge of any root ; for then the sap goeth out of the plant , and it perisheth . this way you may recover great gilliflower rootes , and others , without danger ; by s. 73. cut your roses , after they have done bearing , so soone as the moone will give you leave , viz. the fourth , fift , or sixt day after the change , and so you shall have store of roses againe about michaelmas , or after . take heed you cut no branch of a rose so low , as that you leave no leading branches upon it : for that will hinder the bearing of the roses exceedingly . it is also good in the after-said dayes after the change , to cut any hedge , arbour , &c. to make it grow the better : by s. 74. if you would have peascods before all men , sow the early pease in august , three dayes before the full moon , or within six dayes after , and these will come very early ; by s. 75. how to plant the gelderland rose , see among trees and plants , numb : 119. 76. how to have onion seeds , annis seeds , and other seedes , to keepe full and plump , see among trees : numb : 135. 77. sow at every wane before midsommer , to have radishes unseeded , and one under another ; but at midsommer wane so we radish , spynage , &c. but once , to grow till winter unseeded ; proved by tomkins the gardner . 78. the double piony , and flowerdeluce , will grow of their own seed . by tomkins . 79. lime beaten to powder , and mixed with corne before it be sowen , preventeth rookes , and other fowle , from devouring the same . by my cousin mathews of wales ; quaere , if it do not also help to enrich . 80. gather you grapes , as before , num . 69. dry them in a stove , till the faint water be spent , and so you may keep them all the yeare for your table . quaere , if they will not plump up againe at any time in warm water . quaere , of drying all manner of apples , plummes , peares , &c. this way , for lasting . before numb. 69. 81. as soone as your strawberries have done bearing , cut them down to the ground ; and as often as they spire , crop them , till towards the spring , when you would have them to proceed towards bearing : now and then as you cut them , strew the fine powder of dryed cow-dung ( quaere of pidgeons dung ) upon them , and water them when there is cause . field strawberries , this way , will grow two inches about in bignesse , as i am credibly enformed . enrich carnation pots this way . 82. to water your pyramides , pentagons , globes , beasts , &c. made of wood , or lead , and overgrowne with hearbes , as before in num . 56. let there be placed a long and large pipe of lead , or tinne plate , reaching from the bottome to the top ; let the bottome be sodred up , and let it have divers holes in the sides , at a reasonable distance : then have an exceeding large funnell of tin plate , to let in to the pipe at your pleasure to receive so much raine as will water the same sufficiently ; and when it raineth not , you may also water thereby with some rain-water kept of purpose . 83. quaere , if pompions planted in large pots , will not grow and beare fruit : for then you may have an arbour of them in an open tarras , leades , or gutter , having a frame to support the fruit . enrich the earth ; as before , numb. 83. now and then , to nourish the plant the better . 84. quaere , if musk-mellons will not grow , and beare in such pots , for so in a leads or tarras , the sunne will shine shrongly upon them ; and you may defend frosts and cold winds by streining of canvas : water the pots with raine water put into other pannes , wherein you may place these pots when you want raine . 85. cut you roses when they are ready to bud in an apt time of the moon , and they will begin to bud , when other roses have done bearing : this is an excellent secret , if frosts happen in budding time : for so may you have store of roses , when others shall have few or none , and may then be sold at a high rate . this i proved the 18th . of march 1606. being a few dayes after the change , upon divers standards at bednal-green , being extreamely nipped with frosts , in budding time ; and many of them did yeeld me great store of roses , when the rest of my garden did in a manner fail . 86. cut your rose-standards in the twelve dayes , and not before : so they will beare exceeding well . proved often by garret the apothecary , and pigot the gardener . 87. towards winter , new earth your gilliflowers , carnations ; and such other flowers as you would defend from the violence of winter ; then whelme carnation pots that are bottomlesse upon them , or having a great hole in the bottom : and by this meanes , neither the sharp windes , nor the frost , can easily pearce to their roots . i hold this to be a good course for the defence of artichokes in winter . 88. you may keep bunches of grapes that are sound and well gathered , in stone pots , covering them carefully , with sand . to choose ground for a hop-garden , you must be sure it bee not a moorish or wet soyle ( though such perhaps may content a wild hop ) but a dry ground , if it be rich , mellow , and gentle , is absolutely best . yet a light mold ( though never so rich ) is unapt for this purpose , for the heaviest ground will bear the greatest weight of hops . place your garden so as the sun may have free accesse to it , either all day , or warmest part of the day . it must be guarded also from the wind , either naturally defended by hills , which is best ; or artificially by trees : but your trees must stand aloofe , lest the shadow of them reach the hops , or drop wet upon them , which will destroy all . about the end of march , or beginning of april , take your roots from some garden where they are yearly cut , and where the hills are raised high ( for there the roots will be greatest ) let each root be nine or ten inches long , let there be three joynts in every root , and of the last yeer's springing ; but be sure no wild hops cumber the ground , which cannot be distinguished by the root , but by the fruit , or stalk . secrets in the ordering of trees and plants . dogs and cats applyed to the roots of trees before the sap rise , have recovered many old decaying trees , shred them . 2. divers waies for the enriching of a ground , whereof to make an orchard , see among flowers . numb. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. 3. gravelly ground is to be dunged with chalk , and chalky with gravell , for lack of dung . t. t. 4. strip away the leaves form the boxen slippe , and winde not the stemme , but set it whole without winding . t. t. 5. every slip of a bay tree will grow : strip off the great leaves , and set them in march , when the sappe beginneth to rise . 6. every plant of an eldern will grow . t. t. 7. sand enricheth a clay ground ; and clay a sandy ground . 8. every slip of the poplar tree will grow . 9. all trees which you would have to grow thick at the top , and to bush there , cut or proin them in may : for they spring more in june and july , than all the yeare before or after . 10. plant cherries in october , november , january , and february . t. t. 11. plant quince trees in october , november , february , and march . t. t. 12. set hasells and peare trees in october , november , february , and march . t. t. 13. set apple cornells evermore the end that is next the root downward , five fingers breadth between every cornell ; moysten them often with water by sprinkling , and set the cornells in march . t. t. 14. set plumstones in november , six or eight inches ches deep in the earth . t. t. 15. set the pineapple cornel ( first steeped in water three dayes ) in october , november , february , and march , four inches deep . 16. set peach-stones the sharp end downward , in november , four or five inches deep . t. t. 17. set springs and plants in harvest . 18. if a plant put forth many stalkes or branches from the root , and you would have each branch to root , then bear up the earth about them to some reasonable height , either with tills or brickbats ; and in that earth , every branch will root . ( quare , if your branch will root at any part but in a joynt , about the which also , with a great aule you must pricke many holes even to the wood , ) this is a necessary secret in all such plants as be straight and stiffe , and not apt to bow , or to be laid along within the earth . by mr. pointer . 19. how to recover an old decaying tree or vine , with bloud , and pigeons dung , see among the flowers numb. 34. 20. an orchard of dwarf-trees , that may be defended from all frosts , see among the flowers , numb. 32. 21. how to have early fruit , see among the flowers numb. 33. 22. plant dwarse trees , and when the fruit is almost ripe , bow down their branches with their fruit upon them , into great earthen pots , or pitched tubs , either with bottomes , or without bottomes , the pots or tubs standing in the earth ; then cover them with boards and earth from the sun , and the sap of the tree will keep them growing a long time , as i suppose . prove this in greene fruit , ripefruit , and almost ripe fruit ; also in the blooming time , if you fear frosts bow downe the branches with the blossoms , as before to defend them in may , from the injury of the weather : and by this help you may happily have fruit , when others shall want . 23. put a vine branch through a basket in december , chuse such a one as is like to beare grapes ; fill the basket with earth , and when the grapes are ripe , cut off the branch under the basket : keep the basket abroad , whilst the weather is warme ; and within doors in cold weather , in a convenient place : prove this in plummes and cherries , &c. 24. make divers holes with a croe of iron , round about the bodies of your trees ; and about alhallontide , pour oxe bloud into the holes , cover them with earth , and this will make your trees to prosper well . probatum in apricot trees , by mr. andr. hill . if you do this at the spring , the smell of the bloud will offend you ; and therefore this practice is best for the winter season . 25. plant the shoots of sallow , willow , alder , and of all swift growing trees , being of seven yeares growth , sloping off both the ends one way , and laying the sloaped ends towards the ground , let them be of the length of a billet , bury them a reasonable depth in the ground , and they will put forth seven or eight branches , each of which will becom a tree in a short time . i take moyst grounds to be best for this purpose : thus you may have speedy growing woods . 26. to make any branch of a tree to root , see among the flowers , numb. 45. 27. mixe green cow-dung and urine together , wash the trees with a brush so high as you think meet , once in two or three months , and it will keep the trees from barking with beasts , conies , &c. and the same doth also destroy the canker . 28. take of the rich crust of one acre of ground , and therewith you may make any garden , or orchard ground , that is but a foot deep in goodnesse , of what depth you please to make the rootes of your trees to prosper the better . 29. in high grounds and sandy , set trees deepe : in low grounds , and watry , plant them shallow ; the shallower the better . by master hill . but by taverner , you must set your trees so , that the rootes may spread in the upper crust , which is the fruitfull part of the earth . this crust in some grounds is two foot ; in some three foot ; in some one foot ; and in some but halfe a foot deepe : see the reason more at large , in his booke , page 34. 30. lop , top , and proin all trees in january , in the wane of the moone , and pare them over in march : so shall the bark cover his stock the sooner . 31. slit the barke of all trees that are bark bound , in february , or march , in the increase of the moon . 32. refuse to grasse , plant , remove , lop , top , proin , to slit the barks of trees , or set or sow cornells , nuts or stones , in weather frosty or watry , and when the wind shall be east or north , or north-east . yea , the best oake felled under such a winde , will prove but wind-shaken timber . 33. small crabstock of three inches about , or lesse , may be graffed . 34. peare stocke , and white thorne stockes of the same scantling , all of them about the length of twelve or twenty four inches . 35. wild cherry stocks , three , four , or five foot long and three inches about , little more , or lesse . 36. white plumstockes would be of the same bignesse . 37. when the stocke is able to put forth in one yeare a shoot of a yard long , then is it of strength sufficient to bear a cions ; for then it sheweth to like the ground well ; otherwise , it will never prove a fair tree . 38. a peare or warden , grasled upon a white thorn , will be small , hard , cappard , and spotted ; but a medlar may well be grafted upon a white thorne . taverner . 39. the suckers of quince trees , and filberds , will prove well being planted . taverner . 40. for chestnuts and wallnuts , set the nuts onely . taverner . rules for inoculation , or graffing in the bud . 41. if you graft in the bud , be carefull to close the same well in the bottome of the scocheon ; for there the sap riseth that maketh it to take . by andr. hill . 42. from the eight of june until the 24 is the best time to graft in the bud in plums and cherries , but specially in apricots ; but the surest rule is to do this work when you find the bark to come easily from the body . 43. two parts of three in a goos-quill taken away in breadth , is an apt tool to take off a bud withall , without danger of hurting the bud . by master pointer . some commend a tool of ivory ; some do onely slip off the bud and the bark together . 44. graffing , by taking off a bud losenge wise , and setting the same in another like place upon a stock , is good . by master pointer . this is done at such time , as is sit to graft in the cions . 45. when your bud takes , then in march after , cut off all that groweth aboue it , stripping away all the buds that put forth : and that which remaineth serveth to leade up the branch of the bud to keepe it straight , and to defend it from breaking with the wind . 46. if you graft two or three buds upon one tree , and they all do take , maintaine onely the lowest , and preserve and strengthen the same with some neither branch , as before in num . 45. 47. a cherry prospereth well upon a plum stocke ; but not e contra : and therefore , if you graft a cherry in the bud upon a branch , or bough , of a plumtree that doth beare , you may make the same tree to bear both plums and cherries . proved by mr. hill . 48. a pair of compasses made flat at the ends , and sharp with edges , is an apt instrument to cut away the bark for inoculation , both for a true breadth and distance all at once . and so likewise with the same you may take off the bud , truly to fit the same place again in the stocks some compasses are made flat at one end , and sharp at the other . 49. you must have care in this grafting , not to hurt or bruise the gelly next the stock which must minister sap to your bud . 50. also when you have taken off your bud , clip the sides of the bark whereon the bud standeth , with a pair of scissors , very even , in a square form ; or rather somewhat longer then broad : for if you cut the bark at the ends with a knife , laying the inside upon any board , you will hurt the gellie in the inside , and then the bud will never take . 51. make the place ready for inoculation , and remove not your bud before you mean to place it , for taking of too much ayre . 52. when you have cut down the bark on either side , and likewise at the top , leave the bottome of the barke whole , and then slip down the bark ; and betweene the barke and the tree , put in the bud , and bind the loose barke of the tree upon your bud , and by this meanes your grafting will take more certainly . the lesser your slit is , and the closer that your bud fitteth the slit , it it the likelier to take . 53. take off your bud from a sprig of the last years shoot , for that is best for this purpose ; by mr. andr : hill . 54. make an overthwart cut at the bottom , and then begin your slit upward , putting up your bud from the bottome of your slit , closing well at the bottom , this is contrary to the common course , which beginneth at the top , with a slit downward . graffing of a cions . 55. a tool of ebony , or box , is better to open the bark than a toole of iron , if you would graft a cions betweene the bark and the tree . by master pointer : for mars tainteth the sap presently . 56. grafting whipstocke wise , and letting in the cions into the stock by a slit , is good for young trees , that spring upot stones , or pippins , being of theee of foure yeares growth , and not above . some call this the splicing way . 57. grafting upon a old tree , by cutting off the head , and one inch from the center by striking in a small iron wedge , and as it eleaveth by following the same with your knife ; and so on either side , placing of a cions , sap to sap ; this is a way of grafting used by master pointer of twicknam . 58. graft within a foot of the ground , if you would have the fruit to grow low , and easie to be gathered ; and this is also thought a fit way to make your cions to take , because the sap riseth speedily to the cions . 59. graft your cions on that side the stock , where it may take least hurt with the south-west wind ( because it is the most common , and the most violent wind that bloweth in the spring , and summer : ) so as that wind may blow it to the stock , and not from the stock . 60. if you would have faire and kindly cherry trees , set the stones of cherries , of the same kind as your bud or cions is of , and at three of foure yeares , you may graft thereon , according to the manner , spoken of before , in numb : 57 viz. great cherries , upon stocks that carry great cherries . 91. some think it good , that your cions have some of the former yeares shoot with it , that it may be the stronger to graft , and abide to be put close into the stock ; and perhaps it will forward the sam in bearing . 62. it is the best way , to put in your cions in the graffing as close and straight as you may : neither are you here to fear the pinching of the stocke , unlesse it bee where you graft in a deepe clift of a large body . 63. so likewise you may graft , upon a bearing bough of an apple tree , a contrary apple ; and when that cions is growne great enough to receive another graft , you may graft a contrary fruit thereon ; but an apple cions doth not agree with a peare stocke , ( not e contra ) nor a plumme upon an apple or peare stock , neither will any cions of a fruit tree take upgn an elme stocke ; proved by master hill . 64. a quince may well be grafted upon a medlar stock : and a medlar will grow , but not prosper so well upon a quince stocke , because the cions will out-grow the stocke ; proved by master hill . 65. unlesse the uttermost rind or barke of your stocke be very gentle and thin , it is best to slit the same along : but hurt not the innermost barke when you graft between the bark and the tree by mr. an. hill . 66. before you graft your cions , take a way a little of the uppermost barke on either side the edge , but hurt not the greenish part . 67. if your bark and cions are both straight , then may you graft the deeper into the stock , viz. foure inches , and that is a very sure way to make the cions to take , so as you joyne sap to sap well ; but if either the stock or cions be crooked , then two inches are sufficient . by mr. and: hill . 68. you may graft an apple cions at christmas , so as you graft the same very deepe into the stocke , viz. four inches , or three at the least , and close it well : for , though the sap rise not , yet the moysture of the stock is sufficient to preserve the cions , untill the sap do rise ; proved by mr. and: hill . 69. long mosse , well bound about the head of your stock and of an inch or more in thicknesse , is sufficient alone to keep out both wind and water from the stock where the cions is let in . this must be repaired again at midsomer . 70. close your cions with red or green wax , having a little butter therein about the slit : and this both keepeth out the wind , and maketh the sap to creepe under , and cover the slit the sooner . 71. a peach may well be grafted or inoculated in a plmme stocke , and will thrive better then upon his own stock . 72. if two trees grow together , that be apt to be grafted one into another , then let one brach into an other workmanly joyning sap to sap . 73. if you have three or foure good buds next the foot of the cions , that cions is long enough to be grafted ; and so you may make divers cions of one branch , where you cannot get plenty of cions . 74. close all your incisions upon small and young stocks , with a mixture consisting of green wax , or red wax : and if your wax be old , melt the same , and adde some fresh turpentine thereto , or else you may use pitch instead of wax , adding turpentine : but let there be alwayes in your wax , one fifth , or one sixth part of butter , to keep the same supple ; and when you have applyed this salve close to the joynts , then strew thereon the fine powder of dryed earth , which you must have alwayes ready ; and that keepeth it hard in the sun-shine : this is the onely composition to make the bark to cover the stock . you must first after your grafting , binde the stock and the cions together , with the bands of brawne , and then lay your tempered wax thereon ; and if the band continue whole , you shall cut it in sunder about august following ; by andr : hill . 75. you may carry your cions in this manner , a long journey without endangering them : first , wax over the ends with the artificiall wax , ( mentioned before in numb : 74. ) then role them up in great store of greene mosse moystened , and tye them , and then put them into a case or box of wood , and so carry them ; by and : hill : you may keep a cions fourteen dayes or 3 weekes in grafting time , so , as it be done before march , by sticking the same in your window onely ; yet some will have ends of them dipped in the compounded wax , as before in numb : 74. 76. alwayes be carefull when you graft upon your stocks the splicing way , that your stocke be of as large a kind of fruit , or larger , then the cions , or else it will not be able to feed the cions : or else you must graft upon larger stocks , if the cions be of a large fruit , and the stock but of a small fruit . 77. plant an apricot in the midst of other plumme trees round about it , at a convenient distance ; then in an apt season , bore thorought your plum trees , and let in to every one of them , one or two of the branches of your apricot tree , thorough rough those holes , taking away the barke on both sides of your branches which you let in , joyning sap to sap , and lute the holes up with tempered loame ; and when they are well knit , the next year cut off the branch from the a. pricot tree : and so you have gotten many apricot trees out of one . take away in time all the head of your plum tree , and all other branches maintaining onely that which is gotten from the apricot . but some commend rather the leting in of a branch of one tree , into the other , worknanly , for the more certaine kinde of grafting . 78. plant every stocke with one leading branch , at the least , to carry up the sap : and after your stocke hath growne one year , and maketh good shew of liking the ground , then graft your cions upon it , leaving one or two leaders ; but none so high as to overtop your cions : and when your cions is well taken , then cut away your leaders , and all other spires ; and so your cions will prosper exceedingly . by andr. hill . 79. some hold opinion , that if when others begin to graft in the slit , you doe then cut off the head of your stock , leaving one branch near the head to lead the sap , and then after cold weather is all past , if you graft in the slit , that so your stock and cions will prosper far better , then if you had grafted the same in the slit at the first . by andr : hill . but then you must remember to take away the leader , that the sap may more plentifully feed the cions . 80. some doe cut off all their cions in the winter , viz. either in november , or december , and then lay them in earth ; and in the new moone of march or aprill , they graft them , and they prove exceeding well ; perswading themselves , that no knife is so sharpe , but that it will hurt the barke orgelly of the cions , if the cions should be cut downe when the sap is up . this of mr. colborne ; who commendeth this course , upon long experience . and if you graft those cions upon such forward trees , as have put out their sap very plentifully , they will prosper exceeding well ; because being hungry , and almost starved for want of nourishment , they take hold of the sap that ariseth from the stocke , very eagerly . 81. note , that your stocks may put forth buds , yea , small leaves ; and yet you may safely graft upon them . 82. if you would have your stocks of your young grafted trees to prosper , and grow exceedingly , then suffer the waterboughs to grow up with the stock , till the bodies be as big as your arme , and then prune them at your pleasure ; for by this meanes the sap doth rise more lustily , when it hath many branches to draw from the root . 83. you may graft in the cions , a moneth after other men , and yet have a longer shoot than they , the same yeare , in this manner : cut off the head of your stock when other men do ( which many times falleth out to be in very cold weather ) then cover your stock over with your artificiall wax , ( as before in numb. 74. ) and one moneth after , or when all cold weather is past , crop your stock one inchlower , and then graft your cions ; and then ( cold weather being past ) the sap will rise very plentifully to maintaine the cions . proved by master andr. hill . 84. graft not upon any young stock , till it be able to put forth a shoot of a yard long in one yeare ( which sometimes will not happen , till it have been of two or three years growth ) for till it put forth abundance of sap , it will never feed the cions sufficiently . proved by master andr. hill . 85. the stocks of black cherry trees , are best to graft the great cherry upon ; proved by mr. colborne . 86. to have your nursery full of stocks to graft on , sow the stampings of crabs ; which are commonly : full of cornells ; by mr. kirwin . 87. let your nursery consist alwayes of a more barrain ground then your orchard , whither you meane to remove your stocks and grafts . so likewise , if you transplant any fruit trees , bring them alwayes from a worse ground to a better , or else they will never prosper . 88. slope your stockes which you meane to graft on , like colts feet before you graft them : for so the bark will cover the sooner , and the raine shooteth from the stock the better . proved by master colborne . 89. if you would have your graft to beare quickly , one speciall help is , to take it out of a bearing branch . 90. at the beginning of the yeer , and before the sap doe rise , you may graft in the body of the stock , or by way of splicing upon every little branch of your tree ( but alwayes remember to take off the top of your cions , having any leaves upon it : ) when the sap is up , then you must graft betweene the barke and the stock ; and then the sap is so plentifully risen , that the barke will easily pill from the body , then may you graft in the bud , or leafe . how to graft at christmas , see before in numb. 69. 91. to graft roses , or hearbs upon trees , see among the flowers , numb. 49. 92. graft the small end of the cions downward ; and so of pears and apples ; and they will have no coar . quaere , of glummes grafted upon a willow , to come without stones . also , such apples and pears thus grafted , will for the most part hang under the leaves , and not be seene , unlesse you come under the trees : by s. 93. a grafted apricot is the best : yet from the stone you shall have a faire apricot , but not so good ; and the grafted is more tender then the other . by s. 94. graft a medlar upon a quince , and it will bring a faire and large medlar : by s. 95. a cion of a pippin , grafted upon a crab-stock , is more kindly , and keepeth better , without touch of canker , then being grafted upon a pippin . by mr. simson . 96. trees that bear early , or often in the yeare , as peare trees upon vvindsorhill , which beare three times in a yeare ; these , though they be removed to as rich , or richer ground , yet they do seldom bear so early , or so often , except the soyle be of the same hot nature , and have the like advantages of situation , and other circumstances , with those of vvindsor . and therefore commonly , the second fruit of that pear tree being removed , doth seldome ripen in other places . by master hill . 97. all those fantasticall conceits , of changing the colour , taste , or sent , of any fruit , or flower , by infusing , mixing , or letting in at the bark , or at the roots of any tree , hearb , or flower , of any coloured , or aromaticall substance , master hill hath by often experience sufficiently controlled : and though some fruits and flowers , seeme to carry the sent or taste , of some aromaticall body , yet that doth rather arise from their own naturall infused quality then from the hand of man . 98. some do never graft betweene the bark and the tree , but in old stocks . 99. lop the branches of your trees alwayes in winter , before the sap doe rise within ten or twelve inches of the trunk ; and in the spring , when the sap is up , cut those branches close to the trunk : and so shall you both have your tree lusty , because no sap is left in those vast branches ( which would have beene lost , if you had proined them according to the usuall all manner , in march , or aprill ) and also the sap will then come purling out , and soone cover the wood ; whereby you shall avoid those blemishes in your trees , which others procure by proining them in the winter . by master andr. hill . 100. quaere , what hearbs , flowers , or branches of trees , may be grafted upon the bay or holly tree , or any such tree as keepeth green to winter , to make them also carry green leave in winter . 101. pare your ground with a shod shovell , so often as any grasse or weedes begin to put forth , both in your nursery and orchard ; and so shall you both keepe the ground mellow , and the raine shall have better passage unto the roots of your trees . by masters pointer ; who keepeth coines in his orchard , onely to keepe downe the grasse low , because otherwise it would be very chargeable . also , in vineyards , the use is to turne up the grounds with a shallow plough , as often as any grasse offereth to spring : but i thinke , that prevention of graffe , both in orchard and vineyard , is much better , if in were not too costly . 102. upon the epiphany , by reason of a great storme , an apple tree , that had not beene very fruitfull before , was almost blowne up by the roots at hackney ; and after with ropes it was drawne upright , and the what mounted , and the root covered with earth ; and that tree , the next sommer , bare an exceeding great burden of fruit . 103. when your apple cornells are of two yeares growth , then set a long straight stick by each of them , winding the young stocke about the stick ; by little and little as it groweth , and fastning it with bands under the stick , and so it will grow in a wreathed form . 104. quaere , if nipping off the new and tender tops about blossoming time will not make sommer fruit trees to blossome speedily , or to enlarge the fruit . 105. if an old tree that is spent , and hath done bearing , be underpropped , so as the body sink not , and that the earth be after taken away from under all the roots , and instead thereof , good rich mold be conveyed into the void places , that so an old tree will florish againe , and beare fruit . see before in numb. 103. 106. the lord zouch , in winter , in the yeare 1597 ( and master and. hill ) thinketh moist weather is best , that the earth cleaving to the roots , may be also removed with them , the earth being fast bound with fearn branches to the roots ) removed diverse apple trees , damson trees , &c. being of thirty or forty years growth , at hackney : the earth was digged in a good large compasse from the roots , the roots little hurt ; holes were prepared for each tree before hand , enriched with fresh and good earth ; and branches and tops taken off almost close to the trunk ; and they were planted again in the same hower wherein they were removed ; and the roots placed towards the same point of the compasse as they first grew . he had a few damsons the first year , and all put forth leaves at michaelmas after , anno 1598. 107. blood laid at the roots of old vines , hath been commended for an excellent substance to harten them , unto mr. andrew hill . 108. if you cut any vines when the sap is up , presently cover the place with good store of turpentine , and it will stay bleeding . proved by mr. melinus . some commend the straight binding of a packthred about the bark thereof : some sear with a hot iron , and drop hard wax presently upon it . 109. by the opinion of some men , if outlandish fruit trees be planted in england , they do strive to put forth blossoms , and to bring fruit at the same time with us , as they did in their naturall places , unlesse the extremity of cold doe nippe or hinder them . and this seemeth to them to be the reason , why the black thorne at glassenbury abbey , did use to blossome at christmas , because happily the plant was brought from such a climat , as where it did blossome at the same time of the year . 110. if your trees stand in wet grounds , some doe advise to lay lime on the face of the ground , to help the bearing of the trees . 111. if whilst you maintaine some suckers to your stock , ( because the stock is not yet so big as your arme ) your cions doth not prosper to your mind , then nip off the buds that grow upon the suckers , now and then in the midst , till your cions thrive according to your owne desire . 112. in proining of your fruit trees , or of any other shrub or plant bearing fruit you must alwayes have respect , whether it beare his fruit upon the first , second , or third yeares sprowt ; for you must never cut away all the bearing sprowts , if you meane to have any fruit . as , in pippins , the third yeares sprowt doth onely beare fruit ; and in some other fruit trees ; onely the second yeares sprowts ; in gooseberries , the last years sprouts bear most , by mr. andr. hill . 113. when your trees are young , you may bow them to what compass you will , by binding them down with packthread to any circular form , or other shape that pleaseth one best . and by this means your timber will growe fit for ships , wheels , &c. whereby great waste of timber in time would be avoided . 114. mix cow-dung and horse-dung well rotted , with fine earth and claret wine lees , of each a like quantity , baring the roots of your trees in jan. february , and march : and then apply of this mixture to the roots of your apricot trees , and so cover them with common earth : by this means , such apricot trees as never bare before , have brought forth great store of fruit . prove this in other trees . this of mr. andr. hill . 115. pears , wardens , and peaches , delight in clay grounds . 116. when you plant any tree , presse not down the roots together , with laying earth confusedly upon them , but extend every branch by it self , and cover it loosly with earth , according to that form wherein it did first growe . by mr. colborn . 117. apricots like well in sandy ground . 118. some hold opinion , that if one set the slips of an apple tree , and so of divers other trees , that these will prove dwarfe trees . and so of the tree that beareth a white flower as big as a rose , called the gelderland rose . 119. from may to the end of july , you may take off the bark from any bough of a tree , round about the bough foure inches deep , if the bough be as large as a mans wrist ; or else a lesse depth will serve . if the bough be lesse in compasse cover the bare place ; and somwhat above and below , with loame well tempered with horse dung , binding downe the loame with hay , and brawn ban ds upon the hay : and so let it rest till about alhallontide : and then within two or three dayes of the first new moon , cut off the bough in the bare place , but in any case cut not the green bark above it ; and then set it in the ground , and it will grow to be a faire tree in one yeare , according to the length of the bough . quaere , of watering the loam now and then . yet in reason , me thinkes it a likelier course , to clap a gilliflower pot made of purpose in two halfes , with a great hole in the bottome , about such an arme ; and after you have bound the pot well with wier , then to fill it with good earth , which you may better water in dry weather , than you can do the lump of loam . you may also use a twig no bigger than ones finger , in the same manner . yet some do rather commend the binding of the loam , or earthing the tree , with a pot about it , without taking away any bark at all , but only pricking many holes with a great aule , in that part of the bark which is covered with the loam or earth . you must remember to underprop the pot , or else to hang it fast to the tree . quaere , if a branch must not root at a joynt . 120. if you cut off the top or head of an elme , it will not leave rotting downward , till it be hollow , and doat within : but an oake will abide heading and not rot . also , the boughs or branches of an elme , would be left a foot long , next to the trunk when you lop them . this of an expert carpenter . 121. to avoid sappinesse , fell both the bodies and the arms of oaks and elms in december after the frost hath well nipped them : and so your saplings , whereof rafters , sparres , &c. are made , will last as long as the heart of the tree , without having any sap . by the same man . 122. take off a thin turfe of two foot , round about type="duplicate" each tree newly planted , cover the same with fearn , pease straw , or such like , a handfull thick : water your trees once a moneth , if the weather prove dry , with dung water , or common water , that hath stood in some open pit in the sun . this keepeth the ground loose from baking ; whereby the tree will prosper the better , and put forth shoots of three and four foot in one year : remember you do not set any tree above one foot deep , or little more , & give each tree some props for the first yeare , that the wind shake it not too much . and yet some , of good experience , doe hold , that it skilleth not how much a young tree be shaken ( so as it be not blown up by the roots ) and that it prospereth so much the better . 123. quinces growing a gainst a wall , lying open to the sun , and defended from cold windes , eate most delicately . this secret the lord darcy brought out of italy . quaere , of all other fruits . 124. set peach stones in a dry ground , where there is no water within three or four foot ; for this tree hath one root that will run deep into the ground : and if it once getteth into the water the tree dyeth . the stone bringeth forth a kindly peach . set peach and apricot stones in pots of earth , within doors in february ; keep the earth moist , by wat ring now & then ; transplant them in march into your orchard . by s. 125. in the end of march , gather the sap of the trees within a foot of the ground : but take off the first bark , & then slit the white bark overthwart wise , even to the body of the tree ; but slit onely that part of the bark which standeth south-west , or between south & west , because little or no sap riseth from the north , or north-east side . after you have slit the tree , open the slit with your knife , so as you may let in a leafe of a tree , first fitted to the breadth of the slit ; and from this the sap will drop , as it doth in filtration . take away the leaf , and the bark will close again ; earthing it with a little earth upon the slit . by s. 126. cut away all the idle shoots of the last year , in your apricot and cherry trees , before christmas some three weeks , to make your fruit the fairer . 127. if you would stay the sap of trees from rising , to make your trees to blossom later , thereby to avoid frosts in blooming time , then hack crosse-wise , viz. overthwart the tree , upon so much of the tree as is within the ground , even down to the root , and then cover it again with earth . hack it very thick , even thorough all the bark to the very wood , in the new moone three weekes before christmas , if they be apple trees , pear trees , or warden trees : but for apricots , doe this rather in the full of the moone , next before christmas ; but crosse hack your cherry trees and peach trees in the new moon next after christmas : and so you shall have your blossomes , and by consequence your fruit , come later then other mens doe , because the sap cannot rise . i thinke you must also hack the maine root . cuaere . by s. 128. if you would make a tree in a short time to cast his leaves , and thereby to bring forth young leaves , which will last upon the tree fresh and green , when all other trees have lost their leaves ; then crosse hack the bark , close to the wood about midsomer . in all the crosse hackings here mentioned , let every of them be halfe an inch , or thereabout , distant one from another ; and every rank of hacks , one inch above another , or thereabout . also , this practice to avoid the fall of the leafe , must be done but every second yeare to any tree , for fear of destroying the same . 129. but if in january , or before the sap doe rise , you hack the body long-wise , and not overthwartly , and that only thorough the first bark , and no further ; this will make the bodies of your trees to swell , and burnish the better , to maintain their heads or grafts . 130. and if by overthwart hacking you would only kill the mosse of trees , then let your overthwart backs be thorow the bark , even to the wood : and this you must do between alhallontide and s : andrews day ; viz. so soon as the leaves be off the tree , both to avoid mosse , and to make barren trees to bear . you must make these hacks with the nether corner , or point of a small hatchet , so as every notch may be about half an inch long : and hack the body the height of a man ; viz. one row of hacks , two inches below one another ; all over the body : but let there be a distance between the overthwart hacks , so as they may not meet in a round ring , like a circle , about the tree : and by this meanes the uppermost bark whereon the mosse grew , will in time fall clean away , and the mosse with it , and the tree will gather a new bark . and though the tree be thus hacked but to a mans height , yet the tree will beare much better the next yeare . but when your leisure serveth , crosse-hack all the body in this manner , even to the trunk , as also a part of every great arme that groweth next the tree : note , that in seven years the tree will bee bark-bound , and so mossie again , as at the first : and therefore once in seven yeares you must renew this work . by s. 131. but if your tree bear not , because it was planted too deepe at the first , then take away the earth from the body of the tree ; and a little below the uppermost face of the ground , prick the body of the tree clean thorough the bark , full of holes , with a pretty round aule or bodkin , of a reasonable bredth . then cover the body with earth , and divers new roots will issue , to make the same fruitfull . 132. and if your tree beare not well , by reason that all the sap runneth into leaves , which is a common fault in divers orchards , then to check the sap , cut off all the young roots that grow about the master roots ; and crosse hack the body under the ground , and likewise the maine roots , as before ( num. 131. ) to avoid mosie , and cover the tree with earth againe : for by this meanes the sap is kept from rising up too plentifully . by s. 133. all barrennesse , or unfruitfulnesse in trees , doth for the most part arise , either by reason of their mossinesse , whose cure is set downe before in numb. 131. or because they are bark-bound ; whose remedy is also in numb. 130. or because they were planted too deepe , whose remedy is in num. 132. or by reason that the sap , which should turne into fruit , runneth together , or for the most part into leaves : and this is remedied also in numb. 133. 134. gather not your pippins till the full moon , after michaelmas ; so may you keepe them a whole yeare without shrinking : and so of the grapes , and all other fruits ; so of onion seeds , annis seeds , and other seeds , which you would keepe full and plump . by s. 135. let your tree whereon you graft , be more forward then the cions ; viz : let it either have bigger buds then the cions hath , or small leaves : but the cions is best that hath onely red buds , and no leaves . 136. i have seen cherriesgrow in clusters like filberts , viz. 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5. upon one stalk . cuaere , if it be not performed in this manner ; joyne 2 , 3 , 4 , or 5. leaves with the buds in one flit together , by way of incoulation , and so leave them . here i will conclude with a conceit of that delicate knight , sir francis carew ; who , for the better accomplishment of his royall entertainment of our late queen of happy memory , at his house at beddington , led her majesty to a cherry tree , whose fruit he had of purpose kept back from ripening , at the least one moneth after all cherries had taken their farewell of england . this secret he performed , by straining a tent or cover of canvas over the whole tree , and wetting the same now and then with a scoope or horne , as the heat of the weather required ▪ and so , by with-holding the sun-beames from reflecting upon the berries , they grew both great , and were very long before they had gotten their perfect cherry colour : and when he was assured of her majesties comming , he removed the tent , and a few sunny dayes brought them to their full maturity . a philosophicall garden : with a touch at the vegetable work in physick , whose principall fire is the stomach of the ostrich . first , pave a square plot with brick , ( and if it be covered with plaister of paris , it is so much the better ) making up sides of brick also plaistered likewise : let this be of a convenient depth , fill it with the best vegetable ♄ which you can get , that hath stood two yeares , or one at the least , quite within his owne spheare : make contrition of the same ; and be sure to avoid all obstructions , imbibe it with aqua coelestis in a true proportion , grind it once a day till it be dry : being dry , let it stand two or three days without any imbibition , yt it may the better attract from all the heavenly influence , continuing then also a philosophical contrition every day ( this grinding must also be used in the vegetable work where the ☿ of hearbs is used instead of aqua coelestis ) during all the time of preparation : then plant what rare flowers , fruits , or seeds , you please therein . and ( if my theory of nature deceive me not this ♄ so enriched from the heavens , without the help of any manner of soyl , marle , or compost ( after one years revolution ) will make the same to flourish and fructifie in a strange and admirable manner : yea , i am perswaded , that it will receive an indian plant , and make all vegetables to prosper in the highest degree , and to bear their fruits in england , as naturally as they do in spain , italy , or elsewhere . so likewise of that walnut-tree , planted within the limits of the aforesaid abby , which on st. barnabias eve standeth bare , and naked without leaves ; and upon the day it self , richly clothed with his green vesture . i could remember many philosophical plants in england , were it not that the losse of ripley's life , that renowned alchymist , who suffered death ( as the secret report goeth ) for making a pear-tree to fructifie in winter , did command an altum silentium in these matters : but it was the denial of his medicine , and not the crime of conjuration , which was but colourably laid to his charge , that wrought his overthrow . nay , if the earth it self , after it hath thus conceived from the clouds , were then left to bring forth her own fruits and flowers in her own time , and no seeds or plants placed therein by the hand of man , it is held very probable ( unlesse for the sin of our first parents , begun in them , and mightily increased in us , the great god of nature , even natura naturans , should recall , or suspend those fructifying blessings which at the first he conferred upon his coelestial creatures ) that this heavenly earth , so manured with the starres , would bring forth such strange and glorious plants , fruits and flowers , as none of all the herbarists that ever wrote till this day , nor any other , unlesse adam himselfe were alive againe , could either know , or give true and proper names unto these most admirable simples . also , in the work of fructification , i think that corn it self may be so philosophically prepared , only by imbibition in the philosophers aqua vitae , that any barren ground , so as it be in nature kindly for corn , shall bring forth a rich crop , without any matter added to the ground , and so with a small or no charge , a man may sow yearly upon the same ground and he that knoweth how to lay his fallowes truely , whereby they may become pregnant from the heavens , and draw abundantly that coelestial and generative vertue into the mataix of the earth ; this man , no doubt , will prove the true and philosophical husbandman , and goe beyond all the countrey coridons of the land , though never so well acquainted with virgils georgicks , or with master bernhard palisiy his congelative part of raine water , which he calleth the vegetable salt of nature : wherein though he observed more then either varro , columella , or any of the ancient writers in this kind , did ever dream of ; yet doth he come many degrees short of this heavenly mystery . now , to give you some taste of that fire which the philosophers call the stomach of the ostrich , ( without which the philosophers true and perfect aqua vitae can never be made ) you must understand , that it is an outward fire of nature , which doth not onely keepe your glasse , and the matter therein contained , in a true proportionable heat , fit for workmanship , without the helpe of any ordinary or material fire : but it is also an efficient and principal cause , by his powerful nature and pearcing quality , to stir up , alter and exalt , that inward fire that is inclosed within the glasse in his owne proper earth . and therefore here , all the usual chymical fires , with all their graduations , are utterly secluded ; so as neither any naked fire , nor the heat of filings of iron , of sand , of ashes , nor of baln . mar. though kept in a most exquisite manner , nor any of the fires engendered by putrefaction , as of dung and such like , no nor the heat of the sun , or of a lamp , or an athanor ( the last refuge of our wandring and illiterate alchymists ) have here any place at all . so that by this fire and furnace onely , a man may easily discern a mercenary workman ( if he deale in vegetables onely from a second philosopher ; and if in any thing ( as no doubt in many things ) then here especially vulgaris oculus caligat plurimum . this fire is by nature generally offered unto all , and yet none but the children of art have power to apprehend it : for , being coelestial , it is not easily understood of an elemental braine ; and being too subtile for the sense of the eye , it is left onely to the search of a divine wit : and there i leave it for this time . the physical use of this fire , is to divide a coelum terrae , and then to stellifie the same with any animall or vegetable star , whereby in the end it may become a quintessence . here i had thought to have handled that crimson coloured salt of nature , so farre exceeding all other salts , in a true , quick , and lively taste , which is drawne from the philosophers earth , and worketh miraculous effects in mans body ; and withall , to have examined that strange opinion which doctor quercitanus , an excellent theorist in nature , and a great writer in these dayes doth . violently maintaine , in his discourse upon salt-peter . but because it is impertinent to this subject , and that i have discoursed more at large thereon in my abstract of corn . agrip. his booke de occult . philos. and for that quercitanus doth shew himselfe to be a true lover of hermes houshold , i will not straine my wit , to write against any particular person that professeth himselfe to be of that family ; although both he , and some others , as great as himselfe , must give me leave , whensoever i shall be forced in that booke to handle the practical part of nature , and her processe , happily to weaken some principles and positions , which both he and they have already published ; excusing my selfe with that golden saying of ar●isttle , {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} . amicus socrates , amicus plato , sed magis amica veritas . but i am affraid i have been too bold with vulgar wits , who take no pleasure to heare any man altius philosophari , that they can well understand ; and therefore i have compiled this book in plain termes , of such a garden and orchard as will better serve for common use , and fit their wits and conceits much better . finis . ●ooks printed or sold by william leake at the signe of the crown in fleetstreet between the two temple gates . a bible of a faire large roman letter , 4o . tokt's heraldy . man become guilty , by iohn francis senalt , & englished by henry earl of monmouth . welby's second set of musique , 3 4 5 and 6 paris . the h●story of vienna , and paris . callis learned readings on the stat. 21. h. 8. cap. 5. of sewers . sken ' de fignificatione verba rum . posing of the accidence . delaman's use of the horizontall quadrant . corderim in english . doctor fulkis meteors . nyes gunnery & fireworks gato major , with annotat. mel helliconium , by alex. riss lizerillo de tormes . the ideot in four books . aula luck , or the house of light . topicks in the laws of engl perkins on the laws of engl wilkinsons office of sheriffs parsons law . mirrour of justice . the fort royall of holy scripture , or a new concordance by j. h a tragedy written by the most learned , hug grotius , called chris●● patiens , and englished by george sands solitary devotions , with man in glory , by the most reverend and holy father , anselm , archbishop of canterbury . ex●●citatio scholastica . mathernaticall recreations with the generall horologicall ring , and double horizontall dyall , by william o●ghtred . playes . hero and leander . the wedding . the hallander . henry the fourth . maids tragedy . king and no king . philaster . the gratefull servant . the strange discovery . the merchant of venice notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a54994e-4000 tempering the ground . fern to enrich ground . soot to enrich ground shavings of horn to enrich ground . onyons & bay-salt . age of seeds . hearbs with great heads . choice of seeds . dung for potheabs to kill snailes . roots made large . chusing of a vine cutting . vine when to plant . young vines to proine . bayes to plant . eldern to plant . leeks to grow great . lettice to sowe . lettice seed how to gather . lettice to grow great . purslane seed to gather . wood strawberries into gardens . watering of strawberries . roses grassed upon what stock . pompions to grow great . artichokes from frost . see this in numb. 26. 58. musk rose to beare late . roots in their best strength . artichocks from frost . 23 , 38. flowers or leaves gilded and growing . quae●● of isinglasse dissolved . flowers candied as they grow a garden within doors . barly growing without earth . pots for flowers of a good fashion . see this also numb. 56. roses or carnations in winter . reviving of carnations . orchard of dwarf trees . uineyard to plant . trees growing either high or lowe . early fruit old trees recovered vines recovered . ordering of the musk-mellon . the shortest way is to buy plants and set them . pompions and cowcumbers multiplied mellons to growe great . earlie strawberries . roses to bear late , and from frost . early roses and carnations . early roses . carots , parseneps , and turneps , kept long . roses and flowers backward . quaere , of doing thus after the rose is new budded . roots long and great . seeds to multiply . large carots , or parsneps . a new planting of carnations , wall-flowers , & stock gilliflowers . plants to carry far . branches to root . to kill wormes . rich mold when to set or sow . one plant upon another , or upon a tree . colour , sent , or taste of a flower , altered . fence of fruit trees . white-thorn hedge . carnation seed to gather . coleflow re seed to gather & to plant . coleflower to bear late . divers carnations in one root . stately pots for carnations as before num. 29. birds , beasts , pyramides &c. to grow speedily . * see after in num. 84. delicate frets or borders . the wood may be laid in some oyle colour . earth strengthned . to sow anniseeds in england . artichocks from frosts oniō seeds ordered . early and late pescods . colianders to sow . sap of briony , to gather . roses to beare late . roses and carnation multiplyed good seeds to know . seeds to sprowt speedily . single flowers doubled . tulipee double . miseltoe to finde . missel child grapes kept long . see after in num. 82 flowers in trees . stock-gilliflowers to continue . to remove rooted plants . roses to bear twice . hedge and arbour when to cut . early peascods . gilderland roses . seeds full & plump . radish & spinage . piony and flowerdeluce . seeds from devouring grapes kept long . prove this in cheries , clusters of raisins , figs . strawberries large . after in num. 85. watering artificiall . arbour aloft . musk-mellon to prosper . roses late . store of roses . flowers from frost . artichocks from frost . grapes kept . notes for div a54994e-7070 dogs and carst to the roots . rich ground . ground enriched . box tree pranted . bayes to plant . eldern to plant ground enriched . poplar to grow . trees to bush in the top . cherries when to plant . quinces when to plant . hasels and pear trees when to plant . apple cornels set . plum-stones set . pineapple corness set . peach stones set . springs & plants set branches to root in the ground . o'd tree or vine recodered orchard of dwarf trees . early fruit fruit growing long . blossoms frō frests . grapes growing long upon the vine . plums and cherries growing long . trees to prosper apricots to prosper speedy woods . branches to root . trees frō barking or canker . rich mold for ochard or garden . depth for trees . procining of trees . trees baakbound , helped . ill weather for orchard works . oak when not to be felled . bignesse of crabstock . bignesse of pear stock and white thou ne . bignesse of wild chery stocks . white plumstocks . when a stock is to be graffed . white thorn no stock for peare or warden ; good for a medlar . suckers planted . nuts set . 1 close well in the bottom . 2 time of grasting . 3 instrument to graft with . 4 losengewise . 5 what to do when the bud taketh . 6 the lowest bud maintained . 7 a cherry upon a plum tree . 8 grafting compasses . 9 galy preserved in the stock . 10 gelly in the bud preserved . 11 bud to take no ayre . 12 how to slit the bark . 13 what buds are best . 14 how to slit the bark . 1 grasting tocl 2 splicing way . 3. cleaving he body . 4. low grafting . 5 on which side to graft . 6 how to have large cherries . 7 what cions is best . 8 cions put in close . 9 the cions made the stock . uponwhat stock to graft . to quinces upon a medlar . 11 bark when to slit . 12 prepasing the cions . 13 when to graft deep . 14 grasting at christmas . 15 graft bound with mosse 16 closing the cions . 17 peach upon a plum stock 18 one ●ree let into another . 19 length of a cions . 20 artifi●iall wax to close with . 21 how to carry a cions far . 22 upon large fruited stocks . 23 many apricot trees of one . 24 observation in stock . 25 heading of stocks , and grafting after . 26 when to cut down a cions . upon what stock to graft . 27 stocks when to graft . 28 stockss to prosper 29 late , grafting , yet with advantage 30 when to graft a stock . 31 stocks so great cherriet . 32 store of stocks . 33 ground for a nursery . a rule for transplanting of trees . 34 stocks stopped . 35 cions to beare quickly . 36 the times of severall grafting . 37 plants upon trees 38 fruit without stones , and hidden with leaves . 39 apricot grafted . 40 a large medlar . 41 a pippin upon what stock why trees transplanted doe alter . colour , sent , or taste altered . graft between bark and tree . how to lop . to have green trees in winter . orchard ground to order . vineyard to order . tree rooted higher see after in 106. wreathed bodies of trees . fruit enlarged . barren trees to beare . transplanting old trees . old vines recovered bleeding of vines stayed . early fruits . wet orchard helped . the cions to prosper true proining timber to grow of any fashion . apricots to beare . peare , warden , peach , in what ground . how to use the roots in settings . apricot , in what ground . dwarf trees . gelderland rose . dwarf trees . how to lop elms. sappiness to avoid . young trees to grow . delicate quinces . peach and apricot stones to set . sap of tree to gather fair apricots and cherries to stay blossoming . green trees in autumne . quaere , if the moon be here to be respected . bodies of trees to enlarge . bark-bound . to kill mosse . a tree to root higher . sap choaked . barren trees to beare . causes of barrenness in trees . app'es without wrinckles . respect between the stock and cions . cherries in clusters of gardens four books first written in latine verse by renatus rapinus ; and now made english by j.e. hortorum libri iv. english rapin, rené, 1621-1687. 1672 approx. 220 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 142 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a58064 wing r268 estc r6425 11893756 ocm 11893756 50514 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a58064) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 50514) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 507:19) of gardens four books first written in latine verse by renatus rapinus ; and now made english by j.e. hortorum libri iv. english rapin, rené, 1621-1687. evelyn, john, 1655-1699. [24], 237, [18] p. printed by t.r. & n.t. for thomas collins and john ford..., london : 1672. first edition in english? translation of hortorum libri iv. "the table" [i.e. index]: p. [2]-[17]. "the epistle dedicatory" signed: j. evelyn [the younger] reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gardening -poetry. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-01 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-01 tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion of gardens . four books first written in latine verse by renatus rapinus . and now made english by i. e. london , printed by t. r. & n. t. for thomas collinsand iohn ford at the middle-temple gate , and benjamin tooks at the shipin st. paul's church-yard , 1672. to the right honourable henry earl of arlington , viscount thetford , &c. his majesties principal secreiary of state , of his most honourable privy council ; and knight of the most noble order of the garter , &c. my lord , t is become the mode of this writing age , to trouble persons of the highest rank , not only with the real productions of wit ; but ( if so i may be allowed to speak ) with the trifles and follys of it ; hardly dos an ill play come forth without a dedication to some great lady , or man of honour ; and all think themselves sufficiently secure , if they can obtain but the least pretence of authority to cover their imperfections : my lord , i am sensible of mine : but they concern only my self , and can never lessen the dignity of a subject , which the best of poets , and perhaps the greatest wits too , have celebrated with just applause . i know not how , my lord , i may have succeeded with this adventure , in an age so nice and refin'd , but the die is cast , and i had rather expose my selfe to the fortune of it , then loose an occasion of acknowledging your lordships favours , which as they have oblig'd the father , so ought they to command the gratitude of the son : nor must i forget to acquaint your lordship , that the author of this poem address'd it to one of the most eminent persons in france ; and it were unhappy if it should not meet with the same good fortune in england ; i am sure the origiginal deserves it , which though it may have lost much of its lustre by my translation , will yet recover its credit with advantage , by having found in your lordship so illustrious a patron . great men have in all ages bin favourable to the muses , and done them honour ; and your lordship , who is the true model of virtue and greatness , cannot but have the same inclinations . for the delights which adorn , those titles ; especially , when they are innocent , and useful , and excellent , as this poem is pronounced to be by the suffrages of the most discerning ; i had else my lord , suppress'd my ambition of being in pring , and setting up for a poet , which is neither my talent nor design : but my lord , to importune you no further , this peice presumes not to intrude into your cabinet , but to wait upon you in your gardens at euston , where , if when your lordships more weighty affairs give leave , you vouchsafe to divert your self with the first blossoms of my youth , they may by the instuence of your lordships favour , one day produce fruits of more maturity , and worthy the oblation of my lord , your lordships most dutiful , and most obedient servant i. evelyn . the preface . it , will doubtless appear an intollerable presumption in the to prosecute that part of the perfectest work of all antiquity , which was omitted by the most accomplished poet that ever wrote . few are ignorant of what he says in the fourth of his georgicks . for sitan & pingues hortos quae cura colendi , ornaret , canerem , biferique rosaria poesti : quoque modo potis gauderent intyba rivis , et virides apio ripae . you would think in this place that virgil was pleased with his own fancy , he is so fluent ; nor without cause , where he is invited by the charm of so liberal a subject . but whether he was hastened by his design'd poem of bees ; ot that he reserved his time for the setting forth of his hero , not m●ch after he leaves off what he had beg●n ; yet not without a commendation of the argument , as worthy to be handled by all posterity . verum haec ipse equidem spatiis disclusus iniquis praetereo , atque aliis post commemoranda relinquo . now to go on where so great a man left off , to treat of a matter , which if we may believe pliny , was able to deter so expert a writer , makes me fear i can scarce free my self from the guilt of an extream confidence , besides in the imitation of so divine a pattern , i raise a greater expectation then i can satisfie : and the example which i propose to my self is not so much an advantage to me . as it leads me to an infallible despair . what a rashness is it to attempt that which partly for the difficulty of what virgil has omitted , partly for the excellency of what he has perform'd , none ever yet dared to undertake ? the culture of gardens also being arrived to that height , that nothing can render it more perfect ; and their dignity is such , that when i have done all i can , i shall have done less then they deserve . nor was i a little discouraged by the defects of the latine tongue , since it is an insufferable arrogance to write of a thing in latine , of which the latines were wholly ignorant : for the method of gardening which is now in vogue , either of disposing flowers in beds , or the planting , and ordering of wall fruits , was not used among them . but yet if i transgress either through the penury of the language , or my own ignorance . i am so vain as to hope , that our age which admires gardens above all others , will forgive me , if i fall short in an essay which none have made trial of before me . on the other side , i was encouraged by the kind reception which gardening finds every where , even with those of the highest and noblest rank ; insomuch , that i question whether it was ever in greater esteem . and it was requisite since we are grown more curious in this affair then formerly , that somewhat of the delightful part of it should be communicated , which as well by the discipline of the times , as the industry of the improvers , is come to its utmost perfection . for certainly that symmetry of parts , which is now visible in every garden , is that exact beauty to which nothing can be added . i need not say much here of the nature of that verse , in which precepts were wont to be delivered ; the georgicks of virgil are the best patterns of it ; whose natural ingenuity is such , as will hardly admit of that more elegant dress which i have put on ; considering also the humility of that style , in which a naked and unmixed simplicity is most sought after . i will not go about to excuse my self , since i have happened on a subject in which virgil could not easily contain himselfe ; though it was no difficult matter for him to do it , especially in that duller part of husbandry ; in which nevertheless , as pliny observes , he onely cull'd the flowers of things , leaving out nothing that was capable of any splendour or ornament : hence proceeded those frequent digressions from his purpose , that he might avoid the inconvenience of being tedious , which ma●robius speaks of in the 5th . book of his saturnalia . in the georgicks ( says he ) after the precepts which are naturally harsh , he concludes each book with the interposition of some quicker argument : as the first with the signs of the weather ; the second with the praises of a countrey life ; the third with a mortality among cattel ; and the fourth with a pertinent story of orpheus and aristaeus . nor have i bin wanting in that particular : having made it my business to teach with as little rudeness as i can : and to advance the dulnesse of the instruction by the freedom of my fancy , that i might allay the harshness of those places , which the humility of the subject has so debased , that otherwise they would be displeasing to the reader . yet if i appear too curious : i can defend my self by the authority of all those greeks , who have written of flowers , or their culture . what can be more elegant then the description which nicander makes in the seond of his georgicks of those gardens in the territories of pisa , which were water'd by the river alpheus ? in which he so often makes use of those ornaments , which poetry derives from its fabulous times . it is almost incredible how copious and eloquent the rest are in that argument , of whom athenaeus makes mention in his 15th . book . those who in verse treated of flow'ry garlands , as cratinus , hegesias , anacreon , sappho , pancrates , chaeremon , eubulus , and innumerable others . but i should not have so freely made use of fables , in a matter that is expected to be grave and instructive : i should have inquired into the nature of flowers and plants , have described their properties , and estimated their virtues . i confess i should ; and i think i have done so : yet not forgetting that i act the part of a poet , and not of a philosopher , to gain credit by the raw simplicity of a scrupulous discourse . but though this be a middle , and more contracted way of writing , yet it sometimes takes courage , and exalts it self , that the slenderness of the matter may not make it appear too mean and dejected . to prevent which , the soul must be excited , that so the mind ( as anacreon has it ) being raised to a poetique height , may breath forth divine raptures . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the mention of the heathen deitys , by a christian authour , perhaps will seem absurd to those , who are ignorant of the genius of poetry , which by the services of the gods , and a feigned terrour of their decrees , ought sometimes to elevate the mind , that it may create admiration ; and for this the liberty that is usually allowed the muses is warrant enough , if we had not that of religion too , which neither thinks it self , or morality injured , by that licence which a poet takes to set off the truth , by the beauty and gracefulness of fiction . i have not been so nice in wood , and water , as in flowers , whose charms forced me to be a little more exuberant : unless it be in some places , where it was convenient to make the excellency of poetry shine forth in the delightfuliness of fables ; that so the work might not wholly labour under the barrenness of the precepts , which it treats of . in the orchard , i fear i have not satisfy'd their expectations , who looked for a long catalogue of fruits and apples , which are so numerous that it were endless to go about it ; in describing the different kinds of fruit , i have only touched the heads of things , after the example of virgil , who in the second of his georgicks , speaks but of a few of those wines which italy afforded with so much variety and abundance ; nor dos he take notice of any more then three sorts of olives , and as many of pears : for nothing is more abhorrent from the nature of that verse , then the hateful enumeration of particulars , which cannot but be very tedious , when it descends so low as to divide every thing into atomes , like that impertinent workman whom horace speaks of in his poems . aemilium circa ludum faber imus , & ungues exprimet , & molles imitabitur aere capillos , infoelix operis summa . a correct writer can never fall into this errour , he will rather make choice with judgment , then be voluminous . but since i cannot avoid being faulty in many things : i were unwise if i should endeavour to excuse all . therefore not to tire the reader ( whose favour i implore ) with a long preface , i will make no more apologies for my self , but only add a word or two of the end , that is proposed in an instructive poem : which as it is the same with that of all poetry , is very easie . not but that it is more generous , then to insist wholly upon vanities and trifles : although its chief talent lies in being delightful : that which makes philosophy it self appear wiser then other things , is the harshness , by which it renders the truth more difficult to be attain'd . the end of that poetry is as of all the rest to teach : which as horace intimates to lollius . quid sit pulchrum , quid turpe , quid utile , quid non : plenius ac melius chrysippo , & crantore dicit . though seneca in other things is no inconsiderate writer , yet here he is so confident a critique , that i have no patience with him , when he censures virgil in his georgicks , for making it his business not so much to speak truth , as what was graceful and ornamental ; and to have rather aimed at the delight of the reader , then the improvement of the husband-man : thus he destroys the main design of the gentiler sort of poetry , which was never more happily carryed on then by virgil. therefore as to this point , i value the opinion of seneca but little ; from whom i may appeal to the judgment of antiquity , which is ever to be reverenced by all wise men . it is manifest enough , how improbable it is , that a man so well seen in the works of nature , and one who acts with so much strictness in other things , should play the fool where he intends to instruct . for what is more below a generous man , then to trifle where he should teach ; or to dwell upon nicetys , where he promises that which is serious : and no one who is not very stupid can impute this to virgil ? in varro i find innumerable of the ancients to have written of agriculture . but of all those none but menecrates the ephesian , and hesiod wrote in verse , and hesiod was the first , who as pliny testifies : thousands of years ago , in the infancy of learning , gave the first rules of husbandry ; though indeed hesiod treated of the manners of men , more then the nature of things ; which was what he proposed to himselfe : so that he acts the part of a moralist , rather then of a true poet : yet he deserves infinite praise ; but not so much as virgil , whose performances in that kind , are above admiration . this is the reason that makes me look upon him , as one who contrary to the mode of the rest of the poets-promises nothing of himself , but without modesty and plainness , which in my opinion , is the most approved method of a good understanding ; whose clearness is the perfect accomplishment of that wisdom , which horace ad pisones requires as the standard of sound and correct writing . scribendi recte , sapere est & principium , & fons . rapinus of gardens . book 1. flowers . of flowers , a gardens chiefest grace i sing , how you may groves to best perfection bring ; of aquaeducts , of fruit , the cure and use : this to the world is publish'd by my muse. ye gods that make the earth to fructifie , let no rude tempest now disturb the skie . through paths by the poetick train untrod , apollo calls , though first to maro show'd ; when in the end of his discourse he writes , what most th' italian fertile soyl delights ; to till the field his thrifty swain he taught ; gardens to plant , left for some later thought . this poets footsteps i can onely trace ; nor dare i think to equalize his pace , whose heav'nly flight by nothing i pursue , but my weak eyes , and keep him in my view . thou that art mine , and learnings greatest light , under whose influence justice shines more bright lamon , if with thy laws severe defence , and state-affairs a while thou canst dispence ; afford my gardens room within thy mind , though to the laws and government resign'd : while with impartial sentence you decide causes , by int'rest , nor affection ty'd ; while your example is to all a law , and your own virtue vice it self do's awe ; yet to alleviate this sublimer care , grant to the muses in your thoughts a share . though i perhaps to lower ends aspire , some kinder god may set my soul on fire ; then shall i sing , and publish loud your fame , and in due numbers celebrate your name : the woods shall you , the fountains you resound , your praise shal eccho from the fruitful ground . my flowers to your temples shall be joyn'd , which for immortal garlands are design'd . soyl fit for gardens first of all prepare , to th' east expos'd , refresh'd with wholesom air , where no near hill his lofty head presumes t' advance , or noisome fens exhale in fumes . where no dull vapours from the pools infect ; flow'rs most of all the open air affect . but before this you ought to know the state , and nature of the earth you cultivate , 't is best , where fat and clammy ground you see ; flow'rs with rich soyl most properly agree . this rank with weeds of a luxuriant blade , culture admits , and is for flowers made . learn that t' avoid , where deep in barren clay the specked euts their yellow bellies lay . where burning sand the upper-hand obtains , or where with chalk unfruitful gravel reigns . and lest th' external redness of the soyl deceive your labours , and despise your toyl ; deeply beneath the furrows thrust your spade : outward appearance many hath betray'd . earth under the green sward may be inclos'd to a rough sand , or burning clay dispos'd . some i 've observ'd , who , if the ground they find to bring forth stones or pebbles be inclin'd , sift it , lest they the tender blade molest , and by their weight the flowers be opprest . now if both earth and air answer your ends , ( for earth upon air's influence depends ) inlarge your prospect , nor confine your sight to narrow bounds ; flow'rs in no shades delight . break with the rake , if stiffer clods abound , and with ir'n rollers level well the ground . nor yet make haste your borders to describe ; but let the earth the autumn show'rs imbibe ; that after it hath felt the winter cold , you may next spring turn up , & rake the mold . this done , your box in various forms dispose , such as were heretofore unknown to those , whose gardens nothing ow'd to modern art ; deckt by what kinder nature did impart , among ignobler plants you then might view , where blushing roses intermingled grew : no spacious walks , no alleys were design'd , edg'd by green box , all yet was unrefin'd . flora at first was unadorn'd , and rude ; happ'ning at liber's orgies to intrude . the feast approch'd , the neighb'ring deities were present ; thither old silenus hies , mounted on 's ass ; with whom the satyrs joyn in drunken bacchanals , and sparkling wine . here cibele through phrygia so rever'd . and with the rest our flora too appear'd : her hair upon her shoulders loosely plaid ; or pride , or beauty this neglect had made . how e're it was , the other goddesses laugh'd , and despis'd the rudenss of her dress . this pity mov'd in berecinthia's heart , who griev'd to see her daughter want that art , which others us'd ; and therefore to repair those imperfections , she adorn'd her hair with various flow'rs ; her temples these inclose , and box which nature on each field bestows . her mine's now alt'red , every charming grace strives to be most conspicuous in her face . as this to flora greater beauty gives ; so hence the gard'ner all his art derives . the romans , and the grecians knew not how to form their paths , and set their flowers as now . goodness of air and soyl perhaps might be occasions of our curiosity in gardens ; and the genius too of france , with time , this blest improvement might advance . so that if you a villa do desire with gardens , for a skilful man enquire ; who with his pensil can on parchment draw the form of your intended work. no flaw , no errour ' scapes you : thus deformity timely appears to your considerate eye . in thousand figures some their box infold , as was the cretan labyrinth of old . these artificial mazes some reject , who more the phrygian flourishes affect : and these as many various textures taught , as uncomb'd wool by tyrian virgins wrought . others with squares , less diff'rent , strive to please themselves , in which the fragrant flow'rs with ease , and pleasure too , may stoop to the command of the spectators eye , and gath'rers hand . i will not divers knots to you suggest , to chuse of them which please your fancy best ; that is preferable beyond compare , which with the scantling of your ground doth square . when all things thus provided are , again level your ground , that , being smooth & plain , garden , and borders both may even be , admitting no irregularity . as soon as snowy winter disappears , in planting box employ your labourers : you must not trifle then , let no delay retard , when sun and temp'rate air give way : where smaller limits cannot this afford , with brick they must contented be , or board : for box would there the flowers over-shade , and too much of the narrow spot invade . this rule for larger gardens was not meant , where box is thought the greatest ornament . and howsoe're you cultivate a place ; if it wants box , you take away its grace . in flow'rs so great a difference we find , do we regard their natures , or their kind ; that a good florist cannot do amiss , to learn their natures , and their properties : chiefly the seasons when to set and sow , and in what soyl what plants do use to grow . the seeds , and sorts of flow'rs no number own ; neither is that of bulbous roots more known . the tenderness of some makes them desire propitious spring , that then they may aspire into the air ; while others which are bold , contemn north-winds , and flourish through the cold . these love the warmer sun ; those , cooler shade . nor is the vigor equally convai'd to all from th' earth ; for flowers will abound sometimes in dry , oft in unfruitful ground . earth that is barren , and do's stones produce , though often 't is improper , is of use sometimes in raising flow'rs : therefore again i must give warning to the husbandman , that he observe the seasons , and with care read the contents of the celestial sphear : that he take notice in the monethly state , and order , how the stars discrminate . what alterations , in the calmer air ? the east , and troubled southern winds prepare : that from the rise and setting of the sun , and by the aspect of the horned moon , showers to come , and tempests he presage , and how to heav'n we may our faith engage . wherein the greater and the lesser bear do's your plantations infest , or spare : how far the hyads with excessive showers , and the atlantick pleiads hurt your flowers . who th' observation of the stars neglect , too late are sensible of their effect . they with our labours correspondence hold , and all the secrets of our art infold . to be more sure , you ought before to know the winds , and diff'rent quarters whence they blow . else other gardens you in vain admire ; though western breezes with the spring conspire , yet no appearance of the winds obey ; for most of all they now their faith betray . if aries with his golden fleece appear , and zephyrus foretells the spring is near ; yet some unlucky planet menaces the fields , and gardens , and disturbs the skies . the south-wind now against the corn , and flowers , rages with frequent and destructive showers . of the remaining cold we should beware , and see if ought of winter hang i' th' air ; it s cruel footsteps often stay behind : therefore remember still to bear in mind the seasons that most proper are to sow ; for thus your seed will prosper best , and grow . as soon as e're the knots have fill'd their space , lest noxious weeds should over-spread the place , between the borders , and the beds , you may lay gravel , and so take the weeds away ; for if you suffer them to get to head , mallows & thistles o're your walks will spread . but let not this check your design at all ; the earth in time will be reciprocal . no sooner has the sun o'recome the cold , when with astonishment you will behold your gardens riches , whither far then snow , on a broad leaf the primrose first will blow . it keeps not always constant to a dye , but loves its colours to diversifie . the grecian cyclamine from far they bring , the red and white both flourish in the spring ; woody zacynthus , stony coritus , and corcyraean mountains these produce : i' th' summer moneths they flourish , and though late , in autumn too their flowers propagate . theis season soft fumaria too obeys , and in bavarian rocks it self displays in various colours ; but is known to die ; soon as we hear th' artill'ry of the sky ; blasted by sulph'rous vapours , as if dead , it droops , and yields to th' earth its vanquisht head . now iris springs , which from the heav'nly bow , is nam'd , and doth as many colours show . its species , and its tinctures diff'rent are , according to the seasons of the year . by th' coming of the swallows we divine , 't will not be long before that celandine , which from that bird alone its name derives , favour'd by gentler western-winds revives . golden narcissus also now aspires ; who looking on himself , himself admires , he fondly tempting the destructive pow'r of beauty , from a boy became a flow'r . nor longer can the violets suppress their odours , clouded in a rustick dress ; girt round with leaves , without varieties of colours , from the humble turf they rise . if we may credit what the poets write , she was diana's nymph , her sole delight . with her ianthis follow'd in each chace , next to the goddess , after none in place . as she was feeding the pherean cows , by phoebus seen , in love with her he grows : nor could he long conceal within his breast loves wound , the frighted maiden straight addrest her self to th' goddess . ah! dear sister , fly , said she , if you 'l preserve virginity untouch't : you must all open grounds sorbear , and lofty hills , for he 'l pursue you there . to thickets , and for saken vales she hyes , and all alone by shady fountains lyes . nor did her modesty her form depress , but she was valued more , for her recess . the god perceiving nothing else avail , attempts by theft , and cunning to prevail . diana then foreseeing 't was in vain to think with life her honour to maintain ; ah! let that beauty perish then , she said , and soon a duskish colour did invade the changing nymph , who rather chose to be still virtuous , though with deformity . the fields and lower valleys these afford , and among brambles of their own accord , they spring ; nor should their site at all abate of their esteem , whose value is so great . if sharper cold give leave , about this time the hyacinth shoots up from phoebus crime . at quoits he playing , by eurota's side , chanc'd the boy's tender temples to divide . the god and youth at once appalled stood ? he through his guilt , and he through want of bloud ; from which , in pity of his angry fate , a flow'r arose , which oft do's change its state , and colour ; and to one peculiar kind , no more then to one season is confin'd . now meadow-saffron divers colours yields ; and on a slender stalk adorns the fields . th' earth grown by reason of internal heat , patient of culture , let your gard'ner set in beds prepar'd , what seeds he do's intend for summer , and with care their growth attend as linum , caltha , lychnis , cyanies , malva , delphinium , and anthemis , with fragrant melilot for seed receiv'd , in ground before prepar'd , may be reliev'd , if th' earth defective be by being drest ; or by refreshing streams if drowth molest : it were an endless labour to set down the flow'rs , which in the spring are to be sown the moister spring makes all in time appear ; and shews the hopes of the succeeding year . then , above all the flowers in the bed , the crown imperial elevates his head : around him all the num'rous vulgar spring ; as if they humbly would salute their king. beneath the top a golden crown is plac't ; this by a verdant tuft of leaves is grac't : four flow'rs , with leaves inverted to the earth , do from one stalk alone derive their birth . nor would there any other this excell , if to its beauty , were but added smell . let not your tulips , through the vernal show'rs , make too much haste , to spread abroad their flow'rs . for th' heavy aspects of the moon would prove , with frost pernicious to them which love to flourish most ; when winters cold gives way , and glad some sun shine do's serene the day . then on the beds in thicker ranks they stand , and in the air their spotted leaves expand . their beauty chiefly from their colour flows ; for whither on the leaves they do inclose a snowy whiteness intermixt with red ; or like the crimson bloud a purple shed ; or the deep murrey into wan decay'd ; like a pale widow under a black shade ; or in strip'd strakes with py'd achates vies , the tulip from the rest still bears the prize . though now a flow'r , yet dalmatis before , hard by timavus sping a blew nymph bore ; this was her mother : changing proteus her father was ; whose fickle genius she follows , when vertumnus had searcht o're the world , at last near to timavus shore , in the illyrian bounds , the maid he sees ; and while with flatt'ring words he strives to please his mistress , she from his addresses flies , though in her colours he diversifies himself , yet still she frustrate his desires ; and would not nourish his unlawful fires . at last , in hopes this would all doubts remove , he tells her he 's a god , a god in love . yet she persists ; which causes him to try by force to make the tender maid comply : now she implores the gods , and by their pow'r t' avoid the ravisher , becomes a flow'r . the ornaments and fillets which adorn'd her head and golden hair , to leaves were turn'd . where her breast was , a slender stalk do's grow ' girt with a tuft of spreading leaves below ; in an orbic'lar figure , like a cup , upon this stalk a slower rises up , consisting of six leaves , which proudly show the diff'rent colours nature can bestow . this nymph , though now a flower , cannot yet her fancy for strange colour'd clothes forget . in the worst mold this flower better thrives ; and barren earth miraculously gives more beauty to it , then a fertile ground , and when least strong , it is most comely found . if to your tulips you will adde more grace , 't is best to set them in a fainter place . for if you put them in a richer bed , the goodness of the soyl will make them red . wen out of ev'ry bed the flow'rs disclose themselves , if that the humid south-wind blows , or from the drier north if boreas move , bring garlands to the altars ; for they love with these to be adorn'd . thus glycera appeas'd great iove , and did the storms allay . a flow'ry wreath was then the ornament , with which the modest temples were content . profuseness had not on the vulgar gain'd ; and vows to lesser bounds were then restrain'd . i by my own experience do find , that a wet april with a southern wind , destroys the horrour of the spring again , and makes our early expectations vain . throughout the sabine valleys heretosore bath'd all in wine , the shepherds us'd t' adore celestial pales : hay was th' ossering , which for their seed & cattle they did bring ; the chaff consum'd th' infernals to appease : them with their februan rites they strove to please . that moneth o're which the ram is president , brings forth the bellides , the ornament of virgins now , though heretofore they were nymphs of the meads themselves ; among them are those of the woods , whose stalks discriminate their species , from them which propagate themselves in gardens , made of finer threads , on lesser stalks these shew their painted heads . the white etrurian iris now appears ; but those are yellow , lusitania bears : one , for its figure , is by some desir'd ; the other , for its colour , more admir'd . with leaves condens't on the iberian hills exalted high , now springs the daffodills ; and water-mint in moister vales we find , for garlands fit , when 't is with myrtle joyn'd . with its three colours too the flow'r of iove we see , which had it smell , would equal prove to th' violets : adonis also flow'rs , whose loss idalian venus so deplores . and thou ranunculus , whose fame resounds among the nymphs that dwell in lybian bounds . thou through the fields in parti-colour'd dress aspir'st , thy paleness do's thy thoughts confess . the love-sick youth once with the same desire inflam'd himself , and set the nymphs on fire . these flow'rs with easie culture are content ; the mattock , rake , or other instrument , they trouble not ; for if with fast'ned root into the air they once but dare to shoot , the bed once made , by wat'ring them you gain so much of pleasure for so little pain . nor yellow calthae with their paler light would i forget , shew'd first to acis sight on the sicilian shore ; which from the sun , towards which they look , draw their complexion . with curled threads , and top divided now along the margin of your borders grow stock-gilly-flow'rs , whose blushing leaf may fear , and justly too , the sharpness of the air . therefore because they cannot well preserve themselves against ill weather , they deserve a place in earthen pots ; the best defence against the north , and winters violence . then if november with its horrid show'rs should rage , it cannot prejudice your flow'rs . for thus dispos'd , when danger menaces , to warmer sheds they are remov'd with ease . our fields may now of that sambucus boast , which first was borrow'd from the geldrian coast ; it s candid flow'rs when they themselves dilate , do most the swelling roses imitate . to make the year prove kind , postumius i' th' mayan calends fi●st did introduce the rites of flora ; for the husbandman in rural matters newly then began t' employ himself , his hair with privet bound ; about the place the floral rites resound . swains to their temples pleited garlands joyn ; then new-blown flow'rs they offer'd at the shrine o' th' goddess ; for such off ' rings as these did best the mother of the flow'rs appease . but when the ram , who boldly heretofore upon his back essay'd to carry o're his helle , disappears , from other seed another race of flow'rs will succeed . if with kind aspects gentle mercury favour his mother maia from the sky ; if the olenian goat no storms portend , and no black showers from the clouds descend ; now , more then ever , will the wanton ground with all the species of herbs abound . the prickly hedges now their odours give ; and tam'risks with their precious leaves revive . soft cicer too will flourish , and green broom , with colocasia which from egypt come ; acanthus girt with knots , and thorns , we see , and bright parthenium , with rosemary , triorchis , sage , and parsley , once the meed , which to the istmian victor was decreed ; dames violets appear , with meadow-rue ; among the alps phalangium we pursue . through allobrogian vales isopyrum , time , rhamnus , housleek , and antirrhinum , with woody nard , arcadian moly that which homers poems so much celebrate . by the same culture these we raise from seed : with them invest your fields , let ev'ry bed be then replenisht ; for a naked space the honour of your garden would disgrace . the seasons known , next learn how deep in mold you ought the seeds of flowers to infold . among high branches lofty piony proudly aspires , stain'd with a crimson-dye . a colour , as it guilty odours show , its crimes , and not its blushes did bestow . a happy nymph , if her more peaceful hours had not been troubled by divine amours ; mortal addresses she resus'd , as vain , guarding alcinous sheep upon the plain . and nothing yet perhaps had made her yield , till an immortal lover won the field . convolvulus disdaining to be bound with divers flow'rs dilated , now is found in the moist vales ; then mighty nature wrought , while lillies once employ'd her busie thought , a little work , if with the rest compar'd ; when she to greater things her felf prepar'd . blew-bottle , lark-spur , of their own accord now in the fields their diff'rent leaves afford . painted blattaria , pois'nous aconite wolss-grass , wild basil , fennel which delight in various forms and colours all , and now along the borders all their beauties show . these , and a thousand others will contend t' enrich your garden ; odours too ascend spreading themselves through the serener air , where gentle breezes strive to bless the year . this makes the fertile meadows all rejoyce , and philomela with her charming voice ; and this invites the wanton flocks to play , as they amidst their fruitful pastures stray . who could be so unkind as to perswade , i should for th'town forsake my countreyshade ? such joys i 'le ever love , and should be glad at those delightful rivers to be staid , near thee , o tours , between the cher and loir , where we the rural miracles admire of france . thou native soyl of gardens hail ! to the surrentine hills , the sabine vale , or the oebalian fields thou giv'st not place . thee soft ferentum , nor the bantine chace excell , nor what phalantus did possess , or the sweet shades which happy tibur bless . besides the coast with streams and fountains grac't , and on each side vast tracts of meadows plac't ; the neighb'ring hills all set with vines , the town , which its rich merchandizes so renown ; the peoples inclinations , whose soft clime ha's rendred them polite , they spend their time in silken works ; here shady woods are seen , and meadows cover'd with eternal green : gardens , as if immortal , ne're decay , and fading flow'rs to fresher still give way . such is saint germans , which the pow'rs of france inhabit , or the vale of mommorance , such fields are wash'd by th' sein ; medun's like this ; and such saint cloud , with famous ruel is . the pensile gardens of semiramis , the orchard kept by the hesperides , whose apples watch'd by dragons are be liev'd ; or vain elyzium of the greeks receiv'd ; cannot approach the streams , and groves , which france adorn , or the proud structures which advance her fame , where pow'rful art with nature strives , and rivers into large canales derives . from taurus front in iune the hyades appear , and lowring clouds disturb the skies ; with prayers therefore you must heaven appease , and by devotion make the tempests cease : then will the earth be spangled o're anew , and high-topt lychnis brings it self in view . asphodel too , by learned hesiod priz'd , whose roots out temp'rate ancestors suffic'd . next these the greater cyanys , which bring their name of old from a bizantine king. the shield-leav'd cresse , and cityssus both fain'd , in humane figures to be once contain'd : the first , a famous dardan hunter was ; the last , a shepherd of the argive race . like the cone-bearing cypress now we see linaria , which obtain'd in italy a better name , by them call'd belvedere ; nor aquilegia longer can defer to flow'r , its leaves a violet-purple stains , with anthemis , as long as taurus reigns , it grows : the flow'r of helen too ascends , which in it self both colours comprehends . that helen ancient ilium did destroy ; her eyes , and not the greeks , set fire on troy. she asia fill'd , and europe with alarms , and her high quarrel put the world in arms . then german fox-glove , with discolour'd rays , and lovely calamint it self displays : thryallis , anthora , aethiopis , with scylla , whose thrice flow'ring signifies , like lentisk , the three seasons fit to plow. lytrum , obscure cerynthe , all-heal too will shew it self , known by its tyrian dye , with multitudes of the ignobler fry . now i perceive from whence these odours flow ; while on the roses kinder zephyrs blow . out of the prickly stalk the purple-flow'r springs , and commands the vulgar to adore . the garden-queen do's now her self display , soiling the lustre of the rising day . and cynthia too withdraws her wearied sight , grown pale , and vanquish'd by excess of light . she , who not yet had spread her tender leaves , impatient now of her confinement , cleaves thrugh all impediments ; her form divine speaking her justly of a royal line . her blushing modesty would make you guess , that she was chaste , if not her virgin-dress . therefore since bloud and virtue so agree , it shews her chasteness , and her majesty . the amazonians falsly do combine among themselves to place this heroine . falsly , i say ; for she 's to greece allow'd , where sea-girt corinth to her scepter bow'd . fame of her beauty spreads through ev'ry place , and kings themselves pay homage to her face . warlike halesus first of all arrives , then high born brias , who himself derives , from seven-fold nile ; next ax-arm'd arcas hies , cover'd with laurels , proud of victories ; which after various perils undergone , his conqu'ring arms on theban plains had won . all these he prostrates at her royal feet , in hope such off'rings might acceptance meet . proud of her beauty , she replies , her charms yield not to such mean arts , but manly arms. no longer hearkens to their idle vows , but in the midst of armed troups she goes to phoebus , and his sisters fane , desires diana's aid against immodest fires . the surious lovers now with force attaque the queen , the temple-doors they open break . from whence repell'd , their mistress makes them feel the dire effects of her inraged steel . perhaps her courage , more then feminine , mingled with modest blushes made her shine more splendidly ; or else some fresh supplies of lightning were conspicuous in her eyes . something there was that had amaz'd the rude and duller genius of the multitude : for with loud shouts they daringly prefer rhodanthes name before diana's : her they now adore , and in the goddess stead , cry out rhodanthe shall be deified when learn'd apollo from the azure sky beheld rhodanthes great impiety , with vengefull flames , that did obliquely glide , he makes her curse her sacrilegious pride . close to the altar now her feet are joyn'd ; which spreading roots do yet more firmly bind . her arms are boughs ; and though she senseless grows , yet great and comely in her change she shows . she had not less perfection , then before ; and fair rhodanthe is as fair a flow'r : happy , if she had never merited those honours which to her destruction led . apollo's vengeance stops not coldly here ; the irreligious vulgar now appear transform'd to thorns ; which in that shape contend with dreadful points rhodanthe to defend . into a butter-fly halesus goes ; arcas t' a drone ; while valiant brias grows a caterpiller ; who with one consent their former mistress in new shapes frequent . and though this flow'r be justly plac't above all others , yet it do's not lasting prove . thus the best things do soonest bend to fate ; and nothing can be durable that 's great . i cannot all the species rehearse of roses , in the narrow bounds of verse . some curl'd , some wav'd about the top are found , and others with a thousand leaves are crown'd ; through which the flaming colours do appear . others are single , not t' insist on here either the damask , or numidian rose , or cistus , which in lusitania grows . roses unarm'd , if you the earth prepare , may be produc't ; but they in danger are ; because unguarded ; for what excellence can be secure on earth without defence ? though saliunca to the roses yields , yet it will adde some beauty to our fields . these flow'rs are quickly subject to decay , and when orion shines , they fade away . in pots the candid hyacinths remain intire , which from their tub'rous roots obtain another name ; our merchants those of late from the far distant indies did translate : their station first in italy they had ; and then to rome , and latium were convai'd . from whence all europe ha's been furnish'd , where in ev'ry garden now they domineer . not onely boasting of the native snow , which decks their front , but of their odours too . if ever any flow'rs you admire , these above all will greatest care require . in earthen vasa's when they are secure , the shocks of wind and rain they best endure . and lest the parching rayes of sirius prove destructive , you must soon your flow'r remove into your house ; nor think it labour lost , that cannot be unworthy of your cost ; which , to adorn , and to augment our store , by sea we borrow from the farthest shore . nor cymbalum will long be wanting found with purple flow'rs inverted to the ground . the onely nat'ral difference we see of them , and lillies since their smells agree . chrysanthes next with radiant threads appears , its leaf a deep sidonlan tincture bears . and though amaracus at first may seem unworthy of a place in your esteem , contemn it not ; for it will recompence the want of form , in pleasing th' other sence . venus with fragrant smell did heretofore indue this plant hard by deep simois shore . yarrow will now a thousand leaves expose , and summer iris various colours shows . with , malva , linum , yellow melilot , and red ononis too ; whose binding root do's oft the tardy husbandman molest , and stops the progress of his lab'ring beast : the nymphs may now frequent the verdant meads , and make them pleited chaplets for their heads : their hands , and ozier baskets may be fill'd with flow'rs , which spread themselves o're ev'ry field . but let all nymphs that tragick use avoid , by which th' aegyptian queen her self destroy'd . when vanquish'd antony from actium ran , leaving augustus th' empire of the main ; she fearing to adorn his victory , rather chose death , then living in famy . but lest her resolutions should be known , beneath the flow'rs the pois'nous asps were thrown . thus she expir'd in death with pleasure blest , applying fatal serpents to her breast . flowers in many things convenient are ; our tables , and our cupboards we prepare with them ; and better to disfuse their scent , we place them in our rooms for ornament . by others into garlands they are wrought ; and so for off rings to the altars brought . sometimes to princes bankets they ascend , and to their tables fragrant odours lend ; as oft they serve to grace a temp'rate mess , where the content is more , the plenty less . nor want there those , who with sublime skill , in hollow limbecks flowers can distill . now with a slow , now with a quicker fire they work , which makes the vapor strait aspire to the cool brass , whence heated once anew , it gently trickles into pearly dew . the spirit thus of flowers is convey'd to water , and by trial stronger made . unguents from them are drawn , such as of old to rub the hair capuan seplasia sold ; capua , whose soft delights , and pleasing charms prov'd worse then cannae to the punick arms . where hannibal that enemy to peace , indulg'd himself to luxury and ease , painting it self , from flow'rs we derive , whose colours did the first examples give . by glycera pausiades thus taught , painted the diff'rent flowers which she brought from them , & by the care of those that weave , such great improvements figur'd silks receive . and from that nectar which the flow'rs contain , industrious bees their honey too obtain , i should too tedious be , if i should sing the mighty aids which herbs and flowers bring to the diseases men are subject to : for these the gods with virtue did indue . near paris , where the rapid sein do's glide , in a sub urban villa did reside a single man ; his garden was his wife ; and his delight a solitary life . few acres were the limits of his land ; no costly tapestry his walls prophan'd : and yet he was as satisfi'd as those , on whom too partial fortune oft bestows her greatest favours , since'tis not excess , but moderation causes happiness , from regions far remote he flowers brought , and wholesome herbs on distant mountains sought . into his garden these he did translate , and to his friends their qualities relate . he could not long enjoy his solitude , fame soon attracts the neighb'ring multitude ; who importune him that he would impart his skill , and not conceal his pow'rful art . those who of shortness in their breath complain'd , and in whose bowels scorching feavers reign'd ; some for ill humors , joynts ne're standing still , and beating at the heart , implor'd his skill . those , whom physicians long had given o're , he by reviving med'cines did restore . but he that could renew lost health agen , deserves the praises of a better pen. peruvian granadil in summer blows , which near the amazonian river grows . nature her self this flowers leaves divides into three parts , and waves them on the sides . from a tall stalk sharp prickles it do's send , like those that do the holy thorn defend : with triple-pointed leaves resembling those accursed nails , which fix'd christ to the cross. next painted meleagris , echium shew themselves with rumex , adianium too , and hesperis ; to which the influence of phaebus various colours dispence . lovely carnations then their flow'rs dilate ; the worth of them is , as their beauty , great . their smell is excellent ; a cod below restrains the swelling leaves , which curled grow divided too ; this flow'r exacts our care : for if th' extreams of heat or cold the air molest too much , they 're blasted in their birth , unable to aspire above the earth . morning and evening therefore you must chuse to water them , or else their charms they lose . hemerocallis next we see , whose name deservedly from its short duration came . its flowers always do obliquely bend , and into purple leaves themselves extend . with numbers of them all your garden store , while they are fresh you will admire them more . if pois'nous orobanche should by chance , among the rest , its noxious head advance ; let not your cattle eat it , lest they find too late the dire effects it leaves behind . cows set on fire by its pernicious taste , without delay , straight to ingender haste . whole flocks besides , as if they were untam'd , stray through the woods with lustful rage inflam'd . high matricaria on long branches shows her candid flow'rs : about them thlaspis grows . thlaspis was once a cretan youth ; he lov'd this nymph ; & their amours had happy prov'd if fate had crown'd their innocent delights , with less unlucky hymeneal rites . chamaedris near cold springs new vigour takes ; nature its leaves like saws indented makes . two sorts of the wild orchis now appear ; and on their leaves two diff'rent colours bear . within a while your garden waxes white , and snowy flowers will surprize your sight . for if the summer do's not late arrive , on verdant stalks the lillies will revive . france more then any nation has preferr'd this flow'r , some say , from phrygla 't was transferr'd by francus , sprung from hector ; full o' th' fame of his great aucestours ; that his own name might be extoll'd , remoter climes he sought , and settling here to us our lillies brought . but our forefathers , by tradition , prove they fell , like the ancile , from above . saint clodovaeus , who did first advance the doctrine , and the faith of christ in france , with his pure hands receiv'd the heav'nly gift and to the care of his successors left ; that it should be preserv'd from age to age his kingdoms ensign , and praedestin'd badge . these arms shall flourish , when propitious fate in lasting peace shall on great lewis wait . when he th' affrighted world shall have compos'd , and all the wounds of war and tumult clos'd ; when fraud and murder he ha's put to flight , and with firm leagues he shall mankind unite . now for past loves unhappy clytie grieves , and paleness from the parching sun receives . sh' aspires o're other flow'rs , in hopes , by chance her former lover might vouchsafe a glance . crosus , and smilax too in iune appear , which heretofore did humane bodies wear . their tufted heads when poppies have expos'd , and th' earth for new productions is dispos'd ; to make her riches in more splendour shine , in the same flower diff'rent colours joyn . to eleusinian ceres poppies owe their rise ; with purple leaves some higher grow : but the white kind a dye , like silver , yields , shewing the modest treasures of the fields . the seeds to med'c'nal uses are applied , and often in diseases have been tried . sometimes short-winded coughs they moderate , and welcome sleep in sickly men create . in greece eryngus is deserv'dly sought ; born in a womans breast , while green , 't is thought an antidote against all lustful fires ; and to allay a husband 's wild desires . phaon did thus his sappho's love obtain , if the records of time may credit gain . but while the dog-star rages in the sky , and cruel clouds their wonted show'rs deny ; when burning phoebus lengthens out the days , scatt'ring the dew by his refulgent rays ; lest all your plants should at the root decay , and wanting moisture quickly fade away ; from neighb'ring fountains flow your garden o're , such vital drops will life again restore . for now aurora no refreshment gives , no humid dew the dying grass relieves . among the flow'rs , which late i' th' year arrive , immortal amaranthus will survive . for at that time an unknown multitude of vulgar flowers will themselves extrude . conyza , horminum , hedysarum , angelica , small henbane , apium , marchmallows , woad , armeria , clematis , with trembling coriander , barberis , both the abrotonums , myrrhe , centory , slender melissa , sium , cicory , buphthalmum , stoechas , hyosedamus , and spotted calendule their flow'rs produce . mint , and nigella too ; with these we see the summer thus and autumn still agree to fructifie , and thus the year goes round , while ev'ry season is with flowers crown'd . the golden attick star in meadows reigns , so term'd by greece ; but by the latine swains , amellus : in wet vales , near fountain sides , it grows , or where some crook'd maeander glides . in making nooses it is useful found , when the ripe vintage hangs upon the ground . purple narcissus of iapan now flow'rs , its leaves so shine , as if with golden showers it had been wet ; which makes it far out-vy the lustre of phoenician tapestry . therefore t' augment the grace of france , 't is fit this flow'r into our gardens we admit . 't is true , it hardly answers our desires at first , but longer culture still requires . yet let not this occasion our despair , when once it blows , 't will recompence our care . the box about the borders , ev'ry year , about the spring , or autumn always shear . it 's best to let the boughs be mollifi'd by rain , which makes them easier to divide . but you must know , that flowers are not all deduc'd at first from one original : for some alone from tub'rous roots proceed , from bulbous some , and others rise from seed . the beds we in october should disclose , and on large floors the bulbous roots expose to th' air , that the suns rays may then attract that moisture which in summer they contract , by lying under ground ; thus purg'd and clean , after some time they may be set agen . and better to resist the winters cold , they must be deeply buried in their mold . but with less care we set the tub'rous root , that of its own accord will downward shoot . while others if not deeply plac'd are lost , as well by drowth , as by the piercing frost . perhaps your stupid lab'rers may not know the seasons that convenient are to sow . therefore you must observe , if scorpio meet erigone , and move his lazie feet . when the hoarse crane cuts th' air with tardy wing , and makes the clouds with horrid clangor ring . then 's the best time of all to plant your flow'rs , if humid autumn but with mod'rate show'rs some days before refresh the parched face of th' earth , which in its bosome will embrace the bulbous roots , and kindly warmth infuse , supplying ev'ry branch with quick'ning juyce . but lest the rain should stagnate , and be found by its unequal wetting of the ground . hurtful to th' roots , by swelling banks you may all the superfluous water drain away . our lab'rers thus the royal gard'ner taught ; from him , this way of planting flow'rs they brought . in all that could improve , or grace the field , in all the arts of culture he excell'd . by the moons face you should the seasons know , o're tempests she , the air , and earth below an influence ha's ; if she her orb displays , piercing the opacous clouds with silver rays . when with soft breezes she inspires the air , and makes the winds their wonted rage forbear . till it be full moon , from her first increase , the season's good ; but if she once decrease , stir not the earth , nor let the husbandman sow any seed ; when heav'n forbids , 't is vain . you must obey , when th' heav'nly signs invite ; have the parrhasian stars still in your sight . which less then any do their lustre hide ; and best of all the erring plowman guide . some in preparing of their seed excell , making their flow'rs t' a larger compass swell thus narrow bolls with curled leaves they fill , helping defective nature by their skill . others are able by their pow rful art , new odours , and new colours to impart ; to change their figures , to retard their birth , or make them sooner cleave their mother earth . these pleasures are with small expence and ease obtain'd , if such delights your fancy please . spite of hot sirius tanacetum lives , and , while he burns the fields , in africk thrives , it s lovely colours , and thick foliage will allo flourish through the winters rage . this flow'r great austrian charls did here to fore besieging tunis , from the punick shore transmit to spain . when frost first binds the ground , and sharp december spreads its ice aground i' th' scythian clime , in the sarmatian fields , distracting hellebore black flowers yields . and yellow aconites on th' alps appear , others at other seasons of the year . now persian cyclamine , and lawrel blows , which on the bank of winding mosa grows . broad-leav'd merascus , and green sonchus live , with crocus , which from iura we derive . the late narcissus in these months we find , and winter hyacinths ; but from the wind , and killing frost , to save your flowers , draw over your beds a covering of warm straw . thus they avoid the winters violence , till the kind spring renews its insluence . what angry deity did first expose to the rough tempests , and more rigid snows , the soft antmony , whose comely grace a gentler season , and a better place deserves● for when with native purple bright it shews its leaves to the propitious light , with diff'rent colours strip't , and curled flames encompast , it out love and wonder claims . there is not any other that out-vies this flowers curled leaves , or num'rous dyes ; nor the sidonian art could e're compose so sweet a blush , as this by nature shows . flora inrag'd , because she was so fair , banish't this nymph into the open air ; she was the boast and ornament of greece , but beauty seldom meets with happiness . so 't prov'd to her ; for whilst the careless maicl to take the air , about the fresh fields stray'd : straight jealous thoughts the angry goddess move ; angry her husband zephyrus should love ought but her self ; th' effects of her disdain on anemona light ; her form in vain adorns her now , to that she ow'd her fate : less beauty might have made her fortunate . thus she who once among the nymphs exceld , transform'd is now the best of flowers held . while venus for her lov'd adonis griev'd , after he had his mortal wound receiv'd ; her onely comfort in this flow'r remain'd ; for from his streaming bloud , when she had drain'd all that was humane , and had sprinkled o're the corps with sacred juyce ; from the thick gore immediately a purple flow'r arose , which did a little recompence her loss . this flowers form and colours so invite , that some whole cases full of turf delight to sow with seed ; which when they first arise , with colours pleasingly confus'd surprise . victorious gast● so this flower did grace , that in his luxemburgh he gave it place ; call'd for the pots ; nor could at meals refrain , with it himself and court to entertain . these in the winter you should cultivate , that so upon the beds they may dilate their percious flow'rs , which only can restore your gardens life ; for when the frost before destroy'd without repulse , these triumph still , and conquer that which all the rest do's kill . when others with dejected leaves do mourn , and wet aquarius do's discharge his urne ; this with illustrious purple decks the fields , but if her zephyrus kind breezes yields , she 'l flourish more ; by which we well may find , that to each other they are yet inclin'd . while with succeeding flow'rs the year is crown'd , whose painted leaves enamel all the ground ; admire not them , but with more grateful eyes to heaven look , and their great maker prize . in a calm night the earth and heaven agree , there radiant stars , here brighter flow'rs we see . rapinus of gardens . book ii. woods . long rows of trees and woods my pen invite , with shady walks a gardens chief delight : for nothing without them it pleasant made ; they beauty to the ruder countrey adde . ye woods and spreading groves afford my muse that bough , with which the sacred poets use t' adorn their brows ; that by their pattern led , i with due laurels may impale my head . methinks the okes their willing tops incline , their trembling leaves applauding my design ; with joyful murmurs , and unforc't assent , the woods of gaule accord me their consent . cithaeron i , and menalus despise , oft grac't by the arcadian deities ; i , nor molorchus , or dodona's grove , or thee crown'd with black okes , calydne love ; cyllene thick with cypress too i flye ; to france alone my genius i apply . where noble woods in ev'ry part abound , and pleasant groves commend the fertile ground . if on thy native soyl thou dost prepare t' erect a villa , you must place it there , where a free prospect do's it self extend into a garden ; whence the sun may lend his influence from the east ; his radiant heat should on your house through various windows beat : but on that side which chiefly open lies to the north-wind , whence storms and show'rs arise , there plant a wood ; for , without that defence , nothing resists the northern violence . while with destructive blasts o're cliffs & hills rough boreas moves , & all with murmurs fills ; the oke with shaken boughs on mountains rends , the valleys rore , and great olympus bends . trees therefore to the winds you must expose , whose branches best their pow'rsul rage oppose thus woods defend that part of normandy , which spreads it self upon the brittish sea. where trees do all along the ocean side great villages and meadows too divide . but now the means of raising woods i sing ; though from the parent oke young shoots may spring , or may transplanted flourish , yet i know no better means then if from seed they grow . 't is true this way a longer time will need , and okes but slowly are produc'd by seed : yet they with far the happier shades are blest ; for those that rise from acorns , as they best with deep-fixt roots beneath the earth descend , so their large boughs into the air ascend . perhaps because , when we young sets translate , they lose their virtue , and degenerate . while acorns better thrive , since from their birth they have been more acquainted with the earth thus we to woods by acorns being give : but yet before the ground your seed receive , to dig it first employ your laborer ; then level it ; and , if young shoots appear above the ground , sprung from the cloven bud ; if th' earth be planted in the spring , 't is good those weeds by frequent culture to remove , whoseroots would to the blossoms hurtful prove nor think it labour lost to use the plow : by dung and tillage all things fertile grow . there are more ways then one to plant a grove , for some do best a rude confusion love : some into even squares dispose their trees , where ev'ry side do's equal bounds possess . thus boxen legions with false arms appear at chess , and represent a face of war. which sport to schaccia the italians owe ; the painted frames alternate colours show . so should the field in space and form agree ; and should in equal bounds divided be . whether you plant yong sets , or acorns sow , still order keep ; for so they best will grow . order to ev'ry tree like vigour gives , and room for the aspiring branches leaves . when with the leaf your hopes begin to bud , banish all wanton cattle from the wood . the browzing goat the tender blossom kills ; let the swift horse then neigh upon the hills , and the free herds still in large pastures tread ; but not upon the new-sprung branches feed . for whose defence inclosures should be made of twigs , or water into rills convai'd . when ripening time ha's made your trees dilate , and the strong roots do deeply penetrate , all the superfluous branches must be fell'd , lest the oppressed trunk should chance to yield under the weight , and so its spirits lose in fuch excre●cencies ; but as for those which from the stock you cut , they better thrive , as if their ruine caus'd them to revive . and the slow plant , which scaree advanc'd its head , into the air its leavy boughts will spread : when from the fastned root it springs amain , and can the fury of the north fustain ; on the smooth bark the shepherds should indire their rural strifes , and there their verses write . but let no impious axe prophane the woods , or violate the sacred shades ; the gods themselves inhabit there . some have be held where drops of bloud from wounded okes distill'd : have seen the trembling boughs with horrour shake ! so great a conscience did the ancients make to cut down okes , that it was held a crime in that obscure and superstitious time . for driopeius heaven did provoke , by daring to destroy th' aemonian oke ; and with it it 's included dryad ' too : a venging ceres here her faith did show to the wrong'd nymph ; while erisichthon bore torments , as great as was his crime before . therefore it well might belesteem'd no less then sacriledge , when ev'ry dark recels the awful silence , and each gloomy shade , was sacred by the zealous vulgar made . when e're they cut down groves , or spoil'd the trees , with gifts the antients pales did appease . due honours once dodona's forrest had , when oracles were through the okes convaid . when woods instructed prophets to foretell , and the decrees of fate in trees did dwell . if the aspiring plant large branches bear , and beeches with extended arms appear ; there near his flocks upon the cooler ground the swain may lie , and with his pipe resound his loves ; but let no vice these shades disgrace : we ought to bear a rev'rence to the place . the boughs , th' unbroken silence of a wood , the leaves themselves demonstrate that some god inhabits there , whose flames might be so just , to burn those groves that had been fir'd by lust but through the woods while thus the rusticks sport , whole flights of birds will thither too resort ; whose diff'rent notes and murmurs full the air : thither sad philomela will repair ; once to her sister she complain'd , but now she warbles forth her grief on ev'ry bough : fills all with tereus crimes , her own hard sate ; and makes the melting rocks compassionate . disturb not birds which in your trees abide , by them the will of heav'n is signified : how oft from hollow okes the boading crow , the winds and future tempests do's foreshow . of these the wary plowman should make use ; hence observations of his own deduce : and so the changes of the weather tell . but from your groves all hurtful birds expell . when e're you plant , through okes your beech diffuse ; the hard male-oke , and lofty cerrus chuse . while esculus of the mast-bearing kind , chief in ilicean groves we always find . for it affords a far extending shade ; of one of these some times a wood is made . they stand unmov'd , though winter do's assail , nor more can winds , or rain , or storms prevail . to their own race they ever are inclin'd , and love with their associates to be joyn'd . when fleets are rigg'd , and we to fight prepare , they yield us plank , and furnish arms for war. fewel to fire , to plowmen plows they give , to other uses we may them derive . but nothing must the sacred tree prophane : some boughs for garlands from it may be ta'ne . for those whose arms their countrey-men preserve , such are the honours which the okes deserve . we know not certainly whence first of all this plant did borrow its original . whether on ladon , or on maenalus it grew , if fat chaonia did produce it first , but better from our mother earth , then modern rumours we may learn their birth . when iupiter the worlds foundation laid , great earth-born giants heaven did invade . and iove himself , ( when these he did subdue , ) his lightning on the factious brethren threw . tellus her sons misfortunes do's deplore ; and while she cherishes the yet-warm gore of rhoecus , from his monstrous body grows a vaster trunk , and from his breast arose a hardned oke ; his shoulders are the same , and oke his high exalted head became . his hundred arms which lately through the air were spread , now to as many boughs repair . a sevenfold bark his now stiff trunk do's bind ; and where the giant stood , a tree we find . the earth to iove strait consecrates this tree , appeasing so his injur'd deity ; then 't was that man did the first acorns eat . although the honour of this plant be great , both for its shade . and that it sacred is ; yet when its branches shoot into the skies , let them take heed , while with his brandish'd flame , the thund'rer rages , shaking natures frame . lest they be blasted by his pow'rful hand , while tamarisks secure , and mirtles stand . the other parts of woods i now must sing ; with beech , and oke , let elm , and linden spring . nor may your grove the alder-tree disdain , or maple of a double-colour'd grain . the fruitful pine , which on the mountain stands , and there at large its noble front expands ; thick-shooting hazle , with the quick beam set , the pitch-tree , withy , lotus ever wet ; with well-made trunk here let the cornel grow , and here oriciau terebinthus too ; and warlike ash : but birch and ewe repress ; let pines and firrs the highest hills possess : brambles and brakes fill up each vacant space with hurtful thorns ; in your fields walnuts place . and hoary iunipers , with chesnuts good , vvith hoops to barrel up lyoeus bloud . the diffrence which in planting each is found , now learn ; since th' elm with happy verdure's crown'd : since its thick branches do themselves extend , and a fair bark do's the tall trunk commend ; vvith rows of elm your garden or your field may be adorn'd , and the suns heat repell'd . they best the borders of your walks compose ; their comely green still ornamental shows . on a large flat continued ranks may rise , vvhose length will tire our feet , and bound our eyes . the gardens thus of fountain-bleau are grac'd by spreading elms , which on each side are plac'd . vvhere endless walks the pleas'd spectator views , and ev'ry turn the verdant scene renews . the sage gorycian thus his native field near swift oobalian galesus till'd . a thousand ways of planting elms he found ; with them he would sometimes inclose his ground : oft in directer lines to plant he chose ; from one vast tree a num'rous offspring rose . each younger plant with its old parent vies , and from its trunk like branches still arise . they hurt each other if too near they grow ; therefore to all a proper space allow . the thracian bard a pleasing elm-tree chose , nor thought it was below him to repose beneath its shade , when he from hell return'd , and for twice-lost enrydice so mourn'd . hard by cool hebrus rhodop ' do's aspire ; the artist , here , no sooner touch'd his lyre , but from the shade the spreading boughs drew near , and the thick trees a sudden wood appear . holm , withy , cypress , plane trees thither prest : the prouder elm advanc'd before the rest ; and shewing him his wife , the vine , advis'd , that nuptial rites were not to be despis'd . but he the counsel scorn'd , and by his hate of wedlock , and the sex , incurr'd his fate . high shooting linden next exacts your care ; with grateful shades to those who take the air . when these you plant , you still should bear in mind philemon and chaste baucis : these were joyn'd in a poor cottage , by their pious love , whose sacred ties did no less lasting prove , then life it self . they iove once entertain'd , and by their kindness so much on him gain'd ; that , being worn by times devouring rage , he chang'd to trees their weak and useless age . though now transform'd , they male and female are ; nor did their change ought of their sex impair . their timber chiefly is for turners good ; they soon shoot up , and rise into a wood . respect is likewise to the maple due , whose leaves , both in their figure , and their hue , are like the linden ; but it rudely grows , and horrid wrinkles all its trunk inclose . the pine , which spreads it self in ev'ry part , and from each side large branches do's impart , addes not the least perfection to your groves ; nothing the glory of its leaf removes . a noble verdure ever it retains , and o're the humbler plants it proudly reigns . to the gods mother dear ; for cybele turn'd her beloved atys to this tree . on one of these vain-glorious marsyas died , and paid his skin to phoebus for his pride . a way of boring holes in box he found , and with his artful fingers chang'd the sound . glad of himself , and thirsty after praise , on his shrill box he to the shepherds plays . with thee , apollo , next he will contend ; from thee all charms of musick do descend . but the bold piper soon receiv'd his doom ; ( who strive with heaven never overcome . ) a strong made nut their apples fortifies , against the storms which threaten from the skies . the trees are hardy , as the fruits they bear , and where rough winds the rugged mountains tear , there flourish best : the lower vales they dread , and languish if they have not room to spread . hazle dispers'd in any place will live : in stony grounds wild ash , and cornel thrive ; in more abrupt recesses these we find , spontaneously expos'd to rain and wind . alder , and withy , chearful streams frequent , and are the rivers onely ornament . if ancient fables are to be believ'd , these were associates heretofore , and liv'd on fishy rivers , in a little boat , and with their nets their painful living got . the festival approch'd ; with one consent all on the rites of pales are intent : while these unmindful of the holy-day , their nets to dry upon the shore display . but vengeance soon th' offenders overtook , persisting still to labour in the brook. the angry goddess fix'd them to the shore , and for their fault doom'd them to work no more . thus to eternal idleness condemn'd ; they felt the weight of heaven , when contemn'd . the moisture of those streams by which they stand , indues them both with power to expand their leaves abroad ; leaves , which from guilt look pale ; in which the never-ceasing frogs bewail . let lofty hills , and each declining ground , ( for there they flourish ) with tall firrs abound . layers of these cut from some ancient grove , and buried deep in mold , in time will move young shoots above the earth , which soon disdain the southern blasts , and launch into the main . but in more even fields the ash delights , where agood soyl the gen'rous plant invites . for from an ash , which pelion once did bear , divine achilles took that happy spear , which hector kill'd ; and in their champions fate involv'd the ruine of the trojan state. the gods were kind to let brave hector dye by arms , as noble , as his enemy . ash , like the stubborn heroe in his end , always resolves rather to break then bend . some tears are due to the heliades ; those many which they shed deserve no less . griev'd for their brothers death in woods they range , and worn with sorrow into poplars change . by which their grief was rend'red more divine , while all their tears in precious amber shine . these , with your other plants , still propagate : 't is true indeed they are appropriate to italy alone , and near the po , who gave them their first being , best they grow . into your forrests shady poplars bring , which from their seed with equal vigor spring . rich groves of ebony let india show ; iudaea balsoms which in gilead flow : persia from trees her silken fleeces comb ; arabia furnish the sabaean gum ; whose odours sweetness to our temples lend , and at the altar with our pray'rs ascend : yet i the groves of france do more admire , vvhich now on meads , and now on hills aspire . i not the wood-nymph , not the pontick pine esteem , which boasts the splendor of its line ; or those which old lycaeum did adorn ; or box on the cytorian mountain born : th' idaen vale , or erimanthian grove , in me no reverence , no horrour move ; since i no trees can find so large , so tall , as those which fill the shady vvoods of gause . vvhen from the cloven bud young boughs proceed , and the mast-bearing trees their leaves do spread ; the pestilential air oft vitiates the seasons of the year , and this creates vvhole swarms of vermin , which the leaves assail , and on the woods in num'rous armies fall . creatures in different shapes together joyn'd , the horrid eruc's , palmer-worm design'd with its pestif'rous odours to annoy your plants , and their young offspring to destroy . remember then to take these plagues away , lest they break out in the first show'rs of may. from planting new , and lopping aged trees , the prudent ancients bid us never cease : thus no decay is in our forrests known ; but in their honour we preserve our own . thus in your fields a sudden race will rise , which with your nurseries will yield supplies ; that may agen some drooping grove renew : for trees like men have their successions too . their solid bodies worms and age impair , and the vast oke give place to his next heir . while such designs employ your vacant hours , as ordering your woods , and shady bow'rs ; despise not humbler plants , for they no less , then trees , your gardens beauty do increase . with what content we look on myrtle groves ! on verdant laurels ! there 's no man but loves to find his limon , with acanthus , thrive . to see the lovely phyllirea live ; with oleander . ah! to what delights shorn cypress , and sweet gelsemine invites . if any plain be near your garden found , with cypress , or with horn-beam hedge it round . which in a thousand mazes will conspire , and to recesses unperceiv'd retire . its branches , like a wall , the paths divide ; affording a fresh scene on ev'ry side . 't is true , that it was honour'd heretofore ; but order quickly made valued more , by its shorn leaves , and those delights which rose from the distinguish'd forms in which it grows , to some cool arbor , by the ways deceit , allur'd , we haste , or some oblique retreat : where underneath its umbrage we may meet with sure defence against the raging heat . though cypresses contiguous well appear , they better shew if planted not so near . and since to any shape , with ease , they yield , what bound's more proper to divide a field ? repine not cyparissus , then in vain ; for by your change you glory did obtain . silvanus and this boy with equal fire did heretofore a lovely hart admire ; while in the cooler pastures once it fed , an arrow shot at random struck it dead . but when the youth the dying beast had found , and knew himself the author of the wound , with never ceasing sorrow he laments , and on his breast his grief and anger vents . silvanus mov'd with the poor creatures fate , converts his former love to present hate . and no more pity in his angry words , then to himself th' afflicted youth affords . weary of life , and quite opprest with woe , upon the ground his tears in channels flow : which having water'd the productive earth , the cypress first from thence deriv'd its birth , with silvan's aid ; nor was it onely meant t' express our sorrow , but for ornament . chiefly when growing low your fields they bound , or when your gardens avenues are crown'd with their long rows ; sometimes it ; serves to hide some trench delining on the other side . th' unequal branches always keep that green , of which its leaves are ne're devested seen . though shook with storms , yet it unmov'd remains , and by its trial greater glory gains . let phyllirea on your walls be plac'd , either with wire , or slender twigs made fast . it s brighter leaf with proudest arras vies , and lends a pleasing object to our eyes . then let it freely on your walls ascend , and there its native tapestry extend . nor knows he well to make his garden shine with all delights , who fragrant iassemine neglects to cherish , wherein heretofore industrious bees laid up their precious store . unless with poles you fix it to the wall , it s own deceitful trunk will quickly fall . these shrubs , like wanton ivy , still mount high ; but wanting strength on other props rely . the pliant branches which they always bear , make them with ease to any thing adhear . the pleasing odors which their flow'rs expire , make the young nymphs and matrons them desire , those to adorn themselves withall ; but these to grace the altars of the deities . with forreign iassemine be also stor'd , such as iberian valleys do afford : those which we borrow from the portuguese ; with them which from the ind●es o're the seas we fetch by ship ; in each of which we find a difference of colour , and of kind . though gentle zephyrus propitious proves , and welcome spring the rigid cold removes ; haste not too soon this tender plant t' expose . your gardens glory , the rash primrose , shows delay is better ; since they oft are lost , by venturing too much into the frost . the cruel blasts which come from the north wind , to over-hasty flow'rs are still unkind . let others ills create this good in you , without deliberation nothing do . for this will scarce the open air endure , till by sufficient warmth it is secure . no tree your gardens , or your fountains more adorns , then what th' atlantick apples bore . a deathless beauty crowns its shining leaves , and to dark groves its flower lustre gives . besides the splendour of its golden fruit , of which the boughs are never destitute ; this gen'rous shrub in cases then dispose , made of strong oke , these little woods compose ; whose gilded fruits , and flow'rs which never fade , a grace to th' countrey and your garden adde , proud of the treasures nature ha's bestow'd . when snowy flow'rs the slender branches load , and straying nymphs to gather them prepare , molest them not ; but let your wife be there ; your children , all your family employ , that so your house its orders may enjoy : that with sweet garlands all may shade their brows ; for in their flow'is these plants their vigor lose suffer the nymphs to crop luxuriant trees , and with their fragrant wreaths themselves to please . such soft delights they love ; then let them still with their fresh-gather'd fruit their bosoms fill . these apples atalanta once betray'd : they , and not love , o'recame the cruel maid . these were the golden balls which slack'd her pace , and made her lose the honour of the race . but these sweet smells , and pleasant shades will cease , nor longer be your gardens happiness ; unless the hostile winter be represt , and those strong blasts sent from the stormy east . wherefore to hinder these from doing harm , you must your trees with walls defensive arm . to such warm seats they ever are inclin'd , where they avoid the fury of the wind . these plants , besides that they this cold would shun , look for th' assyrian , and the median sun. in parched africa they flourish more , then if they grow by strimons icy shore . lest then the frost , or barb'rous north should blast your flow'rs , while all the sky is over-cast with duskish clouds , sheds set apart prepare , to guard them from the winters piercing air ; till the kind sun these tempests do's disperse , and with his influence chears the universe . then calmer breezes shall o're storms prevail , and your fresh groves shall sweet perfumes exhale . these trees are various , and the fruits they bear , are diff'rent too . the limons always are of oval figure , underneath whose rind a juyce ungrateful to our taste we find . but though at first our palates it displease , yet better with our stomack it agrees . others less sharp do in hetruria spring ; some , that are mild , from portugal we bring . another sort from old aurantia came , to which that city do's impart its name . hard by dircaean aracynthus lies this ancient town ; the orange hence do'srise . to which in rind and juyce the limons yield , by each new soyl new tasts are oft instill'd . mind not the fables by the grecians told of the hesperian sisters , who of old on vast mount atlas , near the libyan sea , with greatest care did cultivate this tree of fierce alcides , who by force brake in , and in the spoils o' th' nemean skin ; and from the dragon , who securely slept , stole , with success , the apples which he kept . return'd to th' aventine , he sets that hill , with orange-trees , which italy now fill . but things of greater moment are behind ; for purple oleander may be joyn'd with oranges , and myrtles ; each of these peculiar graces of their own possess . the myrtle chiefly , which , if fame says true , from the god's bounty its beginning drew . when venus plac't it in the pleasant shade of the idaean vales , about it plaid whole troups of wanton cupids , while the night was clear , and cynthia did display her light . this citherea above all prefers , and by transcendent favour made it hers . with myrtle , hence , the wedded pair delights to crown their brows at hymenaeal rites . hence iuno , who at marriages presides , for nuptial torches always these provide . eriphyle , sad procris , phaedra too , and all those fools , who in elysium wooe , honour this plant , and under myrtle groves , if after death they last , recount their loves . proud victors with its boughs themselves adorn , while round their temples wreaths with it are worn . tudertus , when the vanquish'd sabines fled , plac'd one of these on his triumphant head . the trunk is humble , and the top as low , on which soft leaves and curled branches grow . it s grateful smell , and beauty so exact , th' admiring nymphs from ev'ry part attract . if too much heat , or sudden cold surprize , which are alike the myrtles enemies , you must avoid them both , and quickly place the tender plant within a wooden case . sheds may protect them , if the cold be great ; or watring from the summers scorching heat , no impious tool our tenderness allows , to fell these groves , nor cattel here must browse oft oleanders in great vasd's live , with myrtles mix'd , and oranges , and give some graces to your garden , which arise from the confusion of their diff'rent dies . in watry vales , where pleasant fountains flow , their fragrant berries lovely bay-trees show . with leaves for ever green , nor can we guess by their endowments their extraction less . the charming nymph liv'd by clear peneus side , and might to love himself have been ally'd , but that she chose in virtues path to tread , and thought a god unworthy of her bed . phaebus , whose darts of late successful prov'd in pythons death , expected to be lov'd . and had she not withstood blind cupids pow'r , the siery steeds and hea'vn had been her dow'r . but she by her refusal more obtain'd , and losing him , immortal honour gain'd . cherish'd by thee apollo . temples wear the bays , and ev'ry clam'rous theater . the capitol it self ; and the proud gate of great tarpeian love they celebrate . into the delphick rites , the stars they dive , and all the hidden laws of fate perceive . they in the field ( where death , and danger 's found ; where clashing arms , ( and louder trumpets sound ) incite true courage : hence the bays , each muse , th' inspiring god , and all good poets chuse . persian ligustrum grows among the rest , whose azure flowers imitate the crest of an exotick fowl ; they first appear when the warm sun , and kinder spring draws near . then the green leaves upon the boughs depend , and sweet perfumes into the air ascend . pomegranates next their glory vindicate ; their boughs in gardens pleasing charms create . nothing their flaming purple can exceed , from the green leaf the golden flow'rs proceed : whose splendor , and the various curls they yield , add more then usual beauty to the field . as soon as e're the flowers fade away , yet to preserve their lustre from decay , to them the fruit succeeds , which in a round conforms it self , whose top is ever crown'd in seats apart , stain'd with the tyrian dye , a thousand seeds within in order lye . thus , when industrious bees do undertake to raise a waxen empire , first they make rooms for their honey in divided rows ; and last of all , on twigs the combs dispose . so ev'ry seed a narrow cell contains , made of hard skin , which all the frame sustains . neither to sharp or sweet the seeds incline too much , but in one mixture both conjoyn . from whence this crown , this tincture is deriv'd , we now relate ; the nymph in africk liv'd : descended from the old numidians race , beauty enough adorn'd her swarthy face ; as much as that tann'd nation can admit , too much , unless her stars had equall'd it . mov'd by ambition she desir'd to know what e're the priests or oracles could show of things to come , a kingdom they dispense in words including an ambiguous sense . she thought a crown no less had signifi'd , but in the priests she did in vain confide . when bacchus th' author of the fruitful vine from india came , her for his concubine he takes ; and to repair her honour lost , presents her with a crown ; by fate thus crost , the too ambitious virgin ceas'd to be ; transmitting her own beauty to this tree . sharp paliurus , rhamnus , ( which by some is white-thorn term'd ) your garden will become . there leavy caprifoil , alcaea too , th' idaean bush , and halimus may grow . woody acanthus ; ruscus there may spring , with other shrubs , these skilful gard'ners bring into a thousand forms ; but 't is not fit to tell their species almost infinite . from brighter woods the prospect may descend into your garden , there it self extend in spacious walks , divided equally , where the same angles in all parts agree , in oblique windings others plant their groves , for ev'ry man a diff'rent figure loves . thus the same paths , respecting still their bound in various tracts diffuse themselves around . whether your walks are strait , or crooked made , let gravel , or green turf be on them laid . the nymphs and matrons then in woods may meet , there walk , and to refresh their weary'd feet , into their chariots mount , though to the young labour and exercise does more belong . if close-shorn phylliraea you deduce into a hedge , for knots the carpine use ; or into arbors with a hollow back , the pliant twigs of soft acanthus make . with stronger wires the flowing branches bind . for if the boughs by nothing are confin'd , the tonsile hedge no longer will excell ; but uncontroll'd beyond its limits swell . and since the lawless grass will oft invade the neighb'ring walks , repress th' aspiring blade suffer no grass , or rugged dirt t' impair your smoother paths ; but to the gard'ners care these things we leave ; they are his business , with setting flow'rs , and planting fruitful trees . and with the master let the servants joyn , with him their willing hearts and hands combine : some should with rowlers tame the yielding ground , making it plain , where ruder clods abound . some may fit moisture to your meadows give , and to the plants and garden may derive refreshing streams ; let others sweep away the fallen leaves ; mend hedges that decay ; cut off superfluous boughs ; or with a spade find where the moles their winding nests have made ; then close them up : another flow'rs may sow in beds prepar'd ; on all some task hestow : that if the master happens to come down , to fly the smoak and clamour of the town ; he in his villa none may idle find , but secret joys may please his wearied mind . and blest is he , who tir'd with his affairs , far from all noise , all vain applause , prepares to go , and underneath some silent shade , which neither cares nor anxious thoughts invade , do's , for a while , himselfe alone possess ; changing the town for rural happiness . he , when the suns hot steeds to th' ocean hast , ere sable night the world ha's over-cast , may from the hills the fields below descry , at once diverting both his mind and eye . or if he please , into the woods may stray , listen to th' birds , which sing at break of day : or , when the cattle come from pasture , hear the bellowing oxe , the hollow valleys tear with his hoarse voice : sometimes his flow'rs invite : the fountains too are worthy of his sight . to ev'ry part he may his care extend , and these delights all others so transcend , that we the city now no more respect , or the vain honours of the court affect . but to cool streams , to aged groves retire , and th' unmix'd pleasures of the fields desire . making our beds upon the grassie bank , for which no art , but nature we must thank . no marble pillars , no proud pavements there , no galleries , or fretted roofs appear , the modest rooms to india nothing owe ; nor gold , nor ivory , nor arras know : thus liv'd our ancestors , when saturn reign'd , while the first oracles in okes remain'd , a harmless course of life they did pursue ; and nought beyond their hills their rivers knew . rome had not yet the universe ingrost , her seven hills few triumphs then could boast . small herds then graz'd in the laurenitne mead ; nor many more th' arician valleys feed . of rural ornaments , of woods much more i could relate , then what i have before : but what 's unfinish'd my next care requires , and my tir'd bark the neighb'ring port desires . rapinus of gardens . book iii. water . of pleasant flouds , and streams , my muse now sings , of chrystal lakes , grotts , and transparent springs . by these a garden is more charming made , they chiefly beautifie the rural shade . to me ye river-gods , your influence give , if deities in springs , in rivers live . into the secret caverns of the earth , where these perennial waters have their birth , i now descend ; as well to know the source , as to explore which way they take their course . to learn where all this liquid treasure lies , and whence the channels still have fresh supplies . wherefore let those who would instructed be in aquaeducts , their precepts take from me . into th' unskilful gard'ner i 'le infufe what may be ornamental , what of use . you then who would your villa's grace augment and on its honour always are intent : you who employ your time to cultivate your gardens , and to make their glory great : among your groves and flow'rs let water flow ; water , the soul of groves and slow'rs too . he that intends to do as i direct , must in the vales the scatter'd flouds collect . he into th'bowels of the earth must dive , to find out springs , which may the fields revive , all parch'd and dry ; for else , within a while . no grass will live upon the thirsty soyl. nor is it hard to do what you desire , if on the neighb'ring hills some rock aspire ; for in such places waters always flow , from whence you may refresh the meads belows thus the swift loir , the rhine , and the garonne , parisian sein , the sealdis , and the rhone ; the mighty danube too , and almost all the streams in nature from the mountains fall . whether some space be in the hollow caves , made for a receptacle of the waves ; or that the vital air no sooner feels th' included cold , but it as soon distills into small brooks ; thus the warm caverns sweat such humid drops , as when the season 's wet , and winter has obscur'd the air again , from marble pillars are observ'd to drain . with dewy moisture lofty cliffs abound , all places weep perhaps into the ground , and through the hills , help'd by the rain and snows , the water runs , still sinking at it goes . till forc'd for want of room , it then disdains more narrow bounds , insulting o're the plains . those before others should our credit gain , who would deduce all fountains from the main : whose boundless waves the universe embrace , and penetrate into each vacant space , each cranny of the earth ; as in our veins that active bloud which humane life sustains , is always mov'd , so th' ocean circulates , and into ev'ry part it self dilates . hence , though all rivers to the ocean hast , and in its depth are swallow'd up at last : yet these additions make it not run o're , or violate the limits of the shore . nor is the ground so close together knit , but that its pores and caverns will admit the subtle waves , which sinking by degrees , descend into its deep concavities . when uncontroll'd , they gently take their course ; but if disturb'd , they make their way by force . where frequent clefts the gaping earth divide , the waters there in greater plenty slide . thus too fresh streams do from the sea proceed , which of their native salt are wholly freed . they through the sand , and crook'd maeanders stray , and through uneven places force their way , strain'd by their soyls , through which they are convai'd , they lose that brackishness which once theyhad no taste , no other colour water knows , but what alone its mother earth bestows . for she alone distinguishes its end ; by causing it to heal , or to offend . borbon and pugia such springs produce , which borrow from the ground a wholesome juyce . by drinking them , diseases reign no more , to dying men they welcom health restore : the gods in nothing more their pow'r declare , in nothing more we may discern their care . what need of drugs ? what use of medicine ? pains cannot , dare not conquer aids divine . art sure must starve ; physicians must grow poor , if nature the decays of nature cure . let your first labour be to find a spring , which from the neighb'ring hillock you may bring . such places seldom fail of these supplies , therefore with digging you must exercise the earth , be diligent on ev'ry side : then if success be to your hopes deny'd ; if heavy sand composed the glebe , in vain you wish for what you never can obtain . when in their field some have for fountains sought , which thence they to their gardens would have brought , i saw their thirsty wishes unrepaid ; while the deaf gods neglected those who pray'd . where the medonian hills do lose their hight , there lately dwell'd the greatest favorite fortune e're had , the greatest france e're saw , a hundred plows his num'rous oxen draw . the treasures of the kingdom he commands , the nerves of peace and war were in his hands , to be dispos'd of , as the king thought fit , and as the rules of government permit . he on th' advantage of the hill had plac'd a noble house , which underneath was grac'd by a large plain , o're which it might be seen from paris , and the countrey too between . no gardens there , no woods were wanting found , the spacious prospect stretch'd it self around . but by the grassie banks no water straid , nor with hoarse murmurs wanton rivers plaid . the owner of the seat , a thousand ways , to find out springs beneath the earth essays . he left no means , no charges unapply'd : all the efforts of art and labour try'd . still his desire of fountains did incerease , and no repulses made his wishes cease , with empty hopes he feed his longing mind , and sought for that which he could never find . for though he left no place unsearch'd , unmov'd , yet his attempts still unsuccessful prov'd . so hard it is , unless the soyl consent , to find a spring ; which done , your thanks present to the kind gods , the rural pow'r adore ; do this , as i have done for you before . water , 't is true , through pipes may be convaid from hollow pits ; so fountains oft are made , by art , when nature aids not our designs , the pensile machine to a tunnel joyns ; which by the motion of a siphon straight , the element attracts , though by its weight it be deprest ; and thus , o sein , thy waves beneath pontneuf , the tall samarian laves ; and pours them out above : but let all those , who want these helps , to him address their vows , whose arm , whose voice alone can water draw , and make obdurate rocks to rivers thaw . now that success may equalize your pains , because the earth the searcher entertains with seeming hopes , these cautions take from me , which may prevent too rash credulity . where small declining hillocks you perceive , or a● soyl where flags and rushes live , where the fat ground a slimy moisture yields , if weeds and prickly sedge o'respread the fields ; there hidden springs with confidence expect : for sedgy places still to springs direct . the same conyza which with sea-weed grows , and moss condens'd upon the surface shows , batrachium , and sium too express unerring marks of neighb'ring streams . no less by reedy calamint we may divine . but you may make the scatter'd flouds combine and though in diffrent hills they were begun , they must united to your garden run . if in the hanging brow of some near hill , a copious vein be found ; then if you will , you may of lead , or earthen tiles make use , and so the springs into the vales deduce . for where the little vein you would compell , by adventitious waters still to swell ; there hollow vaults of slate do best convay the springs themselves , and rains which fall that way . th' adjacent brooks which ran before to waste , will by degrees to these inclosures haste . collected there they soon the channels fill , which will at length to larger currents swell . next that the waves may unmolested slide , and not through rough and darksom winding , glide ; that you may sep'rate the gross sediment , at distances with drains your course indent . for where through even ways the stream runs strong , that heavy slime , which it had forc'd along , proceeds , till the next trench its course controlls , then intercepted sinks into the holes . though under ground the vaulted channel goes , yet grates upon the top of wells dispose ; through which the water may its passage find , leaving the dirt and slimy mud behind . no sordid mire can make it now less pure , since by these means'tis rendred more secure . what if illustrious medicea calls arcolian springs to the parisian walls ? though her endeavours aquaeducts have made , and murmuring streams on hollow bridges laid ? yet such expences are too great sor me , nor with my narrow fortune can agree . with endless walls the stately pile appears , which a proud row of haughty arches bears . within the vault suspended waters flow , o're cloven hills , and vales which lye below . for with stone-walls the distances are joyn'd , to their extent the current is confin'd . hence come those springs , which all the city bless . the royal bounty caus'd this happiness . for publick work on publick souls depend ; to them no private fortune can pretend . such benefits from them alone are due , who with their treasures have profuseness too . though your estate be great , let me advise , that to no publick works you sacrifice , that which your fathers left : for he 's to blame , who with his ruine buys an empty name . in all such enterprizes ruine lurks ; who have not sunk themselves in water-works ? be modest therefore , fly from all extreams ; and in canales of tile convay your streams . or troughs of alder prostrate on the ground , for to this purpose they are useful found . but blest is he , who can without the aid of lead , or tile , or troughs of alder made , all through his garden neighb'ring brooks dispose ; such as near paris noble bearny shows : where copious bivara the happy place with swelling waves do's pleasingly embrace . and such is liancourt ; so we admire at borguiel in anjou the rapid loire . which through the wide salmurian vales and meads , it self with loud resounding murmurs spreads ; abounding so with water polycrene , ( if nature would have suffer'd it ) had been , whose warbling noise the poets now invites , and the inspiring muses more delights . nor be offended lovely fountain , though through sancaronian forrests thou dost go ; though th' unkind earth affords no smoother way , and makes thee through uneven chamberstray : yet art thou welcom to lamon : if so with thy moist springs and streams which ever flow , thou wouldst refresh his gardens , and agree to wash sweet bavillaeum , thou wouldst be more fortunate , thy deity would seem the greatest then in themis's esteem . for where we find a lib'ral vein at hand , and can with ease the neighb'ring waves command , 't is better far then pipes of brittle lead , which often crack , as oft the liquor shed . besides confinement is an injury ; a force on water which was ever free . but if the place you live in be so dry , that neither springs nor rivers they are nigh ; then at some distance from your garden make within the gaping earth a spacious lake : that like a magazine may comprehend th' assembled flouds , which from the hills descend , and all the bottom pave with chalky lome , since that can best the falling waves o'recome . how to distribute springs i now impart ; the means of spreading them , and with what art their motion must be gulded ; how restrain'd ; your gard'ner all these things must understand . the docile streams will any shape put on ; a thousand diff'rent courses they will run . all these instructions i to none refuse , who listen to the dictates of my muse. if you would have your water useful be , where neighb'ring vales beneath your garden lye , in pipes of lead let it be closely penn'd ; without restraint it never will ascend . others do rather brazen conduits use , that the stiff mettal might more strength infuse ; to make th' imprison'd element retire , and then with greater force again aspire . but still take heed that the included air within the pipes move no intestine war : that its fierce motion force them not to leak , and to get loose , the empty prison break . therefore through spiracles the air restore , to those wide mansions it possest before . thus in falernian cellars , when the wine , which is the product of that gen'rous vine , is pour'd into the cask , and hoop't about , they leave a vent to let the air go out : were this undone , the wine would quickly fly through the weak ribs , and all restraint defie . when in your gardens entrance you provide , the waters , there united , to divide : first , in the middle a large fountain make ; which from a narrow pipe its rise may take , and to the air those waves , by which 't is fed , remit agen : about it raise a bed of moss , or grass , or if you think this base , with well-wrought marble circle in the place . statues of various shapes may be dispos'd about the tube ; sometimes it is inclos'd by dubious scylla ; or with sea-calves grac'd ; or by a brazen triton 't is embrac'd . a triton thus at luxembourg presides , and from the dolphin , which he proudly ricles . spouts out the streams : this place , though beautisied with marble round , though from arcueill supply'd ; yet to saint cloud must yield in this out-shin'd , that there the hostel d'orleans we find . the little town , the groves before scarce known , enabled thus , will now give place to none . so great an owner any seat improves ; one whom the king , one whom the people loves . this garden , as a pattern , may be shown to those who would adde beauty to their own . all other fountains this so far transcends , that none in france besides with it contends . none so much plenty yields ; none flows so high , a gulf , i' th' middle of the pond do'slye , in which a swollen tunnel opens wide ; through hissing chinks the waters freely slide ; and in their passage like a whirlwind move , with rapid force into the air above ; as if a watry dart were upward thrown . but when these haughty waves do once fall down , resounding loud , they on each other beat , and with a dewy show'r the basin wet . how fountains first had being now i tell ; if any truth in ancient stories dwell . hard by the phasian bank , with prosp'rous gales , arm'd with his club , while great alcides sails ; a band of argian youth was with him sent , and among them his dearest hylas went. near old ascanius in bithynia stood a lofty grove of beech : as by this wood the swift bank sayls , the weary minyae land , and stretch their limbs on the inviting sand. the nimble favourite now goes in quest of hidden springs , and wanders from the rest ; with travel tir'd he comes to one at last , straight from his shoulders on the grass he cast the weighty pitcher which they hither bore ; and for refreshment sits upon the shore . ascanius had invited to a feast the neighb'ring nymphs , fair isis thither prest , with graceful ephyra , th' inachian dame , and lycaonian melanina came . the rural , and the river-nymphs were here , and none were absent , whose abodes were near . the charms of hylus isis first surprize ; his features she admires ; his sparkling eyes , on the green turf the weary youth repos'd : now all her artifices she disclos'd ; she uses all th' artillery of love , all that could pity or affection move ; and though she saw but little cause , so vain all lovers are , she hop'd he lov'd again . while he by stooping to draw water strives , either the slipp'ry bank his foot deceives ; or by the vessels weight too much opprest , he tumbles in ; to succour the distrest kind isis soon approch'd ; the offer'd aid not with acceptance , but with scorn he paid . th' assisting waves he scatters in the wind , and wrestles with that stream which would be kind . now all the other nymphs their pray'rs unite , and to the room with pumice arch'd invite the sullen boy ; there promise he shall be , as he deserv'd , a liquid deity . resusing still , his arms now wearied lose their strength , and he a sacred fountain grows . to which the nymph indulging her revenge , ( for love repuls'd to cruelty will change ) designs still proud , a lofty genius gave , that it by nature might a diff'rence have from other water ; always might aspire , always , in vain , to be more high desire . a copious fall its ruine hastens on ; and by its own ambition 't is undone . mean while alcides all along the coast , vainly enquires for him whom he had lost : th' ascanian shores , the hills his name resound , the rocks and woods of hylas eccho round . hylas , whose change alone was the first cause , that water rises against natures laws . thus he , who the embrace of isis flies , was punish'd by that nymph he did despise . hence spouting streams in verdant groves we see , and noble gardens to a luxury , by art diversify'd : for pow'rful art to the ambitious water can impart such diff rent shapes , as great ruel can boast , where glorious richlieu with excessive cost , and pains , the waves into subjection brings ; and still survives in monumental springs . all this he did , while he , not lewis raign'd , and atlas-like the tott'ring state sustain'd . here variously dispos'd the fountains run , first head-long fall , then rise where they begun . receive all forms , and move on ev'ry side ; with horrid noise , chimaera gaping wide , out of her open mouth the water throws . for from her mouth a rapid torrent flows , from her wide throat , as waves in circles spout , a serpent turning sprinkles all the rout . a brazen hunter watchfully attends ; and threatning death the crooked tunnel bends . instead of shot , thence pearly drops proceed ; drops not so fatal as if made of lead . this soon the laughter of the vulgar moves , whose acclamation the deceit approves . but why should i repeat how many ways in the deep caves art with the water plays ? the place grows moist with artificial rain , and hissing springs , which here burst out amain . rebounding high , streams ev'ry where sweat through , and with great drops the hanging stones bedew . they who the grotts , and fountains over-see , may as they please the streams diversifie . though the kind naiades comply with those , who when they grotts of pebble do compose , and springs bring in , still beautifie the cells , with eastern stones , or erythraean shells . others of hollow pumice may be made , and well-plac'd shells may on the top be laid . but all these arts , which modern ages own , were to our happy ancestors unknown . these sights must be expos'd to th' peoples view , whose greedy eyes such novelties pursue . to serious things you must your self apply , and water love in greater quantity : learn how to manage it when it falls down , either that like a river it may crown the deeper brims of some capacious lake ; or the resemblance of a pond may make . the tube , if wide enough , may more contain , and at a distance render it again . plenty in fountains always graceful shows , and greatest beauty from abundance flows . nor is the spout of water to be pois'd one way , or in one form to be compriz'd , it must be varied , if you pleasure seek . some from divided streams make showers break . the solar rays and light some represent ; or from a twanging bow swift arrows sent ; others in waves from precipices cast , more pleasure take ; then rap't about as fast , in little they charybdie imitats , which so indangers the sicilan straight . as in the bubling brass , o're rustling fires , hot liquor boils , the water so aspires . where it abounds , the current , there divide into small brooks , which o're the fields may glide . and into ponds these brooks must fall at last ; lest the best element should run to wast . now learn how art restrains the wandring flood , and at due distance makes it spread abroad . though to its nat'ral course the stream's inclin'd , and being free is hard to be confin'd ; yet you may soon compell it to that course which you prescribe , and make it run by force through dubious errours ; for it will delight to take false channels , having lost the right . by frequent windings water thus is staid , till over all the field it is convaid . so amymona's fabled to have err'd , as soon as neptunes passion she had heard . th' unhappy virgin , fearing her disgrace , follows , and flyes her self with equal pace , perhaps she had not yet the power to see . that she was chang'd by th' am'rous deity chang'd to a stream ; which in her footsteps strays , and through dircaean fields its pace delays . rivers diffus'd a thousand ways may pass , with hast'ning waves through the divided grass . like sudden torrents , which the rain gives head , through precipices some may swiftly spread ; and in the pebbles a soft noise excite . some on the surface with a tim'rous flight , may steal ; if any thing its speed retard , then its shrill murmurs through the fields are heard . inrag'd it , leaps up high , and with weak strokes the pebbles , which it overflows , provokes . threatning the bank it beats against the shore , and roots of trees which froth all sprinkles o're . that slender brook , from whence hoarse noises came , which as it had no substance , had no name ; when other riv'lets from the vales come in , th' ignoble current then will soon begin to gather strength ; for bridges may be fit , and by degrees great vessels will admit . sometimes by grassie banks the river goes ; sometimes with joy it skips upon green moss ; sometimes it murmurs in exalted groves , and with its threats the narrow path reproves . whken 't is dispers'd , then let the meads be drown'd , let slimy mud inrich the barren ground . if it runs deep , with dams its force restrain ; and from the meadows noxious water drain . where from their fountains rivers do break loose , and the moist spring the valleys overflows ; when on the meads black showers do descend , with mounds of earth the groves from flouds defend . as diff'rent figures best with streams agree , so on the sides let there some diff'rence be . still with variety the borders grace , there either grass , or fragrant flowers place ; or with a wharf of stone the bank secure ; but troubled fens let their own feeds obscure : or weeds , where croaking frogs and moor-hens lye ; nothing but grass your banks must beautifie . where silver springs afford transparent waves , and glist'ring sand the even bottom paves . on which green elms their leaves in autumn shee l . thus rivers both our care and culture need . while in their channels they run headlong down , we must take heed , that , as they hast , no stone fall'n from the hanging brink , may keep them back , and through the vales their course uneasie make . ye springs and fountains in the woods resound , and with your noise the silent groves confound . frequent their windings , all their avenues , and into the dry roots new life infuse . while pleasant streams invite your thoughts and eyes , and with resistless charms your sense surprize ; of humane life you then may meditate , obnoxious to the violence of fate , life unperceiv'd , like rivers , steals away . and though we court it , yet it will not stay . then may you think of its incertainty . constant in nothing but inconstancy . see what rude waves disturb the things below , and through what stormy voyages we go . so hypanis , you 'l say , and peneus so , simois , and volsoian amasenus flow ; naupactian achelous , inachus , with slow melanthus , swift parthenius , thus ran along , and so dyraspes went , whose current borysthenian streams augment . besides the fountains , which to art we owe , that falls of water also can bestow such , as on rugged iura we descry , on rocks ; and on the alps which touch the sky . where from steep precipices it descends , and where america it self extends to the rude north ; expos'd to eurus blast : on canadas bold shore the ocean past . there among groves of fit-trees ever green , streams falling headlong from the cliffs are seen : the cataracts resound along the shore ; struck with the noise , the woods and valleys rore . these wonders which by nature here are shown , ruellian naiads have by art out-done . into the air a rock with lofty head aspires , the hasty waters thence proceed . dash'd against rugged places they descend , and broken thus themselves in foam they spend . they sound , as when some torrent uncontroll'd , with mighty force is from a mountain roll'd . the earth with horrid noise affrighted grones , flints which lye underneath , and moistned stones , are beat with waves ; th' untrodden paths resound , and groves and woods do loudly eccho round . but if on even ground your garden stand , if no unequal hill , or cliff command , whence you the falling waters may revoke , from the declining ridge of some kind rock . then in long ranges your cascades digest : the nymph of liancourt so hers ha's drest . for by the gardens side , the rivers pass from no steep cliff , but down a bank of grass . nor should it less deserve of our esteem , when from an even bed diffus'd the stream runs down a polish'd rock , and as it flows , like linen in the air expanded shows . the textile floud a slender current holds , and in a wavy veil the place infolds . but these cascades and sports you need not there , where spacious pools with wider brims appear . and scarce within their banks and chambers held , run into brooks , and visit all the field . and to this end , if my advice you take , in the low places of your garden make , besides the other springs , large trenches too ; to which from ev'ry part the streams may flow . for little brooks and springs are not so good , nor please so much as a more noble floud . but if square pools , and deeper ponds you love , dig a broad channel ; all the earth remove ; to make it level to that watry bed , or the deep marsh by which it must be fed . then with a wharf of stone secure the place , with cement bound ; let this the shore embrace . for the foundation you with stone must lay ; though that it self ha's oft been forc'd away . always by force the element restrain , and let the shores the raging flouds contain . the empty lakes from springs will be supply'd , brought from the field along the gardens side . an hundred brooks from flowing never cease , and with their plenty make the pools increase . some i have seen , who all their ponds have fill'd , with those supplies which the deep torrents yield . and in a laver , by its bank inclos'd , the waves collected in the vales dispos'd : collected through the fields from fallen rains . and bavillaeum such a pond maintains . the nymph o' th place ha's this of late prepar'd the owners fortune ha's the house repair'd . from him the seat its greatest glory draws , and he obtain'd his honour by the laws . the slender stream through ancient ruines went , unless the winter showers did augment its force , it wash'd a villa quite decai'd , and with it s sully'd waves through rubbish straid . the sancaronian cattle on the brink , and bavillaean cows were wont to drink . once with a leap i could have past it o're , but its great master quickly did restore the beauty it had lost ; and as he rose , so still with him the current bigger grows . that which with rushes cover'd ran of late , though small , was destin'd to a better fate . in a great laver now the water swells , and stor'd with fish a spacious channel fills . the graver senators here often meet ; here the civilians , and the lawyers sit . here wearied with the town , and their affairs , they please themselves , and put off all their cares . a spout whose fall makes all the garden sound , discharges in the middle of the pond . nor will the plenteous waters please you less , when in the ground a circle they possess . which figure with a garden best agrees : if on the grassie bank a grove of trees , with shining scenes , and branches hanging down , the seats of stone , and verdant shores do's crown . but whether they stand still , or swiftly glide , with their broad leaves let woods the rivers hide . bestowing on each place their cooling shade ; for springs by that alone are pleasant made . still banish frogs , who their old strifes recite , and in their murmurs and complaints delight . drive them away ; for the malicious rout pollutes the springs , and stirs the mud about . let silver swans upon your rivers swim : let painted barges beautifie the stream ; and yielding waves with num'rous oars divide . but let no matrons in the shores confide ; for we , too well , have known their perfidy . a●ter her husbands fate alcyone , and anna sister to elisa too , the water-gods displeas'd , nor did they go unpunish'd long ; swift vengeance did descend , on them , and all who dare the gods offend . therefore with care these deities adore , lest while your servants work along the shore , some swelling tide should snatch them from your sight : but on our foes let these misfortunes light . now to proceed to what i have begun , that through your fields continued streams may run . let the collected flouds from ev'ry side o th' garden , of themselves extended wide , upon the banks in equal channels beat . no water makes a garden more compleat , then if arising from a copious source , o're all the meads it freely takes its course . if seen all round with sounding waves it flows , and as it runs a noble river grows . to adde more rules to those already known , were vain ; for if in verse i should set down all that this art contains , i then should swerve from those strict laws which poets should observe . if you 'l know more , then see those vales of late in their successful owner fortunate . see there the springs in order plac'd ; some bound in pipes of lead , and buried under ground . there you will find the grotts with springs adorn'd ; and how by art the fountains may be turn'd . nor suffer liancourt t' escape your sight , whose humid streams , and grassie banks invite . see how the nymph the schomberg-water guides a thousand ways , and o're the place presides . and thou , bellaquean naias must be seen ennobled by a prince . thou , like a queen , rul'st over all the waves of france ; none dare affect such honours , or with thee compare : the rivers , fountains , and the lakes of gaul , broad sein , which washes the parisian wall : loire , and elaver , swallow'd by the loire , our own , and forreign waters thee admire . to thee great rome her tiber must submit , and greece her self must all her streams forget . as other nations must subscribe to france , so o're the rest thy happy waves advance . victorious lewis having settled peace , and by his conduct made all quarrels cease , this garden by additions fairer made , and from a rock contriv'd a new cascade . but what should i these haughty springs repeat ? or the immense canale , with waves repleat ? how , like a river , with majestick pride , betwixt steep banks the tardy waters glide . these shores have witness'd deep intrigues of state , have seen when nations have receiv'd their fate , when suppliant princes have our aid implor'd , and on their knees our rising sun ador'd . when from all parts embassadours have come , to sue for peace , or to expect their doom . but here it is impossible to show the riches which adorn thee fountainbleau , or all the honours which thy gardens boast : thy palaces erected by the cost , and happy luxury of former kings , my humble muse of gardens onely sings . how should i think to make thy wonders known ! when the shrill trumpets ev'ry where are blown by fames loud breath , how should my feeble . voice , be understood amidst so great a noise ? see how much joy appears in all the court ! and what a sacred pledge fit to support an empires weight ! lucina brings to light . you might perceive the world in joy unite ; as if the dauphins birth-day were design'd to settle peace , and blessings on mankind . while the glad nymph redoubles her applause , and celebrates great lewis , who gives laws to quiet france , and with unshaken reins . his glory with a lasting peace maintains : i sing the other treasures of the field , and all those gifts which fruitful orchards yield . rapinus of gardens . book iv. orchards . nor thee , pomona , will my muse forget ; thou flourishest amidst the summers heat ; all things are full of thee : autumnus shows thy honour too , adorn'd by verdant boughs : to thee lamon , this part of my design relates ; let prosp'rous breezes then combine . and suffer thou my voyage to succed , that through the main my bark may cut with speed . though you maintain severe astraeas right , incourage virtue , and from vice affright : yet have we seen you play the gard'ner too , and giving precepts how your trees should grow . their culture , and their species too by thee at large describ'd , the husbandman may see . and for this benefit so let thy ground be ever kind , be ever grateful found ! let thy luxuriant orchards so be filld that the weak boughs beneath their load may yeild ! that bavillaeau barns with store may break , and plenty never may thy house forsake ! though to all plants each soil is not dispos'd , and on some places nature has impos'd peculiar laws , which she unchang'd preserves , such servile laws , france scarce at all observes . shee 's fertile to excess : all fruits she bears , and willingly repays the plowmans cares . what if burgundian hills with vines abound ? or if with orchards normandy be crown'd ? though beausse her corn ? bigorre her metals shows ? though bearn be woody ? troys with wine o'reflows ? if burdeaux cattel breeds ? and auvergne yeilds the best and noblest horses . yet the sields all over france improvement will admit : and are for trees , or else for tillage fit , chiefly near thee , moist tours , where may be seen a lasting spring , and meadows ever-green . those fields which the durance , and flower soane refresh , and the sweet vales which the garonne with slimy waters gently passes by , with those blest meads which near great paris ly , choose a rich soil when you intend to plant not that which heavy sand has rendred faint . avoid low vales , which lye between close hills , which some thick pool with noisome vapours fills . where pithy mists , and hurtful steams ascend , least an ill tast they to your fruit may lend . still fly that place , where auster always blows , aud sor your trees that scituation choose , where in the open air on a descent , to bless their growth more gentle winds consent . and though the field toth ' sun exposed be , or the hot winds , yet this may well agree with flowers , but then you must some distance make between the flow'rs , and trees , and to keep back people and cattle , which would else offend , with iron-grates the avenues defend . how to choose land i here omit to tell , in diffrent grounds what diff'rent habits dwell : as also how to plant , or when to sow , these arts the husbandmen already know . but if the ground cannot the trees maintain , in open furrows till it o're again . dig all the barren field with care and toil , and for exhausted earth bring better soil . that which comes nearest sand is best of all , if it be moist and colour'd well withall . too many weeds from too much moisture rise : destructive weeds , a gardens enemies . now that the plant may with the mold comply ; what fruits it most approves you first must try . whether the vine thrives best upon the place , or other trees , for there can be no grace in any ground that 's forc'd against its will to bring forth fruit : therefore remember still never with nature any force to use , for t is injurious if she should refuse . when once the field is levell'd , and prepar'd , let it in equal distances be thar'd . appoint the seats in which your trees shall stand , then choose a quince from a selected band : and having cut the woody part away , into warm mold you then the plant may lay . nor think it is unworthy of your hand to make the furrows hollow , or t'expand the earth about the roots , for still we find , that he who does the laws of planting mind , he who from parent-stocks , young branches cuts , and then in trenches the soft layers puts , seldom repents these necessary pains , but rather profit by his care obtains . while fortune waited on the persian state ; cyrus , who from astyages the great himself deriv'd , himself his gardens till'd . how oft astonish'd tmolus has beheld th' industrious prince in planting trees and flow'rs . and watring them imploy his vacant hours ! how oft orontes stopp'd his hasty flood , and gazing on the royal gardner stood . the sabine vallys heretofore have known when noblest romans have forsook the town ; when they their pomp and glory laid aside , and to the rake and plow themselves applied , and this employment warlike fabius chose , when he return'd from vanquishing his foes . he , who in open senate made decrees , manures his ground , and now gives laws to trees . no longer o're his legions he commands , but sows the earth with his victorious hands , the glebe by this triumphant swain snbdued , repay'd his pains with timely gratitude . became more fruitful , then it was before , and better plants , and larger apples bore . thus massinissa , when he wonne the day , and made false syphax with his troops obey ; in tilling of his ground he spent his time , and try'd t' improve the barb'rous libian clime , great lewis too , who carefully attends his kingdom government , sometimes descends from his high throne , and in the country daigns to please him self , and slack his empires rains . for to st , germans if he chance to go , to the versalian hills , or fountainbleau , he thinks not that it makes his glory less , t' improve his ground : his servants round him press ; hundreds with fruits , hundreds with flowers strive to fill the place : the water some derive into the gardens , while with watchful eye he oversees the work , and equally to ev'ry laborer his duty shows ; and the same care on all the field bestows . nor dos the king these arts in vain approve : the gratefull earth rewards his royal love . but why should i such great examples name ? our age wants nothing that should more inflame its zeal , for since the greatest men now please themselves in cultivating of their trees ; since t is their praise to do do it , why should you refuse this sweet imployment to pursue . if fruit of your own raising can invite , if in your villa you can take delight , or can the country love , to that apply your self , and to your plants no pains deny . the stars if kind , or goodness of the soil , help not so much , as never-ceasing toil . then let the earth more frequent tillage know : the stubborn glebe is vanquish'd by the plow . when rain or stormy winds pernicious are , when the suns influence or intemp'rate air injurious proves the tillers industry and culture all defects will soon supply . that this is true , a marsian clown has shown , who in a little garden of his own , which he himself manur'd , had store of fruit , while all the country else was destitute . the standing corn you on his ground might view : and apples broke the boughs on which they grew . his neighbours quickly envied his success , he by thessalian arts his grounds did dress , they said , and hastned on his early corn by herbs upon the marsian mountains born , or magical insusions : then repleat with rage and envy to the judgment-seat they halethe blameless swain , where his defence he makes , with plain and rural eloquence . his sickle he produces , and his spade , and rake , which by long use were brighter made . see here , said he , the crimes which i have done : if tools by time and usage bright are one . these are my magick arts ; these are my charms : then , stretching forth his labour stiffned arms his sabine dame , and daughters brawny hand inur'd to work , and with the sun-beams tann'd . thus by his industry his cause he gains : so much a field improves by constant pains . hence comes good corn , and hence the trees are crown'd with leavy boughs , hence t is that they abound in their choice fruits , in each of which we find a colour proper to it self assign'd . then let the forked shears , the rake , and prong , crows , barrows , mattocks , rowlers which belong to th' garden , be for ever clean and bright . let rust on arms and trumpets only light . let useless helmets in the dust be thrown : but let peace bless the country and the town . neglect that ground which culture doth refuse , least there the tiller all his hopes should lose . transfer your pains to some more grateful soil . the way of raising plants now learn a while . from all your garden first a place divide , there let the hopeful race be multiplied ? seed for your trees about your fields prepare , and let the stocks confus'd spring ev'ry where . there let them all together upward shoot ; by these supply's your losses you recruit . the fairest plant from stones or kernels grows , then your mix'd seedlings in no rank dispose . along the walls and beds : if from their birth they are accustomed to their mother earth ; they flourish better , be it they derive more proper nourishment from her , or thrive with more success , where their forefathers were , but you must still a gen'rous stock prefer . whose vigor , and whose spirits are no less , then what its ancesters did once possess . that 's best which has most joints , but those resuse which at wide distances few buds produce . when with due judgment you would choose a place , proper , wherein to raise a future race ; let it be in the sun ; without his aid the ground will languish , and the fruit will fade , he rules the winds , and tempests in the sky ; and while he views the world with his bright eye , he cherishes all things , and vital juice into the witherd herbage can infuse , he governs the twelve signs , and by him steer the courses of the earth , the heav'n , and year . heav'n if observ'd , great benefits imparts , nor less the rayes which glorious phorbus darts , either when setting he do's disappear , or rising guilds the northern hemisphear . his radiant beams will never shine in vain , to him and his sister then who raign together , and olympus empire sway ; let the glad youth deserved honours pay . they both are kind to trees ; and both expect to be observ'd : by them your course direct : for they well known you have no cause to fear , though diffrent colours in sky appear . yet in the spring desire not too much heat , least the remaining cold your hopes defeat : and the suns kindness then should prove his crime , if forward fruit appear before its time , though chearful blossoms promise you success , trust not the fading flow'r , but still suppress your expectations , and for summer stay , whose genial warmth secures them from decay . the gardner oft vain blossoms has believ'd ; and with false hopes as oft has bin deceiv'd . i th' end of spring when welcome heat returns when ev'ry garden lovely fruit adorns , sometimes a tree by sudden tempests crost the whole years hopes in one short night has lost . the cruel winds now most their rage imploy , rough boreas more then any will destroy . the trees and orchards , therefore , now , ye swains while the fresh spring your lively plants maintains . now , on your festivals , by frequent prair avert pernicious winds , and have a care in summer nights of moons , which nip with cold , the cloud ingendred southern gusts with-hold ; and the sithonian northern blasts ; for these , unless the cautious husband-man foresees that they approch him always hurtful are , when ever lowring clouds disturb the air your self with care from future ills defend , the seasons mark , and what the heav'ns portend . when among other seasons of the year the time of graffing comes ; do not defer in proper stocks young cions to inclose ; then buds between the cloven bark dispose . and if your fruit be bad , as oft it will , make choice of better , and remove the ill . by these improvements greatest praise you get , and thus your gardens honour you compleat . into your stocks the forraign pears admit , and far fetch'd apples place within the slit . hence springs a nobler race , and greater store of hopeful offspring then you had before . the plants you want the neighbourhood will give : if not , from distant countrey's them derive . greece first sought plant in barb'rous climes , and then she civiliz'd the trees as well as men . these still at home she fortunately plac't , and by translation did correct their tast . while auncient fables reputation gain'd , the then white mulberry with red was stain'd . thisbe and pyramus who yet survive in naso's verse . in babylon did live : a spotless love united both their souls ; but parents hate their happiness controlls . deluded by their passion they grow bold ; not walls , nor strict injunctions them with-hold . that bliss , which in their life they could not have , they found at last by meeting in the grave . hard by the place there stood an aged tree which , as if touch'd with their sad destiny . imbibes their blood , and caus'd its frait , which late was pale , to blush at the poor lovers fate . so rhodopeian phillis heretofore , left by her faithless servant , on the shore , when she was pin'd away with grief and shame , an almond in her fathers ground became . pallas gives olives ; bacchus do's bestow the figgs and vines to ceres corn we owe. but , what the romans did , why should i tell whose arms on trees as well as nations fell ? while they in chains the victors chariots drew , their plants as much inslav'd by tiber grew , into his garden thus from cerasus lucullus first did cherrys introduce ; damascus plums afforded ; media , with lydia , egypt , india , caria , and persia apples gave ; and these were brought from the geloni , who with axes fought . each nation which had her arms overcome , did thus pay tribute to triumphant rome . phaliscians then , who iuno most ador'd , their empty fields with rows of apples stor'd . and the crustumian pears , the sabines plac't i th' amiternan vale , th' auruncans grac't taburnus then with vines and olives too ; at these new plants amazed anio admires : oenotria likewise then possest of wholsom air , and with a fat soil blest . fruit bearing trees , which were before unknown from other gardens brought into her own . when plants of a corrected tast are found , and stocks are chosen which are young and sound ; thegraffer then th' adoptive bough must bring into those stocks : of this the means i sing . which though they are distinct , you learn with ease how to graff fruitful slips in barren trees . some cut down trunks , which bore a lofty top , and hollow them above , thus wood-men lop the tallest oaks , and cut out four square stakes ; but first of all a wedge its passage makes . this done , the cions may descend down right into the cleft ; and with the stock unite . though others in the rind betwixt each bud make an incision , and the graff include , which by degrees is afterwards inclind t' incorporate it self with the moist rind . some like a slender pipe the bark divide , or like a scutcheon slit it down the side . or the hard trunk , which a sharp augur cleaves , into its solid part the graff receives . mean while , with care , the branches which are joyn'd , you with a sev'nfold cord must strongly bind . and all the chinks with pitch or wax defend ; for if the cruel air should once descend into the cleft , it would impede the juice : and to the plant its nourishment refuse . but , if these dangers it has once indur'd , when the adopted branch is well secur'd ; by their conjunction trees their nature loose ; that which was wild before , more civil grows : unmindful of their mother they forsake the tast , which they from her at first did take . from yellow quinces , and cornelians rise fruits , which are differenc'd by various dies . the pear thus mends : the slow affords good plums : and the bad cherry better now becomes . from diff'rent boughs distinguish'd species shoot ; but now i tell how you must mix your fruit , what branches with each other you may joyn : what sorts will best in amity combine . all kinds of pears the quinces entertain ; and them receiv'd with their own tincture stain . the hoary pears their tast to apples give , they with the shrubby willow too will live . the fig would love the mulberry , if that its blacker hue would somewhat moderate . cherrys with laurels blushes will compound : apples with apples do their tast confound . and , from the salvage plum , we pears may raise : ( if we may credit what palladius says ) but gardners now , by long experience wise , what former ages taught them may despise . they of auvergne in willows fruits inclose ; t is true , at first their colour grateful shows . but , by this marriage they degen'rate are , and tast but ill , although they look so fair . for various plants what air , and soil is good , and that , which hurts them , must be understood . warm air , and moisture is by apples lov'd : but , if to stony hills they are remov'd , you must not blame them , if they then decay . through a crude soil the figg will make its way : if it be not expos'd to the rude north , a humid sand will make the peach bring forth . the pear , when it has room enough to spread , where it has warmth sufficient over head , if it be seconded by the wet ground , with swelling fruits , and blossoms will be crown'd . the backward mulb'ry chuses to be dry , for constant moisture is its enemy . and a wet soil the apple vitiates , the cherry deeply rooted propogates if self with freedom as in italy the thriving olives every where we see . a milder ground the lemmon most desires : one more severe the yellow quince requires . it is not fit that apricots should stand in a hot mold , and cherrys love not sand , no more then strawberrys ; which last , if fet in earth that 's well subdued , if to the heat of the warm sun expos'd , they soon abound with juice , their berrys then grow plump and round . those hills , which favour bacchus , lemmons sterve : and melons which a gentler clime deserve . when a warm scituation plums obtain , they quickly recompence the gardners pain . if in your orchards any tree seems faint , with wonted culture cure the sickly plant ; er'e the whole trunk is touch'd with the disease . briars and weeds which fatal are to trees where ere the ground is bad the fields infest , whence ev'ry bough with faintness is opprest . culture mends bitter plants ; they then , who break the surface oftnest up ; who most their rake , and forked tools about the roots employ ; they , the best fruits , and noblest trees enjoy . but if the soilor sow'r , or brackish be , neither the careful plow-mans industry , nor cold , nor frost , or storms of wind or rain , improve those fields , they never can obtain their ancient reputation ; all things there grow worse and worse , forgetting what they were . when for an orchard you a seat will chuse , first learn what sorts of planting are in use : thus with the humours of each place complys , in open plains on which the warm sun lyes . there let your trees aspire in grounds inclos'd , let a dwarf-race of fruit-trees be dispos'd , whose boughs are round and short : nor bodys tall . some plash , and tack their layers on the wall : whilst others make their twisted branches grow , like a shorn hedge , in a continued row . these rural ornaments by all are sought ; and if they vary , are more graceful thought . follow these precepts rather much , then those , which our own ancient husband-men impose . the former age must all its claims resign , now all these arts in perfect lustre shine . trust not your tender plants too much abroad ; to figgs the summer sun must be allow'd . apples , and nuts , with cherrys , plums & pears , and the soft almond , which all weather bears ; let them with freedom in the air ascend . and if just tasts you to your fruit would lend , if you would mend their genius , let them take their liberty , for if the sun do's bake them well , if to his light they are displaid , they vanquish those which sculk within the shade . either this benefit from phoebus flows , who on all things his influence bestows ; or else great trunks to make their off-spring thrive , more juice and vigour from the earth derive . perhaps the middle region of the sky , ( for duller vapours dare not mount so high ) sometimes imparts a favourable breeze , and fanns with purer air the tops of trees . then let your gardens in the sun be plac't ; from him your apples must receive their tast , and hardned thus the summer they endure , those which were crude he renders more mature . the tender brood you must defend with care ; and if you can the little race repair ; with sharper tools you must restrain excess ; or with your hand superfluous leaves suppress . and let no bough its parent overshade , nor on a branch let greater weight be laid then it can bear : those blossoms which decay , or are not hopeful you must take away . till a more gen'rous off-spring dos succeed : this is the only way to mend the breed . the mother of her children thus bereav'd must with assiduous culture be reliev'd . though it be welcome to the sordid swain , too fruitful trees their plenty boast in vain : their store destroys them ; rather let them feel the wholsome sharpness of the crooked steel . for , while the gard'ner th'useless flow'rs invades , he greater glory to the parent adds . no tree can long its fruitfulness enjoy ; such virtues their possessors soon destroy . unless they cease from bearing , they must wast ; for no extream of good can ever last . they who retard their siuit deserve more praise , then they who nature by incitements raise . some gardners i remember near the town , with dung their slower apples hastned on . the usual method could not them content , they by their hast the seasons did prevent . let no such customs in your gardens be , for these productions are an injury . they in a lethargy the plants ingage , and make them subject to untimely age . let not your fruits their seasons then forsake , nor with ungentle hand sow'r apples take : least with abortian you the mothers kill , and your nice stomach with raw humours fill . if you are curious how your fruits are died , to neighb'ring walls their branches must be tyed . when titans raies on them at mid day beat , and grow more pow'rful by reflected heat ; those , which are most expos'd , will best derive the pleasing colours which the sun can give . how this advantage is to be obtain'd ; and how t' augment the heat shall be explain'd , first a long wall you must due south erect , from thence the most intensive warmth expect . this dawbe with morter o're ; which being plain will best reverbe rate the raies again . those vermine too are kill'd by scorching lime ' which would destroy the trees themselves in time . next hooks of iron fix along the wall , on them let poles or rods of willow fall : on which the branches may depend in rows , the husband-man with twiggs may tye them close , though others fasten them with knotts of wire , in time the pliant boughs themselves desire to bear that yoke , to which they are restrain'd , if from their tender youth they are inchain'd . that so by long obedience being taught , they to their duty may with ease be brought . age dos rebellion into shoots instill : and makes them stubborn to the benders will. then , that they may comply with greater ease , instruct them in submission by degrees . while blooming years permit , and while they have an inclination proper to inslave ; along your walls young trees betimes expand , which by degrees may stoop to your command . the branches , if in decent order plac't . by servitude are not at all disgrac't . no more , then when a woman dos with care within strict fillets bind her flowing hair : disposing it according to the mode , when she intends to show her dress abroad . restraint becomes her hair ; and thus a tree when it is captive will more lovely be . if lawless twiggs rebell not from the rest ; and the green mantle dos the wall invest . these textures noblest tapestry transcend , and with their beauty all the place commend . chiefly when diff'rent fruits their seasons know , and to your sight their various colours show . how must it then the gardners heart affect , to see those beautys he ne're durst expect ; while on the fruit-charg'd wall , the figgs grow black , and peaches red , the boughs with apples crack . for when the summers particolour'd race appears , then ev'ry tree its wealth displaies , which was before beneath the leaves conceal'd ; then t is delightful to survey each field , to visit all your villa , and to see what fruits and treasures in your gardens be . nor unaffecting to admire those dies , which on the branchy solds your sight surprise . to pluck the early fruit , or if you will , home to convey the panniers which you fill . whether you search what fruits are of good kind , or would the genius of your orchards find ; or with what culture plants will flourish best , and when aspiring twiggs must be represt . if you would find what stocks will graffs admit , and how far graffs their former names forget . your rural pleasures will excel the pride and riches of the great ; fame you 'l deride . and city noise , nor the unconstant wind of kings , or peoples favour stirs your mind . thrice happy they who these delights pursue ! for whether they their plants in order view , or overladen boughs with props relieve , or if to forraign fruits new names they give , if they rast of ev'ry plum explore , to eat at second course , what would they more ? what greater happiness can be desir'd , then what by these diversions is acquir'd ? you who the beauty of your trees design , to each along the walls its seat assign . cherrys with cherrys , figgs with figgs may meet , the syrian and crustumian pears are fit to mingle with the brittish , but we find that apples and red plums must not be joyn'd . all that are of a sort together plant , they must succeed if they no culture want . and when affairs of greater moment cease to set their stations be your business . for if they have not ample room to spread they then both strength and nourishment will need . but what the kinds and various natures are of fruitful trees , i must not now declare : nor tell their different appearances , or how the gardners art has with success improv'd our orchards , what should i count ore those fruits , which persia sent us heretofore ? why or their taste should i relate , or hue , which more illustrious by its purple grew ? some of a thicker substance stick fast on , while others which are thinner quit the stone . these last with iuice and dewy moisture swell , and all the other sorts by much excell . others there are which , like the plum , are thin , and have no down upon their naked skin . their species , forms , nor names i here must sing ; as those which the avmenians once did bring from their high hills , by native blushes prais'd ; or those which from great stones alcinous rais'd . tibur●ian peaches i must here forget , then which picenian ones were thought more sweer . nor here at all of quinces must i boast , which , when they have no smell , are valued most , chorrys , which at first course are grateful still ; or figgs , which heav'nly nectar do distill . i here pass ore , these from their taste obtain more honour , then the mellow apples gain . but nature never show'd more wantonness then , when so many shapes she did impress , from wardens to the pears which lesser grow , and did to each its proper iuice allow . some imitate the brisk falernian wine , others , like must , to sweetness more incline . in swelling some extravagant appear ; and crooked necks with oblong bellys bear . to plums and grapes just commendations yeild , if on the wall they are by propt upheld . muscat , and purple vines , which both observe their wonted seasons , may our praise deserve . the humble strawberrys i would repeat , which are by nature with sweet iuice repleat . and , if i had but leisure , i would sing the fragrant odours which from melons spring . when husbandmen give precepts to expand their trees , to imitate the spreading hand , or backbone of a fish they sometimes chuse , when er'e one trunk the branches dos produce . successful trialls both these ways have had : and therefore use of either may be made . you cannot be too often put in mind of that advantage which your plants will find by being prun'd : the boughs will thus obay , and by your tool are fashion'd any way . though tough with age , they stoop to your command , nor can the crooked pruning knife withstand . and when the trees thus cut revive agen , when from their wounds they borrow courage , then oft exercise your pow'r , and so restore beauty to that , which was deform'd before . youth unadvis'd dos in desire exceed : and would without all moderation breed . the pruners care must succour each defect , he with his hook their vices must correct . superfluous shoots his servants may repress ; destructive pity makes them more increase . but in what part they must be cut , and how , from the experienc'd you will better know , always untouch'd the chiefest branches save , from whom you hope a future race to have . now if the season proves reciprocall ; you may behold your fruit upon the wall . yours gardens riches then will make you glad ; nor think that any thing can colour add , or bigness to them , but that influence , which on their ranks kind phoebus do's dispence . nature your wishes then will satisfy , if with these methods only you comply . and though we ripeness to our fruits impart by heat on walls reflected , yet this art by the reports of dark antiquity , in the records of time is set more high . and if we may at all our faith ingage to what we hear of the preceding age . alcinous first , who the phoeacians swaid , thus to have cultivated trees is said . his stores with usual plenty overflow'd , and when the year its usual hope had show'd , from the malicious north arose a blast , which in one night laid all the garden wast , if any plant by fortune was retriv'd , and , in the fields , the common fate surviv'd ; that ruine , which by boreas was begun , was finish'd by the spiteful air and sun. all through the sky unwonted tempests rore , and horrid noises the clear welkin tore . the greatest slaughter on the orchard salls ; struck with portents the king the augurs calls , the meaning of the prodigies inquires , and their advice upon his loss desires . from calais and zethes some pretend , ( both sprung from boreas ) that these plagues descend . the kings alliance both of them had sought , nor were unworthy by the mother thought : the daughter too their passion had approv'd , but neither were by prince or people lov'd . their father vex'd to see his sons deceiv'd , by them perhaps had his revenge contriv'd . because they both were angry with the king. some from atlantian calypse bring these mischiefs . circe only , some accus'd . calypso mindful how she was abus'd by the phoeacians , when laertes she from drowning sav'd , and boasted him to be her right , she then to be reveng'd , decreed that circes neighbourhood , and hate might breed these ills some think , that she the moons aspect had chang'd , and did the purer air infect . but good eurymedon , who was the priest of phoebus , and a prophet better ghest . think not , says he , that our misfortunes flow from outward causes , to our selves we owe our dire mishaps ; nor did he longer speak . the king commands he should his silence break , and bids him undiscover'd crimes recite . then he ; the weight of our affairs permits not many words , when worse events are fear'd , appease the gods , while prayers may be heard . the objects of their vengeance now we are , when plenty fill'd his stores , to his own cate , and art , alcinous did ascribe his fruit . madman that should the gifts of heav'n dispute ! that , he the sun and winds should so neglect , nor his devotions to great iove direct . himself the criminal he then did find , accusing his prov'd thoughts and haughty mind . strait he repairs to the phoeacian wood , where the hesperian nymph had her abode ; where she the oracles of heaven spoke , soon a soft voice the sacred silence broke . to mighty iupiter twelve bullocks pay : as many more on titans altars lay . both deity 's have bin provok'd ; from them our fruits , and all other our blessings stream . they went , and to great iove twelve bullocks paid : and twice six more on titans altars laid . these rites eurymedon ordain'd , should be yearly perform'd by their posterity . taught by the nymph alcinous now immures his orchards in , and so his plants secures from hurtful blasts , and where they wanted heat , upon the walls he makes the sun-beams beat . this way of setting trees arose from hence ; which , though th' hesperians had forgot long since , the norman swains reviv'd again ; and shew'd their servants , that their ground must be allow'd more warmth , for the reflected sun alone , could make their fruits attain perfection . from hence , this art to paris old advance , and stretch'd it self through all the parts of france . you , who my precepts hear , this ornament , bestow upon your gardens nor repent the building of long walls , and them infold with the green tapistry ; no pains with-hold . and while you do the fruitful youth survay , or among leavy textures loose your way ; when you behold your thriving nurserys , cut all superfluous branches from your trees . the masters hand improves the orchard most : for he , if any plant its hold has lost , or hang ; he trims and ties it up again ; thus the neat hedge its beauty dos regain . vermin and erwigs from the leaves he shakes , and of those fruits before a trial makes , which he designs at second course to eat : the times of gathering he best can set . to the deserving praises he extends ; and those which are deceitful discommends . when once the ground is till'd , the gardner then beginst ' instruct the ruder husbandmen . the taste and merit of each tree he shows , and by what graffs the parent better grows . for thus is he imploy'd ; while ev'ry where he visits all his wealth with equal care . no time is lost : the year with fruits is blest : or else the boughs with blossoms are opprest . nor slow nor idle lab'rers must you hire , these works excess of diligence require . the stubborn earth and plants exact the same , which are by pains and culture only tame . a backward soil with rotten dung improve , and often in the sun the clods remove . if after this the year should prove unkind , you must impute it to the spiteful wind . whose pow'rful blasts all situations sway , for still the ground dos heav'ns command obey . be kind ye winds , so shall your altars share a part of that , which you with pity spare . a thousand enemy 's , a thousand ills ore plants prevail : sometimes the bad air kills the hopes o th' spring , and therefore you must try with greatest care these threatning plagues to fly . if that disease which springs from faulty air , with its infection should your fruits impair ; the gods with vows and prayers supplicate , no other remedy is left but that . to fell those trees can be no loss at all , whose age and sickness would your axe forestall . a youthful successour , with better grace , and plenty , will supply the vacant place . plants by their looks betray their strength and years , if through the gaping rind the wood appears , if dying leaves upon the boughs are seen , while all the rest are flourishing and green : if they look pale , then with your knife invade those branches which afforded too much shade . sometimes beneath the bark a canker breeds , or burning moss which like a scab o're spreads the trunk with cruel venom , these repress before they reach the quick , and ere they seize the inward parts , before that all the race with a pernicious leaness they disgrace . if the exhausted spirits sail to do their offices , if they dengen'rate grow , dig up the earth and with the dung of swine or the hoarse stock-dove make it then combine the hungry mold must thus be satisfi'd . and those do well who in deep trenches hide dry leaves among their dung , with fern , or broom , bean shales , or dirty ashes are by some thrown on their fields , all these the ground will aid , but let it never be too fertile made . for as a tree due nourishmen ; may want , so too rich soil destroys the tender plant. and if you know not how a barren field must be incourag'd , and with pains be till'd , or if you would allay rich mold , that art , the rules of culture fully will impart . when from swift clouds or rain descends , or hail , a thousand plagues your orchards will assail . as gnats , worms , catorpillers which infold the boughs , with buzzing drones , and snails inroll'd , within their shells made always circular , of merops too , and other birds beware , which from the mischiefs that their beaks effect , are tigers call'd ; when these begin t' infect your nurseries , they are a pestilence with which no careful gardner must dispence . with flying smoak these enemys oppose , and kill the vermin on the leaves and boughs . flys here , and painted lizards i omit , with cunning moles , which still avoid the light , and mice , who from their holes their thefts repeat , all these with diff'rent traps you must defeat , as custom and experience teaches best . nor ought i here more precepts to suggest ; i write not now to dull unskilful swains , such as of old till'd the laurentine plains . all husbandmen are now so artful grown , that almost nothing can be further shown of culture , nothing can be found out more , then what has bin invented long before . my hasty muse permits me not to write of famous gardens here or to recite those noble villa's , which deserve my verse , no● here my countreys honours i rehearse . ye gardens therefore , and your owners too , forgive me , if you have not what 's your due . when france her former riches shall regain , if our affairs should prosper once again ; then by the bounty of a lasting peace , our labours may be crown'd with more success . the world of late in warrs has bin ingag'd , and stem enyo through all europe tag'd ; famine , and pestilence , and feavers raign'd , the blushing fields with civil gore were stain'd . the gods were all averse , who can remount those crimes , which do the reach of thought surmount . the violated laws , the broken faith , and nations guilty of their sov'rains death ? and heavier ills then these had yet remain'd , if lewis from the gift of heav'n obtain'd ; had not with pow'rful arms , and greater mind , repair'd our fortune , ere it quite declin'd , then having stretch'd his bounds from shore to shore , that he might arts and manners too restore , and through the world the golden age renew ; the rains of iustice great lamon to you he gave , and you ore his tribunals plac't : when led by you astroea shall , at last , return to us agen , as we have cause to hope from the beginnings of your laws ; then shall the earth in her first glory be ; and those new arts and methods which by thee t' improve their plants the husbandmen receive , shall ever in thy native soil survive . thus much of gardens , i at clermont sung , in thee sweet paris ; treading all along those sacred steps ; which virgil led before , when blest in her affairs , in her king more , ore willing nations france began to sway : and made the universe her pow'r obay . finis . the table before the reader make use of the table , he is desired to reforme in the book the following pages , thus : for 29 92 48 84 66 76 67 77 68 89 78 79 79 78 a. abricot , pag. 203. acanthus branc vrsine . bears-foot 30 , also , thorne 100. 118. achilles's spear , 96. aconite , herba christi , vide anthora , 38. 66. adiantum , black-oake . ferne , 52. aethiopis , ethiopian mullein 38. alca●a , marsh-mallow , 118. alcinous the fable , 222. alder , 87. 94. almond , fable of phillis , 196. amaracus , majoran , 46. amaranthus , velvet-flower , 59 amellus , shire-wort , 60. amymona , the fable , 156. anemonie , and fable , 67. angelica , 59. anthemis , camomil , 19. anthora , wolfebane , 38. antirrhinum , calves-snout , 31. apium , parsley , 59. apples , 197. 203. april , 24. aqueducts , 126. 138 , 139. v. fountain , &c. aquilegia . colombine , 37. arcueil described , 138. armeria , pinks , 59. ash , 93. 95 , 96. asphodel , daffodil , 36. after-atticus , starwort , 60. atalanta , and fable , 107. vide oranges . b. bafil , 32. batrachium , crowfoot , cranesbill , 136. bayes , 113. 115. v. daphne . beech , 83. bellaquea , fontain bleau , 172. 174. bellides , daisyes , 25. berny , 141. birds , 83. blattaria , moth mullein , 32. blewbottle , 32. box knots , 8 , 9 , 10. 61. bupthalmum , oxe eye , 60. c. calamint , 136. calendula , marigold , 60. caltha , march-marigold , 27. canales , 165. 168. 171. 173. v. fountains , waterworks , ponds . canker , 231. v infirmities . caprifoile , honysuckle , 118. carnations , v. gilliflowers , 53. carpine , hornbeam , 119. cascades , 162. 165. v. waterworks . celandine , swallow-wort , 16. centaury , 59. cerynthe , hony-wort , 38. cerrus , holme-oke , 83 chamaedrys , germander , 55. cherrys , 196. 201. 203. 216. chesnuts , 88. chrysanthes , corn-marigold , 46. cicher , ciche , 30. cicory , 59. cityssus , shrub-trefoile , 37. clematis , periwinkle , 59. st. cloud described and celebrated , 35. 146. clytie , sunflower , 57. colocasia , egiptian-bean , 30. colours , 210. composts , 181. v. dung. conduits , 144. v. fountains . convolvulus , bindweed , 32. conyza , fleabane , 59. 136. coriander , 59. cornel , 87. 93. countrey life , and villa prais'd 121. 168. 215. cresse , 37. crocus , saffron , 57. 67. crown-imperial , 20. cyanus , blew-bottle , 19. cyclamen , sowbread , 14. cymbalum , mountain lilly , 45 cypresse 100 , 101. 103. cyrus , 183. d. dalmatis , the fable , v. tulip . daphne , the fable , 114. v. bayes . dauphine his birth , 175. december , 66. delphinium , larkspur , 32. distilling , 48. dodona , 81. dung , 209. 232. v. compost . dwarf trees , 205. e. echium , scorpion grass , 52. education , 212. elme , 87 , 88 , 89. eringo , sea-holly , 58. esculus , a species of oke , 84. ewe , 87. f. fabius , 183. felling , 230. fennel , 32. figs , 201 , 262 , 206. firre , 87. 95. flos iovis , pansy , 26. flora the fable , and her rites , 6. 29. flowers 1. their difference and variety , 10 , 11. culture 27. 62. 65. seasons , 11. 63 , 64. cautions in gathering , 47. use 48. 50. painting , 49. flower de luce , arms of france , 55. v. iris. fountains , origin , 129. qualities , 135. 137. 143. 157. artificial , and cisterns , 143. 145 , 146. aqueducts , grotts , cascades , waterworks , &c. fountainbleau , described and celebrated , 88. fox-glove , 38. france , its orchards and productions , 178. frogs , 169. fruit , 192. praecoce , tardy , 209. v. wall-fruit . fruitfulness , 208. g. gardeus , soile , 3. situation and culture , 4 , 5. of old not so elegant , 6 , 7. garlands , 24 , 26. 48. st. germains , described and celebrated , 35 gelsemine , 100. 104 , 105. granadil , passionflower , 52. graffing and graffs , 194. 198. greece , 195. grotts , v. fountains , waterworks . groves , where to plant , 75. 119. infamous to destroy , 81 , 82. v. woods . h. halimus , sea-purslane , 118. hazle , 87. 93. hedges , 100. hedysarum , hatchetfetches , 59 helle bore , 66. hellen , elicampane , 37. hemerocallis , day lilly , 53. henbane , 59. hesperis , dames-violet , 53. horminum , clary , 59. hornbeam , 100 , 101. house-leek , 31. human life , 161. hyacinth , iacintb , 67. hylas , v. isis. hyosciamus , 60. v. henbane , i. ianthis , the fable , 16. ilex , scarlet-oke , 84. idustry , 187. infirmities of plants , vermine , 211. 231. 233. influences , 11 , 12. 64. 206 , 207. iris , 15. 26. v. flower de lys , isis and hylas the fable , 149. isopirum , water-trefoile , 31. iune , 57. iuniper , 88. l. lawrel , 66. 100. lewis xiv . celebrated , 173. 184. 235. ligustrum , privet , 115. lillies , 55. linden , lime tree , 87. 90. limon , 100. 109. 203. linaria , toadflax , 37. linum , gardenflax , 19. 46. liancourt , 141. 164. 172. loire , 141. lopping , 99. 121. lotus , nettle tree , 87. luxembourg , 146. lychnis , wild rose campion , 19 lytrum , willow herb , 38. m. malva , wild mallow , 46. maple , 87. 91. march mallows , 59. marsy as , the fable , 92. massinissa , 184. matricaria , featherfew , 54. meadow saffron , 19. medune celebrated , 35. meleagris , checquer'd daffedil , 52. melilot , plaister claver , 46. melissa , balm , 59. melons , 203. merascus , mezereon , 67. mint , 60. mixture , 201. moly , sorcerers garliek , 31. momorancy vale celebrated , 35 moone , 193. mulberry , fable of pyramus and thisbe , 195. 201. 203. myrtle , 26. 100. 111. saered to venus , 112. n. nard , 31. nailing , 219. narcissus , 16. 26. 67. narcissus of iapan , 60 , 61. nigella , gith , 60 , november , 28. nursery , 228 , 229. o. oake , 76. culture , use 84. fable of rhoecus , 85. v. woods , woods of france , 97 , 98. oleander , rose-bay , 100. 111. 113. olives , 197. ononis , rest-harrow , 46. oranges , 106. ad 110. orthards , soil , 176. 179. 202. situation , 180. 205. culture , 181 , 186. 187. orchis , dog-stones , 55. orobanche , broom-rape , 54. orpheus , 90. p. painting flowers , v. flowrs . paliurus , christs thorn , 118. parsley , 30 parthenium , mayweed , 30. peaches , 202. 217. piony and fable , 31. pears , 197. 200 , 201 , 202. 216. 218. phalangium , spiderwort , 30. philemon and baucis , 91. phillyraea , mock-privet , 100. 103. 119. pine , 87. 92. pitch-tree , 87. planting , 99. 182. plums , 204. 216. 196. 200. pomegranate , 115. ad 118. ponds , 165. v. canales . poplar , 96. poppyes , 57. primrose , 14. pruning , 208. 220. 221. q. quiekbearn , 87. quince , 201. 203. r. ranunculus , crowfoot , 26. rhamnus , hartshorn , 31. 118. rhodanthe fable , vide rose . rivers celebrated , 161. rivalets , 156. 159. rocks artificial , 145. v. grotts , waterworks . romans , 183. rose and fable of rhodanthe , 38 , 39. &c. rosemary , 30. rue , 30. ruel described and celebrased , 151. 163. rumex , dock , 52. ruscus , butchers broom , ●18 . water , 125. how to find , 127. 132. 136. expence , 133. 139. waterworks , grots , fountains , 153. 155. watermint , 26. watering , 59. 64. weeds , 14. 181. 204. winds , 12. 192. 229. willow . 201 withy . 87. 94. woad , 59. woods , their planting , 75. 77 , 78 79. 120. y. yarrow , 46. a nevv orchard and garden, or, the best way for planting, grafting, and to make any ground good for a rich orchard particularly in the nor[th] and generally for the whole kingdome of england, as in nature, reason, situation and all probabilitie, may and doth appeare : with the country housewifes garden for hearbes of common vse, their vertues, seasons, profits, ornaments, varietie of knots, models for trees, and plots for the best ordering of grounds and walkes : as also the husbandry of bees, with their seuerall vses and annoyances, being the experience of 48 yeares labour ... / by william lawson ; whereunto is newly added the art of propagating plants, with the tree ordering manner of fruits in their gathering, carring home & preseruation. lawson, william, fl. 1618. 1631 approx. 221 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 72 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a05195 stc 15331.3 estc s4739 23846437 ocm 23846437 26903 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a05195) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 26903) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1835:19) a nevv orchard and garden, or, the best way for planting, grafting, and to make any ground good for a rich orchard particularly in the nor[th] and generally for the whole kingdome of england, as in nature, reason, situation and all probabilitie, may and doth appeare : with the country housewifes garden for hearbes of common vse, their vertues, seasons, profits, ornaments, varietie of knots, models for trees, and plots for the best ordering of grounds and walkes : as also the husbandry of bees, with their seuerall vses and annoyances, being the experience of 48 yeares labour ... / by william lawson ; whereunto is newly added the art of propagating plants, with the tree ordering manner of fruits in their gathering, carring home & preseruation. lawson, william, fl. 1618. harward, simon, fl. 1572-1614. most profitable newe treatise from approued experience of the art of propagating plants. markham, gervase, 1568?-1637. and now the second time corrected and much enlarged. [8], 134 p. : ill. printed by nicholas okes for iohn harison, at the golden vnicorne in pater-noster-row, london : 1631. "the country house-wifes garden" has special t.p.; it is sometimes erroneously attributed to gervase markham. includes "a most profitable newe treatise from approued experience of the art of propagating plants, by simon harward." statement of responsibility follows edition statement. t.p. contains illustration. signatures: a⁴ b-i⁸ k⁴ (last leaf blank). reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early 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corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng fruit-culture -great britain. gardening -early works to 1800. 2002-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-09 jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread 2002-09 jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a nevv orchard and garden or the best way for planting , grafting , and to make any ground good , for a rich orchard : particularly in the nor●● and generally for the whole kingdome of england , as in nature , reason , situation , and all probabilitie , may and doth appeare . with the country housewifes garden for hearbes of common vse their vertues , seasons , profits , ornaments , varietie of knots , models for trees , and plots for the best o●dering of grounds and walkes . as also the husbandry of bees , with their seuerall vses and annoyances 〈◊〉 being the experience of 48. yeares labour , and now the second time corrected and much enla●ged , by william lawson . whereunto is newly added the art of propagating plants , with the tr●● ordering of all manner of fruits , in their gathering , carring home , & preseruation . skill and paines bring fruitfull gaines . nemo sibi 〈◊〉 . london , printed by nicholas okes for iohn harison , at the golden vnicorne in pater-noster-row . 1631. to the right vvorshipfvll sir henry belosses . knight and baronet . worthy sir , when in many yeeres by long experience i had furnished this my northerne orchard and countrey garden with needfull plants and vsefull hearbes , i did impart the view thereof to my friends , who resorted to me to conferre in matters of that nature , they did see it , and seeing it desired , and i must not denie now the publishing of it ( which then i allotted to my priuate delight ) for the publike profit of others . wherefore , though i could pleade custome the ordinarie excuse of all writers , to chuse a patron and protector of their workes , and so shroud my selfe from scandall vnder your honourable fauour , yet haue i certaine reasons to excuse this my presumption : first , the many courtesies you haue vouchsafed me . secondly , your delightfull skill in matters of this nature . thirdly , the profit which i receiued from your learned discourse of fruit-trees . fourthly , your animating and assisting of others to such endeuours . last of all , the rare worke of your owne in this kind all which to publish vnder your protection , i haue aduentured ( as you see ) vouchsafe it therefore entertainement , i pray you , and i hope you shal● finde it not ●he vnp●ofitablest seruant of your retinue : for when your serious employments are ouerpassed , it may interpose some commoditie , and raise your contentment out of varietie . your worships most bounden , william lavvson . the preface to all well minded . art hath her first originall out of experience , which therefore is called the schoole-mistresse of fooles , because she teacheth infallibly , and plainely● as drawing her knowledge out of the course of nature , ( which neuer failes in the generall ) by the senses , feelingly apprehending , and comparing ( with the helpe of the minde ) the workes of nature ; and as in all other things naturall , so especially in trees : for what is art more then a prouident and skilfull collectrix of the faults of nature in particular workes , apprehended by the senses ? as when good ground naturally brings forth th●stles , trees stand too thicke , or too thin , or a ●●●derly , or ( without dressing ) put forth vnprofitable suckers , and such like all which and a thousand more , art reformeth , being taught by experien●e and therefore must we count that art the surest , that stands vpon experimentall rules , gathered by the rule of reason ( not conceit ) of all other rules the surest . whereupon haue i of my meere and sole experience , without respect to any former written treat●se gathered these rules , and set them downe in writing , not daring to hide the least talent giuen me of my lord and master in heauen : neither is this in●urious to any , though it differ from the common opinion in diuers points , to make it knowne to others , what good i haue found out in this facultie by long triall and experience . i confesse freely my want of curious skill in the art of planting . and i admire and praise plinie , aristotle , virgil , cicero , and many others for wit and iudgement in this kind , and leaue them to their times , manner , and seuerall countries . i am not determined ( neither can i worthily ) to set forth the praises of this art : how some , and not a few , euen of the best , haue accounted it a chiefe part of earthly happinesse , to haue faire and pleasant orchards , as in hesperia and thessaly , how all with one consent agree , that it is a chiefe part of husbandry ( as tully de senectute ) and husbandry maintaines the world ; how ancient , how , profitable , how pleasant it is , how many secrets of nature it doth containe , how loued , how much practised in the best places , and of the best : this hath already beene done by many . i only aime at the common good . i delight not in curious conceits , as planting and graffing with the root vpwards , inoculating roses on thornes . and such like , although i haue heard of diuers prooued some , and read of moe . the stationer hath ( as being most desirous with me , to further the common good ) bestowed much cost and care in hauing the knots and models by the best artizan cut in great varietie , that nothing might be any way wanting to satisfie the curious desire of those that would make vse of this booke . and i shew a plaine and sure way of planting , which i haue found good by 48. yeeres ( and moe ) experience in the north part of england : i preiudicate and enuie none , wishing yet all to abstaine from maligning that good ( to them vnknowne ) which is well intended . farewell . thine , for thy good , w. l. a table of the things contayned in this booke chap. 1. of the gardner his labour and wadges . pag. 1 chap. 2. of the soyle . pag. 3 the kinds of trees . p. 3 of barren earth . p. 4 of grasse . p. 5 of the crust of the earth . p. 6 chap. 3. lowe & neere the riuer . p. 6 of windes . p. 8 of the sunne . p. 8 trees against a wall . p. 8 chap. 4. of the quantity . p. 10 orchards as good as a corne-field . pag. 10 good as the vineyard . p. 11 what quantity of ground . 11 want no hinderance . p. 12 how land-lords by their tenants may make flourishing orchards . p. 12 chap. 5. the forme of the orchard . 12 chap. 6. of fences . pag. 14 effects of euill fencing . p. 14 the kinds of fencinge● . p. 15 of pales and rayles . p. 15 of stone-walles . p. 15 of quicksets and moates . p. 16 chap. 7. of setts . p. 17 of slipps . p. 17 of burknots . p. 17 of small setts . p. 18 tying of trees . p. 19 signes of diseases . p. 19 of suckers . p. 20 a running plant . p. 20 of bough setts . p. 21 the best sett . p. 22 times of remouing . p. 23 the manner of setting . p. 26 chap. 8. of the distance of trees . p. 28 the hurts of too neere planting . p. 28 all touches hurtfull . p 29 the best distance . p. 29 of wast ground in an orchard . p. 30 chap. 9. of the placing of trees . p. 31 chap. 10. of grafting . p. 33 ●he kinds of grafting . p. 34 〈◊〉 to gra●t . p. 34 what a graft is . p. 34 ●he ●ies of a graft . p. 34 〈◊〉 of grafting . p. 35 〈◊〉 of grafts . p 36 〈…〉 sing . p. 37 . p. 38 . p. 39 ●●aft●ng in the scutcheon p 39 chap. 11. the right dressing of trees . p. 40 timber-wood euill dress 41 the cause of hurts in wood . pag. 42 how to dresse timber . p. 43 the profit of dressing . p 43.45 trees will take any form● . 44 how to dresse all fruit-trees . p. 44 the best times for proyning . p. 47 faults of euill dressing and the remedies . p. 48 of water-boughes . p. 49 barke-pyld . p. 49 56 instruments for dressing . 50 chap. 12. of foyling . p 53 time fit for foyling . p. 53 chap. 13. of annoyances . p 54 two euill in an orchard . p. 54 of galls cankers mosse &c. 55 of w●l●ull annoyances . p. 60 chap. 14. of the age of trees . p. 60 the parts of a trees age . p 61 of mans age . p. 62 the age of timber-trees . 64 to discerne the age of trees . p. 65 chap. 15 : of gathering and keeping fruit. p. 65 chap. 16. the profit of orchards . p. 67 of cydar and perry . p. 67 of fruit , waters and conserue . p. 68 chap. 17. of ornaments . p. 68 of the delights . p. 69 the causes of delights . p. 70 of flowers , borders , mounts &c. p. 71 of bees . p. 72 the best , svre and readiest vvay to make a good orchard and garden . chapter . 1. of the gardner , and his wages . whosoeuer desireth & endeauoureth to haue a pleasant , and profitable orchard , must ( if he be able ) prouide himselfe of a fruicterer , religious , honest , skilful in that faculty , & therwithall painfull : by religious , i meane ( because many think religion but a fashion or custome to go to church ) maintaining , & cherishing things religious : as schooles of learning , churches , tythes , church-goods , & rights ; and aboue all things , gods word , & the preachers thereof , so much as he is able , practising prayers , comfortable conference , mutuall instruction to edifie , almes , and other works of charity , and all out of a good conscience . honesty in a gardner , will grace your garden , and all your house , and helpe to stay vnbridled seruingmen , giuing offence to none , not calling your name into question by dishonest acts , nor infecting your family by euill counsell or example . for there is no plague so infectious as popery and knauery , he will not purloine your profit , nor hinder your pleasures . concerning his skill , he must not be a scolist , to make shew or take in hand that , which he cannot performe , especially in so weighty a thing as an orchard : than the which , there can be no humane thing more excellent , either for pleasure or profit , as shall ( god willing ) be proued in the treatise following . and what an hinderance shall it be , not onely to the owner , but to the common good , that the vnspeakeble benefit of many hundred yeeres shall be lost , by the audacious attempt of an vnskilfull arborist . the gardner had not need be an idle , or lazie lubber , for so your orchard being a matter of such moment , will not prosper . there will euer be some thing to doe . weedes are alwaies growing . the great mother of all liuing creatures , the earth , is full of seed in her bowels , and any stirring glues them heat of sunne , and being laid neere day , they grow : mowles worke daily , though not alwaies alike . winter herbes at all times will grow ( except in extreame frost . ) in winter your young trees and herbes would be lightned of snow , and your allyes cleansed : drifts of snow will set deere , hares , and conyes , and other noysome beasts ouer your walles & hedges , into your orchard . when summer cloathes your borders with greene and peckled colours , your gardner must dresse his hedges , and antike workes : watch his bees , and hiue them : distill his roses and other herbes . now begins summer fruit to ripe , and craue your hand to pull them . if he haue a garden ( as he must need ) to keepe , you must needs allow him good helpe , to end his labours which are endlesse , for no one man is sufficient for these things . such a gardner as will conscionably , quietly and patiently , trauell in your orchard , god shall crowne the labours of his hands with ioyfulnesse , and make the clouds drop fatnesse vpon your trees , he will prouoke your loue , and earne his wages , and fees belonging to his place : the house being serued , fallen fruite , superfluity of herbes , and flowers , seedes , graffes , sets , and besides other offall , that fruit which your bountifull hand shall reward him withall , will much augment his wages , and the profit of your bees will pay you backe againe . i● you be not able , nor willing to hire a gardner , keepe your profits to your selfe , but then you must take all the pains : and for that purpose ( if you want this faculty ) to instruct you , haue i vndertaken these labours , and gathered these rules , but chiefly respecting my countries good . chap. 2. of the soyle . fruit-trees most common , and meetest for our northerne countries : ( as apples , peares , cheries , filberds , red and white plummes , damsons , and bulles , ) for we meddle not with apricockes nor peaches , nor searcely with quinces , which will not like in our cold parts , vnlesse they be helped with some reflex of sunne , or other like meanes , nor with bushes , bearing berries , as barberies , goose-berries , or grosers , raspe-berries , and such like , though the barbery be wholesome , and the tree may be made great : doe require ( as all other trees doe ) a blacke , fat , mellow , cleane and well tempered soyle , wherein they may gather plenty of good sap . some thinke the hasell would haue a chanily rocke , and the sallow , and eller a waterish marish . the soile is made better by deluing , and other meanes , being well melted , and the wildnesse of the earth and weedes ( for euery thing subiect to man , and seruing his vse ( not well ordered , is by nature subiect to the curse , ) is killed by frosts and drought , by fallowing and laying on heapes , and if it be wild earth , with burning . if your ground be barren ( for some are forced to make an orchard of barren ground ) make a pit three quarters deepe , and two yards wide , and round in such places , where you would set your trees , and fill the same with fat , pure , and mellow earth , one whole foot higher then your soile , and therein set your plant. for who is able to manure an whole orchard plot , if it be barren ? but if you determine to manure the whole site , this is your way : digge a trench halfe a yard deepe , all along the lower ( if there be a lower ) side of your orchard plot , casting vp all the earth on the inner side , and fill the same with good short , hot● & tender muck , and make such another trench , and fill the same as the first , and so the third , and so through out your ground . and by this meanes your plot shall be fertile for your life . but be sure you set your trees , neither in dung nor barren earth . your ground must be plaine , that it may receiue , and keepe moysture , not onely the raine falling thereon , but also water cast vpon it , or descending from higher ground by sluices , conduits , &c. for i account moisture in summer very needfull in the soile of trees , & drought in winter . prouided , that the ground neither be boggy , nor the inundation be past 24. houres at any time , and but twice in the whole summer , and so oft in the winter . therefore if your plot be in a banke , or haue a descent , make trenches by degrees , allyes , walkes , and such like , so as the water may be stayed from passage . and if too much water be any hinderance to your walks ( for dry walkes doe well become an orchard , and an orchard them : ) raise your walkes with earth first , and then with stones , as bigge as walnuts : and lastly , with grauell . in summer you need not doubt too much water from heauen , either to hurt the health of your body , or of your trees . and if ouerflowing molest you after one day , auoid it then by deepe trenching . some for this purpose dig the soile of their orchard to receiue moisture , which i cannot approue : for the roots with digging are oftentimes hurt , and especially being digged by some vnskilfull ●eruant : for the gardiner cannot doe all himselfe . and moreouer , the roots of apples & pea●es being laid neere day , with the heate of the sun , will pu● forth suckers , which are a great hinderance , and sometimes wi●h euill guiding , the destruction of trees , vnlesse the deluing be very shallow , and the ground laid very leuell againe . cherries and plummes without deluing , will hardly or neuer ( after twenty yeares ) be kept from such suckers , nor aspes . grasse al●o is thought needfull ●or moisture , so you let it not touch the roots of your trees : for it will breed mosse , and the boall of your tree neere the earth would haue the comfort of the sunne and ayre . some take their ground to be too moist when it is not so , by re●son of waters standing thereon , for except in soure marshes , springs , and continuall ouerflowings , no earth can be too moyst . sandy & fat earth wi●l auoid all water falling by receit . indeed a stifle clay wi●l not receiue the water , and therefore if it be grassie or plaine , especially hollow , the water will abide , and it wil seeme waterish , when the fault is in the want of manuring , and other good dressing . this plainnesse which we require , had reed be naturall , because to force an vneuen ground will destroy the fatnesse . for euery soile hath his crust next day wherein trees and herbes put their roots , and whence they draw their sap , which is the best of the soile , and made fertile with heat and cold , moisture and drought , and vnder which by reason of the want of the said temperature , by the said foure qualities , no tree nor herbe ( in a manner ) will or can put root . as may be seene if in digging your ground , you take the weeds of most growth : as grasse or docks , ( which will grow though they lie vpon the earth bare ) yet bury them vnder the crust , and they will surely dye and perish , & become manure to your ground this crust is not past 15. or 18 inches deepe in good ground , in other grounds lesse . hereby appeares the fault of forced plaines , viz. your crust in the lower parts , is couered with the crust of the higher parts , and both with worse earth : your heights hauing the crust taken away , are become meerely barren : so that either you must force a new crust , or haue an euill soile . and be sure you leuell , before you plant , lest you be forced to remoue , or hurt your plants by digging , and casting amongst their roots . your ground must be cleered as much as you may of stones , and grauell , walls , hedges , bushes , & other weeds . chap. 3. of the site . there is no difference , that i find betwixt the necessity of a good soile , and a good site of an orchard . for a good soile ( as is before described , cannot want a good site , and if it do , the fruit cannot be good , and a good site will much mend an euill soile . the best site is in low grounds , ( and if you can ) neere vnto a riuer . high grounds are not naturally fat . and if they haue any fatnesse by mans hand , the very descent in time doth wash it away . it is with grounds in this case as it is with men in a common wealth . much will haue more : and once poore , seldome or neuer rich . the raine will scind , and wash , and the wind wi●l blow fatnesse from the heights to the hollowes , where it will abide , and fatten the earth though it were barren before . hence it is , that we haue seldome any plaine grounds , and low , barren : and as seldome any heights naturally fertill . it is vnspeakeable , what fatnesse is brought to low grounds by inundations of waters . neither did i euer know any barren ground in a low plaine by a riuer side . the goodnesse of the soile in howle or hollowdernes , in york●sh●re , is well knowne to all that know the riuer humber , and the huge bulkes of their cattell there . by estimation of them that haue seene the low grounds in holland and zealand , they farre surpasse the most countries in europe for fruitfulnesse , and only because they lie so low . the world cannot compare with aegypt , for fertili●y , so farre as nilus doth ouer flow his bankes . so that a fitter place cannot be chosen for an orchard , then a low plaine by a riuer side . for b●si●es the fatnesse which the water brings , if any cloudy mist or raine be stirring , it commonly falls downe to , and followes the course of the riuer . and where see we greater trees of bu●ke and bough , then standing on or neere the waters side ? if you aske why the plaines in holderns , and such countries are destitute of woods ? i answer that men and cattell ( that haue put trees thence , from out of plaines to void corners ) are better then trees . neither are those places without trees . our old fathers can tel vs , how woods are decaied , & people in the roomth of trees multiplied . i haue stood somwhat long in this poynt , because some do condemne a moist soile for fruit-trees . a low ground is good to auoide the danger of winds , both for shaking downe your vnripe fruite . trees the most ( that i know ) being loaden with wood , for want of proyning , and growing high , by the vnskilfulnesse of the arborist , must needes be in continuall danger of the south-west , west , and north west winds , especially in september and march , when the aire is most temperate from extreme heat , and cold , which are deadly enemies to great winds . wherefore chuse your ground low or if you be forced to plant in a higher ground , let high and strong wals , houses , and trees , as wall-nuts , plane trees , okes , and ashes , placed in good order , be your fence for winds . the sucken of your dwelling house , descending into your orchard , if it be cleanly conueyed , is good . the sunne , in some sort , is the life of the world . it maketh proud growth , and ripens kindly , and speedily , according to the golden tearme : annus fructificat , non tellus . therefore in the countries , neerer approching the zodiake , the sunnes habitation , they haue better , and sooner ripe fruite , then we that dwell in these frozen parts . this prouoketh most of our great arborists , to plant apricockes , cherries and peaches , by a wall , and with tackes , and other meanes to spread them vpon , and fasten them to a wall , to haue the benefit of the immoderate reflexe of the sunne , which is commend●ble , for the hauing of faire , good & soone ripe fruit . but let them know it is more hurtfull to their trees then the benefit they reape therby : as not suffering a tree to liue the tenth part of his age . it helpes gardners to worke , for first the wall hinders the roots , because into a dry and hard wall of earth or stone a tree will not , no● cannot put any root to profit , but especially it stops the passage of sap , whereby the barke is wounded● & the wood , & diseases grow , so that the tree becomes short of life for as in the body of a man , the leaning or lying on some member , wherby the course of bloud is stopt , makes that member as it were dead for the time , till the bloud returne to his course , and i thinke , if that stopping should continue any time , the member would perish for want of bloud ( for the life is in the bloud ) and so endanger the body : so the sap is the life of the tree , as the bloud is to mans body : neither doth the tree in winter ( as is supposed ) want his sap , no more then mans body his bloud , which in winter , and time of sleep draws inward . so that the dead time of winter , to a tree , is but a night of rest : for the tree at all times , euen in winter is nourished with sap , & groweth as well as mans body . the chilling cold may well some little time stay , or hinder the proud course of the sap , but so little & so short a time , that in calme & mild season , euen in the depth of winter , if you marke it , you may easily perceiue , the sap to put out , and your trees to increase their buds , which were formed in the summer before , & may easily be discerned : for leaues fall not off , til they be thrust off , with the knots or buds , wherupon it comes to passe that trees cannot beare fruit plentifully two yeares together , and make themselues ready to blossome against the seasonablenesse of the next spring . and if any frost be so extreme , that it stay the sap too much , or too long , then it kils the forward fruit in the bud , and sometimes the tender leaues and twigs , but not the tree . wherefore , to returne , it is perillous to stop the sap . and where , or when , did you euer see a great tree packt on a wall ? nay , who did euer know a tree so vnkindly splat , come to age ? i haue heard of some , that out of their imaginary cunning , haue planted such trees , on the north side of the wall● to auoide drought , but the heate of the sunne is as comfortable ( which they should haue regarded ) as the drought is hurtfull . and although water is a soueraigne remedy against drought , ye want of sun is no way to be helped . wherefore ●o conc●ude this chapter , let your ground lie ●o , that it may haue the benefit of the south , and west sun , and so ●ow and close , that it may haue moysture , and increase his fatnesse ( for trees are the greatest ●uckers & pillers of earth , and ( as much as may be ) f●ee from g●eat winds . chap. 4. of the quantity . it would be remembred what a benefit riseth , not onely to euery particular owner of an orchard , but also to the common wealth , by fruit , as shall be shewed in the 16. ch●pter ( god willing ) whereupon must needes follow : the greater the orchard is ( being good and well kept ) the better it is , for of good things , being equally good , the biggest is the best . and if it shall appeare , that ●o ground a man occupieth ( no , not the corne field ) yeeldeth more gaine to the purse , and house keeping ( not to speake of the vnspeakeable pleasure ) quantity for quantity , than a good orchard ( besides the cost in planting , and dressing an orchard , is not so much by farre , as the labour and seeding of your corne fields , nor for durance of time , comparable , besides the certainty of the on before the other ) i see not how any labour , or cost in this kind , can be idly or wastfully bestowed , or thought too much . and what other things is a vineyard , in those countries where vines doe thriue , than a large orchard of trees bearing fruit ? or what difference is there in the iuice of the grape , and our cyder & perry , but the goodnes of the soile & clime where they grow ? which maketh the one more ripe , & so more pleasant then the other . what soeuer can be said for the benefit rising from an orchard , that makes for the largenesse of the orchards bounds . and ( me thinkes ) they do preposterously , that bestow more cost and labours , and more ground in and vpon a garden than vpon an orchard , whence they reape and may reape both more pleasure and more profit , by infinite degrees . and further , that a garden neuer so fresh , and faire , and well kept , cannot continue without both renewing of the earth● and the hearbs often , in the short and ordinary age of a man : whereas your orchard well kept shall dure diuers hundred yeares , as shall be shewed chap. 14. in a large orchard there is much labour saued , in fencing , and otherwise : for three little orchards , or few trees , being , in a manner , all out-sides , are so blasted and dangered , and commonly in keeping neglected , and require a great fence ; whereas in a great orchard , trees are a mutuall fence one to another , and the keep●ng is regarded , and lesse fencing serues sixe acres together , than three in seuerall inclosures . now what quantity of ground is meetest for an orchard can no man prescribe , but that must be left to euery mans seuerall iudgement , to be measured according to his ability and will , for other necessaries besides fruite must be had , and some are more delighted with orchard then others . let no man hauing a fit plot plead pouerty in this case , for an orchard once planted will maintaine it selfe , and yeeld infinite profit besides . and i am perswaded , that if men did know the right and best way of planting , dressing , and keeping trees , and felt the profit and pleasure thereof , both they that haue no orchards would haue them , & they that haue orchards , would haue them larger , yea fruit-trees in their hedges , as in worcester-shire , &c. and i think , that the want of plunting , is a great losse to our common-wealth , & in particular , to the owners of lord-ships , which land lords themselues might easily amend , by granting longer terme , and better ●ssurance to their tenants , who haue taken vp this prouerbe botch and sit , build and flit : ●or who will build or plant for an other mans profit ? or the parliament mighte ioyne euery occupier of grounds to plant and mainetaine for so many acres of fruitfull ground , so many seuerall trees or kinds of trees for fruit . thus much for quantity . chap. 5. of the forme . the goodnesse of the soile , and site , are necessary to the wel being of an orchard simply , but the fo●me is so farre necessary , as the owner shall thinke meete , for that kind of forme wherewith euery particular man is delighted , we leaue it to himselfe , suum cuique pulchrum . the forme that men like in generall is a square , for although roundnesse be forma perfectissima , yet that principle is good where necessi●● by art doth not force some other forme . if within one large square the gardner shall make one round laby●inth or maze with some kind of berries , it will grace your forme , so there be sufficient roomth left for walkes , so will foure or more round knots do . for it is to be noted , that the eye must be pleased with the forme . i haue seene squares rising by degrees with stayes from your house-ward , according to this forme which i haue , crassa quod aiunt minerua , with an vnsteady hand , ●ough hewen , for in forming the country gardens , the better sort may vse better formes , and more costly worke . what is needefull more to be sayd , i referre that all ( concerning the forme , ) to the chapter 17 of the ornaments of an orchard . chap. 6. of fences . all your labour past and to come about an orchard is lost vnlesse you fence well . it shall grieue you much to see your young sets rubd loose at the rootes , the barke pild , the boughes and twigs cropt , your fruite stolne , your trees broken , and your many yeares labours and hopes destroyed , for want of fences . a chiefe care must be had in this point . you must therefore plant in such a soile , where you may prouide a conuenient , strong and seemely fence . for you can possesse no goods , that haue so many enemies as an orchard , looke chapter 13. fruits are so delightsome , and desired of so many ( nay , in a manner of all ) and yet few will be at cost and take paines to prouide them . fence well therefore , let your plot be wholly in your owne power , that you make all your fence your selfe : for neighbours fencing is none at all , or very carelesse . take heed of a doore or window , ( yea of a wall ) of any other mans into your orchard : yea , though it be nayld vp , or the wall be high , for perhaps they will proue theeues . all fences commonly are made of earth , stone , bricke , wood , or both earth and wood . dry wall of earth , and dry ditches , are the worst fences saue pales or railes , and doe waste the soonest , vnlesse they be well copt with glooe and morter , whereon at mighill-tide it will be good to sow wall-flowers , commonly called bee-flowers , or winter gilly-flowers , because they will grow ( though amongst stones ) and abide the strongest frost and drought , continually greene and flowring euen in winter , and haue a pleasant smell , and are timely , ( that is , they will floure the first and last of flowers ) and are good for bees . and your earthen wall is good for bees dry and warme . but these fences are both vnseemly , euill to repaire , and onely for need , where stone or wood cannot be had . whosoeuer makes such walles , must not pill the ground in the orchard , for getting earth , nor make any pits or hallowes , which are both vnseemly and vnprofitable . old dry earth mixt with sand is best for these . this kind of wall will soone decay , by reason of the trees which grow neere it , for the roots and boales of great trees , will increase , vndermine , and ouerturne such walles , though they were of stone , as is apparant by ashes , rountrees , burt-trees , and such like , carried in the chat , or berry , by birds into stone-walles . fences of dead-wood , as pales , will not last , neither will railes either last or make good fence stone walles ( where stone may be had ) are the best of this sort , both for fencing , lasting , and shrouding of your young trees . but about this must you bestow much paines and more cost , to haue them handsome , high and durable . but of all other ( in mine owne opinion ) quickwood , and moats or ditches of water , where the ground is leuell , is the best fence . in vnequall grounds , which will not keepe water , there a double ditch may be cast , made streight and leuel on the top , two yards broad for a faire walke , fiue or sixe foot higher then the soyle , with a gutter on either side , two yards wide , and foure foot deepe set with out , with three or foure chesse of thorns , and within with cherry , plumme , damson , bullys , filbirds , ( for i loue these trees better for their fruit , and as well for their forme , as priuit ) for you may make them take any forme . and in euery corner ( and middle if you will ) a mount would be raised , whereabout the wood may claspe , powdered with wood-binde : which wil make with dressing a faire , plesant , profitable , & sure fence . but you must be sure that your quicke thornes either grow wholly , or that there be a supply betime , either with planting new , or plashing the old where need is . and assure your selfe , that neither wood , stone , earth , nor water , can make so strong a fence , as this after seuen yeares growth . moates , fish-ponds , and ( especially at one side a riuer ) within and without your fence , will afford you fish , fence , and moysture to your trees , and pleasure also , if they be so great and deepe that you may haue swans , & other water birds , good for deuouring of vermine , and boat for many good vses . it shall hardly auaile you to make any fence for your orchard , if you be a niggard of your fruit . for as liberality will saue it best from noysome neighbours , liberality i say is the best fence , so iustice must restraine rioters . thus when your ground is tempered , squared , and fenced , it is time to prouide for planting . chap. 7. of sets . there is not one point ( in my opinion ) about an orchard more to be regarded , than the choyce getting and setting of good plants , either for readinesse or hauing good fruite , or for continuall lasting . for whosoeuer shall faile in the choyce of good sets , or in getting , or gathering , or setting his plants , shall neuer haue a good or l●sti●g orchard . an●●●ake want of skill in this faculty to be a chiefe hinder●nce to the most orchards , and ●o many for hauing of orchards at all . some for readinesse vse slips , which seldome take roote : and if they doe take , they cannot last , bo●h because their roote hauing a maine wound will in short time decay the body of the tree : and besides that rootes being so weakely put , are soone nipt with drought or frost . i could neuer see ( lightly ) any slip but of apples onely set for trees . a bur-knot kindly taken from an apple tree , is much better and surer . you must cu● him c●ose at the roote ende , an handfull vnder the knot . ( some vse in summer about lammas to ci●cumc●se him , and put ea●th to the knots with hay roaps , and in winte● cu● him off and set him , but this is curiosity , re●dlesse , and danger with remouing , and drought , ) and cut away all his twigs saue one , the most principall , which in setting you must leaue aboue the earth , burying his ●●unk in the ●●●st of the earth for his root . i● matters not much what part of the bough the twig growes out of . if it grow out of or ●eere the roote end , some s●y such an apple will haue no c●are nor kirnell . or if ●t ●p●e●se the plantor , he may let h●s bough be crooked , and leaue out his top end , one foote or somewhat more , wherein will be good grafting● if either you like not , or doubt the fruite of the bou●h o● commonly your bur-knots are summer fruit ) or ●fy●●●hinke he will not couer his wound safely . the most vsual kind of sets , is plants with rootes growing of kirnel , of apples , peares , and crabbes , or stones of cherries , p●ummes , &c. remoued out of a nursery , wood or other orchard , into , and set in your orchard in their due places i g●ant this kind to be better than either of the former , by much , as more sure and more durable h●rein you must no●e that in sets so remoued , you get all the roots you can , and without brusing of any ; i vtterly disl●ke the opinion of those great gardners , that following their bookes would haue the maine rootes cut away , for tops cannot growe without rootes . and because none can get all the rootes , and remouall is an hinderance , you may not leaue on al● tops , when you set them : for there is a proportion betwixt the top and root of a tree , euen in the number ( at least ) in the growth . if the roots be many , they will bring you many tops , if they be not hindred and if you vse to stow or top you tree too much or too low , and leaue no issue , or little for sap , ( as is to be seene in you● hedges ) it will hinde● the growth of rootes and b●ale , because such a kind of stowing is a kind of smothering , or choaking the sap . great wood , as oke , e●me , ash , &c. being continually kept downe with sheeres , knife , axe . &c. neither boale nor roote will th●iue , but as an hedge or bush . if you intend to gr●ff● in your set , you may cut him closer with a greater wound , and ne●rer the earth , within a foote or two , because the graft or grafts will couer his wound . if you like his fruite , and would haue him to be a tree of himselfe , be not so b●ld : th●s i can tell you , that though you do cut his top close , and leaue nothing but his bulke , because his ●ootes are ●ew , if he be ( but little ) bigger than your thumbe ( as i wish all plants remoued to be ) he will safely recouer wound within seuen yeares ; by good guidance that is● i● the next time of dressing immediatly aboue his vppermost ●p●ig , you cut him off ●sl●pe cleanely , ●o that the sprigge sta●d on the backe side , ( and if you can northward , that the wound may ha●e the benefit of sunne ) at the vpper ende of the wound : and let that sprigge onely be the boale . and take this for a generall rule ; euery young plant , if he thriue , will recouer any wound aboue the earth , by good dressing , although it be to the one halfe , and to his very heart . this short cutting at the remoue , saues your plants from wind , and neede the les●e or no st●king . i commend not lying or leaning of trees against holds or st●yr●s ; for it breedes obstruction of ●ap and wounds incureable . all remouing of trees as great as you● arme , or aboue , is dangerous : though sometime some such will grow but not continue long : because they be tainted with deadly wounds , e●ther in the roote or top . ( and a tree once throughly tainted is neuer good ) and though they ge● some hold in the earth with some lesser taw , or tawes , which giue some nourishment to the body of the tree : yet the heart being tain●ed , he will hardly euer ●hri●e ; which you may easily discerne by the blackenesse of the boughes at the heart , when you dresse your trees . also , when he is set with moe tops than the rootes can nourish , the tops decaying , blacken the boughes , and the boughs the armes , and so they bo●le at the very heart . or th●s ta●n● in the remouall , if it ki●l not presently , but after some short time , it may be discerned by blacknesse or ye●lownesse in the barke , and a small hungred leafe . or if your remoued plant put forth leaues the next and second summer , and little or few spraies , it is a great signe of a taint , and next yeares d●ath . i haue knowne a tree tainted in setting , yet grow , & beare blossomes for diuers yeares : and yet for want of strength could neuer shape his fruit . next vnto this or rather equall with these plants , are suckers growing out of the roots of great trees , which cherries and plums do seldome or neuer want : and being taken kindly with their roots , will make very good sets . and you may helpe them much by enlarging their rootes wi●h the taws of the tree , wh●nce you take them . they are of two sorts : either growing from the very root of the tree : and here you must be carefull , not to hurt your tree when you gather them , by ripping amongst the rootes ; and that you take them cleane away : for these are a great and continuall annoyance to the growth of your tree : and they will hardly be cleansed . secondly , or they do ar●e f●om some taw : and these may be taken without danger , with long and good rootes , and will soone become trees of strength . there is another way , which i haue not throughly proued , to get not onely plants for gr●ffing , but sets to remaine for trees , which i call a running plant : the manner of it is this : take a roote or kirnell , and put it into the middle of your plot , and the second yeare in the spring , g●●d his top , if he haue one principall ( as commonly by nature they haue ) and let him put forth onely foure cyo●s toward the foure corners of the orchard , as neere the earth as you can . if he put not foure , ( which is rare ) stay his top till he haue put so many . when you haue such foure , cut the stocke aslope , as is aforesayd in this chapter , hard aboue the vttermost sprig , & keepe those foure without cyons cleane and straight , till you haue them a yard and a halfe , at least , or two yards long . then the next spring in graffing time , lay downe those foure sprayes , towards the foure corners of your orchard , with their tops in an heape of pure and good earth , and raised as high as the roote of your cyon ( for sap will not descend ) and a sod to keepe them downe , leauing nine or twelue inches of the top to looke vpward . in that hill he will put rootes , and his top new cyons , which you must spread as before , and so from hill to hill till he spread the compasse of your ground , or as farre as you list . if in bending , the cyons cracke , the matter is small , cleanse the ground and he will recouer . euery bended bough will put forth branches , and become trees . if this plant be of a burie knot , there is not doubt . i haue proued it in on● branch my selfe : and i know at wilton in cleeue-land a peare-tree of a great bulke and age , blowne close to the earth , hath put at euery knot rootes into the earth , and from roote to top , a great number of mighty armes or trees , fi●ling a great roomth , like many trees , or a little orchard . much better may it be done by art in a lesse tree● and i could not mis●ke this kind , saue that the time will be long before it come to perfection . many vse to buy sets already grafted , which is not the best way : for first , all remoues are dangerous : againe , there is danger in the carriage : thirdly , it is a costly course of planting : fourthly , euery gardne● is not trusty to sell you good fruite : fiftly , you know not which is best , which is worst , and so may take most care about your worst trees . lastly , this way keepes you from practise , and so from experience● in so good , gentlemanly , scholerlike , and profitable a faculty . the onely best way ( in my opinion ) to haue sure and lasting sets , is neuer to remoue : for euery remoue is an hinderance , if not a dangerous hurt or deadly taint . this is the way . the plot-forme being layd , and the plot appointed where you will plant euery set in your orchard , digge the roomth , where you● sets shall stand , a yard compasse , and make the earth mellow and cleane , and mingle it with a few coale-ashes , to auoide wormes : and immediately after the first change of the moone , in the latter end of february , the earth being a fresh turn'd ouer , put in euery such roomth three or foure kirnels of app●es or peares , of the best : euery kirnell in an hole made with your finger , finger deepe , a foote distant one from another : and that day moneth following , as many moe , ( lest some of the former misse ) in the same compasse ; but not in the same holes . hence ( god willing ) shall you haue rootes enough . if they all , or diuers of them come vp , you may draw ( but not digge ) vp ( nor put downe ) at your pleasure , the next nouember . how many soeuer you take away , to giue or bestow elsewhere , be sure to leaue two of the proudest . and when in your 2. and 3. yeare you graffe , if you graffe then at all , leaue the one of those two vngraffed , lest in graffing the other you faile : for i find by tryall , that after first or second graffing in the same stocke , being mist ( for who hits all ) the third misse puts your stocke in deadly danger , for want of issu● of sap . yea , though you hit in graffing , yet may your graffes with winde or otherwise be broken downe . if your graffes or graffe prosper , you haue your desire , in a plant vnremoued , without taint , and the fruite at your owne choyce , and so you may ( some little earth being remooued ) pull , but not digge vp the other plant or plants in that roomth . if your g●●ffe or stocke , or both perish , you haue another in the same place , of better strength to worke vpon . for thriuing without snub he will ouer-lay your grafted stocke much . and it is hardly possible to misse in grafting so often , if your gardiner be worth his name . it shall not be amisse ( as i iudge it ) if your kirnels be of choyce fru●te , and that you see them come forward proudly in their body , and beare a faire and broad leafe in colour , tending to a greenish yellow ( which argue● pleasant and great fruit ) to try some of them vngraffed : for although it be a long time ere this come to beare fruit , ten or twelue yeares , or moe ; and at their first bea●ing , the fruit will not seeme to be like his owne kind : yet am i assured , vpon tryall , before twenty yeares growth , such trees will increase the bignesse and goodnesse of their fruite , and come perfectly to their owne kind . trees ( like other breeding creatures ) as they grow in yeares● bignes and strength , so they mend their fruit . husbands and houswiues find this true by experience , in the rearing of their yong store . more then this , th●e is no tree like this for soundnes and dureable last , if his keeping and dressing be answerable . i grant , the readiest way to come soone to fruit is graffing : because in a manner , all your graffes are taken of fruit bea●●ng trees . now when you haue made choise of your sets to remoue , the ground being ready , the best time is , immediatly after the fall of the leafe , in , or about the change of the moone , when the sap is most quiet : for then the sap is in turning : for it makes no stay , but in the extremity of drought or cold . at any time in winter , may you transplant trees so you put no ice nor snow to the root of your plant in the setting : and therefore open , calme and moist wea her is best . to remoue , the leafe being ready to fall and not fallen , or buds apparan●ly put forth in a moist warme season , for need , sometime may do well : but the safest is ●o walke in the plaine trod●e● path . some hold opinion that it is best remouing before the fall of the leafe , and i heare it commonly practised in the south by our best a●borists , the leafe not fallen : and they giue the reason to be , that the descending of the sap will make speedy rootes . but marke the reasons following and i thinke you shall find no soundnesse , either in that position or practise , at least in the reason . 1. i say , it is dangerous to remoue when the sap is not quiet , for euery remoue giues a maine checke to the stirring sap , by staying the course therof in ●he body of your plant , as may appeare in trees remoued any time in summer , they commonly dye , nay hardly shall you saue the life of the most young and tender plant of any kinde of wood ( scarcely herbes ) if you remoue them in the pride of sap . for proud sap vniuersally staied by remoual , euer hinders ; often taints and so presently , or in very short time ki●s . sap is like bloud in mans body , in which is the life , cap. 3. p. 9 if the blood vniuersally be cold , life is excluded ; so is sap tainted by vntimely remouall . a stay by drought , or cold , is not so dangerous ( though dangerous if it be ex●reme ) because more naturall . 2. the sap neuer descends , as men suppose , but is consollidated & transubstantiated into the substance of the tree , and passeth ( alwayes aboue the earth ) vpward , not onely betwixt the barke and the wood , but also into and in both body & barke , though not so plentifully , as may appeare by a tree budding , nay ●●uctifying two or three ye●es , after he be circum●is●d at the very root , ●i●e a riuer that inlargeth his channel by a continu●l descent . 3 i cannnot perceiue what time they would h●●● the sap to descend . a● m●●sommer in a biting drought it staies , but descends not , for immedi●tly vpon moisture it makes second shoots , at ( or before rathe● ) michaeltide , when it shapens his buds for next yeares f●uit . if a● the f●l of leafe , i grant , about that time is the greatest stand , but no descent , of sap , which begins somwhat before the leafe fall , but not long , therfore at that time must be the best remouing , not by reason of descent , but stay of sap . 4. the sap in this course hath his profitable apparant effects , as the growth of the tree , couering of wounds , putting of ●uds , &c. wh●rupon it follows , if the sap descend , it must needs haue some effect to shew it . 5. lastly , boughs plasht and laid lower then the root , dye for want of sap descending , except where it is forced by the maine streame of the sap , as in top boughs hanging like water in pipes , or except the plasht bough lying on the ground put rootes of his owne , yea vnder boughs which we commonly call water boughs , can scarcely get sap to liue , yea in time dye , because the sap doth presse so violently vpward , and therefore the fairest shootes and fruits are alwayes in the top . obiect . if you say that many so remoued thriue , i say that somewhat before the fall of the leafe ( but not much ) is the stand , for the fall & the stand are not at one instant , before the stand is dangerous . but to returne . the sooner in winter ●ou remoue your sets , the better ; the latter the worse : for it is very perillous if a strong drought take your sets before they haue made good their rooting . a plant set at the fall , shall gaine ( in a a manner ) a whole yeeres growth of that watch is set in the spring after . i vse in the setting to be sure , that the earth be mouldy , ( and somewhat moist ) that it may runne among the small tangles without straining or bruising : and as i f●●l in earth to his root , i shake the set easily to and fro , to make the earth settle the better to his roo●s : and withall easily with my foot i put in the earth close ; for ayre is noysome , and w●ll follow concauities . some prescribe oates to be put in w●●h the earth . i could like it , if i could know any reason thereof : and they vse to set their plant with the same side toward the sunne : but this conceit is like the o●her . for first i would haue euery tree to stand so free from shade , that not onely the root ( which therefore you mus● ke●p● bare from grasse ) but body , boughes , and branches , and euery spray , may haue the benefit of sunne . and what hurt , if that part of the tree , that before was sh●dowed , be now made partaker of the heat of the su●n ? in ●urning of be●s , i know it is hurtfull , because it changeth their entrance , passage , and whose worke : but not so in trees . set as deepe as you can , so that in any wise you goe no● beneath the crust . looke chap. 2. we speake in the second chapter of moysture in genera●l : but now especial●y hauing put your remoued plant into the earth , powre on water ( of a puddle were good ) by distilling presently , and so euery weeke twice in strong drought , so long as the earth will drinke , and refuse by ouerflowing . for moisture m●llifies , and both giues leaue to the roots to spread , and makes the earth yeeld sap and nourishment with plenty & facility . nurses ( they say ) giue most & best milke after warme drinks . if your ground be such that it will keepe no moisture at the root of your plant , such plant shall neuer like , or but for a time . there is nothing more hurtfall for young trees then piercing drought . i haue known trees of good stature after they haue beene of diuers yeeres growth , & thriue well for a good time , perish for want of water , and very many by reason or taints in setting . it is meet your sets and grafts be fenced , till they be as big as your arme for feare of annoyances . many waies may sets receiue dammages , after they be set , whether grafted or vngrafted . for although we suppose , that no noysome beast , or other thing must haue accesse among your trees : yet by casualty , a dog , cat , or such like , or your selfe , or negligent friend bearing you company , or a shrewd boy , may tread or fall vpon a young and tender plant or graft . to auoid these and many such chances , you must stake them round a pretty distance from the set , neither so neere , nor so thicke , but that it may haue the benefit of sun , raine , and ayre . your stakes ( small or great ) would be so surely put , or driuen into the earth , that they breake not , if any thing happen to leane vpon them , else may the fall be more hurtfull , then the want of the fence . let not you stakes shelter any weeds about your sets , for want of sunne is a great hinderance . let them stand so farre off , that your grafts spreading receiue no hurt , either by rubbing on them , or of a●y other thing passing by . if your stocke be long , and high grafted ( which i must discommend ( except in need ) because there the sap is weake , and they are subiect to strong wind , and the lighting of birds ) tie easily with a soft list three or foure prickes vnder the clay , and let their tops stand aboue the grafts , to auoid the lighting of crowes , pyes , &c. vpon your grafts . if you sticke some sharpe thornes at the roots of your stakes , they will make hurtfull things keepe off the better . other better fences for your grafts i know none . and thus much for sets and setting . chap. 8. of the distance of trees . i know not to what end you should prouide good ground , well fenced , & plant good sets ; and when your trees should come to profit , haue all your labours lost , for want of due regard , to the distance of placing your trees . i haue s●ene many trees stand so thicke , that one could not thriue for the throng of his neighbours . if you doe marke it , you shall see the tops of trees rubd off , their sides galled like a galled horses backe , and many trees haue more stumps then boughes , and most trees no well thriuing , but short , stumpish , and euill thriuing boughes : like a corne field ouer-seeded , or a towne ouer peopled , or a pasture ouerlaid , which the gardiner must either let grow , or leaue the tree very few boughes to beare fruit . hence small thrift , galls , wounds , diseases , and short life to the trees : and while they liue greene , little , hard , worme-eaten , and euill thriuing fruit arise , to the discomfort of the owners . to preuent which discommodity , one of the best remedies is the sufficient and fit distance of trees . therefore at the se●ing of your plants you must haue such respect , that the distance of them be such , that euery tree be not annoyance , but an helpe to his fellowes : for trees ( as all other things of th●●● m● k●nd ) should shroud , and not hurt one another . and assure your selfe that euery touch of trees ( as well vnder as aboue the earth ) is hurtfull . therefore this must be a generall rule in this art● that no tree in an orchard well ordered , nor bough , nor cyon , drop vpon , or touch his fellowes let no man thinke this vnpossible , but looke in the eleuenth chapter of dressing of trees if they touch , the winde will cause a forcible 〈◊〉 young twigs are tender , if boughes or armes touch 〈◊〉 , if they are strong , they make great galls . no kind of touch therefore in trees can be good . now it is to be considered what distance amongst sets is requisite , and that must be gathered from the compasse and roomth , that each tree by probability will take and fill . and herein i am of a contrary opinion to all them , which practise or teach the planting of trees , that euer yet i knew , read , or heard of . for the common space betweene tree and tree is ten foot : if twenty foot , it is thought very much . but i suppose twenty yards distance is small enough betw●xt tree and tree , or rather too too little . for the distance must needs be as far as two trees are well able to ouer spread● and fill , so they touch not by one yard at least . now i am assured , and i know one apple-tree , set of slip finger-great , in the space of 20 yeares , ( which i account a very small part of a trees age , as is shewed chapter 14. ) hath spred his boughes eleuen or twelue yards compasse , that is , fiue or sixe yards on e●ery side . hence i gather , that in forty or fity yeares ( which yet is but a small time of his age ) a tree in good soile , well liking , by good dressing ( for that is much auaileable to this purpose ) will spread double at the least , viz. twelue yards on a side , which being added to twelue alotted to his felllow , make twenty and foure yards , a●d so farre distant must euery tree stand from another and looke how farre a tree spreads his boughes aboue , so far doth he put his roots vnder the earth , or rather further , if there be no stop , nor let by walls , trees , rocks , barren earth , and such like : for an huge bulk , and strong armes , massie boughes , many branches , and infinite twigs , require wide spreading roots . the top hath the vast aire to spread his boughs in , high and low , this way and that way : but the roots are kept in the crust of the earth , they may not goe downward , nor vpward ou● of he earth , which is their element , no more then the fish out of the water , camelion out of the aire , nor salamander out the fire . therefore they must needs spread farre vnder the earth . and i dare well say , if nature would giue leaue to man by art , to dresse the roots of trees , to take away the tawes and tangles , that lap and fi●t and grow supe●fluously and disorderly , ( for euery thing sublunary is cursed for mans sake ) the tops aboue being answerably dressed , we should haue trees of wouderfull greatnes , and i●finite durance . and i perswade my selfe that this might be done sometimes in winter , to trees standing in faire pl●ines and kindly earth , with small or no danger at all . so that i conclude , that twenty foure yards are the least space that art can allot for trees to stand distant one from another . if you aske me what vse shall be made of that waste ground betwixt tree and tree ? i answer : if you please to plant some tree or trees in that middle space , you may , and as your trees grow contigious , gr●a● and thick , you may at your pleasure take vp those last trees . and this i take to be the chiefe cause , why the most trees stand so thicke . for men not knowing ( or not regarding ) this secret of needfull distance , and louing fruit of trees planted to their handes , thinke much to pull vpp an● , though they pine one another . if you or your heires or successors would take vp some great tre●s ( past setting ) where they stand too thicke , be sure ●ou doe it about miasummer , and leaue no maine roo●● i destina●e this sp●ce of foure and twenty yards , for trees of age & sta●ure . more then thi● , yo● h●ue borders to be made for wal●es● with roses● berries , &c. a●d chiefly consider : that your orchard , for the first twenty or thirty yeeres , will serue you ●or many gardens , for safron , licoras , roots , and other herb● for profi● , and flowers for pleasure : so that no ground need be wasted if the gardiner be skillfull and diligen● . but be sure● you come not neere with such deepe de●uing the roots of your trees , who●e compas●e you may partly discerne , by the compasse of the tops , if your top be well spread . and vnder the droppings and shadow of your trees , be sure no herbes will like . let this be said for the distance of trees . chap. 9. of the placing of trees . the placing of trees in an orchard is well worth the regard : for although it must be granted , that any of our foresaid trees ( chap. 2. ) will like well in any part of your orchard , being good and well drest earth : yet are not ●ll trees alike worthy of a good place and therefore i wish that your filbird , plummes , dimsons , bules●● , and such like , be vtterly remoued from the plaine soile of your orchard into your fence : for there is not such fertility and easefull growth , as within : and there also they are more sub●ect , and an abide the blasts of aeolus . the che●ries and plummes being ripe in the hot time of summer , and th● rest standing ●onger , are not so soone shaken as your better fr●i● : neither if they suffer losse , is your losse so grea● . besides that , your fences and ditches w●ll de●ou●e ●ome of your fruit growing in or neere your hedges and seeing the continuance of all these ( except nu●s ) is small , the care of them ought to be the lesse . and make no doubt● but the fences of a large orchard wi●l containe a suffi●ien●●umber of such kind of fruit-trees in the wh●le compasse . it is not materiall , but at your pleasure , in the s●d fences , you may either intermingle your seuer●l ki●ds of fruit-trees , or set euery kind by himself● , which order doth very well become your bet●er and greater fruit . let therefore your appl●s p●●res , an● quinches , possesse the soile of you o●chard , vnlesse you be especially affected to some of your other kinds : and of them let your greatest ●rees of growth stand furthest from sunne , and your quinches at the s●u●h side or end , and your● apples in th● middle , so shall none be any hinderance to his fellowes . the warden-tree , and winter-peare will challenge the pre●emine●ce for stature . of your apple-trees you shall finde difference in growth . a good pippin will g●ow large , and a costard-tree : stead them on the north side of your other apples , thus being placed , the least will giue sun to the rest , and the greatest will shroud their fellowes . the fences and out-trees will guard all . chap. 10 of g●af●ing . of this there be diuers kinds , but three or foure now especially in vse : to wit , grafting , incising , packing on , grafting in the scutchion , or inoculating : whereof the chiefe and most vsuall , is called grafting ( by the generall name , catahexocen : ) for it is the most knowne , surest , readiest , and plainest way to haue store of good fruit . it is thus wrought : you must with a fine , thin , strong and sharpe saw , made and armed for that purpose , cut off a foot aboue the ground , or thereabouts , in a plaine without a knot , or as neere as you can without a knot ( for some stocks will be knotty ) your stocke , set , or plant , being surely stayed with your foot and legge , or otherwise straight ouerthwart ( for the stocke may be crooked ) and then plaine his wound smoothly with a sharpe knife : that done , cleaue him cleanly in the middle with a cleauer , and a knocke or mall , and with a wedge of wood , iron or bone , two handfull long at least , put into the middle of that clift , with the same knocke , make the wound gape a straw bredth wide , into which you must put your graffes . the graft is a top twig taken from some other tree ( for it is folly to put a graffe into his owne stocke ) beneath the vppermost ( and sometime in need the second ) knot , and with a sharpe knife fitted in the knot ( and some time out of the knot when need is ) with shoulders an ynch downeward , and so put into the stocke with some thrusting ( but not straining ) barke to barke inward . let your graffe haue three or foure eyes , for readinesse to put forth , and giue issue to the sap . it is not amisse to cut off the top of your graffe , and leaue it but fiue or sixe inches long , because commonly you shall see the tops of long graffes die . the reason is this . the sap in graffing receiues a rebuke , and cannot worke so strongly presently , and your graffes receiue not sap so readily , as the naturall branches . when your graffes are cleanely and closely put in , and your wedge puld out nimbly , for feare of putting your graffes out of frime , take well tempered morter , ●oundly wrought with chaffe or horse dung ( for the dung of cattell will grow hard , and straine your graffes ) the quantity of a gooses egge , and diuide it iust , and therewithall , couer your stocke , laying the one halfe on the one side , and the other halfe on the other side of your graffes ( for thrusting against your graffes ) you moue them , and let both your hands thrust at once , and alike , and let your clay be tender , to yeeld easily ; and all , lest you moue your graffes . some vse to couer the clift of the stocke● vnder the clay with a piece of barke or leafe , some with a sear-cloth of waxe and butter , which as they be not much needfull , so they hurt not , vnlesse that by being busie about them , you moue your graffes from their places . they vse also mosse tyed on aboue the clay with some bryer , wicker , or other bands . these profit nothing . they all put the graffes in danger , with pulling and thrusting : for i hold this generall rule in graffing and planting : if your stocke and graffes take , and thriue ( for some will take and not thriue , being tainted by some meanes in the planting or graffing ) they will ( without doubt ) recouer their wounds safely and shortly . the best time of graffing from the time of remouing your stocke is the next spring , for that saues a second wound , and a second repulse of sap , if your stocke be of sufficient bignesse to take a graffe from as big as your thumbe , to as big as an arme of a man. you may graffe l●sle ( which i like ) and bigger , which i like not so w●ll . the best time of the y●ere is in the ●ast part of february , or in march , or beginning of apr●ll , when the su●ne with his h●a● begins to make the s●p stirre more rankely , about the change of moone before you see any great apparancy of lease or fl●we●s but onely knots and bads , and before they be proud , though it be sooner . cheries , pea●es , apricocks , q●●nces , and plummes would be gathered and graf●ed sooner . the graff●s may be gathered sooner in february , or any time within a moneth , or two before you graffe or vpon the same day ( which i commend ) if you get them any time before , ●or i haue knowne graf●es gathered in december , and doe well , take heed of drought . i haue my selfe ●aken a bu●knot of a tree , & the same day when he was laid in the earth about mid februory , gathered graf●s and put in him , and one of those graffes bore the th●rd yeere after , and the fourth plentifully . graffes of old trees would be gathered sooner then of young trees , for they sooner breake and bud● if you keepe graffes in the earth , moisture with the heat of the sun will make them sprout as fast , as if they were growing on the tree . and therefore seeing keeping is dangerous , the surest way ( as i iudge ) is to take them within a weeke of the time of your graf●ing . the gr●fts would be taken not of the proudest twigs , for it may be your stocke is not answerable in strength . and therefore ( say i , the graf●s brought from south to vs in the north although they take and thriue ( which is somewhat doub●full , by reason of the difference of the clime and carriage ) yet shall they in time fashion themselues to our cold notherne soile , in growth , taste &c. nor of the poorest , for want of strength may make them vnready to receiue sap ( and who can tell but a poore graft is tainted ) nor on the outside of your tree , for there should your tree spread but in the middest● for there you may be sure your tree is no whit hindered in his growth or forme . he will still recouer inward , more then you would wish . if your clay clift in summer with drought , looke well in the chinkes for emm●●s and earewigs , for they are cunning and close theeues● about grafts you shall finde them stirring in the morning and euening , and the rather in the moist weather . i haue had many young buds of graffes , euen in the flourishing , eaten with ants. let this suffice for graffing , which is in the faculty counted the chiefe secret , and because it is most vsuall it is best knowne . graffes are not to be disl●ked for growth , till they wither , pine , and die . vsually before m●dsummer they breake , if they l●ue . some ( but few ) keeping proud and greene , will not put till the second yeere , so is it to be thought of sets . the first shew of putting is no sure signe of growth , it is but the sap the graffe brought with him from his tree . so soone as you see the graft put for growth , take away the clay , for then doth neither the stocke no● the graffe need it ( put a little fresh well tempered clay in the hole of the stocke ) for the clay is now tender , and rather keepes moisture then drought . the other waies of changing the naturall fruit of trees , are more curious then profitable , and therefore i mind not to bestow much labour or time about them , onely i shall make knowne what i haue proued , and what i doe thinke . and first of incising , which is the cutting of the backe of the boale , a rine or branch of a tree of some bending or knee , shoulderwise with two gashes , onely with a sharpe knife to the wood : then take a wedge , the big●es of your graffe sharpe ended , flat on the one side , agr●eing with the tree , and round on the other side , and with t●●● being thrust in , raise your barke , then p●t in your gr●ffe , fashioned like your wedge iust : and lastly cou●r your wound , and fast it vp , and take heed of straining . this will grow but to small purpose , for it is weake hold , and ligh●ly it will be vnder growth . thus may you graft betwixt the barke and the tree of a great stoc●e that will not easily be clifted : but i haue tryed a better way for great trees , viz● first , cut him off straight , and cleanse him with your knife , then cleaue him into foure q●arte●s , equally with a strong cleauer : then take for euery clift two or three small ( but hard ) wedges iust of the bignesse of your graf●s , and with those wedges driuen in with an hammer open the foure clifts so wide ( but no wider ) that they may take your foure gr●ffes , with thrusting not with straining : and lastly couer and clay i● closely , and this is a sure and good way of grafting : or thus , clift your stocke by his edges twice or thrice with your cleauer , and open him with your wedge in euery clift one by one , and put in your grafts , and then couer them . this may doe well . packing on is , when you cut asl●pe a twig of the same bignesse with your graft , either in or besides the knot , two inches long , and make your graft agree ●umpe with the cyon● and gash your graft and your cyon in the middest of the wound , length-way , a straw breadth deepe , and thrust the one into the other , wound to wound , sap to s●p , barke to barke , then tie them close and clay them . this may doe well . the fairest graft i haue in my little orchard , which i haue planted , is thus packt on , and the branch whereon i put him , is in his plentifull roote . the sprig . the graft . the twig . the graft . inoculating is an eye or bud , taken barke and all from one tree , and placed in the roome of another eie or bud of another , cut both of one compasse , and there bound . this must be done in summer , when the sap is proud . chap. 11. of the right dressing of trees . if all these things aforesaid were indeed performed , as we haue shewed them in words , you should haue a perf●ct orchard in nature a●d subst●nce , begu●ne to your hand : and yet are all these things nothing , if you want that skill to keepe and dresse your trees . such is the condition of all earthly things , whereby a man receiueth profit or pleasure , that they degenerate presently without good ordering . man himselfe left to himselfe , growes from ●i heauenly and spirituall generation , and becommeth beastly , yea deuillish to his owne kind , vnlesse he be regenerate no ma●u●ll then , if trees make ●heir shootes , and put their spraies disorderly . and truly ( if i were worthy to iudge ) there is not a mischiefe ●h●t b●eedeth greater and more generall harme to all the orchard ( especially if they be of any continuance ) that euer i saw , ( i will not except three ) then the want of the ski●full d●essing of trees . it is a common and vnskilfull opinion , and saying . let all grow , and they will bea●e more fruit : and if ●oulop away su●erfluous boughts , they say , what a pitty is this ? how many apples would there haue borne ? not considering there may arise hurt to your orchard , aswell ( nay rather ) by abundance , as by want of wood . sound and thriuing plan● in a good soile , will euer yeeld too much wood , and disorderly , but neuer too little . so that a skilfull and painfull a●bo●ist , need neuer want matter to ●ffect a plentifull and well drest orchard : for it is an easie matter to take away superfluous boughes if your gardner haue skill to know them ) whereof you● plants will yeeld abundance , and skill will leaue sufficient well ordered . a●lages both by rule and experience doe consent to a pruining and lopping of trees : yet haue not any that i know described vnto vs ( except in darke and generall words ) what or which are those superfluous boughes , which we must take away , and that is the chiefe and most needfull point to be knowne in lopping . and we may well assure our selues , ( as in all other arts , so in this ) there is a vantage and dexterity , by skill , and an habite by practise out of experience , in the performance hereof for the profit of mankind ; yet doe i not know ( let me speake it with the patience of ou● cunning arborists ) any thing within the compasse of humane affaires so necessary , and so little regarded , not onely in orchards , but also in all other timber trees , where or whatsoeuer . imagine the roote to be spread farre wider . if all timber trees were such ( will some say ) how should we haue crooked wood for wheeles , co●r●s , &c. answ. dresse all you can , and there will be enough crooked for those vses . more than this , in most places , they grow so thicke , that neither themselues , nor earth , nor any thing vnder or neere them can thriue , nor sunne , nor raine , nor ●ire can doe them , nor any thing neere or vnder them any profit or comfort . i see a number of h●gs , where out of one roote you shall see three or foure ( nay more ) such as mens vns●ilfull greedinesse , who desiring many haue ●ore good ) pretty okes or ashes , straight and tall , because the root at the first shoote giues sap amaine : but if one onely of them might bee suffered to grow , and that well and cleanely pruned , all to his very top , what a tree should we haue in time ? and we see by those rootes continually and plentifully springing , notwithstanding so deadly wounded . what a commodity should arise to the owner , and the common-wealth , if wood were cherished , and orderly dressed . the wast boughes closely and skilfully taken away , would giue vs store of fences and fewell , and the bulke of the tree in time would grow of huge length and bignes . but here ( me thinkes ) i heare an vnskilfull arborist say , that trees haue their seuerall formes , euen by nature , the peare , the holly , the aspe , &c. grow long in bulke with few and little armes , the oke by nature broad , and such like . all this i graunt : but grant me also , that there is a profitable end , and vse of euery tree , from which i● it decline ( though by nature ) yet man by art may ( nay must ) correct it . now other end of trees i neuer could learne , than good timber , fruit much and good , and pleasure . vses physicall hinder nothing a good forme . neither let any man euer so much as thinke , that it vnprobable , much lesse vnpossible , to refo●me any tree of what kind soeuer . for ( beleeue me ) i haue tried it , i can bring any tree ( beginning by time ) to any forme . the peare and holly may be made to spread , and the oke to close . but why do i wander out of the compasse of mine orchard , into the forrests and woods ? neither yet am i from my purpose , if boales of timber trees stand in need of all the sap , to make them great and straigh● ( for strong growth and dressing makes strong trees ) then it must needes be profitable for fruit ( a thing more immediately seruing a mans need ) to haue all the sap his roote can yeeld : for as timber sound , great and long , is the good of timber trees , and therefore they beare no fruite of worth : so fruit , good , sound , pleasant , great and much , is the end of fruit-trees . that gardner therefore shall performe his duty skilfully and faithfully , which sha●l so dresse his trees , that they may beare such and such store of fruit , which he shall neuer do ( dare vndertake ) vnlesse he keepe this order in dressing his trees . a fruit-tree so standing , that there need none other end of dressing b●t fruit ( not ornaments for walkes , nor delight to such as would please their eye onely , and yet the b●st forme ca●not but both adorne an● d●light ) must be parted from wi●hin two foote , or thereabouts , of the earth , so high to giue liberty to dresse his roote , and no higher , for drinking vp the sap that should f●ede his fruit , for the boale will be first , and best serued and fed , because he is next the roote , and of gre●●est waxe and substance , and that makes him longest of life , into two , three , or foure armes , as your stocke or graff●s yeelde twigs , and euery arme into two or more bran●hes , and euery branch into his seuerall cyons , still spre●ding by equ●ll degrees , so that his lowest spray be hardly without the reach of a mans hand , and his highest be not past two yards higher , rar●ly ( especially in the middest ) that no one twig touch his fellow . let him spread as farre as he list without his maister-bough , or ●op ●qually . and when any bough doth grow sadder and fall lower , than his fellowes ( as they will with weight of fruite ) ease him the next spring of his superfluous twigs , and he will ri●e : when any bough or spray shall amount aboue the rest ; either snub his top with a nip be●wixt your finger and your thumbe , or with a sharpe knife , and take him cleane away , and so you may vse any cyon you would reforme , and as your tree shall grow in stature and st●ength , so let him rise with his tops , but flowly , and e●rely , especially in the middest , and equally , and in bredth also , and follow him vpward with lopping hi● vnder growth and water boughes , keeping the s●me distance of two yards , but not aboue three in any wise , betwixt the lowest and the highest twigs . 1. thus you shall haue well liking , cleane skind , healthfull great , and long-lasting trees . 2. thus shall your tree grow low , and safe from winds , for his top will be great , broad and weighty . 3. thus growing broad , shall your trees beare much fruit ( i dare say ) one as much as sixe of your common trees , and good without shadowing , dropping and fretting : for his boughes , branches , and twigs shal be many , and those are they ( not the boale ) which beare the fruit . 4. thus shall your boale being little ( not small but low ) by reason of his shortnesse , take little , and yeeld much sap to the fruit . 5. thus your trees by reason of strength in time of setting shall put forth more blossomes , and more fruite , being free from taints ; for strength is a great helpe to bring forth much and safely , whereas weakenesse failes in setting though the season be calme . some vse to bare trees rootes in winter , to stay the setting til hotter seasons , which i discommend , because , 1. they hurt the rootes . 2. it stayes it nothing at al 3. though it did , being small , with vs in the north , they haue their part of our aprill and mayes frosts . 4. hinderance cannot profit weake trees in setting . 5. they wast much labour . 6. thus shall your tree be easie to dresse , and without danger , either to the tree or the dresser . 7. thus may you safely and easily gather your fruite without falling , bruising or breaking of cyons . this is the best forme of a fruit tree , which i haue here onely shadowed out for the better capacity of them that are led more with the eye , than the mind , crauing pardon for the deformity , because i am nothing skilfull either in painting or caruing . imagine that the paper makes but one side of the tree to appeare , the whole round compasse will giue leaue for many more armes , boughes , branches , and cyons . the perfect forme of a fruit-tree . if any thinke a tree cannot well be brought to this forme : experto crede roberto , i can shew diuers of them vnder twenty yeeres of age . the fittest time of the moone for proyning is as of grafting , when the sap is ready to stirre ( not proudly stirring ) and so to couer the wound , and of the yeere , a moneth before ( or at least when ) you graffe . dresse peares , apricocks , peaches , cherries , and bullys sooner . and old trees before young plants , you may dresse at any time betwixt leafe and leafe . and note , where you take any thing away , the sap the next summer will be putting : be sure therefore when he puts a bud in any place where you would not haue him , rub it off with your finger . and here you must remember the common homely prouerbe : soone crookes the tree , that good camrell must be . beginne betime with trees , and do what you list : but if you let them grow great and stubborne , you must do as the trees list . they will not bend but breake , nor bee wound without danger . a small branch will become a bough , and a bough an arme in bignesse . then if you cut him , his wound will fester , and hardly , without good skill , recouer : therefore , obsta principijs . of such wounds , and lesser , or any bough cut off a handfull or more from the body , comes hollowness , and vntimely death . and therefore when you cut , strik close , and cleane , and vpward , and leaue no bunch . this forme in some cases sometimes may be altered : if your tree , or trees , stand neere your walkes , if it please your fancy more , let him not breake , till his boale be aboue you h●●ad : so may you walke vnder your trees at your pleasure . or if you set your fruit-trees for your shades in your groues , then i ●espect not the forme of the tree , but the comelinesse of the walke . all this hitherto spoken of dr●ssing , must be vnderstood of young plants , to be formed : it is meete somewhat be sayd for the inst●uction of them that haue olde trees already formed , or rather deformed : for , malum non vitatur nisi cognitum . the faults therefore of a disordered tree , i find to be fiue : 1. an vnprofitable bo●l● . 2. water-boughes . 3. fretters . 4. suckers : and , 5. one principall top . a long boale asketh much ●eeding , and the more he hath the more he desires , 1 and gets ( as a drunken man drinke , or a couetuous man wealth ) and the lesse remaines for the fruit , he puts his boughes into the aire , and makes them , the fruit , and it selfe more dangered with windes : for this i know no remedy , after that the tree is come to growth , once euill , neuer good . water boughes , 2 or vndergrowth , are such boughes as grow low vnder others and are by them ouergrowne , ouershadowed , dropped on , and pinde for want of plenty of sap , and by that meanes in time die : for the sap presseth vpward ; and it is like water in her course , where it findeth most issue , thither it floweth , leauing the other lesser sluces dry : euen as wealth to wealth , and much to more . these so long as they beare , they beare lesse , worse , and fewer fruit , and waterish . the remedy is easie , if they be not growne greater then your arme . lop them close and cleane , and couer the mid●l of the wound , the next summer when he is dry , with a salue made of tallow , tarre , and a very little pitch , good for the couering of any such wound of a great tree : vnl●sse it be barke-pild , and then sear-cloath of fresh butter , hony , and waxe , presently ( while the wound is greene ) applyed , is a soueraigne remedy in summer especially . some bind such wounds with a thumbe rope of hay , mo●st , and rub it with dung . fretters are , when as by the negligence of the gardner , two or moe parts of the tree , or of diuers trees , as armes , boughes , branches , or twigs , grow so neere and close together , that one of them by rubbing , doth wound another . this fault of all other shewes the want of skill or care ( at least ) in the arborist : for here the hurt is apparant , and the remedy easie , seene to betime : galls and wounds incurable , but by taking away those members : for let them grow , and they will be worse and worse , & so kill themselues with ciuill strife for roomth , and danger the whole tree auoide them betime therefore , as a common wealth doth bosome enemies . a sucker is a long , proud , and disorderly cyon , growing straight vp ( for pride of sap makes proud , long , and str●ight growth ) out of any lower parts of the tree , receiuing a great part of the sap , and bearing no fruit , till it haue tyrannized ouer the whole tree . these are like idle and great dro●es amongst bees ; and proud and idle members in a common wealth . the remedy of this is , as of water-boughes , vnlesse he be growne greater then all the rest of the boughs , and then your gardner ( at your discretion ) may leaue him for his boale , and take away all , or the most of the rest . if he be little , slip him , and set him , perhaps he will take : my fairest apple-tree was such a slip. one or two prin●ipall top boughes are as euill , in a manner , as suckers , they rise of the same cause , and receiue the same remedy : yet these are more tolerable , because these beare fruit , yea the best : but suckers of long doe not beare . i know not how your tree should be faulty , if you reforme all your vices timely , and orderly . as these rules serue for dressing young trees and sets in the first planting : so may they well serue to helpe old trees , though not exactly to recouer them . chap. 12. of foyling . there is one thing yet very necessary for make your orchard both better , and more lasting : yea , so necessary , that without it your orchard cannot last , nor prosper long , which is neglected generally both in precepts and in practise , viz. manuring with foile : whereby it hapneth that when trees ( amongst other euils ) through want of fatnesse to feed them , become mossie , and in their growth are euill ( or not ) thriuing , it is either attributed to some wrong cause , as age ( when indeed they are but young ) or euill standing ( stand they neuer so well ) or such like , or else the cause is altogether vnknowne , and so not amended . can there be deuised any way by nature , or art , sooner or soundlier to seeke out , and take away the heart and strength of earth , then by great trees ? such great bodies cannot be sustained without great store of sap . what liuing body haue you greater then of trees ? the great sea monsters ( whereof one came a land at teesmouth in yorkeshire , hard by vs , 18. yards in length , and neere as much in compasse ) seeme hideous , huge , strange , and monstrous , because they be indeed great : but especially , because they are seldome seene : but a tree li●ing , come to his growth and age , twice that length , and of a bulke neuer so great , besides his other parts , is not admired , because he is so commonly seene . and i doubt not , but if he were well regarded from his kirnell , by succeeding ages , to his full strength , the most of them would double their measure . about fifty yeeres agoe i heard by credible and constant report , that in brooham parke in west more-land , neere vnto penrith , there lay a blowne oake , whose trunke was so bigge , that two horse men being the one on the one side , and the other on the other side , they could not one see another : to which if you adde his armes , boughs , and roots , and consider of his bignesse , what would he haue been , if preserued to the vantage . also i read in the history of the west-indians , out of peter martyr , that sixteene men taking hands one with another , were not able to fathome one of those trees about . now nature hauing giuen to such a faculty by large and infinite roots● taws and tang●es , to draw immediately his sustenance from our common mother the earth ( which is like in this point to all other mothers that beare ) hath also ordained that the tree ouer loden with fruit , and wanting sap to feed all she hath brought forth , will waine all she cannot feed , like a woman bringing forth moe children at once then she hath teats . see you not how trees especially , by kind being great , standing so thicke and close , that they cannot get plenty of sap , pine away all the grasse , weeds , lesser shrubs , and trees , yea and themselues also for want of vigor of sap ? so that trees growing large , sucking the soile whereon they stand , continually , and amaine , and the foyzon of the earth that feeds them decaying ( for what is there that wastes cotinually , that sha●l not haue end ? ) must either haue supply of sucker , or else leaue thriuing and growing . some grounds will beare corne while they be new , and no longer , because their crust is shollow , and not very good , and lying they s●ind and wash , and become barren . the ordinary corne soiles continue not ferti●e , with following and foyling , and the best requires supply , euen for the little body of corne. how then can we thinke that any ground ( how good soeuer ) can sustaine bodies of such greatnesse , and such great feeding , without great plenty of sap arising from good earth ? this is one of the chiefe causes , why so many of our orchards in england are so euill thriuing when they come to growth , and our fruit so bad . men are loth to bestow much ground , and desire much fruit , and will neither set their trees in sufficient compasse , nor yet feed them with manure . therefore of necessity orchards must be foiled . the fittest time is , when your trees are growne great , and haue neere hand spread your earth , wanting new earth to sustaine them , which if they doe , they will seeke abroad for better earth , and shun that , which is barren ( if they find better ) as cattell euill pasturing . for nature hath taught euery creature to desire and seeke his owne good , and to auoid hurt . the best time of the yeere is at the fall , that the frost may b●●e and make it tender , and the raine wash it i●to the roots . the summer time is perillous if ye digge , because the sap 〈◊〉 amaine . the best kind of foile is such as is fat , hot , and tender . your earth must be but lightly opened , that the d●ng may goe in , and wash away ; and but shallow , lest you hurt the roots : and in the spring closely and equally made plaine againe for f●are of suckers . i could wish , that after my trees haue fully possessed the soile of mine orchard , that euery seuen yeeres at least , the soile were bespread with dung halfe a foot thicke at least . puddle water out of the dunghill powred on plentifully , will not onely moisten but fatten especially in iune and iuly . if it be thicke and fat , and applied euery yeere , your orchard shall need none other foiling . your ground may lye so low at the riuer side , that the floud standing some daies and nights thereon , shall saue you all this labour of foiling . chap. 13. of annoyances . a chiefe helpe to make euery thing good , is to auoid the euils thereof : you shall neuer attaine to that good of your orchard you looke for , vnlesse you haue a gardner , that can discerne the diseases of your trees , and other annoyances of your orchard , and find out the causes thereof , and know & apply fit remedies for the same . for be your ground , site , plants , and trees as you would wish , if they be wasted with hurtfull things , what haue you gained but your labour for your trauell ? it is with an orchard and euery tree , as with mans body . the best part of physicke for preseruation of health , is to foresee and cure diseases . all the diseases of an orchard are of two sorts , either internall or externall . i call those inward hurts which breed on and in particular trees . 1 galles . 2 canker . 3 mosse . 4 weaknes in setting . 5 barke bound . 6 barke pild . 7 worme . 8 deadly wounds . galles , canker , mosse , weaknes , though they be diuers diseases : yet ( howsouer authors thinke otherwise ) they rise all out of the same cause . galles we haue described with their cause and remedy , in the 11. chapter vnder the name of fretters . canker is the consumption of any part of the tree , barke and wood , which also in the same place is deceiphered vnder the title of water-boughes . mosse is sensibly seene and knowne of all , the cause is pointed out in the same chapter , in the discourse of timber-wood , and partly also the remedy : but for mosse adde this , that at any time in summer ( the spring is best ) when the cause is remoued , with an harecloth , immediatly after a showre of raine , rub off your mosse , or with a peece of weed ( if the mosse abound ) formed like a great knife . weaknesse in the setting of your fruit shall you finde there also in the same chapter , and his remedy . all these flow from the want of roomth in good soile , wrong planting , chap. 7. and euill or no dressing . bark-bound ( as i thinke ) riseth of the same cause , and the best , & present remedy ( the causes being taken away ) is with your sharpe knife in the spring , length-way to launch his bark throughout , on 3. or 4. sides of his boale . the disease called the worme is thus discernd : the barke will be hoald in diuers places like gall , the wood will die & dry , and you shall see easily the barke swell . it is verily to be thought , that therin is bred some worm i haue not yet thorowly sought it out , because i was neuer troubled therewithall : but onely haue seene such trees in diuers places . i thinke it a worme rather , because i see this disease in trees , bringing fruit of sweet taste , and the swelling shewes as much . the remedy ( as i con●ecture ) is so soone as you perceiue the wound , the next spring cut it out barke and all , and apply cowes p●●le and vineger presently , and so twice or thrice a weeke for a moneths space : for i well perceiue , if you suffer it any time , it eates the tree or bough round , and so kils . since i first wrote this treatise , i haue changed my mind concerning the disease called the worme , because i read in the history of the west-indians , that their trees are not troubled wiih the disease called the worme or canker . which ariseth of a raw and euill concocted humor or sap , witnesse pliny , by reason their country is more ho● then ours , whereof i thinke the best remedy is ( not disallowing the former , considering that the worme may breed by such an humor ) warme standing , sound lopping and good dressing . barke-pild you shall find with his remedy in the 11. chapter . deadly wounds are when a mans arborist wanting skill , cut off armes , boughes or branches an inch , or ( as i see sometimes ) an handfull , or halfe a foot or more from the body : these so cut cannot couer in any time with sap , and therefore they die , and dying they perish the heart , and so the tree becomes hollow , and with such a deadly wound cannot liue long . the remedy is , if you find him before he be perished , cut him close● as in the 11. chapter : if he be hoald , cut him close , fill his wound , tho neuer so deepe , with morter well tempered & so close at the top his wound with a seare cloth doubled and nailed on , that no aire nor raine approach his wound . if he be not very old , and detaining , he will recouer , and the hole being closed , his wound within shall not hurt him for many yeeres . hurts on your trees are chiefly ants , earewigs , and caterpillars , of ants and earewigs is said chap. 10. let there be no swarme of pismires neere your tree-root , no not in your orchard , turne them ouer in a frost , and powre in water , and you kill them . for caterpillars , the vigilant fruterer shall soone espy their lodging by their web , or the decay of leaues eaten round about them . and being seene , they are easily destroyed with your hand , or rather ( if your tree may spare it ) take sprig and all ( for the red peckled butter fly doth euer put them , being her sparm , among the tender spraies for better feeding , especially in drought , and tread them vnder your feet . i like nothing of smoke among my trees . vnnaturall heates are nothing good for naturall trees . this for diseases of particular trees . externall hurts are either things naturall or artificiall . naturall things , externally hurting orchards . 1 beasts . 1 deere . 2 birds . 1 bulfinch .   2 goates .   2 thrush .   3 sheepe .   3 blackbird .   4 hare .   4 crow .   5 cony .   5 pye.   6 cattell .       7 horse .   &c. the other things are , 1 winds . 2 cold. 3 trees . 4 weeds . 5 wormes . 6 mowles . 7 filth . 8 poysonfull smoke . externall wilfull euils are these . 1 walls . 2 trenches . 3 other works noisome done in or neere your orchard . 4 euill neighbours . 5 a carelesse master . 6 an vndiscreet , negligent or no keeper . see you here an whole army of mischeifes banded in troupes against the most fruitfull trees the earth beares ? assailing your good labours . good things haue most enemies . a skilfull fructerer must put to his helping hand , and disband and put them to flight . for the first ranke of beasts , besides your out strong fence , you must haue a faire and swift greyhound , a stone-bow , gun , and if need require , an apple with an hooke for a deere , and an hare-pipe for an hare . your cherries and other berris when they be ripe , will draw all the black-birds , thrushes , and maw pies to your orchard . the bul-finch is a deuourer of your fruit in the bud , i haue had whole trees shald out with them in winter-time . the best remedy here is a stone bow , a piece , especially if you haue a musket or spar-hawke in winter to make the black-bird stoope into a bush or hedge . the gardner must cleanse his foile of all other trees : but fruit-trees aforesaid chapter 2 for which it is ordained , and i would espeecially name oakes , elmes , ashes , and such other great wood , but that i doubt it should be taken as an admission of lesser trees : for i admit of nothing to grow in mine orchard but fruit and flowers . if sap can hardly be good to feed our fruit-trees , why should we allow of any other , especially those , that will becom their masters , & wrong them in their liuelyhood . and although w●●dmit without the fence of wallnuts in most plaine places , trees middle-most , and ashes or okes , or elmes v●most , set in comely rowes equally distant with faire allies ●wixt row and row to auoide the boisterous blasts of winds , and within them also others for bees ; yet wee admit none of these into your orchard-plat : other remedy then this haue wee none against the nipping frosts . weeds in a fertile soile ( because the generall curse is so ) till your trees grow great , will be noysome , and deforme your allies , walkes , beds , and squares , your vnder gardners must labour to keepe all cleanly & handsome from them and all other filth with a spade , weeding kniues , rake with iron teeth : a skrapple of iron thus formed . for nettles and ground-iuy after a showre . when weeds , straw , stickes , and all other scrapings are gathered together , burne them not , but bury them vnder your crust in any place of your orchard , and they will dye and fatten your ground . wormes and moales open the earth , and let in aire to the roots of your trees , and deforme your squares and walkes , and feeding in the earth , being in number infinite , draw on barrennesse● wormes may easily be destroyed . any summer euening when it is darke , after a showre with a candle , you may fill bushels , but you must tred nimbly● & where you cannot come to catch them so ; sift the earth with coale ashes an inch or two thicknes , and that is a plague to them , so is sharpe grauell . moales will anger you , if your gardner or some skilful● moale-catcher ease you not , especially hauing made their fortresses among the roots of your trees : you must watch her wel with a moal spare , at morne , noon , and night , when you see her vtmost hill , cast a trench betwixt her and her home ( for she hath a principall mansion to dwell and br●ed in about aprill , which you may discerne by a principall hill , wherein you may catch her , if you trench it round and sure , and watch well ) or wheresoeuer you can discerne a single passage ( for such she hath ) there trench , and watch , and haue her . wilfull annoyances must be preuented and auoided by the loue of the master and fruterer , which they beare to their orchard . iustice and liberality will put away euill neighbours or euill neighbour-hood . and then if ( god blesse and giue successe to your labours ) i see not what hurt your orchard can sustaine . chap. 14. of the age of trees . it is to be considered : all this treatise of trees tends to this end , that men may loue and plant orchards , whereunto there cannot be a better inducement then that they know ( or at least be perswaded ) that all that benefit they shall reape thereby , whether of pleasure or profit , shall not be for a day or a moneth , or one , or many ( but many hundreth ) yeeres . of good things the greatest , and most durable is alwaies the best . if therefore out of reason grounded vpon experience , it be made ( i thinke ) manifest , but i am sure probable , that a fruit tree in such a soile and site , as is described so planted and trimmed and kept , as is afore appointed and duely foiled , shall dure 1000● yee●es , why should we not take paines , and be at two or three yeeres charges ( for vnder seuen yeeres w●ll an orchard be perfected for the first planting , and in that time be brought to fruit ) to reape such a commodity and so long lasting let no man thinke this to be strange , but peruse and consider the reason . i haue apple trees standing in my lit●le orchard , which i haue knowne these forty yeeres , whose age before my time i cannot learne , it is beyond memory , tho i haue enquired of diuers aged men of 80. yeeres and vpwards : these trees although come into my poss●ssion very euill ordered , mishapen , and one of them wounded to his heart , and that deadly ( for i know it will be his death ) with a wound , wherein i might haue put my foot in the heart of his bulke ( now it is lesse ) notwithstanding , with that small regard they haue had since , they so like , that i assure my selfe they are not come to their growth by more then 2. parts of 3. which i discerne not onely by their owne growth , but also by comparing them with the bulke of other trees . and i find them short ( at least ) by so many parts in bignesse , although i know those other fruit-trees to haue beene much hindred in their stature by euill guiding . herehence i gather thus . if my trees be a hundred yeeres old , and yet want two hundred of their growth before they leaue encreasing , which make three hundred , then we must needs resolue , that this three hundred yeere are but the third part of a trees life , because ( as all things liuing besides ) so trees must haue allowed them for their increase one third , another third for their stand , and a third part of time also for their decay . all which time of a tree amounts to nine hundred yeeres , three hundred for increase , three hundred for his stand , whereof we haue the te●rme stature , and three hundred for his decay , and yet i thinke ( for we must coniecture by comparing , because no one man liueth to see the full age of trees ) i am within the compasse of his age , supposing alwaies the foresaid meanes of preseruing his life . consider the age of other liuing creatures . the horse and moiled oxe wrought to an vntimely death , yet double the time of their increase . a dog likewise increaseth three , stanns three at least , and in as many ( or rather moe ) decayes . euery liuing thing bestowes the least part of his age in his growth , and so must it needs be with trees . a man comes not to his full growth and strength ( by common estimation ) before thirty yeeres , and some slender and cleane bodies , not till forty , so long also stands his strength , & so long also must he haue allowed by course of nature to decay . euer supposing that he be well kept with necessaries , and from and without straines , bruises , and all other dominyring diseases . i will not say vpon true report , that physicke holds it possible , that a cleane body kept by these 3. doctors , doctor dyet , doctor quiet , and doctor merriman , may liue neere a hundred yeeres . neither will i here vrge the long yeeres of methushalah , and those men of that time , because you will say , mans dayes are shortned since the floud . but what hath shortned them ? god for mans sinnes : but by meanes , as want of knowledge , euill gouernment , ryot , gluttony , drunkenesse , and ( to be short ) the encrease of the curse , our sinnes increasing in an iron and wicked age . now if a man , whose body is nothing ( in a manner ) but tender rottennesse , whose course of life cannot by any meanes , by counsell , restraint of lawes , or punishment , nor hope of praise , profet , or eturnall glory , be kept within any bounds , who is degenerate cleane from his naturall feeding , to effeminate nicenesse , and cloying his body with excesse of meate , drinke , sleepe &c. and to whom nothing is so pleasant and so much desired as the causes of his owne death , as idlenesse , lust , &c. may li●e to that age : i see not but a tree of a solide substance , not damnified by heate or cold , capable of , and subiect to any kinde of ordering or dressing that a man shall apply vnto him , feeding naturally , as from the beginning disburdened of all superfluities , eased of , and of his owne accord auoiding the causes that may annoy him , should double the life of a man , more then twice told ; and yet naturall phylosophy , and the vniuersall consent of all histories tell vs , that many other liuing creatures farre exceed man in the length of yeeres : as the hart and the rauen. thus reporteth that famous roterodam out of hesiodus , and many other historiographers . the testimony of cicero in his booke de sen●ctute , is weighty to this purpose : that we must in posteras aetates ferere arbores , which can haue none other sence : but that our fruit-trees whereof he speakes , can endure for many ages . what else are trees in comparison with the earth : but as haires to the body of a man ? and it is certaine , without poisoning , euill and distemperate dyet , and vsage , or other such forcible cause , the haires dure with the body . that they be called excrements , it is by reason of their superfluous growth : for cut them as often as you list , and they will still come to their naturall length ) not in respect of their substance , and nature . h●ires endure long , and are an ornament and vse also to the body , as trees to the earth . so that i resolue vpon good reason , that fruit-trees well ordered , may liue and like a thousand yeeres , and beare fruit , and the longer , the more , the greater , and the better , because his vigour is p●oud and stronger , when his yeeres are many : you shall see old trees put their buds and blossomes both sooner and more plentifully then yong trees by much . and i sensi●ly perceiue my young trees to inlarge their ●rust , as they grow greater , both for number , and greatnesse . young he●fers bring not fo●th calues so faire , neither are they so plentifull to milke , as when they become to be old ki●e . no good houswife will b●e●d of a young but of an old bird-mother : it is so in all things naturally , therefore in trees . and if fruit-trees l●st to this age , how many ages is it to be supposed , st●ong and huge timber-trees will last ? whose huge bodies require the yeeres of diuers methushalaes , before they end their dayes , whose sap is strong and bitter , whose barke is hard and thicke , and their substance solid and stiffe : all which are defences of health and long life . their strength withstands all forcible winds , their sap of that qu●lity is not subiect to wormes and tainting . their barke receiues seldome or neuer by casualty any wound . and not onely so , but he is free from remoualls , which are the death of millions of trees , where as the fruit-tree in comparison is little , and often blowne downe , his sap sweet , easily , and soone tainted , his barke tender , and soone wounded , and himselfe vsed by man , as man vseth himselfe , that is either v●skilfully , or carelessely . it is good for some purposes to regard the age of your fruit trees , which you may easily know , till they come to accomplish twenty yeeres , by his knots : reckon from his roote vp an arme , and so to hys top-twig , and euery yeeres growth is distinguished from other by a knot , except lopping or remouing doe hinder chap. 15. of gathering and keeping fruit. although it be an easie matter , when god shall sen● it , together and keepe fruit , yet are they certaine things worthy your regard . you must gather your fruit when it is ripe , and not before , else will it wither and be tough and sowre . all fruit generally are ripe , when they beginne to fall . for trees doe as all other bearers doe , when their yong ones are ripe , they will waine them . the doue her pigeons● the cony her rabbets , and women their children . some fruit tree sometimes getting a taint in the setting with a frost or euill winde , will cast his fruit vntimely , but not before he leaue giuing them sap , or they leaue growing . except from this foresaid rule , cherries , damsons , and bullies . the cherry is ripe when he is sweld wholy red , and sweet : damsons and bulies not before the first frost . apples are knowne to be ripe , partly by their colour , growing towards a yellow , except the leather-coat and some peares and greening . timely summer fruit will be ready , some at midsummer , most at lammus for present vse ; but general●y noe keepi●g fruit before michal-tide . hard winter fruit and wardens longer . gather at the full of the moone for keeping , gather dry for feare of rotting . gather the stalkes with all : for a little wound in fruit , is deadly : but not the stumpe , that must beare the next fruit , nor leaues , for moisture putrifies . gather euery kind seuerally by it selfe , for all will not keepe alike , and it is hard to discerne them , when they are mingled . if your trees be ouer-laden ( as they will be , being ordered , as is before taught you ) i like better of pulling some off ( tho they be not ripe ) neere the top end of the bough , then of propping by much , the rest shall be better fed . propping puts the bough in danger , and frets it at least . instruments : a long ladder of light firre : a stoole-ladder as in the 11. chapter . a gathering apron like a poake before you , made of purpose , or a wallet hung on a bough , or a basket with a fiue bottome , or skinne bottome , with lathes or splinters vnder , hung in a rope to pull vp and downe : bruise none , euery bruise is to fruit death : if you doe , vse them presently . an hooke to pull boughs to you is necessary , breake no boughes . for keeping , lay them in a dry loft , the longest keeping apples first and furthest on dry straw , on heapes ten or fourteene dayes , thicke , that they may sweat . then dry them with a soft and cleane cloth , and lay them thinne abroad . long keeping fruit would be turned once in a moneth softly : but not in nor immediately after frost . in a loft couer well with straw , but rather with chaffe or bra●●e : for frost doth cause tender rottennesse . chap. 16. of profits . now pause with your selfe , and view the end of all your labours in an orchard : vnspeakable pleasure , and infinite commodity . the pleasure of an orchard i referre to the last chapter for the conclusion : and in this chapter , a word or two of the profit , which thorowly to declare is past my skill : and i count it as if a man should attempt to adde light to the sunne with a candle , or number the starres . no man that hath but a meane orchard or iudgement but knowes , that the commodity of an orchard is great : neither would i speake of this , being a thing so manifest to all ; but that i see , that through the carelesse lazinesse of men , it is a thing generally neglected . but let them know , that they lose hereby the chiefest good which belongs to house-keeping . compare the commodity that commeth of halfe an acre of ground , set with fruit-trees and hearbs , so as is prescribed , and an whole acre ( say it be two ) with corne , or the best commodity you can wish , and the orchrad shall exceed by diuers degrees . in france and some other countries , and in england , they make great vse of cydar and perry , thus made : dresse euery apple , the stalke , vpper end , and all galles away , stampe them , and straine them , and within 24. houres tun them vp into cleane , sweet , and sound vessels , for feare of euill ayre , which they will readily take : and if you hang a poakefull of cloues , mace , nutmegs , cinamon , ginger , and pils of lemmons in the midst of the vessell , it will make it as wholesome and pleasant as wine . the like vsage doth perry require . these drinks are very wholesome , they coole , purge , and preuent hot agues . but i leaue this skil● to physitians . the benefit of your fruit , roots and hearbs , though it were but to eare and sell , is much . waters distilled of roses , woodbind , angelica , are both profitable and wondrous pleasant , and comfortable . saffron and lico●as will yeeld you much conserues and preserues , are ornaments to your feasts , health in your sicknesse , and a good helpe to your friend , and to your purse . he that will not be moued with such vnspeakable profits , is well worthy to want , when others abound in plenty of good things . chap. 17. ornaments . me thinks hitherto we haue but a bare orchard for fruit , and but halfe good , so long as it wants those comely ornaments , that should giue beauty to all our labours , and make much for the honest delight of the owner and his friends . for it is not to be doubted : but as god hath giuen man things profitable , so hath he allowed him honest comfort , delight , and recreation in all the workes of his hands . nay , all his labours vnder the sunne without this are troubles , and vexation of mind : for what is g●eedy gaine , without delight , but moyling , and turmoylidg in sl●u●ry ? but comfortable delight , with content , is the good of euery thing , and the patterne of heauen . a morsell of bread with comfort , is better by much then a fat ox● with vnquietnesse . and who can deny , but the principall end of an orchard , is the honest delight of one wearied with the works of his lawfull calling ? the very workes of , and in an orchard and garden , are better then the ease and rest of and from other labours . when god had made man after his owne image , in a perfect state , and would haue him to represent himselfe in authority , tranquillity , and pleasure vpon the earth , he placed him in paradise . what was paradise ? but a garden and orchard of trees and hearbs , full of pleasure ? and nothing there but delights . the gods of the earth , resembling the great god of heauen in authority , maiestie , and abundance of all things , wherein is their most delight ? and whither doe they withdraw themselues from the troublesome affaires of their estate , being tyred with the hearing and iudging of litigious controuersies ? choked ( as it were ) with the close ayres of their sumptuous buildings , their stomacks cloyed with variety of banquets , their cares filled and ouerburthened with tedious discoursings ? whither ? but into their or●hards ? made and prepared , dressed and destinated for that purpose , to renue and refresh their sences , and to call home their ouer-wearied spirits . nay , it is ( no doubt ) a comfort to them , to set open their cazements into a most delicate garden and orchard , whereby they may not onely see that , wherein they are so much delighted , but also to giue fresh , sweet , and pleasant ayre to their galleries and chambers . and looke , what these men do by reason of their greatnes and ability , prouoked with delight , the same doubtlesse would euery of vs doe , if power were answerable to our desires , whereby we shew manifestly , that of all other delights on earth , they that are taken by orchards , are most excellent , and most agreeing with nature . for whereas euery other pleasure commonly filles some one of our sences , and that onely , with delight , this makes all our sences swimme in pleasure , and that w●th infinite variety , ioyned with no less● commodity . that famous philosopher , and matchlesse orator , m. t. c. prescribeth nothing more fit , to take away the tediousnesse and heauy load of three or foure score yeeres , then the pleasure of an orchard . what can your eye desire to see , your eares to hear , your mouth to tast , or your nose to smell , that is not to be had in an orchard , with abundance and variety ? what more delightsome then an infinite variety of sweet smelling flowers ? decking with sundry colours , the greene mantle of the earth , the vniuersall mother of vs all , so by them bespotted , so dyed , that all the world cannot sample them , and wherein it is more fit to admire the dyer , then imitate his workemanship . colouring not onely the earth , but decking the ayre , and sweetning euery breath and spirit . the rose red , damaske , veluet , and double double prouince rose , the sweet muske rose double and single , the double and single white rose . the faire and sweet senting woodbinde , double and single , and double double . purple cowslips , and double cowsl●ps , and double double cowslips . primerose double and single . the violet nothing behinde the best , for smelling sweetly . a thousand more will prouoke your content . and all these , by the skill of your gardner , so comely , and orderly placed in your borders and squares , and ●o intermingled , that none looking thereon , cannot but wonder , to see , what nature corrected by art can doe . when you behold in diuers corners of your orchard mounts of stone , or wood curiously wrought within and without , or of earth couered with fruit-trees : kentish cherry , damsons , plummes , &c. with staires of precious workmanship . and in some corner ( or moe ) a true dyall or clocke , and some anticke-workes , and especially siluer-sounding musique , mixt instruments and voices , gracing all the rest : how will you be rapt with delight ? large walkes , broad and long , close and open , like the tempe groues in thessalie , raised with grauell and sand , hauing seats and bankes of cammomile , all this delights the minde , and brings health to the body . view now with delight the workes of your owne hands , your fruit-trees of all sorts , loaden with sweet blossomes , and fruit of all tasts , operations , and colours : your trees standing in comely order which way soeuer you looke . your borders on euery side hanging and drooping with feberries , raspberries , barberries , currens , and the rootes of your trees powdred with strawberries , red , white , and greene , what a pleasure is this ? your gardner can frame your lesser wood to the shape of men armed in the field , ready to giue battell : or swift running greyhounds : or of well sented and true running hounds , to chase the deere , or hunt the hare . this kind of hunting shall not waste your corne , nor much your coyne . mazes well framed a mans height , may perhaps make your friend wander in gathering of berries , till he cannot recouer himselfe without your helpe . to haue occasion to exercise within your orchard : it shall be a pleasure to haue a bowling alley , or rather ( which is more manly , and more healthfull ) a paire of buts , to stretch your armes . rosemary and sweete eglantine are seemely ornaments about a doore or window , and so is woodbinde . looke chapter 5 , and you shall see the forme of a conduite . if there were two or more , it were not amisse . and in mine opinion , i could highly commend your orchard , if either through it , or hard by it there should runne a pleasant riuer with siluer streames : you might sit in your mount , and angle a peckled trout , or sleightie eele , or some other dainty fish. or moats , whereon you might row with a boate , and fish with nettes . store of bees in a dry and warme bee-house , comely made of fir-boords , to sing , and sit , and feede vpon your flowers and sprouts , make a pleasant noyse and sight . for cleanely and innocent bees , of all other things , lone and become , and thriue in an orchard . if they thriue ( as they must needes , if your gardiner bee skilfull , and loue them : for they loue their friends , and hate none but their enemies ) they will , besides the pleasure , yeeld great profit , to p●y him his wages yea , the increase of twenty stockes of stooles , with other fees● will keepe your orchard . you need not doubt their stings , for they h●rt not whom they know , and they know their keeper and acquaintance . if you like not to come amongst them , you need not d●ubt them : for but neere the●r store , and in their owne defence , they will not fight , and in that case onely ( and who can blame them ? ) they are m●nly , and figh● desperately . some ( as that honorable lady at hacknes , whose name doth much● grace mine orchard ) vse to make seates for them in the stone wall of their orchard , or garden , which is good , but wood is better . a vine ouer-shadowing a seate , ●●is very comely , though her grapes with vs ripe slowly . one chiefe grace that adornes an orchard , i cannot let slip : a brood of nightingales , who with their seuerall notes and tunes , with a strong delightsome voyce , out of a weake body , will beare you company night and day . she loues ( and liues in ) hots of woods in her hart . she will helpe you to cleanse your trees of caterpillers , and all noysome wormes and flyes . the gentle robin●red-brest will helpe her , and in winter in the coldest stormes will keepe a part . neither wi●l the silly wren be behind in summer , with her distinct whistle ( like a sweete recorder ) to cheere your spirits . the black-bird and th●estle ( for i take it the thrush sings not , but deuoures ) sing loudly in a may morn●●●● and delights the eare much ( and you neede not 〈◊〉 their company , if you haue ripe cherries or berries , and would ●s gladly as the rest do you pleasure : ) but i had rather want their company than my fruit . what shall i say ? a thousand of pleasant delightes are attendant in an orchard : and sooner shall i be weary , then i can recken the least part of that pl●asure , which one that hath and loues an orchard , may find therein . what is there of all these few that i haue reckoned , which doth not please the eye , the eare , the smell , and taste ? and by these sences as organes , pipes , and windowes , these delights are carried to refresh the gentle , generous , and noble mind . to conclude , what ioy may you haue , that you liuing to such an age , shall see the blessings of god on your labours while you liue , and leaue behind you to heires or successors ( for god will make heires ) such a worke , that many ages after your death , shall record your loue to their countrey ? and the rather , when you consider ( chap. 14. ) to what length of time your worke is like to last . finis . the covntry hovse-vvifes garden . containing rules for hearbs and seedes of common vse , with their times and seasons , when to set and sow them . together , with the husbandry of bees , published with secrets very necessary for euery house-wife . as also diuerse new knots for gardens . the contents see at large in the last page . genes . 2.29 . i haue giuen vnto you euery herbe , and euery tree , that shall be to you for meate . london , printed by nicholas okes for iohn harison , at the golden vnicorne in pater-noster-row . 1631. the covntry hovs vvifes garden . chap. 1. the soyle . the soyle of an orchard and garden , differ onely in these three points : first , the gardens soyle would be somewhat dryer , because hearbes being more tender then trees , can neither abide moisture nor drought , in such excessiue measure , as trees ; and therefore hauing a dryer soyle , the remedy is easie against drought , if need be : water soundly , which may be done with small labour , the compasse of a garden being nothing so great , as of an orchard , and this is the cause ( if they know it ) that gardners raise their squares : but if moysture trouble you , i see no remedy without a generall danger , except in hops , which delight much in a low and sappy earth . secondly , the soyle of a garden would be plaine and leuell , at least euery square ( for we purpose the square to be the fittest forme ) the reason : the earth of a garden wanting such helpes , as should stay the water , which an orchard hath , and the rootes of hearbes being short , and not able to fetch their liquor from the bottome , are more annoyed by drought , and the soyle being mellow and loose , is soone either washt away , or sends out his heart by too much drenching and washing . thirdly , if a garden soyle be not cleere of weedes , and namely , of grasse , the hearbes shall neuer thriue : for how should good hearbes prosper , when euill weeds waxe so fast : considering good hearbes are tender in respect of euill weedes : these being strengthened by nature , and the other by art ? gardens haue small place in comparison , and therefore may be more easily be fallowed , at the least one halfe yeare before , and the better dressed after it is framed . and you shall finde that cleane keeping doth not onely auoide danger of gathering weedes , but also is a speciall ornament , and leaues more plentifull sap for your tender hearbes . chap. 2. of the sites . i cannot see in any sort , how the site of the one should not be good , and fit for the other : the ends of both being one , good , wholesome , and much fruit ioyned with delight , vnlesse trees be more able to abide the nipping frostes than tender hearbes : but i am sure , the flowers of trees are as soo● perished with cold , as any hearbe except pumpions , and melons . chap. 3. of the forme . let that which is sayd in the orchards forme , suffice for a garden in generall : but for speciall formes in squares , they are as many , as there are diuices in gardners braines . neither is the wit and art of a skilfull gardner in this poynt not to be commended , that can worke more variety for breeding of more delightsome choyce , and of all those things , where the owner is able and desirous to be satisfied . the number of formes , mazes and knots is so great , and men are so diuersly delighted , that i leaue euery house-wife to her selfe , especially seeing to set downe many , had bene but to fill much paper ; yet lest i depriue her of all delight and direction , let her view these few , choyse , new formes , and note this generally , that all plots are square , and all are bordered about with priuit , raisins , fea-berries , roses , thorne , rosemary , bee-flowers , isop , sage , or such like . the ground plot for knots . cinkfoyle . flower-●e●uce . the trefoyle . the ●ret . lozenge●● . crosse-bow . diamond . ouall . maze . chap. 4. of the quantity . a garden requireth not so large a scope of ground as an orchard , both in regard of the much weeding , dressing and remouing , and also the paines in a garden is not so well repaied home , as in an orchard . it is to be graunted , that the kitchin garden doth yeeld rich gaines by berries , roots , cabbages , &c. yet these are no way comparable to the fruits of a rich orchard : but notwithstanding i am of opinion , that it were better for england , that we had more orchards and gardens , and more large . and therefore we leaue the quantity to euery mans ability and will. chap. 5. of fence . seeing we allow gardens in orchard plots , and the benefit of a garden is much , they both require a strong and shrowding fence . therefore leauing this , let vs come to the hearbs themselues , which must be the fruit of all these labours . chap. 6. of two gardens . hearbes are of two sorts , and therefore it is meete ( they requiring diuers manners of husbandry ) that we haue two gardens : a garden for flowers , and a kitchen garden : or a summer garden : not that we meane so perfect a distinction , that the garden for flowers should or can be without hearbes good for the kitchen , or the kitchen garde● should want flowers , nor on the contrary : but for the most part they would be seuered : first , because your garden flowers shall suffer some disgrace , if among them you intermingle o●ions , parsnips , &c. secondly , your garden that is durable , must be of one forme : but that , which is for your kitchens vse , must yeeld daily rootes , or other hearbes , and suffer deformity . thirdly , the hearbs of both will not be both alike ready , at one time , either for gathering , or remouing . first therefore of the summer garden . these hearbs and flowers are comely and durable for squ●●es and knots , and all to be set at michael-tide , or somewhat before , that they may be setled in , and taken with the ground● before winter , though they may be set , especially sowne in the spring . roses of all sorts ( spoken of in the orchard ) must be ● be●t . some vie to ●et sl●ps and twine them , which sometimes , but seldome thriue all . rosemary , lauender , bee flowers , isop , sage , time , cowslips , pyony , d●●ies , cloue gilnflowers , pinkes , sothernwood , l●●lies , of all which hereafter . of the kitchen garden . though your garden for flowers doth in a sort peculiarly challenge to it se●fe a profit , and exquisite forme to the eyes , yet you may not altogether neglect this , where your hearbes for the pot do growe . and therefore , some here make comely borders with the hearbes aforesayd . the ra●her because aboundance of roses and lauender yeeld much profit , and comfort to the sences : rose-water and lauender , the one cordiall ( as also the violets , burrage , and buglas ) the other reuiuing the spirits by the sence of smelling : both most ●urable for smell , both in flowers and water : you need not here ●aise your beds , as in the other garden , because summer towards , will not let too much wet annoy you . and these hearbes require more moysture : yet must you haue your beds diuided , that you may goe betwixt to weede , and somewhat forme would be expected : to which it auaileth , that you place your herbes of biggest growth , by walles , or in borders , as fenell , &c. and the lowest in the middest , as saffron , strawberries , onions , &c. chap. 7. diuision of hearbs . garden hearbs are innumerable , yet these are common and sufficient for our country house-wifes . hearbs of greatest growth . fenell , anglica , tansie , hollihock , louage , elly campane , french mallows , lillies , french poppy , endiue , succory and clary . herbes of middle growth . burrage , buglas , pa●sley , sweete sicilly , floure-de-luce , stocke gil●flowers , wall-flowers , anniseedes , coriander , feather fewell , marigolds , oculus christi , langdibeefe , alexanders , carduus benedictus . hearbes of smallest growth . pansy , or har●s-ease , coast margeram , sauery , strawberries , saffron , lycoras , daff●downdillies , leekes , chiues , chibals , skerots , onions , batchellors buttons , d●sies , peniroyall . hitherto i haue onely reckoned vp , and put in this ranke , some hearbs . their husbandry follow each in an alphabeticall order , the better to be found . chap. 8. husbandry of herbes . alexanders are to be renewed as angelica . it is a timely pot-hearbe . anglica is renued with his seede , whereof he beareth plenty the second yeare , and so dieth . you may remoue the rootes the first yeare . the leaues distilled , yeeld water soueraigne to expell paine from the stomacke . the roote dried taken in the fall , stoppeth the poares against infections . annyseedes make their growth , and beareth seeds the first yeere , and dieth as coriander : it is good for opening the pipes , and it is vsed in comfits . art●choakes are renewed by diuiding the rootes into sets , in march , euery third or fourth yeare . they require a seuerall vsage , and therefore a seuerall whole plot by themselues , especially considering they are plentifull of fruite much desired . burrage and buglas , two cordials , renue themselues by seed yearely , which is hard to be gathered : they are exceeding good pot-hearbes , good for bees , and most comfortable for the heart and stomacke , as quinces and wardens . camomile , set rootes in bankes and walkes . it is sweete smelling , qualifying head-●ch . cabbages require great roome , they seed the second yeare : sow them in february , remoue them when the plants are an handfull long , set deepe and wet . looke well in drought for the white caterpillers worme , the spaunes vnder the leafe closely : for euery liuing creature doth seeke foode and quiet shelter , and growing quicke , they draw to , and eate the heart : you may finde them in a rainy deawy morning . it is a good pothearbe , and of this hearbe called cole , our countrie house-wiues giue their pottage their name , and call them caell . carduus benedictus , or blessed thistle , seeds and dyes the first yeere , the excellent vertue thereof i referre to herbals , for we are gardiners , not physitians . carrets are sowne late in aprill or may , as turneps , else they seede the first yeere , and then their roots are naught : the second yeere they dye , thei● roots grow great , and require large roome . chibals or chiues haue their roots parted , as garlick , lillies , &c. and so are they set euery third or fourth yeere : a good pot-hearb opening , but euill for the eies . clarie is sowne , it seeds the second yeere , and dyes . it is somewhat harsh in taste , a little in pottage is good , it strengtheneth the reines . coast , roo●es parted make sets in march : it beares the second yeere : it is vsed in a e in may. cor●ander is for vsage and vses , much like anniseeds . daffadownd●llies haue their roots parted , and set once in three or foure yeere , or ●onger time . the● flower timely , and after midsammer , are scarcely se●ne . they are mo●e for ornament , then for vse , so are dasies . da●sie-rootes parted and set , as flowre-deluce and camomile , when you see them grow too th●cke or decay . they be good to keepe vp , and strengthen the edges of your borders , as pinkes , they be red , white , mixt . ellycampane root is long lasting , as is the lou●ge , it se●ds yeerely , you may diuide the root , and set the roote , taken in winter it is good ( being dryed , powdered and dru●ke to kill i●ches . endiue and suc●ory are much like in nature , shape , and vse , they renu● themselues by seed , a● fennell , and other hearbs . you may remoue them before they put forth shankes , a good pot-hearbe . fennell is renued , either by the seeds ( which it beareth the second yeere , and so yeerely in great abundance ) sowne in the fall or spring , or by diuiding one root into many sets , as a●tichoke , it is long of growth and life . you may remoue the roote vnshankt . it is exceeding good for the eyes , distilled , or any otherwise taken : it is vsed in dressing hiues for swarmes , a very good pot-hearbe , or for sallets . fetherfewle shakes seed . good against a shaking feuer , taken in a posset drinke fasting . flower-deluce , long lasting . diuide his roots , and set : the roots dryed haue a sweet smell . garlicke may be set an handfull distance , two inches deepe , in the edge of your beds . part the heads into seuerall cloues , and euery cloue set in the latter end of february , will increase to a great head before september : good for opening , euill for eyes : when the blade is long , fast two & two together , the heads will be bigger . hollyhocke riseth high , seedeth and dyeth : the chiefe vse i know is ornament . isop is reasonable long lasting : young roots are good set , slips better . a good pot-hearbe . iuly-flowers , commonly called gilly-flowers , or cloue-iuly-flowers ( i call them so , because they flowre in iuly ) they haue the name of cloues , of their sent . i may well call them the king of flowers ( except the rose ) and the best sort of them are called queene-iuly flowers . i haue of them ●ine or ten seuerall colours , and diuers of them as big as roses : of all flowers ( saue the damaske rose ) they are the most pleasant to sight and smell : they last not past three or foure yeeres vnremoued . take the sl●ps ( without shanks ) aud set any time , saue in extreme frost , but especially at michael tide . their vse is much in ornament , and conforting the spirits , by the sence of smelling . iuly flowers of the wall , or wall iuly-flowers ● wall-flowers , o● bee-flowers , or winter iuly-flowers , because growing in the walles , euen in winter , and good for bees , will grow euen in stone walls , they will seeme dead in summer , and yet reuiue in winter . they yeeld seed plentifully , which you may sow at any time , or in any broken earth , especially on the top of a mud-wall , but moist , you may set the root before it be brancht , euery slip that is not flowr'd will take root , or crop him in summer , and he will flower in winter : but his winter-seed is vntimely . this and palmes are exceeding good , and timely for bees . leekes yeeld seed the second yeere , vnremoued and die , vnlesse you remoue them , vsuall to eate with salt and bread , as onyons alwaies greene , good pot-hearb , euill for the eyes . lauendar spike would be remoued within 7 yeeres , or eight at the most . slips twined as isop and sage , would take best at michael-tide . this flower is good for bees , most comfortable for smelling , except roses : and kept dry , is as strong after a yeere , and when it is gathered . the water of this is comfortable . white lauendar would be remoued sooner . lettice yeelds seed the first yeere , and dyes : sow betime , and if you would haue them cabbage for sallets , remoue them as you doe cabbage . they are vsuall in sallets , and the pot . lillies white and red , remoued once in three or foure yeeres their roots yeeld many sets , like the garlicke , michael-tide is the best : they grow high , after they get roote : these roots are good to breake a byle , as are mallowes and sorrell . mallowes , french or gagged , the first or second yeere , seed plentifully : sow in march , or before , they are good for the house-wifes pot , or to breake a bunch . marigolds most commonly come of seed , you may remoue the plants , when they be two inches long . the double marigold , being as bigge as a little rose , is good for shew . they are a good pot-hearbe . oculus christi , or christs eye , seeds and dyes the first or second yeere : you may remoue the yong plants , but seed is better : one of these seeds put into the eye , within three or foure houres will gather a thicke skinne , cleere the eye , and bolt it selfe forth without hurt to the eye . a good pot-hea●be . onyons are sowne in february , they are gathered at michael-tide , and all the summer long , for sallets ; as also young parsly , sage , chibals , lettice , sweet sicilly , fennell , &c. good alone , or with meate as mutton , &c. for sauce , especially for the pot . parsly sow the first yeere , and vse the next yeere : it seedes plentifully , an hearbe of much vse , as sweet sicily is . the seed and roots are good against the stone . parsneps require and whole plot , they be plentifull and common : sow them in february , the kings ( that is in the middle ) seed broadest and reddest . parsneps are sustenance for a strong stomacke , not good for euill eies : when they couer the earth in a drought , to tread the tops , make the rootes bigger . peny-royall , or pudding grasse , creepes along the ground , like ground iuie . it lasts long , like daisies , because it puts and spreads dayly new roots . diuide , and remoue the roots , it hath a pleasant taste and smell , good for the pot , or hackt meate , or haggas pudding . pumpions : set seedes with your finger , a finger deepe , l●te in march , and so soone as they appeare , euery night if you doubt frost , couer them , and water them continually out of a water-pot : they be very tender , their fruit is great and waterish . french poppy beareth a faire flower , and the seed will make you sleepe . raddish is sauce for cloyed stomacks , as cap●rs , oliues , and cucumbers , cast the seeds all summer long here and there , and you shall haue them alwaies young and fresh . rosemary , the grace of hearbs here in england , in other countries common . to set sl●ps immediately after lammas , is the surest way . seede sowne may proue well , so they be ●owne in hot weather , somewhat moist , and good earth : for the hearbe , though great , is nesh and tender ( as i take it ) brought from hot countries to vs in the cold north : set thinne . it becomes a window well . the vse is much in meates , more in physicke , most for bees . rue , or hearbe of grace , continually greene , the sl●ps are set . it lasts long as rosemary , sothernwood , &c. too strong for mine housewifes pot , vnlesse she will brue ale therewith , against the plague : let him not seede , if you will haue him last . saffron euery third yeere his roots would be remoued at m●dsummer : for when all other hearbs grow most , it dyeth . it floweth at michael-tide , and groweth all winter : keepe his flowers from birds in the morning , & gather the yellow ( or they shape much like lillies ) dry , and after dry them : they be precious , expelling diseases from the heart and stomacke . sauery seeds and dyes the first yeere , good for my housewifes pot and pye . sage : set slips in may , and they grow aye : let it not seed it will last the longer . the vse is much and common . the monkish prouerbe is tritum : cur moritur homo , cum saluia crescit in horto ? skerots , the roots are set when they be parted , as pyonie , and flower-deluce at michael-tide : the roote is but small and very sweet . i know none other speciall vse but the table . sweet sicily , long lasting , pleasantly tasting , either the seed sowne , or the root parted , and remoued , makes increase , it is of like vse with parsly . strawberries long lasting , set roots at michael-tide or the spring , they be red , white and greene , and ripe , when they be great and soft , some by midsummer with vs. the vse is : they will coole my housewife well , if they be put in wine or creame with sugar . time , both seeds , slips and rootes are good . if it seed not , it will last three or foure yeeres or more , it smelleth comfortably . it hath much vse : namely , in all cold meats , it is good for bees . turnep is sowne . in the second yeere they beare plenty of seed : they require the same time of sowing that carrets doe : they are sicke of the same disease that cabbages be . the roote increaseth much , it is most wholesome , if it be sowne in a good and well tempered earth : soueraigne for eyes and bees . i reckon these hearbs onely , because i teach my countrey hou●ewife , not skilfull artists , and it should be an endlesse labour , and would make the matter tedious to reckon vp , land● beefe , stocke-iuly-flowers , char●all , valerian , go-to bed at no●ne , piony , liconas , tansie , garden mints , germander , centaurie , and a thousand such physicke hearbs . let her first grow cunning in this , and then she may enlarge her garden as her skill and ability increaseth . and to helpe her the more , i haue set her downe these obseruations . chap. 9. generall rules in gardening . in the south parts gardening may be more timely , and more safely done , then with vs in yorkeshire , because our ayre is not so fauourable , nor our ground so good . 2 secondly most seeds shakt , by turning the good earth , are renued , their mother the earth keeping them in her bowels , till the sunne their father can reach them with his heat . 3 in setting hearbs , leaue no top more then an hand●ull aboue the ground , nor more then a foot vnder the earth . 4 twine the roots of those slips you set , if they will abide it . gilly-flowers are too tender . 5 set moist , and sowe dry . 6 set slips without shankes any time , except at midsummer , and in frosts . 7 seeding spoiles the most roots , as drawing the heart and sap from the root . 8 gather for the pot and medicines , hearbs tender and greene , the sap being in the top , but in winter the root is best . 9 all the hearbs in the garden for flowers , would once in seuen yeeres be renued , or soundly watered with puddle water , except rosemary . 10 in all your gardens and orchards , bankes and seates of camomile , peny-royall , daisies and violets , are seemely and comfortable . 11 these require whose plots : artichokes , cabbages , turneps , parsneps , onyons , car●e●s , and ( if you will ) saffron and scerrits . 12 gather all your seeds , dead , ripe● and dry . 13 lay no dung to the roots of your hearbs , as vsually they doe : for dung not melted is too hot , euen for trees . 14 thin setting and sewing ( so the rootes stand not past a foot distance ) is profitable , for the hearbs will like the better . greater hearbs would haue more distance . 15 set and sow hearbs in their time of growth ( except at midsummer , for then they are too too tender ) but trees in their time of rest . 16 a good housewife may , and will gather store of hearbs for the pot , about lammas , and dry them , and pow●d them , and in winter they will make good seruice . thus haue i lined out a● garden to our countrey housewiues , and giuen them rules for common hearbs . if any of them ( as sometimes they are ) be knotty , i referre them to chap. 3. the skill and pain●s of weeding the garden with weeding kniues of fingers , i refer to themselues , and their maides , willing them to take the opportunitie after a showre of raine : withall i aduise the mistresse , either be present her selfe , or to teach her maides to know hearbs from weeds . chap. 10. the husbandry of bees . there remaineth one necessary thing to be prescribed , which in mine opinion makes as much for ornament as either flowers , or forme , or cleanlinesse , and i am sure as commodious as any of , or all the rest : which is bees , well ordered . and i will not account her any of my good house-wiues , that wanteth either bees or skilfulnesse about them . and though i knowe some haue written well and truely , and others more plentifully vpon this theame : yet somewhat haue i learned by experience ( being a bee-maister my selfe ) which hitherto i cannot finde put into writing , for which i thinke our house-wiues will count themselues beholding vnto me . the first thing that a gardiner about bees must be carefull for , is an house not stakes and stones abroad , sub●dio : for stakes rot and reele , raine and weather eate your hiues , and couers , and cold most of all is hurtfull for your bees . therefore you must haue an house made along , a sure dry wall in your garden , neere , or in your orchard : for bees loueflowers and wood with their hearts . let the floores be without holes or clifts , least in casting time , the beees lye out , and loyter . and though your hiues stand within an hand breadth the one of another : yet will bees know their home . in this frame may your bees stand drye and warme , especially if you make doores like doores of windows to shroud them in winter , as in an house : prouided you leaue the hiues mouths open . i my self haue deuised such an house , and i find that it keeps and strengthens my bees much , and my hiues will last sixe to one . m. markham commends hiues of wood i discommend them not : but straw hiues are in vse with vs , and i thinke with all the world , which i commend for nimblenesse , closenesse , warmnesse and drinesse . bees loue no externall motions of dawbing or such like . sometimes occasion shall be offered to lift and turne hiues , as shall appeare hereafter . one light entire hiue of straw in that case is better , then one that is dawbed , weighty and cumbersome . i wish euery hiue , for a keeping swarme , to hold three pecks at least in measure . for too little hiues procure bees , in casting time , either to lye out , and loyter , or else to cast before they be ripe and strong , and so make weake swarmes and vntimely : whereas if they haue roome sufficient , they ripen timely , and casting seasonably , are strong , and fit for labour presently . neither would the hiue be too too great , for then they loyter , and waste meate and time . your bees delight in wood , for feeding , especially for casting : therefore want not an orchard . a mayes swarme is worth a maies foale : if they want wood , they be in danger of flying away . any time before midsummer is good , for casting and timely before iuly is not euill . i much like m markhams opinion for hiuing a swarme in combes of a dead or forsaken hiue , so they be fresh & cleanly . to thinke that a swarme of your owne , or others , will of it selfe come into such an hiue , is a meere conceit experto crede roberto . his smearing with honey , is to no purpose , for the other bees will eate it vp . if your swarme knit in the top of a tree , as they will , if the winde beate them not to fall downe : let the stoole or ladder described in the orchard , doe you seruice . the lesse your spelkes are , the lesse is the waste of your honey , and the more easily will they draw , when you take your bees . foure spelkes athwart , and one top spelke are sufficient . the bees will fasten their combes to the hiue . a little honey is good : but if you want , fennell will serue to rub your hiue withall . the hiue being drest and ready spelkt , rubd and the hole made for their passage ( i vse no hole in the hiue , but a piece of wood hoal'd to saue the hiue & keep out mice ) shake in your bees , or the most of them ( for all commonly you cannot get ) the remainder will follow . many vse smoke , nettles , &c. which i vtterly dislike : for bees loue not to be molested . ringing in the time of casting is a meere fancie , v●olent handling of them is simply euill , because bees of all other creatures , loue cleanlinesse and peace . therefore handle them leasurely & quietly , and their k●eper whom they know , may do with them , what he will , without hurt : being hiued at night , bring them to their seat . set your hiues all of one yeere together . signes of breeding , if they be strong . 1 they will auoid dead young bees and droanes . 2 they will sweat in the morning , till it runne from them ; alwaies when they be strong . signes of casting . 1 they will fly droanes , by reason of heat . 2 the young swarme will once or twice in some faire season , come forth mustering , as though they would cast , to proue themselues , and goe in againe . 3 the night before they cast , if you lay your eate to the hiues mouth , yo shall heare two or three , but especially one aboue the rest , cry , vp , vp , vp ; or , tout , tout , tout , like a trumpet , sounding the alarum to the battell . much descanting there is , of , and about the master-bee , and their degrees , order and gouernment : but the truth in this point is rather imagined , then demonstrated there are some coniectures of it , viz. we see in the combs diuers greater houses then the rest , & we heare commonly the night before they cast , sometimes one bee , sometimes two , or more bees , giue a lowd and seueral found from the rest , and sometimes bees of greater bodies then the common sort : but what of all this ? i leane not on coniectures , but loue to set downe that i know to be true , and leaue these things to them that loue to diuine . keepe none weake , for it is hazard , oftentimes with losse : feeding will not helpe them : for being weake , hey cannot come downe to meate , or if they come downe , they dye , because bees weake cannot abide cold . if none of these , yet will the other bees being strong , smell the honey , and come and spoile , and kill them . some helpe is in casting time , to put two weake swarmes together , or as m. markham well saith : let not them cast late , by raising them with wood or stone : but with impes ( say i. ) an impe is three or foure wreathes , wrought as the hiue , the same compasse , to rase the hiue withall : but by experience in tryall , i haue found out a better way by clustering , for late or weake swarmes hitherto not found out of any that i know . that is this : after casting time , if i haue any stocke proud , and hindred from timely casting , with former winters pouerty , or euill weather in casting time , with two handles and crook●s , fitted for the purpose , i turne vp that stocke so pestred with bees , and set it on the crowne , vpon which so turned with the mouth vpward , i place another empty hiue well dr●st , and spelkt , into which without any labour , the swarme that would not depart , and cast , will presently ascend , because the old bees haue this qualitie ( as all other breeding creatures haue ) to expell the young , when they haue brought them vp . they gather not till iuly ; for then they be discharged of their young , or else they are become now strong to labour , and now sap in flowers is strong and proud : by reason of time , and force of sunne . and now also in the north ( and not before ) the hearbs of greatest vigour put their flowers ; as beanes , fennell , burrage , rape● &c. the most sensible weather for them , is heat and drought , because the nesh bee can neither abide cold or wet : and showres ( which they well fore-see ) doe interrupt their labours , vnlesse they fall on the night , and so they further them . after casting time , you shall benefit your stockes much , if you helpe them to kill their droanes , which by all probability and iudgement , are an idle kind of bees , and wastefull . some say they breed and haue seene young droanes in taking their honey , which i know is true . but i am of opinion , that there are also bees which haue lost their stings , and so being , as it were gelded , become idle and great . there is great vse of them : deus , et natura nihil fecit frustra . they hate the bees , and cause them cast the sooner . they neuer come foor●h but when they be ouer heated . they neuer come home loaden . after casting time , and when the bees want meate , you shall see the labouring bees fasten on them , two , three , or foure at once , as if they were theeues to be led to the gallowes , and killing them , they cast out , and draw them farre from home , as hatefull enemies . our housewife , if she be the keeper of her own● bees ( as she had need to be ) may with her bare hand in the heate of the day , safel● destroy them in the hiues mouth . some vse towards night , in a hot day , to set before the mouth of the hiue a thin board , with little holes , in at which the lesser bees may enter , but not the droanes , so that you may kill them at your pleasure . snayles spoile them by night like theeues : they come so quietly , and are so fast , that the bees feare them not . looke earely and late , especially in a raine or dewey euening or morning . mice are no lesse hurtfull , and the rather to hiues of straw : and therefore couerings of straw draw them . they will in either at the mouth , or sheere themselues an hole . the remedy is good cats , rats-bane and watching . the cleanly bee hateth the smoake as poison , therefore let your bees stand neerer your garden then your brew-house or kitchen . they say sparrowes and swallowes are enemies to bees , but i see it not . more hiues perish by winters cold , then by all other hurts : for the bee is tender● and nice , and onely liues in warme weather , and dyes in cold : and therefore let my housewife be perswaded , that a warme dry house before described , is the chiefest helpe she can make her bees against this , and many more mischiefes . many vse against cold in winter , to stop vp their hiue close , and some set them in houses , perswading themselues , that thereby they relieue their bees . first , tossing and mouing is hurtfull . secondly , in houses , going , knocking , and shaking is noysome . thirdly , too much heate in an house is vnnaturall for them : but lastly , and especially , bees cannot abide to be stopt close vp . for at euery warme season of the sunne they reuiue , and liuing eate , and eating must needs purge abroad , ( in her house ) the cleanly bee will not purge her selfe . iudge you what it is for any liuing creature , not to disburden nature . being shut vp in calme seasons , lay your eare to the hiue , and you shall heare them yarme and yell , as so many hungred prisoners . therefore impound not your bees , so profitable and free a creature . let none stand aboue three yeares , else the combes will be blacke and knotty , your honey will be thinne and vncleanly : and if any cast after three yeares , it is such as haue swarmes , and old bees kept all together , which is great losse . smoaking with ragges , rozen , or brimstone , many vse : some vse drowning in a tub of cleane water , and the water well brewde , will be good botchet . drawe out your spelkes immediatly with a paire of pinchars , lest the wood grow soft and swell , and so will not be drawne , then must you cut your hiue . let no fire come neere your hony , for fire softeneth the waxe and drosse , and makes them runne with the hony . fire softneth , weakeneth , and hindereth hony for purging . breake your combes small ( when the dead empty combes are parted from the loaden combes into a siue , borne ouer a great bowle , or vessel● , with two staues , and so let it runne two or three dayes . the sooner you tunne it vp , the better will it purge . runne your swarme honey by it selfe , and that shall be your best . the elder your hiues are , the worse is your honey . vsuall vessels are of clay , but after wood be satiated with honey ( for it will leake at first : for honey is maruellously searching , the thicke , and therefore vertuous . ) i vse it rather because it will not breake so soone , with fals , frosts , or otherwise , and greater vessels of clay will hardly last . when you vse your honey , with a spoone take off the skin which it hath put vp . and it is worth the regard , that bees thus vsed , if you haue but forty stockes , shall yeeld you more commodity cleerely than forty acres of ground . and thus much may suffice , to make good housewiues loue and haue good gardens and bees . deo laus . finis . the contents of the countrey house-wifes garden . chap. 1. the soyle . pag. 77 chap. 2. site . p. 78 chap. 3. forme . p. 79 chap. 4. quantity . p. 85 chap. 5. fences . p. ibid. chap. 6 two gardens . 86 chap. 7. diuision of herbs . p. 88 chap. 8. the husbandry of herbes . p. ibid. chap. 9. generall rules . p. 96 chap. 10. the husbandry of bees . p. 98 bee-house . p. 98. hiues . p. 100. hiuing of bees . p. ibid. spelkes . p. 101. catching . p. 102. clustering . p. 103. droanes . p. 104. annoyances . p. 105. taking of bees . p. 106. straining honey . p. ibid. vessels . p. ibid. a most profitable newe treatise , from approued experience of the art of propagating plants ; by simon harward . chap. 1. the art of propagating plants . there are foure sorts of planting , or propagating , as in laying of shootes or little branches , whiles they are yet tender in some pit made at their foote , as shall be sayd hereafter , or vpon a little ladder or basket of earth , tyed to the bottome of the branch , or in boaring a willow thorow , and putting the branch of the tree into the hole , as shall be fully declared in the chapter of grafting . there are likewise seasons to propagate in ; but the best is in the spring , and march , when the trees are in the flower , and doe begin to grow lusty . the young planted siens or litt●e grafts must be propagated in the beginning of winter , a foot deepe in the earth , and good manure mingled amongst the earth , which you shall cast forth of the pit , wherein you meane to propagate it , to tumble it in vpon it againe . in like manner your superfluous siens , or little plants must be cut close by the earth , when as they grow about some small impe , which we meane to propagate , for they would doe nothing but rot . for to propagate , you must digge the earth round about the tree , that so your rootes may be laid in a manner halfe bate . afterward draw into length the pit on that side where you meane to propagate , and according as you perceiue that the roots will be best able to yeeld , and be gouerned in the same pit , to vse them , and that with all gentlenesse , and stop close your siens , in such sort , as that the wreath which is in the place where it is grafted , may be a little lower then the s●ens of the new wood , growing out of the earth , euen so high as it possible may be . if the trees that you would propagate be somewhat thicke , and thereby the harder to ply , and somewhat stiffe to lay in the pit : then you may wet the stocke almost to the midst , betwixt the roote and the wreathing place , and so with gentle handling of it , bow downe into the pit the wood which the grafts haue put forth , and that in as round a compasse as you can , keeping you from breaking of it : afterward lay ouer the cut , with gummed waxe , or with grauell and sand . chap. 2. grafting in the barke . grafting in the barke , is vsed from mid august , to the beginning of winter , and also when the westerne winde beginneth to blow , being from the 7. of february , vnto 11. of iune . but there must care be had , not to graffe in the barke in any rainy season , because it would wash away the matter of ioyning the one and the other together , and so hinder it . grafting in the budde , is vsed in the summer time , from the end of may , vntill august , as bring the time when the trees are strong and lusty , and full of sap and leaues . to wit , in a hot countrey , from the midst of iune , vnto the midst of iuly : but cold countries , to the midst of august , after some small showies of raine . if the summer be so exceeding dry , as that some trees doe withhold their sap , you must waite the time till it doe returne . graft from the full of the moone , vntill the end of the old . you may graft in a cleft , without hauing regard to the raine , for the sap will keepe it off . you may graft from mid august , to the beginning of nouember : cowes dung with straw doth mightily preserue the graft . it is better to graft in the euening , then the morning . the furniture and tooles of a grafter , are a basket to lay his grafts in , clay , grauell , sand , or strong earth , to draw ouer the plants clouen : moste , woollen clothes , barkes of wilow to ioyne to the late things and earth before spoken , and to keepe them fast : oziers to tye againe vpon the barke , to keepe them firme and fast : gummed wax , to dresse and couer the ends and tops of the grafts newly cut , that so the raine and cold may not hurt them , neither yet the sap rising from belowe , be constrained to returne againe vnto the shootes . a little sawe or hand sawe , to sawe off the stocke of the plants , a little knife or pen-knife to graffe , and to cut and sharpen the grafts , that so the barke may not pill nor be broken ; which often commeth to passe when the graft is full of sap . you shall cut the graffe so long , as that it may fill the cliffe of the plant , and therewithall it must be left thicker on the barke side , that so it may fill vp both the cliffe and other incisions , as any need is to be made , which must be alwaies well ground , well burnished without all r●●t . two wedges , the one broad for thicke trees , the other narrow for lesse and tender trees , both of them of box , or some other hard and smooth wood , or steele , or of very hard iron , that so they may need lesse labour in making them sharpe . a little hand-bill to set the plants at more liberty , by cutting off superfluous boughs , helu'd of iuory , box , or brazell . chap. 3. grafting in the cleft . the manner of grafting in a cleft , to wit , the stocke being clou'd , is proper not onely to trees , which are as great as a mans legs or armes , but also to greater . it is true that in as much as the trees cannot easily be clouen in their stocke , that therefore it is expedient to make incision in some one of their branches , and not in the maine body , as we see to be practised in great apple trees , and great peare-trees , and as we haue already declared heretofore . to graft in the cleft , you must make choise of a graft that is full of sap and i●yce , but it must not bee , but till from after ianuary vntill march : and you must not thus graft in any tree that is already budded , because a great part of the iuyce and sap would be already mounted vp on high , and risen to the top , and there dispersed and scattered hither and thither , into euery sprigge and twigge , and vse nothing welcome to the graft . you must likewise be resolued not to gather your graft the day you graft in , but ten or twelue dayes before : for otherwise , if you graft it new gathered , it will not be able easily to incorporate it selfe with the body and stocke , where it shall be grafted ; because that some part of it will dry , and by this meanes will be a hinderance in the stocke to the rising vp of the sap , which it should communerate vnto the graft , for the making of it to put forth . and whereas this dried part will fall a crumbling , and breaking thorow his rottennesse , it will cause to remaine a concauity , or hollow place in the stock , which will be an occasion of a like inconuenience to befall the graft . moreouer , the graft being new and tender , might easily be hurt of the bands , which are of necessity to be tyed about the stocke , to keepe the graft firme and fast . and you must further see , that your plant was not of late remoued , but that it haue already fully taken root . when you are minded to graft many grafts into one cleft , you must see that they be cut in the end all alike . see that the grafts be of one length , or not much differing , and it is enough , that they haue three or foure eylets without the wrench when the plant is once sawed , and lopped of all his small siens and shootes round about , as also implyed of all his branches , if it haue many : then you must leaue but two at the most , before you come to the cleauing of it : then put to your little saw , or your knife , or other edged toole that is very sharpe , cleaue it quite thorow the middest , in gentle and soft sort : first , tying the stocke very sure , that so it may not cleaue further then is need : and then put to your wedges into the cleft vntill such time as you haue set in your grafts , and in cleauing of it , hold the knife with the one hand , and the tree with the other , to helpe to keepe it from cleauing too farre . afterwards put in your wedge of boxe or brazill , or bone at the small end , that so you may the better take it out againe , when you haue set in your grafts . if the stocke be clouen , or the barke loosed too much from the wood : then cleaue it downe lower , and set your grafts in , and looke that their incision bee fit , and very iustly answerable to the cleft , and that the two saps , first , of the plant and graft , be right and euen set one against the other , and so handsomely fitted , as that there may not be the least appearance of any cut or cleft . for if they doe not thus ●●mpe one with another , they will neuer take one with another , because they cannot worke their seeming matter , and as it were cartilaguous glue in conuenient sort or manner , to the gluing of their ioynts together . you must likewise beware , not to make your cleft ouerthwart the pitch , but somewhat aside . the barke of your plant being thicker then that of your graft , you must set the graft so much the more outwardly in the cleft , that so the two saps may in any case be ioyned , and set right the one with the other but the rinde of the plant must be somewhat more out , then that of the grafts on the clouen side . to the end that you may not faile of this worke of imping , you must principally take heed , not to ouer-cleue the stockes of your trees . but before you widen the cleft of your wedges , binde , and goe about the stocke with two or three turnes , and that with an ozier , close drawne together , vnderneath the same place , where you would haue your cleft to end , that so your stocke cleaue not too farre , which is a very vsuall cause of the miscarrying of grafts , in asmuch as hereby the cleft standeth so wide and open , as that it cannot be shut , and so not grow together againe ; but in the meane time spendeth it selfe , and breatheth out all his life in that place , which is the cause that the stocke and the graft are both spilt . and this falleth out most often in plum-trees , & branches of trees . you must be careful so to ioyne the rinds of your grafts , and plants , that nothing may continue open , to the end that the wind , moisture of the clay or raine , running vpon the grafted place , do not get in : when the plant cleueth very straight , there is not any danger nor hardnesse in sloping downe the graft . if you leaue it somewhat vneuen , or rough in some places , so that the saps both of the one and of the other may the better grow , and be giued together , when your grafts are once well ioyned to your plants , draw out your wedges very softly , lest you displace them againe , you may leaue there within the cleft some small end of a wedge of greene wood , cutting it very close with the head of the stocke : some cast giue into the cleft , some sugar , and some gummed waxe . if the stocke of the plant whereupon you intend to graft , be not so thicke as your graft , you shall graft it after the fashion of a goates foot , make a cleft in the stocke of the plant , not direct , but byas & that smooth and euen , not rough : then apply and make fast thereto , the graft withall his barke on , and answering to the barke of the plant. this being done , couer the place with the fat earth and ●oste of the woods tyed together with a strong band : sticke a pole of wood by it , to keepe it stedfast . chap. 4. grasting like a scutcheon . in grafting after the manner of a scutcheon , you shall not vary nor differ much from that of the flute or pipe , saue only that the scutcheon-like graft , hauing one eyelet , as the other hath yet the wood of the tree whereupon the scutcheon-like graft is grafted , hath not any knob , or budde , as the wood whereupon the graft is grafted , after the manner of a pipe . in summer when the trees are well replenished with sap , and that their new siens begin to grow somewhat hard , you shall take a shoote at the end of the chiefe branches of some noble and reclaimed tree , whereof you would faine haue some fruit , and not many of his old store or wood , and from thence ruise a good eylet , the tayle and all thereof to make your graft . but when you choose , take the thickest , and grossest , diuide the tayle in the middest , before you doe auy thing else , casting away the leafe ( if it be not a peare plum-tree : for that would haue two or three leaues ) without remouing any more of the said tayle : afterward with the point of a sharpe knife , cut off the barke of the said shoote , the patterne of a shield , of the length of a nayle . in which there is onely one eylet higher then the middest together , with the residue of the tayle which you left behinde : and for the lifting vp of the said graft in scutcheon , after that you haue cut the barke of the shoote round about , without cutting of the wood within , you must take it gently with your thumbe , and in putting it away you must presse vpon the wood from which you pull it , that so you may bring the bud and all away together with the scutcheon : for if you leaue it behinde with the wood , then were the scutcheon nothing worth . you shall finde out if the scutcheon be nothing worth , if looking within when it is pulled away from the wood of the same sute , you finde it to haue a hole within , but more manifestly , if the bud doe stay behind in the wood , which ought to haue beene in the scutcheon . thus your scutcheon being well raised and taken off , hold it a little by the tayle betwixt your lips , without wetting of it , euen vntil you haue cut the barke of the tree where you would graft it , and looke that it be cut without any wounding of the wood within , after the manner of a c●utch , but somewhat longer then the scu●cheon that you haue to set in it , and in no place cutting the wood within ; after you haue made incision , you must open it , and make it gape wide on both sides , but in all manner of gentle handling , and that with little sizers of bone , and separating the wood and the barke a little within , euen so much as your scutcheon is in length and breadth : you must take heed that in d●ing hereof , you do not hart the bark . this done take your scutcheon by the end , and your tayle which you haue left remaining , and put into your incision made in your tree , lifting vp softly your two sides of the incision with your said sizers of bone , and cause the said scutcheon to ioyne , and lye as close as may be , with the wood of the tree , being cut , as aforesaid , in waying a little vpon the end of your rinde : so cut and let the vpper part of your scutcheon lye close vnto the vpper end of your incision , or barke of your said tree : afterward binde your scutcheon about with a band of hempe , as thicke as a pen of a q●ill , more or lesse , according as your tree is small or great , taking the same hempe in the middest , to the end that either part of it may performe a like seruice ; and wreathing and binding of the said scutcheon into the incision of a tree , and it must not be tyed too strait , for that would keepe it from taking the ioyning of the one sap to the other , being hindred thereby , and neither the scutcheon , nor yet the hempe must be moist or wet : and the more iustly to binde them together , begin at the back● side of the tree , right ouer against the middest of the incision , and from thence come forward to ioyne them before , aboue the eylet and tayle of the scutcheon , crossing your band of hempe , so oft as the two ends meet , and from thence returning backe againe , come about and tye it likewise vnderneath the eylets : and thus cast about your band still backward and forward , vntill the whole cleft of the incision be couered aboue and below with the said hempe , the eylet onely excepted , and his tayle which must not be couered at all ; his tayle will fall away one part after another , and that shortly after the ingrafting , if so be the scutcheon will take . leaue your trees and scutcheons thus bound , for the space of one moneth , and the thicker , a great deale longer time . afterward looke them ouer , and if you perceiue them to grow together , vntye them , or at the leastwise cut the hempe behinde them , and leaue them vncouered . cut also your branch two or three fingers aboue that , so the impe may prosper the better : and thus let them remaine till after winter , about the moneth of march , and aprill . if you perceiue that your budde of your scutcheon doe swell and come forward : then cut off the tree three fingers or thereabouts , aboue the scutcheon : for if it be cut off too neere the scutcheon , at such time as it putteth forth his first blossome , it would be a meanes greatly to hinder the flowring of it , and cause also that it should not thriue and prosper so well after that one yeere is past , and that the shoote beginneth to be strong : beginning to put forth the second bud and blossome , you must goe forward to cut off in byas-wise the three fingers in the top of the tree , which you left there , when you cut it in the yeere going before , as hath beene said . when your shoote shall haue put foorth a great deale of length , you must sticke downe there , euen hard ioyned thereunto , little stakes , tying them together very gently and easily ; aud these shall stay your shootes and prop them vp , letting the winde from doing any harme vnto them . thus you may graft white roses in red , and red in white . thus you may graft two or three scutcheons : prouided that they be all of one side : for they will not be set equally together in height because then they would bee all staruelings , ne●ther would they be directly one ouer another ; for the lower would stay the rising vp of the sap of the tree , and so those aboue should consume in penury , and vndergoe the aforesaid inconuenience . you must note , that the scutcheon which is gathered from the sien of a tree whose fruite is sowre , must be cut in square forme , and not in the plaine fashion of a scutcheon . it is ordinary to graffe the sweet quince tree , bastard peach-tree , apricock-tree , iuiube-tree , sowre cherry treee , sweet cherry-tree , and chestnut tree , after this fashion , howbeit they might be grafted in the cleft more easily , and more profitably ; although diuers be of contrary opinion , as thus best : take the grafts of sweet quince tree , and bastard peach-tree , of the fairest wood , and best fed that you can finde , growing vpon the wood of two yeeres old , because the wood is not so firme nor solid as the others : and you shall graffe them vpon small plum-tree stocks , being of the thicknes of ones thumbe ; these you shall cut after the fashion of a goats foot : you shall not goe about to make the cleft of any more sides then one , being about a foot high from the ground ; you must open it with your small wedge : and being thus grafted , it will seeme to you that it is open but of one side ; afterward you shall wrap it vp with a little mosse , putting thereto some gummed wax , or clay , and binde it vp with oziers to keepe it surer , because the stocke is not strong enough it selfe to hold it , and you shall furnish it euery manner of way as others are dealt withall : this is most profitable . the time of grafting . all moneths are good to graft in , ( the moneth of october and nouember onely excepted ) but commonly , graft at that time of the winter , when sap beginneth to arise . in a cold countrey graft later , and in a warme countrey earlier . the best time generall is from the first of february , vntill the first of may. the grafts must alwaies be gathered , in the old of the moone . for grafts choose shootes of a yeere old , or at the furthermost two yeeres old . if you must carry grafts farre , pricke them into a turnep newly gathered , or say earth about the ends . if you set stones of plummes , almonds , nuts , or peaches : first let them lye a little in the sunne , and then steepe them in milke or water , three or foure daye● before you put them into the earth . dry the kernels of pippins , and sow them in the end of nouember . the stone of a plum-tree must be set a foot deepe in nouember , or february . the date-stone must be set the great end downwards , two cubits deepe in the earth , in a place enriched with dung . the peach-stone would be set presently after the fruit is eaten , some quantity of the flesh of the peach remaining about the stone . if you will haue it to be excellent , graft is afterward vpon an almond tree . the little sie●s of cherry-trees , grown thicke with haire , rots , and those also which doe grow vp from the rootes of the great cherry-trees , being remoued , doe grow better and sooner then they which come of stones : but they must be remoued and planted while they are but two or three yeeres old , the branches must be lopped . the contents of the art of propagating plants . the art of propagating plants . page 109. grafting in the barke . p. 111. grafting in the cleft . p. 113. grafters tooles . time of planting & seting . time of grafting . how to cut the stumps in grafting . sprouts and imps : how gathered . grafting like a scutcheon . p. 116. inoculation in the barke . empla●ster-w●se grafting . to pr●cke stick●s to beare the first yeere . to haue cherries or plums without stones . to make quinces great . to set stones of plummes . dates , nut , and peaches . to make fruit smell well . to plant cherry-trees . the hvsband mans frvitefvll orchard . for the true ordering of all sorts of fruits in their due seasons ; and how double increase commeth by care in gathering yeere after yeare : as also the best way of carriage by land or by water : with their preseruation for longest continuance . of all stone fruit , cherries are the first to be gathered : of which , though we reckon foure sorts ; engl●sh , flemish , gascoyne and blacke , yet are they reduced to two , the early , and the ordinary : the earely are those whose grafts came first from france and flanders , and are now ripe with vs in may : the ordinary is our owne naturall cherry , and is not ripe before iune ; they must be carefully kept from birds , either with nets , noise , or other industry . they are not all ripe at once , nor may be gathered at once , therefore with a light ladder , made to stand of it selfe , without hurting the boughes , mount to the tree , and with a gathering hooke , gather those which be full ripe , and put them into your cherry-pot , or kybzey hanging by your side , or vpon any bough you please , and be sure to breake no stalke , but that the cherry hangs by ; and pull them gently , lay them downe tenderly , and handle them as little as you can . for the conueyance or portage of cherries , they are best to be carried in broad baskets like siues , with smooth yeelding bottomes , onely two broad laths going along the bottome : and if you doe trasport them by ship , or boate , let not the siues be fil'd to the top , lest setting one vpon another , you bruise and hurt the cherries : if you carry by horse-backe , then panniers well lined with fearne , and packt full and close is the best and safest way . now for the gathering of all other stone-fruite , as n●rtarines , apricockes , peaches , peare-plumbes , damsons , bullas , and such like , although in their seuerall kinds , they seeme not to be ripe at once on one tree : yet when any is ready to drop from the tree , though the other seeme hard , yet they may also be gathered , for they haue receiued the full substance the tree can giue them ; and therefore the day being faire , and the dew drawne away ; set vp your ladder , and as you gathered your cherries , so gather them : onely in the bottomes of your large siues , where you part them , you shall lay nettles , and likewise in the top , for that will ripen those that are most vnready . in gathering of peares are three things obserued ; to gather for expence , for transportation , or to sell to the apothecary . if for expence , and your owne vse , then gather them as soone as they change , and are as it were halfe ripe , and no more but those which are changed , letting the rest hang till they change also : for thus they will ripen kindely , and not rot so soone , as if they were full ripe at the gathering . but if you● peares be to be transported farre either by land or water , then pull one from the tree , and cut it in the middest , and if you finde it hollow about the choare , and the kernell a large space to lye in : although no peare be ready to drop from the tree , yet then they may be gathered , and then laying them on a heape one vpon another , as of necessi●y they must be for transportation , they will ripen of themselues , and eate kindly : but gathered before , they will wither , shrinke and eate rough , losing not onely their taste , but beauty . now for the manner of gathering ; albeit some climb into the trees by the boughes , and some by ladder , yet both is amisse : the best way is with the ladder before spoken of , which standeth of it selfe , with a basket and a line , which being full , you must gently let downe , and keeping the string still in your hand , being emptied , draw it vp againe , and so finish your labou● , without troubling your selfe , or hurting the tree . now touching the gathering of apples , it is to be done according to the ripening of the fruite ; your summer apples first , and the winter after . for summer fruit , when it is ripe , some will drop from the tree , and birds will be picking at them : but if you cut one of the greenest , and finde it as was shew'd you before of the peare : then you may gather them , and in the house they will come to their ripenesse and perfection . for your winter fruit , you shall know the ripenesse by the obseruation before shewed ; but it must be gathered in a faire , sunny , and dry day , in the waine of the moone , and no wind in the ●●st , also after the deaw is gone away : for the least wet or moysture will make them subiect to rot and mi● dew : also you must haue an apron to gather in , and to empty into the great baskets , and a hooke to draw the boughes vnto you , which you cannot reach with your hands at ease : the apron is to be an ell euery way , loopt vp to your girdle , so as it may serue for either hand without any trouble : and when it is full , vnloose one of your loopes , and empty it gently into the great basket , for in throwing them downe roughly , their owne stalkes may pricke them ; and those which are prickt , will euer rot . againe , you must gather your fruit cleane without leaues or brunts , because the one hurts the tree , for euery brunt would be a stalke for fruit to grow vpon : the other hurts the fruit by bruising , and pricking it as it is layd together , and there is nothing sooner rotteth fruite , then the gre●ne and withe●ed leaues lying amongst them ; neither must you gather them without any stalke at all : for such fruit will begin to rot where the stalke stood . for sach fruit as falleth from the trees , and are not gathered , they must not be layd with the gathered fruit : and of fallings there are two sorts ; one that fals through ripenesse , and they are ●est , and may be kept to ba●e or roast : the other windfals , and before they are ripe ; and they must be spent as they are gathered , or else they will wither and come to nothing : and t●●●e●o●e it is not good by any meane● to beate downe fruit with poales , or to carrie them in carts loose and iogging , or in sacks where they may be bruised . when your fruit is gathered , you shall lay them in deepe baskets of wicker , which shall containe foure or sixe bushels , and so betweene two men , carry them to your apple-loft , and in shooting or laying them downe , be very carefull that it be done with all gentlenesse , and leasure , laying euery sort of fruit seuerall by it selfe : but if there be want of roome hauing so many sorts that you cannot lay them seuerally , then such some fruite as is neerest in taste and colour , and of winter fruit , such as will taste alike , may if need require , be laid together , and in time you may separate them , as shall bee shewed hereafter . but if your fruit be gathered faire from your apple-loft , then must the bottomes of your baskets be lined with greene ferne , and draw the stuborne ends of the same through the basket , that none but the soft leafe may touch the fruit , and likewise couer the tops of the baskets with ferne also , and draw small cord ouer it , that the ferne may not fall away , nor the fruit scatter out , oriogge vp and downe : and thus you may carry fruite by land or by water , by boat , or cart , as farre as you please : and the ferne doth not onely keepe them from bruising , but also ripens them , especially peares . when your fruit is brought to your apple-loft or store● house , if you finde them not ripened enough , then lay them in thicker heapes vpon fearne , and couer them with ferne also : and when they are neere ripe , then vncouer them , and make the heapes thinner , so as the ayre may passe thorow them : and if you will not hasten the ripening of them , then lay them on the boords without any fearne at all . now for winter , or long lasting peares , they may be packt either in ferne or straw , and carried whither you please ; and being come to the iourneys end , must be laid vpon sweet straw ; but beware the roome be not too warme , not windie , and too cold , for both are hurtfull : but in a temperate place , where they may haue ayre , but not too much . wardens are to be gathered , carried , packt , and laid as winter peares are . medlers are to be gathered about michaelmas , after a frost hath toucht them ; at which time they are in their full growth , and will then be dropping from the tree , but neuer ripe vpon the tree . when they are gathered , they must be laid in a basket , siue , barrell , or any such caske , and wrapt about with woollen cloths , vnder , ouer , and on all sides , and also some waight laid vpon them , with a boord betweene : for except they be brought into a heat , they will neuer ripen kindly or taste well . now when they haue laine till you thinke some of them be ripe , the ripest , still as they ripen , must be taken from the rest : therefore powre them out into another siue or basket leasurely , that so you may well finde them that be ripest , letting the hard one fall into the other basket , and those which be ripe laid aside : the other that be halfe ripe , seuer also into a third siue or basket : for if the ripe and halfe ripe be kept together , the one will be mouldy , before the other be ripe : and thus doe , till all be throughly ripe . qu●nces should not be laid with other fruite ; for the sent is offensiue both to other fruite , and to those that keepe the fruit or come amongst them : therefore lay them by themselues vpon sweet strawe , where they may haue ayre enough : they must be packt like medlers , and gathered with medlers . apples must be packt in wheat or rye-straw , and in maunds or baskets lyned with the same , and being gently handled , will ripen with such packing and lying together . if seuerall sorts of apples be packt in one maund or basket , then betweene euery sort , lay sweet strawe of a pretty thicknesse . apples must not be powred out , but with care and leasure : first , the straw pickt cleane from them , and then gently take out euery seuerall sort , and place them by themselues : but if for want of roome you mixe the sorts together , then lay those together that are of equall lasting ; but if they haue all one taste , then they need no separation . apples that are not of like colours should not be laid together , and if any such be mingled , let it be amended , and those which are first ripe , let them be first spent ; and to that end , lay those apples together , that are of one time of ripening : and thus you must vse pippins also , yet will they endure bruises better then other fruit , and whilst they are greene will heale one another . pippins though they grow of one tree , and in one ground , yet some will last better then other some , and some will bee bigger then others of the same kinde , according as they haue more or lesse of the sunne , or more or lesse of the droppings of the trees or vpper branches : therefore let euery one make most of that fruite which is fairest , and longest lasting . againe , the largenesse and goodnesse of fruite consists in the age of the tree : for as the t●ee increaseth , so the fruite increaseth in bignesse , beauty , taste , and firmnesse : and otherwise , as it decreaseth . if you be to transport your fruit farre by water , then prouide some dry hogges-heads or barrells , and packe in your apples , one by one with your hand , that no empty place may be left , to occasion sogging ; and you must line your vessell at both ends with fine sweet straw ; but not the sides , to auoid heat : and you must bore a dozen holes at either end , to receiue ayre so much the better ; and by no meanes let them take wet . some vse , that transport beyond seas , to shut the fruite vnder hatches vpon straw : but it is not so good , if caske may be gotten . it is not good to transport fruite in march , when the wind blowes bitterly , nor in frosty weather , neither in the extreme heate of summer . if the quantity be small you would carry , then you may carry them in dossers or panniers , prouided they be euer filled close , and that cherries and peares be lined with greene fearne , and apples with sweete straw ; and that , but at the bottomes and tops , not on the sides . winter fruite must lye neither too hot , nor too cold ; too close , nor too open : for all are offensiue . a lowe roome or cellar that is sweet , and either boorded or paued , and not too close , is good , from christmas till march : and roomes that are seeled ouer head , and from the ground , are good from march till may : then the cellar againe , from may till michaelmas . the apple loft would be seeled or boorded , which if it want , take the longest rye-straw , and raise it against the walles , to make a fence as high as the fruite lyeth ; and let it be no thicker then to keepe the fruite from the wall , which being moyst , may doe hurt , or if not moist , then the dust is offensiue . there are some fruite which will last but vntill allhallontide : they must be laid by themselues ; then those which will last till christmas , by themselues : then those which will last till it be ●andlemas , by themselues : those that will last till shrouetide , by themselues : and pippins , apple-iohns , peare-maines , and winter-russettings , which will last all the yeere by themselues . now if you spy any rotten fruite in your heapes , pick them out , and with a trey for the purpose , see you turne the heapes ouer , and leaue not a tainted apple in them , diuiding the hardest by themselues , and the broken skinned by themselues to be first spent , and the rotten ones to be cast away ; and euer as you turne them , and picke them , vnder-lay them with fresh straw : thus shall you keepe them safe for your vse , which otherwise would rot suddenly . pippins , iohn apples , peare maines , and such like long lasting fruit , need not to be turned till the weeke before christmas , vnlesse they be mixt with other of a riper kind , or that the fallings be also with them , or much of the first straw left amongst them : the next time of turning is at shroue-tide ; and after that , once a moneth till whitson-tide ; and after that , once a fortnight ; and euer in the turning , lay your heapes lower and lower , and your straw very thinne : prouided you doe none of this labour in any great frost , except it be in a close celler . at euery thawe , all fruit is moyst , and then they must not be touched : neither in rainy weather , for then they will be danke also : and therefore at such seasons it is good to set open your windowes , and doores , that the ayre may haue free passage to dry them , as at nine of the clocke in the fore-noone in winter ; and at sixe in the fore-noone , and at eight at night in summer : onely in march , open not your windowes at all . all lasting fruite , after the middest of may , beginne to wither , because then they waxe dry , and the moisture gone , which made them looke plumpe : they must needes wither , and be smaller ; and nature decaying , they must needes rot . and thus much touching the ordering of fruites . finis . london , printed by nicholas okes for iohn harison , at the golden vnicorne in pater-noster-row . 1631. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a05195-e3510 religious . honest. skilfull . painfull . wages . kinds of trees . soyle . barren earth . plaine . moyst . grasse . naturally plaine . crust of the earth . low and neere a riuer . psal 1.3 . ez● . ●7 . 8 . 〈◊〉 39.17 . mr. markham . winds . chap. 13. sunne . trees against a wall . orchard as good as a corn-field . compared with a vinyard . compared with a garden . what quantity of ground● want is no hinderance . how landlords . by their te●an●s may mak● flour●shing orchards in england . the vsuall forme is a square . a. al these squares must bee set with trees , the gardens and other ornaments must stand on spaces betwixt the trees , & in the borders & fences . b. trees 20. yards asunder . c. garden knots . d. kitchen garden . e. bridge . f. conduit . g. staires . h. walkes set with great wood thicke . i. walkes set with great wood round about your orchard . k. the out fence . l. the out fence set with stone-fruite . m. mount to force earth for a mount , or such like set it round with quicke , and lay boughes of trees strangely intermingled tops inward , with the cart●● in the midle . n. s●ill-house . o. good standing for bees , if you haue an house . p. if the riuer run by your doore , & vnder your mount , it will be pleasant . effects of euill fencing . let the fence be your owne . kinds of fences , earthen walles . pale and raile . stone walls . quicke wood and moates . moates . slip● . bur-knot . vsuall sets . maine rootes cut . stow sets remoued . generall rule . ●ying of trees . generall rule . signes of diseases , chap 13. suckers good sets . a running plant. sets bought . the best sets . vnremoued how . sets vngrafted best of all . time of remouing . generall rule . remooue soone . the manner of setting . set in the crust . moysture good . gra●ts must be fenced . hurts of too neere planting . remedy . generall rule . all touches hartfull . the best distance of trees . the part● of a tree . waste ground in an orchard . kinds of gra●●ing . graft how . a graft what . eyes . generall rule . time of graffing . gathering graffes . graffes of old ●●ees . where taken . emmits . incising . a great stocke . packing thus . inoculating . necessity 〈…〉 sli●g trees . generall rule . profit of trees dressed . the end of trees . trees will take any forme . the end of trees . how to dresse a fruit-tree . benefits of good ●ressing . time best for proining , dressing betime . faults of euill drest trees , and the remedy . the forme altered . dressing of old trees . faults are fiue , and their remedies . 1 1 long boale . no remedy . 2 2 water boughs . remedy . barke-pild , and the remedy . fretters . touching . remedy . suckers . remedy . one principall top or bough , and remedy . instruments for dressing . necessity effoiling . trees great suckers . great bodies . time fit for foyling . kind of foyle . two kinds of euils in an orchard . galls . canker . mosse . weaknesse in setting . barke-bound . worme . remedy . barke pild . wounds . remedy . hurts on trees ants , earewigs , caterpillars , and such like wormes . externall euils . remedy . decre , &c. birds . remedy . other trees . winds . frosts . weeds . remedy . wormes moales . remedy . wilfull annoyances . remedy . the age o● trees . gathered by reason out of experience . parts of a trees age . mans age . the age of timbe● tree● . age of trees disc●rne● . generall rule cherries . &c. apples . when. dry stalkes . seuerally . ouerladen ●●ees . instruments . bruises . keeping . cydar and perry . fruit. waters . conserue . d●li●ht the chiefe end o● orchards . an orchard delightsome . an orchard is paradise . causes of wearisomnesse . orchard is the remedy . all delight in orchard● . this delights all the sences . delighteth old age . causes of delight in an orchard . flowers . borders and squares . mounts . whence you may shoote a bucke . dyall . musique . walkes . seates . order of trees . shape of men and beasts . mazes . bowle● alley . buts . hearbes . conduit . riuer . moats . bees . vine . birds . n●●hting●le . robin-red-brest . wren . black-bird . thrush . your owne labour . notes for div a05195-e9940 dry. hops . plaine . bee-house . hiues . hiuing of bees . spelkes . catching . clustering . droanes . annoyances . taking of bees . straining honey . vessels . notes for div a05195-e15060 cherries . gathering of cheries . to carry che●rie● . other stone-fruit . g●thering of peares . gathering of apples . to vse the fallings carriage of fruit . of wardens . of medlers . of ●uince● . to packe apples . emptying and laying apples . difference in fruit. transporting fruit by water . when not to transport fruit . to conuay small store of fruit . roomes for fruite . sorting of fruit. times of stirring fruit . the french gardiner instructing how to cultivate all sorts of fruit-trees and herbs for the garden : together with directions to dry and conserve them in their natural / first written by r.d.c.d.w.b.d.n. ; and now transplanted into english by phiocepos. jardinier françois. english. 1658 bonnefons, nicolas de. 1658 approx. 327 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 168 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28676 wing b3598 estc r28517 10618174 ocm 10618174 45415 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28676) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 45415) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1350:8) the french gardiner instructing how to cultivate all sorts of fruit-trees and herbs for the garden : together with directions to dry and conserve them in their natural / first written by r.d.c.d.w.b.d.n. ; and now transplanted into english by phiocepos. jardinier françois. english. 1658 bonnefons, nicolas de. evelyn, john, 1655-1699. phiocepos. [8], 294, [11] p., [4] leaves of plates : ill. printed by j.c. for john crooke, london : 1658. "three times printed in france and once in holland." epistle dedicatory signed: j.e. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the 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readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng fruit-culture -france. gardening -early works to 1800. 2002-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-06 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-07 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2003-02 aptara rekeyed and resubmitted 2003-03 jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread 2003-03 jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a hertochs fecit the french gardiner : instructing how to cultivate all sorts of fruit-trees , and herbs for the garden : together with directions to dry and conserve them in their natural ; three times printed in france , and once in holland . an accomplished piece , first written by r. d. c. d. w. b. d. n. and now transplanted into english by philocepos . london , printed by i. c. for iohn crooke at the ship in st. pauls church-yard . 1658. to my most honour'd and worthy friend thomas henshaw , esquire . sir , i have at length obey'd your commands , only i wish the instance had bin more considerable : though i cannot but much approve of the designe and of your election in this particular work , which is certainly the best that is exstant upon this subject , notwithstanding the plenty which these late years have furnish'd us withal . i shall forbear to publish the accident which made you engage me upon this traduction ; because i have long since had inclinations , and a design of communicating some other things of this nature from my own experience : and especially , concerning the ornaments of gardens , &c. because , what respects the soyle , the situation and the planting is here performed to my hand with so mu●h ingenuity , as that i conceive there can very little be added , to render it a piece absolute and without reproach . in order to this , my purpose was to introduce the least known ( though not the least delicious ) appendices to gardens ; and such as are not the names only , but the descriptions , plots , materials , and wayes of contriving the ground for parterrs , grotts , fountains ; the propor●ions of walks , perspectives , rocks , aviaries , vivaries , apiaries , pots , conservatories , piscina's , groves , crypta's , cabinets , eccho's , statues , and other ornaments of a vigna , &c. without which the best garden is without life , and very defective . together with a treatise of flowers , and ever-greens ; especially the palisades and contr-espaliers of alaternus , which most incomparable verdure , together with the right culture of it , for beauty and fence , i might glory to have been the first propagator in england . this , i say , i intended to have published for the benefit or divertisement of our country , had not some other things unexpectedly intervened , which as yet hinder the birth and maturity of that embryo . be pleased , sir , to accept the productions of your own commands ; as a lover of gardens you did promote it , as a lover of you i have translated it . and in the mean time that the great ones are busied about governing the world ( which is but a wildernesse ) let us call to minde the rescript of dioclesian to those who would perswade him to re-assume the empire . for it is impossible that he who is a true virtuoso , and has attain'd to the felicity of being a good gardener , should give jealousie to the state where he lives . this is not advice to you who know so well how to cultivate both your self and your garden : but because it is the only way to enjoy a garden , and to preserve its reputation . sir , i am your most humble and most obedient servant j. e. to the reader . i advertise the reader that what i have couched in four sections at the end of this volume , under the name of an appendix , is but a part of the third treatise in the original : there remaining three chapters more concerning preserving of fruits with sugar ; which i have therefore expresly omitted , because it is a mysterie that i am little acquainted withall ; and that i am assured by a lady ( who is a person of quality , and curious in that art ) that there is nothing of extraordinary amongst them , but what the fair sex do infinitely exceed , whenever they please to divertise themselves in that sweet employment . there is also another book of the same author intituled les delices de la campagne , ( or the delights of the countrey ) being as a second part of this : wherein you are taught to prepare and dresse whatsoever either the earth or the water do produce , dedicated to the good housewives : there you are instructed to make all sorts of french bread , and the whole mysterie of the pastry , wines , and all sorts of drinks . to accommodate all manner of roots good to eat ; cocking of flesh and fish , together with precepts how the major domo is to order the services , and treat persons of quality at a feast , a la mode de france , which such as affect more then i , and do not understand in the original , may procure to be interpreted , but by some better hand then he that did the french cook , which ( being as i am informed an excellent book of its kinde ) is miserably abused for want of skill in the kitchin. if any man think it an employment fit for the translator of this former part ; it will become him to know , that though i have some experience in the garden , and more divertisement , yet i have none in the shambles ; and that what i here present him was to gratifie a noble friend , who had only that empire over me , as to make me quit some more serious employments for a few dayes in obedinc● to his command . farewell . the french gardiner . the first treatise . section i. of the place , of the earth and mould of the garden , together with the means to recover and meliorate ill ground . site . all those who have written concerning the husbandry of the countrey , have accompanied it with so many insupportable difficulties about the disposition of the edifices , and other parts appertaining to the demesnes , that it were altogether impossible to accommodate a place sutable to their prescription : forasmuch as the situations never perfectly correspond to their desires : and therefore i shall by no means oblige you to the particular site of your garden , ; you shall make use of the places as you finde them , if already they are laid out : or else you shall ( with good advice ) prepare a new one in some part that lyes most convenient to your mansion . soile . touching the ground , if you meet with that which is good , it will be to your great advantage , and much lessen your expence : but it is very rarely to be found where the land doth not require a great deale of labour : for many times the surface of the ground shall be good , which ( being opened the depth of a spade-bit onely ) will be found all clay underneath which is a more pernicious mould for trees then the very gravell it self : since in gravell , the rootes may yet encounter some smal veynes for their passage in searching the moysture beneath from whence to draw nourishment : but the clayie which is a sort of earth ( wherewithall the bakers of paris do make the hearths of their ovens ) is like a board , so thick , and hard , that the roots cannot peirce it : and in the extraordinary heats of sommer it hinders the moysture which is below , that it can by no means penetrate ; in so much as the trees and other plants become so extreamely drie , that instead of advancing their growth they altogether languish , and in conc●usion perish . dressing for redresse of this defect , there is onely one expedient ; and that is by hollowing and breaking up the ground 3 or 4 foot deep , beginning with a trench 4 or 5 foot large , the whole length of the place that you will thus open , casting the several moulds all upon one side ; and thus when your trench is voyded and emptied to the depth which you desire , you shall cast in long dung , of the marc , or husks of the wine-presse , or cider , and fearne ( which if you can commodiously procure is of all other composts the best ) leaves of trees , even to the rotten sticks and mungy stuffe to be found under old wood piles , mosse , and such like trash ; in fine whatever you can procure with the most ease and least charge : for all the design in this stirring the ground is onely to keep it hollow , that so the moysture beneath may invigorate the trees , and plants during the excessive drouths . you shall therefore lay it halfe a foot thick at the bottome of your trench ; and afterwards dig a second of the same proportion , casting the mould which lies uppermost ( and which is ever the best ) upon the dung , and so making this second trench as deep as the former , you shall fill your first trench ; and the mould which you found undermost , shall now lye on the top , thus continuing your trenches , till you have finished the whole piece . peradventure you may object , that the earth which you take from beneath , will be barren ? i confesse with you , that for the first year , the goodnesse of it will not appear , but when ( with that little amendment which you bestow upon it ) it shall be mellow'd by the rains , and frosts of one winter , it shall produce abundantly more then what before lay above , which being exhausted and worn out through the long usage , hath certainly lost a great part of its vertue . neither are all seasons proper for this labour ; because during the great heats , this earth is so extreamely hard and bound , that neither crow , nor pick-axe can enter it . the winter is then the most convenient season of all other ; for as much as the autumn raines , having well moystned the earth , it is dug with the more facility ; and besides , the rain , the snow , and the frosts , which are frequent in that season , contribute much to the work ; nor are labourers ( being at that time lesse imployed ) so chargable , as when they work in the vineyards , and during august , when they are hardly to be procured for money . as concerning the bottom , where you encounter with gravell , you shall husband it as we have allready described , by breaking it , and the stones that are mingl'd in the ground shall be carried out of the garden . but in case the gravell lie not very thick and that when it is broken up you arrive at sand , or to another smaller loose gravell , it shall suffice that it be broken up without flinging out of the trench : since the trees will shoot sufficient rootes amongst this smaller gra●vell , by reason of the moysture which the duug lying above them will coutribute . you must remember to lay excellent dung half consumed at the bottome of such trenches out of which you have cast the gravell , to the end that the rain and all other refreshings may the more easily passe through it ; especially if it be of the huskes of the presse , fearne and the like , such as we have already mentioned . you will object ( i suppose ) that to trench and dresse a whole garden in this manner is to engage one into an extraordinary expence ? i grant it indeed , but it is once for all , and the emolument which will result from one such labour , will recompence the charge an hundred fold : since the trees will be more beautifull , without mosse , or galls , and without comparison produce their fruits abundantly more faire then those which are planted in a ground which is not thus dressed . artichocks , leekes , and other rootes grow there to a monstrous bignesse : briefly you will finde your self so extreamely satisfied perceiving the difference , to what your garden produced before it was thus loosened , that you will have no cause to regret your expences . however if you would be yet more thrifty , i shall instruct you how by another expedient you may amend your garden with lesse charge , but withall , as the expence will not be so great , so neither will the product be so faire . of this i purpose to treate hereafter , in the planting of pole-hedges and the kitchen-garden . many that are curious do extreamely exceed all this : for they passe all their earth through a hurdle to cleer it from the stones , which is done by placing the hurdle or cive upon the margent of the trench , and so shoveling the mould to the top of the cive , the earth passes , and the stones rolle to the foot of the cive , which are afterwards carried forth of the garden . the forme of this cive is a frame joyned together , two inches thick , six-foot high , and five foot in breadth which shall have two crosse quarters within the height , of the same bignesse of the frame , and all the four crosse peices shall be equally b●ared about the bignesse of those sticks which the chandlers use to make their candles on ; these holes must be a fingers thicknesse distant one from another , and in them you shall fit sticks of dog-wood because it is tough and very hard when it is dry , and which will endure longer without breaking then any other . note , that both the top , and the bottome of your frame must be pierced quite through , that when any of the sticks are broken , you may put new ones in their places , fastning them with small wedges at the extreames . sect . ii. of espaliers , or wal-fruit and of single pole-hedges and shruls . wall-fruit ▪ ●edges . wal-fruits being the principal ornament of gardens it is most reasonable that we should assigne them the most eminent place and give a full description of them , as being indeed the subject upon which i determine chiefly to discourse in this first treatise . by espalier , we mean those trees with which the wals of gardens be adorned and furnished : to bring this to perfection you must make a large trench , as i have described it before . if the ground be of clay , you are to husband it as hath bin spoken of clay , and if of a rocky nature , as of rocky : but you shall leave one foot of earth unbroken , next to the wal , for fear least you indanger the foundation ; and after having layed a bed of dung , of halfe a foot thick at the bottome of your trench , you shall cast thereupon , of the very best mould which came forth of the trench to the thicknesse of a foot ; this done , you shall marke out the places where you design to plant your trees , which shall be at a reasonable distance . that of twelve foot to me seems the most convenient ; but this at your owne discretion , i shall oblige you to no law , every man hath his particular fancy , but my opinion is , that if they are planted neerer , they will much incommode one another in few years , if farther remote , and that a tree chance to die , or that you graft an other , whose fruit may peradventure not pleas● you it will extreamly vex you to see your wal so long disfurnished , and naked in that place . distance . having thus marked the place for your trees , according to the proportion of 12 feet , you shall cause the pits where you plant them to be filled ( at three foot distance from either side of your marke ) with the best mould , which must be mingled with short dung of an old melon bed , or else with some other , which before had bin employed in your garden for plants ; and thus there will remaine a space of six foot , in which intervall you shall cast a second layer of cow , hogs , or sheeps dung very fat and well rotten , after this you shall fling thereupon the mould which you had out of the trench , and dressing your border , make it very even . planting . you shall make the holes for your trees , at the places before marked out , and plant them handsomly , making a small heap in the center of the pitt , to set your tree upon , whilst you extend the roots all about it , drawing them downward , and then the hole being filled , and the mould cast in , you may tread it about the tree the better to fix it , and fil up the hollow places . you may if you please , before you plant , break away the ledge of earth to the very wall a foot on either side of the place where you intend to plant your trees , without the least prejudice to your wall . you shall set your tree a foot distant from the wal , the branches somewhat inclining towards it , for the more ornament in their growth , this will also bring the roots better to the middle of your trench , by which they will more easily finde nourishment . have a special care that you put no other dung neer the roots of your trees , then that short stuff of the old bed ( which it will be good to mingle also with store of excellent mould ) least the summer burne it all ; for as much as new dung keeps the earth hollow and loose till it be totally consumed ; but if otherwise you cast it into the intervalls , when your trees are once taken , and that their roots within 2 or 3 years have found this excellent dung ( which will by that time be quite rotten ) they will shoot wonderfully , produce a clean bark , and most incomparable fruit . concerning esphaliers ( which i will english palisades ) i will shew you severall formes of accommodating then according to the age of your trees . * the first is , to fix small stakes into the ground halfe a foot distant from your wal , to begin to conduct the tender sprouts of your trees , and if need require , you may add some cross poles or lathes , as many as are necessary , binding to them your tender shoots with the gentlest osiers , or rushes , without knitting them too fast , but onely to guide them for the pr●sent . the second manner shall be to make a hedge of poles , and la●hes equally cancelled and well bound , which , being of greater strength then the former , will oblige the trees to what flexure and forme you please . the third is a lattice fashioned to the wall , and supported with the bones of horses legs or by iron hooks , fixed in the wall , least otherwise the tree , rising and forceing it to come at the fresh aire , bend it forwards , and break or overturne the hedg , whose stakes are onely fixed in the loose and newly broken up earth , and besides , with length of time they become rotten . see the figure or first plate . the fourth , which is the most substantial of all the rest , and more easily maintained , is to place in the wall the ends of woodden blocks , about the bignesse of a strong rafter , which are to be placed at eight equidistant squares , projecting onely six inches from the wall , in which you shall boar holes with an auger an inch and an half deep , and some two inches from the ends : be sure to place them at equal distance , for height , and breadth ; and in the middest of every square , there shall be also one block , resembling the figure of a quincunce . then you shall provide lathes , or poles , which you shall cause to be made exactly of the length , that your blocks-ends are placed , which lathes or poles you shall shave and fit at both ends , to enter into the holes made in the extreames of the blocks , and to fix them well you shall bend them alittle like a bow , putting the two ends into the opposite holes and letting the bow goe , they will force in themselves so strongly as that they shall need no other fastning . the figure which is at the beginning of the treatise , will sufficiently informe you . when your trees are now a little strong , they will not need to be spread with so much wood , as when they are young ; it shall suffice in these kinds of espaliers to stop the strongest branches onely . and when any of these poles shall chance to be rotten , another may easily be supplied , reserving alwaies provision of them in your house . the fifth is , to take quarters of wood , a little bigger then your poles , and to accommodate them to your iron hooks , or horses bones ( as we have said above ) and bind them with copper or brasse wyre which will continue a very long time . as they are frequently in france , with a kind of rough-cast if the wall be built of unhewen stone . the sixth and last fashion , to plie or palisade your trees ( and which is the handsomest and most ageeable , but cannot easily be made , save where the walls are plastred over ) is to take shreads of leather , or lists , of cloath with which you shall stay the tender branches , fixing the list of the cloath to the wall with a naile , and so the boughs will take their plie as they grow bigger , without either casting forwards , or loosning the nailes , which will rust within the wall . these three last manners of espaliers are in greatest practise , to defend the trees from snailes , earewigs , stotes , & other noxious infects which creep into the withy twigs , and betwixt the rinds of round poles , which are not quarter wood . be carefull not to plant any tree in the coines or angles of your walls ; since they can there come but to half their nourishment ; and besides in so doing it will marr the figure of your garden , the tree shooting forth all his branches forward , to come at the aire . pole-hedges . the counter espalier is a hedge which formes all the walkes and allies of the garden , it is planted in the same manner as the former , excepting onely that the trench shall be at the least four foot broad , causing the moulds to be cast , the good upon one side , and the worse upon the other , that so you may fling the best into the bottome of your trench , and the rest upon it . then you shall plant your trees in lines very even , perpendicular and not inclining as in wall-fruit . the wood which supports these trees must of necessity be fixed in the earth , and bound athwart with poles : all the curiosity which can be expressed in this manner of hedge , is to make it with quarter wood and bind them with iron or brasse wyre . there are some , to spare the charge of maintaining these palisads , satisfie themselves with b●nding and joyning the trees together when they are strong enough , but then they ought to be planted nine foot asunder ; and the mischief is , that they are extreamly subject to be shaken by high winds . shrubs . 〈…〉 kitchin-garden by the path sides ; which one may cut in what figure he please , round , square , flat at top , or let grow in the shape of a cypresse ; in clipping whereof men are rather satisfied with their forme , then their fruit , which the walls and contr ' espaliers abundantly afford . you shall therefore plant them in the most commodious places of your borders , and at equal distances one from another , observing what i have already taught concerning planting . the description which i have given you of planting your trees , will exempt you of the expence of trenching your whole garden ; the allies and walkes not so much needing it , for before the trees shall come to shoot their roots as far as the walks , they will have sufficient strength to pierce them and search out the best ground . howbeit you shall not leave your allies neglected , but shall cause them to be diligently weeded , and especially be carefull to cleanse them of couch or dog-grasse to the very least string , though you dig after it a spadebit deep , continually shaking it from the earth ; and if after all this you perceive any of it remaining , be sure to eradicate it how deep soever it lie , that so you may utterly exterminate a weed so extreamly noxious to your garden . section . iii. of trees , and of the choice which ought to be made of them . trees their choice . it is to no purpose to have well prepared your ground , unlesse you also plant it with the best and choycest fruit , which you may find in the nurseries of such gardiners as have the reputation of honest and trusty men ; for the greater part of those which ●ell , usually cheat those who deale with them . therefore of such , i shall not advise you to buy any , unlesse you first see the fruit on them , and so you may retaine them from that time , sealing them with little labels or bonds of parchment , with your own seale , that thereby when you take them up , you may be sure of your purchace . with those whom you may confide in , for their faithfull delivery , you may be lesse exact ; however it shall not be amisse to seale them , though it were onely to give other customers notice , that you have already bargain'd for them . if you desire to mark the species , you may effect it two manner of waies ; one by writing the name of the tree upon small pieces of slate , and the other , by binding to them locks of wooll died with several coulours , whereof you shall make a memorandum , and this shall serve you to difcerne your trees in planting , them , that so distinguishing your summer fruit from the winter , your wals , espaliers , contr ' espaliers and bushes may afford an object more agreeable , since they will never be intirely naked , but will here and there be still furnished with fruits , and also that you may the better sever them , that two of the same sort be not contiguous to one another . pears . the fruits which you shall make particular choyce of , as for pears ( if you desire to make profit of them in the market ) shall be the summer and winter bon-chrestien , the muscat , the great and lesser rath-ripe peare , the portail , the summer and winter bergamotte , st. lezin , amadotte , bezidairy , double flower , the great russeting of rheims , the perfume pear , and p●ire boeure of both sorts , the messire iohn , cir● , cadilla● , and what ever other you finde to sell dearest . apples . for apples , the renettings of severall sorts , cour-pendu , red pipin , chesnut , apis gros and petit , pigeonnet the iudea and others , peaches . abricots . as for peaches and abricots , they allwaies sell well ; but these two sorts of fruits , are not so proper in espaliers , because their boughs frequently dye , sometimes upon one branch sometimes on the other , and very often quite perish , which is very illfavored to behold , by reason of the breach which it causes in your espaliers . those which are chiefly in reputation are the rath peaches or peaches of troy , alberges , pavies , cherry-peaches , violette de pau , brignons , and others . cherrie● for cherries and bigarreaux , for as much as there are particular orchards of them , i will discourse no further of them , then onely to tell you that those which have the shortest , stalke , and least stone , resembling those of the vally of montmorency are the most excellent . there are likewise precoce and rath-ripe cherries , which are to be planted where they may stand warme , and exposed to the southern aspect , or else set in cases , to be removed into the stove during the winter , together with the orange-tree : but these serve rather for curiosity then for profit . returne we therefore to the election of our trees , and let us not suffer this digression to hinder us from saying all that can be spoken upon this argument , and in particular , concerning peare trees which are the bearers of the most delicious and best fruit of your garden . that tree which is grafted upon a quince is to be preferred before all other , because t is not only an early bearer , but produces large and lovely fruite ruddy and blushing where it regards the son , and yellow on the other part which is more shaded by its thicknesse . those which are on the freestock are esteemed to beare better relished fruit but they are nothing so large , nor so rarely colour'd , as are those which be grafted upon the quince , and that 's it we principally look after for sale , other pears being allwaies of a green and lesse tempting colour : and besides , they are long in bearing , and frequently fail of blossoming , spending much in superfluous wood ; if plyed in form of wall-fruit , you prune them till they are shot up very tall , and past their utmost effort . age. concerning the age you shall best choose your trees when they are about four years growth or thereabout , as being then of a very fair size ; for if they be younger , it will be a long while ' ere they will have garnished your walls ; and if they be elder , they will have shot their great roots , which one shall endanger the breaking or splitting in transplanting them , to the exceeding prejudice of the tree , which are wounds that are a long time recovering , and it must have shot a good quantity of new strings , before it will any thing prosper . it is the opinion of very many , that one should plant a great and full grown tree once for all , forasmuch as they are so long arriving to their perfection : 〈◊〉 i am quite of another sentiment ; for i conceave that a well chosen tree , and that is of a thriving kind , of the age i have spoken , shall make a fairer root then one that is elder , and which can send out but very small twigs , though in greater quantity . shape . as to the shape and forme of the trees , be carefull that they be clean from mosse , not stubbed , sightly and thriving ; the body clean and large , that the escuchion or ●left be well recovered at the stocke , and that the tree be plentifully furnished beneath , handsomely spread and agreeable at the wall . taking up . i would have you present your selfe at the takeing up of your trees that they break off as few of the string roots as is possible , nor split or cut any of the greater roots . transporting and transplanting . choose a fair day , about st. martines , for as soon as ever you shall perceive the leafe to fall you may securelty ●ake up your trees , and then transport them as gently as may be , either on the backs of men or beasts , and plant them again with all expedition , least otherwise they languish , and the hairy-roots grow drie : but as you plant , remember to cut off the small poynts of the roots , to quicken them , and take away that which may be withered . but you must not prune them till the season , for the reasons , which i shall hereafter prescribe . from peare-trees grafted upon the freestock you should cut off the downe right root , that so the other roots may fortifie and extend themselves all about to sucke the best mould . all sorts of other trees may be drawne , transplanted , and cultivated in the same manner , without any difference or distinction . pruning . touching the pruneing of trees , the just season for those which are old planted , is in the decrease of the moon in ianuary , at which time grafts for the cleft , and crowne are to be gatherd and provided : and for such as are newly planted , they must not be disbranched till the sap begins to rise , that the wound may the soner be cured , for if you cut them in winter , the wood will be dried by the frost in place of the scar and make a stubb of dead wood to the very bud , which should else shoot neer to the cut . i could scarcely resolve with my self how to teach this art of pruning : since it would merit an express discourse to instruct you perfectly : but having in my preface resolv'd to conceal nothing from you as a secret , i had rather hazard the censure of captious persons , then hide the art from you , how you may attain the most excellent and fairest fruit : in description whereof i shall nevertheless be as succinct and brief as i can ; teaching in a very few lines ( by way of maximes ) what would employ more then two sheets , if i should give a contexture to my period . therefore you shall begin to prune , by cutting off all the shoot of august where ever you encounter it , unless the place be naked , and that you suspect the next old branch will not suffice to cover it , without cutting it off , which would exceedingly spoil and deform your tree . those young branches which proceed from the old , and shoot lustily , must be stopped at the second or third knot ; for they would attract all the sap which ought to nourish the branch : and in case the tree be plentifully garnished , you may cut them off at their first peeping ; and such as you would spare are to be conducted where you would have them continue . every branch which sprouts as well before as behinde the tree must be cut off , because they deforme it . all buds that will be fruit shall be spared ; yet if there be any at the top of a branch which you desire should fortifie and spread , cut off that branch near a sprig-bud , rubbing off the fruit-buds which are on the new shoot . every branch which is to spread and fortifie , must be prun'd , be it never so little : but on the stronger you may leave more buds , then on the weak and feeble . every branch forceably plyed to garnish any void place , doth never bear the fruit fair : but in case it be guided thither from its prrimary shooting , it will do well enough . every bud which hath but a single leaf produces only wood : that of fruit hath many , and the more , the sooner it will bear , and the greater its fruit . the fruit-bud which grows on the body of the tree produces fairer fruit , then such as break out of the collaterall twigges , and tops of branches . you shall rub off all twig-bu●s , which sprout before or behinde your trees . if you desire to have your tree soon furnished on both sides , hinder it from shooting in the middle . the more you prune a tree , the more it will shoot . you should prune but little wood from trees that are graffed on the free-stock , and which do not yet produce fruit-buds : but afterward hauing passed their effort , they will bear but too plentifully . make as few wounds in a tree as possibly you can , and rather exterminate a deformed branch , then haggle it in several places . cut your branches alwayes slanting , behind a leaf-bud , to the end they may the sooner heal their wounds without leaving any stubs , which you shall afterward cut off to the very quick , to avoid a second skar , and a great eye-sore . when your trees form into crowns or bunches , the tops of your branches that have been too much pruned , or that have cast their fruit , leaving the knots of the stalks , they are to be discharged of it , to beautifie the tree . you shall also disburthen your trees that are too fertil , commencing with the smaller , by cutting the stalks in the middle without unknotting them : the fewer the tree doth nourish , the fairer will be your fruit . nailing and pruning . the best season to binde , plash , nail and dress your trees is in the moneth february , for the greatest frosts being then past , one may cut off what is superfluous without difficulty , and besides , the sap not as yet risen , there will be no danger of breaking off the buds , knotted into fruit . but the greatest dificulty in this work , is to spread the trees handsomely like a fan when it is displayed , that is , that as the sticks or ribs of a fan , never thwart one another , so nor should the branches of your trees . spreading and this is a vulgar error amongst the greatest part of gardiners , which proceeds from their ignorance , and that they will undertake , the ordering of trees , which is a peculiar science , not to be attained amongst the cabbage-planters . error . they do extrtamly ill , when they fagot and bundle together a great many smal twigs , in one tack , which is a fault altogether unsufferable ; for indeed one should never leave above the breadth of a single branch , about all the tree ; in fine they are so stupid , that they pass , and repass the branches , and wind them about the poles which ( in palissade hedges ) are erected for their support ; or else they thrust and draw the tree behinde , and the poles before , which are so grosse mistakes , that they may not be past over without due reproach . i shall counsell these men in charity , to put themselves into the service of some skilfull gardiner for a year or two , where they may learn to order trees as they ought , and profit by his instructions . and yet notwithstanding all this , if you spie a place about your tree which is very naked and unfurnished , you may in such a case thwart some small branch to cover that eie-sore and voide , but let this be rarely , and so disposed as not easily to be discovered . dressing . it is requisite that you give foure diggings or dressings to your trees every year , and you may employ that ground by sowing it with the seeds of such hearbs , as will be in season and ready to be spent at the renewing of every dressing , such as are lettuce , purslaine , cherile , cichorie , nay even yong cabbages to transplant ; in fine , what ever is not to abide long in a place ; and there you may also replant , lettnce to pome and head , cichory to blanch it , purslain to pickle , and for seed , and thus your labour will redouble the profit , for by this means your trees will ( besides the dressing , stirring and opening of the uld ) be often watered by the gardiner , whose care must be continuall about these youngherbs and plants . the season for the first is before winter , when you should well dung such as have need , and the digging ought to be very deep : at expiration of winter give it a second labour , mingling it with the soyl which you first bestowed upon it ; the other which follow need only suffice to preserve it from weeds ; but never dig it in rainy or scorching weather ; for the one will make morter of the ground , and the other will chap and and parch it : if you give it a stirring when the vine begins to soften the verjuice-grape , and tinge the black clusters , you shall finde your pears in the space of a week to swell and improve exceedingly . but you shall by no means sow any seeds which produce any large roots , not so much for that they require a longer sojourn in the ground to arrive to their full growth , as because they will suck , emaciate , and dry much of the mould about them . for this reason likewise let the greater cabbages , and leeks of the second year be sedulously banished . old trees . it will be necessary at every three or four years period , to cherish and warme your aged trees , and such as were old planted , and this is done by uncovering the mould within a little of the roots , and applying of excellent dung thereon . the best season for this worke is at the commencement of winter , that so the dung may be halfe consumed before the heat and drouth of summer invade it . section . iv. of the seminary , and nursery . seminary . the seminary being the mother and the nurse for the elevation and raising of trees , it will be highly requisite to give you perfect instructions , after what manner it is to be governed ; and therefore begin we with seeds . all sorts of seeds affect a fresh place cleansed from bushes , trees , and roots , & would be sheltred from the darts of the meridian sun by some high wall or other fence : and this is a convenience which you may easily finde in some quarter of your garden , where the wall is towards the south : one year will amply furnish you with all sorts of plants , and indeed with more then you can tell how well to employ . seeds . kernels . stones . having therefore provided store of kernells and stones the year before , and as you eat the fruits , and the winter well spent ; you shall towards the end of february , sow your kernells , &c. in lines upon beds , sow every species apart , and in like manner set the stones in even files about 4 inches asunder . i presuppose , that the ground where you designe them , hath been well dressed and prepared at the begining of the winter , and that it shall receive a second e'●e you begin to sow . your kernells and stones will spring up the first year , some stronger , some more fe●ble then others , but that 's nothing , they will all serve to transplant . notwithstanding , if you did sow them in a bed or quarter behinde your pole-hedges : at the same south-side , that they might be visited a little by the rising and declining of the sun ) they would be better to be planted forth at two years growth then at one , but with such as they are omit not to store your seminary . set your peach stones at such time as the fruit is in maturity , interring them with the peach about them as they are gatherd from the tree but you must not forget to marke the place with a little stick , least in dressing the seed plot , you break off their sprouts . seed-plot to begin therefore your seminary , having made choyce of some fit place in your garden , you shall dress , labour and dig it very well and then tread it very even all over to settle the earth ; afterwards you shall cut out small trenches about a spade-bit deep , and two foot distant each from other , casting the mould on one side upon the margent of your furrow : this done , set your plants ( having first a little topped them ) about halfe a foot distant , and supporting them with your hand cover their roots with the mould which you cast out of the trench , and so tread them in to fix them , least , being loose they vent and spend themselves . you must observe to plant every species by themselves , pears with pears , apples with apples , &c. and be carefull that the weeds doe not suffocate the plants , and therefore they must be dressed and weeded upon all occasions . cutting . but you shall not cut your plants till the sap begins to rise , and then you may nip them within halfe a foot of the ground : and where they shoot leave only one cutting , the remainder of the following winter , still rubbing the formost buds for a foot space , to secure the bark from knots , which would be a great impediment , when you are to graft upon them . cra●●ing . if in the same year that you planted you find any of them strong enough to inoculate , & that they have plenty of sap , graft on them without farther difficultie . my opinion is that a man cannot inoculate either on wild or free-stock too young ; provided they be large enough to receive the scutcheon ; and my reason is , that the stocke and the scutcheon taking their growth proportionably the incision of the stock will the sooner be healed , and they will shoot with a great deale more vigour , then those which you shall bud upon stronger sets , which are 2 or 3 years recovering the place from whence you tooke the dead part , and of which at the other side of the scutcheon , the barke of the wild stock does frequently die three or four inches below the scutcheon , so that it will require three or four years to heal the defect : adde to this : that the bark of an old stock , will not unite so well with that of of the scutcheon ; but is apt to make a great wreath , subject to peel and unglue ; a thing which never arrives when the rinds are both of them young and tender . some observe yet , that tall stocks are to be graffed together , affirming that they grow equally : but chosing my plant at half a foot , it were impossible that all should prosper , and be taken up together separated , but with difficulty , and without violating the roots : and therefore it is better doubtless to graff young , for the causes already specified , since the stronger must needs master the weaker : and those likewise which are most vigorous will surmount the other ; and a small compasse will furnish you with a sufficient quantity of good trees , provided you suffer them not to grow there too long . quince-stocks . you shall likewise provide you a seminary of quince-stocks like to the other , and order them in the same manner . there are three sorts of quinces : that which is poynted before ; the pear or female quince , which hath the fruit like a callebasse ; the great portugall quince pointed at both extreams . the first is the least , the ordinary is next , that of portugal much more excellent , and abounding in sap. the right quinces ( which is that which i name the wild-stock ) are such as have their fruit resembling a gourd or callebasse , and not such as be great behind and pointed before . peaches . for the peaches which proceed from the stones that you set , i advise you to prepare a quarter in your garden a part , for the reasons already alledged : because that if you range them in hedges or walls some of the branches perishing every year , will prove a very great eye-sore : and therefore my counsell is that in one of the quarters most distant from your house ( toward the north where they will not impeach the prospect of your garden ) plant the peach-trees which you shall take out of your seminary , placing them six foot from one another equidistant on every side in the quincunx , and thus they will produce you a world of fruit , by reason of their multitude . dressing . you must be carefull to give them four dressings or diggings , prune off the dead wood , and to cut off at the second or third joynt the young shoots , which growing too exuberant will draw all the sap of the tree to themselves , and starve the old branches , which in defect of nourishment will shortly perish ; for observe this as a maxime , that the sap does allways apend to the most tender shoots ) you may also intermix some abricots in the same place , which are to be governed after the same manner of the peaches . nursery . you shall plant your nursery , in some large bed or quarter of your garden , which lyes most remote from your dwelling , least when it shall appear like a grove or copse-wood , it hinders your prospect . plot. the plott designed , and the ground exquisitely piched and voyded of all manner of weeds and roots , you shall marke out with a line , and make holes every way , 2 foot large and 2 deep , distant 4 foot asunder , and the ranges also as wide from each other . then taking your grafted trees out of the seminary , you shall transplant them into this nursery ; nor is it materiall though the shoot be but of the first year they will serve well enough to replant ; and in that you shall punctually observe the rules which i have prescribed in planting of esphaliers and hedges , which is , to mingle some fine dung of the old bed with good mould , and making a little marke at the center of the holes , there you shall place your tree , extending the roots of it on every side , and allwaies drawing them downwards ; then fill the hole up to the very graft , and tread the mould about it to establish the tree . planting . note that the graft be almost levell with the ground for the greater ornament of the tree ; since it would be a very great eye-sore to see the knott or swelling where it was grafted , and especially in some whose graff is bigger then the stock which beares it , and so it makes an ilfavoured wreath at the closing which is very ugly and disagreeable . however you shall remember to plant somewhat hig●er when it has not bin long since the ground was trenc●ed , for as much as the dung underneath , when it begins to consume will make the tree to sinke . trees . as for trees in hedges and counter-hedges exposed to the south , one may set them four fingers lower then the soil , the better to refresh them ; and without any peril of striking out small roots , by reason of the drouth ; yet in case there should sprout any , the gardiner searching with his spade may cut them away , and give the knot a little air to stop their growth for the future . you shall likewise remember that ( if during the extream heats you will benefit your trees ) you put some mungy fearn , or half rotten dung about all their feet ; yet so as it do not touch the stemme : and thus you may spread it for a yard compass , and about four fingers thick ; this will both shade the roots , and exceedingly refresh the mould about them , preserving the earth from gaping in extremity of weather , by which oftentimes the tree languishes , and the small roots become dry : but if you a little stir the ground before you apply this dung , you will render a double advantage to your trees , for the earth will by this means maintain it self supple , and put forth no weeds through the dung . it will be requisite to have a nursery for three main considerations . the first is , that you may always have provision of trees , fit to supply the places of such as accidentally dye , or languishing do not thrive . the second is , to dis-incumber your seminary which will otherwise be too full and thick of young trees . and thirdly that you may spare some for the market , to recompence the expence of your first plantation ; and besides , they may yield you some fruit where they stand , which will extreamly please you ; add to this , that a tree which has been frequently transplanted , becomes a great deal more generous and kind then if it had bin immediatly drawn from the seminary only , and planted in his station to continue . disbranching . it is also convenient to have a nursery for those trees which are grafted upon the * free-stock ( as pears , apples , and others ) which you designe for trees of six foot stem , you cut off the top , or master root , and as the tree grows , to prune those branches neer the trunk , which suck too much of the moysture , or fork and deforms the tree ; but spare the smaller ones , that the stem may fortifie by stopping the sap in its course . there are very many which extreamly mistake themselves in this particular taking off all the branches upon the body of the tree to the place where they would have it head and so are constrained to set a prop or a stake to redress and secure it from the violence of impetuous winds , which bends and wrests the trunck , by reason of its weighty head which renders its top heavy , and hinders the body of the tree of its growth because the sap speedily passing upwards to the new shoots makes no halt by the way , as it would doe if some of the young branches were left . nipping . there is a season when to nip the bud and stop the trees whilst the sap is up : and the buds which may in this case be taken away , are such as most deforme the tree ; but you must ever spare those which will be fruit . and to distinguish them one from the other , such as have but one leafe apendant produce wood only , whereas those which are fruitfull are plentifully furnished with leaves . pruning . you may also prune off those yong shoots which are too exuberant , and that may draw too much sap from the tree to the prejudice of the rest of the branches : where therefore you observe this , you shall stop them at the third or fourth knot , and after it hath put forth its sap. they use also to prune in augustspring , as well to impeach its unhandsome spreading , as that it may ripen before winter and not starve the branches below , which must of necessity be cut off in february . if you desire to make a plantation of great trees in an orchard by themselves , you must of necessity graft them upon freestocks , and not upon the quince , that is to say , pears , and the apples upon the apples of paradise , for otherwise they will never become of any stature , but will be low and shrubbie . distance . you may plant your apple trees 30 foot distant , and your pears , plum-trees and other fruits 24 : forme . and be carefull that you plant them in the quincunx , that is , in lines which mutually cut at right angles . in such a plot of ground you may safely sow some seeds , and pulse , which will occasion you to open and stirr the ground ; for i advise you above all things not to permit any wild herbs or weeds in your orchard , rather restraine your self to a smaller circuit of ground , which you may manage well , then to undertake a larger , and neglect it for want of dressing . great orchards are admired , but the smaller better cultivated , and you shall receive more profit from a small spot well husbanded then from a large plantation which is neglected . section . v. concerning graffs , and the best directions how to choose them . graffing . there is a great deale of dificulty in the well choosing of grafts ; for upon that does depend their earely bearing , there being some which produce no fruit in ten or twelve years . the best grafts are those which grow upon the strongest and master branch of a tree , which is wont to be a good bearer and such a one as does promise a plentiful burden that year , and is thick of buds ; for hence it is that your young grafted trees , have fruit from the second or third year , and sometimes from the very first . whereas on the contrary , if you take a graft from a young tree which has not as yet borne fruit , that which you shall propagate from such a tree will not bear a long time after . ●noculating . the graffe or bud for the scutcheon , ought to be gathered in the moneth of august , at the decrease , and immediatly grafted or for a more certain rule , without such notice of the moon , observe when your wild-stock , and free are in the prime of their sap : for the escutcheon is allwaies fit enough , but the wild-stock does frequently fail of being disposed to receive it , for want of sap : as it commonly happens in an extreame drie summer where they shoot not at all , or very little in the agust-spring : and therfore if you have many trees to graft , loose no time , and be sure to begin early . season . you shall know whether your wilde-stock be in the vigour of his sap by two indications . the one is , by making incision , and lancing the bark with a pen-knife , and lifting it up ; if it quit the wood , there is sap sufficent ; but if it will not move readily , you must attend , till it ascend ; for it will else be but labour in vain , and prejudice your tree . the other is , when at the extremities of the branches of the wilde stock , you see the leaves of the new sap appear white and pallid , it is a symptome that the tree is in case , and fit to graffe . choyce . a graffe for the scutcheon shall be chosen from a shoot or syen of that year , mature and very fair ; for there are many which are thin and meagre at the points , and upon such you shall hardly finde one or two buds that are good : gather it neer to the shoot of the precedent year , cutting the upmost point in case you may not take off the scutcheons , and cut away also all the leaves to a moyety of the stalk . and the reason why i oblige you to cut off the top of the graffe , and its leaves so far , is , because if you spare them they will wither , and so drie all the graffe , that it will not be possible to separate the escutcheon from the wood , and besides all the leaves are worth nothing . time. if you defer your graffing till the morrow , or some dayes after they are gathered , you shall dip their ends in some vessel , the water not above two inches deep , till such time as you intend to graffe them , but if you will graff them on the same day , you need onely keep them fresh in some cabbage leaves , or moyst linnen clout . cleft . graffs for the cleft are to be gathered in the wain of the moon in ianuary , to the increase of it in february , and so continuing from moon to moon , till you perceive that the sap being too strong in the stock , separates the rinde from the wood . choyce . to choose a graff well for the cleft , my opinion is , that it should have of the wood of the * two saps of the precedent year , whereof the oldest will best accommodate with the cleft , and the other will shoot and bud best ; though i do not utterly reprove the graffing of the wood though but of one year ; but the tree will not bear fruit so soon . you shall gather your graffs at the top of the fairest branches , as i have formerly said , and you shall leave three fingers length of the first sap , or old wood , that you may cut your graffe with the greater case . to conserve them till you graffe , it is sufficient to cover them by bundles half wayes in the earth , their kindes distinguished , least if you should mingle them , and should graffe of two sorts upon the same same tree , you be constrained to cut one of them off ; since two several kindes of fruit do never agree well upon the same stem , the one hindring the other from arriving to its perfection by robbing it of the sap. sect . vi. the manner how to graffe . i have never observed above four several necessary manners of graffing , and from which you may hope for an assured success , the rest being more curious then profitable , seeing that by these four a man may graffe all sorts of trees and shrubs whatsoever . of these the escutcheon holds the preheminency ; for as much as it is applicable upon all sorts of trees , the most easy to do , and the soonest that bears fruit . the cleft or stock followes , and that as practicable upon the greater trees , and also upon the smaller , even to those of one inch diameter . the crown is not much in use , save upon trees of the largest size . the approch is not ordinarily practised , except it be upon orange , limmon trees , and other rare plants , such as we conserve in cases , and are therefore joyned with the more facility . inoculating to begin therefore with the escutcheon . your stock being stripped of all its small twigs the height of half a foot , or a little more , from the season that they use to cut trees ; or else deferred till graffing time , you shall choose out the fairest part of the bark of your stock , and if it be possible upon the quarter which is exposed to the most impetuous windes ; because they come sometimes so furiously , that they loosen the shield , being yet tender , and charged with branches and leaves ; which accident does not happen so frequently , when they are thus placed , as when they are graffed on the other side , though you should set supporters to uphold them . cut your escutcheon long enough , an inch or thereabout , and reasonably large , that it may derive sufficient nourishment ; be sure to take it off dextrously , and look within it , whether the sprout of the bud hold to it ; for if that stay behinde with the wood from whence you took it , it is worth nothing : you shall hold this in your mouth by the end of the stalk of the leaf , which i ordered you to reserve expressly when you gather your graffs ; then make incision upon your stock , and gently loosen the bark with the pointed handle of your knife , without rubbing it against the wood , for fear of scraping the sap which is underneath ; this done , place your scutcheon between the wood and the bark , thrusting it down till the head of the shield joyn with the incision at the top of your stock , and that it be even and flat upon the wood , which being performed , you shall binde it about with hemp , beginning to tie it very close above , neer the bud , then turning it below , leave the eye but a very small compass , and thus you shall finish your binding with a knot . season . be careful when you graffe , that it be neither during the excessive heat of the sun , nor in a rainy season , for the scutcheon will not endure to be wet , and it will be in great danger of not taking , if it rain the first four or five dayes immediatly after your inoculating . there are some who take off part of the wood with the shield , which they do with one cut of the knife , which manner of inoculating i do not disapprove : i have succeeded well in it my self , and besides in so doing , there is no danger of impeaching the bud of your scutcheon , that is , of leaving the eye of the bud behinde you . those which have many trees to inoculate use this way because it is more prompt & expedite . three weeks after you have inoculated ( or thereabout ) you may cut the knot of the ligature , that the sap may enjoy the freer intercourse . winter past , and the bud beginning to open , cut your stock three or four fingers above the scutcheon , and cut likewise the binding behinde it , and the rinde it self to the very wood ; this must be done at one gash of the knife , from the bottom to the top . howbeit you shall not take off the tow from about the scutcheon , but let it fall of it self ; for there is danger in quitting it , lest you press the bud , which is then extreamly tender : you shall not cut off the stub which remains beneath the scutcheon , till you prune the tree , which must be in february the year following . after your scutcheon has put forth its first sap , you may prune it at top , that it may shoot out branches about the eyes below , otherwise it will mount without forking , and so your dwarf will have no grace or beauty . the just season to stop them is in the decrease of the moon , when the sap of august shoots out ; you may then also , if you please , ●ut the wood of your stock which you left above the scutcheon , and cover the wound with good earth thinly mixed with hay , and making it a little hood , or more curiously , with a plaister of wax , mixed with a composition which i shall describe hereafter . if you will attend the issue of the winter following to cut the heel of your tree , you need not be obliged to wrap it up , and secure it thus , because the ascending sap will immediately cure it . i have observed , that a scutcheon set on a wilde or free-stock of about an inch diameter or more , does not prosper and shoot so well , as upon one that is younger , and besides , it is more subject to unglue . some there be that inoculate from the very first rise of the sap , but they do not much advance ; for the scutcheon not shooting till august , the sprout is nothing so fair as that of the close eye or shut bud , since it is frequently found that the wood of the new shoot never ripens , and the winter approaching kills it ; and therefore i counsel you not to inoculate so early , unlesse the necessitie be very urgent . in the cleft . in the cleft or stock , all sorts of trees from one inch bignesse to the greatest that are may be graffed : the most proper season for it , is from the beginning of the new moon in february , till the sap ( becoming too lustly in the tree ) separates the wood from the bark ; for then you shall leave off graffing . when you graffe in the cleft , if it be to make dwarfs , you must first saw your stock four inches , or thereabout , above ground , and then with your pruning-knife pare off the surface of the wood , where the saw has passed , about the thicknesse of a six-pence , because the track of the saw leaving it rugged will hinder the sap from healing the grated wood ; nor can the graffe joyn to its trunk unlesse the rinde be refreshed , and cut to the quick with the knife . when this is done , you shall cleave the stock where the bark appears most even , and least knotty ; and observe , that you never place your knife exactly in the middle of the tree , where the pith and heart of the wood is , but a little towards the side . then cut and fit your graff , sharpning all the old wood , as far as the new in fashion of a wedg , equal on both sides , yet leaving the two rindes fast to the wood in the narrowest parts ; for if once they be separated , your graff is good for nothing : then top your graffe three or four inches , more or lesse , according as it will bear it ; for as much as upon a small stock one would not leave them so long , as upon a great tree . thus prepared , you shall open the stock with a small wedge made of some tough wood , such as box , ebony or the like , striking it in gently , and then lodge your graffe at the edge of your stock , sinking it down as far as the new wood , and place it so that the parts through which the sap has intercourse ( which is mutual 'twixt the wood and the bark ) do exactly correspond . having thus lodged your graffe , you may place a second on the other end of the cleft , alway remembring to put two graffs into every cleft , provided that you can so place them that they be not contiguous ; for by this means they will sooner recover their stock , then if there were but one , because the sap ascends equally on both sides , and preserves the back side of the rinde from withering , as we have already said : after this you shall cover what remains of the cleft , 'twixt the two graffs , with a little of the thinnest and most tender bark , joyning it accurately to keep the water from entering in : then you shall make the hood with fine earth and hay ; some cover the hood with mosses , and with two short willow-rinds laid ' thwart one another , bind them on with an ozyer to the foot of the stock , to maintain them the more fresh , and preserve them from the water . when you graffe upon great trees , you shall choose the smoothest and most even branches to place your graffs upon , if they be very big you may lodge four upon it , making the cleft in forme of a crosse , yet without touching the pith of the tree , the remanent branches which you do not graffe , must be sawed off within half an inch of the stem , and then paring away the wood which the saw may have grated , you shall swathe it about with loam till the bark have healed the wound , to guard it from the scorching of the summer , and the frost of the winter , which would exceedingly prejudice it , by penetrating to the very heart of the tree . it will be good to apply some stayes to the branches which are graffed , to strengthen the young shoots , and secure them from the windes , till the second year be past , and that they are well established ; and if you finde any that grows disorderly , you shall cut it off , as also if they come too thick , and choke one another , by this means giving free air to the tree . upon your small wilde stocks , which will support but a single graffe , you shall cut the hinder part where you might place a second , to the very heart of the stock , slanting it in , like that part of a pipe which is applied to the nether lip , this will greatly contribute to its recovery . and when you graffe small stocks , which have not strength enough to fasten their graffs , you shall assist them , by binding them about with some tender twig of an ozier . now , albeit i did oblige you to choose a graffe with the old wood , yet i would not have you to cast away that which is but of one sap , nor the cuttings of those where you took the graffes of the two saps , because they are excellent , however they produce their fruit something later then the oher , nor do they bear so great a burthen ; and therefore unless it be in case of necessity , i would only use those which are of two saps . crown . graffing in the crown or 'twixt the wood and the bark is never practised , save upon old trees , whose rinde being very tough can indure the wedg without splitting , and which will not suffer the cleaving ( by reason of the thicknesse of the bark ) but with much difficulty , and besides it is a great hazard if it takes . to graffe in the crown , having sawed your tree at the place where you would graffe it , and pared away the raggednesse which the saw hath left to the quick , especially about the bark , you shall cut and sharpen your graffe but on one side , then str●ke in a small iron wedge 'twixt the wood and the rinde , and so taking out the wedge , set in your graffe , rinde to rinde , and wood to wood , to the full depth that it is sharpned . thus you may place as many as you please about the trunk , provided that their number do not split off , and cleave the bark . approch . to graffe by approch it is very easy ; for you have only to take two young branches , one of the free and graffed , and the other of the wilde stock , without separating them from their stems , and then paring away about four fingers breadth of bark , and wood till you approch neer to the pith , and so marry them together as dextrously as 't is possible , tying them about with raw hemp , from one end of the cut to the other , and so let them remain for two saps : then after a moneth or six weeks are expired , if you perceive the wood to swell , and that the ligature incommode them , you shall cut it upon the wilde stock , with one gash of your knife , as we taught you before on the scutcheon . at the beginning of winter , you may cut and sever the natural tree from its stock , and cut away the head of the stock within two inches of its graffe , and thus these two twigs concorporating , it will receive t●e nourishment of the wilde stock . r●member to cover the wounds of them both , with the wax , which i shall hereafter instruct you how to make . you shall not cast those twigs into the fire which you cut off from the quince , which you graffed in the cleft , for you may reserve the cuttings , which will strike root the first year , and must be set in your nursery to be graffed when they are ready , and what you prune off from the q●ince trees during winter , will be very good for this purpose . the prunings of the pomme de parradis , which they call the scion , will also take in layers . cuttings layers . all sorts of cuttings are to be planted in a small trench , such as we described in the nursery , which may be about the breadth and depth of a s●ade-bit : but first strip off the leaves , and cut them slan●ing at the great ends , in form of a does foot , and so you shall lay them at the bottom of your trench very thick , one by an●ther , because there will many of them die ; and let their small ends appear above ground , and so cover them , and fill the trench , pressing it well down upon the cutting , that the ayr do not enter , and when you dress them , cleanse them only with a haw , that the weeds do not choke them , and it will suffice . then cut off the tops of your layers all of an evennesse , within three fingers of the ground , and that especially when you perceive the sap to be rising , which you shall finde by the verdure of their buds , which never shoot when the scion begins to take root . you may not cut , or stop the first years shoots , fearing lest they put forth their buds beneath at august , which will hardly come to maturity : it were better stay till february , and then leave them as the tree will best support it , and in such places as you des●re they should shoot , rubbing off such as pe●p before , behinde , and in other unprofitable places . this opposes the opinion of many , but experience makes me persist in my own . sect . vii . of trees and shrubs in particular , how they are to be governed , and their maladies cured . trees . i thought it requisite to make a chapter apart , to comprehend in particular , all that we have spoken in general , in the several precedent sections , and that for the avoyding of confusion , and to the end , that in case there were any thing which might seem difficult to you ( though i have much endeavoured to render my self intelligible in the simplest terms , and the most vulgar that our language will bear , that i might be understood of all , and profit them by it ) i might more perspicuously explain it , in particularizing all sorts of fruits , which we in france do usually furnish our gardens withall . pears . i will therefore set pears in the first place , as those which of all others bear the most rarity of fruit , and are the principal ornament of the walls , contr ' espaliers and bushes of a garden , from whence we may gather fruit in their perfection during six moneths of the year at least , and for that it is a fruit which one may in great part keep till the new ones supply us again , and that without shriveling , or any impeachment of their taste , a thing which we finde not in any other fruit besides . graffing . all sorts of pear-trees may be graffed after any of the four precedent manners , but they succeed incomparably upon the quince , and in the scutcheon produce their fruit much earlier , and that fairer , ruddy , and of greater size , then when they are graffed upon the free-stock , excepting only the portail , which often misses taking upon the quince , and will therefore hit better upon the free-stock : the summer bon chrestien and the vallee are very fit for it , and if they have been formerly graffed upon the quince , it is the better , for it will render the fruit a great deal more beautiful , and fair . and in case that any graffed either in scutcheon or the cle●t upon the quince fortune not to take , and that you conceive it to be dead , let the stock shoot , it will produce wood sufficient , which you may clear of all the small branches , and at the neer expiration of the winter following , you shall earth it up at the ends in forme of a great mole-hill , leaving out the extreams of the branches , without cutting them off , and they will not fail to strike root the same year , provided that you remember to water them sometimes during the great heats , and that you do not suffer the rain to demolish the earth about them , which must be continnally maintained in its first height ; and if in the same year , you finde any of those branches strong enough inoculate them without any more ado , unlesse you will choose rather to stay till the next year and graffe them all together ; every one of these will be as so many trees to your hand , which you may plant in your nursery , the year after they have made their first shoot , accurately separating them from the mother-stock , and cutting the ends of their great root aslant . remember to graffe them conveniently high , that your tree may have sufficient stem , and all that part which is in earth will abound with small root● ▪ if you have any old quince-trees , and would raise young suckers from them , lay some of the branches in the ground , and in one year they will be rooted : but in case you desire to produce a tree at once ; you may effect it as i have already described it . the season of laying these branches is all the winter long , till the buds begin to spring , provided that the earth be qualified . apples . apple-trees challenge the second place , and may be likewise graffed after all the four wayes , they succeed very well upon the scion of the pear-main grafted on layers of the tree ( called by the french * pommier de parradis ) and in particular the queen-apple do●s wonderfully prosper upon it , and is more red within , then those which are graffed upon the free-stock . there are some curious persons who graffe the q●een-apple upon the white mulbery , and hold that the fruit does surpasse in rednesse , all others that are graffed , either on the free-stock , or the forementioned scion : but my opinion is , that it is the age of the trees only which imparts that colour to them . plum. plum-trees are ordinarily graffed in scutcheon and in the cleft , if you have any stocks rais'd from the stones , or the suckers which spring from the damask-plum , they will yield very good trees , and bring abundance of fruit , there being no plum whatsoever which bears so full as the damask . the wilde-plum ( which you shall know by the rednesse of the ends of the branches ) is not fit at all to graffe upon , for it rejects many kinds of fruits , and is besides very uncertain to take . your old plum-trees , whose small twigs grow in bundles and puckles , may be recovered and made young again , by taking off the head of them at the end of winter ; they will shoot anew , and bear fruit the very year following : but you must cloame the heads of the wounded branches , and refresh the tract of the saw , as i directed you before . abricots . abricots are grafted either in the stock , or in the bud , upon plants springing of their own stones , and also upon a plum-stock , but the white pear-plum , and moyend ' oeuf make a very fair abricot , and much larger then upon any other sort of plum. peaches . peaches , perses and * pavies , are ordinarily graffed by inoculation upon a peach , plum , or almond tree , but i prefer the plum , because they are of longer continuance , and do better resist the frosts , and the pernicious winds , which shrivel and rust the leaves , and the young shoots . the white plum , or poictrons are not at all proper , but the black damask , * cyprus , and * st. iulian. such as are budded on the peach do not last , upon the almond somewhat longer , and produce more abundance and much better fruit : but there is so much difficulty of governing the almond-tree in our climate , that one had better content himself with plum-stocks ; for the almond is very impatient of transplantation , and in great danger of perishing , if you remove him not the first , or second year at farthest , after he has made the first shoot : and besides , you must be sure to place him where he is ever to abide , and bud him there , without thought of stirring him afterwards . the almond-tree is of all others the most obnoxious to frosts , by reason of his early blossoming ; all the good in him is this , that he never sends forth any suckers from the root . cherries . cherries , bigarreaux and the like fruits are better propagated on the small wilde , or bitter cherrie , then upon the suckers which spring from the roots of other cherrie-trees of a better kinde , though tollerable in defect of the other : and the right season to bud them , is , when the fruit begins to blush , and take colour . they do very well graffed in the stock , and shoot wonderfully , but the bud is much to be preserved . they have of late found out an expedient to prevent the gumme which incommodes the graffes and clefts of cherry-trees , to which they are wonderfully obnoxious : and that is , by sawing and paring the part smooth with a knife , afterwards to make an incision of two inches length into the first and utmost rinde , drawing it aside , and separating it from the green some two inches long , without peeling it quite off : then in the middle of this length to make the cleft lodge the graff , and cover it with this skin , by replacing it ; and then swathe it , as the custome is . for stones and almonds of all sorts , which you would sow to produce natural fruit or graffe upon : prepare a bed of earth before winter , trench it , and tread it , then rake and water it : which done , range all your stones on it at three inches distance , ( every species apart ) then lay as many boards upon them as wil cover the bed , and upon the boards a good quantity of weighty stones ; cover all this with new dung to prevent the frost : the moneth of may following take up your boards : you shall finde your stones sprouted ; which you shall immediately take up without impeaching the sprouts , and so place them where you would have them remain : this is a particular which will extreamly satisfie you , as in time you will finde . figs. figs of all sorts are propagated by layers , and suddenly bear fruit , which you may facilitate by passing a fair branch through some bushel or bushels , and environing it with rich earth , that it may take root . but be careful that you fasten the vessel very well to the side of the tree , lest the windes and its own weight turn it over , and ruine your labour . you may also take the suckers which spring out of the earth from the foot of a fig-tree ready rooted , or the cuttings , which you may cultivate and govern after the manner of quinces ; but yet without cutting off the tops of the branches which you so lay , for this wood having a large pith , is very subject to the iniury of winde and water : and the sooner you plant these trees in the places designed for their abode , the better they will take . winter past , gather off all the unripe figs before they fall off themselves , for if they stay till they spontaneously quit the trees , they will have exhausted them very much of their sap , to the great prejudice of the figs which are to succeed them , and which by neglecting this do oftentimes never arrive to their maturity . and forasmuch as the fig-tree does very much suffer by reason of the frosts , you are obliged to plant them in a warm place , or in cases , which you may remove and house with your orange-trees in the winter . mulberies take likewise of cuttings and layers , pricking them in a moyst place , half a ●oot profound , not permitting above three fingers of the tops to peer out of the earth , and treading it down with your feet as you should do quinces . if you would sowe mulberies , to produce a great quantity in a little ground ; take an old well-rope , which is made of a certain wood called the bline , easy to be twisted , and rub it with such ripe mulberies as you finde fallen off the tree ; bury this cord four fingers deep in a trench , cover it with earth : and the next year you shall have trees enough both to store your self and your friends . oranges . limmons . concerning orange and limmon-trees , i shall only deliver the principal and most ordinary government of them , which is to sowe their repins in boxes , and when they are two years old , transplant them in cases , every one in a case by it self , filled with rich mellon bed-mould , mingled with loam refined and matur'd by one winter , and when they can well support it , you may either inoculate , or graffe them by approch in the spring of the year : above all things , be diligent to secure them from cold , and commit them early to their shelter , where , that they may intirely be preserved from the frost , you may give them a gentle stove , and attemper the air with a fire of charcoal , during the extream rigour of the winter , in case you suspect the frost has at all invaded them . but so soon as the spring appears , and that the frosts are intirely past , you may acquaint them with the air by degrees , beginning first to open the doors of the conservatory in the heat of the day , and shutting them again at night , and so by little and little you may set open the windowes , and shut them again in the evening , till all danger is past , and then you may bring them forth , and expose them boldly to the ayr during all the summer following . as these trees grow big , you may change and enlarge their cases , but be sure to take them out earth and all , razing the stringy and fiberous roots , a little with a knife , before you replace them , and supplying what their new cases may want , with the fore-described mould : some when they alter their cases denude them of all the earth , conceiving it exhausted and insipid : but it is to the extream prejudice of the tree , and does set it so far back , that a year or two will hardly recover it . you may gather the flowers every day , to prevent their knotting into fruit , or ( being too luxurious ) their languishing ; it will suffice therefore that you spare some of the fairest , and best placed for fruit , and of them as many as you conceive the tree can well nourish . the spiders do extreamly affect to spread their toyles among the branches and leaves of this tree , because the flies so much frequent their flowers and leaves , which attract them with their redolency and juice , and to remedy this , use such a brush as is made to cleanse pictures withal , from the dust , but treat them tenderly . shrubs . arbusts and all shrubs , such as pome-granads , iassemins , musk-roses , &c. woodbines , myrtles , ordinary laurel , cherry-laurel , r●se-laurel , althea-frutex , lilac , guelder-roses , phylirea , alaternus , and divers more superfluous to repeat here ; of these we will only take the principal , and discourse a little upon them . granads . granads , as well those which bear the double flower , are propagated from layers , letting them passe the year in the ground , they will be sufficiently rooted before winter , to be transplanted : you may likewise govern their branches and cuttings as you did the quince . they may be either budded , or graffed in the cleft in the ordinary season : and some plant them in cases to preserve them in the house during winter ; but they will endure without doors , planted against some well-sheltered wall , where they will prosper very well . the granads which they call de raguignan , are most beautiful , very glowing , and of a rich taste , although something lesse . if your pome-granads run out too exuberant , and neither knot , nor preserve their fruit ; it proceeds from the drouth of the ground ; and therefore being in flower , you should water them , and their flowers will stop and knit . jass●mine common white iassemine , and yellow , are produced also by layers , out of which you may draw a rooted plant whereon to graffe the spanish iassemine , which you must preserve in cases , and house with your oranges in winter ; you shall cut it every year , ( at the end of winter ) neer the graft , leaving but one bud at a twig to produce young shoots for flowers : you may form the plant like the head of an ozier , leaving it only a foot high at the stem : you may graffe it in cleft , upon a shoot of the precedent year , placing the graffe in the middle of the pith of its stock , and inveloping it with your cerecloth , head it as you do other graffes : if you will plant it abroad against some wall expos'd to the east or south , you may govern it as you do the vine , making small heads at each knot : but you must loosen it from the wall in winter , and gently bend it towards the ground , the more commodiously to cover it with mats and long dung till the spring , at what time you may redress , prune and apply it to the wall as before . musk-rose the musk-rose may be budded upon a sweet-brier , and are easily ordered ; for you need onely discharge them of the dead wood , and stop the young shoots which are too exuberant , and draw away all the sap to the prejudice of the rest of the branches : you may also lay them in the ground , and separate other trees from them ; or the cuttings ordered like quinces , and interred in the shade . myrtl●s . laurels . myrtles , cherry-laurels and rose-laurels , are produced of layers . it is sufficient that it be done a little before august ; but you should cleave or wound that part of the wood a little which you plunge into the ground , at some joynt , cleaving it half the thicknesse of the branch , and three or four fingers in length , according as it is in strength , and in six weeks they will shoot a sufficient root to be severed and transplanted ; moreover they produce suckers ready rooted , which you may separate from their mothers . you may forme cherry-laurels in palisades and hedges , which support the winter abroad very well . common laurels are rais'd of seed in cases like oranges , and may be transplanted the first or second year , and being planted under the drip ( not the gutter ) of a house shaded from the sun , they will flourish wonderfully : some cover them with fearn or straw , to secure them from the frosts , to which they are obnoxious . phyliriea . alaternus phylirea and alaternus are sown likewise in cases before winter , and set in the house , where the berries will come up and sprout a great deal better , then if they had been sown at the spring . by that time they are half a foot high you may transplant them , and ( if you please ) clip and fashion them like box without any danger , shaping them into close walks and cabinets , upon frames of wood , as you will. althea-frutex . arbor . judae . lilac . concerning the rest , as althea-frutex , arbor iudae , lilac , &c. being plants which are easily propagated , i shall pass them over for fear of swelling this book , and importuning the reader . let us conclude rather with the diseases to which our trees and plants are obnoxious , and speak of those animals which incommode them . diseases . of all the maladies to which trees are subject , the canker is the most perilous , for it chaps and mortifies that part of the bark where it breeds , daily augmenting , unless prevented by a prompt and speedy remedy , so soon as it is perceived ; so that if you neglect to visit your trees , you shall often finde them all dead upon one side : to remedy which you must launce and open the living bark round to the very quick as deep as the wood , and so the canker will fall of it self : or else you must scrape it well , that the bark may the more easily recover , the sore ; and secure it from the hail , by covering it with a little cow-dung , and swathing it with a clout of some mosse . moss . the mosse which invades trees proceeds commonly from some occult and hidden cause , which is , when the roots encounter with a gravelly , sandy or other bad mould , so that they cannot penetrate to search for refreshment ; this burns up the tree , and spoils it of his leaves , during the great hea●s . for this , there is only this expedient . if it be a small tree , you must take it up with as much mould about its root as possible , and make a pit for it four foot square , filling the bottom with mellon-bed-dung , and the rest with rich earth , and then replace the tree , observing what i have already said ; and thus the tree may be taken up without any damage , and will take again with ease , provided that you be careful to preserve its rootes from languishing and taking ayr. but in case the tree be old , you must bare the root before winter , and dis-interre the greatest roots half their thickness , making a large trench about the foot of the tree , and so let it remain all winter ( that the earth may become mellow ) till the spring , when you must fill the apertures with well consum'd dung mixed with earth , and especially about the roots ▪ you may take off the mosse from great trees with a plane , lightly paring off the dry surface of the bark ; and from smaller trees with a blunt knife , or some proper instrument of wood . the properest season for this work is after a soaking rain , or great dew in the morning ; for whilst the great heats continue , it cleaves so obstinatly to the trees , that you cannot scrape it off without prejudicing the bark , if you would utterly eradicate it : neither ought you to neglect this cure , for the mosse undisturbed doth daily augment , and is the same inconvenience to trees that the itch is to animals . if you water your trees during the excessive heats , and cover the roots with fern , or other mungy stuff , it will preserve them from this disease . jaundies . the iaundies or languor , which you may perceive by the leaves of trees , proceed from some hurt , which either the mols , or mice , may have done to their rootes ; or by the stroake of some spade or peradventure by the too great aboundance of water which corrupting suffocates them . for redresse hereof you must uncover the roots intirely , and visite them , to see if they have received any prejudice from any of the forementioned accidents ; and in case you finde any galling or hurt upon a roote , you shall cut it smooth off , aslant , above , but neare the place , and then strow the bottom of the hole with some chimny-soote to make these creatures abandon their haunt filling up the rest with rich mould ; and if the cause proceed from corrupted water , you must divert it with a trench . moles . to take the moles , some place a butter-pot crosse their passage sinking it two fingers lower then the tract , by which meanes they often fall in and perish . others use a pipe of wood of about two foot long , and the bore as big as your wrist , in this trunk is a small tongue of tin or thin plate of iron within four fingers of either end , which is fastned to the trunk with a wyer a little slanting at the bottom towards the middle of the pipe ; that so the mole entring in , and thrusting the tongue can neither get out at one end or other : you must place this trunke exactly in the moles passage : some to make them quit an obstinate haunt make a small hoop of elder , which they six halfe a foot into the ground . but the most infallible way is , to watch them in the morning and evening , when they worke in their hills , and to fling them dextrously out with the spade . if you take any alive , put them in an empty butterpott , for they report , that they will invite others by their cry , who running through the same passage fall into the same pot and so are caught . they are destroyed likewise with mole-graines , which is a set of sharp iron points , skrewed upon a staffe , which struck upon the hill when the mole is working , does certainly pierce him through , amaze , or kill as you shall finde if you dig immediatly after it . mice . field-nice are best taken by making them a small hutt of ferne or straw , like the cover or hack of a bee-hive , placing under it some vessell full of water filled within 4 fingers of the brim , and cover it with some husks of oats to hide the water which will soon tempt them to wallow in 't , and ●earch for the grain , and so drown themselves . it is good also to put some wheat-ears or of oates , which may hang near the middle of the vessell , without touching it ; for the mice striving to come at the corne will fall into the water . or you may poyson them with arsenick or ratts-bane the powder of it mingled with grease ; but you may by this means endanger your catts , which finding and eating the dead mice will not long survive them . worms . the worme getts sometimes between the barke and body of a tree : if you can discover whereabout they lie , you may soon draw them out without making any great incision . there is also another kind of small worme , which they call the nip-bud which breeds at the very poynt of young shoots , and kills all their tops ; but these are easily destroyed , for cutting the branch to the quick , you shall be sure to find them . there is a green-worme which devoures the young shoots as fast as they grow , and those are very hard to un-nestle , unless you daub them with quick-lime newly quinched , which you may easily do with a small painters brush . ants. ants and pismires will forsake their haunt , if you incompasse the stemme four fingers breadth with a circle or roule of wooll newly plucked from a sheeps belly , or if you anoint it with tarre . but there is an other expedient more cleanly and not so difficult , which is to make little boxes of cards or pastboard pierced full of holes with a bodkin , every box having a baite of the powder of arsenick mingled with a little hony ; these boxes must be hung upon the tree , and this wil certainly destroy them ; but you must be carefull that you do not make the holes so large that a bee may enter least they poison themselves also . a glasse-bottle with a little hony in it , or that has had any other sweet liquor in it fastned to the tree , will attract all the ants , which you may stop , and kill them , by washing the bottle with a little hot water ; then carrying it to its place again rinced with a little sweet syrup , you will by this meanes intirely destroy them . snails . shell-s●ailes you may easily gather from behinde the leaves which grow neerest to the fruit which they begun to eat the night before . for yor shall find some fruit half devoured in one night , insomuch as one would think it the work of some stotes , field-rats , or nut-mouse , whereas indeed they are nothing but the snailes which in great numbers devonr as much as one of those animals . you should never pluck off the fruit which the snails or other vermine have begun , for as long as they last , they will not touch any of the rest . the black snails ( without shell ) are easily gathered , for they cleave to the leaves , and feed upon them . woodlice . earwigs . as for wood-lyce , earwigs , martinets , and the smaller insects which likewise infest trees , you shall place ho●fs of bullocks , sheep or hogs , upon short stakes fixed in the ground , or upon the ozyers which fasten your palisades , and wall-fruit , and this chase will employ two men from morning break , who must take them gently , but speedily off , and shake them into a kettle of scalding water , which they are to carry with them ; or the other may bruise such as are likely to escape with some instrument of wood . cater-pillars . caterpillars are easily gathered off during all the winter , taking away the packets which cleave about the branches , and burning them ; but if you neglect this , till they are disclos'd , you will not be able to destroy them without much difficulty : but in case you have not prevented it , be diligent to take them whilst they are yet young , when either through the coldnesse of the night , or some humidity , they are assembled together in heaps ; for otherwise ; when the sun is hot , and that it is high day , they will have over-spread your trees . and the destruction of these vermine is so absolutely necessary , that you shall quit all manner work to accomplish it ; for a garden anoy'd with this plague but one year only , shall resent it more then three years after . and now we will shut up this treatise with the receipt which i promised to give you of the composition to cover your graffs . the composition to hood your grafs . take then half a pound of new wax , as much burgundy pitch , two ounces of ordinary turpentine , melt all these ingredients in a new earthen pot , glazed , sufficiently stirring it ; then let it cool at least twelve hours , then break it into pieces , and hold them in warm water half an hour , where you must work it with your hands , till it become very pliable . or you may dip any clouts in this composition , and afterwards cut them out into plasters , fitted to the wounds of your trees , which will lesse waste your store , and not take up so much of your composition as if you applyed it in morsels ; and you may make use of this cerecloth to cover the clefts of your trees , which gape between a stock that hath two graffs , and secure it from the rain ; and you may winde it about the hoods , before you daub them with loam and hay , and this will certainly preserve your graffs from all injuries of water whatsoever . to make fruit knot . there are some so curious , that to make their fruit knot well , and abide upon such trees , which spend all in blossoms , do make holes in divers parts of the tree with an auger of about a finger bore , filling the hole again with a pin of oak , which they beat in quite crosse the tree . this they conceive does stop the fruit . you may experiment it if you please , the labour is not great , nor at all to the hazard of your tree . a catalogue of the names of fruits known about paris . pears whose fruit is in perfection at the end of iune , and in iuly . small blanquet . hasty pear of several sorts . musk-pear , or sept en gueule , &c. the musky st. john. in iuly and in august . the great amyret . lesser amyre● . little john amyret . good twice a year . camouzines . lady-dear muscat . lady-dear green. citron-pear . cocquin rozat . ladies thigh . madera-pear . desgranges yellow . two headed pear . sweet two sorts . vacher rozatte . espargne . fine gold long stalk . fine gold of orleans . fine gold , great , round and rosse . friquet . gloutes de gap. magdalene . muscat long tayl . pearl muscat . great musky white and yellow . the great muzette . small muzette . perdreau . the pearl . pernant rozat . province pear . pucell of xainctonge . green royal. rozat of three colours . rozat red , straked with green. rozat royal. the king of the sommer . the superintendent , or great green musk. in august and september . the amazon . amours . amydon . armentieres . balme . the father in law. fair and good. sommer bergamotte . great blanquet . the butter-pear of august , long and round . green butter-pear . beuueriere . bezy of mouuilliers . sommer green bon-chrestien . the good micet of coyeux . the ugly-good . the younger brother . the rosy musk-flint . the maidens flesh . the wax-pear . the citron pear . the melt in mouth . rosy daverat . golden pear . white ladder pear . spicing . the forrest pear . the ditch pear . musky ant pear . the mangy pears . rosy garbot . the cake pear . giacçiole of rome . long gillets . gracçioli , or cowcumber pear round and red . the greasie pear . the jealous pear . jargonelle . jouars . the red and yellow balsam pear . milan pears . muscadel of piedmont . round and rosie muscat . nançy muscats . summer novelet . summer onion . musky onionet . d' or. the red orange of xainctonge , red and very great . yellow orange , pennach't with red like a tulip . orange knotted . flat green orange . canarie palmes . perfume of sommer . passe-good of burgogne . pepin . white and red piedmont . sommer portugal . putes , or pimp-pear . xaintogne rosy of three sorts . ingranad rosy . round rosie , green mixed with red . grey rosie of xaintonge . rosie or hasty butter-pear . bloody pear . wilde sweeting . sorel pear . the sugar pear . white sugar pear . the treasurer . the cheat-liquorish . the turky pear . the valley pear . clown of anjou . clown of reatte . in september and october . an●y , the english pear the goose's bill . long and green butter-pear . caillouat of champagne . the musky calvill . the cinnamon pear . cappon . the long clairvils . sommer certeau . the toad-pear . the deans pear , white , or st. michaels pear . the thorn pear . fontarabie . galore . the clove pear . the round clove . grain . rozatte guamont . high relish . jargonell of autumn . rosie kerville . the sawcy pears . the lombardy pear . the meilleraye pear . the flies pear , or soft butter . monsieurs pear . small melt in mouth . the muscat . mont dieu . the moutieres of daulphine . oignon of xaintonge . the poictiers . the rebet . the roland ▪ the great russet of rheims . small russet . long rosy poud'red with red . rosie green two sorts . st. michael . st. samson , or ditch pear . champagne without name . sausedge pear . rozatte of september . supreams . the pear of three tastes . the found-pear . vintage pears . ysambert . pear evelyn . in october and november . amadotte . the silver pear . the bag pipe pear . the ice pear . the great stalked pear . ugly-good . the lady pear . the great mary of amiens . messire john , green . the grey messire john. my lords pear . the autumn marrow in mouth . the peach-pear . the noiron . the virgin of flanders . the double virgins . robine . king of saulçay . king musky pear , all yellow . autumnal saffran pear . the seigneur . the sun-pear . the so-good . the vine-pear . the virgoulette : great and small . in november and december . aleaume . the musk long bergamo●s . the round betgamots . bezy d' hery . carisy . the double cartelle , the burnt cat. the charity pear . stopple-pear . the squib-pear . spindle-pear . girogille , or venus nipple . our lady-pear . the autumn pear . winter virgins . king of autumn . the peerlesse pear . white sucrin . black sucrin . in december and ianuary . the namelesse pear . gascogne bergamotte . musk-bon-chrestien . bonne foy. the ugly morma . cadillac-pear . certeau madam . pear of the other world . the pound pear . the scarlet pear . the fig pear . the winter flower . free royal. the great mesnil . keville . the dry martins . winter messire john. the white milan pear . the onionet with a short stalk . the orient pear . the leaden pear . the red king pear . the rosie saffran . the rozat of st. denis . the healthy pear . the saulsig-pear . the wreathed pear of two sorts . the cheat knave or ugly good . the priests load . in ianuary and february . the alençon pear . the amber pear . the lovers pear . bezy of privillier . bezy of quassoy . the winter butter p. of xaintonge the butter pear of yveteaux . the bouvart pear . the musk caillotet , or curdled p. the caillouat of varennes . the winter rosie flint . the carcassonne . the great certeau . the carmelite . the small hooked certeau . the castle gontier . the condon . the little dagobert . the dagobert of miossan . dame houdette . the red ladder pear . winter fine gold. rosy florentine . the fremont , or st. franceis . the winter spindle . the garay of auxois . the gourmandine . the huge hongrie . the incognito of persia. the winter legat. the sweet limon . the long green pear of berny . the micet . winter melt in mouth . the fleshy stalk muscat . the mazeray muscat . the winter bag-pipe . nanterre . the o●gnon of st. john of angely . the winter orenge-pear . the rose perigord . the petit oing . plotot , or squat pear . portail-pear . the prince or bourbon . the prince of sillery . the white rabu . the great and little ratot . the pear royal. rozatte of xaintonge . rozatte of mazuere . st. anthony-pear . the suisse with red , green , and yellow cheeks . the greening . the valladolid . the winter clown . in february and the other following moneths till new ones . bezy . the latter bon-chrestien . the great chrestien . calo rozat . the gallon oak-pear of severall sorts . the double blossom pear . gastelier . the great kairville . liquet . the long-liv'd pear . the long green pear . the musk pear . the parmein . the winter virgin. rille . the winter saffran pear . the peerlesse pear . the thoul pear . the great found pear . the little found pear . the vignolettes . rath-ripe apples . danquelles . the white calvil . the cleer calvil . the red calvil . queen apple . white camoise . carmagnolles . the tender chesnut . the clicquet , or rattle apple . the single short-start . red short-start . the great cushion apple . round cushion apple . long cushion apple . the apple of hell , or black apple . the scarlet apple . the spicing . the may-flower . the raspis apple . giradottes . the frozen apple . the great-ey'd apple . the jacob apple . lugelles . magdalene . the minion . the snow apple . our ladies apple . the oblong lissee . orgeran . passepommes or hony meal of several kindes . pommasses . the white rambourg . red rambourg . the hasty reinette or pippni . the royal. the dewy apple . the large red of september . the soft red . the st. john of two sorts . the clustred apple . the vignan court. the march violet . keeping apples . the great , and small apis , or appius claudius . the apioles . the parsly apple . babichet . the great white apple . the lcy white apple . the little-good . the white apple of bretagne . the red apple of bretagne . the cardinal . camuese , or flat snout . winter-chesnut . the citron-apple . the coqueret of several sorts . hard short-start . red short-start . russet short-start . douettes . the bretagne cloth of gold. the stranger . white fenouill . red fenouill . the yron apple . the great belly'd woman . the high-good . horluva . jayet . the judea apple . malingres , or maligar apple . mattranges . winter passe-pommes , or hony-meal . the pigeonnet . pear-apple . the raeslee . the reinet of auv●rgne . pippin of mascons . the grey reinet . the flat reinet . robillard . the winter reed . the rose apple . the apple without blossom . health . the seigneur . the vermillion . plums early and late : abricots . abricotines . amber . the great appetite . bessonne or twin-plum . all saints , white . blosses . good at christmas . prunella of provence . citron prunellas . white cherry-plum . red little cherry-plum . round citrons . pointed citron . pigeons heart . cypres . almond . the white damask . great double damask . the latter grey damask . the hasty black damask . musky black damask . the violet damask . white date . red date . great dattille . datilles . black diapred . white diapred . the escarcelle . the double flower . high good. great imperial . round imperial . joinville . jorases . green peascod . maximilian . merveille , or balsam plum . mirabolans . mirabelles . the looking-glasse . the egge yolk . yolk of bourgogne . monsieurs plum. montmiret . musk the passe for velvet of valency . white black red perdrigon . late green great violet . poictron . small grape plum. queen claudia . cocles kidney . roche corbon . roman . latter round . king of bresse . little st. anthony . st. catharine . st. cir. the white st. julien . black st. julien . huge saluces of two sorts . the plum without stone . simiennes . black trudennes . red trudennes . the vacation plum. the black vintage . verdach . peaches . great alberges . small alberges . alberges of province . aubicons . almond peach . amber peach . angelicks . white forward peach . yellow forward peach . great brignons of bearn . musky brignons . cherry peach . corbeil peaches . winter hard peach . double-flower peach . gallion peach very fair . yellow pavie . magdalen pavie . magdalene peach . white mircoton . yellow mircoton . mircoton of jarnac . nutmeg peach . parcouppes , or gashed peach . pau-peach . prune-peach . pavies-raves . peach-rave . persiques . persilles , or parsly peach . rossan peach . white scandalis . black scandalis . yellow peach . troy peach . the fromentee peach . the violet peach . cherries , heart-cherries , &c. bigarreaux . red cherrie . white cherrie . double blossom cherrie . heart-cherrie . preserving cherry , great . sweet guin cherries . white guin cherries . black guin cherries . merizettes . double blossom merizier . mountmorency cherry , short stalk . rath-ripe : or may. trochets clustred , or flanders cherrie . the all saints cherrie . figs , white figs. bourjassotes . bourno-saintes . flower-fig . gourravaund of languedoc . marseilles fig. white dwarfe . violet dwarfe . violet fig. oranges . bigarrades . china-orange . spanish genoa orange . portugall province limons and citrons . limonchali . limoni cedri . limoni dorsi . limoni of grarita . sweet limons . pommes d' adam . poncilles . spada fora with laurel leaves . other curious trees . arbutus . azarollier , or neapolitan medlar . carob-tree . cornelian . jujuba . mirabolans of africa . medlars without stone . pistachia . berberies without stone . reader , if in this catalogue of fruits , i have either mistaken or omitted many of the true english names , it is because it was a subjection too insupportable : and besides the french gardiners themselves are not perfectly accorded concerning them ; nor have our orchards , as yet , attained to so ample a choyce and universal , as to supply the deficiency of the dictionary . the second treatise . section 1. of melons , cucumbers , gourds , and their kindes . melons . since melons are the most precious fruits that your kitchen garden affords , i think it most proper to discourse of them in the front of this chapter , & instruct you how you ought to govern them in this our climate , for which alone , i have calculated all these observations passing by those which ( differing from ours ) may possibly fill you with doubt , should i confound you with the manner how they order them in the hotter countreyes , different from ours , more temperate , and cold in respect to these delicate fruits . seeds . in order to this intention of ours , which is , that we may have them excellent : you must diligently enquire after the best seeds , such as you may procure out of italy , from lions , tours , anjou , champagne , and other places , where men emulate one another who shall have the best melons . also to have of all the kindes , sucrin , morin , melonnes , grenots , white , wraught , or embrod'red , ribb'd , and others , even to the locking up of those seedes whose fruite has pleased you ; for some affect them of one tast , which another will reject , and hold worth nothing . one loves to eat them a little greene , another would have them very ripe . and therefore you shall furnish your self with such kindes as are most agreeable to your tast , and as thrive and ripen best in your ground , which is the thing you must chiefly respect ; for oftentimes there comes such raines from august as uterly spoyl them ; depriving them both of odor , savor , and colour , filling them so with water that they are not to be eaten , and ●ipening them so altogether , that they are only ●it to be given to horses , who extreamly affect them ; in briefe , these rains spoyl , and utterly destroy your meloniere , where you have bestowed so much care , and the paines of five or six moneths are lost , without gratifying you with the least of your hopes ; and therefore you should endeavour to have them early that you may prevent these inconveniences . in those countryes where they raise great store with little trouble ; but plant them in the open ground , as we do cabbages , as soon as the rains come , they give over eating them , and think them as bad as poyson . plo● . to begin then your meloniere , or melon plot , you shall choose a place in your garden the most secured from pernicious winds , which you shall close in with a reede-hedge handsomely bound in pannells , which you shall set up with sufficient stakes or posts fixed in the ground , and sustained , lest the windes overturne them : to this enclosure you must make a door , which you shall keep under lock and key , that none molest your plantation ; and particularly to keep out women-kinde at certaine times , for reasons you may imagine . f●gure the figure at the frontispiece of this treatise , will easily instruct you in what manner you should inclose your melon ground . in this parke , which may be of what extent you think good , you shall make beds of horse-dung , such as you have provided the winter before and heaped up together in some place neer your meloniere , as fast as it is throwne forth of the stable . season . about midd-february you shall begin to prepare a bed for the seeds , taking dung hot from the stable , and of that of your foresaid heape , mingling them together , that the heat of the fresh may communicate it self to the other . beds . make your bed the whole length of your melon ground , four foot large leaving a path about it of three foot wide , that you may have place to put hot dung when you perceive the bed to languish , and that it begins to coole overmuch . this bed handsomly made , and trodden with the feet to excite the heat , you must cover the ●op of it with ( neer four inches thick ) of excellent mould , or rather with that rich stuff , which comes from a last years bed mingled with a little of the purest mould you can procure : this composition you must spread , keeping a board to the side and margent of the bed , and clapping the earth down with your hand against the board , to render it the more firme and even . your bed thus prepared , of about a yard high you shall suffer to repose till it has passed its greatest heats ; which may continue two or three dayes , more , or lesse , according to the temper of the season . the extreamity of heat past ( which you shall discover by the sinking of the bed and by examining it with your finger ) you will easily judge if it be well qualified for your seed : for if you cannot suffer your finger in it , it is yet too hot , and it ought to be but tepid , but not qui●e cold , in which case , you mast heat it again by applying new made dung immediately to the sides of your bed in the passage about it , as i before have described . the bed in perfect temper , and your seeds steeped in good wine-vinagre , or cow-milk eight and fourty howers , every species apart by themselves : you shall sowe them at one end of your bed , reserving the rest , for the other seeds whereof i shall speak hereafter . sowing . draw then upon your terras , narrow furrowes with the point of your finger quite crosse your bed ; but let the lines be six inches asunder , and as even as you can , which you may facilitate with the help of a rule . upon every of these lines make three holes in the earth or terras , joyning your fingers together in fashion of a hens-rump , and in each of these holes put three or four melon-seeds , all of a sort . upon the intervalls 'twixt the lines , which i advised you to leave , you may sow lettice-seeds for early sallets , in other chervill ; and you may fringe the whole bed about with purslaine ; for these herbs will be very forward , and are to be taken up very young , least they suffocate your melon-plants , but this will spare you a weeding , and will be a kind of dressing to them also . covering . be carefull to cover your bed every night , and when the weather is bad , with hurdles made of straw , or close matts , which are to be supported with ribs , and arches of poles or small rafters layd crosse into forkes fixed in the ground , at the sides of the bed. you shall not approach these coverings neerer then four inches to your bed ; if it happen to freez or snow , you shall then fill the whole vacuum with fresh and newly drawn dung , till the weather be more kind . but if your seeds burn , by reason of the too great heat of your bed , ( which you shall soon perceive , for they ought not to be long in the ground ) you shall sow them all over again , and heat the bed a new by the sides , with hot dung , as you have been taught . season . the perfect season to sowe melon-seeds , is in the full of february . when your plants begin to peep you shall cover them with pretty large drinking-glasses , leaving a little passage for the ayr 'twixt the glasse and the earth , least otherwise , they suffocate and tarnish . thus you shall let them grow to the fourth or sixth leafe before you remove them . transplanting . they are transplanted after four several fashions . first upon the beds , which you must prepare at t●e side 〈◊〉 this genial bed , and all together : make holes in the middle of these beds four foot asunder , and in each of these holes put in half a bushel of excellent rich mould without making your whole ●ed of it , and in this , you shall transplant your melons , taking them dextrously from the nursing-bed with a good clod of earth about the noots . in the evening about sun-set will be the most covenient time for this purpose , and if it may , let it be after a fair day , for it will much improve your plants . this done , shelter the beds from the sun for three or four dayes following , but you must water them from the first day of their planting that they may take hold and spring the sooner . then you shall cover them with wider glasse bells till the fruit be big , and indeed , as long as the plant may be contained under it , leaving it a little ayr 'twixt the bell and the bed for fear of choaking the plant , unlesse the bell have a hole at the top , which you may stop at night . from ten in the morning till four in the afternoon , you may take off the bells , to accquaint them with the ayr and fortifie your melons against unseasonable weather , but you must cover them again in the evening . stormes . there sometimes happen such storms of hail as crack all the bells , and to prevent this , some are provided with covers made of straw of the same shape , to clap over the glasses at night , to prevent this accident . bells . others make bells of earth , but i do no way approve of this invention , for it is not possible that the sun should sufficiently penetrate this earth , as it doeth the glasse : they may pretend them for the night onely and to pervent hayl , and that indeed with better reason . if you perceive your plant to languish , and not improve , water it within halfe a foot of its roote , with water where in pigeons dung has been steeped . ●runing your melons now reasonable strong , choose out the prime shoots ( which will be in number equal to your seeds ) the rest you must gueld and prune off , and when you perceive three or four melons knotted upon one shoot , you shall stop that vine pinching a knott above that of the fruit , then extend all the other shoots of your plants , spreading them upon every part of your bed , that they may nourish the fruit with more ease , which when it is grown as big as your fist you shall forbear to water any longer , unlesse it be in some excessive dry season , when you perceive the leaves burne , and that the plant it self scorches ; in such case , you may refresh every languishing foot with a little water . you must place a tyle under every melon , the better to fashion them , and advance their maturity by the reflection of the sun from it , and this is a thing which cannot be so well upon a dung-bed , ( in which some transplant and force them ) besides they will be much dryer , and lesse participate of the loathsome quality of the dung . you shall never suffer any small new shoot or string to draw away the sap from your leading plant , but nip it off immediately , unlesse it be that your fruit lies naked , and too much exposed , and that it stand in need of any leaves to accelerate its growth & preserve it in temper . transplanting . the second method of transplanting melons , is to make , neer the end of summer , trenches of about 2 foot deep , and four foot large , ( as they do in anjou ) leaving a square of three foot between each of them , to cast the mould upon , which you must form into a ridge somewhat round , in form of an asses-back , by which name the french call them . then you shall fill the trench with good dung , and very rotten earth , scoarings of ditches , which has laine two or three years mellowing in the raines and frosts . season . then in march when the winter has sufficiently ripened the foresaid earth , you shall stir and mingle that which lyes in the ridge with the ditch-scouring adding to it new dung well consumed , and so fill up your trenches with this mixture , and let it be kept well weeded till the season that you transplant your melons on it , as i have before instructed you . transpla●ting . there is yet a third fashion a great deale more easy then this , and which i have found as succesfull , as any of the former two , and which hath afforded me store of excellent and high tasted melons every year , ( but attribute the principall cause of it , to the goodnesse of my soil which is sandy , but richly improv'd by a long cultivation . ) there is no more difficulty in the business , then to give the ground three or four dressings before and after winter , and at the time of transplanting to make pits in the middle of the beds , which you must fill with a bushell of the mould , and halfe dung , of an old hot-bed , and in this to set your plants after the manner i have taught you . wa●ring . there are a world of curiosities in transplanting of melons , some place them in vessells of earth , pierced full of holes , and filled with excellent mould , and so change their beds when they are over chilled , others in baskets of the same shape , and some again , are so nice about them as would weary the most laborious gardiner . ga●hering if during the excessive heats you perceive that your melons suffer for want of refr●shment , and scald ( as they term it ) it will be good to to afford a watring to exery root , but this only in case of extream necessity , and very rarely . to k●ow when your melon is fit to be gather'd , you shall perceive him to be ripe when the stalke seem● as if it would part from the fruit , when they begin to gild and grow yellow underneath , when the small shoot which is at the same knot withers , and when approching to the fruit , you be saluted with an agreable odor . but such as are accustom'd , and frequent the melonieres judge it by the eye , observing only the change of their colour and the intercostal yellowness , which is a sufficient index of their maturity . those melons which are full of embrodery and characters are commonly twelve or fifteen dayes a fashioning , e're they be perfectly ripe . the morins grow yellow some days before they be fit to gather . for their gathering , let it be according as they turne ; if to be conveyed far off you shall gather him instantly upon his first change of colour , for they will finish their ripening by the way . but if he be spent immediately , gather them thrrough-ripe , putting them into a bucket of water drawn new out of the well , and let them refresh themselves there , as you would treat bottles of wine , since comming newly from the melonieres , they are sun-heated , and nothing so quick and agreable to be eaten . others which you must gather as fast as they ripen may be layd upon a board in some coole place , and spent according to their maturity . you shall remember to leave the joynt which holds to the stalk of every melon , with two or three leaves for ornaments , and be carefull not to break off the stalk , least the melon languish , ( as a cask of wine unbunged ) and loose the richnesse of its gust . visi●i●d and 〈◊〉 . you must not think it much to visit your meloniere at the least four times a day when your melons begin to ripen , lest they passe their prime , and lose of their tempting , becoming lank and flashy . choice . to choose a perfect good melon it must neither be too green nor over-ripe ; let him be well nourished , and have a thick & short stalk , that he proceed of a vigorous plant , not forced with too great heat , weighty in the hand , firme to the touch , dry , and of a vermilion hue within . lastly that it have the flavor of that pitchy mixture wherewith seamen dresse their cordage . seeds . remember to reserve the seeds of all such mellons as you found to be excellent and the most early , ( as before i advertis'd you ) preserve them carefully , taking those which lodged at the sunny side , they are better at two or three years old then at one . cowcumbers . cowcumbers are sown and raised upon the same bed , and at the same time with melons ; having before imbibed the seeds in either cow or breast milk . there are of white and green , which they call parroquets : you shall forbear to gather some of your fairest , whitest , longest and earliest fruit , but leave them for seed , letting them ripen upon their own stalks as long as the plant continues , which will be till the first frosts : as for the parroquets , they may all be spent , since the seeds of the white cowcumbers do sufficiently degenerate into them . they are transplanted also as melons are both in beds and in open ground , but they must be exceedingly watered , to make them produce abundantly ; the vines and superfluous shoots must be guelded , the false flowers which will never knot into fruit are to be nipped off . the first colds bring the mildew upon them , which is when the leaves become white and mealy , a signe that they are neer their destruction . gather them according to your spending , for they will grow bigger every day , but withall , harder , and the seeds more compacted renders the fruit less agreeable to the tast : they are then in perfection a little before they begin to grow yellow . pumpeons . pumpeons are raised also upon the hot-bed , and are removed like the former , but for the most part upon plain ground : being placed in some spacious part of your garden because their shoots and tendrells straggle a great way before they knot into fruit . transplanting . when you transplant them make their pits wide enough asunder , twelve foot or there about , and lay two bushells of rich soyle to every plant ; because of the strength of the plant ; water them abundantly . ga●hering . the time of gathering them is in their perfect maturity , which is about august , nor do they spoyl at all by lying upon the earth , but become daily riper by it . when the first cold begins to come , gather them in a morning and heape them one upon another , that they may drie in the sun , and afterwards carry them into some temperate roome upon boards , where let them ly without touching one another : above all , preserve them from the frost , for that will immediately perish them . if you have plenty , and abound , you may put it into your ordinary house-hold bread or that of your owne table . but first you must boyle it after the same manner as you prepare it to fry , only a little more tender , then drain the water from it , and wet your flower with this mash and so make your bread . it wil be of better colour , and better relish being a little dow , and is very wholesome for those who stand in need of refreshment . there is a small kind of pumpeon which knots into fruit neer the foot without trailing , and bears abundantly : they must be guelded leaving none but the fairest . poitirons * potirons white and coloured , priest-capps , spanish trumpets , gourds and the like , are to be order'd as you doe pumpeons , with this only difference , that some of them would be stalked , and not suffered to ramp upon the ground . seed . the seeds of these , as also of pumpeons are to be saved , as you spend their fruite , but it must be carefully cleansed and dried in the air , and secured from mice which devour these seeds as well as those of melons and cowcumbers . sect . ii. of artichocks , chardons , and asparagus . artichokes the artichock is one of the most excellent fruits of the kitchen garden , and recommended not only for its goodnesse , and the divers manners of cooking it : but also for that the fruit contiuues in season a long time . of these there are two sorts , the violet and the green. the slips which grow by the sides of the old stubs , serve for plants , which you must set in very good ground , deep dunged , and dressed with two or three manures . planting . when the frosts are entirely past , in april you shall plant the slips , having separated them from the stem with as much root as you can , that they may take the more easily , and if they be strong enough , they will bear heads the autumn following . you shall plant them four or five foot distant one from another , according to the goodnesse of the soil ; for if it be light and sandy , you may plant them closer ; if it be a strong ground , at a greater distance to give scope to the leaves , which with the fruit wil come fairer and bring forth more double ones . they shall need no other culture before winter , then to be dress'd and weeded sometimes . you shall cover them in winter to preserve them from the frost ; and to do this , they order them after divers manners ; some cutting all the plants within a foot of the ground , and gathering up the rest of the leaves , ( as they do to blanch succory ) think it sufficient to make it up in form of a mole-hill , leaving out at the top , the extreams of the leaves , about two fingers deep to keep the plant from suffocating ; and then covering them with long dung preserve them thus from the frosts , and hinder the rain from rotting them . others make trenches 'twixt two ranges , and cast the earth in long bankes upon the plants , covering them within two fingers of the topps , as i shewed you above : and there be some which onely put long dung about the plants , and so they passe the winter very well : all these severall fashions are good , and every man a bounds with his particular reason . ear●h●ng . onely be not over ea●ly in earthing them , least they grow rotten , but be sure that the great frosts doe not prevent and surprise you , if you have many to govern . if you desire to have fruit in autumne you need onely cut the stemm of such as have borne fruit in the spring , to hinder them from a second shoot . and in autumn these lusty stocks will not faile of bearing very faire heads , provided that you dresse and dig about them well , and water them in their necessitie , taking away the slips which grow to their sides , and which draw all the substance from the plants . the winter spent , you shall uncover your artichockes , by little and little , not at once , least the cold ayr spoyl them , being yet tender , and but newly out of their warm beds : and therefore let it be done at three times , with a four dayes interval each time , at the last whereof , you shall dresse , dig about and ●rim them very well , discharging them from most of their small slips , not leaving above three of the strongest to each foot for bearers . chard . to procure the chard of the artichocks ( which is that which growes from the rootes of old plants ) you shall make use of the old stemmes which you do not account of . for it will be fit to renew your whole plantation of artichocks every five-year , because the plant impoverishes the earth , and produces but small fruite . slips . the first fruites gathered , you shall pare the plant within halfe a foot of the ground , and cut off the stemm as low as you can possible ; and thus you will have lusty slips ; which grown about a yard high , you shall bind up with a wreath of long straw , but not too close , and then inviron them with dung , to blanch them . thus you may leave them till the great frosts before you gather them , and then reserve them for your use in some cellar or other place lesse cold . gathe●ing but it is best to gather them from time to time as you spend them , beginning w●th the largest , and sparing the rest , which will soon be ready , having now all the nourishment of the plant . spanish chardon . the spanish chardons are not so dilicate to govern , as those of the artichocke , nor produce they chards so sweet and tender : they are to be tyed up after the same manner to make them white . they spring of seeds , and are transplanted in slips . the flowers of these chardons which are little violet colour'd beards , being dryed in the ayr , will serve to turne milk withall , and make it curdle like rennett : the spanyard and languedociens use it for that purpose . asparagus asparagus are to be raised of seeds in a bed a part , the ground prepared before with divers diggings , and well dunged : at the end of two years you may take up the rootes and transplant them . to lodg them well , you must make trenches four foot large , and two in depth ( leaving an intervall of four foot wide 'twixt the trenches to cast the mould on which you take out of them ) and make them very levell at bottom , the earth cast in round banks on both sides , bestow a good dressing upon the bottoms of your trenches mixing the mould with fine rich dung , which you must lay very even in all places . this done , plant your asparagus by line at three foot distance , placeing two rootes together : you may range the first at the very edg of the trench , for that when you dig up the allyes , you may in time reduce them to a foot and a half wide , casting the earth upon the quarters , and then cutting above a foot large on either side of your aspargus , where the earth was heaped up , your plants will shoot innumerable roots at the sides of the alleys . you shall plant a third range in the midst between the two which we have named . it will be expedient to place them in crosse squares , that the rootes being at a convenient distance they may extend themselves through all the bed . some curious persons put rammshorns at the bottome of the trench , & hold for certaine , that they have a kind of sympathie with asparagus , which makes them prosper the better , but i refer it to the experienced . dressing . they will need dressing but three times a year . the first , when the arsparagus have done growing : the second at the beginning of winter ; and the last , a little before they begin to peep : at every one of these dressings , you shall something fill , and advance your beds about four fingers high with the earth of your allyes , and over all this spread about two fingers thick of old dung . three years you must forbear to cut , that the plant may be strong , not stubbed , for otherwise they will prove but small . and if you spare them yet four or five years longer , you will have them come as big as leeks , after which time , you may cut uncessantly , leaving the least to bear seed , and that the plant may fortifie . during these four-years , observing to give them the severall dressings , as i have declared , your bed will fill , and your paths discharged of their mould , you may dig them up , and lay some rich dung underneath . you know that the plants of asparagus spring up and grow perpetually , and therefore when the mould of your alleyes is all spent upon the beds you must of necessity bring earth to supply them , laying it upon the bed in shape like the lid of a truncke otherwise they will remaine naked , and perish . cutting . when you cut your asparagus , remove a little of the earth from about them , lest you wound the others which are ready to peep , and then cut them as low as you can conveniently , but take heed that you do not offend those that lye hid , for so much will your detriment be , and it will stump your plant . such as you perceive to produce onely small ones , you shall spare that they may grow bigger , permitting those which spring up about the end of the season in every bed , to run to seede , and this will exceedingly repayr the hurt which you may have done to your plants in reaping their fruit . sect . iii. of cabbages and lettuce of all sorts . cabbage . there are so many severall sorts of cabbages , that you shall hardly resolve to have them all in your garden , for they would employ too great a part of your ground , and therefore it will be best to make choyce of such as are most agreable to your tast , and that are the most delicate and easiest to boyle , since the ground which produces them , & the water which boyles them , renders them either more or lesse excellent . seed . we have seede brought us out of italy , and we have some in france , those of italy are the coleflower , those of rome , verona , and milan , the bosse , the long cabbage , of genoa , the curled and others . in france we have the ordinary headed cabbage of severall sorts , and some that do not head at all , and therefore i think it necessary to treat here particularly of them all , as briefly as i can . coleflowers . i will begin with coleflowers as as the most precious : seed . they bring the seede to us out of italy , and the italians receive it from candia and other levantine parts , not but that we gather as good in italy and france also ; but it dos not produce so large a head , and is subject to degenerate into the bosse cabbages , and na●ets and therefore it were better to furnish one self out of the levant either by some friend , or other correspondent at rome : the linnen drapers and millaners of paris can give you the best directions in this affaire which traffick in those places , linnen , lace , and gloves . to discover the goodnesse of the seed ( which is the newest ) it ought to be of a lively colour , full of oyle , exactly round neither shrivled , small or dried , which are all indications of its age , but of a broun hue , not of a bright red which shews that it never ripened kindly upon the stalke . sowing . being thus provided with good seede , sow it as they do in italy or france . the italians sow it in cases and shallow tubes in the full moon of august ; it comes speedily up , and will be very strong before winter : when the frosts come remove them into your cellar , or garden-house , till the spring , and that the frosts are gone , and then transplant them into good mould ; thus you shall have white , very fair heads , and well conditioned before the great heats of sommer surprize them . the italians stay not so long , as till their heads have attained their utmost growth , but pull them up before , and lay them in the cellar , interring all their roots and stalks to the very head ; ranging them side by side and shelving , where they finish their heads , and will keep a long time ; whereas if they left them abroad in the ground , the heats would cause them run to seed . the french are satisfyed to have them by the end of autumn keeping them to eat in the winter : not but that ( being early raised ) they have some which head about iuly ; but the rest grow hard and tough by reason of the extream heat , and improve nothing for want of moysture , producing but small and trifling heads , and most commonly none at all . and therefore i counsel you to sowe but a few upon your first bed in the meloniere thinly , sowing them thinly in li●es , four fingers asunder , and covering them with the mould . two or three ridges shall abundantly suffice your store . towards the end of april , when your melons are off from their beds and transplanted , you may renew your sowing of coleflowers , ( as you were taught before ) these will head in autumn , and must be preserved from the frosts , to be spent during the winter . removing . you must stay before you remove them till the leaves are as large as the ralme of your hand , that they may be strong . pare away the tops of them , and earth them up to the very necks , that is , so deep that the top leaves appear not above three fingers out of the ground , or to be more intelligible , you shall interre them to the last and upmost knot ; moreover you must hollow little basins of about half a foot diameter , and four fingers deep at the foot of each stalk , that the moysture may passe directly to the root when you water them , it being unprofitably employed elsewhere . transplanting . the just distance in transplanting is three foot asunder ; two ranges are sufficient for each bed : but be careful to keep them weeded and dug as often as they require it , till the leaves cover the ground , and are able to choke the weeds that grow under them . if you make pits in the places where you remove them , aud bestow some good soil ( as i described in melons and cucumbers ) they will the better answer your expectations , for they will produce much fairer heads . cabbage . watring . all sorts of cabbages whatever they be , must be carefully watred at first , for a few dayes after their planting that they may take the better root , which you shall then perceive , when their leaves begin to erect , and flag no longer upon the ground . sowing . all kindes of cabbages are to be sown upon the melon bed , whilst the heat remains , that they may cheq and spring the sooner , sowe them therefore very thin in travers lines cross your melon bed . in april you shall sowe fresh upon the same bed and place where your melons and cucumbers stood . birds . now forasmuch as the birds are extreamly greedy to devour their seeds as soon as they peep , because they bear the husk of it upon the tops of their leaves ; i will teach you how you may preserve them . some spread a net over the beds , sustaining it half a foot above the surface : others stick little mills made of cards , ( such as children in play run against the winde with ) and some make them with thin chips of firre , such as the comfit makers boxes are made withall , tying to the tree or pole which bears it some feathers , or thing that continually trembles ; this will extremely affright the birds in the day time , and the mice in the night ; for the least breath of winde will set them a whirling , and prevent the mischief . wormes . there breeds besides in these beds a winged insect , and palmer worms , which gnaw your seeds and sprouts : to destroy these enemies , you should place some small vessels , as be●r glasses , and the like , sinking them about three fingers deeper then the surface of the bed , and filling them with water within two fingers of the brim , and in these they will fall and drown themselves as they make their subterranean passages . large sided cabbages . the large sided cabbages , shall not be sowne till may , because they are so tender , and if they be strong enough to be removed by the begining of iuly they will head in autumn : to my gusto there is no sort of cabbage comparable to them , for they are speedily boyled , and are so delicate , that the very grossest part of them melts in ones mouth : if you eat broth made of them , fasting , with but a little bread in it , they will gently loosen the belly , and besides , what ever quantity of them you eat , they will never offend you ; briefly , t is a sort of cabbage , that i can never sufficiently commend , that i may encourage you to furnish your garden with them rather then with many of the rest . vvhite cabbage . of the white headed cabbage , those which come out of flanders are the fairest and of these one of the heads produced in a rich mould hath weighed above fourty pounds . those of aubervilliers are very free , and a delicate meate . there is another sort of cabbage streaked with red veines , the stalk whereof is of a purple colour when you plant it , and they seem to me , the most naturall of all the rest , for they pome , close to the ground and shoot but few leaves before they are headed , growing so extreamly close , that they are almost flat at top . red cabbage . the red cabbage should likewise have a little place in your garden , for its use in certain diseases . pefumed cabbage . there is yet another sort of cabbage , that cast a strong musky perfume , but bear small heads , yet are to be prized for their excellent odor . the pale tender cabbages are not to be sown till august , that they may be removed a little before the winter , where they may grow and furnish you all the winter long , and especially during the greater frosts , which do but soften , mellow , and render them excellent meat . they plant also all those italian kindes , of which the * pancaliers are most in esteem , by reason of their perfum'd relish . planting . to plant all these sorts of cabbages , the ground deeply trenched and well dunged beneath ; you shall tread it out into beds of four foot large ; and within a foot of the margent , you shall make a small trench , four fingers in depth , and of half a foot large , angular at the bottome , like a plough-furrow new turned up : in this trench ( towards the evening of a fair day ) you shall make holes with a setting stick , and so plant your cabbages , sinking them to the neck of the very tenderest leaves ; having before pared off their tops . place them at a convenient distance , according to their bignesse and spreading ; then give them diligent waterings , which you shall pour into these furrowes only ; since it would be but superfluous to water the whole bed . a man may transplant them confusedly in whole quarters , especially the paler sort , for the frosts ; but it is neither so commodious as in beds for the ease of watring them , nor for the distinction of their species : be carefull to take away all the dead leaves of your cabbages , as well that they may looke handsomely , as to avoid the ill sents which proceed from their corruption , which breeds and invites the vermine , snaile , frogs and toads , and the like which greatly endamage the plants . seed . when their heads and pomes are formed , if you perceive any of them ready to run to seede , draw the plant half out of the ground , or tread down the stem , till the cabbage inclines to one side , this will much impead its seeding , and you may mark those cabbages to be first spent . for the seeds , reserve of your best cabbages , transplanting them in some warm place , free from the winter winds , during the greater frosts , and covering them with earthen pots , and warm soyl over the pots : but when the weather is mild , you may sometimes shew them the ayr , and reinvigorate them with the sun , being carefull to cover them again in the evening , least the frost surprise them . others you shall preserve in the house , hanging them up by their rootes about a fourtnight , that so all the water that lurks amongst the leaves may drop out , which would otherwise rot them . that season past bury them in ground half way the stalk , ranging them so neer as they may touch each other . for those which arive to no head you need only remove them , or leave them in the places where they stand , they will endure the winter well enough , and run to seed betimes . when the seed is ripe ( which you will know by the drinesse of the swads which will then open of themselves ) you shall gently pull up the plant , drawing it by the stalks , and lay them aslope at the foot of your hedges or walls to dry , and perfect their maturity : but it w●ll not be amisse to fasten them with some small twig of an ozyer , for fear the winde fling them down , and disperse a great deale of the seeds . season of sowing . in august you shall sowe cabbages to head , upon some bed by it self , there to passe the winter , as in a nursery , till the spring , when you must plant them forth in the manner i have already taught : and by this means you will have headed cabbages betimes , especially provided that you be careful in well ordering them . insects . there are several little animals which gnaw and indammage cabbages , as well whilst they are yet young and tender , as when they be arrived to bigger growth ; as a certain green hopping flie , snails , ants , the great flea , &c. the best expedient i finde to destroy these insects , is , the frequent watering , which chaces them away , or kills them : for during the great heats , you shall see your cabbages dwindle and pine away , every day importun'd by these animals . at the full of the moon every moneth , if the weather be fair , it is good to sowe your cabbages , that you may prevent the disorders , which these devourers bring upon them : and you may do it without expence , by sowing them upon the borders under your fruit trees , which you must frequently dig , and besides the waterings which you must bestow upon your young plants , will wonderfully improve your trees . there are a curious sort of cabbages , which bear many heads upon the same stalk , but they are not so delicate as the other . when yo● have cut off the heads of your cabbages , if you will not extirpate the trunk , they will produce small small sets , which the italians call broccoli , the french des broques , and are ordinarily eaten in lent in pease-pottage , and * intermesses at the best tables . letice . there are almost as many sorts of lettuce as there be of cabbages and therefore i have ranged them together in the same chapter . for such as harden and grow into heads we have the cabbage-lettuce and a sort that beares divers heads upon the same stalk . the cockle lettuce , the genoa , roman and the curled lettuce , which pome like succory . others that grow not so close , as a sort of curled lettuce and severall other species : others which must be bound to render them white , such as the oake-leafed , the royal and roman . sowing . lettuce may be sown all the year long , winter excepted : for from the time that you begin to sow them upon your first bed ( as i have describ'd it in the article of melons ) to the very end of october , you may raise them . transplanting . to make them pome and head like a cabbage , you shall need onely to transplant them , half a foot or little more distant , and this you may do upon the borders , under your hedges , trees , and palisades , without employing any other quarter of your garden . during the excessive heat of the year , it will be difficult to make them head , unlesse you water them plentifully , because the season prompts them to run to seed . those of genoa are to be preferred before all others , by reason of their bignesse , and for that they will endure the winter above ground , being transplanted ; or you may make use of them in pottage , and for that they furnish you with heads from the very end of april . for such as do not come to head at all you need only sow them , and as they spring , to thin them ( that is extirpate the supperfluous ) that those which remain may have sufficient soope to spread : some transplant them , but it is lost labour , the plant being so easily raised . roman lettuce . heading . the lettice-royall would be removed at a foot or more distance , and when you perceive that the plants have covered all the ground then in some fair day , and when the morning dew is vanish't you shall tie them in two or three several places one above another , which you may do with any long straw , or raw-hemp , and this at severall times , viz. not promiseuously , as they stand , but choosing the fairest plants first to give roome and ayr to the more feeble , and by this means they will last you the longer : the first being blanched , and ready , before the other are fit to bind . blanching . if you would blanch them with more expedition , you shall cover every plant with a small earthen pot fashioned like a gold-smiths crusible , and then lay some hot soyl upon them ; and thus they will quickly become white . seed . lettuce-seed is very easily gathered , because the great heats cause it to spring sooner up then one would have it , especially the earliest sowne . pull them therefore up as soone as you perceive that above halfe of their flowers are past , and lay them a ripening against your hedges , and in ten or twelve dayes they will be drie enough to rub out their seed betwixt your hands , which being clensed from the husks and ordure , preserve , each kind by it selfe . sect . iv. of roots . roots . parsenp . the red beet , or roman parsnep , as the greatest , shall have the preheminence in this chapter . they should be placed in excellent ground , well soyl'd and trenched , that they may produce long and fair roots , not forked ; for if they do not encounter a bottom to their liking , they spread indeed at head , but have always a hole in the middle , which being very profound , renders them tough and full of fibers to the great detriment of their colour , which makes them despised . and therefore , if , to avoid the expence , you do not trench your garden , you must of necessity bestow two diggings one upon another , as i shall here teach you , a diminutive only of trenching . you must dig a furrow all the length of your bed , a full foot deep , and two foot large , casting the earth all at one side , then dig another course in the same trench , as deep as possible you can , without casting out the mould : afterwards fling in excellent dung , fat and rich , which must lye about four fingers thick ; and for this the soyl of cows and sheep , newly made after fothering time is past , is the best . when this is done , dig a second trench , casting the first mould upon this compost , and lay dung upon that likewise ; then dig the next , and cast soyl upon that , as you did upon the first , and so continue this till you have trenched the whole bed. your last furrow will be but a single depth , for which you may consider of three expedients , and take that which best pleases you , and which will cost you least to fill ; or else you may fetch the earth which you took out of the first trench , and fill it up even , setting your level on , or leaving it void to cast your weeds into , where they will consume and become good soyl reserving so much earth as will serve to make the area of the bed even , at every dressing which you give it . this manner of good husbandry is what i would have described before in the first section of the former treatise , when i spake of trenching the ground , when i promised to shew how you should better and improve your garden at lesse charge , and this i esteem sufficient for the raising of all sorts of pot herbs and pulse . ●owing . the winter intirely past you shall sow your red beets either upon beds , making holes with the setting stick fourteen or fifteen inches asunder , and dropping 3 seeds into every hole , or confusedly , to be transplanted , those which are not transplanted be subject to grow forked , but those which you thus remove , grow ordinarily longer and fairer , because you will be sure to choose the likeliest plants . removing . in removing the plants you shall practise the same rule that i shewed in cabbages , excepting only , that you cut not off the tops . housing . a little before the frosts you shall draw them out of the ground , and lay them in the house , burying their rootes in the sand to the neck of the plant , and ranging them one by another somewhat shelving and thus another bed of sand , and another of beets , continuing this order to the last . after this manner they will keep very fresh , spending them as you have occasion , and as they stand , and not drawing any of them out of the middle or sides for choyce . seed . for the seed you shall reserve of the best and fairest roots , which you shall bury as you did the rest , to replant in the spring , in some voyd place neer the borders of your fruit-hedges ; because there you may stop its growth , which the windes would overthrow by reason of its overlopping , and poize ; unlesse it be sustained : except that you had rather place them in some bed , where you must support them with strong stakes for the purpose . the grain ripe , pull up the plan●s , and tye them to your pole-hedg , that they may dry and ripen with the more facility : then rub it out gently 'twixt your hands , and be sure to dry it well to preserve it from becoming musty . carrots . carrots and parsneps are to be governed like beets ; but are much more hardy , and easily endure the winter without prejudice , till the spring , when they run up to seed , and are then not to be eaten : and therefore you shall draw your provisions in the winter , and preserve them for your spending , as you did the beets . season . there are carrots of three colours , yellow , white , and red . the first of these is the most delicate , for the pot , or inter-mess : if you would have those that be very tender in may ( as the picards and those of amiens have them , who put them in their pottage instead of hearbs ) you must soyl the ground , and prepare it by good dressing before summer . in august you shall sowe at the decrease of the moon : they will spring before winter , and when you cleanse them from weeds , you must thin them where you finde they grow confusedly , since you need not transplant them as you do your beets . seed . for the seed , chuse the very prime and longest roots ; lay them all winter in the cellar , and set them in the ground again at the spring as you do beets , that they may run to seed : and in case you leave any in the grou●d , they will easily passe the winter without rotting , and come to seed in their season : but it is best to draw them out , as i said , that you may cull the best for propagation ; a rule to be well observed in all sorts of plants , if you be ambitious to have the best . salsifix . garden salsifix is of two sorts , the common is of a violet colour , the other is yellow : this is the salsifix of spain which they call scorsonera , they are different as well in leaf , as in flower : for the violet have their leaf like the small five rib'd plantine , and those of the yellow are much larger . it is but very lately that we have had this scorsonera in france ; and i think my self to be one of the first : 't is a plant aboundantly more delicious then the common salsifix , and has preheminence above all other . roots , that it does not lye in the ground as other roots which become stringy and endure but a year : leave these as long as you please in the earth , they will dayly grow bigger , and are fit to eat at all seasons ; though it yearly run up to seed . dressing . 't is good to scrape off the brown crusty part of the rinde ( from whence they derive their name scorfonera ) and to let them soak a while in fair water before you boyl them ; because they cast forth a little bitternesse , which they will else retain , and that the common salsifix is free of ; which being simply washed , are boyled , and the skin peeled off afterward . season . there are two seasons of sowing ; in the spring , and when the flower is past ; letting the seed flye away : for the more uniformity they are sown in lines upon beds ; four rankes on a bed : when they blowe you must raile about your bed with stakes and poles like a pole hedg , for fear the wind breake their stalks and fling them downe , to the great prejudice of your seed . but the common salsifix does flower before the spanish . seed . to gather the seed , you must be sure to visit your salsifix four or five times a day , for it will vanish and flie away like the down or gossemeere , of dandelyon , and therefore you must be watchfull , to gather all the beards , and taking them with the tops of your fingers , pluck out the seed ( as soon as ever you perceive their heads to grow downy ) which you shall put into some earthen pot ( which must stand ready , neer the bed , that you may not be troubled to carry it in and out so often ) covering it with a tyle , to keep out the raine , &c. radishes . there are three sorts of radishes . the horse-radish , the black-radish and the small ordinary eating radish . horse-radishes . the horse-radish is a grosse kinde of food , very common in limoges amongst the poorer people , who diversly accommodate them , by boyling , frying , and eating them with oyle , having first cut them in slices and soaked them in water to take away their rankness : you may sowe them all ialy even to three lines , that in case the first crops do not prosper , the other may . they affect a sandy ground well soyled , and turned up two or three times , and so they will come very fair , there are some that are as big as a twopeny loafe : you must draw them out of the ground before the frosts , and conserve them in a warme place , as you do your turneps . seed . for their seed you need only leave the fairest in the ground which will passe the winter well enough and produce you their seed in their season ▪ but the most certain way is to transplant some of the biggest as soon as the hard frosts are past . the black radish is little worth , but they are raised as the smaller are . small raddish . sowing . the small radish or little rabbon , may be sown at every decrease of the moon , from the time you begin your hot melon-bed , to the very end of october . they are several wayes ordered : for if you desire them very fair , transparent , clean and long , you must when you sowe your melons in some part of the bed , ( whilst it yet remains warm ) make holes as deep as your finger , three inches distant from each other . in every of these holes drop in two radish seeds , and covering them with a little sand leave the rest of the hole open : thus they will grow to the whole length of your finger higher then otherwise they would have done , and not put forth any leaves till after they are come up above the level of the bed. when your melons are transplanted , you may sowe them upon their bed , and in other open ground , by even lines . seed . let the first sown run to seed , and gather them when you first perceive their swads below to open and shead : then lay them to ripen and drie along your hedges , as i instructed you before . the best seed which we have comes from the gardens about amiens ; where amongst their low grounds they raise that which is excellent . at their first coming up , they appear like the wilde : but after the fourth or sixth leaf they grow very lusty , provided they be well watered . turneps . there are several sorts of turneps which i shall not particularize ; i shall onely affirme that the lesser are the best , and most agreeable to the tast , the other being soft , flashy , and insipid . season . you may sowe them at two seasons ; at spring , and in the beginning of august . all the difficulty is in taking the right time , for if the weather prove wet , the seed will burst , and not sprout at all : if too dry it will not come up , and therefore , if you perceive your first season to faile , you shall give them a second digging or howing , and sowe anew . vermine . so soon as they come up and have two or four leaves , if the weather be very dry , the ticquet , or winged wormes , and the flea , will fall upon them and devoure them , and all your paines : therefore ( as i said ) if you see your first to have failed , you must begin again . to be excellent , they must not remain above six-weekes in the ground , least they become worm-eaten , withered , ill meat , and full of strings . housing . house●hem ●hem in winter in your cellar , or some other place where they may be exempt from the frost , and without any other trouble , save laying them in heaps , or bunches . seed . for the seed reserve the biggest , longest , and brightest roots , which you shal plant in the ground at spring , and draw forth again when you perceive the pods to open ; then set them a drying , and afterwards rub out the seed upon a sheet , expos'd the remainder of the day to the sun to exhaust their moysture ; then , having well cleansed it , reserve it in some temperate place . parsly . we will range parsly also among the roots , though its leafe be the most in esteem , and used in severall dishes , serving oftentimes instead of pepper and spice . season . when the frosts are past , you shal sowe the greater and lesser sort of parsly , the pennach't , and the curled , in ground deeply dug , and well ●oyled that it may produce long and goodly roots . sow your seed upon your beds in each four lines , the mould made very fine and well raked : you may sow leeks over them , chopping them gently in with the rake only : when all is clear , cover the whole bed about two fingers thick with some dung of the old bed as wel to amend the ground , as to preserve the seeds from being beaten out with the raine , your watring , and from bursting . dressing . now ●ince parsly-seed lyes a moneth in the ground , before it comes up , the leeks will have time enough to spring and be sufficiently strong to be removed , and when you pull them up for this purpose , it will serve as a second dressing and weeding to your parsly , and when by this means they are grown , you may thin them where you perceive the plants come up too thick , which will very much improve them . you may cut the leaves when ever you have need , without the least detriment to the plant . rootes . leave the roots in the ground for your use , because they daily grow bigger and that even all the winter long , however you 'l do well to take as many up as you conceive you may need , least when the earth is hard frozen , you can procure none in case of necessity . seed . for the seed , let one end of your bed stand unpulled up till it is all ripe , which you must set a drying , as you did the others . skirret . the skirret comes of seed and of plants , but the best and fairest of plants ; and of these , those which they bring from troyes in champagne are most esteemed . to plant them , you must in spring ( the ground well dug , and dressed ) make four small rills on each bed , two fingers deep , then make holes with the dibber at half inch distance setting in every hole two or three young slips , which you may take from the old plants , being carefull to water them at the beginning . spending . draw them out of the ground according as you spend them , the rest which you leave will grow bigger and in their season produce their ●eed . rampions rampions , though it be a plant very agreeable to the tast , and which they have severall wayes of dressing : yet i will not spend time in teaching you how to order them , since they grow wild in sufficient quantity , and are not worth the trouble ofr●aising . jerusalem artichocks ierusalem artichocks are round roots which come all in knots and are eaten in lent like the bottomes of other artichocks : they need no great ordering , and if they be planted in good ground they will flowrish exceedingly . seed . they are raised of seed , and planted in roots , bearing flowers , like a small heliotrope , in which there growes a world of seed . danger . the physitians say that the use of them is prejudiciall to the health and that they are therefore to be banished from good tables sect . v. of all sorts of pot-hearbs . pot-herbs . beet-leeks we will begin with the white beet or leeks as being the greatest of all the pot-hearbs , and of which there is more spent then of any of the rest . the white beet or beet-card ( for so some will call it in imitation of the picards , who really merit the honour to be esteemd the best and most curious gardiners for herbs , before any other of all the provinces of france : be it that the●r soyle and climate produce more , or that they are more industrious . their hearbs are a great deal more fair and large , then in other places . season . i have seen of those amongst them that have been of eight inches circumference , or little lesse , and in length proportionable to their thickness ) is to be sown at spring when the frosts are quite gone . transplanting . you may make use of your hedge-borders for this purpose , and when they come to have six leaves , you shall transplant them in ground that has been deeply trenched the autumn before , and lain mellowing all the winter . before you remove them , soyl the ground very well , and then giving it another digging , turn the dung into the bottom , then taking them out of your nursery beds , cut off their tops and transplant them in quarters , two ranges in a bed ; and a yard distant , making a small trench or line , as i shewed before , concerning removing of cabbages , which i forbear to repeat to avoid prolixity . if you would have them abound in fair cards , you must keep them well hou'd , weeded , and watred when you perceive they need it . gathering . you must not cut them when you gather , but pull them off from the plant , drawing them a little aside , and so you shall not injure the stalk , but rather improve those which remain : a little time will repair its loss . plant not those for cards which you shall finde green , for they degenerate . sowing . you may sowe them all the summer , that you may have for the pot , and to farce such as are tender : also at the end of august , which you may let stand all the winter as a nursery , and transplant at spring , which will furnish you with leeks very early . red beets . there is a red beet if you desire to have of them , for curiosity rather then for use , because they produce but small cards , which being boyled , lose much of their tincture , becoming pale , which renders them lesse agreeable to the palat , and to the eye , then the white . seed . for the seed , leave growing of the whitest and largest , without cropping any of their leaves , which you shall support with a good stake , lest its weight overthrow it , to the prejudice of the seeds which would then rot in lieu of ripening . two plants are sufficient to store you amply , which you shall pull up in fair weather ( when , by the yellownesse of the colour you shall judge it to be ripe ) and lay a drying , afterwards rub out the seeds with your hands upon some cloth , and cleansing it from the husks , give it a second drying , lest it become musty ; for being of a spongy substance , as the red beets are , it will continue a long time moyst . orache . there is another sort of beets , which is called oracke , very agreeable to the taste , it is excellent in pottage , and carryes its own butter in it self : it is raised as the former is , excepting only that you may plant it neerer , and needs no transplanting , 't is sufficient that it be weeded , and houed when there is cause . succory . there are several kindes of garden succories , different in leaf and bigness● , but resembling in taste , and which are to be ordered alike . season . sow it in the spring upon the borders , & when it has 6 leaves replant it in rich ground about 18 inches distance , paring them at the tops . when they are grown so large as to cover the ground , tye them up , as i instructed you before , where i treated of rom ▪ lettuce , not to bind them up by handfuls as they grow promiscuously , but the strongest & forwardest at first , letting the other fortifie . i remit you thitherto avo●d repetition . it is in the second section , art. lettuce , where you will also finde the manner of whiting it under earthen pots . blanching . there is yet another fashion of blanching it . in the great heats , when instead of heading you perceive it would run to seed , hollow the earth at one side of the plant , and couch it down without violating any of the leaves , and so cover it , leaving out only the tops and extremity of the leaves , and thus it will become white in a little time , and be hindred from running to seed . those who are very curious bind the leaves gently before they interre them , to keep out the grit from entring between them , which is very troublesome to wash out , when you would dresse it . remember to couch them all at one side , one upon another , as they grew being planted , beginning with that which is neerest the end of the bed , and continuing to lay them , the second upon the first , and the third upon the second , till you have finished all the ranges . i finde likewise two other manners of blanching them for the wint●r ; the first is at the first frosts , that you ●ye them after the ordinary way , and then at the end of eight or ten dayes , plucking them up , couch them in the bed , where you raised them from seeds , making a small trench cross the bed the height of your plant , which will be about eight inches , beginning at one end . in this you shall range your plants side by side , so as they may gently touch , and a little shelving : this done , cover them with small rotten dung of the same bed : then make another furrow for a second range , in which order lay your plants as before , continuing this order til you have finish'd , and last of all cover the whole bed four fingers thick , with hot soyl fresh drawn out of the stable ; and in a short time they will be blanched . if you will afterwards cover the bed with some mats placed a●lant , like the ridge of a house to preserve them from the rain , they will last a very long time without rotting . when you would have any of them for use , begin at the last which you buried , and , taking them as they come , draw them out of the range , and break off what you finde rotten upon the place , or that which has contracted any blacknesse from the dung , before you put it into your basket for the kitchen . housing . a second manner of preserving it , is , to interre it , as before , in furrows of sand in the cellar , placing the root upmost , lest the sand run in between the leaves , and you finde it in the dish when they serve it . you need not here bestow any dung upon them , it is sufficient that the sand cover the plant four fingers high , and when you take it out for use , before you dresse it , shake it well the root upmost , that all the sand may fall out from the leaves . take them likewise as they happen to lye in the ranges . there is a kinde of succory , which hardens of it self without binding ; which is a small sort , but very much prized for its excellence . seed . for the seed , leave of the fairest plants growing , and particularly such as you perceive would whiten of themselves , and head without tying . let it well mature , though it a little over ripen : since it is not subject to scatter and fall out as many others are . on the contrary , when being exceedingly dryed , you shall lay it upon the barn-floor , you shall have much adoe , to fetch out the seeds from the heads , though you thrash it with a flail . endive . of endive or wilde succory , some of it bears a blew flower , others a white , it is to be governed like the garden , but with lesse difficulty ; for you need only sowe it in a small rill , weeding , houing , and thinning it in due season . blanching . housing . to blanch it , cover it only with reasonable warm dung , and drawing it out at the first appearance of frost , keep it under sand in your cellar , as you do other roots : but first , it ought to be almost white of it self : the root is very much esteemed , which has made me dubious whether i should not have placed it amongst them , but i concluded it most properly reserved with the curled succory in respect of their conformity , as well in growing , as in producing its seeds . sorre●l . of sorrel we have very many kindes , the great , the lazy , &c. for as much as one leaf is sufficient for pottage , being so prodigiously large , that they have some leaves seven inches broad and fifteen or eighteen long : it is a sort which has been transported out of the low-countryes , and i have had of the first . a second kinde is another large sorrel resembling patience . a third produces no seed , but is propagated from the small side-leaves , which it shoots when it begins to spread in the ground . a fourth is the small sorrel which we have had so long in use . a fift is the round-leaved sorrel , large , and small , which also does not seed , but is to be raised of the little strings with which it o'respreads the ground , and by little tendrels which grow about the plant , and which you may take up in tuffts to furnish your beds withall . a sixt is the wild sorrel , frequently found upon the up-lands and therefore not worth the paines to plant in gardens . lastly , there is a seventh sort , which bears a small traingular leafe called alleluja , it is very delicate and agreeable by reason of its acidity , like the other sorrel for tast , but excellent in pottage , farces and sallades , as being endowed with the same qualities and rellish of the other sorrels . soweing . you may sow all those sorts , which produce seed , after the frosts , in narrow rills , four in a bed , but be diligent to weed it , lest it be overgrown ; when it is a little strong thin it a little , that it may the better prosper , and if you please , you may furnish other beds with what you take away . transplanting but it is the best way if you would transplant it , it , to gather of the strongest , and at the beginning of autumn or spring make borders a part : they doe well either way , continue long in perfection , even till ten or twelve years . but then it will be fit to remove it , because the ground will be weary of being alwayes burthened with the same plant , and delights in diversity : besides the rootes crowding and pressing one another , cannot finde sufficient substance to nourish and entertain them . dressing ▪ they must be dug at least thrice a year , which should be at the entry of the hard frosts , you must shake some melon bed dung upon them : the soyl of poultry is excellent and makes it wonderfully flourish . at this second digging , you shall extirpate what ever you finde grow scatring out of range by the sheading of seed , and geuld them also about , cutting off all the leaves and stalks neer the ground , before you cover them with the dung . seed . the seed is easily gatherd from such as bear it , for it runs up at midd-summer , and when you see it ripe , cut off the stalkes close to ground , afterwards being dryed , it soon quits the pouches , cleanse it well and preserve it for use . patience . patience must be ordered like sorrel : the plant is not so delicious to the palate , however one would have a bed of it , that your garden may be compleat . borrage . the vertues of borrage recommends it to your garden , though it impaire the colour of your pottage , darkning it a little the flowers of it are a very agreeable service , to garnish the meate , pottages , sallades , and other dishes ; since by reason of their sweetnesse , they may be eaten without any disgust . soweing . it is to be sow●e in the spring , like other herbs , and may be left in the ground : their hardy ro●ts supporting the hardest frosts , sprouting a fresh in the spring : the gardiners of paris pull up the whole plant , and sowe it many times in the year , to have it alwayes tender . for the ordering of it , it is sufficient that it be gently houed and weeded . seed . for the seed , let the fairest plants run , and when they are full ripe on the stalke , gather and save it . buglosse . buglosse is to be govern'd like borrage , and therefore i will spend no more time upon it . chervill . chervill , besides what i told you before , that you should sowe it upon beds to compose swaller salades at the end of winter ; it will be good to sowe new from moneth to moneth ( though it be but little ) that you may still have it fresh and more tender , then that which is old sowne . the borders of your wall-fruit and hedges may serve for this effect , forasmuch as it cannot prejudice your trees , being so small , and requiring so little substance for its growth , and the small time of its sojourne in a place . seed . you shall let one end of your bed run to graine , which will amply suffice to furnish you , let it ripen well upon the stalke then pull it up or cut it , and dry it perfectly before you reserve it , there is another sort of spanish chervill which is called mirrhis odorata whose leafe much resembles hemlock : but very agreeable to the tast , having a perfume like the green anis , and much pleasanter being a little chewed . at the spring , when it makes a shoot from its old stalke , they cover it with small dung , and then with hot soyl over to choke it , that it may be fit for salads ; it is infinitely to be preferred before allisanders , or the sceleri of italy . sowing . you shall sowe it in spring in some place by it self , and till it be come up do nothing to it , besides cleansing it of weeds as they spring up , it being some times a whole year under ground . seed . the seed you shall gather in its season , and order it as you do the rest . allisanders . allisanders are to be ordered as i now shewed you in spanish chervill , only the seed of it does not ly so long hid , and that it is not to be eaten till it be buryed under the dung , or covered with pots like succory . sceleri . italian sceleri shall be treated after the same manner : the shoot or stalke is that which is the most excellent in the plant , because it is so delicate and tender . soweing . these three last plants , are not to be sowne every year , but preserve themselves in the ground during winter without prejudice . purslaine . of purslaines i finde four sorts , the greene , and white , and the golden lately brought us from the ilands of st. christopher , which is the most delicate of all the rest ; and lastly the small wild purslain ▪ which the ground spontaneously produces and is therefore least esteemed . soweing . it is to be sowne at spring upon the bed , and all summer long , to have alwayes that which is tender , bur first you must dig the earth well , and throughly dresse it : sprinkle your seed as thin as you can , which is the more difficult to do , because the grain is so exceeding smal , and when it is sowne , you shall cover it no otherwise , then by clapping the bed with the back of your spade . this done , water it immediately , that you make no holes in the bed , thus it will come up speedily , provided that you ply it with refreshments at the beginning . transplanting . to be master of excellent seed you must transplant it , and thus you will produce goodly stalks● to pickle , and serve to put in your winter salads , and in pottage . seed . you shall perceive the graine to be ripe , when it lookes very black , and then you shall pull up the plant , and lay it upon a sheet to wither , and dry in the sun : but at night carry it in the same sheet into the house , and the next day expose it again , continuing so to do till it be all perfectly ripe , then rub it 'twixt your hands , and poure it into another sheet to dry throughly before you box it up . you shall set your plants a drying again for some dayes after , and they will furnish you with more seed which could not be gotten out the first time . you shall finde that new seed is nothing so good to sowe as that which is two , three , or four years old . spinach . of spinach there are three sorts : the large which has not the leafe so pointed and prickly as the smaller , and the pale , which makes up the third . soweing . season . it would be sowne in the beginning of autumn , that it may gather some streugth before winter . if you perceive that it springs too fast , you may cut for pottage , and to make tarts , it will be a great deall tenderer then in lent when it is chiefly eaten . the manner of soweing of it is on beds in small rills four lines in a bed . when it is up keep it neatly weeded , and extirpate all such stragling plants as you shall find out of their files . seed . reserve a corner of your bed for the seed , cutting off al the rest as you have occasion . at lent pull up the plant quite for the use of the kitchin , cutting away only the roots . the seed is of two sorts , the prickly , and the smooth and round which produces the pale coloured and most delicate . sect . vi. of beanes , peas , and other ▪ pulse . beanes . there are three sorts of great beanes . those which we call at paris , marsh-beans , which grow very large , flat , and of a pale colour : of others there are many lesser kinds like the first but a little rounder . and some there are lesse yet than these , and wholly different from the first , being almost exactly round , of a gray , or a little reddish-coulour . and these are such as they give to horses , and which they grind for divers purposes . i shall here only treate how the great ones are to be ordered , leaving the small as of small consequence , and shall shew you how different mens opinions are for the time and manner of soweing them , sowing . some sowe them about advent , and hold that they shall have of the first ready to eat : others stay till candlemasse , and some will have the frosts first past : every man hath his particular reasons , because say they , the flea devoures their tops when they are in flower . for my own particular ( who alwayes love to be sure ) i stay till after the frosts are past , and i build my reason upon this ; that the season is all in all : not that i would disswade any from soweing in advent , or in february , but i would advise you to be sparing , and to reserve the greatest quantity for the spring , since it being necessary to sowe them in the best ground , and the lowest you have , it would be scarce fit to dig at those two seasons , being more retentive of water then the lighter grounds , choyce . before you sowe them , make choice of the most healthy and best condition'd ; then steep them a day or two in water wherein dung has been imbibed , this will cause them to flourish exceedingly , and advance their growth above ten or twelve dayes , and besides they 'l not remain● so long in the earth before they come up , will greatly prevent the danger of wormes , and , being throughly soaked in the foresayd liquor , will participate of its good quality , which is to make them produce great abundance . ground . for their soweing , the ground ought to be dug and prepared before winter , and cleansed of weeds , then with the houe make a furrow , upon the side whereof , ( and not at the bottome ) drop your beans a little above halfe a foot asunder , then open another trench , and with the earth which comes out of that , cover your first , then a third , placing your beans as on the first and so continuing every second furrow to drop the beans : be careful to make your trenches as direct as you can , that you may the better houe , weed , and crop them , without breaking their stalks , when you pass between them . there are others , who after they have well dug and dressed their ground , tread it out into quarters , and plant their beans with a dibber ; but i most of all affect the first , because it makes the ground looser about them . houing . whilst they are growing , and that the weeds are ready to choke them , you shall houe and cleanse them carefully , without doing them any harm ; and when they are pretty strong , you shall observe that the flies and gnats will even cover the tops of their spindles , lighting upon the tenderest part of them , which with your knife you may crop off , and so carry away both the tops and the insects , casting your cuttings into a bushel , and afterward burn them , or bury them in your dunghil pit , or in some other place distant from your beans , lest they return back again . gathering . some of these beds you must destine to be eaten young and green , and not gather the pods amongst the whole crop ; and when you have quite plundered a plant , cut the stalk close to the ground , that it may shoot up another , which will produce its fruit in the latter season . seed . for seed , let them drie upon the stalks , till both the pods and they are grown black ; then in the heat of day pull them up , and thrash them out gently with a flail , fanning them out at your leasure . hame . burn not the hame which they afford , though it makes excellent ashes , but cast it amongst your soyl , and let it rot there , for it will greatly improve it : nay if you would make your ground exceeding rich , sowe beans in it , and when they begin to lose their blossoms , dig them in all together , earth and beans , without minding your losse , for this sort of soyl is a wonderful improvement of your land . there are a great kinde of beans , which are of a red-brown colour : but they are nothing so delicious as the pale . haricots . the small haricot or kidney beans are of two sorts , white , and coloured , amongst which there are also some white , but they are lesse and rounder then the great white ones . sowing . to commence with the great , you shall sowe them in some bed apart , four ranges in a bed , that you may the more commodiously stick them , then if they were sown confusedly : some of these also you shall destine to be eaten green , leaving the rest till they are dryer , and for seed . when you gather them be careful not to break their stalks , that they may bear till it be withered to the very root . painted . beanes . the painted and coloured beans , which are a lesser sort , are commonly sown in the open ground , newly dug and raked over , without any further care then what you take of such seeds as are sown abroad in the fields , unlesse it be , that , eight or ten dayes after they are come up , you houe them a little , and then touch them no more till they shoot forth their strings , ( which is about the beginning of iuly ) which you must cut off , that the pods may the better prosper , which are below the stalks , and to prevent , that in catching one to another ( by over branching ) they be not thrown down , and so perish those which grow beneath , instead of ripening them . soyle . this kinde of bean doth not require so strong a mould as the marsh beans do , but rather a sandy . sowing . they would be sown at the beginning of may , and pulled up as the plants drie , threshing them forth as i spake before of marsh-beanes : for if you gather them greener , you will be much troubled to finde a convenient place to drie them , they being so cumbersome , if you have plenty . white . streaked . bean●s . as for the white which are riced , seeing they clime to the very top of the boughs , and continue long bearing , you shall do well to gather those pods which , you finde drie , since they doe not ripen together , and to prevent two inconveniences , the first whereof is , that being past their maturity , the pod will open of it self in the heat of the day , and so lose out their beanes , and the second that in case there fall any considerable raines , the skin of the pods being over soaked , will cleave to the beanes with a certain inseparable glue which it produces , indamaging the beanes by a musty finnow which bespots them , and makes them very ill-●avoured to the sight , and worse to the taste : and besides you will be constrained to shail them out by hand to the great losse of time . you should separate and draw out all such as you finde black , mixed with black and white , forasmuch as they also become black , and in boyling darken and tinge the liquor . red bean● but the red are to be esteemed above all the rest , because of their delicatenesse , much surpassing the white , though they are most accounted of at paris . peas . of pease there are found several species very much different , viz. the hot-spurs or hasties , the dwarf , the great white pease , the black-ey'd pease , great and small green , the crown'd pease : and those without skins of two sorts , the cic●es with , and without skins , monethly pease , the grey pease , and the lupines . of all which i think it not amisse to particularise in brief , their maner of ordering , though there be no great difficulty in the plant , yet for your better instruction . soweing . there are three manners of soweing peas . in beds or quarters making four or five ranges in each . according to the kinds which you will sowe : in heaps or clusters , and in confusion . hot-spurrs hot-spurrs and hasties , would be sowne from candlemas or a little after the great frosts . soyl. sandy ground is that which they most delight in to come early and if the place be something high and lie expos'd to the south-sun , it will exceedingly advance them , of which we have the experience about charenton and st. maur neer paris , from whence we have them very early , and all the secret is , in often houing them which doth wonderfully advance them . soweing . if you sow them in furrows and lines you will finde it very commodious when you come to dresse them , because you will finde room enough to stand and come at them between the files , without indamaging the shoots , and when they are growe to range them one upon another for the more convenient houing them , which should be often reterated , and gather the cods with more ●ase when they are ripe without hurting the plants . setting . if you sowe them in heapes , plant them with the setting-stick , or dibber , a full foot distance , and put six or eight peas in every hole , they will come up and grow without cumbring the ground , if you have the leasure to hou and dresse them sufficiently . as for those which you sowe confusedly upon the ground newly dug , or in furrows after the plough , they will not require so much attendance , because they spread and display themselves on both sides , and cannot be hou'd above once , without great hazard of spoyling many of them with your feet . great pease . bushing . all sorts of great pease ( as the white , green , crown'd , those without skin , and the cich●s ) would be sown in quarters , and small rills , four ranges in a bed , for the more commodious bushing them in two ranks , every rank serving to support two of pease , and the greater kinde your pease are of , the stronger and higher must your bushes be ; because they climb to the very top , producing cods at every joynt ; especially the greater kinde of those without skins , whose cods grow eared , and are very weighty , shooting their braches at every joynt from the foot , every of which doth oftentimes bear as many cods , as the master stalk of the others . this is a sort of pease which you ought much to esteem for its deliciousnesse , and they may be eaten green with as much pleasure as radishes . these are called holland pease , and were not long since a great rarity . mould . if you would have very fair pease , you must sowe them in rich mould , and geld them when they are grown about four foot high : but the mischief is , that being sown in a strong ground , they do not boyl so well as those which are produced in a light sandy , which is the only proper ground which they require to b●rightly condition'd . distance . you must not set your quarter of pease so bushed as that they may intertwine and intangle each other ; but leave a void bed betwixt two , to give ayr to your plants , lest otherwise they suffocate , and rot at the bottom . beds . you may employ these interposed beds by sowing any other sort of roots heretofore described , and which will wonderfully thrive by reason of the refreshment which they will receive from the shade of the higher peas . gray peas you shall also set a part some particular beds to be eaten green , and cause the cods to be gatherd by some carefull person , who may have the patience to take them off handsomly , or else cut them from their stalks without injuring them , that thus relieving the plant from all it affords they may the longer continue . small peas . for the smaller sort of peas ( as the white , green , gray , hasties , dwarf ; and black-ey'd ) you may sowe them after the plough in open field , for since they do not branch much , they never choak . soweing . they may be sown in two fashions , either in ground newly dug and which has one dressing before wet winter : or under furrow that is , to say by sowing them upon the field , before you plough , and then in making the furrows the peas slide in , and are coverd with earth by the culter . pidgeons . this kind of husbandry is practised for two respects , the one to lodg them coldly when the earth is too light , and the other to preserve them from the pigeons , for those which are onely harrow'd in upon the superficies , they scrape out like poultry , and so devour the greatest part of your seed . houing . there is also another method of soweing peas , in use amongst those of picardy : they have a kind of flat ●hou , like those which the vignerons use about paris , where the vines grow in a pale moyst soyl , or in a sandy . this instrument is very like their hou's , when they have done with them being too much worn at the sides , these they round to a point in the middle , or to make it more intelligible , they do very much resemble the culter of a plough , and use it after the same fashion as they plow the furrows , that is , without ridges or pathes , save only upon the lands where it is divided 'twixt neighbour and neighbour . with these , upon newly dug ground , cleansed of weeds and well dress'd , they make a rill or tr●nch , going backward and drawing the earth which separates it self on both sides : and in these furrows they sowe their pease at a reasonable distance and then beginning a second rill , the houe covers that which was sown before . and so the third the second , till they have finish'd the whole plot. this manner of husbandry is very expedite , and commodious for their cleansing , without danger of treading upon them when they are grown . in this manner they sowe like-wise all sorts of beans , radishes , sorrel , leeks , and divers other hearbs , some deeper then other , according to the nature and strength of the seed . mo●ethly peas . monethly pease ( so called because they last almost the whole year , continually flourishing ) must be sown in some place of your garden well defended from the cold win●les , that you may have fruit betimes . c●●ting . they need no other curiosity about ordering then other pease , only that they would be speed●ly cut being green , leaving none of them to drie ; and as you perceive that any thing springs from them of which you have no hope it should produce cods , to cut it off . wat●ing . you must have a great care to water them , especially during august , and to shelter them with pannels of reeds or mattresses during the excessive heats , to preserve them from the scorching sun. lupines . lupins or taulpins ( so called because the mole flyes the place where they are sowen ) are a flat kinde of pease , round like a bruised pistol bullet . slave-peas . in the gallyes they call them slave-peas , because they are their chief sustenance : they are bitter of tast , and must be a long time soaked before they be boyled . they proceed from pods fastned to the stalk like beanes , and are very full . in spain they sowe whole fields of them for their cattell . soweing . they must be sown in furrows four fingers distant , and four files in a bed and will prosper well enough in ordinary ground . lentills lentils should be sown at the same season as peas in ground newly dug , but if it were prepared the winter before , they will be a great deal fairer . mould . they affect sandy mould , and are to be gathered being ripe , and may be bound in swaths : thus you may leave them in the barns as long as you please unthrashed , because they are not so obnoxious to the mice not to be worme-eaten as other peas which are continually gnawn as long as they remain in their cods , thrashing and therefore they must be thrashed out as soon as possible you can , for which reason some bringing them out of the field in a fair day , thrash them in the very street upon some spacious place expos'd to the sun , which dos much contribute to their loosning : housing . for there is a great deal of trouble in housing them and besides they will sweat as many other graines do , and soften their cods which makes them difficult to beat out : notwithstanding you may house the gray peas to give your horses in the h●me , which will whet their appetite , and much restore them if they be fallen in their flesh . sect . vii . of onions , garlick , chibols , leeks , odoriferous plants , and other conveniences of a garden , not comprehended in the precedent chapters . onions . onions are of three colours , the white , the pale , and the purple-red : i say of three colours , for i do not conceive them to be of three different species , because they are so alike in taste : but i referre their qualities to the judgement of the botanists . oweing . besides your sowing of onions with parsly as i shewed you before , you shall sowe others upon a bed apart , and when it is grown as big as a hens quill , you may transplant it in lines with a dibber , that you may have them very fair . if you leave any upon the bed where you sowed it , 't will diminish , and rise out of the ground at the season , sooner then that which you removed . seeding . during the great heat of summer , it would run to seed , which you must prevent by treading upon the spindle , which will stop its carreer , and make the onion the fairer . drying . housing . when you finde them out of the ground , and that the leaf is become very drie , as it uses to be in august , then you shall take them quite out of the earth , searching with your spade for every small head , letting them dry upon the bed , and afterward lay them up in some temperate place , and an ayr rather d●ie then moyst . seed . for the seed , you shall choose ●he fairest and biggest that you reserved , and when the frosts are past plant them in ground very well soyled , and clear from stones , which is the mould thy best affect . for this you may make use of the houe , rilling the bed where you would set them : not long-wayes but a thwart , and deep enough , then lay them in the bottom of the rills , half a foot distant and cover them by drawing the second trench and thus a third , and a fourth continuing the order till your bed be finished . when it is in seed 't is very subject to be overthrown by the wind by reason of its weight , and the weaknesse of th● spindle , which being easily bent or broken fals with the head to the ground , which rots the seed instead of ripening it , and therefore to remedy this , you shall rail the bed a-about ( as i directed you concerning salsifix ) or else stake them from space to space , to which you shall tie them up , by four or five spindles together bending them gently to the props if it be possible without breaking them . the stalks drie , and the head discovering the seed gives testimony of its maturity , and therefore you shall draw them up , and having cut off all their spindles , you shall lay the heads a drying upon some cloath , seperating that which falls out of it self upon the cloath , as the best conditioned : afterwards when it all is perfectly drie , rub the heads in your hands , and getting out as much as you can with patience and much drying . if you do not immediately rub it out , bind up the heads in bunches , and hang them up in your house , because they will both keep and augment in good nesse taking them only as you have occasion . there is so great deceit in buying this seed , that i would advise you to use none but which is of your own growth , unlesse you have some intimate friend that will send you that which is excellent , to renew your store , for some merchants sell it old , and so it can never prosper , or else they scald it to make it swell : to discover that which is good put a little into a porrenger of water , and let it infuse upon the hot embers , and if it be good it will begin to check and speer , if it do not , its worth nothing . chibol . chibolls of all sorts , from the greatest to the english-cives , are to be planted in cloves , four or five together , to make a tuft , in distance according to their bignesse , they requiring no other care , then to be weeded and cleansed , and , if you will , a little dunged before the winter . thus you may let them continue in their bed as long as you please , the plant continually improving by off-s●ts which it will produce in abundance . transplanting however it will be good at every three or four years end to take it up , and plant it in another place , forasmuch as the ground is weary of bearing perpetually but one sort , and loses that quality which is most proper to the plant , rendring it languid and weak if it dwell on it too long . garlick . ● garlick is to be orderd like onions , planting . the best season is to plant it at the end of february . the time of bruising it , to make the spindles knot , is about st. peters in iune , and to pull it out of the ground , at st. peters in august , according to ●he old gardiners adage . sow at st. peters the first crop . your garlick at st. peters stop . and at st. peters take it up . pulling . housing . when you have amassed them together you shall let them dry in heaps upon the bed , and then in the cool of the morning bind them up with their own leaves , by dozens , and there let them passe the day in the hot sun , before you carrie them in , hanging it to the beames of the sieling to keep it drie . eschalots , or ( as the french call them ) appeties , being a species 'twixt an oniamd garlick , and add a rare relish to a sawce , neither so rank as the one , nor so flat as the other ) are to be orderd like chibolls , planting . planting the little cloves , to make them greater , and in the moneth of august , you shall pull as many of them out of the ground as you desire to reserve , and hang them up as you did the garlick . leeks . blanching . leeks are to be planted like onions , and transplanted in files with the dibber , as deep as may be , that you may have a great deale of white-stalke ; nor should you fill the trench till a little after , and that they be well grown , this will augmeut their blanching . but besides this there is another way , and that is when they have done growing , to lay them in the rill one upon another , leaving only the very extremities of their leaves out of ground , and thus what is covered will become white , and this does much lengthen the plant , one such leek being as good as two others . seeds . for the seed , reserve of the fairest and longest to transplant in the spring : and when they are run up , environ them with supporters and palisades as you doe onions to preserve their heads from falling to the ground . when they are ripe , cut them off ●rie , and reserve them in bunches , or otherwise as you did the onions . herbs odi●●sant . sweet and odoriferant herbs , and what other you ought principaly to furnish your garden withall as are proper for salades , and for the service of the kitchen , omitting the rest at your own pleasuure , such as are southen-wood , hysope , cassidonia : ●aulme , camomile , rue , and others . we will here discourse of such only as you ought of necessity be provided . salad . for salads , balm , tarragon , sampier , garden-cresses , corne-sallet , pimpinell , trippe-madame , are such as we do ordinarily use together with those which i have described in the foregoing sections ▪ that salad being most agreeable , which is composed with the greatest variety of herbs . some of these herbs are to be sown , and others to be planted in roots and though they all for the most part bear seed , yet none so effectually as the rooted plants . corne salad . pimpinel . cresse . those which you are to sowe are the corne-salad , pimpinel , and cresses , the rest are to be planted in roots● all of them passe the winter in the ground without prejudice . and you may leave them as long as you please in the beds where you sowed and planted them ; without any ▪ farther trouble then to weed them and now and then dig up and cleanse the paths least the weeds ocome them . the rest which you gather for the kitchen , are thyme , savory , marjoram and sage , of both sorts , and r●semary ; all which plants are easy to be raised , and sufficiently furnish you . licoris . we will not omit licoris , to gratifie such as make use of it in their p●isans : but if you plant it in your garden , place it in some quarter where it may not prejudice it , for if it like the ground , it will s●ring and goe a great deal deeper then the very couch or dog-grasse , and put you to a world of difficulty to come at it in case you should resolve to extirpa●e it intirely . there grows as good in all places of france , as any that they transport out of spain . plantin● to furnish your self with this take rooted plants , and lay them half a foot in ground , it will need no other labour to make it thrive , but to preserve it well weeded and clensed by stirring up the earth . time. thyme is both sown and planted ; one thyme tuft wil afford many slips , which you may set with the setting-stick , as you doe all sorts of cuttings . savory . savory is every year to be sown , and therefore be carefull to reserve the seeds , and the hearb also being dried , to serve in divers seasonings . marioram of marjoram there is the sweet , and the pot-marjoram . the first sort is very t●nder in winter , and therefore the seeds thereoff should be carefully preserved , to sowe of it every year : the winter or pot-marjoram ( which is a bigger kind ) may be perpetuated where you please . sage . garden and bastard-sage grows well of slips or branches cleft off with roots from the main stemms . rosemary . rosemary is also planted of slips , and roots split from the old stock . fenell . sweet-fenell and anis , which are plants to be sown and governed without much difficulty , are not to be forgotten in your garden . satisfie your self therefore with these few instructions which i have given of odiriferous plants : the apprehensions i have of swelling our volume has caused me to passe them so lightly over . there now only remains to conclude this treatise the addition of some plants and shrubs which bear fruit , highly necessary to accomplish your garden . st●awberies . strawberries are of four kinds . the white , the large red , the capprons , and the small red wild strawberry . plan● . concerning these last sort which are the small , you need not put your self to the trouble of cultivateing them , if you dwell neer the woods , where they abound ; for the children of every village will bring them to you for a very small reward : and in case you be far from these pretty sweets , you may furnish some small carpets of them on the sides of some of your alleys without other care or pains then to plant them , sending for such as are in little sods from the places which naturally produce them , or else you may sowe them , by casting the water wherein you wash the strawberies before you eat them , upon the foresaid beds . 〈◊〉 . for the great white straberies , the red , and c●aprons you shall plant in borders , four ranges in a border or low-bed , which must have a path between , of a foot and half at least : the best plants are such as you take from the strings which they make during all the summer , and to put three plants in every hole which you shall make with the dibber . season . the best season , is to plant them in august , when their strings are lusty , and have taken roots by their joynts , forming a small plant at every knot . proping . to order them well you must dresse , weed and loosen the mould about them very dilligently , and to have fair and clear fruit you shall stick a small prop to every plant , to which you shall bind their stalks with a straw and by this means , besides that your fruit will prove much fairer , snails , toads , frogs , and other noxious animals will forsak●● them , for want of covertures , which they would not do if the whole plant lay upon the ground , where they fail not to eat ago●dpart of them , ever attayning the fairest . 〈◊〉 when your strawberies shoot their strings , you must castrate them and leave them none but such as you reserve to ●urnish you with plants . ren●wing and you shall every year renew some of your 〈…〉 such as are above four of five years old , as beginning then to impair of their goodnesse and vertue . dressing . it will be convenient to strew them over with some melon-bed dung , a little before the great frosts , which will much improve them , cutting off all their leaves , as i taught you concerning sorrell . soyl. the soyl which they most affect is rather a sandy then a stiff , and therefore you shall make choyce of that part in your garden for them which most approaches this mixture . strawberries in autumn . if you desire to have strawberries in autumn , you shall only cut off the first blossomes which they put forth , and hinder their fructifying , they will not fail of blowing anew afterwards , and produce their fruit in the latter season . raspis . r●spis are of two colours , the white and the red : you must plant 〈◊〉 which you may split off into many from a good stemm : they are to be planted four fingers distant from one another in an open trench as deep as your spade-bit , as i have described it in my discourse of a nursery , whither i referr you for more brevity . p●uning . besides the former labours , they will only require that you free them of their dead wood , and clear them of the suckers which they shoot up in the paths between their ranges : but if you perceive that notwithstanding all this , they spring too fast as to endanger their choaking , you shall succor them by pruning off the new sets , and sparing the old , as the most ingenuous and fruitfull . goosber●ies . of gooseberries there are two kindes , the great-large and the small white ones which are thorny and full of prickles : others red , white , and perled , without prickles , which in normandy they call g●delles . they are all of them to be planted , and governed like raspis , and therefore i proceed no farther . champignon . choyce . champignons , and all other kinds resembling them to which the italians give the common apellative of fongi , we distingush in our language , naming some of them mushroms of the woods , which rests , and are very large . and are such as grow by the borders and skirts of great for-mushroms of the meadews , and sweet pastures , which are such as grow frequently where the cattell feeds , and seldom flourish till after the first fogs of autumn are past . these last are those which i esteem the best of all , as well because of their beauties and whitenesse above , as for their vermillion beneath , add to this their agreeable sent , which are wanting in the other . the garden mushroms which are ordinarily grow upon the beds , and those which do not appear before the beginning of may , hid under the mosse in the woods from whence they seem to derive their name of moush , or mousserons . bed mushram . dressing . of all these species there is only the bed-mushrums which you can produce in your garden , and to effect this , you must prepare a bed of mules or asses soil , covering it over four fingers thick with short and rich dung and when the great heat of the bed is qualified , you must cast upon it all the parings and falls of such mushrums as have been dressed in your kichen , together with the water wherein they were washed as also such as are old and wormeaten , and a bed thus prepared will produce you very good , and in short space . the same bed may serve you two or three years and will much assist you in making another . production . if you poure of this water upon your melon beds , they may likewise furnish you with some . but i had almost forgotten to inform you , that there are certain stones , which being placed in the dunghill , have the vertue to produce them in a little time , and that there are some curio●s persons which have of these stones , to whose better experience i recommend you . morrille● concerning morilles , and truffs : the first whereof is a certain delicate red mushrum , and the other an incomparable kind of round ru●●et excressence which grows in drie ground , without any stalk , leafe , or fibers to it , and therefore used to be found out by a hog , kept and trained up in the mysterie : there are but very few places which do naturally produce them . conclusion . and thus i presume to have sufficiently instructed you , in all things which are necessary to be cultivated in gardens ; at the least ; what is commonly eaten and in request in our parisien france . other provinces have other plants , the spoyls whereof they afford us so good cheap , that it is not worth the while to husband them : as for instance , capers , &c. not but that they prosper very wel in these parts ; but they are troublesome and require a large compasse , for a small crop , flourishing better amongst the stones of some antient ruine , then in any other place : t is too great a subjection to gather their blossomes , and to pickle them in salt , and would cost you more then you may buy them for of the oyl-men let us conclude this discourse then , and hasten to shew you how the fruits of the garden are to be conserved in their naturall , according to the precedent sections and articles , as your fruit , your herbs and your pulses are disciplind in the two former treatises . an appendix to the former treatises . sect . i. of the manner how to conserve fruits in their natural . conserving of fruits in their naturall . raspis . there is nothing which doth more lively concern the senses then in the depth of winter to behold the fruits so fair , and so good , yea better , then when you first did gather them , and that then , when the trees seem to be dead , and have lost all their verdure , and the rigour of the cold to have so despoyl'd your garden of all that imbellished it , that it appears rather a desart then a paradise of delices : then it is ( i say ) that you will taste your fruit with infinite more gust and contentment , then in the summer it self , when their great abundance , and rarity , rather cloy you then become agreeable . for this reason therefore it is , that we will essay to teach you the most expedite , and certain means how to conserve them all the winter , even so long , as till the new shall incite you to quit the old. for it is just with fruits as it is with wines : those which we drink first are the more delicate and juicy ; and those which we reserve for the latter part of the year are more firm and lasting : both excellent in their season : but so soon as the new are made , and fit to pierce , we abandon the old , which we before esteemed so agreeable . in like manner it is , so soon as the new fruits approach to their maturity , we forsake those of the year past ; and one dish of strawberries , or cherries , ( though never so green ) or forward pears , shall be preferred to the best , and fairest bon-chrestien which you can produce . conservatory . fabrick . situation to pursue then our first intention . it will be necessary to choose some place in your house the most commodious to make your reserva●●ry or store-house , which should have the windows and overtures narrow to prevent the extreamity both of heat and the cold : these you shall allways keep shut , and so secured from the ayr as only to afford you a moderate light , which you shall also banish by closing the wooden shutters when you go out : and indeed were there none at all , and that the door to it were very straight , and low , it would be the better keeping it shut so soon as ever you are entred . such a place designed for your store , you shall build shelves about , and ( if the room be capable of it ) that the middle be to lay fruit in heaps , such as are the most common and destind for the servants , and if it be not wide enough , it shall suffice to shelve it three parts and leave the fourth for the heaps . shelving . let your shelves be layd upon brackets of wood or iron very strong because of their charge : two of them side by side , two foot broad : which you must ledg with a small lath , to keep the fruit from rowling and falling off : but let-none of these shelves be within a yard of the floor , that you may place the best rare fruit under them , seperateing and distinguishing them according to their kinds : but you may continue the shelves upward to the very ceeling placing them about nine or ten-inches asunder . and for the more convenien●e you should have a smal light frame of steps by which you ascend and reach to the uppermost shelf , when you would visite your fruit : a ladder being nothing so convenient , wearying the feet , and more subject to fall . season of gathering fruit . the season of gathering your winter-fruits being come , which you shall discover by many indications , as when they begin to drop off themselves , which commonly happens after the first rains of autumn , when the tree being sobb'd and wet , swells the wood , and loosens , the fruit : or when the first frosts advertise you that it is time to lay them up : or ( to be more certain ) at the decrease of the moon in october ( thus for the pears and apples ) begining to gather the softest first , and finishing with the harder , that they may have the more time to perfect their maturity . there are some fruits that are only to be eaten ripe as the gros●enil-pear * cor●nes , services , azerolls , and the like , which you shall leave upon the tree till you perceive by their falling in great numbers , they admonish you to gather them . medlars are to be gathered about st. lukes , according to the ●roverb . medlars . baskets . when you gather your fruits , you should be provided with strong ozier baskets , to be born full betwixt two men , and you shall put a little straw at the bottom , lest the weight of the uppermost bruise the undermost against the basket . fallen fruit . you shall as you gather your fruits separate the fairest and biggest from the midling and such as are fallen off themselves , or as you have thrown down in gathering the others , putting each sort in a b●●ket apart : i speak not here of the smallest and the crumplings , for i suppose you discharg'd your trees of them before , so soon as you perceived that they did not thrive , to give the more nourishment to the rest . the worm-eaten apples should be put also amongst those which are fallen to be spent first . housing . as fast as you gather your fruits , you shall carrie them into your store-house , and range them upon your shelves so as they may not touch one another , putting ● little straw all under them , and in like manner distinguishing the fairest and biggest from the lesser upon several shelves and heaping up the worm-e ●en and fallen , as i but now directed you . bon-chresten as ●ouching the bon chrestien pears , they are more curiously to be gathered then the rest , for the stalkes of such as are very fair and well coloured , red at one side and yellow at the other , should be sealed with spanish wax to preserve their sap from evaporating : this done , wrap them up in drie pa●ers and put them in a bushell or a box well covered , that they may grow t●wny and mature being thus shut up . you shall practice the same upon the double-f●owere pear , the cadillace , the thoul , and others which are graffed upon the q●ince , and which receive their colour from the tree : for as for those as are graffed upon the pear-stock , they commonly continue green ; and therefore without any farther trouble , you need only range them upon the shelves , as you did the rest . c●●inet . those that are very curious have a cupboard which shutts very close , in which they reserve their bonne chrestiens : this cupboard is furnished with shelves , upon every of which are fastned small quarters of wood , which are laid cross like a grate , every square neer as big as the greatest pear . upon each of these s●uares they lay a pear by it self , for fear lest they should touch ; and that if any of them should be perished , it do not in●ect its neighbour . this cupboard they keep very close , pasting pieces of paper about the key-holes , to keep out the ayr , and never open it , save when they would take our fruit , and this closing them up does give them a most excellent colour : but before they thus shut them up , ● they leave the pears five or six dayes in the baskets , wherein they were brought out of the orchard , that they may have time to sweat . ripe fruit . those fruits which are to be leaten ripe , should be layed in heaps , and if they do not mellow fast enough to your desire , you shall put them into a wheat-sack , and shall jumble them together betwixt two , this concussion one against the other will exceedingly advance their maturity . grapes . your muscat grapes of all colours , as the chasselats , bicane , and rochel grapes , or others more ordinary , are to be preserved several ways , either singly ranging them upon straw o● h●nging them in sieves up to the ceeling , covering them over with paper to guard them from the dust , or barrelling them up with oat-chaff or in a tub of ashes , or which is best , hanging them by their ends ( not stalks ) in your forementioned cub-board . to keep them . i pretermit severall o●her curious wayes of keeping grapes , as when they are in flower to put the clusters into a glasse-violl , and when it is ripe cut it from the vine , and seal up the stalk , but it must so hang as that none of them touch the ●ide of the glasse , and then close the mouth of it with soft wax , to keep out the ayr , this will preserve the chister till christmas . there are divers other means , which i omit because they are altogether unprofitable , troublesome , and expensive . and though i have not before taught you how you may store your self with these muscat-grapes of all colours , it is not out of ignorance , for i am abundantly furnished withthem ; but because it is a plant which is to be governed like the other vines , i referr it to my vignerous , who have from their youth been accostomed to the ordering of vines , their experience instructing them in those necessary subjections which a gardner would never observe , with so many precautions as they are obliged to do , especially in planting and pruning them , which are the onely things i instrust them in , and am well satisfied . vermine . i shall tell you upon this occasion , that all sorts of flies , and bees , wasps , &c. dormise , and rats , are exceedingly licorish of these grapes , when they are ripe , to prevent which you shall place some clove of garlick half hid in severall places upon the poles which support them , neer the clusters , and the very sent thereof will chase them away . aspect . the fullest aspect of the meridian sun , and shelter of some wall , is the onely place that the muscat and precoce grape affects . rotten fruit . mice . cats . to conclude this section , i will advise you to visit your conservatory often , that in case you finde any of the fruits rotten , you take them away ; for they spoil all that they touch : but if you perceive any one that the mice have begun , stirre it not from the place ; for as long as any of that single fruit remains , they will never attaque another : in the mean time set a trap to catch them , for to let cats in , they will disorder your fruit , and leave their ordure amongst the heaps , and upon the shelves . sect . ii. of dried fruits . dryed fruit . there are divers fruits that we drie in ovens , which in hotter countreys they drie in the sun , as in provence the prunella's , in langvedoc raisins of the sun ; but since the cold of our climate obliges us to make use of the oven , i will here describe in particular , how each of them ought to be dried . cherries . beginning then with ch●rries , white , hearts , and the preserving cherries , as with the first which the season prescribes us . chuse such as are very ripe , fair , fresh , and not bruised : you shall spread them upon lattices , or hurdles made of wicker , ranging them one by another , as handsomely as you can , without suffering them to lye one upon another , with their stones and stalkes then put them into the oven which must be of a temperate heat . such as it usually is after the household bread is drawn . and then leaving them as long as any heat remains , you shall take them forth turne them , to the end they may perfectly dry : after this you shall heat the oven again , putting them in , and repeating this course till they are sufficiently dryed to be kept , then let them cool in heaps a whole day , and afterwards binding them up in small bunches , reserve them in great * round boxes exquisi●ely shut . plum. plums are to be dried like cherries very ripe gathered , the best for this purpose are such as are fallen off the trees , for they are most fleshy , and will be more agreable to eat then those which you shall gather , which retaine alwaies some verdure upon them . the very best to drye are to be chosen , as the imperial , date , and st. catherine , diaper , perdrigon , cytrout , 〈◊〉 mirabolan , roche-corbon , damasks of all sorts , and the st. iulian for ordinary spending . prunellas . if you desire to counterfeit prunellas , you must make choyce of the fairest of your plums , as the perdrigon , the abricotplum , * egg-yolk , brignolles or others , which have a white skin , pee●e them without a knife , drawing them by the skin which will easily quit the plum , if it be throughly ripe , then stone them without breaking the fruit , as i shall hereafter instruct you when i speak of abricots . boyle the skins well with a little water , and strain it through a cloath , and in this juice ( which be in the consistance of a syrupe infuse your plums as often as you set them into the oven , flatting them every time : if your liquor be not thick enough , you shall adde to it the juice of white corrinths , very ripe , which will render your syrup sufficiently thick . you may also ( if you please ) adde some sugar to them , they will be excellent , and require less drying . the provençals instead of setting them in the oven , stick them upon thorn branches , one upon each thorn , and so leave them to drie in the sun. peaches . peaches are to be ordered after the same manner as plums , excepting that they must be gathered from the tree ; for those which fall , besides that they are over-ripe , they wil have such bruises as will hinder their drying , without great trouble , and will be very disagreeable to the taste : before you stone them , you shall set them once into the oven to mortifie them : afterwards you shall slit them neatly with a knife , and take out the stone ; then open and flat them upon some table , that when you set them in the oven , they may dry as well within as without , by reason of their great thickness ; & the last time you draw them out of the oven , whilst they are yet hot , close them again , & flatten them , to reduce them to their natural shape . abricots . abricots are also to be gathered ripe from the tree , you need not open them , to take out their s●ones , but thrust them out dextrously , neer the stalk : neither in drying them need you open them like peaches ; but leave them whole , and only flatting them , that they may drie equally in every part , and be the more commodiously ranged in the boxes . if you desire to have them excellent , put a pill of sugar about the quantity of a p●a , in the place of the stone ; and fill an earthen milk-tray , covering it with a lid of paste closed thereto : then set it in the oven , as soon as the bread hath taken colour , and there let it remain till it be cold : after which you shal set it in the stove upon slatse , as they drie sweet-meats ; and when they are sufficiently dry to keep , whilst yet warm , strow some finely searced sugar upon them , and leave them two dayes before you set them up . pear● ▪ pears are to be dried pared and unpared , in the same manner as i shewed you before : but being pared they are much more delicate , and the parings are to be used , to infuse in the liquor , as i taught you in plums . you must leave their stalks , and the crown when you pare them , choosing such fruit as is the fairest , most delicate , and full of flavour , as the orange , summer bon-chrestien , muscadel , great m●scat-pear , the rousset , & a hundred others as rare . you shall put of these likewise in earthen pans , with their skins upon the fruit , before you cover them with paste , thus drie , and strew them as you did your abricots . the pear is not to be gathered over ripe , for that wil render it too flashy . in grape-time , you may infuse the parings in new white wine instead of water , or in cyder-time in new perry made without water . apples . apples are commonly dried without paring them , and are to be slit in the midst , taking out the core : some of them you may boyl for liquor to s●ak those in which you intend to dry . grapes . grapes of all sorts , muscadine and others , are to be dried in the oven , upon the hurdle , without farther trouble then onely to drie them in a temperate heat , and turn them frequently , that they dr●● equally . those of languedoc passe them through a * lye before they drie them in the sun. beanes . amongst drie fruits i will also range green beans , which being well dress'd with a little winter savory dried ( the true seasoning of beans ) may pass for new . to drie them , you shall take those that are tender , which have yet their * skins green , before they are white ; take off this coat ( that is , peel them ) then drie them in the sun upon papers , often turning them daily , at evening bring them in , and expose them again to the sun every day , till you finde them very drie , which will soon be , if it be not close weather : being drie , you may keep them covered in boxes , carefully preserving them from all moysture . before you boil them , you must lay them in soak for the space of half a day in warm water . pease . for green peas● chuse the youngest , which shailed out of their ●ods , drie as you did the beans , and infuse them likewise in warm water before you boil them , adding to the liquor , a handful of the leaves of new pease , if you have any green , tying them in a bunch , lest they mingle with your pease . mushrum● morilles and mushrums are to be filed on a thred , and hung up in some hot place , as over an o●en , where they will easily drie ; or if the place be commodious for it , before the fire , or set into the oven itself temperately warm . sect . iii. to pickle fruits with salt and ●inegre . pickling cucumbers . cucumbers are the biggest garden fruit which we use to pickle , they are to be chosen very small , ( which they call cornets or gerkins , because we choose those which resemble little crooked hor●s , and that do not improve ) or else somewhat bigger , but very young , before their seeds be hard , which are nothing so pleasant to eat : these are to be pickled pared , or whole ; but it is best to pare them before you put them in pickle then afterwards ; because of the loss of your salt and vinegre upon the skin , which will become so hard , as scarcely to be eaten : but they are handsomer and whiter , being pared at that instant when you serve them to the table , then such as you pare before they be pickled : so that you may do which of them you please . the other small horned cucumbers are to be pickled without paring , by reason of the delicateness of their skin . cathering you must gather very early in a fair morning , and let them lie all the rest of the day in the sun to mortifie them a little , that they may the better receive in the salt. put the pared , the unpared , and the ge●kins , each of them in well glazed earthen pots apart ( for those that are unglazed , crumble and moulder away , by reason of the salt which does penetrate them , and so lose their pickle ) ranging them handsomly , and crowding them as neer as you can to one another , without bruising : then you shall strew a good quantity of salt upon them , and the vinegre afterwards , tilf the uppermost of all are well covered ; otherwise there will breed a mouldinesse that will spoil all that remain bare . thus set them up in a temperate place , and touch them not at least in six weeks , that they may be perfectly pickled . your store-house will be the most convenient place to keep them in . 〈◊〉 . let the purslain which you would pickle be of tha● which you have transplanted , that it may be the fairer . the true season to gather it is , when it begins to flower , if you would have that which is tender : for if you omit it till it be out of flower , that you may save the seed , ( as it is commonly sold ) it will be too hard to eat . let it also be dried and mortified in the sun , two or three dayes , and then range it in glazed pots with vinegre and salt as you did the cucumbers . c●pers broom-b●ds . sampiere . tarr●gon . capers , broom-buds , sampier , tarragon and the like , are to be pickled after the same manner as above . artichoks . bottoms of artichock● are to be pickled in salt , but after another method then the former ; for they must first be above half-boyl'd , and when they are cold , and well drain'd of their water , which should likewise be dried with a cloth to take out all their hu●idity , range them in pots , and pour brine upon them , as strong as it can possibly be made ; which is done by putting into it so much salt , as till it will no longer imbibe , & that the salt precipitates to the bottom whole and without melting . this we call marinated water . upon this water ( which will cover your artichocks ) you must pour sweet butter melted , to the eminence of two fingers , that you may thereby exclude the air ; then the butter being cold , set up the pot with your cucumbers , or in some other temperate place , covered and well secur'd from the cats & the mice , which else will make bold to visit your b●tter . but i presume that before you put the artichoks in the pot , you did prepare them as you would have done to serve them to the table , that is , taken off all the leaves and the chocke which is within . time. the true season for this is in autumn , when ( practising what i taught you before in the second treatise in the chapter of artichokes ) your plants produce those which are young and tender , for they are these which you should take to pickle , before they come to open and flower , but yet not till their heads are well formed and hard . when you would eat of them , you must extract their saltnesse by often shifting the water , and boyle them once again before you serve them to the table . asparagus peas . champignons . asparagus , peas without cods , morilles , champignons , or mushrums , are also to be pickled in salt , ( having first parboyl'd them , & prepared every sort in its kind ) af●●r the same manner that you did artichoks . v●sit your pots . you shall monethly be sure to visite your pots , that in case you perceive any of them mouldy , or to have lost their pickle , you may according repayr it . cornelians . i have some years since invented the pickling of cornelians , and have frequently made them passe for olives of veronna , with divers persons who have been deceived , their colour so resembling them , and their tast so little different . to effect this , i cause the fairest and biggest to be gathered when first then would begin to blush , & then letting them lye a while , i pot or barrel them up , filling them with brine , just as i do artichocks , and to render them odoriferous , adding a little branch of green fenel , & a few bay-leaves : then closing the vessel well , touch it not for a moneth after . if you finde them too salt , dilute & abate the pickle before you serve them to the table . sect . iv. to preserve fruit with wine in the must , in cider , or in hony. to preserve fruit with wine cider . hony . all sorts of fruits which may be preserved in sugar , may also be preserved in must , in cyder , or in hony . and there is no other dfficulty in making choyce of fruits to scald and preserve this way , then in choosing such as you would preserve in sugar . in must. to describe in this place the principall rules which must of necessity be observed in preserving fruit in the must or new wine ; you shall take ▪ three pails full , three pots , or 3 parts of must , according to the quantity of fruit which you intend to preserve : set it in a kettle or skillet on the fire , but with care , that if your fire be of wood , the flame being too great do not burn some side of the vessell . then let your must continue boyling till it be reduced to one third part , that it may be of fitting ●onsistence to preserve your fruit in , sufficiently , & keep it from moulding & spoyling . the fruits being pared or unpared , according to their natures or your curiosity , those which ought to be scalded being done , well drained , and dryed from their water , are to be put and preserved in this must carefully scummed , and made to ●oyl till you perceive that the syrupe is of a sufficient consistence , which you shall know by dropping some of it on a plate , if it appear in stiff rubies & run not about , the plate a little inclining . you cannot take your must too new , & therefore , as soon as you perceive the grapes very ripe , tread them immediatly , and take of that must as much as will serve , white or re● , according to the fruit you would preserve . some fruits as the quince , the pear , & the blew grape , &c. require must of blew grapes , others of white , as walnuts , the muscat-grape & the like , whose candor and whitenesse you desire to preserve . to heighten the tast of those fruits which you ought to preserve in red-wine , put in a little cinnamon and cloves tyed up in a button of lawn that they may not be dispersed amongst the preservs , lost or consum'd in the syrupe , and to those which require white wine , a bunch of green fenel bound up likewise in a cloath . ma●malad of grapes or raisins ▪ codiniack , or marmalad of grapes is made of the fairest , & ripest blew grapes , gathered in the afternoon at the heat of the day , to the end that their moysture may be intirely dryed up : lay them in some lost of your house , where both the ay● & the sun have free entercourse , spreading them upon tables or hurdles , that , for at the leas● a fortnight , they may there sweat & shrink : in case the weather prove cloudy , or that the season prove cold , you may set them in your o●en temperately warm , after which presse them wel with your hands , cleansing them from all their seeds and stalks , putting the husks and juice to boyl in the kettle , & diligently scumming and cleering it from the seeds : reduce this liquor also to a third part , diminishing the fire , according as your con●ection thickens , and stirring it often about with your spatule or spoon to prevent its cleaving to the vessel , and that it may boyl equally . being thus prepar'd , you shall percolat it through a sieve or course cloath , bruising the husks with your wooden ladle , the better to express out the substance , aud besides , you shall wring it forth , or squeez it in a press : when this is done , set it again on the fire , & boyl it once more keeping it continually stirring till you conceive it to be suffici●ntly boiled , then taking it off , pour it into earthen-pans , to prevent its contracting any ill smack from the kettle , and being half cold , put it into gally-pots , to keep . potting . you shall let your pots stand open five or six daies , and then cover them with paper so fitted as to lye upon the very preserve within the pot , and when visiting your pots , you finde that any of your paper is mouldy , take it away and apply another , this doe as long as you shall see cause , which will be untill such time as all the superfluous humidity be evaporated , for then the mouldinesse will vanish unlesse your confection was not sufficiently boyled , in which case it must be boyled again , and then you may cover them for altogether . m●stard de dijon . to make mustard a la mode de dijon , you shalf only take of this codiniack and put to it store of seneve or mustard-seed well b●uised in a mortar with water , & finely searced , and when it is exquisitely mixed together , quench therein some live coles , to extract all the bitternesse from the se●d , then either barrel or pot it up , well closed , and reserved for use . you may also preserve all sorts of fruit in perry that has not been diluted , reducing it in boyling also to a third part , as we shewed you in the must. lastly . in hony. to preserve in hony , you shall take that which is most thick , hard and most resembling sugar , boyling it in a preserving pan , scumming it exactly , & stirring it about to prevent its burning . you shall discover if it be enough boyled , by putting into it a hen● egg , if it sink , it is not yet enough , if it float , it is of sufficient consistence to preserve your fruits : you know that hony is very subject to burn , & therefore finish this preparation upon a gentle fire , frequently stirring the bottom of your pan with the spatule to prevent this accident . finis . table of the principal matters contained in this bo●k . the first treatise . § i. of the place , of the earth , and mould of the garden , together with the means to recover , and meliorate ill ground . s●te pag. 1 soil . 2 dressing . 3 skreening . 8 §. ii. of espaliers or wall-fruit , and of single pole-hedges , and shrubs . planting . 12 pole hedges . 18 shrubs . 19 §. iii. of trees , and of the choyce wh●ch ought to be made of them . pears . apples . peaches . abricots . 2● ▪ 24 cherries . 25 age. 26 shape . taking up . 27 transporting . transplanting . 28 pruning . 29 nailing . spreading . errour . 34 dre●sing . 36 old trees . 37 §. iv. of the seminary and nursery . seminary . 38 seeds . kernels . stones . 39 seed-plot . 40 cut●ing . 41 graffing . 42 quince-stocks . peaches . 44 dressing . 45 nursery . plot. 46 planting . 47 trees . 48 nipping . pruning . 51 distance . forme . 52 §. v. concerning graffs , and the best directions how to choose them . graffing . 54 inoculating . season . 55 choyce . 56 time. cleft . choyce . 57 §. vi. the manner how to graff . p. 59 inoculating . 60 season . 62 cleft . 65 crown . 70 approach . 71 cutting . layers . 73 §. vii . of trees , and shrubs in particular , how they are to be governed , and their maladies cured . trees . 75 pears . graffing ▪ 76 apple-trees . 79 plum. 80 abricots . peaches . 81 cherries . 80 figs. 84 mulberies . 86 oranges . limmons . 87 shrubs . 89 granads . 9● jassemine . 91 musk-rose . myrtles . laurels . 92 phylyrea . alaternus . althea frutex . arbor judae . lilac . diseases . 94 mosse . 95 jaundies . 97 moles . 98 mice . 100 worms . 101 pismires . 102 snails . 103 wood-lice . earwigs . caterpillars . 104 composition to hood graffs withall . 105 to make fruit knot . 106 a catalogue of the names of fruits known about paris , and when they are in season . 108 the second treatise . § ▪ i. of melons , c●cumbers , gourds , and their kinds . melons . 135 seeds . 136 plot. 117 figure . 138 season . beds . 139 sowing . 140 governing . 142 season . transplanting . 143 stormes . ●ells . pruning . 145 transplanting . 147 season . transplanting . 148 watring . gathering . 149 visiting . care. 151 choice . seeds . cucumbers . 152 pumpeons . transplanting . gathering . 154 seed . 156 § ii. of artichocks , chardons , and asparagus . artichocks . planting . 157 earthing . 159 chard . 160 slips . gathering . 161 spanish-chardon . asparagus . 162 planting . 163 dressing . 164 cutting . 165 §. iii. of cabbages , and lettuce of all sorts . cabbage . 166 seed . cole-flowers . 167 sowing . 168 removing . 170 transplanting . 171 cabbage . watring . sowing . birds . 172 wormes . 173 large sided cabbage . 174 white cabbage . 175 red. perfum'd . cabbage . 176 planting . 176 seed . 178 season of sowing . insects . 180 lettuce . sowing . 182 transplanting . 183 roman lettuce . heading . 184 blanching . seed . 185 § vi ▪ of roots . roots . parsneps . 186 sowing . 188 removing . housing . 189 seed . carrots . 190 season . seed . 191 salsifix . 192 dressing . season . 193 seed . 194 radishes . horse-radishes . seed . 195 small radish . sowing . 196 seed . turneps . 197 season . vermine . 198 housing . seed . parsly . season . 199 ●re●●ing . 200 roots . seed . skirret . 201 spending . rampions . jerusalem artichocks . seed . 202 dangers . 203 § v. of all sorts of pot-herbs . beet-leeks . 203 season . transplanting . 204 gathering . sowing . beets red. seed . 206 orache . succory . season . 207 blanching . 208 housing . 210 seed . 211 endive . blanching . housing . sorrell . 212 sowing . transplanting . 214 dressing . seed . 215 patience . borrage . sowing . 216 seed . buglosse . chervill . 217 seed . sowing . 218 seed . allisaunders . sceleri . sowing . p●rslain . 219 sowing . transplanting . 220 seed . spinach . 221 sowing . season . seed . 222 § vi. of beans , peas , and other pulse . beans . 223 sowing . choyce . 224 ground . 225 houing . 226 gathering . seed . hame . 227 haricots . sowing . 228 painted beanes . soyl. soweing . 229 white streaked beans . 230 red beans . peas . 231 sowing . hot-spurrs . soil . 232 soweing . setting . 233 great peas . bushing . 234 mould . distance . beds . 235 gray-peas . small-peas . soweing . 236 pigeons . houing . 237 monethly peas . cutting . watring . lupines . 239 slave-peas . soweing . lentils . mould . 240 thrashing . housing . 24● § ▪ vii . of onions , garlicke , chibols leeks , odirif●r●●us plants , and other conveniences of a garden , not comprehended in the precedent chapters . onions . sowing . 242 seeding . drying . housing . seed . 243 chibols . transplanting . 24● garlick , planting . pulling . housing . eschalots . 247 planting . leeks . blanching . 248 seeds odoriferant . 249 salad . corne-salad . pimpinell . cresse . 250 licoris . planting . 251 time. savory . ma●joram . sage . 252 rosemary . fenell . strawberies . plants . 25● beds . season . 254 propping . stringing . removing . 255 dressing . soil . strawberries in autumn . raspis . 256 pruning . goosberries . 257 champignons . choyce . 258 mushrum-bed . dressing . produc●ion . 259 morills . truffs . conclusion . 260 an appendix to the former trea●ise . ● i. of the manner 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 fruits in their naturall . conserving fruit● . 263 consevatory . fabrick . situation . 265 ●●elving . 266 season of gathering fruit . 267 medl●rs . b●●kets . fallen fruit . 268 nousing . 〈◊〉 chrestien . 269 cabinet . 270 ripe-fruit . gr●pe● . 271 keeping . 272 vermine . 273 aspect . rotten fruit ▪ mic● . cat● . 274 §. ii. of dryed fruit● dried-fruit● . 〈◊〉 . ●75 plums . 276 〈◊〉 . 277 peaches . 278 abric●t● . 279 pear● . 280 apples . grapes . bea●s . 281 pea● . 282 mushrums . 283 § iii. to pickle 〈◊〉 with salt and ●i●egre . pi●kle cucumbers . ●83 gathering . ●84 purslain . 285 capers . broom-buds . sampiere tarragon . artichocks . 286 season . 287 asparagus . peas . champigno●s . pickle . c●rnelians . 288 § iii. to preserve fruit with wine in the must , in cider , or hony. in mu●●●9 marmalad of grapes or 〈◊〉 . 291 potting . must●rd of dijon . 293 in hony. 294 books printed for , and to be sold by iohn crooke , at the signe of the ship in st. pauls church-yard . annales veteris testamenti , à prima mundi origine deduct● ; unà cum rerum afiaticarum , & aegyptiacarum chronoco , à temporis historici principio usque ad maccabaicarum initia producto : à viro reverendissimo & doctissimo , iacobo vsserio , archiepiscopo armachano . folio ej●sdem annalium pars secunda , quae ad annum christi octogesimum producitur , ●nà cum harmonia evangeliorum , ab exercitatissimo sacris literis doctore , iohanne richard sono epischopo ardachadensi conscripta . folio ejusdem de textus hebraici veteri● testamenti variantibus lectionibus ad lodovicnm capellum epistola . quarto vsserii de lxx interpretum versione syntagma . quarto the holy history ; containing excellent observations , on all the remarkable passages and histories of the old testament , with a vindi●ation of the verity thereof from the aspersions of atheists and antiscripturians . written originally in french , by the curious pen of nicolas cau●●●n ▪ s. i. and now elegantly rendred into english out of the seventh and last edition by a person of honour . 4● the bishop of derry's victory of truth for the peace of the church , in answer to mounsieur millitie●e . 8● — of liberty and necessity , in answer to mr. hobbs . 8● — his replication to the popish bishop of calcedon , in defence of his vindication of the church of england . 8● — his vindication of the church of england from the aspersions of schism cast upon it by the papists . 8● mountagues miscellanea spiritualia , or devout essays . the second part . 40 the history of the ●ron age : wherein is set down the origi●al of all the wars and commotions , that have hapned from the year of god 1500. with the manner of their prosecution and events , till the year 1656. illustrated with the figures of the most renowned persons of this pressent time . folio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of drinking water , against our novelists that prescribed it in england , by richard short , doctor of physick . whereunto is added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 ●arm drink , and is an answer to a treatise of warm drink , printed at cambridge . 8● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ●ive introductori●● a●glo-latino-graecum , complect●ns colloqui● fa●iliaria aesopi febulas & lu●i●●i , s●léctiores mortuorum diologos , in usum scholarum , per j. sh. 8● the life and death of the most reverend and learned father of our church dr. iames vsher , late archbishop of armagh , and primat● of all ireland , in a sermon at his funeral , at the abby of westminster , april . 17th . 1656. by nicholas bernard , d. d. and preacher to the honourable society of grays inne , london . 8● the judgement of the late archbishop of armagh and primate of ireland , of the extent of christs death and satisfaction , &c. of the sabbath , and observation of the lords day : of the ordination in other reformed churches , &c. by n. ber●ard , d. d. and preacher to the honourable society of grays inne , london , 8● the holy life of mounsieur de re●ty , a late noble man of france , and counsellour to k. le●is xiii . written in french by iohn baptist s. iure , and faithfully translated into english by e. s. gent. ●● castigations of mr. hobbes his last animadversions , in the case con●erning liberty and universal necessity , with an appendix concerning the catching of leviathan , or the great whale , ●y 〈◊〉 bramball , d. d. and bishop of d●●●y . 8● ☞ the annals of the worl● 〈◊〉 from the origin of time , and continued to the beginning of the emperour vespasians reign , and the total destruction and abolition of the temple and common-wealth of the jews , containing the historie of the old and new testament , with that of the maccabees . as also all the most memorable affairs of asia and egypt , and the rise of the empire of the roman caesars under c. iulius and octavianus , collected from all histories , as well sacred as profane , and methodically digested by the most reverend iames vsher arch-bishop of armagh , and primate of all ireland . folio hymens preludia , or loves master piece , being the seventh part of that so much admired romance , intituled cleopatra written originally in french , and now rendered into english by j. c. 8● de hibernia et antiqui●atibus suis disquisitiones , editio secunda emendatior et quarta parte auctitor . accesserunt rerum hi●erni earum reguante hencico , viii . annales ●unc primum in lucem ●diti . a iacob● wat●o . autore equ . au● . 8● honoria and mammon , with the contention of ajax and ulisses for the armor of achilles , by iames shyrly , gent , 8● certain discourses , viz. of babylon ( revel . 18. 4. ) being he present see of rome , ( with a sermon of bishop bedels upon the same words ; of laying on of hands ( heb. 6. 2. ) to be an ordained ministry ; of the old form of words in ordination ; of a set form of prayer . each being the judgment of the late arch-bishop of armagh and primate of all ireland . published and enlarged by n. bernard . d. d. and preacher to the honourable society of grays-inne , unto which is added a character to bishop bedel , and an answer to mr. perce's fifth letter concerning the late primate . 8● hymens preludia or loves master-piece , being the ninth and tenth part of that so much admired romance intituled cleopatra , written originally in french , and now rendered into english , by i. d. folio . the antiquitie● of warick shiere illustrated and beautified with maps , prospects and pourtractuers , by william dugdale . folio . by whom also a●● manner of books are to be sold brought from beyond the sea● . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28676-e1290 * pole-hedge set up agai●st a wall , much used in france . * such as are pr●duced of kernels . a wilde appl● produced of kernels , on which they graff the dwarf * viz. that which rises in spring & august . * a kind of codling . * sort that cleaves to the stone . * a great white plum , as big as an abricot . * a black unpleasant fruit . * a kind of round pumpeon or citrovill . * a long excellentt cabbage . * small dishes of severall things which stand twixt the greater to garnish the table . * a kinde of hip , a ●ound red berrie , cor●●es is a fruit fashioned like a pear and to be rotted like a medlar . pear . * they call them in f●ance bush●ll . boxes , bei●g of that shape and containing about hal● a bushell . * moyen d● oeuf , a plum so called . * 〈◊〉 preserve them from worms * in which the beau●s are involved . gas●be an instrument made like an oare . the compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by stephen blake, gardener. blake, stephen, gardener. 1664 approx. 381 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 129 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a28337 wing b3139 estc r18838 12258322 ocm 12258322 57633 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a28337) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57633) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 168:3) the compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by stephen blake, gardener. blake, stephen, gardener. [17], 154, [6] p., 80 leaves of plates : ill. printed for thomas pierrepoint, ..., london : 1664. reproduction of original in british library. includes index. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gardening -great britain. gardening -early works to 1800. 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-06 derek lee sampled and proofread 2006-06 derek lee text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the compleat gardeners practice , directing the exact way of gardening . in three parts . the garden of pleasure , physical garden , kitchin garden . how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement , with variety of artificial knots for the beautifying of a garden ( all engraven in copper ) the choisest way for the raising , governing and maintaining of all plants cultevated in gardens now in england . being a plain discourse how herbs , flowers and trees , according to art and nature may be propagated by sowing , setting , planting , replanting , pruning ; also experience of alteration of sent , colour and taste , clearly reconciling as it treateth of each herb and flower in particular . by stephen blake gardener . search the world , and there 's not to be found a book so good as this for garden ground . london , printed for thomas pierrepoint , and are to be sold at the signe of the sunne in st paul's church-yard , m. dc . lxiv . to the right worshipfull william ovglander esq ; one of the honourable house of parliament , son and heir to the late sr john ouglander , &c. the honourable example of piety , the worthy pattern of good endeavours , and great observer of the works of nature . sir , let the heighth of your understanding , and the greatness of your learning , condescend so low as to take a view of the words and works which your servant hath bound up in this volume : to give you a description thereof in metaphoricall expressions i have not scholarship enough , but i have confidence enough to speak and publish the truth of these experiments which i have gathered , with a diligent eye and a painfull hand from all such plants as are cultivated in gardens now in england : the truth of the discourse contained in this treatise , hath enboldened me to enrich it with your noble name ; now sir i will be accountable of the work : i have from time to time took a due observation of that part of gods vegetable creatures which are placed within the compass of my calling , and with pains , care and diligence , i have writ down the knowledg of propagating of each plant , to help me the better in my calling ; for in viewing of it i am put in mind of those herbs and flowers that the winters cold breath hath bereaved of life , or otherwise i might forget them though i might know them very well formerly : they are so infinite in their number , so various in their nature , that my head cannot carry in mind what experiments my eye and hand hath seen and done without the help of my pen : upon this account i have set down these observations which i know to be true , and i doubt not but it is a laudable piece : now i think fit to publish it to the world for the advancement of gods creatures , and for the good of my self and others that shall put it in practice , that it may be a rule to guide the ignorant , and confirm the judgement of those that have good experience . the reason why i undertook this work is this ; i have made diligent enquiry after such books of such authors as might help me in my practice , and i could find very few , and for those that are they did not answer my desires , because they only treated of the use and vertue of herbs , the beauty , variety and preheminence of flowers , the goodness and profit of fruit-trees , but they have written little or nothing as to the practicall part of the advancement of the nature and growth of herbs , flowers , and trees ; and for that which is written , seems to me , and other men which have experience , as fancies , dreams , and conceits which might come into their heads as they were sitting in their studies ; for i and others have found ( by wofull experience ) that their direction concerning the propagating of any plant , to be more hurtfull than usefull ; but this is not my intended discourse , for in the ensuing treatise , i have spoken little against authors , and took less from them ; for mine is the gardeners practicall part , which hath never been written by any , and having good experience therein ( a talent god hath given me to improve ) i think it not fit to lay it up , but to unfold my napkin , that it may contribute to a publick good . i further humbly conceive , that it was my duty to dedicate it to you before any other whatsoever , because i was a plant nourished up within the pale of your habitation , and i hope not altogether unfruitfull : yet considering i was nursed up with your bounty , preserved with your love and care , then the fruit is no more mine but yours worthy sir , and i know it is very usefull for all as have a desire of such a work as tendeth to the propagating of plants , wherein is abundance of excellent things both for food , medicable and physicall arts for the use and comfort of mankind , that god in all things may be glorified ; every sensible man knoweth this , and he hath so much reason ( if he will but set his understanding awork ) whereby he can discern the wisdome of a creator , in forming such a harmony of creatures , and in giving of them such various operations in their severall natures , and that all things are so ordained that it shall be no way usefull without knowledge and labour : then let all degrees of men know , whether they be high or low , rich or poor , they ought to labour either in body or mind , that they may some way or other cooperate and contribute to the common good , or else they are unworthy of the blessings of this life : yet all men desire a good name , with reputation and honour , whether they are deserving yea or no. now my counsell is to all such , that they will look upon you , worthy sir , as an example of all good endeavours , ( to wit ) your great love , care , and diligent search after the knowledge of those plants which are mentioned in this book , and that they will take notice of your more estimable vertues , as constance in times of distraction , such a setled devotion in times of faction , such lowliness of mind in such heighth of estate : much more my eyes and ears have gathered from your eminent parts which my pen cannot express . and sir , let me intrude farther on your patience , to acquaint you with this treatise , wherein i have faithfully declared the way of contriving , modelizing and situation of a garden of pleasure , with artificiall knots to be amplified therein , for the variety of delight , pleasure and contentment of all noble and ingenious persons . i have given rules and directions for the advancement of a physicall garden and a kitchin garden , and for each of these i have given a right information , how each herb , flower and tree in particular is to be propagated in its own nature ; also experiments of alteration , ingemination in the fructition , or by conviction , with varieties , properties and beauties appertaining to plants either for food , physick or pleasure ; and i suppose it cannot be altogether unwelcome to you and the rest of the nobility of this nation , if they take into their consideration , those excellent effects that i shew from the practice of a skilfull gardener , as fruit so desirable , herbs so vertuous , flowers so beautifull , how delightfull all these are placed in uniform ranks , whose beauteous lustre beautifies the banks , the earths cabinet , wherein is its chiefest treasure and school of divinity : on the contrary , by reason of the ignorance of the gardener in artificiall work , noblemen are deprived of their pleasure , their minds are discontented , and the place is disgraced , if in propagating of plants they will follow old errors , by reason of the dulness of their brains , and stubbornness of their wills , which will not let reason work , to know the times and the seasons , the difference in climates , the mixture , the operations of the earth , and the vast difference in the vertue of plants ; for want of these observations the owner is deprived of his profit and earnest expectations of fruit , which cannot choose but be a trouble to master and gardener : to prevent these dangers i give this my testimony , which is a true relation how plants may be propagated and made fruitfull without any sensible error , it being some part of the best invention of my lean brain ; i now right worthy sir recommend it to you as yours , and my self as obliged to you by the law of nature and gratitude , submit my self to your loyall will , and shall study the remainder of my dayes as now i do , how i may be truly worthy for to be your worships in all humble service to be commanded whilest i have a being . stephen blake . the preface to the reader , declaring why this treatise was written , the use and profit of it . reader , incomparable are the works of the eternal god , the creator of all things that live , move , or have any being ; for by his wisdome he formed the world of a composition of elements , and of those elements he created all kind of creatures , and man being a creature of the expresse image of his creator , it pleased god his creator to give him power to rule and govern all creatures else , and man having reason given him to exercise himself therein , then it is reason that man should be accountable to god of what improvement he hath made of that measure of knowledge which was given him ; then it followeth by consequence , that he which cannot give a reason for the judgement which he holdeth , and the actions which he doth , that man is without reasonable knowledge , and if he die so , the end of that man is miserable : then it fits the time , the place and the work , that i give you some reasons why i writ this treatise , and a brief account of what it is , and what the use and profit of it will be , or otherwise i shall condemn my self to be one of those miserable men . reason at the first set my understanding awork , to know to what end i was made , presently the word told me , and reason confirmed it , that i was made to set forth the greatnesse and the goodnesse of god in his wonderfull works he hath set before me , and unless i should blind my eyes by winking at the light of nature , i could not chuse but see the wisdome of a creator in forming the whole creation , and in giving such a decree that all his work must once come to a period ; but whilst it hath a being underneath the sun , it must be in actual labour according to its course of nature ; nay the sun it self never resteth , but still is running of a race to enlighten a dark world ; the moon goeth her circuits , the governing of the sea and mans body ; for the observation of times and seasons , the stars and planets are alway travelling of their circuits ; the wind passeth to and fro and never abideth in one place , the air is continually moving in and out at the nostrils of all living creatures ; it is that which giveth life , beauty , vertue vertue and perfection to all sensible and unsensible creatures : the fresh waters are alwayes ascending and descending through the air and the earth for the preservation of the whole creation : the clouds are continually riding on the wings of the wind , the dropping of their moisture to stop the mouth of a thirsty earth : the sea hath no rest , but is at all times ebbing or flowing : the whole body of the earth hath such motions , operations by assimulations , which doth give nourishment to all plants therein ; the fire is alwayes craving and never satisfied ; the stones are in a posture of growth for the increase of their number , the perfecting of their nature ; the innumerable company of vegetables spread over the face of the earth , do participate , draw and contract into their several natures , the operations of the teeming womb of the earth ; the endless and hidden company of fish in the boundless sea , have an order and discipline according to their kinds , they can discern what tendeth to the good or evil of their life : the universality of fowls , according to their distinct kinds , have unity and copulation one with another , they know how for to build their nests , and to provide for their young : the worms know the times and the seasons , they provide for the winter in the summer , they will not engender but with their fellow-creature : the numberlesse and powerfull hosts of beasts have a government , whereby they know their superiour and inferiour , they are offensive and defensive , they know their prey and pasture , and have generation one with another . and lastly , according to creation , is the harmony of properties , phisiognomies , languages , speeches , actions , judgements ; of the innumerable and triumphant army of men , which by reason and labour subdues and brings to their use and subjection all creatures else , they multiply by conception . these are the humane labours wherein all things work according to their several natures ; now i communicated with my self , how to know the difference betwixt men and bruits , i found in respect of gemination , appetites , sleeping , waking , wrath , lusts , diseases , seeing , hearing , beginning and ending ; what befalleth the body of the beasts , befalleth the body of man , as the one dieth so dieth the other ; yea they have one breath , all are of the dust , and turn to the dust again , and man hath no preheminence over a beast save this , that man hath a spirit that goeth upward , which giveth him a spiritual understanding , whereby he can discern the work and will of god and his own duty , and he is able to give a reason for each , which maketh him a reasonable creature : but all men are not thus able to give a reason for that , yet all men have a spirit , but that spirit ( by the generality of men ) is kept in subjection to the flesh , for it must not labour no more than for the satisfying of the same ; these men are unreasonable men , for they have only a knowledge , and so hath the beast , for the ox knoweth his owner , and the asse his masters crib , but israel doth not know , my people doth not consider , isa . 1. 3. so it is plain and evident , that man with a bare knowledge of those things which necessity and custome hath taught him , without a spiritual consideration , and a temporal knowledge of the several workings of the course of nature under the sun , is no better than the ox and the ass that knoweth their owner and his crib . now let thee and me consider this , it is unconsideratenesse that undoes worldly men , for without consideration accompanied with reason and labour , no man can understand the use of external things which are visible every moment to the sight , how then shall a man understand eternal things which are invisible in the heaven of heavens , where no mortal eye can approach , but by an extraordinary means of reasoning and labouring betwixt the body and the spirit : the generality of men are far from this spiritual understanding , for they have no reason but what custome hath taught them , no faith but what is builded on other mens foundations : the discovery is this , let the custome be never so evil and hainous in the sight of god and good men , yet if it be but a general one they will follow it , and for a wise man to perswade them to the contrary , he were as good to throw feathers against the wind , or shoot arrows at the moon : and for their faith , let it be never so contrary to natural reason , never so false to spiritual understanding , yet they will keep to it , and lay it on the clergy mans shoulders , whether they are able to bear it yea or no , they will venture all and learn nothing ; as simple passengers do that are going over the seas for a far countrey , when they are aboard , there they lie like the ballast not knowing whither they are going , nor will they search out by reason how mariners guide the ship with globe , map , crosse-staff , scoul , rudder and compasse , why then for all they know the pilot may be a devil to carry them to a burning sodom , as well as a saint to convey them to a glorious jerusalem : thus stands the case with ignorant and dull spirited men in their passage towards eternal life ; and it is plainly seen , that they manage their affairs so in this life , by imprisoning the spirit in the corrupt body of clay , that will not let their inventions to work no farther than filthy lucre doth draw them ; truly the reason is this , the flesh and the devil warreth against the soul , and bringeth the natural and spiritual understanding into this total ectipse of utter darkness . again , my soul wondreth to see how laborious carnal men are in bodily labour , and in the workings of the spirit they are so idle , dull and stupid , that they will not open an eye or an ear to give wisdome any entertainment , can they give a reason for this ? sure they cannot . now i wish all men would study even as i do , how they may be able to give a reason for their words and actions ; the truth of it is , the god of this world hath so blinded their eyes that they cannot see the reasons of the working of the course of nature , nor how they labour for that which they do not enjoy : they will part with their understandings before they will part with their money : see what solomon saith of them , prov. 1. 19. so are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gain , which taketh away the life of the owners thereof . these words are of efficacy enough to perswade me , that those men that look no higher than their barns , no farther than their fels and flocks , no nigher than their chests and apparel , are men without wisdome or spiritual understanding if so bruit , then i think it is reason man should labour to obtain wisdome : for wisdome is better than rubies , and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it , prov. 8. 11. so reader , let this wise kings counsel , and my weak argument serve to prove why man should labour for wisdome and reason , which is to understand the working of the course of nature , as god hath fitted , created and ordained it . much more i have to say , and i could have enlarged upon each of these principles but for passing the bounds of my preface , and being too troublesome to the reader . now i shall conclude the introductory part with this advice to all sleepy headed , ignorant and customary men , that they will take the wise mans counsel , as he saith , eccles . 9. 10. whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with thy might , for there is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest . truly the weighty considerations of these words , and the perswasions of reason was the grand cause of my studying this work , and with truth and honesty i have finished it , which told me i must publish it to the world ; and as my duty i have done it for the preventing of publick dangers , not for the gaining of filthy lucre , or purchasing of vain glory , but for the gaining of a free conscience , and purchasing of the society and love of just and wise men : let these few reasons serve to acquaint thee why i writ and published this work . now i will give you a brief account what it is , and what the use and profit will be . for asmuch as divers men have took in hand to set forth in order the perfect way of propagating of those excellent , amiable , desirable , medicinable , physical , profitable and mysticall arts , which are derived from the hand , and are placed within the compasse of a gardeners calling , those authours have written many large and methodical volumes upon this subject , and have greatly furnished our students with such books , but little or nothing have they given unto the practical man , that which is set down is too dark for their apprehension ; yet let me not judge hardly of these authours meanings , for i assure my self , had they had so much of the practical part , as i have , that they would have delivered their art in a great deal better method than i have done , in expressing themselves in the quintessence of wit and refinings of scholarship unto the learned , which would have fitted their minds , as well as the apparel fitteth the body ; so that they circumvent the apprehension with their learned style , they make those helplesse rules which they set down for to passe blamelesse , whereas if they did illustrate in their writings , a weak capacity might comprehend what is incredulous or improbable , also what is laudable and full of practice . but whereas the vulgar sort of people have tired their apprehensions , with the perusing of such treatises as are so full of oratory of words , and so filled and varnished ( as it were ) with quirks . quiblets and paradoxes , speaking little absolutely , but imaginations very obscure and promiscuously written and composed together , running far wide of the practice , and for the major part suspitious and incredulous , seeming to men of experience as an emblem , so that the studies of them which study naturall work , and deliver it in methodicall expressions , prove unfruitfull unto the unlearned sort of men , and i my self being wanting of scholarship , had a sympathy with those in their wants , which caused me for to write this plain and extemporary work in the following treatise , which was meerly drawn from the very practicall part , that it might red ound to an extraordinary and publick profit , &c. which i suppose will be as followeth : first of all , there is the expert way for the situation of a garden of pleasure , so that in it you may have large , sound , plenty , beautifull and wholsome fruit , which is accomplished by the observation of the year as the chiefest part , next in the laying of the ground for to keep it fruitfull , declaring what errors are in it to be observed , and how they may be prevented with great and easie rules , how gardens may be laid in descents , that it may be best for to draw or amplifie every knot prescribed therein by the most severe , commendable , and workman-like way as may be imagined . secondly , there is presented to thy view plenty of knots and whole garden plats , and such as are meerly inacted and sprung from my own study , yet i will not say but some of them have reference to some other thing ; yet let me tell you that if they were the same , yet they were worthy of the impression after my own way and method of drawing of them , for i have given an easie scale to each particular knot , which sheweth plainly what each plat doth contain , being drawn upon the ground , and that no other author hath done . thirdly , you have an inventory of all plants cultivated in gardens now in england , and those are divided into three generall parts ; the first is a garden of pleasure , consisting of flowers and curtous trees : the second is a physicall garden , describing how it ought to be planted with physicall simples , as herbs and trees of that nature ; the third is a kitchin garden , where it is most properly shown , how such a garden should be planted with salletting herbs , pulse and roots . the profit of this work will be more than i can or will stand to reckon up to him that doth put it in practice : 1. in that thou canst not think of any plant but presently thou hast my judgement for the propagating of it , which i assure thee are certain and true rules : 2. you have a catalogue of plants , also fit places for the planting of them in ; with apt times and seasons for the sowing , planting and replanting of all plants whatsoever . if this catalogue seem indifferent to thy judgement , yet it will turn to thy profit , if it be but only for to put thee in mind of particulars . lastly , what the lack of these things may be to the practicall man , a wise man will understand ; therefore i shall cease to give any farther information , and for any vindication of the work , i shall not give it , let it vindicate it self : so i leave this my testimony , and conclude my preface , resting a servant unto all men , as i am thine in truth and love . s. b. the gardners practice in preparation for a garden of pleasure . first for the situation . if a man would have a garden situated according to his desire , it would be so , that it might be shelving or declining on the south-east sun ; so that the sun at its first rising may reflect upon the garden , for the vanishing of vapours , dispelling of mists , and quallifying of cold air and frosts , which oftentimes perish herbs and flowers in their first gemination , and nipping of fruits at the first knitting , which causeth them to fall at an untimely birth ; or if you please , before they come to perfection . the air is farther to be observed for plants that are at their full growth . being planted in a bad air , though the soyl be never so rich , yet the herbs are never so vertuous , the flowers never so beautifull , the fruit of the fruit-trees is never so sound , as those that are planted in a clear air . yet seeing that all men cannot obtain this , though they have never so earnest a desire , therefore let the inhabiter learn how to dispence with his own habitation , so that he may make the best improvement that may be upon all advantages , for the making of his garden fruitfull . and let the purchaser learn , that in purchasing , the choice of air is the chiefest thing to be looked after : for if the soyl be bad , it may be improved with labour and soyl , and made rich : or if it should be so barren , that it could not be made rich under two or three years time , by any art in digging and dunging of it ; yet a man may remove thir barren earth and bring good mould in its stead ; or otherwise it may be laid a top of the other : so a man may have a garden fruitfull , if the air be good , with industry and charge . but if the air be bad , all the cost , care and skill that may be used , cannot change it , or remove it for a good ; therefore the air is the chiefest to be looked upon for health , pleasure and wealth . secondly , what means is best to be used for the situation of gardens of pleasure , according to every mans respective place , which is the modelizing and contriving of it . the modelizing of a garden , is to compose it of the bigness according to the cost intended for it , in the making of it up , and for the keeping of it afterwards . this rightly understood , the second thing in modelizing , is to raise it by a direct square , from that part of the house where it is appointed to be ; for if it be not took by a true square , there will be a confusion in all the work that is to be done in that ground-plat , intended for a garden : besides that it will never answer the face of the house , but all things will seem to stand askew , when there is any prospect took of it from a window , or a balcony of the said house . the ready way to prevent these mistakes is thus : having appointed the place and the quantity of ground , according to the former directions ; then lay a line upon one side thereof , as i told you , by a direct square from the foundation of the house ; then look how many yards you will have your garden in length , so many yards measure out by the line side , beginning at the house : and when you are come to the end of the account of your measure , there stick down a stake ; so done lay another line across at that said stake , which must be one corner of your garden , in that corner place the square , so that one part of it agree with the first line ; then cause the second line to come exactly straight by the eye of the other part of the square : this observed , measure out so many yards as you would have the garden in breadth ; and if it be to be laid at a full square , then measure just as many as before : this done you are come where the next corner must be , there stick down a stake in all respects as you did at the first corner ; then take up your first line , and lay it across as you did before , making of it agree with the square . do thus till you come to that place where you begun , leaving a stake at every corner , which will stand at a just square , which is the first and chiefest part of modelizing of a garden of pleasure . secondly , lay two lines from each corner cross-wayes to the next corner opposite to it , and where these lines cross , there is the center of the garden-plat , and in that place set another stake ; let this stake and the rest be drove in stifly , so that they may not be easily pulled up ; and also let these stakes be as straight , and as long , and stand as upright as it may be possible ; for if the garden-plat be unlevell , you will have an occasion to raise your lines by these stakes , as i shall shew you afterward in the levelling of a garden . thirdly , a form for a garden-plat thus laid out , what remains but that i make some queries , what kind of earth it is , and what air and shelter it hath , and what work may be intended to be amplified in this space of ground : but i will first speak of the improvement ; so that in the future ages the garden may be fruitfull , and then of draft-work . the improveing of a thing is to bring it from barrenness to fruitfulness ; for barrenness is a disease , and improvement is a cure ; therefore i must know the disease , before i can give directions for the cure . to be brief , if i know what earth it is , and what place and manner it lyeth in , reason telleth me the cause of barrenness , and experience teacheth me the cure . viz. if it be a cold wet and clayey ground , then contrive it with high walks , which in the making of them will make motes : but if the garden should be large and spacious , and springs lye in the middle , then dig trenches where the walks of the garden are intended , and lay in those trenches stones and wheat-straw ; it is no matter whether it be in any order yea or no ; it will convey the small springs and issues out of the earth , better than those gutters which are laid by a mason with lime and sand . yet further observe , that stones thus laid in the ground , if they have not a vent for that water which it receiveth , they are of no use : therefore lay them so , that they may be somewhat falling from the center of the garden , to those motes afore-named , or to any other respective place . the second cure which is more available for stubborn and barren earth is this : levell it about michaelmas or candlemas , when opportunity shall best serve : the next midsummer following or thereabout dig the quarters at a spit depth , casting off the stones and roots out of it , breaking the clods ; which will be then as dry as dust . now consider what good this will do ; and if you please i will name some of those benefits to you . first , the sun by reason of the looseness of the earth , killeth all the weeds that are displanted there , and it breaketh the heart of the stubbornness of the earth . secondly , the rain mollifieth it , and maketh it to shiver ; whereas before if it were digged in the wet time , it bindeth it and maketh it the stronger . thirdly , the reason of this loosness is , the air hath recourse and influence into it , whereby it purgeth it , and maketh it fruitfull : for let me premise a word or two ; earth and water are that whereof bodies are made ; but air is that which giveth life and vertue to all things that are sensible and insensible . i cannot stay here , but must insist upon that promise which i made , touching the levelling of a garden . i am come now to the levelling of a garden , either by descents , or a true levell-fall , and that which is better than either is a true water level : the last of these shall be the first i will speak of before i give you the directions . if you please to look back into the second page , there you shall find that i spoke of modelizing , and i also gave directions for it ; that is , to leave the stakes standing at the corners and the centers thereof . this observed , here followeth the levelling of it . first of all find out the highest corner thereof by your eye ; then go to that place with a water-levell , and they are placed like a levelled canon , against that corner cross-wayes opposite against you , which is generally the lowest part of a piece of ground : your levell thus placed , fill it with water , so that it may stand at both ends alike ; then lay your eye to the uppermost part of the levell , as if you were shooting at a mark ; take your sight exactly on the furthermost stake , and mark the place well : do so likewise of that in the center ; then strain a line from that place where your levell lyeth , to that place where you fixt your eye upon the lowermost stake ; then consider how many yards , foot or handfuls that is from the ground , just half so many set another line below that ; again strain it as far towards the upper corner at that height , as the ground will give you leave , which if the ground be of a true fall , before it will be just at the center : be it more or be it less , take your gage from the uppermost line ; then fasten it , and stick some pegs down as may be just as high as the line ; so done , you may take away both lines , and do so cross-wayes again , leaving pegs in like manner . now understand , that earth which riseth above the pegs being brought down , will make good what is wanting there , and abate what is too much in the other : so the garden-plat will be levell , without bringing of any to it , or carrying any from it . i think this experiment would sometimes have saved many a noblemans purse , and a gardners credit . next for laying a garden by a true fall : that is done with great ease , if you know how to levell it , or did observe what directions i gave you for it . you may remember what was said for setting of lines , to make the garden of a levell ; then it is no more but to set the line at the lowermost stake , a foot or a yard , more or less under the levell-mark , according as you would have your garden fall ; and this bringeth it exactly to pass , if you observe to lay cross lines , as was said of the levell-work , for casting the ground by . next for laying gardens in the ascents , it must be done in the selfsame manner , one quarter after another levelled , as i prescribed for a whole garden , according as the ground will rise , either one yard or two yards , more or less , with half paces , or steps to walk up out of one part of the garden into the other . i have more and greater things in hand for the advancement of garden-plats , either for pleasure , physicall or profitable , viz. how to levell ground to make it fruitfull . how to divide ground into quarters for knots . the expert way of laying of grass-work . the manner of setting of hard quick-set and poll-work . the ready way to make borders and beds according to the new art . the way of purifying of earth , for to receive curious plants . the best way for laying of walks , either with grass , gravell or taris-morter . the way of making high walks and mounts . how to make bowling allyes with great ease and little cost . rules for cutting of a wilderness and maze-work . also one hundred proper drafts , as were never so drawn by any , with rules and directions how they may be amplified in the ground , with an information and a farewell on them in verse . the advancement of a physicall garden by improving the earth . preparations for indian plants . contrivance for a physick-garden for profit and pleasure . means for the saving of plants from hurtfull worms . errors discovered in the practice of digging . the means of improving a kitchin-garden . the ready way to cleanse and destroy weeds . seasons for digging for improvement . all these experiments i shall not fail to bring forth , if god permit me life . but what remaineth at the present , but that you modelize and contrive your garden-plats , by these few directions which i gave you , or others , which you may better like of ; and also to beautifie them with such knots as follow hereafter of my invention , or those that may be invented by your self , which probably may please your fancy better than mine . 1 this figure represents lines how they ought to be layde before you begin to drawe a large knott but especially that following , and allso note that these lines are not to be stirred till the knott be finisht , and so by the use of these lines and two lines more you may draw any knott . this figure is supposed to contayne . 18 : yards square & allowing . 21 : inches to each footpath . 2 3 a scale by one foote measure 4 this is a scale of 20 foote 5 heere i have made the true lovers knott to ty it in mariage was never my lott . this scale will serve for 3 : other knots folowing . a scale of 32 : foote 6 running drafts 7 8 cross diamonds in the paper i doe frame and in the ground i can draw the same . 9 this scale by 9 : inch measure 10 this scale is 18 : foote 11 a scale by foote measure 12 by the foote measure 13 four severall quarters fit for to be drawne with herbe or box for to set flowers there in . these workes neede no scale being so plaine 14 heere is other foure fit for the same purpos as the last this by 19 : inches page weere . this by twentie . 15 this knot may be drawne with foure lines onely as it is heere this scale by prescribed . one foote 16 it is by twenty two a scale inches measure 17 this scale by 10 : inch measure 18 a scale of 28 foote 19 a scale of 30 foote 20 a scale by the foote etc : also a forme how to lay your lines . 21 this is a good patern for a wilderness as well as for a quarter of herbes . a scale of 24 foote 22 a labyrinth this scale by two foote and two inches 23 a forme how to lay lines for the folowing worke . 24 the flower of deluse ovall . heere i have in the paper the ovalls so round put and in the ground the same i can cut. a scale of 40 foote 25 a scale by the two foote measure 26 the halfe moones . every black and white in this scale is two foote and two inches vpon the worke grass worke . 23 a forme how to lay lines for the folowing worke . 24 the flower of deluse ovall . heere i have in the paper the ovalls so round put and in the ground the same i can cut. a scale of 40 foote 25 a scale by the two foote measure 26 the halfe moones . every black and white in this scale is two foote and two inches vpon the worke grass worke . 27 the figure of a whole garden . this the a foote and half . 28 a plaine ovall for flowers . by : 15 : inches grass worke 29 this is the triangle ovall . a scale by two foote . 30 a plaine wilderness . a scale of yards . the gardners practice in the garden of pleasure : in the knowledge of propagating , preserving and maintaining of flowers , and curious trees therein contained . first of flowers . amorantus : or christerious purantus . there are divers names and divers colours of them , but one in nature . their names are thus ; amorantus purple , amorantus scarlet , amorantus cleery ; many more that i 'le not stand to speak of . now i 'le give you a description of them ; amorantus is like the princes feather in shape ; it flowreth in the spring , and it is sown in the same , and seedeth the same year , and dyeth presently after : the seed is of a purple colour ; this is for no use but only for the beauty and preheminency of the flower , and therefore we nurse it in gardens in england , and hold it in great estimation . it is supposed that the seed of this flower came first from the indies , and they call it there vtter : it is the flower of which they make the scarlet-dye ; the heathens with the juyce of this flower will make their skins look as if they were imbrued in blood . now i shall speak something to the propagating of it . first , the season for sowing of it is in the beginning of march , on this manner ; we make a hot bed with horse-dung , as we do for purslin ; then we sow a quantity of this seed upon that bed , setting glasses over it , covering the bed with mats : this done , it cometh up the sixth day , so soon as it is come up , you must give it a little air in the middle of the day , covering of it again at night ; water it moderately as you see occasion : this carefully done , it will grow to be half a foot high by may ; then you may transplant it from these hot beds into borders or pots , or other places wherein you take most delight , sheltring of it for the first week , till it be well rooted again : this done , it will come to flower by the latter end of may. there is little or no experiment to be used about this plant , because it dyeth yearly ; therefore it is only propagated in its own nature as aforesaid ; so i leave the ordering of it to your care , and proceed to the next . anstartion indecom . it is known by no other name , and it is a flower that is raised every year . if you will have it every year , i describe it to you thus ; it hath a seed something like a pepper-corn ; this seed when it is sown , it cometh up something like the honey-suckle , and flowreth in june , and it is a flower of great rarity amongst the gentry and gardeners of this land. now followeth the ordering of it . the season fit for it is in march , in the encrease of the moon ; the place for it is to make a hot bed , covering of it pretty thick with mould ; let this bed lyeten dayes , covering of it with a little straw to keep in the heat , and at the third dayes end take off your straw , and set some bended sticks over the bed ; then prick in your seeds at a handfull distance ; then cast a mat on the top of your sticks ; this done you shall see your seed to come up the fifth day , as i told you before . now take notice that you must give these plants some air once a day , if the weather be warm : this done , you may transplant them in the middle of may into the out-borders of your garden of pleasure , there setting of them at half a foot distance , and one chase in a border : this done , it will flower , and the flower will keep fresh long on the stalk ; it seldome beareth seed in england without great care and industry . i should speak much more of it , but that it is of a tickle nature , as to the alteration of it in germination , which i have been informed by others , and being not well acquainted with it , i shall cease to give any arguments to the contrary , and leave those experiments with you which are set down . angulshenelus . it was never called by any other name : i 'am not very well acquainted with this flower , and therefore i shall not affirm any thing of experience ; but take this description , as i received it from a friend : he saith this herb or flower , whether you please to call it , hath such a property that there is none like it , viz. saith he , when this flower hath its seed full ripe in its self , then if you go to it and touch it with your hand , presently the cod that the seed lyeth in breaketh , whatever he be that toucheth it : from the nature of this flower , viz. saith he , i have gone to one that hath been counted for a maid , and i have desired her to touch the cod wherein lay the seed of this flower ; what if i should , saith she , why then , saith he , if you have lost your maiden-head , then this cod will break at your touching of it ; she cannot believe that , but boldly toucheth it , then it breaketh , and she is convinced of her fault and confesseth , thinking the seed were sensible of her fact ; by this saith the author i have found out my desire , as to the knowing whether a woman hath lost her maiden-head or not : this i thought worthy of the reciting . now i will give you a description of it . it is much like your purple valaren in shape , but in colour of a whitish green , the flower being of a blewish colour : it never groweth above a foot high , and it flowreth in august , and hath a hundred seeds in a cod , and it is much like rose-campion seed . it is raised of the seed in the moneth april , in the same manner and place as you do your clove-gilliflowers , as you may see hereafter , and at the moneths end it will be fit to be transplanted into the borders amongst orher flowers , or you may let it stand in the same beds if you please : this done , it will grow up and flower as aforesaid , and when the winter cometh the top-branches dye , and at the top of the root remaineth a small spring being well shelterd , but be as carefull as you will , the third year dyeth both root and branch , saith the same author . batchelors buttons . descrip . it is a flower that runneth on the ground like water cresses , with stalks like pease , with a thick round furrey leaf like balm , but only it hath a bright green colour ; the flower is a round double flower of the colour of a white and red speckled cornation , but something less ; this flower seldome leaveth any seed behind , the branches of it dye when winter cometh , and springeth again in the spring . now for the propagating of it ; if you have it not already in your garden , then you must procure slips of it , not that it hath slips from the branches which may be set to grow , but they must be such slips as have both root and branch , and such are easie to be had where they are growing , for they spread mightily in the ground ; now having got such slips as i told you of , prepare a border , either a border round a quarter of herbs , or an out-border of your garden , as i told you in the former part of this book , then set your line at the uppermost part of the border , then your slips a hands breadth asunder only one chase in a border , for they encrease exceedingly , this must be done in march or august , those that were set in august will flower early , but those that are set in the spring will not flower till july or august , those that are set in august will flower in may , june and july ; now observe , that as soon as they have done flowering you must cut off the top-branches with a pair of garden-shears , then it will spring presently after ; and take notice , this flower never groweth out of a garden being once planted , though the old stock dyeth yet it sendeth forth young shoots in its stead , which causeth them to spread mightily ; and therefore if you will keep them in uniform manner , you must transplant them once in two or three years , as i directed you before . bee-flower . it is so called because it beareth a flower in shape like a bee ; whether i may properly call it a flower or the seed i 'le not dispute , but such a like thing in shape and colour ; it putteth forth at the time of seeding , therefore i call it a bee-flower : i shall cease to give you any further description of it , because i think it not worth the labour . if you have a desire to raise them , if you can procure the seed , it is easily done by sowing of them in good mould in the spring time , with other flowers in borders or beds , setting a mark where you sow them , you shall see them come up with a sharp leaf , and in june or july they bring forth seed , and dye the same year : i have spoken with some which have been mightily taken with this flower . balm of christ . or if you please the hand of christ ; the romans in former time were wont when they found any excellent herb or flower , to dedicate it to their saints , and call it by their names , so i conceive that the name of this flower was derived from some romish author because it hath this title , and indeed it is a great rarity to see a flower representing the figure of a hand , as this doth when it is in the fulness of its perfection : it will be needless to describe it any further . now for the propagating , if you can procure the seed of it at the beginning of april , then sow it , but with a great deal of care and curiosity , viz. first find out the warmest place in your garden , and there make a bed of barley-straw and bran , then cover it with fine mould three inches thick , then prick in your seeds half an inch deep , then shelter this bed a nights with a mat , you shall have your seeds to come up the tenth day ; you shall find that making of beds with barley-straw and bran to be the excellentest way of raising of flowers that ever was invented , for why your beds that are made with horse-dung forceth gemination too soon , and does not continue that height which the plant was forced up , for which cause the plant decayeth , and those that are made only of earth they are too cold for outlandish plants ; if you will take my counsell and sowe it after this manner before described , transplant it in may into a box of earth , and you shall have the balm of christ to flourish in july , which is a great rarity to the beholders of this nation : there are few experiments more to be used than have been described ; it will dye when winters cold breath comes , therefore remember every year to raise it as i told you . bears-ears . by some called rickaluses , by others french cowslips , and purple cowslips ; it hath a leaf like your none so pretty , very thick and jagged , and keeps green all the year , they never rise above a handfull high , only the stalk , the flower on that stalk is much like the double cowslip , and the flower is not much unlike in number of leaves and in shape , but in colour they differ ; the colours are these , the pink colour , the scarlet , the morey colour , and the purple , these naturally flower all at one time , and that is in march and april : these are flowers of great estimation , and a great many of curiosities are used about them , in the propagating of them from seed and slip . now i will give you my own experience which i found true by my practice ; rickaluses are encreased by seed and slip : first of the seed , if you can get the seed of the best colours , then sowe it in a box in march or the beginning of april in speciall good mould , you must be carefull to water the seed well for the first summer , the second summer it will flower about that time as i told you before , you may let these remain in the box , so they stand not too thick where they will grow continually , you may take slips from them to transplant into other places : take notice that the putting of them inboxes is not because they will not endure the cold winter , but to have them early . there are ordinary means for raising of them by seed and slip , the seed you may raise in beds with other flowers , the slip is to be set in august and march in this manner ; having gotten your slips prune them handsomely , and setting of them at a distance atop of a border , or by a borders side , watering of them for the first ten moneths if the season should be dry , by that time they will be rooted and come to perfection , but they flower not that year . bell-flowers . there is a white and a blew , they differ not much one from the other in nature , therefore the directions of one will serve for both : first i 'le give you a description ; they spring up with branches like safforn-crocus in the beginning of january , if the weather be not too much unseasonable , and flower in the latter end of march , the flower is in shape like a bell , it hath only five leaves , presently after it is flowering the stalk withereth and beareth no seed , but the root remains in the ground alwayes and springeth every year , they are a flower numbred amongst those that have bullous roots . the preserving of them in their nature is thus ; at any time after they are flowering you may transplant the root into new places , or set them again in the old ; or if you have them not , then you may send for the root to some other place where they may be had , the place proper to set them in is in your intervails of herball or out-borders of grass-work in this manner ; make holes in your ground with a diber half a foot asunder , put in each hole a root , be sure you make not your holes too deep , for then it will keep back the flower from coming early , it lying so low and so cold , otherwise you may get them early by putting of them in boxes and housing of them : lastly take notice that you must replant them every two year , or else the roots will grow thick and the flower will be small . crows-foot . there are single and double , there are distinct colours , as white , red and purple , the double sort beareth a flower something like the double stock-gilliflower in bigness , set with many leaves like the inner part of the emrose , it spreadeth with many stalks of two foot high , with many dark green leaves , and shaped like the vine leaves with a weak stalk , it flowereth in july and august , and beareth its seed a little after . the chiefest way of propagating this is of the slip , in the moneths march or august , the slip is taken partly from the root , for the branch dyeth every year , and the slip of such branches will not take root . i shall not need to describe every particular in planting of them , the places fit for them is in the borders next the walks in your garden at a foot distance , for they spread very much : you must save the seed of this flower , or take of some of the slips and set , for he 'le stay with you but two years , then he dyeth ; you may raise it of the seed also even as you do any other ordinary flower , and therefore i 'le not stand to treat of it . crokus . of these there are two sorts , the striped crokus and the safforn crokus , these are both winter flowers , for they flower at the beginning of february even to the latter end of march , they are a very pretty flower , and they are so well known i need not stand to describe them , only i 'le tell you what properties they have ; and though it be said that all herbs and flowers bear seed , this i could never find to bear any , for flower , stalk and branches soon vanish after their first appearing , nothing remaineth but the root , and this root ought to be took up presently after he is flowered , which is in april , and when you have taken them up , reserve the suckers by themselves and the bearers by themselves , you may keep them in a box with a little earth a moneth or two if you please , and plant them at your leisure . the manner and place of planting of them : the properest place to plant them is in borders where tulips are planted , between every tulip-root you shall set a crokus-root , at what time the crokus hath done flowering a little after the tulips will begin ; we usually take up crokus as well as tulips every other year , because they should not lye too deep in the earth , for they 'le run downwards and encrease with so many suckers that they 'le be hindered of their large growth ; and by having too many suckers about them , and by lying so deep in the cold earth , they 'le be hindered of their early flowering , for these reasons we transplant them every year , or every other year : from the qualon-crokus you may save safforn . lastly , some may enquire for experiment of moloration in the nature of the plant , in ingemination there can be none , for it is out of mans element , because they are not produced of seed , but encrease of themselves by the root in the earth : now if any man should desire to alter the colour of this flower , i think it a vanity , for no man can devise more rarity of colours than nature doth bestow in flowers ; but for promoting of the nature of this or any other which springeth of a bullous-root , take these observations : first , fill some boxes of the finest mould that may be had , and as dry as may be , then put it into boxes , then set these boxes in some garret , or room , or other , where it may have the sunne and wind , but no rain come at it , have so much patience as to let it stand for a twelve moneth , then get sheeps-bloud , the juyce of a laren , camomile , mallows and lapeons tails , mix these juices and sheeps-bloud together , then water this dry earth with this substance , then take your bullous-roots , as crotus tulips , crown imperials , lillies , snow-drops and the like , then plant them in these boxes at the times and seasons as i have directed you formerly , and anoint the roots with this substance at their planting , water them continually with the same , let them have no rain , or any kind of water else , but only this ; besure they have sunne , wind and air enough , for otherwise your flowers will corrupt ; this done , your flowers will spring out of an exceeding large growth , and produce them very early , and i can positively say , that it will make them differ from what they were formerly . so much for that . crains-bill . it is a flower of a bullous-root about the bigness of the top of a mans thumb , long and flat , on one side rising with branches like great rushes spreading every way , with a stalk rising in the middle , whereon groweth the flower with a few small long leaves , hanging down of his head ; it is a flower of the spring , being once planted in a ground , there it remains : it will not be worth my labour to describe every particular of it ; to be short , the time of planting of them is in april or august , the place in some out-border in a physical or a kitchin-garden , and there if they be but kept clean from hurtfull weeds , they will flower yearly and increase , so you may plant more ground with the suckers , or pleasure your friend with them . cullenbines . there is a speckled cullenbine and the purple cullenbine , the white and the blew : and many other mixt colours , which i shall not stand to name . the branches of cullenbines die every year , and the root springeth again ; the leaves are for good use for pot-herbs ; and for physical uses , as you may see in herbals ; the seed of this flower doth ripen the latter end of july , and if you let it shed of it self , it will spring up again , if the earth be cleansed from weeds ; so where they are once , soon the falling of the seed keepeth the garden replenisht with them , yet the old stock dieth standing four or five years : the time for sowing of these is chiefly in august , so that they may flower timely ; the place ought to be in some borders , next a privy walk ; be sure you let them not stand too thick , for then they will grow small and single ; let them be cleansed from weeds . thus much may serve for the ordinary sort of cullenbines . now there is a more tenderer sort , which we call the thrice double converted cullenbine ; these are not much unlike the former , but only they are much larger , and much exceeding the other in orient colour ; these flower at the same time the other do , they seldom bear seed , but if you can procure either seed or slip , you shall order them , as followeth : prepare some fine boxes of earth , and therein sow your seed , or set your slip , having a diligent care over them afterward : by watering of the slip , and transplanting of the seedlings , sheltering of them from the frost and snow , you shall have them to flower early in the spring : i cannot stand to set down every particular ; there may be many means used to set forward the nature of them , but no way to alter the form , setting forward of the nature is but a watery substance , which i shall not speak of here , but refer it to that place where i treat concerning cornation gilli-flowers . crown-imperial . crown-imperial , or imperial-crown , counted the worthiest of spring-flowers , for it flowreth at the beginning of april ; now understand that there are two or three sorts , as the great imperial , the italian imperial : they differ not so much , but if you know one you may know the other . imperials at the first coming up are so like lillies that they have been took for lillies by some ; they rise to three foot high , and at the very top shouteth out six flowers , hanging directly downward , above them rises sharp leaves , eight in number , sharp and small , and a handfull long , standing directly upright , which resembleth an imperial-crown : this flower keepeth fresh three weeks off the stalk ; in the middle of the flower standeth six blewish pearls ; the stalk of this flower perisheth every year after it hath born its seed , which is about the middle of june , the root remaineth in the ground , which is as big as a mans fist , yellow and round , it stinketh mightily : i need not give you any farther description . the propagating of them is either by seed or slip : first , the seed that is raised as are tulips ( of which i treat hereafter ) in the same time and place setting of the slip , is presently after his flowering , then if you have them not , you may procure them , and set them in your borders with your tulips , betwixt every tulip an imperial root , so by that time your imperials have done flowering , your tulips will begin , so you shall have your borders to flourish all the spring . and not to be troublesome to you , the imperial-roots must be removed every year , and the suckers took from the old mother , and planted in a bed by themselves at a handfull distance , and the next year you may replant them into the borders amongst your bearers , they flower the second year . lastly , to produce any thing by art from this flower contrary to nature , if it may be done upon any , it may be done upon this ; for you may take the root out of the ground for a moneths space , and in that time you may water it , or anoint it with such contrary colours as you desire most to have the flower of , then this root is forc'd to participate this watery substance of contrary colours into its nature ; and some think that this must force the root to bring forth a flower like those colours , like that substance that it was watered with , but i am not of that judgement ; yet some alteration may be , but not according to mans expectation ; for sow a turnip in a sandy ground , which is that which his nature requires , and sow it in the rankest ground that is , and it is a turnip still : so imperial roots being set in these substances , it will be an imperial still ; and therefore they are but conceits , and not experiments , which i can affirm for truth ; yet some alterations will be , and many times contrary to what a man doth expect , every seed will spring up to be the like of his mother , yet some difference may be in shape and forme , as one physiognomy of a brother may differ from another , and that is not as man pleaseth . let this suffice . cornflag . this is a flower which springeth of a bullous-root , rising with many leaves two foot high in the shape of a sword , in the middle of those rise in the branch with shorter leaves , one in the same forme as the other ; this beareth a flower resembling the flowerdeluce in shape , a matter of six leaves , and every leaf is of three fingers breadth , purple at the top , and blew towards the bottome ; this flower is in his prime in may , and the seed is ripe in june , then dieth the branch , the root remaineth in the ground , and springeth yearly . the ordering of them i shall set down in few words : first , if you have them not , you shall procure the seed in the moneth of august , then you shall sow it in this manner ; prepare a border of good mould under some wall , where it may be sheltered from the cold winter , your bed being finely raked , cast your seed on it of such a thickness , as reason shall best direct you , then riddle a quantity of fine mould , and cast upon these seeds , so that they may be covered half an inch deep ; this done , you shall see your seed spring up a matter of three weeks after with a single blade , shelter these all the winter there , and in the latter end of march replant them into the out-borders of your garden of pleasure at a foot distance , one range in a border , the second year they will flower : the fourth year you shall replant them again , for otherwise they will grow so thick that it will spoil their flowering : and for planting of them , take slips which are took from the root in the moneth of march , and set them one chase in a border , as i told you of seedlings . thus much for our english corn-flag . there is also the indean corn-flag , which is of a more statelier growth , a curiouser colour , and tenderer in nature , but it flowereth at the same times , and is sown and planted at the same seasons as the former , only with a great deal more care , for the seed , root or branch will not endure the cold winter , therefore we sow it in boxes , transplant it into others , and by putting these boxes into houses in the winter , giving of them air in seasonable dayes , we raise and preserve this italian corn-flag : now concerning any experiment of alteration , i never could find any man of such an ambitious desire as to do any such thing , but for the setting forward of the nature of it , water it with such a water wherein hath been sheeps-dung and pigeons-dung : so i cease and proceed to the worthiest of flowers , which is cornation gilliflowers . of gilliflowers there are divers kinds , as the cornation-gilliflower , the clove-gilliflower , the wall-gilliflower ; these i shall referre to another place , and speak here only of the cornation-gilliflower , which for beauty and delicious smels , and excellent properties deserves letters of gold . i wonder that solomon did not write of this flower , when he compared his spouse to the lilly of the valley : but whether there were any of these flowers in those dayes , or in those places we will not enquire , but proceed to the flower it self . to give a description of it were vanity , being so generally known by every one , yet few know the nature of it ; therefore i shall only speak of the titles of them , and proceed to the ordering of them . they are only tituled and distinguished by their colours , chiefly thus ; the crystaline , the granado , the fair maid of kent , the fools-coat , the dover , the bandeleer , the mixt clove , the painted lady , the old mans head , the london-white the emperors-robes , the patern of nature , the scarlet , the wine-colour , the widdow , the peach-colour , the purple : these and all these are intermixt , which doth make so many mixt colours that i will not stand to name , but will proceed to sowing , planting and replanting . first , of these i 'll begin with sowing , and therein are matters of consequence ; first , it is the way to have plenty and store of these flowers ; secondly , it is the chiefest art in the practice indoubling and redoubling of them . for sowing of them you ought to consider what ground is fit for them ; it must be a well tempered ground , by no means too rank , and in a convenient place , where it may be warmed by the reflection of the sun : the place appointed , dig it and cleanse it from stones , then lay it out into small beds of two foot and a half in breadth , then rake them finely , take a quantity of seed and sow it of a thickness , as you think best , then get a little fine mould and riddle through a riddle , cover these seeds with it a matter of three quarters of an inch thick ; these seeds will come up the sixteenth day with two spindles like grasse . now i have shown you the manner of sowing of them ; now you must consider the times and the seasons for them . the season fit for it is the first full moon in april , and the first full moon in may , and likewise in august , the same manner as i told you . now observe those that are sown in april ought to be watered in the dry weather , and in the first full moon of august they ought to be replanted to a better earth in some border by a wall-side where they may be sheltered from the cold the winter following . the planting of them is done thus ; when your border is digged and evenly raked , then go to your place where your seedlings grew , then take them up with a setting stick , which is the fittest instrument for that purpose ; so done , prune them , which is to cut off all the superfluous grosse top blades , slipping off some of the under blades , then go to your place , as before mentioned ; and by a direct line set the one from the other six inches distance , and so let them stand while the next march , covering of them from frost and snow a nights then in march you may remove them into knots or pots , or any other proper place where you shall have a desire , or shall stand for the beauty of your garden ; these plants being set in a better mould than before , and diligently watered , will come to flower by the next july following . thus much of the seedlings sown in august . now for those that are sown in the spring , being ordered in like manner as the other , preserved with the same care , will come to flower the second summer . next for the setting of the slips , the time for it is in april , may , june and august , the moon being three dayes before the full ; in this manner , we go to such stocks , and slip off such slips as we can conveniently ; these slips we clip off the tops praise with a knife , and under we slip quite off , then slitting the lower most part of the slip that we put in the ground ; this done , set them in a convenient place , as i told you of the seedlings , at a hand-breadth asunder , the next spring or fall following transplant them into borders , three chase in a border at a foot difference . thus farre of the ordinary means for ordering of the common sort of cornation-gilliflowers . now followeth extraordinary means for the propagating of the rarest sort of these flowers , with some answers to such vain opinions , as some men affirm to be true by words , but never proved to be true by actions . first , for altering the colour by incisions ; it hath been given out by some that aris , and bisse , and verdigrease ; these and such like may be dissolved betwixt the bark and the body of the cornation , and that these mixt colours will cause a mixture in the flower . to this i answer , that this will never cause the effect , upon several trials that i have made ; for any thing dissolved betwixt the bark and wood of a tree , causeth that part of the bark to die , which is of a stronger nature than any flower whatsoever : i could shew you many more of these arguments , but i will only propound this one question to you : do you think that you can any way give sullenance either to man or beast , any way but at the mouth , so that it may be concoctedin the man , and dissolved into the several parts of a man ? nothing can be applied to any part of man to cause it to grow as aforesaid : in like case it is with flowers , for the root is the place where sustenance must be had for the maintaining of the branch , then if any alteration may be made , it must be a watery substance applied to the root , and not to the branch , but it is not aris nor bis that the plant will participate of , but it must be the corruption of itself , or the corruption of some other : now i will instance to you , what i have done , viz. i took camomil , valaren , flag-roots , solendine-leaves , these beaten together into a salve , and applied to the roots of the flowers when they are planted or removed , and watering of them with the same , hath propagated the flower in bigness , so that it hath made it as big again as any of the ordinary natural flowers , but i could never find that i could alter the form of them ; sometimes the colour of them will alter that are thus ordered , but the alteration or mixtures of colours is a law in nature more than experiment in art . secondly , there have been certain wayes given for grafting and inoculating of these flowers . but i wonder whether they mean the root or the branch ; if inoculating in the branch there is no bud , and to inoculate without a bud that is impossible to me : now we 'll enquire about their grafting , what manner of grafting they did mean , whether it be clift-grafting , or whip grafting , or grafting betwixt the bark and the wood ? if they meant any of these , or all these ; if clift-grafting , i could never get any such thing as a science , for that purpose , and for any of the rest i think it more strange . but what grafting may be done is by addition , grafting , and addition grafting is done thus ; take two young plants of four moneths growth , take a part of the bark of the root of each of them alike , then join them artificially together , then bind them with a little soft flax , and anoint it with the juice of valeran , which is of a healing nature , then commit them to the ground , those will incorporate into one body , which will bring forth a very large flower if they be both of one kind ; if of two several kinds , then there will be two several kinds of one stock , which is rare ; but some have told me this will make a mixt colour , but i could not give any credit to their words , as to believe them , for why , each of them keeps their own nature : for example , the least bud of an apricock inoculated upon a plum-stock , keepeth his own nature , and bringeth forth an apricock , then of necessity we must needs think , that if this keep his nature where there was no substance , that the gilliflower grafted ( as before spoken of ) where there was body and substance , must needs bring forth flowers according to their kinds . i can keep you a long time upon these like things , but so much for this point . now for altering the sent of these flowers , there be divers things they say will cause this effect , which i think altogether needlesse , because it hath a passing smell of it self ; therefore if you have any desire to make use of what authors have said for altering of the sent of flowers , make trial upon such as have little or no sent , as fowerdeluces , scarlet-beans , emrose or tulips , because they are flowers that ladies love to have so nigh their noses , which have little or no sent , and it would be a rare art to cause them to have a sent , as authors say ; and it is a great wonder , that if they could alter the sent of them , that they do not produce some of those flowers ; now if you will make use of this experiment , i can tell you what will follow , you shall lose your labour ; and i give you my reason ; the sweetest and lushiousest meat turns into the foulest and stinkingst excrement ; so it is with these infusions and molerations which man doth imagine may infuse a sweetnesse to any flower ; for the flower doth not draw the substance as it is , but converts it into its own nature and intercisial form that it hath . here followeth some directions for the preservation of your choisest gilliflowers . 1. observe that they have good mould . 2. that they have pots . 3. that they have cradles . 4. that they be not kanker-eaten . 5. that they be not bound too hard in the mould . 6. you must observe you let not too many flowers grow upon a stalk . 7. that they be housed in the winter . 8. that you get layers . 1. for the first of these , you must understand that every thing bringeth forth fruit according to its mother ; the mother here is the earth , therefore if poor earth then poor flowers . 2. for the second , pots are necessary for the keeping of hurtfull worms from the roots , and sheltering of them from the storms in the cold weather , and from too much moisture and too much drithe , for too much wet doth keep the plant cold , and too much drithe doth famish the plant : now these pots do preserve them from both , and if they are made of a stately fashion they do beautifie the garden . and lastly , you may have your flowers at such times in the year by removing of them from place to place , as cannot be effected by those that grow out of pots . 3. thirdly , cradles are necessary ; you must understand to keep the wind from breaking and beating of them to and fro , and keeping of them in uniform manner ; these cradles are made of white rods , six standing , and two woven round about , and the lower end sharp to put into the earth , and these keep the flowers up . 4. fourthly , if flowers be kanker-eaten it will destroy them , for it is a worm that eateth the root ; this you shall discern by the branches , when they look of a dead colour , then search the root , when you have found this kanker , take tarr and the yelk of an egg , and mans ordure , and apply this to the kanker-eaten , and that will cure it . 5. fifthly , if your flowers stand too long unremoved , or the ground stirred about them , and fresh mould put to them , the ground will be bound stiff about the root , which must be remedied by opening the earth about them , and putting in of fresh mould ; this must be done early in the spring , or otherwise you will hinder it more than farther it . 6. sixthly , if you let too many flowers grow upon a stock , they will be very small , and in danger to kill the stock ; therefore you must when you see there is like to be great store of flowers , cut the most of them away , for the preservation of the stock , and the enlarging of your flower , and for the preserving of seed ; for if you would have good seed , you must not suffer above five or six flowers to be upon a stock , these must be of the top flowers , at the first flowering , the seed will come to perfection by the latter end of august , and when you see the seed black in the cod , then cut off the branch and hang it up in the house till it be thorow dry , then you may rub it out , this seed you must sow in your own garden for two years , and afterwards you must change it , or else your flowers will degenerate and grow single . 7. seventhly , housing of the plants is necessary for preserving of them from frost and snow which would kill them ; and for getting of them to flower early , observe that you are to give them sun and air on such dayes as it is to be had , and to set them forth in rainy dayes , for rain water is much better than conduit for them , but if rain-water may not be had , water them with standing water , and be sure that they have it often , for all vegetable creatures do partake more of the element water more than the element earth ; to prove this , take any plant and burn it , look how much ashes so much earth , and all the rest which vapour'd away was a watery substance which vapoured up out of the earth , then watering often is needfull . 8. eighthly , to get laires is very needfull , and it is done thus ; you may buy small pots for the purpose , which are like a tunnell , with a hole at the bottom to let out the water if there should be too much , it hath a slit of one side , these pots we fill full of earth , and set it by cornation-gilliflowers side , and bring one of the choicest slips that we can see in at the slit , so that the top of it shall be above the top of the small laire-pot , and the lower part of it is in the pot and in the earth , so this putteth forth root , this must be done in august , and next march you shall cut off the slip that is so rooted and plant it in another pot , that laire-pot which the slip came out of will serve for the like use again . further queries and observations there are concerning producing of these flowers contrary to nature and seasons : 1. the first dispute is , whether cornation seed bringeth forth a single pink , i answer some do and the most do not , for those that comes single were of the under-seed , therefore if there were diligence and care in the saving the seed , ( as i told you before ) there would be very few single pinks , but those that are by diligence replanted may be made double , but if you will not bestow the pains , you may plant them in some border or bank-side , there to remain for strowing flowers : another curiosity is to have cornations almost while christmas , and it is very probable this might be done if you will take these directions . 2. in june and july till the latter end of august , cut away all such buds or branches that you see are like to bring forth a flower , and afterward let such as will spring forth alone , and by michaelmas these will be budded forth , this must be done by your pot-flowers , because they must be carried in , in the cold nights they must be set into a room , and set abroad again adayes , by this means you shall have the buds open , and keep this flower even while christmas . 3. other things i have been told that would cause this effect , & that was by enclosing the flower in soft wax at the time they begin to open , & so let them stand enclosed while christmas , or any time of the winter that you have a desire to have a cornation-gilliflower , then ( saith he ) take off your wax in a sun-shine day , and the sun will open the flower , and by this means you may have them at any time ; you may believe this if you please , but it were good for you to find it true by experience , for my part i think it cannot be so , for the stalk withereth before that time of the year , and if the stalk be dead the flower cannot be alive , and that is a sufficient reason . 4. many other vain things i have been told concerning alterations , which are very uncertain truths which i shall not bestow the pains to set down , but shall proceed with laudable and creditable and profitable things for him that is employed therein : i do not intend to please any man in writing of this treatise , unless he will be pleased with the bare truth and no more : so i 'le speak a word or two of the continuance of this flower . if it may be carefully looked to it may continue five or six year , or otherwise not half so long . some men are of opinion when they see this beautifull flower , as to think it is of an art of their own or others , but they are mistaken , all the art of man is to find out the art of nature it self , for if any thing be not used in its own nature and season it will come to no effect , therefore what i have discovered of the nature of this or any other flower ( as far as my capacity can truly understand ) i give it to all men ; yet i know ( reader ) that it may be contrary to your judgment , for so many men as there are so many minds , but the truth that i have here set down , i shall dispute it face to face with as many as have an objection against it . one thing more i give you and then i have done : if you shall have any of these flowers stolen , and if you would be revenged on the party , or would put a jest or a jeer , you shall accomplish your desire thus ; take an elecompane root dry and beaten to powder , then sprinkle it upon your gilli-flowers , or put it into the midst , then give your flowers to the party that you desire to be revenged of , let it be a he or she they will delight in smelling to it , then they will draw this powder into their nostrils which will make them fall a sneezing , and a great trouble to the eyes , and by your leave will make the tears run down their thighs : other things there are which may be bought at the apothecaries , which i will not give you the receit of , for fear it should come to a malicious mans hands , then the effect would be evil . clove-gilliflowers . these differ little from the former in nature , to give a description of them it were needless , i 'le only speak a word of the propagating of them : they are sown of the seed and planted of the slip as the former , but for the most part they grow single without much pains and care , therefore i think it best to set them of the slip if they may be had , if not you must take the pains to sow them as aforesaid , and out of a great quantity of seed it is very probable you will have but a few double ones , for the seed is of so great a rate that they commonly mix it with others that came of single pinks , or else of the under-seed : if you set them of the slip , the best time is the first full moon of august , so that they may take root by the spring , ( all things observed as i told you of the ordinary sort of cornation-gilliflowers ) you may remove them in march again at the full of the moon ; take notice that the moon is of great force , for we find in the scripture , that the moon is appointed for times and seasons , and i observed it by this more than any other , for those slips that were set just at the full moon were so great that they brake in the hores or the husk , and these are as bad as those that are too small , therefore set them three or four dayes before the full moon : it will take up a great deal of time to set down every particular , but he that knoweth how to order cornation-gilliflowers may order these ; i shall speak something to the worth of this flower , but my pen is not worthy to subscribe it , for all other flowers are inferiour to them , because they are preserved , conserved , and also pleasant syrups for the palate of man. many other things of them there are which the apothecary well knows . cowslips . double cowslips are fit to be planted in a garden of pleasure for the use of their flowers in sallets , for the bedecking of the garden , because they flower early when other flowers are scarce , being once planted there they continue alwayes ; they never bear seed , therefore they must be planted . the time of planting of them is either in the spring or the fall , the place is in the edge of the upper part of your borders , having prepared your ground then slip your plants into as many slips as you can , cutting off the top leaves within three inches of the root , and strain your line and prick them in three inches one from another where they will grow very well , if you water them , this must be while they are well rooted , and afterward they need no care but weeding , now remember to clip off the dead leaves and stocks after your cowslips have done flowering , then the leaves will spring green and fresh again which is very pleasant to behold . daysies . there are three or four kinds , as the wild daysie , the french daysie , and the garden double daysie ; the garden daysie it is i intend to treat of , of these there are two or three sorts of colours , but one in nature ; the colours are these , the white , the red , the purple and the speckled : this flower never beareth any seed ; the time of flowering is in may and june , a fine ornament to a garden , and the flowers are used in nosegayes : the branches of this flower dieth every year , and the root sendeth up young again ; so where they are once planted they alwayes continue . the place , time and manner of planting of them , is as i told you of the couslips , onely the choisest sorts be set in knots or beds , so i need not trouble my self nor you to give any farther reason for the ordering of them . daffodillies . these are very well known to them that know any thing ; there are many sorts , and for little use , and i might describe them as mr. purchas hath done , and truly i think it a needless curiosity , i will only describe to you their names ; there is the wild daffodilly , and the garden daffodilly , the french daffodilly , and the italian daffodilly ; all these but the wild are cultevated in gardens , because they flower early in the spring , and are commonly used in flower-pots ; it 's a flower seldom beareth seed ; presently after it is flowering , the stalk dieth , and the leaves remain green . they are propagated by slips taken from the old root ; the time for it is in april presently after they are flowered ; the place for the ordinary sort is in some borders by a privy walk , where you may plant them half afoot asunder , and no deeper , and that they may be just covered . the italian , and the french , and great double sorts are planted in the intervals of herb-knots , or in the out-borders of grasse-knots , in manner as i told you of the former ; some make a curiosity to plant the great double sorts in boxes , because they would house them in the winter , to the end that they would have them flower early in the spring ; you may , if you please , take up this root , and keep it in the house in a little sand a quarter of a year , and plant it again , and it will grow , in which space you may see if there be any alterations , in sent , colour or form , as some have said . dragons-claw . it first riseth up with dark-green leaves like black elivert , and afterwards they grow more smaller and jagged ; with these leaves riseth a stalk of the substance of a mallow-stalk , and this stalk shouteth forth many branches ; and on these branches there are many flowers of a blewish colour , in the shape and bigness of a womans thimble ; the time of their flowering is in the moneth of may , june and july ; for the top branches being broken off , the sides send forth more , which causeth it to continue so long a flowering ; the seed is ripe in august , the stalk dieth presently after the root springeth , the next year after , and having yeelded its seed three years the root and branch dieth : the general use that it is for , is for the beautifying the garden , and for flower-pots . this flower is propagated of the seed only ; the time for it is the beginning of april ; the place fit for it is in a piece of ground which we reserve only for a nursery , only for raising of flowers in , there you may sow it with others , or by themselves in the end of a bed , having committed them to the earth , you shall see them spring up in a fortnights time with two small green leaves ; being carefully watered they will be big enough to be removed , for they will spread mightily , so they will not have room enough to grow in the bed where they are sown , therefore transplant them into beds or borders in your garden of pleasure , and in august they will come to flower , and the next year they will flower by the latter end of may. there is another season in sowing of them , and that is in the latter end of august ; but the plants that were sown at this season must be carefully looked after , and sheltered from the frost and snow , they will come to flower in the spring seasonably , and die at the third years end ( as i told you before ) therefore save that seed and sow it again ; there is nothing more of curiosity belongeth to this flower , so let these short and plain directions serve . emrose . considering that flowers are more for beauty than for vertue ; this flower challengeth the title of praise : first , for its early flowering ; for in warm places some begin to flower presently after christmas , and then others begin ; so some are continually flowering while june ; others by art and nature flower twice a year , as in march and september . now to give you a description of them , they are of a set colour seldom or never speckled , the ordinary colour is red , blew and purple ; the emroses held most in estimation are , the scarlet , the london white and the black ; these colours being of large kinds , i have known a root of each sold for ten shillings ; others have told me they have known them sold for three pound a root . of these flowers there are double and single ; the root is like a ginger-race in shape and bignesse ; this flower beareth a weak seed something like sweet madeling-seed , and that will seldome grow ; and i suppose that emrose-seed never grew , though it be commonly sold for that purpose ; yet i have found by experience that it will not grow ; and as many gardeners as ever i had conference with , did ever affirm such a thing to be true : therefore if you will have emrose , you must set them of the root , and i will be brief and willing to show you where and how . the fittest season for setting of them is in june , the moon being at the full ; but if opportunity doth not then serve , you may plant them any time betwixt that and the latter end of august , but ( as i said before ) it is best to remove them in june , for then there will be the stalks above ground , and some flowers , and afterwards there will be none ; so that in the taking of them up you may cut them with a spade , but that 's not all , you 'll never find all your roots , unless you will sift the earth , and that is a great deal of trouble . the fittest place in planting of these roots is in beds amongst your cloves , or else at the edge of your borders where you plant tulips , and sometimes in beds by themselves , for the common sort make a little trail of an inch deep , then break the roots into a many small peeces , and lay them into this trail at a hands breadth distance , the least peece will grow and flower the next year following . here followeth experiments worthy of observation , emrose-roots must be removed once in two years , because they do so increase and multiply , so that you shall have twenty or thirty roots about one old bearer , these being so thick , and growing barren , will cause them to bear very poorly , which is a very sufficient reason that they must be removed every year , or every other year at least . secondly , whether there might be any alteration in the colour by any skill or care that may be used . many men have said this may be done , and they have given some blind reasons for it , which i shall wave , and tell you how you may propagate the natural growth , viz. take tulip-roots , lettice , sheeps-dung , strong-waters , mix these together into a salve and apply it to the root , and so commit the root to the earth , and it will cause this root to send forth a large flower , and more speedilier than those that are not so ordered : those roots ought to be planted in a box for to have them come timely , not but that any emrose-roots will endure any weather . lastly , to produce emrose at all times in the year , is easily done , if the winter be not too violent : first take notice that you may take up emrose-roots at any time , and keep them in your house , though for a year , then set them again , and they will grow . having this advantage , if you have a desire to have them in harvest , you must plant them in the later end of may , and they will flower at that time ; and to have them flower later , plant them at the later end of july . now observe that there is such a law and nature , that any herb being deprived of its natural season , yet it will bud forth its flower afterwards having liberty , alwayes provided it be sheltered from the cold : so it is plain , that a man may put such flowers as have bullous roots , you may put them forward or backward by keeping of them in season or out of season out of the earth . african . by some called the african-marigold , all that can be spoken of this flower is , that it serveth for beautifying of a garden , for they flower towards the later end of summer , when most flowers are nigh done ; another thing , they have not been long in england , it came to use first out of africa , and you know that things that are new are rare in estimation . it rises first like young ashes in shape and colour , afterwards spreadeth it self into many branches , and before it flowereth it riseth to be a yard high , the flowers are in shape like the double marigold , but three times as big , and of a yellow colour ; if you smell to it , it will put you in mind of honey : the seeds are small and black , something like oats ; this seed is ripe about september , the branch and root dieth presently after . it is propagated by sowing of it in hot beds , as you may see of amorantus in this book ; this must be done in the beginning of march , so that they may be ready to transplant into borders at the beginning of may , so that you may have them to flower timely . the second and the ordinary way of raising of them is in the middle of april ; it is done thus , when you have prepared a bed fit for that purpose , then sow them , you must get other earth and cover them with , for if you should rake them you cannot cover the seeds , they being so long they will not fall in , then cover them , as i directed you three quarters of an inch thick ; this done , if the weather be seasonable , you shall see your seed come up the eighth day , and when they have stood in this bed five weeks you may replant them into borders , two rowes in a border , each plant nine inches asunder , there let them remain , they 'll come to flower in august , or in september . a little after the seed cometh to perfection , and the plant dieth , you may pull it up and hang it in the roof of the house while it is dry , and this will cause the seed to ripen , then you may rub it out , and sow this seed for two years , and the third year you must change it , or else your flowers will degenerate and grow single . everlasting-pea . it cometh up with many branches out of one root ; these branches run out to four-foot length much like the veines of cucumbers , on the stalks are narrow small leaves set on close to the stalk without any stem , and at the top of every branch runneth spindles which will take hold of any thing that they are nigh , they spring up at the first of april , and flower in the later end of may ; the flower is mixt with a blew and purple colout of the bignesse of the snap-dragon flower ; the seed of it is like a small gray pea . the time of planting of it is in the beginning of april ; the place fit for it is in some border next a wall , where you may prick them down athalf afoot distance , they 'll spring up in a fortnights time , and after they are of a pretty height , you must support them with small sticks ; they seldome flower the first year , but the second year , and so onward , so they 'll continue alwies with you : hence it is they call it everlasting-pea . the branch dieth every winter and springeth again , as was said . i shall not trouble you with any more directions for the propagating of it , it being of such a hardy nature that it is altogether needlesse . everlasting-life . it is so called by reason of its long continuance on the stalk , and being gathered , it will keep fresh two moneths in the house : i 'll give you a short description of it ; it springeth up about the beginning of may , and by august it flowereth ; it rises up with a stalk two-foot high ; there is but one flower of a stalk , and that putteth out like the fennel-flower , with many small leaves like the inner part of a marigold ; this flower is white , it seldome or never leaveth seed behind it , the branch dieth yearly , and the root remaineth in the ground , which is like the root of the spare-mint . if you will have this flower in your garden , you must procure the root in the spring-time , then provide a bed by it self , dresse it in order , as you do for any other flower , then plant three chace of these slips in a bed , the bed being two foot and a half in breadth , water them well at the first planting , plant nothing else amongst them , for they increase and spread mightily ; this done , you shall have them to flower that summer , and continue with you alwayes they being cleansed from weeds . flower-deluce . i cannot describe them more than they have been by others , as to the preheminence of them ; the king of france's arms is a witnesse , and our english quoin is a testimony that this flower is and was in great estimation : farther consider , that no inferiour person dares put this flower in his coat of armes , though he may put it in his gardens : waving this discourse , i will shew you the ordering of them . this flower leaveth a tender seed , therefore if you have a desire to sow them of the seed , you must have a special care in the ordering of it ; the time is in the later end of april , in a natural fertile earth , the moon being in the increase ; this being done ( in manner as i told you of cornation gilliflower-seed ) the twentieth day it will come up with one blade , which groweth very slowly , therefore it must be diligently weeded , and the first winter it must be covered from the cold , the second year they 'll get strength , and shift very well for themselves , the third year they flower : but you must take notice , that they must be rep anted every year about that time that they were sown . i have discoursed with many gardeners , and one amongst the rest told me , that he could have them to flower in any moneth in the summer time : i demanded of him how ? he told me it was by housing of the root in boxes of earth in the winter time , giving of them the benefit of the sunne , when opportunity did serve , and by watering of them now and then with warm water , and this will cause them to spring forth presently , and flower by the later end of april ( saith he . ) now reason told me that it could not be so soon , yet it may cause it to flower a moneth before its natural season , as any man of natural reason may understand . now to have the flower late , you must nip off the springs as fast as they begin to spindle to flower till the middle of june , and then forbear ; this will cause them to flower about about michalmas . the next thing is , to know the right manner of planting and replanting of them for the increase of their number , and the perfecting of their nature . first , the time for planting and replanting of them is in the later end of july , or the beginning of august , presently after they are flowering : the place fit for it , for the preheminence of your garden , is in the intervals of your herb-work , or in the trails of grasse-work . the manner is as followeth ; when you have taken up your roots , slip the small suckers from the old bearers , and set them in a border by themselves at a hand breadth distance , there let them stand while that time twelve moneth , then replant them into those places where you do your old bearers : some of them will flower the first year , others not till the second after their planting . the manner of planting the great bearers , is to make holes at a foot distance in those respective places as i told you , putting of them no deeper in the earth than they may be just covered . now we will enquire of colours , and colouring of this flower ; the natural colour is the blew ; the colours held most in estimation is the white and blew , the yellow and white , the blew and purple ; there is another colour that i have been told of , that is the red and white . experiments of force of nature may be as easily acted on this flower , as any other whatsoever . the first experiment is , you may take them out of the earth , and keep them in a room in sand two moneths , in which space you may steep them in morical substances , whereby you may make some infusions and alterations , and crosse the nature and the seasons of the plant , whereby you may bring about pretty fancies . other experiments may be made by grafting of them , which is subtil , viz. take the root of this , and the foxes-glove , cut a part on the side of each of these roots off with a sharp knife of each part alike , letting the strings of the bottom of the root alone , then join them together , and tie them with a little soft flax , and so plant them in a box of earth , these two roots will unite into one body , and the effect will be pretty , for there will be two several flowers in one body . lastly , this flower is a great ornament to a garden , and for beautifying of rooms , being placed in flower-pots , and an excellent shape it hath , which my artlesse pen cannot describe in writing , but in draught work , my pen , rule and compasse hath walked a station , and set it forth in its own shape and fashion , and so i leave this worthy flower to your care . the flower of the sunne . it is well known to those that have it , and so is any other flower ; therefore i shall give a short description of it , to satisfie those that are not acquainted with it . this flower , when it is at its full growth , is at the height of a man , onely with one stalk , and that is as big at the nether end of a mans hand-rist ; upon the stalk are many leaves something like mallow-leaves , in colour and in bigness , but they are not divided : this one plant beareth but one flower , and that is at the very top of all , and is of a great bigness , so that some of them are thirty inches about , and of a black and yellow colour , bending it self down , and inclining after the sunne ; it flowereth in august . the season fit for sowing of them is in april , on this manner : prepare a border , then prick in these seeds with your finger at half afoot asunder ; they come up suddenly after their setting , they ought to be replanted after they are half afoot high into a rich earth , where they may have good store of rotten dung under them , to the end they may grow large ; you must water them often , for it is a plant requireth much moisture , so it will grow up and flower , and bring forth seed which you may save and sow again : the root and branch of this flower dieth every year . french marigolds . these are something like the african marigold , that is to say , as like as any two several kinds may be like one another , howsoever yet they are not so neer alike , but there is a difference in every part : for seeing the one , and not seeing the other , it puts you in mind of the other , this is at such time till they come to flower , then there is a great deal of difference in the colours of the flowers , for this is more delightfull than the other , for it is intermixt with purple and yellow like your double wall-flowers ; this flowereth in july , being sown in natural earth , being produced from hot beds they flower sooner . concerning the raising of them , i shall not need to trouble my self to set it down how , or where , but see the directions for africans , as you raise them , so you mayraise these . i shall only give you a few observations ; if you low them in natural earth , you need not replant them , those that are sown in hot beds must be replanted ; you nor i need not trouble our selves with any more curiosity than hath been spoken , for they continue not long with us , they die that year ; so i hope out of your own capacity , and what hath been spoken may sufficiently serve for the propagating of this flower . french pinks . french pinks , otherwise called french-daises , by others none so pritty ; and seeing the names are so obscure , i will give you a description of this flower ; it never riseth not above half afoot high , but lieth on the ground with some stalks about afoot long , these stalks are reddish about the bignesse of a peas-vine , of a hard substance , with many thick leaves set in order upon them , thick and jagged , a whitish green colour about the bignesse of a ten shilling-piece , round also , at the top of the braches rise little spindles of a handfull long of a red colour ; on these branches grow many small flowers no bigger than a single peny , five leaves in number white and red speckled : their time of flowering is from the latter end of may , even to the later end of july , they never bear any seed , therefore take the propagating of them with slips , as followeth . the fit time for it is in the later end of august , or the beginning of march , for they cannot endure any drithe , therefore set them in these seasons , and now i will give you my directions how it ought to be done : having gotten slips , then prepare a border which is round an herb knot , and if you have none , prepare a border next the wall , having drest this border by a direct line , and made the sides of it firme , then set your line against the side of the border , two inches below the top , then prick in your slips by your line at two or three inches distance , so that nothing appear but the tops of them ; if you do this in august , they will flower the next spring following timely ; those that be set in the spring will not cast their flower so soon . lastly , remember that you cut the leaves and dead branches off after they have done flowering , then they will spring again fresh ; where they are once planted they alwaies continue and spread mightily , so that they will run out upon your walls ; to prevent this , and keep them in uniforme order , strain a line at the bottome of your border , and cut them off with a spade by that line ; those slips you may set again , or pleasure your friends with them , which you please . foxes-glove . it is a flower that springeth up with a blade like the corn-flag , through which shouteth up a stalk which beareth many flowers set in order one above another , and of a reddish colour , and in the shape of a drinking bowl . this flower is richest on the branch in july , it continueth fresh long on the stalk , it beareth a seed which is ripe in the latter end of august . the propagating of this flower is either by seed or root ; first , of the seed , and that you shall sow in the beginning of april , the moon being in the increase , in beds of natural earth , in manner as i told you of the seed of the flower-deluce ; the plants sprung of this seed groweth very slowly , so that it will be two or three years before it come to flower ; in which space you must replant it once or twice at the spring or fall , and have it weeded carefully , and after it is come to perfection they are very hardy . next i give you directions for setting of them of the root ; thus having roots of your own , or procuring of them from some other place , slip all the young roots off the old , set the old by themselves , and the young by themselves , in the intervals of your knots , or in borders where your fancy most leadeth you . lastly , i advise you to cut off the dead branches when they have done flowering close by the earth , and remove them once ntwo years . globe-flower . it is known by no other name that ever i did hear of , yet there are two sorts , that is , single and double , they are of one nature ; to give you better knowledge of them , this plant groweth up to two foot high , with many branches of one stalk , spreading with green leaves , in shape like the ivy-leaf , but lesser , rough and jagged ; this plant beareth many flowers , which are yellow , round , and of the bignesse of a wallnut ; it flowereth in the latter end of april ; the branches die every winter , and springeth again early ; having stood four year root and branch dieth : this flower is propagated by seed or slip ; the slip is it which is taken from the side of the old mother , which is taken from part of the root , and part of the branch ; this is to be done at the later end of march ; the place for planting of it , is where you plant your pot-flowers , i hope i need not stand to insist upon every particular that appertaineth to this flower . having given you the knowledge of ordering of more choiser flowers , i think your own discretion may guide you how to order this . so to be short , you may buy the seed and sow it in the spring with other flowers , and it will come forward without any great care or curiosity . green cowslips . so called , because part of the flower is green , for there are leaves that are mixed amongst the flowers , which maketh them appear to be green ; they flower early in the spring , and never beareth any seed . this flower is set only of the slip in the spring , or in august ; the place fit for it is upon the edge of borders , you shall do it thus ; slip them into as many pieces as you can , then prune them with your knife , which is to cut off all the leaves within an inch of the root , then set them down by a line one by one upon the edge of your border , water them while they are rooted , then afterward they need no care but cleansing of the weeds from them , thus you shall have them alwayes after . holihock . or mallows , there are many kinds and full of many vertues , but first i will describe which they are , and then i 'le treat of them in particular . first , for worthiness and beauty that are placed in gardens of pleasure , is the white , and red , and double holihock ; next the red , white , yellow , and blew , double holihock ; forasmuch as they are called mallows , i take them to be two or three distinct kinds , for there is the kings-mallow , march mallow , and french-mallow , these bear single flowers , and so will the holihock without good industry ; but that is not all , they differ in vertue ; as the kings-mallow , the french-mallow , these are for physicall uses , and the holihocks are very wholsome for the body , and a very pleasant flower they bear : i shall not treat of every sort in this place , because they fit not the garden of pleasure , i shall reserve the french-mallow , march-mallow , or kings mallow , to the treatise of the physicall garden . holihocks i have described , what they are in order to their places and names , i think it is needless to write any farther description of them they are so generally known : i now proceed to the propagating of them . first , to have them early from the seed , you shall sow them in hot beds in the middle of march , the seed is of a quick spirit and cometh up the sixth day , these plants must be covered or else you will lose your labour ; by may day you shall replant these seedlings into borders next the walls , set them at the innermost part at a yard distance , set them nigh the wall , because they spread much : another reason is , you may nail the body of it to the wall to keep the wind from breaking of them , these will flower by the latter end of the summer . a second and ordinary way of sowing of them is in the middle of april , in beds of ordinary earth , where you may let them remain till the next august , then replant them as you did the former . the third best way is , to sow them in the middle of august , so by the coming on in winter they will have four or five leaves ; be sure you shelter these plants in the frost and snow , and the seedlings will flower as soon as the old standards , which is in july and august , the seed is ripe about michaelmas , which you may save and sow again . herbit . if i am mistaken in the name i will give you a description whereby you shall know it ; it hath many jagged thick leaves rising half a foot from the ground , in the midst of it riseth a stalk like the stem of a cowflip , though something bigger and higher , it is bare without leaves , the flowers have many small leaves in the middle with five greater set round it , this flower is the bigness of a double primrose white and red speckled , the time of flowering is in may , it seldome bringeth seed to perfection , the nethermost leaves keep green all the year . this plant is set of the slip in the spring of the year , i suppose it is needless to stand telling of you how in every particular ; the place fit for it is in a quarter laid out into beds for flowers ( as before , ) this being so planted it will endure any weather till the fourth year , and then it dieth naturally , therefore take off some of the slips from the branch and root , and set them , which will renew their nature and keep the garden flourishing . humble-plant . i suppose the name of it was derived from the nature of it , for the nature of it is thus ; when it is in its perfection , if a man or a woman go to it and touch it with their hand this plant will bow to them , therefore an humble plant . it 's a plant that riseth never above a span in heighth with a broad head , only a single stalk with small sharp whiteish green leaves set thereunto about the top , the foot of the stalk is without leaves , it putteth forth a blossome before it yeeldeth its seed , which i cannot fitly call a flower : the seed is in shape and colour like the spanish-broom seed , though not half so big , and a smooth glistering seed . in the propagating of this plant there must be a great deal of care and diligence ; this plant is only raised of the seed ; observe the time and season for it , that is in the beginning of april , the moon being ten daies old , or in the encrease , at least the season being temperate for the time of the year , then order this seed as followeth . first , get a small quantity of horse-dung , lay this in a bed of two foot square and a foot high , lay upon your dung some barley straw and some bran , which may make it rise to a hands breadth higher , then get a quantity of pigeons dung and lay atop of that an inch in thickness , then sift some freckled mould and lay atop of all about two inches in thickness , then prick a small stick through the middle of your bed , so that it may reach to the bottome and stand an inch above the too of the bed ; the use of this stick is to let up the steme of the heat below , when you see the plant shall want it : now these things observed , cover the bed with some litter for four and twenty hours both top and sides , and when the time is expired , then take the litter off from the top of it , and prick in the seeds in such a circumference as a million glass may cover them ; i suppose no body will be willing to buy any more seeds than may be planted therein , for they are usually sold at twelve pence a seed . now for the further care of the plant , be sure that your bed be not too hot , for if it be it will spend the spirit of the seed before it hath taken root , and then it will fade immediately : to prevent the bed for being too hot , you shall make a hole with a stick of one side , or both , to let out the steme ; these things observed , the plant will come up moderately the sixth day , and afterward you must give it a little air , by raising of the glass up on one side , for without air your plant will never come to any colour or perfection ; if the plant stand at a stay by reason of the coldness of the bed , then stir the stick of the middle of the glass to let up the steme and the heat which is at the bottome to the plants , with this care i have raised them up in five weeks time , fit to be transplanted into boxes of freckell earth , and then i left them , they left not me . for the further preservation of them , i have been satisfied by my brother gardeners and by my own reason , they may be preserved in boxes all the summer , and in the winter housed in the same , so they will continue two years before they die . hearts-ease . or wall flowers , by others yellow gilliflowers , i cannot stand to dispute why this flower hath severall names . the nature of this plant requireth to have a dry and a rich soyl ; for fear you should mistake , there are two kinds sometimes called by one name , the one is single and coveteth to grow upon walls , the other is double and desireth such earth as i told you of . this flower yeeldeth a pleasant smell , and keepeth green its leaves all the year , and flowereth the most part thereof ; this plant is in shape and substance like the stock-gilliflower , the flower is yellow intermixt with purple , this plant being planted in earth that it liketh it continueth five or six years , the double wall-flower seldome beareth seed to perfection , therefore i shall not trouble my self to set down directions for the ordering of the seed , yet it is generally sold and sown , but seldome or never hits . this plant may be set of the slip , at any time of the year save the middle of the winter and the middle of the summer , the place fit for them is in the borders of high walks : having prepared such a place , then dress your slips , which is to slip off all your under-sprouts and leaves , then twist the nether end which you intend to put in the earth , and thrust them in with a dove-tail setting stick , about eight inches asunder by a line , two rows in a border ; if this be done in the beginning of september , most of them slips will flower in the spring quarter , those slips that be set in the spring , if they be well watered at the first planting they 'l come to flower in autumn . for preservation and doubleing of them , first i advise you to cut most of the under branches away , this will help to enlarge the rest of the flowers and preserve the plant : secondly they would be moulded up with fresh mould , by these means many times such as are single are turned double . the other kind of wall-flowers are single with five leaves only , they love to grow upon walls and are seldome set of the slip because walls are not a convenient place for it ; they are sown of the seed thus , take a quantity of seed and cast it upon an old wall or pavement where you have a desire it shall grow , this seed will spring forth without any more care and come to flower and bear seed , which seed will fall and grow up of it self , so where they be once sown they alwayes continue , the time for sowing of them is when you please , for if you sow them in the winter , they will spring in the summer , so it is no matter when . so much for wall-flowers , it may be some may think it too much . jerusalem-cowslips . the least hair hath a shadow , and every shadow hath a substance , and this small flower hath a property which maketh it to be cultivated in gardens , though it be but small , yet it is pretty . it hath many spindle leaves like soft rushes , in the midst is a stalk of a handfull high , very small , with a flower atop of it of five leaves , usually of a blew colour , in the shape of a cowslip , the root of it is a bullous-root with many knots , which increase in the earth , for the flower never bringeth seed to perfection . the time , place and manner of planting of them , is as i told of crocuses , where they are once planted they alwaies continue . indian-wheat . indian-wheat or christmas-flower ; it is known of a broad blade like a flager-leaf , these leaves spring out of the earth , on the stalk are a matter of four smaller leaves , of one root springeth but one stalk , and that stalk never beareth but one flower rising to two-foot and a half high ; the flower is like the dragon when it first begins to open in the husks , under the flower grow seeds in colour and shape like a reddish seed , only flatter of one side ; the time this plant flowereth is presently after christmas , if it be housed from the cold ; the seed never cometh to perfection in england , but in the indies from whence it had its name . this plant is propagated by sowing of it upon hot beds in marck , these beds are only to be covered with mats , the seed is of a quick nature and cometh up suddenly after it is sown ; the plants coming thus of seed are to be transplanted into boxes ( as i told you ) and after it hath yeelded its flower it dieth . catterpillars . is a plant men fancie to have in a garden , because it beareth a seed so much like a catterpillar , that at a distance one may take the seed for it ; the branches of this plant lieth on the ground like clovergrass with many knots and small green leaves , it beareth a flower like the broom-flower . this plant though it be little worth yet it hath a peevish nature , for one must sow the seed many times before they will grow if it be not ordered carefully , the surest way to get them , is to prick in some of these seeds on your hot beds with choice seed , and at the replanting water them well at the first , and afterward they will grow very well and yeeld their seed in august , presently after root and branch perisheth . lillies . i write lillies because they be of the plurall number , for there are many kinds of the wild sort ; the water-lillie , the lillie of the vale ; the garden-lillies are these , the white , the red , the yellow , or cur-lillie ; the worthiest of all both for pleasure and antiquity , for use and vertue is the white lillie . although that all these are generally known by the sight , yet the nature and the properties are not so well known , therefore i shall describe them to you ; this lillie beareth a seed in four quarters , being but a small seed , and small in quantity , and if you sow it , it will be long before it come to perfection ; and seeing the root is so common , i think it needlesse to bestow the pains to shew you the difficulty of the raising of them from the seed . in planting of them , take notice that the root seems to be set with leaves like a hartichoke , and brittle , therefore you must be carefull in the taking of them up , and planting of them again , for fear of breaking of them ; the place fit for the planting of them is under some stone or brick wall which incloseth your garden on the sunnie part thereof , for of all flowers this delighteth most in heat and drithe : when you have provided your ground in such a fit place , the manner of planting of them is thus , lay a line upon your border in the midst thereof , so that you may plant but one row in a border , then the way is to make a trench with your planting hoe a matter of four inches deep , then set your great lilly-roots , such as bore lillies the last year in this drill , a matter of six inches difference one from another , the suckers are best planted by themselves at four inches distance in another place , those you may set with a diber ; the time for this is in august , for that is presently after they have done flowering : some will plant them in february and march , but they will prosper nothing so well as those that were planted as aforesaid , it may be a reason , because they spring in february , and the removing of them in the spring will hinder their growth . some would have lillies to be coloured by art , and they have set down directions for it , and that is , you shall take them up out of the ground about michalmas , and hang them up in the smoke for the space of a moneth , and then steep them in claret-wine two daies and two nights , then commit them to the earth again , and this they say will alter the colour : gravos marcombe is the author of this . i answer to the first of these , for the keeping of the root so long in the smoke , i have not the faith to believe that ever they will grow when they are committed to the earth , for sure in that time they will be dried up so , that they will have no more moisture than a dried chip ; for if you be pleased to take notice of this root , there is no substance in it , as in others , no sooner is it out of the earth , but presently it withereth and falleth asunder : i thought good to give you these reasons , that you might not lose your labour about what authors have said concerning the alteration of lillies . but if you have any desire to make any incisions by applying of liquors , do it seasonably at the removing of the root , for it is so loose a root that the liquor will go into every part , but i think it a needlesse curiosity , for thereis no lillet o compare with the white lillie , nor no lillie that there is any likenesse of altering of the colour but it , and why should you alter the best to make it the worst ? red lillies , and yellow lillies , or cur lillies , these differ not from the white , but that they are of a contrary colour and growth , not to half the stature ; they differ not in nature , as the one is propagated , so is the other . the last observation of lillies : all sorts of lillies being once planted , there they continue , yet if they be not removed every year , or every other year at the least , and the suckers taken away and set in another place , they will grow small and wild . to conclude , lillies were held in great estimation in solomons daies , when he commended his spouse to the lilly of the valley : you may consider that it was the flower that he took most delight in , or at least the admirablest flower that was in those daies ; but as the world hath grown in years , so doth it still grow in knowledge more every day than other ; for i am perswaded , that the most part of the flowers cultivated in a garden , do grow naturally in some part or other after the similitude which we have them in , though not in that perfection that they are brought to with diligence , care and industry . larks-heel . larks-heel or larks-spur ; it is a plant so well known i need not give a description of them , therefore take the nature of them as followeth : they are a plant that are propagated only of the seed , it is a plant that dieth every year , and springeth no more , therefore they must be sown yearly , if you will have them every year . the time of sowing of the seed is in april , the place fit for them is in a bed by themselves in your quarter of flowers , for they spread a great deal of ground , and will not let any thing grow nigh them ; if the plants grow too thick , you 'll do well to pull some of them up , and plant them again , or throw them away , whether you please , for the rest will prosper much the better : in august these plants usually flower , and after the flower fadeth , there springeth a cod , wherein are eight or ten seeds , small , round , coal black and rough : of larks-heel there are three sorts of colours , though but one in nature , those are the perfect white , blew and purple , very pritty flowers they are all . london-pride . it 's a plant that dieth every year , and when it is at its full growth , the plant is a foot and an half high , with a stalk like the sweet william , but it is strong , it supporteth it self ; at the top of every stalk spring many small branches of an equal height , , atop of every branch is a flower of a pritty pink , speckled colour , the flower is five leaves in number , at the outer part of every leaf of the flower groweth a prickle : this flower flourisheth most in the latter end of july . for the propagating of them i will be short with you , the time is in the latter end of april , the place is in the quarter which you reserve for flowers , in that manner as i have shown you of other small seeds of flowers , in which bed you may let them stand till they flower , soon after they have yeelded their seed the whole plant perisheth . lupins . many sorts there are , viz. the blew , the yellow , the white , the purple , and the great lupin ; these and all these differ as well in shape as in colour ; they differ also in growth , every sort of seed hath a difference in greatnesse , and in colour also , to puzzle my self and trouble the reader with the description of each is altogether needlesse , i shall give you some observations , how all sorts of lupins may be raised of the seed , and not stand to name in particular how each is to be raised , for one direction will serve for them all . the time of planting of all sorts of lupins , is in the middle of april , and so till may ; the place is in beds or borders , according as your fancy is , or the quantity of your seed ; if you have a great quantity , then you may plant them in trails , in beds or borders , in manner as they plant peas ; these are for the blew and yellow ( which are the ordinary sorts ) but the greater sorts require more room . lastly , observe that any sort of lupins committed to the earth in their season , will spring up without any further care , so they need nothing but weeding ; in the latter end of july all sorts of lupins come to flower , which are very beautifull in a garden ; after the shading of the flower springeth cods in the shape of a bean-cod , bigger or lesser according to their kinds ; the cods are rough like a peach ; the seed will come to perfection in the latter end of august , and may be set again in the same garden where it grew for many years , and it will not degenerate . ladies-thistle . it hath only one stalk upon a root , with long leaves , and as broad as a mans hand ; these leaves are prickley , and of the colour of a cardus-leaf ; the plant never groweth to above two foot high , and in august it flowereth ; the flower is of the colour of the great wild thistle-flower , but greater and without prickles ; the seed is long and rough , of a gray colour . this plant is set of the seed in the later end of march , the place is in a border ; when you intend to have them flower , each seed being set half afoot asunder , and half an inch deep , it cometh up suddenly , and flowereth the same year , and the time as aforesaid : the branch when winter cometh dieth , and springeth again in march , the third winter after it soon dieth root and branch . lowe in idle . lowe in idle , or two faces under a hood , is a flower that is much like violets in all respects , but only it flowereth at such times at violets does not , that is in june and july ; this flower beareth a seed , of which it may be raised , if slips might not be had . the time for setting of them in the slip , or sowing of them in the seed , is in march ; the place is either in the side borders of high walks , or on the edge of low borders , in manner as i told you of cowslips ; if you sow them of the seed , then you shall make drils by a line with a stick half an inch deep , each drill at a foot asunder , if it be on the side border of your high walks ; if on your low borders , one is sufficient in these drils , thinly cast your seed , then cover it , and it will grow up , and cover the whole border suddenly , where it will alwayes remain , for it renewes its nature by the branches taking root as they lie on the ground . ladies-liveries . this is not a flower , yet many people fancy to have it in the garden of pleasure , because it hath such a pretty property with it , for it shouteth up with many blades like spire-grasse , of an inch in breadth , each blade is striped red , white , yellow and green ; some call it truelowe-grasse , it hath a root like such grasse , though it runne not so farre ; this root if you set in any part of your garden , there it will grow and continue alwayes . this plant i thought fit to set down for brevities sake , because i would not exempt any . ladies-smocks . otherwise called blew-caps and white-caps . it is a plant that the nethermost leaves keep green all the year , those leaves are green and jagged , of the length of a mans finger , set on close to the ground ; in the midst of these leaves riseth a stalk with a few smaller leaves on it , and on the top of the stalk are four or five flowers , white , or blew , according to their kind : this flower is single , with five leaves , in shape and bignesse like a dogg-rose ; the time they chiefly flower in , is in april and may , it seldom bringeth seed to perfection . this plant is set of the slip , at any time of the spring or the fall , in the edge of borders for the keeping of them up , and for the beautifying of the garden ; if you set them in the fall , it is much better than in the spring ; for those that are set in the spring in dry weather , usually cometh presently after , then your borders will be so dry , without watering , will cause the slips to die ; those that are set at michaelmas will be well rooted by that time the summer cometh , and so flower in their season ; these slips being thus planted continue always , nothing dieth but the stalk whereon is the flower , which you shall cut off after the flower fadeth for the keeping of your border handsome . marmadle deparve . or otherwise called the worlds wonder , and i think it no wonder that it should be so called , for it hath a quality naturally as no other flower hath , and that is this , it beareth a flower of one colour as it may be to day , and on the morrow after of another , and sometimes two or three colours at once ; the colours are chiefly these ; first red , white , purple , peach , yellow , and cinamon , these are distinct colours ; there are mixt also , as the white , and the red , the purple , and the yellow , and so of the rest ; the shape of this flower is much like a heart , with the smallest end upward , no bigger than an acron , this flower is of no continuance , for it continues not long upon the stock not touched , and being pulled off it withereth presently , so that it is of no use but for the ornament of the garden . there is two kinds of these plants , that is , the single and the double , the single dieth yearly , the double will continue two years , if it be shelter'd from the frost and snow in the winter . this plant is in growth like unto the stock gilliflower , it riseth not so high , it spreadeth close to the ground , with sharp-pointed leaves , with a stock of the bigness of a mans thumb , each flower bringeth a seed and no more , which is in shape and colour like the pepper-corn , but something greater . the fit time for sowing of it is in the moneth of march , the moon being in the encrease , these seeds are tender and very dear , for i never bought them for less than two pence a feed , therefore they ought to be raised with great diligence , and thus it must be ordered ; it must be sown in a hot bed , but you need not make it purposely , for about that time we fow colliflowers , cowcumbers , and musmillions , and in some part of one of these beds you may prick down your seeds , three fingers asunder , so done cover them with a glass , the sixth day they will come up with two round thick leaves , the next leaves that shoot forth will be long and sharp-pointed , when this plant hath six leaves , they ought to be transplanted into a border or pots of good mould , so done about the beginning of august they will come to flower ( in manner as aforesaid . ) there are other wayes of sowing of them , that is in beds of freckled mould in the latter end of april , for if they should be sowed before they would not grow , those that are thus sown toward may day , may be let stand in the same bed and it will be michaelmas before they come to flower , the year being so far spent they will not come to perfection , therefore i think it best to take the pains to sow them in hot beds ( as was said ) so i 'le leave these directions to your charity , and rest to speak any more here of the worlds wonder . muscabious . be not flowers of distinct natures and properties , but distinguished in colours , as the purple , white , red , and damask-colour flowers . scabious is a plant that groweth to great stature as it is in number of branches , though they be but small they spread and grow to three foot high , with some leaves growing jagged , and others smooth , of a dark green colour , standing from the branches upon stems , every plant yeeldeth abundance of flowers , in shape and bigness like the great double emrose ; this flower smelleth like honey ; the time of their flowering is from june till michaelmas and after , the seed of this plant groweth atop of all , standing in order naked being enclosed in nothing , these seeds when they are ripe have many beards whereby it entangleth one in another , it is a hollow loose seed and the lightest of all others . these plants are propagated from the seed , the time for it is in april or august , for indeed august is the best , for then it sheddeth its seed ; and it is to be noted , that at such time as plants shed their seed , is the naturall time of sowing , if they be such plants as keep green all the year . then in august prepare a bed of earth in a quarter which you reserve for flowers , so done mingle with your seed some earth , or otherwise it will not untangle , so that you will sow it too thick or too thin ; so done get some other earth and cover your seeds half an inch thick ; these things observed , and your seed new and good , it will come up in three weeks space like gruncel ; let it alwaies grow on this bed , and next summer following it flowereth , then if you rail in this bed with little sticks , it will keep the wind from breaking the flowers , keeping the plants in uniform order : when the seed is ripe upon the stalk , then cut the stalks off within a hands breadth of the ground , the plant will spring again , so you shall preserve seed and plant , thus you may do for three years , the fourth root and branch dieth . monks-hood . or old mans head : it riseth up like the branches of carawaies , with small stalks never above two foot high , every plant yeeldeth many flowers , which are set with many small whiteish grey leaves , the flower is of the bigness of the ordinary cornations , with a few green prickles growing among the flowers . this plant is sowed of the seed only in the latter end of april , usually after this manner ; we dig a border by a walk side , when this border is digged and raked , then lay a line in the middle of the border , and by the line make a drill , then cast the seed thinly into that drill , for it is very small , then cover it ; this done it needeth no more care , it cometh up well , and by the mid august after it flowereth , and dieth as soon as it yeeldeth its seed . marble-flower . it is a plant of a small stature , and the stalks are of a soft substance and of a whiteish green colour , the leaves are of the same colour in shape like the wild poppy-leaves ; this plant beareth many flowers which have no more than four leaves apiece , and of a perfect white colour , the time of flowering is in july , the seed is ripe presently after , then dieth the plant . this plant is raised only of the seed in the spring time : i shall not stand to set down every particular concerning the ordering of it , but so as you raise monks-hood so you may raise this , you may have that at one end of the border , and this at the other . nurssusuly . they are a kind of daffodillies ; the difference is , these flower after the daffodilly , and is of a milk white colour , something smaller , growing upon longer stalks . these are planted of the root , as i told you of the daffodillies ; the place is chiefly upon borders of high walks , because they are of a hardy nature , and nothing else might so well grow there as they , because of the drithe you may set them in any place else , and they will grow and flower yearly , neither weeds , nor grasse , nor any thing that groweth nigh them will kill them ; some will plant them in their orchards round their fruit-trees . oxslips . the double sort are planted in gardens , because they flower early in the spring , and for using of the flowers in salets , and for strewing flowers . oxslips are set of the slip onely in the spring or fall ; the place fit for it is on bank-sides ; where they are once set they alwayes continue . oak of paris . it resembleth a young oak plant , the leaves being much smaller , body and branches also are of a short substance : the plant spreadeth at the top , whereon are many pretty flowers ; they flourish chiefly in august , the seed groweth in great cods eight square , wherein is brown seed as small as parsley-seed ; after this seed is ripe the plant dieth . this plant is propagated of the seed only in the beginning of may ; the place fit for it is in a bed , in a quarter amongst other flowers , but sow no other seed amongst them , for they are a tender plant , so that another will kill them : this observed , sow them as i have directed you to sow muscabions ; this done they will grow up ( if the seed be good ) according to the description . pionys . of these flowers there are two or three sorts ; first the male poiony , next the rose-poiony , the small rose-poiony , or the poiony-rose ; the colours are all these , it is naturally red , there are searlet colours ( supposed to be made so by art ) the male piony never beareth seed to perfection , but the rest do , which you may raise pionies of : the way here i shall not stand to treat of , because it is so nigh the nature of tulip-seed , and must be ordered alike , and it will be so long before it come to flower ; i will save the pains to set it down here , but refer you where it treateth of tulip seed , and so give you a short direction for the ordering of the root . the fittest time for planting of piony roots is in july , presently after their flowering , yet you may do it in march , or september ; the place and manner is thus : first , the place is in the out-borders of your garden , the ground being good , where you must set them a yard distance , no deeper than the root may be covered : now if you have but small store of roots , and would willingly have great store of pionies , you may cut every great root into half a score pieces , and set them in like manner , and they will grow , but they will not flower till the second year ; those that are set whole will flower the next spring following . the old piony-roots should have the suckers took from them once a year , in so doing you need not remove the old root , but make the flowers much the larger . the male piony is planted at the same times and seasons in a box , because it is of a more tenderer nature ; and for the causing of them to flower early ; some have told me they have had them flower at the beginning of april , but i 'll not affirm what i hear by relation for fear i should not make it good by my action . primrose-tree . if you know it not by that name , i will give you this description ; when this plant first springeth it hath many broad , long leaves lying on the ground , whitish green in colour , jagged on the sides , full of veins ; afterward riseth the stalk , being bore without leaves , at the lowermost part , and at the top a few small one ; this stalk riseth to four-foot high , and it resembleth the daisie very much ; this plant beareth its flower in june , it beareth a seed that seldome will grow by mans industry , but i have known it grow naturally of it self ; sometimes the branches of this plant die in the winter and spring again ; this plant hath certain young springs come from the side of the old mother , which may be taken off , and set in good earth , and they will grow ; thus you must do if you have them of your own , if you would have them to multiply ; and if you have them not , you must procure them of the slip , if you will have them . the place fit to plant them in , is in a bed with other flowers , where they will prosper without any more trouble ; i shall not trouble my self to write any more of them . princes-feathers . otherwise called , my love lieth a bleeding ; yet forasmuch as they are called by two several names , they are partly of two kinds , but both in one shape , though they differ in colour ; that which is called the princes-feather hath green leaves with red and white speckled flowers , bendingof it self down , and many of them put together in a mans hat at a distance , you would take it for a feather : that which is called , my love lieth a bleeding , hath red branches , red leaves and red flowers , hanging its head down : there is a difference in the seed also , that of the princes-feather is white , that of my love lieth a bleeding red , both as small or smaller than mustard-seed , glistering like a marble-stone ; the nature of them are alike , therefore the ordering of them i will set down alike . the time for raising of these curious flowers is from the later end of april till the middle of may , in manner as followeth ; prepare a border , or a bed being finely raked , take the seed and mix them with a little earth in a dish or bole , for these seeds are so small that you cannot sow them otherwise , but that they will be unevenly sowed ; this observed , commit them to the earth with an even hand , according to the quantity of your seed , then riddle a little fine earth , and cast uodn the seed a matter of half an inch thick , if the season prove dry , afterward you shall water it in the evenings and mornings sometimes ; this done , you shall see this seed to spring up like bloudwort about the twelfth day . when these plants come to have five leaves , you may remove some of them , or all of them into another bed or border , and set them by a line each plant half a foot distance : they would be watered at their first planting , for then the time of the year is commonly dry ; these plants will hang their heads the first three dayes , while such time as the root is well fixed in the earth , then the plant riseth and flourisheth bravely , and needeth no more labour but only weeding : in the later end of july they begin to flower ; and if you note , this flower hath a quality as no other hath , and that is this ; it appeareth at the first in the same shape and colour as it is in the fallnesse of its perfection , and that will be five weeks after : this flower keepeth long fresh in a garden , and being gathered it fadeth quickly , therefore they are little used in flower pots : this plant after the seed is ripe dieth suddenly . lastly , to have them sooner than ordinary , you may raise them upon hot beds , as i told you of amorantus . this flower hath a property of colouring as none hath , of it self it coloureth red , writing upon paper , it serveth as well as the best ink in the world ; it coloureth cloath , or any thing that the juice of it toucheth . i have shewed a pritty experiment with this flower ; i took the juice of it , and went to the white lilly , and gave it strokes with it , presently the lilly appeared white and red striped ; all that saw this lilly thought it grew so naturally , which indeed is strange to behold . many rarer things may be done with the juice of this flower , if a man be studious thereabout . poppies . blew , white , black , red , double and single , wild and garden poppies there are : i shall only speak here of the blew and white . double poppies i shall not need to give any description of them , because they are so well known : nor shall i need to make any distinction of the directions for the propagating of them , they being of alike nature . both these sorts are raised of the seed only ; the time for it is in the beginning of march ; the place for it is in a bed in a quarter which is reserved for flowers onely , in manner as i shewed you concerning the princes-feather : if your seed be good , in a short time it will come up : and observe , if your plants should be thick , then pull some of them up , and set them in another place , or cast them away ; by the later end of july following your plants will flower according to their kinds . the white poppie is for general uses , and for distilling , as the physicians herbals will shew you . the red is also good for the cure of many maladies . the second season of sowing of poppies is in the later end of august , or the beginning of september , in place and manner as aforesaid . these plants will come to flower in the later end of may following . lastly , where poppies are once , they likely alwayes continue , though the plant dieth every other year , yet the seed that it sheddeth springeth up again naturally . pinks . two sorts there are , viz. the matted pink , and the grasse pink. i need not trouble my self to write any more of them they are so well known ; i will only acquaint you the easiest and the best way of propagating them by seed and slip , which may be most for pleasure . first , for sowing of them of the seed ; the time which is seasonable for it is in the middle of april , the place in some high border side , or a high wall side , provided that there be but earth drest conveniently and finely : if the bank-side be ten foot high , then make as many drils at a direct line , and at an equal distance one from another ; in those drils sow your seed with an equal hand , then cover it and fix the face of your bank smooth again . now understand that these seeds will come up in ranks , which will be very pleasant to the beholders ; these plants must be well weeded the first summer , the second summer they will spread so that they will cover the bank themselves , so that no weed can possibly grow there , then these pinks will flower , which will cause such a beautious sight as hath nor been seen in england , unlesse it were the like . besides this , they will alwayes continue there , and need no labour , but cutting off the dead stalks after they have done flowering . the time for the setting of the slips is in the beginning of september , the place is in the edge of borders , round grasse-work , or herb-work , a single chace in every border , set at three inches distance : so done they 'll come to flower the later end of the next may following . purple-primrose . these are flowers that differ not from the white primrose in shape and growth , but only in bearing purple flowers ; and that which is more rare , they flower twice a year , in march , and in september : these flowers are set only of the slip , at two several seasons , and those are presently after their flowering . the place fit for it is in borders , at the uppermost part thereof , directly at a hands breadth asunder ; if this be done in the spring time , the slips must be well watered till they have taken root ; if in the fall , you have no more care or trouble with them but to keep them weeded , to cut off their dead leaves and stalkes after their flowering , for the renewing of their nature , and to cause them to look the pleasanter . pawmers . so called because the seed is the figure of a pawmer , and upon this account men hold such a thing a great rarity , and though of little use , yet they will bestow the pains to propagate it as followeth . about may-day this plant is only to be raised of the seed in this manner ; prepare a place in a border under a wall , or some other warm place , there prick in your seeds with your finger , at a hands breadth asunder , ( i suppose you will not set many of them , because they are no more usefull ) and so by july they will come to flower , and a moneth after the seed is ripe , and the plant dieth . queens-gilliflower . some call it the white gilliflower , whether it hath any more names i cannot tell ; yet i know it is usuall to give divers names to one and the same plant . it hath many leaves growing and spreading close to the ground , something long , sharp-pointed , of a dark green colour , being hard , rough , rugged , and grayish underneath , of little or no sent , but of a fine pleasant sharp tast : above these rise a stalk two foot in heighth , and at the tops of the stalks and branches stand many tufts of small white flowers which smell sweet , and in their places , being fallen , come cods wherein is a brown flat seed , and at one time you shall have flower and seed ripe upon the stalk : the root is somewhat black and woodish with divers great strings , the top branches die every year , but the root and the under leaves perish not , but abide many years , the sides ( partly from the root ) send forth many young slips every year . by this description i hope you understand the nature of this plant ; i shall not need to stand to treat of every particular in reference to its ordering : to be short , get of the slips of this plant either in spring or fall , and set them in a convenient bed or border of good earth , &c. the flowers of this plant are good in nosegaies or to be placed in flower-pots , the leaves are a good pot-herb and serve for many physicall uses . rose-campions . be these , the white , the red , the purple , they differ not in form but in the colour , let one description serve for all : rose-campions have white hoary leaves and soft , sharp at each end ; the stalks are of the same colour , weak and small as a hop-vine , not well able to support themselves : from one root springeth many of them which spread mightily : in june and july this plant hath its flower richest in the branch , these flowers are made of five leaves , the seed lieth in bags which are round and of the bigness of a mans fore-finger , and when this seed is full ripe it will rattle in the husks ; the seed is as small as gunpowder and of a dark brown colour ; on this plant will be ripe seed and a rich flower at once : this plant riseth to three foot high , the second year the whole plant dieth naturally . this plant is propagated only of its seed , and in short i will show you the way , viz. prepare a bed or one end of a bed in the quarter which is appointed for flowers , so done sow your seed , then cover it thinly with a little ridled earth , let this be done in the beginning of april or the latter end of august : now observe , that those that are sown in august , if the winter following be hard they must be covered with a little straw , and the spring following when your plants are grown up , make a frame of rods round your bed to support the plants , for they are altogether weak of themselves , so oft as the seed falleth it groweth naturally . rose-rubee . or sattin flower : it rises with a stalk of a foot high , bare at the bottome , towards the top are many leaves like the smooth charlock leaves or wild turnop leaves , and on the tops of the stalks are many small flowers , composed of five leaves betwixt a blush and a scarlet colour . the naturall time for the sowing of the seed of this plant is in the latter end of august , in a bed by it self as was said of rose-campion seed : so done , by the next march these plants flower in manner as was described : after the flower is gone there appeareth a bag wherein is composed many small seeds , after these are ripe the plant fadeth and springeth no more . rocket-flower . it 's needless to give you any description of them because they are so well known and so little worth , yet shall i not wholly exempt this plant , by reason it is one that helps to make up the inventory of kiltevated flowers , the leaves when they are young serve well insallets . this plant is raised of the seed only , the season for sowing of it is in mid april , in a bed as i told you of rose campion seed , in the same manner and with the same care , by the middle of june it will come to flower , and a little after the seed is ripe ( which is as small as any seed whatsoever and of a whiteish red colour and glistering ) the plant fadeth and springeth no more . stock-gilliflowers . this flower hath the preheminency of a garden for ority of colour , delicious smell , and for continuance of flowering , for they flower almost all the year : and again they cast such a pleasant sight afar off or nigh , and are such a pleasant ornament , as cannot be better expressed than they express themselves , for some of them are of a crimson and a purple die , others of a scarlet , and some have intermixt colours , as white and red , purple and blew , so overspreading the bush with a passing beauty , some double , and some single : but the chiefest of my work shall be to show the ordering of the double stock . first , i must make some queries , what is meant by a double stock , whether the double and single are two distinct kinds or no ? i answer , they are , and they are not , for the double is made by art of nature , the single comes naturally : now you must understand there is two sorts of nature , the one voluntary , the other of industry , for naturally every creature liveth , but by nature and industry every creature cometh to the fulness of perfection , and so man by nature and industry cometh to the fulness of wisdome , whereas naturally he is a fool . well then i hope you confess it is truth ( and this fits my discourse ) that we must use industry in the propagation of gilliflowers , wherein there is some art in doubling and redoubling of them . the first thing needfull to know in this art is , the distinct times and seasons for the sowing of them : true it is you may sow them betwixt march and august , and they will grow very well so that the earth be fixt for the seed , but yet they will prove single if you do not take the right times and seasons for them : the right season is the first new moon in april , when it is about fifteen dayes old , and in may also observing the moon , these are the fit seasons : now i will show you what earth the seeds require , that is a dry , loose , and something stony , but by no means barren : the fittest place for it is in a border by some wall , where they may have the reflection of the sun , and a shelter from the storm : such a convenient place prepared , sow your seeds as you think fit according to the quantity of it , then cover it with a little fine mould as thin as you can possible , forget not to water it if the season be dry : all this done you shall see your plants come up the eighteenth or the twentieth day : let these plants be weeded , and so stand while that day two moneths that they were sown , then remove them into a richer earth of the same nature : but one thing you must observe , such plants as have crumpled heads , them reserve by themselves , for those will be double if you will order them as followeth : in the next september following remove them again at the full moon , and that will keep them back from flowering untill the next spring : be sure these plants be sheltered from the frost and snow the winter following , for we found by experience , that the last winter killed all the stock-gilliflowers , both old and young , unless it were such as were sheltered . thirdly , replant these plants the first full moon in march following , and be sure that they be transplanted into a better earth which is as rich as it may be possible , to that place where you have a desire they shall be , and the most of these will be double , if in their farther growth , before they come to flower , you guild off some of the leaves , and cut off some of the branches that would deprive the flower of its sap . fourthly , there are subtle wayes of grafting of them , the effect of it is to have two severall colours of one stock , it is done in manner as i told you of the cornation-gilliflowers , so of these , and with a great deal more ease you may obtain your desire . fifthly , the ordinary sowing for ordinary and single flowers is at any time you please , for they usually grow best to be single flowers when they have least care took of them . sixthly , means for setting of slips of double stocks that they may not degenerate but be double and large , still the time for it is the first full moon in may , the flower is ricked in the branch , then slip off as many slips of the under leaves as you can conveniently , then plant them in such earth , and in such a place as you replanted the seedlings in : let these slips be often watered with such water wherein have been steeped sheeps-dung ; these plants thus planted , and those raised of the seed , will continue three or four years before they decay , and then they must be supplied with younger in the room . seventhly , to plant seedlings for pleasure , and that is upon the border of a high walk ( where there is no hedge ) set by a direct line , each plant seven inches one from another , and so to grow up in a frame made with small sticks , and to be kept clipt with a pair of sheers on each side , and on the top where a plant riseth higher than ordinary , so that they may stand like a hedge , and a pleasant hedge indeed : but if such a convenient place is not to be had , then you may plant them in uniform order insome out-border . lastly , some may surmise , or be ready to conjecture , because i have not set down rules for inoculation and transforming of shape , and altering of sent and colour , nor any objections to the contrary , that i do not understand whether any such thing may be done yea or no. to this i answer , that these intercisions or supplies , are but conceits took up upon trust , and never made good by practice , and therefore i shall not dispense with the time to answer them in particular , and swell up my book about such uncertain , vain and needlesse curiosities which are unpractical , and that which is more , they were never affected , so i wave the discourse . snap-dragons . they are not distinct kinds , but distinct colours , viz. the white , the red and the peach colour , so i will give a description which shall serve for all . this plant spreadeth at the middle with many branches , the bottom of the stalk is bare without branch or leaf , the top of the plant riseth by degrees above the rest , whereon are many small leaves , green and sharp pointed , of the same colour of the stalk , on every branch are many flowers knit double , in the shape of a peas blossome : the time of flowering is chiefly in july , the seed is ripe soon after , which lieth in bags , it is very small and of a brown colour : after the seed is ripe , the uppermost branches die , the lowermost spring again two year after its first flowering , then root and branch dieth . this plant is propagated of the seed only ; the time is in march or august , but it is best in august ; it is done as followeth : prepare a bed or a border , and there sow the seed , in manner as i told you of others , so done it will come up in a fortnights space , it need not be removed ; all the care is to shelter it the winter following from the frost and snow ; the summer following these plants will flower , and continue with you according to the description . sweet williams . it is a plant that springeth every year , when it is at its full growth , it lieth one half of the ground , the other rising up ; the whole branches being nigh three foot in length , with many knots or joints , where springeth many small leaves set close on to the stalk , betwixt the stalk and the leaves springeth tufts whereon are many small flowers , four leaves in number of a pink colour , rising all of a height , that at a distance you would take it for one united flower : this plant continueth flowering both june and july , it seldom or never beareth seed to perfection . now this plant is set of the slip in march or september ; the slips must be such as have part of the root and of the branch , and that is easie to be had where they grow , for the root spreadeth in the ground mightily . the place for planting of them is in banks or border sides : i shall not need to stand to declare every particular of it , but as you set the bachelors-buttons , so set these : where they are once planted they alwayes continue , they need no more trouble , but after their flowering cut off the old vines , and they will spring anew again . scarlet beans . various are the wayes which i could enter upon the description , and the ordering of this plant or flower , which i shall omit : the description is thus : this plant riseth in all respects like the kidney or french bean ; the flower is of a scarlet colour , which continueth long on the stalk , and after it fadeth springeth cods , wherein are likely five beans , something bigger than the kidney-bean , in the same shape , and of an intermixt purple and red colour ; these beans or seeds are set in the middle of april , and so till may-day , if opportunity do not then serve , or the weather contrary to the season . the place fit for it is in out-borders of gardens of pleasure , where they may runne up against the trees , or supported with sticks against the wall ; this done , by the later end of july they will come to flower , and yeeld their seed ripe in the middle of september , and then dieth the plant . lastly , this plant yeeldeth a great increase of seed , which you may plant again , and it will prosper very well without any changing for three years : these beans are very good for to eat , insomuch that they are prized before the kidney-bean . if you have a great quantity of the seed , and would plant them for food , you may do it in a kitchen-garden , the ground being hot and sandy , well dunged ; plant them in rowes of two foot and an half distance , and when they are grown up , if they be stuck with small sticks , they will be much the better , yet they will bring a good increase without . snails . they are so called , because the seed is twisted much like it in shape and bignesse , and of the colour of a dry tobacco-leaf : this seed is ordinary to be bought at most seedmens ; and if you set it in the spring time , it will grow and bring forth its seed the same year , and after that the plant dieth . snow-drops . they rise with many spirish blades , thick and of a soft substance , set close to the ground , bending with their tops down to the ground again , through which rise many small stalks of half a foot in length , upon which groweth flowers of the bignesse and shape of an acorn , five leaves in number , of a milk white colour bending downward : the time of this flower is in the beginning of april , the roots are bullous-roots , which you may transplant after their flowering . the place that they are commonly planted in is upon borders in intervales , with crokus , and other flowers with bullous-roots . let this short direction serve , for i think it is as much as is needfull , it being a flower of such a hardy nature . start up and kisse me . or otherwise called wag-wantons . this is a plant that riseth to half a foot in height , with many small brown leaves , with a few branches spreading from the stalk , whereon groweth flowers of a sky colour , being but a small flower spreading of it self full abroad ; in the middle standeth three or four knots alwayes wagging , of the colour of the flower ; the time this flowereth is in april , and after the flower is gone , are round husks wherein is seed much like violet seed . this plant is sown of the seed , or set of the slip in march , in manner as you do violets , and such like . i cannot stand to dispense any more time about it , but must go to that of more consequence , which is tulips . i am come now to that flower which authors have left a large description of to posterity , and also vain disputes , how tulips are made by art into those several colours that they are in . to give an answer to those things i shall omit the pains , and not raise my discourse out of other mens words : so i 'll set down what i have found by experience , and what the nature of them is . first , in nature : here is a wonderfull work , and many rare and excellent things to be observed from this work in nature : first , consider how beautifull it is , and of what a hardy nature it is of ; other flowers that are beautifull are of a tender nature , it is not so with this , considering what a stately form it hath : but this i shall wave ; i will speak how tulips are tituled . tulips are distinguished and called in the oraty of the colour each tulip hath ; that which is held most in estimation is the scarlet , the princes-robes , and the fools-coat , the chimney-sweeper , and the black and yellow , especially if they have the shape of the crown tulip . the ordinary sort of tulips are these , the wind colour , the london-white , the yellow , the purple , the peach colour , the maiden-blush , the red , the white , the cinamon , the widow-tulip . ordinary mixt colours are these , the lords-livery , the priests-vestures , the red and white , the yellow and red , the orange and damask , the purple and red , and many more , which i cannot stand to name . all these colours , or any other , doth sometimes alter their colour by nature as well as by industry of themselves ; and forasmuch as the colour of tulips do differ one from another , is of an apt nature , and not of a forced nature ; and seeing that they are apt to alter of themselves , i will endeavour to shew you how you shall find the nature of this flower . first , if you have tulips already in your garden , when they are flowering , take notice of what colour they are , then stick a small stick by each particular flower , and write upon the stick what colour each flower is ; now by the setting down of this stick , you shall know what colour they were when the flower is faded , and nothing remaineth but the root in the earth : let these sticks or marks stand till such time as you remove them ; the time of removing them is presently after they have done flowering , and that is about the beginning of june : in the removing of them , all the art and knowledge consists , either for the enlarging of them , or to have them flower at contrary seasons , or to alter the colour . first , for altering the colour : having set the marks to know what colour they were , take up your roots , and lay each colour by themselves , so done prepare your ground to set them in ; if you set them in the same place where they were taken up , some fresh mould must be gotten and well ridled , so lay it upon the border where you have a desire to set them . but happily you may set them in a wrong place for ornament , therefore i will give some directions for the place ; if the garden be crosse-work , then it is proper to set them in a border round it ; if herb-work , then tulips must be set in a quarter cast out into beds , in such a manner as is in the draft-work of this book . secondly , these tulip-roots thus taken up , you must seprrate the young suckers from the old bearers , and plant them in a bed by themselves , at a hands breadth one from another , the old bearers must be planted at eight inches difference either in bed or border , no deeper than that there be half an inch of earth above the root , for if you do , they lie cold in the ground , and cannot get the benefit of the sun and air to cause them to spring timely . thirdly , concerning the altering of colour , having taken notice of what colour they were before , set the red tulips by themselves , and the white tulips by themselves after these directions ; take a quantity of wild or garden-herbs , and sheeps-dung , and pigeons-dung , beat these herbs and the dung together , so done put some of this into the holes where you set your tulip-roots , anoint the roots with the same , and set them into the holes , and put in more atop of them , covering of them with earth ; this done , upon several trials it hath altered the colour , some after one manner , and some after another , but still the red and the white carrieth the greatest sway . again , i have been told , and i have conceited it to be true , that is in the planting of a red tulip , to alter the colour , i should take a white tulip-root , lettice-leaves , solendine leaves , camomile , and the white thistle and peas-flower , and beat all these together , and so i did , and committed them to the earth , as i did the former , and i did imagine that the root would partake of those several coloured juices , and convert it into its own nature , which should cause so many orites of colours as was mixt in the juices , but i found by experience that it was nothing so , for i found no more alteration in those than i did in the former , which was only the enriching of the earth with the strength of the substance of the herbs and dung ; so flowers do not convert any colours as they are , but into its own colour and intercisial form as every one hath . some think that there is several juices in the earth which is the cause of it , as is said , that if garlick be set by gilliflowers , that they will be the sweeter , because that they think that the garlick doth draw away the strongest juice ; this is as uncreditable as the stories of robinhood ; for sure if flowers draw juice , so does the crab-tree , i mean drawing or receiving of it , as it is ; then mark , an apple grafted upon a crab-tree must needs turn a crab , for it receiveth its juice from the crab-stock ; and as they say the crab-stock draweth sower juice , and if it be so , from whence should the apple receive its sweet juice ? why then it is plain , that the apple graft converts the sower juice of the crab-stock into its own nature , and becometh of a pleasant taste , and so it is with all plants else : so it is not garlick by roses can make them the sweeter , nor contrary colours applied to tulips that will alter the colour , and seeing there are divers colours it is an art of nature , and those things which i direct you to apply to them in the former page , is that which doth agree with their nature , for it inlargeth the flower , and altereth the colour as soon as any thing whatsoever applied unto them . fourthly , there is certain wayes of grafting of them to have two flowers spring from one root , and that is done thus ; take two tulip-roots of two several colours , one as big as the other , and cut off a part from the side of each , proportionably alike , so that you cut not the strings at the bottom , then joyn them together , and bind them with a little flax , and set them in the earth , and the next year , according to what they are grafted , they will bring forth flowers of two several kinds , seeming to spring from one root ; some are so simple to think that they will be mixt colours ; but that is answered where i treat of flower-deluce-roots , and prove to the contrary . fifthly , to have tulips of the seed , is to sow it in the later end of august in a fine fertile earth , for it is a very tender feed , though when it is come to perfection the plant is the hardiest of all others . the plants that come of seed will be very small the first year , and beareth no flower while the fourth year ; and seeing mr. purchas and others have took up their time to study curiosities about ordering this seed ; and that this flower is grown so common that the roots may be had almost any where , i shall not insist any more upon ordering this seed . sixthly , tulips must be removed every year , or every other year ; the time fit for it is in the later end of june , in manner as aforesaid ; the reason is , if they be not removed , they grow too deep in the ground , and the ground groweth stiff about them , and they send forth suckers from the old bearers ; these things hinder the timely bearing , and maketh the flower the less . seventhly , concerning sent . in the former treatise of gilliflowers i had an occasion to speak of the alteration of the sent of flowers , and if it could be done on this , as i know it is impossible , it would make this flower exceed all flowers , for here is nothing wanting in this flower that nature did bestow in any other , except sent ; and what may be done in altering the sent , authors say it is thus : take two or three cloves , as much mace , and a stick of oinamon , two grains of musk , and a little amber-grease , these beaten together , adde unto it a few drops of damask-rose-water , then take a fine camebrick rag , and spread this upon it ; lay this to a tulip-root , then commit it to the earth ; this done , water them now and then with damask rose-water , and some other sweet drugs this cost with diligence performed , say they , the tulip that springeth from that root will be as sweet as any flower whatsoever . this you may believe if you please ; but i can assure you that you will lose your labour and cost : my reason is , as i said before , plants do not contract any substance , as it is either sweet or sowr , black or white , but into its own sent , colour and for me that god and nature gave it . lastly , some things may be done in crossing of the nature of this flower , by keeping of the root out of the earth to put it backward for flowering at contrary seasons , for you may keep it out of the earth a quarter of a year and set it again , and it will grow and flower ; thus you may keep them back from flowering one summer , and the next summer they will flower the timelier , and the flowers will be much the larger . i cannot insist upon every particular , but i hope i have shewed you the principal things of concernment , and i have answered some of the groundlesse opinions that men have took up upon trust concerning the ordering of this flower . the sensitive plant . a strange nature this plant hath , and that is , if a man touch it with his hand , it will crumble it self up together ; hence the name of it is derived , or called the sensitive plant . it riseth to a span high , with weak stalks , but tough with small brownish leaves , with a few tufts at the top of the branches , where groweth small flowers , and it beareth a small seed presently after . this plant is raised on a hot bed of the seed under a glass : in the beginning of april , and at may transplant it into a box of fertile earth , where it will remain two years , if it be housed in the winter , and carefully looked after . thrift . it is matted close to the ground like matted grasse , with spiry blades like matted pinks ; it spreadeth mightily upon the ground , and it beareth a flower in may , which is double , and of a whitish pink colour : this flower standeth upon a naked stalk of an handfull long , and after the flower fadeth and beareth no seed . this flower is set of the slip only , for the keeping up of borders , and for the distinguishing of knots ; these slips may be set at any time of the spring or fall , and where they are set they alwayes continue . turkey-caps . they spring up like red lillies to two-foot high , and afterward brancheth out into five or six branches , on each branch groweth a flower which is red , and in the form of a cap , standing with the tops exactly downward ; the time of its flowering is in july , and after the flower fadeth , it leaveth the seed behind it , which seldome cometh to perfection . this flower is set of the root only ; the time for it is presently after its flowering , or at its first springing in march , in the same places and manner as was told you of lillies , after the stalk dieth the root springeth again yearly , the roots would be removed every year , or every other year , or else the flowers will be but small . violets . both double and single are sown and planted in gardens for several uses as well as for pleasure . in august and the beginning of march they set up the slip in borders or banks , and in april you may sow them of the seed in drils , as was shown of pinks , where they will alwayes remain . i need not trouble my self to write any more of them . wall-gilliflowers . i am now come to the last flower in my treatise , it needeth no description ; it is only propagated of the seed , by sowing of it amongst rubbish , or upon wals , at any time of the year you please ; for it is a seed of that hardinesse , that it maketh no difference betwixt the winter and the summer , but will flourish in both equal , and beareth its flowers all the year ; therefore i advise you to sow it upon some wall or stony bank : now after this seed is once sown and hath taken root , it will naturally of it self overspread much ground , and will hardly ever after be rooted out . this beareth its seed much like to the stock-gilliflower , but that it is much smaller , and the lightest of all seeds ; and as it scattereth it cometh up naturally of it self ; and seeing it requireth no more labour , i will not insist any more upon it . so endeth the treatise of flowers . the garden of pleasure as it treateth of curious trees . here followeth short descriptions and directions for the raising and maintaining of such curious trees as are placed in gardens of pleasure now in england , either for their fruits , flowers or pleasure . apricock . an apricock is a tree that is placed against a wall for the gaining of fruit from them ; for if they be set abroad for standards they will never bring fruit to perfection ; neither will those against the wals some years , if they be not preserved with mats , and that is done thus ; drive some tenter-hooks at the uppermost part of the wall , and upon those hooks with a pole hang your-mats in the evening , and in the morning take them off with the same , and these mats will preserve the fruit from frosts , winds and blasts , which oftentimes perisheth fruit at the first knitting : thus you may preserve any other wall fruit . apricocks are propagated by inoculation and circumcising ; the experiments i refer to the treatise of fruit-trees . almonds . there be two sorts , the sweet and the sowr ; the sweet sort are planted against wals , as the apricocks are , and propagated as the other are in all respects . bay. bay-trees are planted sometimes against pillars , or on each side of doors of gardens of pleasure , but chiefly in fore-courts at a yard difference , to the end that they shall spread the wall , and not grow too big , for then they would not be nailed to the wall , but would endanger to throw it down , and stand very unseemly . these trees are raised of seed or slip : first of the seed ; the time for it is in the middle of april , in a good earth ; and if the seed be new and sound , it will come up suddenly , and by the third year it will be four foot high : the setting of the slips is in this manner ; in september go to a bay tree , and cut off all the strait shoots that are joyning to the body , and set them slope-waies in good earth , and they will take root most of them at that time twelve moneth , they may be took up and set in those places where they shall remain . box. with box , knots and borders are set , but now it is almost out of fashion , for the roots of it drieth and improverisheth the earth , so that nothing can grow nigh it , so it is chiefly now used for setting of hedges upon the edge of high walks , where it shall annoy nothing but cast a pleasant sight alwayes : this is set of the slip in september , and the least slip of it will grow , though it be but slowly . ciprus . there is two kinds , that is the great cipruss and the dwarf-cipruss : the great kind will grow to twelve foot high ; the dwarf-cipruss seldome grows to above four or five foot high ; they are both planted for pleasure thus : the great kind is planted at ten foot distance , more or lesse in grasle-knots , according to the space of the garden , usually at the corners thereof , and for to keep them in a pleasant form , you shall set a stake by them , which is strait , to the end that the plant may grow up by it , and be bound to it with wier , and clipping off of the loose branches with a pair of sheers , and keeping of it so clipt that they grow no bigger than a mans body , and cutting of them all off at an equal height , which is usually at nine foot high , and when they are at their full growth they will be kept in this form with twice or thrice clipping in the year . the dwarf-cipruss is usually planted by pole-hedges , two foot and an half distance , so that when they are grown up they might be a hedge themselves , cut at three foot and a half high : the place that they are thus planted , is round the quarters of a garden , and it is the newest work that is growing , witness his majesties new garden at st. jameses . these plants are raised of the seed in april , sown in exceeding good earth , and sometimes in hot beds : the plants thus come of seed ought to be transplanted into other beds , and set at half a foot distance , sheltered the first winter , and the third transplanted for pleasure as aforesaid . fig-tree . fig-trees are planted against the house , because they run up to such an height that no wall will be high enough for them . these are set of the slip which springeth from the root of the old fig-tree , as usually all fig-trees put forth , unless such as be set in pavements , where the stones hinder them from coming up . figs of india . figs of india , or indian-figs : it is such a strange kind of plant that i cannot call it an herb , flower , nor tree . it groweth on the ground like an heap of cucumbers laid up together without either branch or leaf , or any thing like it ; at the bottom it hath a root which is white , and of a soft substance , and those kind of parts which i cannot give a name for , which i told you are like cucumbers , take root , whereby it increaseth ; and for me to give you any farther account of them , i shall go beyond my knowledge , but these are to be seen in the earl of meaths garden in ireland . filleroy . there are many sorts of them , but all are of one nature and held in great estimation . they are trees that grow to three foot high , spreading with branches to the very bottome , and in the beginning of march this plant putteth forth so many flowers that it covereth it self , these flowers are made of four leaves and of a reddish colour , and after the flowers shed there springeth leaves which are of a swarthy green colour and as broad as a shilling , afterward appeareth a green berry , and in august it turneth red as a cherry , and something bigger than a great pea , by michaelmas it is full ripe , then it is coal black and loseth the outer husk , the seed is in the middle , which is black also and smooth as glass . the propagating of this plant is chiefly of the seed in this manner , in the beginning of april make hot beds of a foot high , laying of two inches of earth on it , then cast the seed upon that , then lay another inch of earth upon that , let both be ridled well ; make a shelter over the bed with sticks and mats , and in short time the seeds will come up and there they must stand till the fall , and then transplant it into ordinary beds , but they must be sheltered the winter following or else the cold will endanger to kill them : many curiosities more there are used about them which i will not treat of , a wise man knows one thing by another . gesamits . of these there are two sorts , the white , and the yellow , the yellow is little set by because it hath no sent , yet it flowereth early even at the beginning of may , the white gesamit flowereth not while june , this tree beareth a flower , in sent , colour and shape , like the white stock-gilliflower , both these kinds are set of the slip in autumn , in a moist rich soyl , so they will take root by the spring : the place they are severally transplanted to after they have taken root , is against walls or bowers , so that they be nailed or tied up , for they cannot stand of themselves : these directions are sufficient , there is no curiosity belongeth to these plants . holyander . it is a tree that keepeth green all the year , it groweth to four foot high , with five or six branches rising together even from the very root , on these branches stand leaves in order one against another much like the laurell leaves , and atop of every branch springeth a flower like the white lillie . these plants are not raised in england but are brought in boxes of earth out of italy , so i shall cease to give any directions for the propagating of the tree : this tree is to be seen in the lord of brobston's garden , where you may be satisfied whether i have given you a right information of it yea or no. horn-fig-trees . it is a tree hath few branches scattering one from another with here and there a leaf , the bark of the body is of a brown colour , the whole tree groweth to be a little higher than a man , atop of every branch putteth forth a kind of a fruit like a key ball , and at the first it hath a kind of a red husk on it , which maketh it appear at a distance like a flower , and when that sheddeth the fruit is as hard that is underneath and as rough as the pyone apple . this tree is raised either of the seed or slip , but best of the seed , for it is done with as much ease as the pippin-kernels are raised , but it is hard to procure the seed or slip , for the tree is very scarce . creeping vine . so called , because if it be set against a wall or a house , it will take hold it self without any nailing , and run up to the very top , and needeth no care but pruneing : you may say , what need it have any pruneing , seeing every branch will take hold of the wall ? i answer , the reason is , because one branch will grow over another else , and therefore they must be prevented while they are young by cutting off . i need not trouble my self in setting down waies for the planting of them , for it is done with as much ease as the ordinary vine . lowaray . this tree groweth to ten foot high , with branches springing from the body of the root , even from the very bottome to the top , being very strait shoots covered with a grey bark , the leaves are of a pale colour , round at the bottome and sharp at the top : at the and of every old branch springeth a flower in the form that the vine putteth forth her flower , but of a blew colour . this tree is raised of the sucker which springeth from the root , these being taken away in september and set in any ordinary earth , they will grow as soon as a willow : the place that they are usually set in is by bowers , to the end that they may cover them , for you may bend this tree which way you please and they will not break . laurell . is so generally known that i need not speak any thing in describing of it , i shall only speak two or three words of the raising of it , and the place of planting of it in for ornament . first for the raising of it ; if you have good store of laurell trees , at michaelmas cut off so many young branches as you can , that are two foot in length and longer , the longer the better , then find out a place that is very moist earth and rich , lying something in the shade , there plant your cuttings , laying of them slope-waies , so that there be a foot of them in the ground and the rest above ; thus done let these cuttings remain there till the next march , and by that time they will have roots of an inch long , then you may transplant them to wall-sides or pales , where they may be set at four foot distance , and kept nailed to the walls or pales : those that have great store of them make hedges of them by walks sides , supporting of them with poles , and so keep them cut at the top : about london they make a great profit of the cuttings of laurell . lowrex . this plant spreadeth like a bush even close to the ground , and seldome groweth to be three foot high , the leaves are green and two inches in breadth , made of the fashion of a long ovall , and are so thick set on , that a man cannot see into the body of the plant : this plant keepeth green all the year , and beareth a berry , but it never cometh to any perfection , therefore it is set of the slip , and the least slip of this plant will grow . the raising of it and planting of it , is as i told you of the laurell cuttings , therefore let one direction serve for both : the place that this plant is set in , is in physick-gardens , because it is a physicall plant . lorestrinus . the branches of this plant are weak , so they are usually planted against walls , arbors , or upon frames of close walks : it keepeth its leaves green all the year , which are of a brownish green , shooteth out with long branches , like the young vine shoots , and the old shoots beareth a tufty white flower which flourisheth in may. this plant is planted of the slip as most plants are that keepeth green all the year , so i shall not need to insist upon the manner of it , for it is done with as much ease as any of the other ; so nothing remains but that it be planted in the places according to the description . lignae-vitae . is a tree that is not very common , i do not know that ever i saw above three of them in my life , yet if the slips of them may be had , i am confident that it would grow almost any where , but it never beareth seed which cometh to perfection , and that maketh it so much a stranger in england : and for your better understanding i give you this short description , it is a tree which hath branches like the saven , the body of it is smooth and strait , and of a ruddy colour , with never a twig upon it , but at the very top , which is very pleasant to behold : this tree at his full growth is as big as a mans thigh ; and a matter of twelve foot in heighth , the body of it is the best wood in the world for musicall instruments and for your new engine turning-work ; i think it needless to speak any thing of the propagating of it more than i have . mirtill-trees . of mirtils : there is the sweet mirtill , the smooth mirtill , and the prickly mirtill , and some will have them distinguished into more names , yet he that knoweth the one may easily know the other . all mirtils keep green all the year , and have a thick leaf as broad as a groat ; that they call the prickly mirtill hath a sharp-pointed leaf full of veins : the sweet mirtils leaves are smooth and round : that they call the smooth mirtill , differeth not in any thing from the sweet , but only the sweet hath a bloom which hath a sweet savour : no mirtill tree groweth to any great stature , for it is a great tree counted that is so big as a mans thigh and six foot high . the propagating of each of these sorts is chiefly of the berry or seed on this wise , prepare boxes of as good mould as may be had , set the seeds therein , so done , let the boxes be sheltered anights : the time for this is in the beginning of april , this observed , if the seed be good it will come up in a little more than three weeks space , let the plants stand in these boxes till the next september , then draw out such plants as stand too thick , and plant them in other boxes , and let some remain in the same , where they may stand alwaies if the boxes be big enough and deep enough : these plants must be housed in the winter as long as they stand in boxes , but some when they are three years growth transplant them against walls , where they will prosper very well if it be upon the south part thereof . orange-trees . and lemon-trees will grow very well in england if they have houses built on purpose , so that they may be wheeled in and out upon truckels , in the boxes of earth that they grow in , but yet they seldome bring any fruit to any perfection , they are only for a sight , they are pleasant trees to behold , for their leaf never fadeth but keepeth green all the year : i think i may spare the labour to give any further information of them , or any directions for the propagating of them , for i think few of my countreymen will dispence of so much charge for to have nothing but a sight for it . pomegranate-tree . is the stateliest tree in shape or growth of all others , it is a tree also that never fadeth its leaf , the leaves are long and of a yellowish green colour , of a thick substance : this plant groweth not to its full stature in england , and i never saw it out , therefore i cannot give a right description of it : these plants will be raised no where but at home , which is in spain , and being brought hither when they are young plants , in boxes of earth , they may be preserved in warm chambers to bring untimely fruit . peach-trees . of peaches : there is the double peach-flower , the smooth peach , and the rough peach , the early peach , and the winter peach , all these are planted against walls , at twelve foot distance , and preserved as you may see of apricocks : for the raising of them i shall wave it here , and speak of it in the treatise of fruit-trees , i only name them here , because they are cultivated in the garden of pleasure . perry winckle . it runneth training on the ground with many joynts , whereat shoot out leaves of a dark green , shining leaves somewhat like the bay leaves but not half so big ; at every joynt cometh flowers of a paleblew colour , some are white , some of a dark reddish colour ; the root is a little bigger than a rush , the branches creepeth far about . this plant is set of the slip only , and it may be set any where , it refuseth no ground , being set either in the spring or the fall : the best place to set it in is upon bank-sides , where little or nothing will grow , this taketh root and spreadeth a great deal of ground presently , and keepeth the bank whole of it self without weeds , for it killeth them . sweet-bryer . it is planted underneath windows for its sweet savour sake , the suckers that come from it may be planted , they will grow up very well , but to have great store of sweet-bryer , save the seeds while the spring of the year , and then sow it in beds of loose earth and it will grow without fail , the plant sprung of that seed by that time a twelve moneth they will be big enough to transplant into hedge-rows , as some have them planted round their quarters of their gardens , others plant them in maze-form , keeping of the sides cut and the top , and pleasant walking it is there . tamarus . is a tree so well known that it needeth no description , it is usually planted to grow over doors or bowers , for it shadeth and covereth much ; it 's a tree that never beareth seed , therefore it is only planted of the sucker or the slips which comes from the body , or the root being took of in september and planted where you have a desire they should grow , and it may be done without any curiosity . the gilli-rose . or the gilderland-rose ; it riseth to six foot high with a body as big as a mans wrist with a reddish bark , the leaves resemble the vine leaf , though much less and of a darker colour , upon one branch groweth but one flower , after the flower sheddeth there appeareth a seed but it never cometh to perfection , this tree decayeth not in eight or nine years where it liketh its air and earth . of the sucker this rose may be raised : the time for getting and setting of the sucker is in february the latter end thereof , placing of it in a very warm place , so done it will come to flower the third year after : another way is , which is more certainer , for to inoculate it upon a damask-rose stock . the province-rose . there be two or three sorts , and that is , the provincerosal , the province-vicar , the red province , and the damask province : a great enlargement i could make upon these , but the summe of all is , province-roses must be inoculated upon damask rose stocks , so i shall give you the way of inoculation , and that briefly . first , observe the time , and that is about the first of june , when the plant is full of sap : now followeth the manner ; go to a province-rose tree , and cut off one of the likeliest young shouts that you can see , then go to a young damask-rose stock , which must not be above a year old ; this observed , take off a bud from off the cutting which you brought from the province-rose ; the bud took off evenly and square , then lay it upon the damask-rose stock , a matter of a foot from the ground let it be , so mark out just such a proportion of bark by that , then take it out with the point of your knife , then set the other in its room , which if you did it artificially , will just fill up the place , or else it is worth nothing ; but if it do joyn right then it is very likely if will grow , then bind it with a little flax , leaving the middle open for the bud to grow out ; set two or three of these buds of one stock , but if one grow it is enough . now when you see the bud incorporated with the stock , then unbind them for the band will do them hurt ; after the bud is shotten forth an handfull length , then cut the stock off above it : these are certain and easie wayes of inoculation of roses , but if you are not satisfied with these short directions , see the treatise of inoculation for fruit trees . the cinamon-rose . a great quoil there is about this rose : some think it was coloured by a morical substance , being a damask rose before : others are of that opinion that it was inoculated upon a barbary stock ; but whilst men hold these opinions , it doth plainly appear , that they do believe , that colours in flowers were made by mans art ; but i am not of that opinion , for i believe they are only preserved by mans industry , and all mans art is to find out the working nature , and all that is here required in the promoting of this plant in its own nature , is to inoculate it upon a damask rose stock , which may stand in a warm convenient place where the unkind winter may not nip it . vines . of vines there are many kinds , and many authors have given large descriptions , praises and directions for the promoting of vines , whose large and historical discourses have drowned the sense or the method of it to the reader : this discourse i shall omit , and speak a few words in brief , how vines are propagated of such ordinary sorts as grow in england . first , i will give you an account of them : there is the white muskadine , the red muskadine , the small sugar grape , the murcot , the ordinary french white and red grapes , and the english white and wild grape : in the raising and maintaining of these , i find but four things requisite , and that is , planting , pruning , gelding , and cures for hurtfull distempers . for the first , before you plant , get such plants as are rooted , though some say , that cuttings will root very well , but i have found by experience , that one in ten will hardly come to any thing ; and if they do shoot out the first year , they decay afterward : the way to get rooted plants is thus ; go to an old vine , and bring most of the young vines that grow nigh the root , and bring them under the earth , and bring the tops up to the wall again ; this ought to be done in september , and those vines let lie under the earth while that time twelve moneth , and by that time they will have taken root , then they may be cut from the old mother , and planted against walls , houses , bowers , or close walk frames ; and in setting of them , observe that they stand not too nigh the wall , and not above a foot deep , and that you put about them some pigeous-dung and good mould , and that the plant be cut off a yard above the ground : these are certain and sure wayes of planting of vines . the second is pruning , and that is one of the necessariest things that belongeth unto them , for if they be not pruned they will soon decay and give over bearing of fruit , and grow out of all shape and form . the time for pruning of them is in february , for if it should be done before , the cold would nip the cuttings and kill them , and if it should be done after , the vine would bleed out most of its sap , which will hinder its growth , and keep it from bearing that year . now the pruning is thus ; cut off all such as were of the last years growth , save such as are leaders , and those must be left to spread further against the wall , and in cutting the branches off cut them so that you leave one joint or eye from whence springeth the grape . for the third , gelding of the vine is requisite for the preserving of the flowers and the grape : first understand that gelding is to pluck away the sprouts where they grow thick , and the leaves which deprive the grape of its sap , and keep the benefit of the sun from it , which the vine loveth above all plants . lastly , hurtfull distempers which annoy vines is canker eaten earth , bound and barrennesse of the soil : first , for canker eaten , that is usually at the root , which is eaten by worms ; the cure is to anoint it with tar and herb-grasse , and pouring some chamber-lie on it , which will cure the distemper , and keep the worm from eating of the root any more . secondly , if they be earth bound , then open the earth from about the root in september , and lay a little chaff or bran about it , and so let it lie till february , and then take the chaff away , and put good mould in the room . barrennesse in a vine is sometimes the cause of its too deep planting , and in the barrennesse of the earth ; if the cause be in the earth , it is soon remedied with the taking that away , and bringing better in its stead ; if it be too deep and an old vine , there is little remedy : i am forc'd to end here . the gardeners practice in the physical and fruitfull garden , in the knowledge of raising , growing , and maintaining of herbs and trees contained therein . first as it treateth of herbs . angelica . it is called by no other name , and so well known i need not describe it . this plant is sown of the seed , or set of the slip ; the slip is that which springeth from the old mother-root , which may be more properly called young plants : the time for the getting and setting of these is in the beginning of march at the first springing , or in september after the old branch decayeth . the place of setting of them ( if you have a great quantity ) is in beds by themselves laid out at two foot and an half in breadth , two rows on a bed , each plant afoot asunder ; the earth would be very rich , because the plant is of a speedy growth , and where it is once set it alwayes continues , yet the old plant dieth being six years old , and sendeth young suckers from its sides , which keepeth the bed alwayes flourishing ; and ( as i said before ) if the earth be not made rich at the first planting , it cannot be easily hope afterward , because the plant ought not to be removed . secondly , observe that the branches of angelica dieth every year , and beareth a seed in like manner as the parsnip doth , and the seed is much like it , but that it is thicker and weightier , it hath a stronger sent than the herb , and as much vertue , and so it is great profit to sow or plant angelica near any market towns where there live any apothecaries or strong water men , for it is the excellentest of all herbs for waters or cordials , and commonly sold at a dear rate . thirdly , in sowing of it , it is to be noted , that it hath a peevish nature , for if you take never so much pains and care with it it will not grow , and yet sometimes as it shades naturally of it self , so it will come up if the plants grow in a moist place ; therefore i advise you to cast the seed in a mighty moist place in august , raking of it lightly , and by the next spring some of this seed will come up , and some the next year after ; every michaelmas take these plants out of that place , and set them in beds , the first year they will be worth little , the second year they may be cut , and the third year it beareth seed : this is as much as need to be done or understood in the ordering of angelica . alicompane . it shooteth up with long broad and whitish leaves , hoary and soft in the handling , set upon three foot stalks , with a lesser toward the top : this plant hath divers great and large flowers , like those of the corn-marigold , and the middle thrim being yellow , which turn into down , and underneath are small brownish seeds , the root is great and thick , branching forth divers wayes , black on the outside and white within , and as tart of taste as mustard-seed . this plant is set of the slip which sendeth from the root , being set in any kind of earth it will prosper very well and continue in that place alwayes . alexander . alexander is also called alexandre and horse-pisle ; it hath winged leaves much like young elders , and beareth its seed in tufts like parsnips , and it is black and three square , pretty great and weighty . it is propagated either of the seed or slip ; if you sow it of the seed it is no great matter when , nor is it material where , it being committed to any ordinary digged earth , it cometh up naturally , and continueth there alwayes . the leaves of it are boiled with beef , and in the spring time it is used for a pot-herb ; the root is used for sauce . annis . it will grow in england if it be carefully manured , but seeing that the leaves of this plant are for no use , it will be lost labour to raise it , considering the seed may be bought any where . all-hail . all-hail , or clowns all-hail , by others woundwort . it hath leaves thick and round of the breadth of a six-pence , gray , rough and full of sap ; the branches that they grow on lie on the ground much like germander , but it runneth not out so long ; it beareth a little blewish flower , but never leaveth seed to perfection ; the nethermost leaves keep green all the year . this herb set of the slip in the spring time in borders , or any ordinary earth , and it will prosper very well and spring yearly . bares-britch . this herb doth resemble the smooth thistle , rising up with a stalk , and at the top the leaves turn something round , and in the middle springeth tufty downy flowers , of a brownish colour , growing in rough husks , and underneath is grayish rough seeds . this plant groweth wild in some parts , but it is nursed up in gardens for physical uses ; it is usually set of the slip in the spring , and it flowereth that summer , and after it hath yeelded its seed three times the plant dieth . balm . balm beareth a seed which it may be raised of , but the herb is so common that it is needless to trouble you with its description . the time that they usually set the slip of this herb is in the beginning of april , if in case that you can get but few of the roots , they may be slipt into many parts , and each part will grow if it have but part of the branch with it . the place that it is usually planted in , is in beds by it self of two foot and an half broad , four rows of it in a bed , and let it have all the bed to it self , and let it be well watered at the first planting , it requireth no more trouble , but springeth yearly : the dead branches would be cut off when winter cometh . basyll . garden seed basyll hath one upright stalk , rising up to one foot high , whereon are set small branches with two leaves upon a joint set one against another , whereat spring a small flower whitish in colour , and after it fadeth it leaveth one seed in a bag , which is black , and something bigger than hysop-seed ; this herb hath the sweetest sent of all others ; at the approaching of winter this herb dieth ; it is propagated only of the seed ; the time for it is in the later end of april ; in this manner , dig a bed finely in a quarter which is reserved for sweet herbs , rake it likewise , then sow your seed on it , and cover it with a little fine mould thinly . now observe , if that it be like to rain after , the bed ought to be covered , for if the seed take wet before its gemination , it turneth all to a gelly , and so is lost . lastly , this seed cometh up the ninth or tenth day , and then it would be watered in dry weather , till such time as it covereth the bed . the use of this herb is for broth or for stewing meats , and the like . blessed-thistle . it is called cardus benedictus , holy-thistle , and cardus ; i suppose it need not any further description . this herb is raised of the seed only in march , it must be sown in a loose rich earth , in a warm place under some pale , hedge or walk , you should prick in the seeds with your finger in the bed at three fingers breadth asunder ; for if it should be raked , the beards that are at the end of the seeds would not let them be covered , and that is the reason i advise you to prick them in with your finger . the second season of sowing of it is in the later end of april , then it may be sown without any trouble in any ordinary earth , and will prosper very well , and so this herb dieth at the approaching of winter , then you may save the seed and sow it in the spring , in like manner as i told you . bares-foot . this herb shooteth up branches two foot high , with many joints , whereat shoot out springs with five dark green leaves upon them shaped like a bares-foot , and pale coloured flowers fashioned like a cup , hanging with the top downward . this flower is upon the branch in may , it hath clumped roots which spread in the ground , and are of a stinking savour . this herb is set of this root onely , either in the spring , or in the fall ; it delighteth in a shadie place , where if you set it , it will grow without any more trouble , and spring every year after according to the description . bugloss . i suppose this is so well known , it needeth no description . bugloss may be sown either in march , or the later end of august thinly , for it spreadeth much ground , if it be sown in the spring , it will be late in the summer before it come to flower , therefore it is best to sow it in august . it continueth three year before it dieth , but the branches die every year , only the root remains which springeth again . the vulgar uses of this herb is , the flowers and the leaves are put into claret-wine and beer , to give it a pleapleasant taste ; the flowers also are used in sallets and syrups . burrage . this herb is much like the former , but that it groweth not to such a stature , and the leaves are shorter and broader . i need not write any thing of the time of sowing of it , for sow it when you will it will come up at its natural season , and if you suffer it to seed , the seed that falleth comes up naturally , and in time will overspread the garden , therefore i advise you to sow it in some reversion , or some waste place in the garden . bloodwort . bloodwort hath leaves shaped and striped like the harts-tongue leaf , but they are of a red colour ; these leaves are set on close to the ground , through which rise stalks like the dock , and beareth a seed in like manner , which is red and three square , glistering like the sorel seed . this herb is sowed of the seed in the spring time , it would be in a small bed by itself ; it cometh up soon after its sowing , and will come to cover the bed suddenly ; it beareth not seed till the second summer after its sowing , and the fourth year it dieth , but it seldom leaveth the ground without young in the stead ; for if you suffer it to bear seed , as it falleth it cometh up naturally : this herb is very good in broth , and bloud puddings of all sorts . burnat . there is a wild kind , and a garden kind ; of the garden kind there is only double and single ; one description will serve for both . burnats have winged leaves rising thick from the very root , being much crumpled and jagged , and of a palish green colour ; through the midst of them riseth a stalk two foot high , whereon are many branches , and at the top of each groweth a knob something like a button , red and white speckled , in which groweth yellow seed something like redish seed ; the branch dieth yearly . of this seed this herb is sown , or set of the slip in march or april , in the end of a bed or border by it self , where it will grow and flourish according to the description : it requireth no more care than to cleanse it from weeds , this herb is used in claret-wine and in sallets in the beginning of march , for it springeth very early . betony . garden betony is so well known i need not write the description of it , therefore take the ordering of it as followeth : this herb is set of the slip only for it never beareth seed to any perfection ; the time for setting of it is in march or april , the place for it is usually in the edge of borders , or otherwise for to have a great quantity of it for stilling of it in cordiall waters , then in beds by it self without any curiosity , for it is a hardy herb , and will continue a long time being once planted . camomill . is known so well , and the manner and time for setting of it , so i shall wave that , and speak of the place only ; the first fit place that i shall name is round upon the edge of borders next to gravell walks ; the second place is upon banks of earth made couch-fashion ; to the end that a man might sleep upon a camomill bed ; the third way is , to set walks with it , and of each side of the walk a water table laid with white sand which is a very pleasant sight : the fourth way is , to distinguish knots with it , and that is thus , set camomill in the same form as you would lay grass-work , and truly the best garden that ever i saw in his majesties dominions had a knot thus set . lastly , be pleased to take notice that camomill set as was prescribed , must be kept mown and clipt once or twice a week for the summer time , or else it will grow out of form and hollow at the bottome and soon decay . comfrey . a description of it is vain , and a direction for the planting of it is needless , for it will grow in any place where it is set ; i only name it to put you in mind of the planting of it somewhere about your house , for its vertue is generall for man and beast , as the physicians herbals will show you , and i hope you will bestow the labour to plant it once , for inso doing you need not do it more . cives . sometimes called rush leeks , chives and chivet , i hope that by one of these names there is no man but will know them ; the ready way for setting of them , is to slip them into as many heads as they have , and that will be sometimes twenty on one bed , so done prick them into a bed finely digged and raked , at two fingers distance , so that they may come to cover the body themselves , for the keeping of the ground moist , and for the less expence in weeding , and there they will alwayes remain ; yet they ought to be removed after they have stood four years , because they will grow so thick that they will want moisture . cammell beg. the leaves of this keepeth close to the ground and something resemble violet leaves , but only thicker and of a darker green , and in the middle standeth a stalk some eight inches in heighth , whereon groweth one knapped flower like the flower of betony , the stalk and some part of the leaves die yearly , and the under leaves alwaies keep green . this plant is set of the slip only , which must have part of the root and branch , the best place for setting of it in , is upon the edge of borders for the keeping of them up ; this herb is for speciall uses being employed physically . chervill . it is called merah chervill , sweet chervill , and sweet sisly , it is supposed there were three kinds of them , that is , the wild chervill , the sallet chervill , and the sweet chervill ; one description will serve for the garden kinds . both sorts the leaves resemble tongue-grass but of a fresher green colour , the stalks rising up a yard high , spreading with white flowers at the top , after which comes long black shining seeds , the herb is sweet to smell and tast , where once it is growing it continueth many years , but the branch perisheth in the winter . this herb is sown only of the seed , that is to say , there is no other way of gaining of it : there are two seasons for the sowing of it , the one is in the beginning of april , and the other in the latter end of august , these are the times : the place is in a bed amongst sweet herbs , in manner as i shewed you of basill , so done it will come up according as it was described . carowaies . at the first coming up a man at a distance may very well take them for carots , but as they grow up bigger they differ more , for the caroway is of a darker green and yeeldeth its seed like the fennell . the time and the only time for sowing of carowaies is in the latter end of august , for i have often tried it in the spring , and i could never have it to grow , and i sowed but once in august and it prospered very well , therefore sow it in august , and the next summer it will yeeld seed , and after the branch dieth , but springeth again and yeeldeth seed every summer for many years without any care . clary . the leaves are thick , gross and woolly , and of a light brownish colour , very broad spreading upon the ground as it were , and in the middle riseth a stalk of two foot high , with many branches spreading , whereon are many flowers like those of sage , and each flower leaveth its seed behind it like that of radish , but something smaller . this herb is sown of the seed , and it requireth a good ground and to grow in a bed by itself : there is two seasons for the sowing of it , one in the spring and the other in the fall ; that which is sowed in the fall a hard winter will kill it , therefore it is best to sow it in the spring : the vulgar uses of this herb is for frying with eggs and other things , for it strengtheneth the back and encreaseth venery . course-mary . or ale-coust , and by some balsom-herb , it is known of a long whitish leaf , sharp pointed at both ends and finely cut about the edges , the stalk hath many such like leaves though smaller , with a tust at the top when it flowereth like that of sweet maudlin , and it never yeeldeth seed . this herb is set of the slip only ; i hope i need not stand to shew every particular of it , but as you set sweet maudlin so set this : the time for it is in march , and where it is once planted it flourisheth every summer for many years after , this herb is used in ale and clarified whey . cummin . besides it is called bullwort , amios , bishops-weed , and cummin-royall ; for a better knowledge of it , it groweth four foot high , with round stalks , and many branches growing of them with long green leaves , from the top of the branches are white fussy flowers , after this fadeth the seed soon appeareth , which is like parsly-seed , but four times as big , the root and branch perisheth every winter . it must be sown in the spring , in a good earth which is very moist , and it will prosper as was said : the common use of this seed is , to tole pigeons to a dove-coat ; there are besides speciall and physicall uses which i need not to set down it is so largely spoken of in many herbals . coriander . it resembleth flax and beareth its seed much like it , but it is hollow , something big and very light and of a whitish colour , the plant peritheth as soon as the seed is ripe . the time of sowing coriander seed is toward may day , there be those that sowes half acres of it and more , i suppose i cannot give them directions , but what i have observed from them i will give you , they usually sow in a light rich ground , and but thinly , for each plant spreadeth much ground : the use of this is for strong waters , the seed of it i mean , whereby those that sow it have great profit . celandine . the leaves are in the form of turnip-leaves , of a whitish yellow colour and full of yellow sap , the root is reddish and full of yellow sap also ; the branches rise to a foot and an half high , full of yellow flowers , and yeeldeth small seeds . and for the ordering of it , i will be short with you ; if it be sown in any place in digged earth , it will grow and prosper , and never forsake you , and if you did but know the worth of it , you would not neglect the doing of it . dragons . i shall not need to stand long to describe it , for it is very easie to be known by this , that is , the lowermost part of them are absolutely like a snake , and as big as the biggest snake whatsoever , and two foot from the ground spreadeth out winged leaves , made in the shape of a dragons-claw of a whitish green colour , above that riseth that which we may call the flower ; it is made in the fashion of that they call cookowpintle , and in this lieth much small seed , which is as small as the smallest , of a brownish colour ; the branch fadeth every winter , and springeth again the first of april , and at the seventh or eighth year dieth root and branch , but it leaveth suckers behind it . of the sucker this herb is to be planted in the choisest earth that may be had , or else it will not prosper ; the time for it is about the middle of april ; of the seed also this plant may be raised , but it is very difficult ; i cannot permit the time to explain every particular of it . dill. this herb is not without its vertue , nor is it fit i should exempt it out of the inventory , and i know that you need not my judgment in the sowing of it , for nature doth it better than you or i ; for sow it when you will it will come up at its natural season . evat . it hath long slender stalks rising to three foot high , beset with leaves round about one against another , in shape and colour like that of arssmart , and on the top standeth downy white flowers , which the wind carry away ; it never yeeldeth seed , the leaves have little sent , but as bitter as wormwood in taste ; the root is like spare-mint root in tufts , spreading far : of the root this herb is planted wither in the spring or autumn , and it will grow almost in any place where it is set and never decay : this is a special herb in physick , and will well reward your labour , if you know the worth of it . fether-few . otherwise called white wort , in the north of england they call it white rue ; i suppose i need not give any description of so common an herb. this herb may be set of the 〈…〉 either in the spring or the fall , refuseth no ground , and continueth many years without any replanting ; if men that live in the countrey , and have cattel , did but know the worth of this herb , they would find that it would do them as much good as a horse-doctor . fennell . there be three sorts of fennell , viz. fennell-flower , sweet fennell , and the ordinary great fennell : the first two dieth yearly being sown of the seed , so i shall only trouble you with the common fennell , and i suppose that can be no great trouble to you ; for put either seed or slip in the earth . and it will grow . french honey-suckles . french honey-suckles has not long been inhabited in england , therefore i will give a description . this herb hath leaves a foot long coming forth even from the root , in some places two inches in breadth , and in other places a hand breadth , scolloping out with five or six scollops between the bottom and the top , being of a fresh green colour , and smooth ; it hath branches springing up to four foot high , with many of those said leaves on them , and many yellowish flowers , which leave a brown , rough , flat seed behind them , the nethermost branches green all the year . this herb is propagated of seed or slip , but chiefly of the seed ; the time for sowing of the seed is in april ; the place is in a border , where it shall remain the season being temperate , and the earth good ; it cometh up suddenly , but it beareth no flower till the second year . french-mallows . this herb , hath strait stalks , which grow up to three or four foot high ; if it be not cut it hath a round jagged crumpley and pale coloured leaf , something broader than a mans hand , with many small white flowers of the stalks made of five leaves a peece , each flower yeeldeth one seed , and of a three cornered fashion , and of a gray colour . this herb is to be sown only in the spring , not in beds in a quarter where pot-herbs are sown , but in a bed by it self ; and if the ground be good the seed cometh up the sixth day , and by august it cometh to flower , according to the description , and when the winter cometh on it perisheth , but whilest it is young it is very good in sallets , and it is a good pot-herb at all times , whilst it is green . gromwel . two kinds there are , the wood gromwel , and the garden gromwel . there is a great deal of difference betwixt these two kinds ; i shall onely describe the garden kind . it hath woody branches like the mustard-branches , but slenderer and lower , many short leaves and blewish flowers , standing in brown husks , and in each husk after the flower fadeth , there appeareth one seed in a husk , which are small and of a sky colour , glistering like pearls ; the branches perish yearly , but if you suffer the seed to shade , it cometh up naturally of it self . so if i should give any directions for times and seasons of sowing it , it were needlesse , for the description sheweth it ; so there is no more to be said , sow it when you will , it will come up at its own season . the virtue of these seeds are incomparable for curing of the stone and gravel , and women when they be in labour . gladin . it springeth up with spiry blades like the flag , and beareth a flower something like the flower-deluce , but of a yellow colour , it hath double roots spreading in the ground . of the root this herb or flower is set without any curiosity , and in any ordinary place , and there it will continue alwayes , and flower in july : the root of it is excellent in physick . gooses-tongue . a common thing it is to give three or four names to one and the same thing ; for fear there should be any mistake in the name , i will give you this short description of it : this herb is in all parts at the first springing like sweet maudlin only , it is of a darker green colour , and afterward it rises up with branches spreading , beset with jagged leaves , and tufts atop , of downy stuff like that of coursemary ; it never yeeldeth seed ; it hath a sweet savour and stringed roots , whereby it spreadeth and increaseth . this herb is set of the slip , which is taken from the root , in a bed in a quarter amongst pot-herbs , where it will grow without any industry , and continue alwayes green , it should have the top branches cut off at the comeing in of winter . note also this herb is one of the best of pot herbs . germander . it runneth with small branches on the ground which will take root ; it is set thick with small leaves , of a brownish colour ; it beareth the smallest flower of any other , and no seed ; it keepeth green all the year and never decayeth . now this herb is set only of the slip in border sides , for the keeping of them up . others distinguish knots with it ; it must be kept alwayes cut , for it runneth and spreadeth farre else . note it is a stinking herb , yet sovereigne in physick . garlick . it is a needlesse curiosity to describe that which all men know so well , and to pen down the vertues , it were double labour , seeing the physicians have done it so often ; so i will onely put you in mind of the setting of it in march , and taking of it up at michaelmas for your several uses , so that you might not want it , when you have occasion for it , and that my physical garden should not be without it . horse-redish . at its first springing it hath jagged and torn leaves , as it were of a light green colour , the next that spring are broader and longer , and only cut a little on the edges , then runneth up spindle stalks , whereon are white flowers , seldom any seed to perfection . the manner of planting of this is of the root , and so easie and so plain that you cannot misle , for put the least piece of the root of it in the ground , and it will spring up ( as was said ) and in three years time it will come to be as big as the small of a mans leg , and then it should be taken up for the vertue that is in it , or else it will decay , and be worth nothing . herb grasse . herb-grass or rue : it is a common herb , yet there is great difficulty in the planting of it , for it will not grow in any place , let the earth be never so good , for where it doth like it groweth very slowly , and so doth all sorts of herbs and trees that have most vertue in them . secondly , it is to be observed , that this herb is to be propagated of the slip only , for it never beareth any seed , therefore take the observations in the planting of it , as followeth . in september get the slips of this herb , which must be slipt from the body , and not from the branches ; this observed , then look out a convenient border , either under a wall , a hedge or a pale , to the end that it may have shadow , and if it be possible under the shadow of a bay-tree ; for this herb is an hot herb , and delighteth least in the sunne of all others ; as for example , pulse which is cold , as musmillions and cucumbers , these are cooler , and desire the benefit of the sun , and heat of manure . thirdly , you see it is plain , that herb-grass requireth a shady place , where it may have the sunne only some small part of the day , then ser it ( as i told you ) in a shady border , and let the earth be very good , though authors have said that it abhorreth dung , yet i have found by continual experience , that dung well qualified maketh it prosper mightily , so nothing remains but that you set it so , and it will prosper very well ; but the first year and the second it will grow but very slowly , till it be well rooted , and afterward it will flourish for nine or ten years , if no accident befall it ( as some suppose ) that if an evil woman break any of it , that it will soon fade and die presently after ; if it be so , my judgement is , that there be few or no women can break off this herb , but it must of necessity die : to prove whether it be so or no , it would take up an extraordinary discourse , which i shall wave , and leave this vertuous herb to be propagated by your care for your use and profit . hore-hound . of these there are two sorts ; there are the wild kind , which hath a stinking smell ; but that which i here prescribe , and intend to treat of , is the sweet hore-hound , which is nursed in gardens for its physical vertues : i suppose it is needless to give any description of it . the way of propagating of it is of the slip , which hath part of the root ; the time for doing of it is either in the spring , or in the fall , according as opportunity shall best serve : the manner of it is without any difficulty , even as i told of betony , and so done , it prospereth very well , and springeth every year after . hyssop . there is only two sorts , that is , the yellow and the green ; they differ not in nature , though in vertue : one direction will serve for both in the propagating of it , and therein i shall be very brief . the best and the easiest way for raising hislop is of the seed . first , the ordinary way of raising of it of the seed , is in the later end of april ; the place fit for it is in beds two foot and an half in breadth , in the quarter with the sweet herbs , in that form , as you may see in the draft-work in the beginning of this treatise : i shall save the labour to write the manner of sowing of it , but so as basil is sown , so is this . the second way of sowing of it is in drils , round beds , wherein is tulips , and other flowers of bullous-roots ; the seed in like manner is sown in drils , for the distinguishing of knots , either division-work , or running-drafts . now take notice , that hissop-seed thus sown , or any other way , being thinly covered ; it cometh up suddenly , and by the later end of the summer it will come to seed , if you cut it not ; but i advise you to cut it every fortnight , after it is grown to a handfull high , for it is for profit , pleasure , and for the preservation of the herb ; for that which is kept from seeding will flourish seven or eight years , and the other not half so long . thirdly , this herb may be set of the slip , at that time , manner and place , as was said of the seed , and it will flourish accordingly ; if it be well watered at the first planting , and afterward if the season be dry . lastly , hissop is the best of strowing herbs , both for sent and for growth , and being distilled the water of it is very precious . housleek . housleek or singreen is an herb of general uses , and though it be no art in the planting of it , i name it for its worth , and to put you in mind that you may plant it upon wals or thatcht houses of the slip in cow-dung and earth , and it will prosper very well , and spread and continue with you without any more trouble . jerusalem-sage . it hath many rugged leaves to the sight and handling , they are at a span in length , sharp pointed at the upper end ; the lowermost part growing close to the earth , spreading every way , and of a greenish gray colour ; in the middest groweth many spindles , something like cowslips , with flowers on them like those of english-sage . this flower never yeeldeth seed ; it is propagated of the slip , as followeth . in march or september get the slip of this herb , and set it in a bed of good mould , and it will prosper , or otherwise it will not . now observe , after these slips are rooted , they will continue many years in that place without any more trouble ; and the leaves and flowers are for sovereign medicines , although i cannot find the physicians have treated of it either by name or description ; yet the vertues are these ; it cureth sore brests , applied poultiswayes , and made up into salve ; it cureth all manner of green wounds , and drunk inwardly helpeth women in travel , and many other vertues it hath , which i cannot dispense with time to repeat . kings-mallow . kings-mallows or march-mallows ; these are much like the pot-mallows , or hollihock , but a great deal bigger in body , and leaves something rounder ; the branches grow not so high as the other , and something crookeder . the raising of this mallow is of the seed in march ; the place fit for it is in some out-border of the garden , where it may grow without any replanting , and so at the later end of august next after the sowing , it beareth a small flower in comparison of the hollihock , much like it , and afterward the seed ( which seldom comes to perfection ) having done so three years , root and branch dieth . kapons-tayles . by some named capons-feathers , and by others caponherb . it hath winged leaves rising from the root of a foot long , of a fresh green colour , smooth to the sight and in handling ; in the middest riseth branches to four foot height , weak and bending , with many such like leaves as the former , though not so big ; the top of the branches are huskey flowers , of a sad white colour , which dry on to the stalk , and never yeeldeth seed ; the roots are long and white , full of knots and spreading , which shoot up young branches every year . of the root this herb is planted , either in the spring or fall ; the fittest place for it is in a bed with other pot-herbes , and being done , it needeth no more industry , but will prosper according to the description . this herb is excellent good for broath , and for puddings made of bloud . lovage . it hath stalks growing to a mans height , hollow like bean stalks , with many branches spreading from the sides of them , whereon are leaves much like those of angelica , and of a strong stinking savour ; the branches and stalks perish yearly , and the root sendeth up the like again . now for the ordering of it i will be short , for the herb is hardy , and requireth no more than to be set in the earth of the slip , which is taken from the root , either in the spring or the fall , and it will continue , as was said in the description . liquorish . i suppose the root of it is well known of all those that are troubled with colour , that take any thing to prevent it ; the branches that springeth from the roots are in all respects like young ash-plants at four foot high ; this may serve for the knowledge of it . the way of planting of it for profit , as many do now plant three or four acres of it ( more or lesse according to their opportunities and abilities ) would take up a large discourse , and very probable i might outrun my judgement in some particulars : those that are plantaginers of it differ in the way and judgement of planting of it ; so i will wave the quantity , and speak of the nature and quality . my reason is , because i think that those need not my judgment that plant such great quantities , so take the way of planting of a bed for a houshold use as followeth : in march provide a bed of good earth either light or sandy , and of three spit deep ; such a bed of earth provided , and layed out at three foot in breadth , then set three chace of roots at a foot distance , each root a foot asunder ; now note , the roots must be but half a foot in length at the most , pricked in with a diber , so that there be but an inch of earth above them ; atop of this you may sow any salletting the first year , the second year it would have the bed to it self , and the earth loosened about it , and the third year in january or february it should be taken up , and in the taking of it up , note that such roots as run downward are good liquorish , and those that run side-waies are not so good , but it is better for planting again than the other , which you may plant in the manner as was said before in the march following , and by this industry you may come to have acres of it , as is at the neat houses nigh london . lastly , see what profit is made of planting of liquorish , viz. the apothecaries give fifty shillings for a hundred weight of the roots , and upon this account some have made five hundred pounds upon the encrease of six acres of land . lavender-cotton . or white lavender : the branches of it are like cypruss , but of a white colour , and riseth not altogether so high as the lavender slip doth ; it beareth a yellow downy flower , and leaveth no seed : the herb is bitter in tast , and little better in sent . of the slip this herb is set either in march or september , after two sorts or waies , first when it is set for physicall uses or for profit , it is in beds in manner as you set rosemary : secondly when it is set for pleasure , it is either in borders or knots , and to see a knot set of lavender-cotton , drawn in a large scope of ground , either division or in running draft-work , done by the hand of an artificial workman , and let grow to a foot high and half , a foot a breadth , being kept clipt evenly with a pair of shears , is a rare prospect , and casteth the pleasantest sight of all works of a gardeners inventing , and also this knot so planted and so kept , will continue so twelve or fourteen years before the herb dieth . lavender-spike . sometimes called spike : i think it is altogether needless to write any description of it . this herb is set of the slip only , the best time for it is in the latter end of march in beds of good mould , setting two chase in a bed , each slip at half a foot distance , and the bed of two foot and a half breadth ; it must be well watered at the first planting or else it will not take root , but if it may be so ordered , by july most of those slips will spindle up with a knapple like the flower of betony , yeelding the pleasantest sent of all other herbs . lastly , it is profitable to plant this herb for distilling and for other physicall uses , and especially for oils which are of most vertues approbated to any pain or distemper of man which cometh by aches or old bruises . lavender-slip . this herb which is known so well to be planted of the slip only , with little labour but it yeeldeth more profit : the fittest time for the planting of it , is in the beginning of march , so that it may take root before the dry weather cometh ; and it is also observed , that the sooner of the year it is planted , the longer it will continue before it decayeth . for the planting of it , though it be such an ordinary thing , yet i have seen errors in it , that is , they plant it too thick , for some i have seen plant three rows in a border , of two foot and a half in breadth , when one is enough , therefore i advise those that set it , to set but one , each slip near half a foot asunder , and also observe to twist the nether end of the slip . lemon-time . i wonder that the physicians have left this herb out of their herbals , considering that it is for severall uses , as distilled for waters , and a good pot-herb and nursed in gardens also , this forceth me to give a short description of it , that they and you might be acquainted with it . this herb is much like the pot-marjerom in shape , but little bigger in leaf and branch than the ordinary green time , and it spreadeth upon the ground , sometimes taking root ; the colour of it is betwixt a light yellow and a green , the sent of it is pleasant and sweet , it beareth its flower like the pot-marjerom , but never yeeldeth any seed ; it keepeth fresh all the year and never decayeth , where it is planted of the slip , which is taken from part of the root ; this may be done either in april or august ; the place is sometimes in beds by it self when it is planted for its use , and others plant knots of it for pleasure , and being kept clipt often and clean ( as garden knots ought to be ) it out-lasteth the planter . mallows . or garden-mallows , otherwise called holihocks : in the treatise of flowers i had an occasion to speak of the double kinds of holihocks , and of their severall kinds and colours , how they are raised and planted for ority of the garden of pleasure ; these mallows that i prescribe here are single kinds , and sown in the physicall garden for physicall or kitchin uses . the time of sowing is either in march or in august , in a remote place or an out-border ; by reason of their high growth they would be unhandsome in the middle of a garden , therefore sow them against the pales or wall , and they will prosper very well in any ordinary earth : now note , that seed which is sown in march seldome cometh to flower that year , those that are sown in august come to flower the next summer at its naturall season , which is in july : and lastly note , that mallows spring four or five years , and only loseth its branch in the winter and then it dieth . march. this herb is much like parsly at the first coming up , but of a darker green colour and of a stinking sent , afterward it spreadeth into bushy branches , never rising to above two foot high , carrying of its leaves to the very top , yeelding of its seed in like manner as the parsly doth in shape and colour , but much smaller and of as strong a sent as the herb : the branch perisheth yearly , and springeth again for three or four years and then dieth . this herb is raised of the seed , it is no great matter at what time , for where it groweth , as the seed sheddeth naturally so it cometh up again , therefore the time cannot make much difference : let the place be in a bed which is reserved for such like strong herbs , as rue , wormwood , featherfew , savin , southern-wood , and germander , for these like herbs agree best together , and are for the curing of desperate diseases : but as is said , if the seed be committed to the earth , if it be but new and sound , it will come up at its naturall season , and your garden will never be without it : this may serve for the propagating of it . now i 'le describe some of the vertues of this herb , my reason is this , i have run my eye over culpeppers physician and other herbals , and i found that the name and description of this herb was not there , and the vertue of it is so needfull and usefull that i must describe it , viz. it cureth fellons and gangreens of the flesh applied poultiss-way , it preventeth in cattell the murrain and the pestilence , giving them a drench of it : many more vertues it hath which i would wish both physician and patient to study how to know them . madrath . many long four square stalks trailing on the ground it hath , something reddish and full of joynts , whereout shoot forth long narrowish leaves rough and hairy , betwixt them riseth flowers pale and yellowish , after they fade cometh small round heads , green at the first and black afterwards , wherein is contained the seed : the root runneth down into the ground even four foot ( if it may have good earth so deep , ) and spreadeth many waies also , and are of a red colour . this is planted of the root in march , in manner as followeth : first , provide a bed in a warm place for matter of foyl , for it will endure any air : now the bed being cast something high at three foot a breadth , and good store of rotten dung under them , then set the roots in manner and distance , as was shown of liquorish ; so done , the summer following it shooteth up with branches , according to the description , that would be cut off at the winters approaching , and that is all that need to be done till the third year , and then the root ought to be took up for its use and vertue ; the use is for diers for dying , and the physical vertues the herbals will shew you . marygolds . there be double and single flowered ones , and both of them yeeldeth seed ; and if it be sown in any place which is digged , it will grow and keep the garden full , but if the ground be barren , they will degenerate and turn single . the use of the flower of this herb is for the pot for broth , and the like ; and those that do think of the winter in the summer , do gather the flowers , and dry them in the shade , and put them up in paper bags for the like uses and others , viz. for to make posit-drinks for those that have any distemper at their hearts : it is also thought that it is as effectual as saffron . mother-wort . it hath brownish strong stalks rising two or three foot high , with many leaves cut deep into the very stem , something like the vine-leaf , rough and crumpled , of a sad green colour , but many veins therein ; there are many branches and one stalk , which also yeeld at the tops thereof a purple coloured flower , as small as that of balm , but in the same manner as that of hore-hound , after which come small blackish seeds in great plenty : the bottome of the plant keepeth green many years before the root perisheth . this herb will seldom grow of the seed , therefore it must be set of the slip or sucker , which is taken partly from the root : the time for it is either in the spring or fall , in a border or a bed of good earth , where it will prosper and come to perfection , according to the description . nip . garden nip is much like balm in the leaf , but that they are sharper pointed , whiter and hoary , growing on four square stalks , shoot up to three foot high , with many small branches set thereunto , having smaller leaves than those at the bottome . this herb yeeldeth a strong sent , something sweet like balm ; the flowers grow in large tufs at the tops of each branch , something like that of sparemint , of a whitish purple colour : the root remaineth in the ground like that of the mint , and all the winter some of the nether most leaves keep green : the seed that this herb yeeldeth , is like purslain in all respects , but only it hath one white speck , and that is where it grew to the cod , and at that place it springeth its branch again . of the seed or slip this herb may be propagated ; the seed ( if it hit ) it is long before it comes to perfection , and it is very tickle in gemination , as i have found by experience : the best time for sowing of it ( if you will go to the trouble ) is in the later end of august ; but i think it better to set it of the slip ( if it may be had ) for that way it will prosper very well in any ordinary earth : the time and manner of doing of it , is ( as i told you of balm in the former part of this treatise ) in a bed by it self . orpine . it hath round and brittle stalks with fat and fleshy leaves of a pale green colour ; the flowers are white growing in tufts ; the roots are divers , thick , round tubelous roots , and the branches fade yearly : this herb is set of the root onely in a bed reserved for it self : the time is either in the spring or fall and without any curiosity , being committed to the earth , in its season it will grow and flower as was said . pepperwort . the root sendeth up leaves in shape like the coursemary cut on the edges , carrying the colour of the horse-reddish leaves , it hath a hard small round stalk with many branches like the same , very thinly set with leaves , and at the top of every branch are small white flowers which leaveth a small seed that seldome cometh to perfection ; after the seed falleth the branch dieth , and the root remaineth in the ground , which sendeth up the like again : this root is something like the wild parsnip . the way of propagating of this herb is of the root ; the time for it is in march ; the manner thus ; cut your roots into short pieces of three inches in length , so done ( a bed of earth prepared for that purpose ) then prick in them pieces of roots at half a foot distance , by may they will shoot up with leaves , and by the later end of summer with stalks ( as was said : ) now note that these roots must remain in that place untouched three years , if you would have them at their full vertue , and then they may be took up , and the roots set again . pot-margerum . i imagine it is altogether needlesse to describe it , seeing it is so common an herb ; therefore take the propagating of it by seed and slip , as followeth . first , of the seed : the season for it is either in the latter end of april , or the latter end of august ; the place is in a bed by it self , in a quarter with other sweet herbs , and done in the manner , as i shewed you of basil . secondly , of the slip , that is done at the same seasons , but sometimes not in the same places ; for we set it on border sides to keep them up , where it will spring as well as in a bed , and it will continue alwayes where it is once rooted in bed or border , for it putteth forth side suckers which flourish after the old plant dieth : i think it is but lost labour to write any thing more of it , the herb being so hardy , and so well known . prick-madam . or prick my dame. divers trailing branches upon the ground it hath , composed of a soft substance , not divided into branches or leaves , but all parts alike , which are round prickles like those of the furse , but as big as a goose quill ; if you touch it , a small matter breaketh it , and it is not prickley at all , though it seem so to be ; the colour of it is a blewish green , and beareth a yellow flower in august , and a long seed a little after like that of muscove , but seldom to perfection . this herb is set of the slip in borders sides , either in the spring or the fall , one chase in a border upon the uppermost edge thereof ; for after it is rooted it runneth upon the ground like penny-royal , and taketh root with its branches , therefore it would be kept cut in order by a direct line at the nethermost part of the border , and then it appeareth pretily : it keepeth green all the year and continueth many so . this herb is eaten in sallets in the spring time . purple-grasse . in physicians herbals i cannot finde this herb named or described , therefore i will describe this herb and its vertues . this herb runneth on the ground like clover-grasse , with leaves and stalks of a purple-colour , spotted as it were with blackish bloud , and beareth a flower in july like that of the five leaved grasse , and of the same colour , wherein is small seeds of a brownish colour , which are very light , so that the wind will carry them away ; the topmost branches fade at the latter end of the summer , but the undermost spring up again . the vertues of this herb are for the curing of inward strains , and such as spit bloud , and it is a sovereign remedy for the bloudy-flux ; a great quantity of the juice of it give cattel to drink when they are troubled with the lask , it cureth them ; it 's also used for a pot-herb . now for the ordering of it i will be short ; it is thus : in the spring or the fall get some suckers of this herb , and set in a place that you see convenient for such a purpose ; let it be but well watered at first , it prospereth and continueth alwayes with you in that place , and spreadeth and encreaseth very much . penny-royal . by some orgament , run-ground , and ground-royal ; i hope there is no body but knoweth it by one of these names without any description . this herb is set of the slip only , for it beareth no seed , though it beareth a flower . now note , although this herb be very common , and flourisheth mightily where it is once rooted , yet it is difficult planting of it at the first to have it grow , for if it be planted in dry earth and a dry season , it will not take root without abundance of water : to save this labour , set it in the beginning of march in borders sides , and it will prosper very well , and spring every year after : it requireth no more trouble but cutting off the branches after it hath flowered , and how good the vulgar vertues of this herb are , there are but few but know it . poppy . there are many kinds of them , and in the treatise of flowers i describe what some of them are , so i shall only speak of the white poppy in this place , because it is raised for the physical vertues that are in it . this may be sown in september , and it will prosper very well in any ordinary earth , and will come to flower about the later end of may , and that which is sown in the spring will flower later , and both sowings after they have yeelded the flower , and the seed , both root and branch dieth ; and if you suffer the seed to scatter , it cometh naturally up of it self . rosemary . of this there is gilded rosemary , english rosemary , and spanish rosemary ; the last of these is needless to be propagated , or to be discoursed of . first , for the propagating of our english rosemary , i will speak of that briefly : of seed and slip this herb is raised , and i think i may very well wave the discourse of the raising of it of the seed , seeing the herb is so plentifull , and slips any where may be had where there are any inhabitants . now followeth the manner of setting of it thus : prepare borders of good earth , either round a quarter of herbs , or in strait borders in quarters ; if the earth be barren it must have good store of rotten dung : this observed , lay it into two foot and an half beds or borders , and set three chase of the slips , each chafe eight inches distance , and the slips half a foot asunder ; in setting of them twist the nether end of the slip , and thrust it down so deep that there be but three inches appear above the earth . the time for this is almost betwixt january and may , but that which is set after the middle of march , must be continually watered , or else it will never take root , and that which does by industry , will decay sooner than that which is set in february , and will not endure the winter half so well : we have experience that cold winters will kill rosemary by this last past , as many gardeners about london can witness by wofull experience . lastly , the seasons are to be observed , and the governing of the young plants first ; if february be not temperate then there is no setting of it , but if it be , it is the only time . roman-sage . roman-sage , or the sage-tree : it hath a body like a whipcrap-tree , rising to four foot high , as big as a mans arm , with many branches shooting forth from the sides , with no leaves but upon the top of them onely , which maketh it have a spreading head ; the leaves are of a brown colour , and in handling much like sage , and is made of a round fashion about three fingers in breadth ; the body is of the same colour ; it yeeldeth no seed but a kind of berries , which never cometh to perfection ; this tree keepeth its leaf green all the year . the slips of this tree if they be set in march in a good earth , there is no doubt of its growth , and will come to perfection according to the description ; alwayes provided that they be transplanted having stood on year , so that there may be no want of room and fresh earth . rubarb . rubarb or rewborme , or otherwise called araponick : of these there are divers kinds , which are distinguished into almost as many names , as there is vertues in them , viz. china rubarb , garden patience , or monks rubarb , great round leaved , dock or bastard rubarb , and english rubarb , and as many more : if i should describe them all , it would take up a page or two ; so i will onely give a short description how they may all be known when a man sees them . all sorts of it resemble the burdock in shape before it spindleth to a stalk . now observe , there is difference in kinds , as it differs in colours and stature , but little in form , viz. the china rubarb hath many green leaves near two foot in breadth , and not much longer , rising upon a foot stalk from the root , which are of a red colour ; after this springeth the stock with lesser leaves on it , growing to a yard high , and beareth white stringey flowers , all in a cluster like that of the dock , and yeeldeth a three square seed , of a dark brown colour , as big as a small pea , something glistering to the eye . the time that it flowereth is in june , and the seed is ripe in july ; the branches perish at the coming on of winter , and the root remaineth and sendeth forth the like branches again . monks rubarb groweth up with large stalks , with somewhat broader and longer green leaves , not dented at all : the stalks being divided into a great many small branches , which bear reddish flowers , and three square seed like unto the other : the root is long and yellow like unto the wild docks , but a little redder , and much bigger . bastard rubarb hath yellowish green leaves rising from the root on long brownish foot stalks , among which riseth up pretty big stalks about two foot and an half high , and at the top thereof standeth long brownish flowers , wherein is hard three square seed much like that amongst rubarb , though not so big , yet the root groweth something greater . let this serve for a description , so i will proceed to the propagating of it , and that in particular . first , china rubarb which physicians make such division in names , and quoil about the nature of it ; so that they say , it is unpossible to produce any plants in our english clymate , to be so vertuous , as that which comes out of its naturall countrey : but i will not dispute this , but prosecute the raising of it as briefly as may be . the season fit for the sowing of it is in the beginning of april ; the place must be where it may have the benefit of the sunne , and a shelter from the cold , the earth as loose , and as fat as may be ; such a place provided , cast it up into a bed , and prick in the seeds half an inch deep ; so done , let the bed be sheltered with a mat at nights , and in three weeks space the seed will come up by the latter end of may ; the plants need not be covered till the next winter following , and then it must be sheltered likewise , and in the spring following it would be transplanted into a like earth , and that summer some of it will spindle to seed , and the third year it cometh to its full growth ; the fifth year it hath its whole vertue ; the vertue is in the root chiefly , and then it is taken up . monks rubarb , and bastard rubarb , may be raised of the seed at that time as i told you of the china rubarb , with lesse curiosity and trouble , especially the bastard rubarb . true it is , i should insist upon some particulars further in the ordering of this , but that i have been something large in the information , so that i cannot permit any more time about it , but must speak something of others . spare-mint . of mint there are many sorts , as mackarel mint , horse-mint , white mint , and wild mint , these i wave . of spare-mints there are two sorts , that is , smooth mint , and crudled mint , or crumpled mint . the way of propagating of them both , is of the root , and in this manner , for the saving of labour , and the surenesse of the work for to have the roots to grow , that is thus ; when you have prepared a bed or a border where you have a desire they shall grow , then make three or four drils in the bed with a planting hoe , then lay your roots into those drils with the spire end upward ; so done , fill up the drils again with the head of your rake ; let this be done either in march or september , and those roots will spring without any further care , and never leave you nor forsake you . saffren . if you please to look into the alphabetical table , there is crokus named , and in the page saffron-crokus exprest ; now what is to be understood by this is , that saffron-crokus , or crokus , differeth not in shape from this , but in colours , as blew crokus and yellow , which are sometimes called saffron-crokus , because they differ not in form , but in vertue . this saffron which i here prescribe is planted only for its vertue and profit , which it returneth to the planter thereof , as in cambridgeshire and saffronwalden , where they plant many achers thereof . now i 'll speak a word or two in reference to the planting of it . this herb or flower is planted of the sucker from the root , for it never beareth seed : the time that it is chiefly planted in is presently after its flowering , which is in april ; the manner is without any difficulty ; for if the root be committed to the earth it will grow so , therefore there needeth nothing , but to set every plant decently in order , so that every plant may have its proportion of ground which would be four inches . lastly , observe that in the gathering of the saffron that you must be carefull to see to it every morning , for the saffron cometh up in the middle of the flower like horns as it were , and the sunne causeth them to perish two or three dayes , therefore it is that i counsell you to be watchfull over it . sage . i discovered roman sage to you , or the sage-tree . this herb is the common english sage , and of that there is red and green ; a man would think that it were a needless thing to write any thing of the propagating of it , seeing every one can say , set sage in may and it will never decay , truly that is a long day , but if that were true , the last winter would not have killed the most of the sage about london . but so set sage in the beginning of may in good earth , cast into beds of half a foot high , and two foot and an half broad , setting three chase in each bed of slips , each slip half a foot asunder , watering of it well at the first planting , till it hath taken root , and then this sage set in may , may not for six or seven yeares decay . summer-savoury . so called , because it perisheth so soon as the winter approacheth . this herb is raised of the seed only ; the season for it is in the later end of april , after this manner : prepare a bed of earth in a quarter amongst the other sweet herbs , and the bed being finely raked , then cast the seed thereon , then get some fine mould well ridled , and cast thinly thereon , so that it cover the seed not above half an inch thick , yet i know some ideots have written , that they should be covered three inches thick , and in so doing you had as good cover it three yards thick for any expectation of the growth of the seed . to be short , the seed sown ( as i told you ) will come up in a weeks space , and covereth the bed suddenly , and needeth no replanting , or any more trouble , but only cleansing from weeds . setterwort . or black eleyvert : it is known of a stinking smell , it is much like the bears foot , it hath winged leaves , and runneth up with stalks like parsnips , and beareth the seed in like manner , the root lieth in a clumper as big as a bushell ; if it have stood long , the root of this herb yeeldeth such a strong stinking smell , so that a man in the digging of it up will be even sick with it , so that of all herbs or roots of herbs there is none that yeeldeth so noisome a savour : of this root this plant doth encrease , and if any part of it be set in any kind of digged earth , it will grow without any further trouble , and spring every year after , but observe the time , and that may be at any time but when the branch flourisheth , and he that will not observe this , and bestow this small pains to have this vertuous herb in his garden , if he have cattell , he is a very unwise man , if he did but know what diseases it doth prevent in cattell . stone-crop . this is not unlike prick-madam in any thing but that it is smaller , with divers trailing branches upon the ground , set with fat roundish blewish green sprouts pointed at the ends , it beareth a flower which standeth somewhat loosely , not composed together but stands stragling , this herb also keepeth green all the year . of the slip it is propagated by setting it in dry banks , on stone-wals , and mud-wals , for there it delighteth most to grow , and will shift for it self whereever it be planted , for it neither careth for heat nor cold , but abideth its place alwaies without any alteration , this herb is good in sallets and for physicall uses . shalot . or spanish garlick : it hath heads in the ground like garlick though not so big , it runs up with blades like that of chives , but a great deal bigger and longer , there is never any appearance of any flower or seed , but continueth according as i described it , the sent of it is strong , being eaten it never offendeth the breath . by this short description you may know it as well as if i had filled up a page with it . this herb or root is propagated by the off-set or sucker , setting of them in march in beds of ordinary earth , prickt in each root at a hands breadth asunder just within the earth , this done , by the next michaelmas following each root will encrease to be ten , then they ought to be taken up and kept in a chamber all the winter till the next march , and then set again in manner as was said . sweet-maudlin . i hope i may spare the pains to write a description of an herb that is so common , so only take the nature of it , and that is , it beareth a seed which is something downy , wherein i can see little or no perfection , or any kind of spirit that may tend to growth , yet seedsmen do sell it upon that account and unexperience , men by it thinking to raise the herb of it , but they are mistaken , it is the slip and the slip only that it is encreased by , and that is done in the spring time in this manner ; having gotten slips , then prepare a bed , and set them therein with a diber so thick as they may cover the bed when it cometh to spread , and that will be in a short time after . i need not to give any farther observations , only remember to clip off the branches when it begins to put forth its flower , so that will renew its nature , and make it to look the more beautifull , and continue the longer . seurvy-grass . many thick leaves round and green it hath , smooth on the edges ; these leaves are sometimes springing from the root upon stems , and others upon stalks spreading upon the ground , never rising above a foot in heighth , and the tops spread with white flowers , and after they fade cometh bags wherein is contained small seeds . this herb is sown of the seed only , the best season for it is in the latter end of august , it mattereth not what earth it be so it be fine , dry and clear from rubbidge , and have some shelter , it will grow up and prosper very well the winter following , and it will be the first sallet-herb in the spring , by may it cometh to flower , and yeeldeth not its seed in a good while after . sweet-fern . it hath roots that remain in the ground like those of spare-mint , spreading and encreasing , which sendeth up sprouts crumpled at the first of a pale green colour , and after it brancheth out into jagged leaves as it were , of a darker green colour than the former , something like that of sweet sisly , these grow not but to a small heighth , and never yeeldeth either flower or seed ; this herb yeeldeth as pleasant a sent as basill , the branches dye at the coming of the winters cold breath , and the root sendeth up the like again the next spring ; this herb is frequent in gardens in barkshire . of the root only this herb is propagated , by setting of it in ordinary earth at its first springing , which is in the beginning of april ; now i advise you to plant it in an out-border , because it spreadeth mightily where it is planted , so by that means it will not run amongst other herbs that are placed in quarters . sweet-covey . or muscovey , is an herb that where once it is sown there it continueth , by the reason of the scattering of its seed which springeth up again . i need not describe it nor speak any thing more of the nature of it it is so well known , for where it hath gotten any interest it will hardly be destroyed if you desire it . sweet-marjorum . there are two sorts , and that is winter sweet-marjorum and summer sweet-marjorum : first for the summer sweet-marjorum , that is sown of the seed in the latter end of april , in beds of good mould finely delved and evenly raked , and the seed cast with an even hand upon it , then rake it not but cover it thinly with mould , as i told you in the sowing of basill ; this needeth no further care but watering and weeding , and at the coming of the frost it withereth . winter sweet-marjorum is sown at the same time and in the same manner , and it continueth green all the winter following , and it is for the same use and vertue as the other is , and a great deal more in estimation , because it can be had when the other is not . sweet-oak . is an herb which perisheth yearly , and leaveth a seed which is as small as the rose-campion seed . i cannot stand to describe every part of this herb , nor cannot speak of every particular in the observation of propagating of it , for i have already gone as far as my bounds , so i will only acquaint you with this , that is , you may sow it when you have sowed the seed of the herb before-mentioned , in the same manner , and preserve it with the same care . taragan . i suppose it is well known , so a description is unneedfull . this herb is also sown at the same time and season as the former , but the seed is more difficulter to take in the gemination , but in the fructition much harder : this herb may be set of the off-set ; but seeing that it is of no long continuance , and of no great vertue but only for it s sent , therefore i shall not dispence with the labour to set down every particular way for it . time. it is not to be questioned but that the generality of men and women do know this herb , and how and when it may be planted to grow ; but yet let me put you in mind of a decent form in each particular , in the propagating of it by seed and slip . first , there is two seasons for it , the one is in mid april , and the other at the latter end of august , that which you sow or set in april , especially that which is sown , will not come to flower that summer , and ought not to be cut till the latter end thereof , because it should spread the ground and keep the sun from scorching of it , at the latter end of the next summer following it will come to flower and seed . secondly , for sowing or setting of it in august , i hold this the best season , for it will endure the winter , and will have taken good root against the summer , and be fit to be cut for the severall uses when the other is sown ; now observe that this be sown and set in a decent manner , and i shall spare the ink and paper to set it down , but see as hysop is done so is this . the last thing that is to be taken notice of is , that it be kept clipt , so that it bring forth neither flower nor seed , for if it does it will not continue half so long , and this you may know to be true by the garden knots that are sown or planted with it , and that being clipt alwayes to make it show pleasant , continueth fresh seven or eight years , when that which is sown in beds and let run to seed continueth not above half so long . tansie . the double kind is planted in gardens for its vulgar and physicall uses , the place would be in some reversion or out-part of a garden , for it spreadeth very much where it is planted , and abideth there alwayes only losing of its branches every winter . i pray you excuse me for writing any directions for the planting of it , it being such a vulgar hardy herb it is needlesse . v. laren . of it there is two sorts in form and colour of flowers , and that is the purple valaren and the blew valaren , they differ in seed as well as in colour , yet they differ not so much in stature and growth but that one description will serve them both . it hath leaves round and of a dark green , smooth on the edges and all parts else , many of them set on upon one stem much like that of box , these are set all upon stalks , and the bigger of them are springing as it were from the root , and spreading on the ground , the stalk riseth to three foot high , and on the top are many flowers set one above another of a blewish or a purple colour , glistering as it were , the time it begins to flower is at the latter end of june , and so continueth till after michaelmas , this causeth some seed to be ripe when flowers are rich in the branch , the nether most part of this herb keepeth green all the year , and continueth many before it dyeth . now for the raising of it my words must be few , that is , this herb may be sown of the seed , or set of the slip in the latter end of march or in august , in a bed by it self in the usual manner of sowing and planting of others , and it will prosper according to the description . wormwood . of this there be three sorts , viz. sea wormwood , field wormwood , and roman wormwood , and the last of these is onely cultivated in gardens for its cordiall and physicall uses . this herb is set of the slip or sown of the seed ; but the sowing of the seed i shall wave , because nature doth it better than i can teach you ; the slip is set in the spring time , which is taken from the head of the root , it prospereth well in any earth being something shaded . winter-savoury . this is the last herb in the physical garden , as it fals out in the alphabetical order , though the vertues are the best of all others for vulgar uses . of winter-savoury there is three sorts in form of leaves , and only one in nature and vertue . i will now give some directions for the propagating of this herb , though most men know it , yet it may serve to put them in mind of that which they know , in mid april , and the later end of august either of these seasons the seed of this herb is sown , and the slip is set ; i shall not trouble you with the manner , but as hysop was sown in like manner is this ; so done it prospereth very well . the physical garden as it treateth of trees . a short description or direction for the propagating of each tree which is fruitfull and physical , usually planted in a fruitfull or physical garden . barberry . i will be as short on this and all the rest as possibly may be , so that i may but give an information . the plain way of propagating of each tree as this , is of the sucker , which springeth partly from the root , and being taken away in september , and set in the nursery , where suckers , slips and seedlings are set , and after they have taken root they may be transplanted into the quarters of the garden in uniform order where they are to remain . currants . currants are generally white , black and red , but yet each of these sorts differ in greatness as well as in goodness , according to the care as is used about them , in the raising of them from suckers to fruitfull trees ; the thing is plain , yet there are mistakes many times in it , therefore i would willingly give my evidence in it to insist upon it presently after michaelmas take your suckers from your currant trees , and if you have not ground ready for them to transplant them where they should alwayes grow , then plant them in a piece of ground by themselves at a foot distance , which may be fitly called a nursery , let them stand there while that time twelve moneth , then plant them into the middle of strawberry beds at a yard distance , each tree bound to a stake , so that the wind may not break them , and put them out of uniform order . lastly observe , let these suckers be taken yearly from the roots of the old bearers , or otherwise they hinder them from being fruitfull , they must be pruned also , which is to cut away the superfluous branches which run above the rest and never bear fruit . gooseberries . are distinguished into many sorts , usually thus , dutch and english ; first with the dutch , there is white and red , which are the worthiest of all other both to the pallate and the eye : of the english kinds there are white and red also , and many others , but i will only name these , that is , the long yellow and the round yellow , the amber and the christall , the nepture and the wild , all these are set of the sucker , as i told you of currants in like manner , and transplanted into like places . many arguments of curiosity i could raise in the propagating of them , which would appear to men of experience to be needlesse , my self being sensible of the same i passe that , and only desire you to remember to prune them , so that the fruit may be the larger , and the trees renew their nature and appear the more pleasanter . mulberries . are white , red and black , these trees seldome send forth any sucker neither are they to be grafted upon other stocks to advance the fruit , but the way is to get young sprouts from the body , and to set them in good earth in september or thereabouts , so that they may take root , and at two or three years end to be replanted into certain places where they may remain , so done it is without question but these slips or cuttings will come to be trees , and bring forth fruit according to its mother . quinces . are supposed to be of divers kinds by reason that they yeeld contrary fruits in vertue and in shape ; i shall not end the controversic here by any arguments , but shall refer you to a book of mine which is coming forth entituled the gardeners rule , at the latter end of which is a treatise of fruit-trees , wherein you shall find , that all old errors and unpracticall conceits are clearly reconciled by reason and argument ; so i shall not speak any farther of the propagating of them here , for then it would be double labour . i name this plant here , because properly it belongeth to a garden and not to an orchard , and more especially to the physicall or fruitfull garden . rasberries . of these there are red and white , which are greater and lesser , fruitfull and unfruitfull , according to the soyl , air , and ordering that they have . upon these words i could draw as many arguments as would fill up a sheet of paper , but that is not my intent in this or any other part of this book , for it would be little pleasing and less profitable . rasberries are set of the slips or suckers which it sends from the roots , which spreadeth in the ground , these being drawn up in september out of beds where they stand too thick , so taken up then pruned , which is to cut off the slips or suckers above the root at a foot and a half in length , and so much of the root that it be not too cumbersome ; having beds of earth prepared of three foot a breadth , then prick in three chase of these plants at nine inches distance , very few of these will bear any fruit the next summer , but the second summer is that which bringeth the greatest encrease if the year be fruitfull . lastly to be short , rasberries must be pruned every year , for some alwayes dye , and the other spring up where they have been long planted . roses . omitting those that i spoke of in the garden of pleasure , the rest are these , the rose of monday , the damask rose , the red rose , and the white rose , and some tell me of a monethly rose , but i was never satisfied whether there is such a one yea or no neither by experience nor theoditary , therefore i must wave it and speak of the rest . of the rose of monday ; this rose is in all parts like the damask rose , only the colour maketh the difference , for this rose is damask and red striped , the propagating of it is by slip or inoculation : if you are not experienced in inoculation , then be pleased to turn back to the place where it treateth of the province rose , and there is a guide set down for it , and for the directions for setting the slip , i hope i may omit the pains for to set it down , for a wise man may well understand one thing by another . now for the ordering of the damask rose , i will give a few plain directions . first , if you have them already and would willingly encrease them , in the beginning of february , cut off all the young sprouts as come from the body , and pluck up all such as shoot from the root , then cut them all at a foot in length ; now in the planting of these slips i shall omit that curiosity of casting up of beds for them , as i and others have done , so i will give you an easie and a profitable way , which is to lay a piece of ground levell well raked , then set in those said slips in that ground by a direct line at fifteen inches asunder , a moneth after , you may cast some turnip-seed upon that ground , and it will not be only profitable for the table , but also shadow the face of the ground , and keep it from being too dry . secondly , these slips thus planted will have taken root by that time twelve moneth , and be grown to a greater stature , and may be transplanted into borders round quarters of herbe , or else a whole quarter or quarters of them , and strawberries cast into beds , so that the strawberries may grow under the roses , and the rose-trees to stand at three foot distance one way and five foot the other , that the strawberry beds may be three foot broad and two foot paths between , and the rose-trees supported with stakes . thirdly , roses may be raised of the seed , but this rose with more case than any of the rest , many authors have set down certain wayes for it which are contrary to reason ; if i thought that any man were so undiscreet to put it in practice , i would lay down some arguments for to prevent such errors . next for the propagating of the red rose , which is by cuttings of the youngest shoots from the oldest standers , which cuttings ought to be a foot long , and if they be lesse they may grow very well ; before i show you how to set them , prepare borders of two foot and a half in breadth , and paths of two foot between ; the beds being laid a foot high , then set a line upon the border , so that there may be three rows of slips set in the border proportionably , then prick in the cuttings by the line side eight inches one from another , and so deep that one half be in the ground and the other above , let them stand slope-wayes in this bed or border , they may alwayes remain , for they are not to be removed without great hinderance of the bearing of them . lastly , some directions for the causing of roses to flower plentifully , that is to cut them with a pair of shears the first full moon after christmas day ; what is to be observed in cutting is , that such sprouts that were of the last years growth , be cut off at the heighth of the old bearers ; whereunto i adde , that if roses be planted in wet ground , that they will never flower plentifully , therefore observe to set them in the dryest soyl . savin-tree . i suppose though it be not common in every garden , yet the strange and admirable vertues that it hath makes it common in every ones mouth , so i will only speak of the nature and the raising of the plant : first it requireth a place which is somewhat shady , as most plants do that are of a hot nature , and keepeth green all the year ; further observe , this tree yeeldeth no seed neither , it seldome or never sendeth any sucker from the root , therefore it is only propagated of the slip which is taken from the branches , the time for doing of this is at the beginning of the winter , the place would be as i told you its nature requireth , in a shady place in an extraordinary good mould , and if it were helpt with pigeons dung , it would be much the better for to cause the slips to take root the sooner : now note , that these plants would be planted at such a distance , as that they might have room to grow when they are great , for they care the least for moving of any other plant whatsoever . strawberry-tree . this tree should have been placed in my garden of pleasure , i hope you will place it in yours for the rarities and preheminency belonging to it , and it being but a stranger in england , i will describe it in few words so that it may be known . this plant riseth near to five yards in heighth , spreading with many branches toward the top , which maketh it to stand in a stately form , the leaves of this tree are green as the bay-trees , and keep so all the year , they are also of the same shape though not half so big , the ribs of them are something reddish , and the bark of the body of the tree is of a reddish green colour something rough and dented , the middle of the tree as to say amongst the branches are bare and without sprouts or leaves , at the top springeth berries upon stalks , when they are ripe they are absolutely like strawberries , and may be eaten though not half so good , yet they are usually eaten . there is no way that i could find of propagating of this tree , but by slips taken from the branches and set in good mould , to the end that they may take root and become trees , but most of them thus done seldome take root . there is another way which is more certain , and that is to make a branch as it groweth upon the tree to pass thorow a pot which hath a hole in the bottome of it , and then to fill the pot full of earth , and that will cause it to take root as it groweth on the tree , and then it may be cut off and planted in that place where it should remain . the end of the physicall garden . the gardeners practice in the kitchin garden , how to advance the nature and growth of herbs , roots , and pulse contained therein . i have not leisure to insist upon every particular at this time , but if it please god to permit me life i shall give these rules and directions for the propagating of those plants mentioned in the alphabeticall table belonging to the kitchin garden , thus : propagation , 1. the season fit for sowing or planting . 2. the time and place fit for it . 3. how to order the ground . 4. the quantity and the quality of seed . 5. the knowledge of replanting of seedlings . 6. the art in slips , suckers and roots . 7. how to prune , cleanse , and dress plants . experiments , 1. the preservation of plants from hurtfull distempers . 2. to produce them early or late . 3. how to alter sent and colour . 4. the art of transforming plants . so only take these short observations upon these plants as followeth in this treatise , viz. artichokes . by their distinct kinds , form and vertue , are called thus ; the protector head , the rabits head and the dogs head ; or otherwise , red , white , and brown artichokes ; the red and the brown are propagated by art and care to a huge greatness in reference to those that are and grow naturally . the way of propagating of artichokes is of the slip in an extraordinary rich soyl , not as it is naturally rich but improved with dung , for they delight in any stiff clayey ground so that it hath but dung enough . secondly , the time and manner of setting of them is thus , when the ground is digged and laid levell or even , then set the slips in half a foot deep by a line , so that they stand two foot and a half asunder : the season that is best for it some suppose it to be in september , but experience tells us , that the last winter most or all of those slips thus set were killed , therefore i think it best to set them in march , in that manner as aforesaid . thirdly , the preservation of them from perishing in the winter , is to shelter them from frost and snow , and that is done by trenching of them and laying of new dung about them which will not freez , but will keep the plant from the frost . sparrow-grass . if i should enter upon an historicall discourse of this herb i should never have done , i will only acquaint you that this herb is raised of the seed , and usually after this manner ; they prepare beds of good earth of three foot a breadth , and two foot path between in breadth likewise , then cast in the seed thinly thereon , this is done in the latter end of march ; the next september they transplant these plants , the seedlings into beds of the same breadth of extraordinary rich sandy ground , the next summer following it spindleth into small spindles which are worth little , but the third spring after its sowing riseth good sparrow-grass : now note , that every september rotten dung must be laid upon the beds , and in the beginning of march to be raked off , and the ground loosened with a forkabout the plant , for if they should do it with a spade it would cut the roots . the way of producing of it early is done by raising of it upon hot beds ; i will permit a little time to show you how and when , in the latter end of february make a hot bed of horse-dung , of three foot high and three foot broad , and of a length according to your sparrow-grass you intend to sow ; the bed thus made , then lay-fine mould atop of it so that it may raise it two inches higher , so done take up the oldest sparrow-grass roots that you have , that are like to decay where they stand , and lay them one by one as thick as you can upon this hot bed , lay as much more earth upon the roots as is under them , cover the bed with some litter , the fourth day the roots will sprout up young sparrow-grass , by reason of the heat of the dung , and the steme being kept in with the litter which causeth this hasty growth : now observe , that when these sprouts are thus shot up , the litter must be took away , and pent-houses of rods made over the beds , whereon you shall lay mats to preserve them from the frost and cold ; remember to give the bed air once a day if the weather be seasonable : so done you may pull good sparrow-grass from the bed at the fortnights end . beets . both red and white are for generall and kitchin uses , they are raised of the seed , and you may sow it when you please and it will come up , but it is when it please , and that is at its naturall season : you may also sow it in any ordinary earth and it will grow , but the better the earth is , the better is the herb and yeeldeth the greater encrease also ; the root will grow to a huge bigness , which is for many uses , especially the root of the red beet . now i advise you to sow beet seed in speciall rank ground in the beginning of september , and by the latter end thereof it is very probable that some of the seed will be come up , and the rest will not appear till the next spring following : the next summer they will run to seed if you suffer them , and after they have yeelded their seed three times the root and branch dieth , yet where they are once sown , by reason of scattering of the seed , they will not leave your garden . cucumbers . are long and short , the long are counted the best both for salleting and pickleing : the raising of them is both alike , all the art that i shall endeavour to lay down in few words here is , the raising of them timely for salleting , for those that come late in the summer are only used for gerkings : to insist upon the raising of them early , about the middle of march , make beds of new horse-dung of two foot and a half high , and near that breadth , then make a band of straw or hay and pin it upon the uppermost part thereof , then lay some fine ridled mould atop near three fingers thick , then cover this bed with some litter or straw , and make a pent-house over it as i told you of the sparrow-grass bed , whereon must lye mats , then steep your cucumber-seed in milk and suet for four and twenty hours , by that time the bed will be hot , then prick in your seeds at two fingers distance upon the bed , and lay on the litter again ; be carefull afterward for once or twice a day to see that the bed be not too hot , for then it will force gemination too soon and the plants will never hold it : now observe , that if the seed appeareth before the third day , then that bed is too hot and too hasty a gemination , but if they appear not before the fourth or fifth day , then those plants are like to come to good , if they be carefully looked after for the future , and that is to set glasses over them all night and in boisterous dayes till towards the middle of april , then transplant them from that bed , into holes or trenches wherein is laid new horse-dung , and pigeons-dung if it may be had , with four inches of good mould atop of it , then set four cucumber plants in the compass of a musmillion-glass , and with a glass over each four plants ; let these plants be watered with such water as hath stood in the sun , wherein hath been steeped horse-dung ; by these directions , if you had any knowledge or insight in it before , you may have cucumbers fit for a sallet by mid may if the spring be any thing favourable , and that is counted great rarities . the second and the ordinary way of raising cucumbers for sallet to have them about mid-summer , is to raise them in mid april upon a hot bed , not so hot as the former , only covered with mats , and the first week in may transplanted into holes , as was said before : you need not go to the charge to cover them with glasses , for any thing else will serve that will only keep the frost from them anights ; let these be watered as the former every evening or every other evening if it rain not , i cannot stay to treat upon every particular . lastly , the ready way of planting or sowing of cucumber-seed is , to prepare holes which will hold a wheelbarrow of good rotten dung or more , let each hole be four foot asunder , and earth atop of the dung , and then half a score seeds pricked in each hole , but if four of them come up it is enough , and what more cometh up , pull them away or else they will hinder one another and come to nothing : note that the time of sowing is about may day , let these be well watered the summer following and gelded , and by august their fruit will come to perfection . colliflowers . they are raised of the seed , and i shall spare a great deal of labour in setting down the directions for it , if you please to look back how beds are made for cucumbers , in the same manner and at the same time so make for these , and they are governed up alike , only these are without glasses : at the middle of may transplant them into rich and forward ground , setting each plant two foot and a half distance , watering of them well at the first planting , and by the latter end of july they will come to flower so that you may have a dish of them . the second season of the sowing of colliflower-seed , is in the beginning of september , in beds of very good mould ; being sown there and come up , at a moneths end transplant them into another bed of three abreadth , setting each plant at a hands breadth asunder in ranges by a line , then make a shelter over them with sticks and mats , to shelter the plants from the frosty nights the winter following , the next spring transplant them in like manner as i told you of the other , and by mid-summer or soon after they will come to flower . cabidges . mistake me not , i mean the propagating of cabidge-seed to be cabidges again , which oftentimes through negligence and ignorance turn or come to be cail or colworts : but i cannot stay to reckon up colworts and cabidges , how many sorts there are , and what a great commodity it is , especially amongst the plow-men , but i shall proceed with all the brevity as may be possible , what is to be observed in the sowing and governing of the seed that it degenerate not . first of all observe the season , that is , if you sow seed for winter plants to be planted out of the spring , do it at the latter end of august , in a light earth , the moon being at the full , five or six weeks after transplant them into another earth , laying or setting them at half a foot distance , to the end that each plant may have its proportion of ground and be restrained of its high growth ; at the latter end of february , and in march at the full moon , these may be planted into quarters of earth , where they may stand at a yard distance : now note , the best ground for these to be planted in , is the strongest clay or mawm earth , that is , with this provisoe , that there be abundance of dung under it ; these cabidges must be kept whole with earth about the stalks as the weeds rise , and the under leaves stripped off to cause the cabidges to grow the greater . lastly , you may sow this seed in march for winter colworts , for they may be transplanted about the latter end of may , or in the beginning of june , in manner as aforesaid . i cannot go farther , i have spoken more than i intended . carrots . i shall only give three directions for the propagating of them , which vulgar people are not acquainted with though they may sow of them yearly ; the first is the earth that the seed is committed to , that it be of a like nature and not wet when it is delved ; also observe that the moon be of the first quarter , the time of the year is even from the beginning of march till may. secondly , observe the quantity of seed that you sow it not too thick ; and for a better help thereunto , consider your quantity of ground , and then note , that three pound of seed soweth an acre , and so proportionably sow your own . thirdly , that you let them not grow too thick , for then they will be very small and worth nothing : the best way to prevent this , is to hoe them as our london gardeners do , so that each carrot stand ten inches one from another , or thereabout . corn-sallet . whether any countrey men know it yea or no , i shall not dispence with the time to describe it ; but sow it in your garden in the beginning of september , in a good earth , the seed being sound and new , i dare promise you that it will grow and come to be cut by the next march for sallets , and by the latter end of april it cometh to flower , and in june the seed is ripe , which if you save it you may sow it again ; or if you let it scatter of it self , sometimes it will grow naturally . goards . as they are known to be in distinct forms , and something in nature , so they bear their names according to the country from whence they are brought , that is , the italian goard , the lowland goard , and the cocker goard ; if i am mistaken in the names , i am not mistaken in the properties , and the form ; for there is one sort which is nigh a yard long , and sometimes as big as the lowermost part of a mans thigh , with that end which is farthest from the stalk , and so it cometh lesse and lesse by degrees . another sort is long , and both ends alike for matter of bigness ; the other is bigger and shorter ; all these grow in like manner as pumpkins do , as for stalk and shels , and they say , the leaves differ not much . now for the raising of them ( if you have a desire ) i will give you my directions , as far as i have observed by others , viz. at the same time as they set cucumber-seed , in the same manner they do the goard-seed , and what they require afterward i cannot affirm it to you ; but it is said , they are as easily raised as cucumbers : the stalk and root perisheth yearly , as they do . indian suckory . it is so well known i need not write any thing of its use and virtues , but for the nature of it , it is very probable i have observed more of it than those that have cultevated it longer than i have done , and in my observation i have found it to be of a strong nature ; so that if you commit it to the earth in the spring or autumn , it needeth no farther care , but being cleansed from weeds , so it will continue till it hath yeelded its seed three times , and then root and branch dieth . english-beans . or great garden beans ; i name them here , because they are usually set in gardens , though sometimes in fields : in which place soever you plant them in , i find but one objection , and that is , some plant them here and there , according to their fancy , and not by a direct line ; the errour is this , those that are set at random and not by a line , they have not their proportion of ground , nor can you cleanse them , hoe them , or gather them , without great injury in breaking of them down ; therefore learn of the gardeners and husbandmen about london , for if they plant twenty acres together , it is all set in rows by a line , each row some eighteen inches difference one from another , and the beans the other way , some six . french-beans . they are much like the former , but something thinner , and of a tenderer nature ; they are ripe something sooner , and require an hotter soil , these may be set in the same manner as i described before of the english-beans . let that suffice . jerusalem-artichoaks . the property of this plant is so that nothing is usefull , but the root , and it remainet hin the ground , some as big as a hens egg , some bigger , some less , and of divers shapes , some long , some round , some crumpled and all full of dents , and of a reddish colour , from which riseth a stalk near eight foot high , resembling that of the flower of the sun , though not so big a stalk . this stalk perisheth yearly , the root continueth in the ground , as was said . of the root these artichoaks ( so called ) are propagated , either by cutting of the great ones into small pieces , or else setting the little roots ( descending from the mother ) in beds of earth by themselves , in march without any difficulty , for they are very hardy and will grow in any place , but they prosper best in a light mould . now note , that once a year these roots may be taken up , and the great ones reserved for to be eaten , and the little ones set again . kidney-beans . my countrey men i suppose call them french-beans , like ideots ; for why , names that are given things which are newly found out , are given them , according to what they resemble , and it is so that this bean resembleth a kidney , and therefore it is fitly called a kidney-bean ; let that passe . there is red , white , purple , and speckled of them ; but the nature of them is one , and my directions for the planting of them shall be one , and that briefly . in the latter end of april provide a hot natured ground ; if it be something sandy it is the better , so that it be but well holpen with rotten muck the year before ; when the ground is digged , they may be either planted or set in ranges by a line at eighteen inches distance ; those that go to the trouble to set them , usually take the pains to stick sticks for them to run up upon , to the end to keep them from the ground for to save their fruit , and to cause it to ripen the sooner ; those that plant them in drils , take no farther care but only hoing the ground , being hot and dry they ripen very well , and bring good increase . lettice . many sorts there be , but of all others the french lettice is the best ; but that being sown in england , it doth often degenerate from its own nature , because it findeth not the air and the earth so temperate here , as in its own countrey ; therefore if it be raised here , it must be done with care and judgment ; and as for our ordinary english lettice , it may be it would appear as light as vanity to the vulgar sort of people , to give any directions for the raising and governing of them , although there is matter of consequence in the work , yet i shall wave it , and only put you in mind , that you may sow lettice any moneth , from the latter end of february to the latter end of september : yet take notice , that those which be sown in the middle of the summer ought to be watered , and those that are sowed in september for salletting early in the spring , would be covered with straw , or sown under a warm pale that might shelter it from the sharp winds . lastly , if you have a desire to save seed of lettice , let it be of such as was sown in september , let them not be cut or medled with , till the seed be full ripe in it , and that will be in july . leeks . a short account may very well serve for the raising and governing of this herb or root , and so it shall be . leeks are sown in the beginning of march in a rich soil , for that it delighteth in much , in which place they may remain all the summer following , and in september be transplanted into a rich soyl , laying of them in rows at half afoot asunder , as the ground was digged : the end of removing of them , is to cause them to grow the bigger , and so the next lent those leeks are drawn up by the roots for their uses ; and if you have any desire to let them stand for seed , that is a fit place . millions . millions or musmillions be these , the black million , the white million , great roman millions , water millions , and many more , a man may raise and bring them up to be bigger than ones fist , but never come to be ripe or to any perfection , so i shall wave them and speak of our ordinary green musmillions which are raised in england , and come to perfection . and about these musmillions here is such a deal of charge , care , quoil and trouble , such a multitude of arguments , and such abundance of vain conceits , so that if i could have made an almanack of my pate , and set down all that i have heard of them , it would be a sufficient subject of it self ; or otherwise if i should set down all that i have known to be put in practice , i believe that twenty pages would not contain it , so i shall passe it having no time nor liberty , neither desire to insist upon it for the present ; but in the future i hope i shall : so only take these few experiments , whereby i have raised musmillions , and sometimes mist , as the proudest , and the greatest conceitedst man hath done , which hath been actual in this thing . the first thing considerable in the propagating of millions is the season , and thereabout men differ in their judgments ; for some would have them raised at the latter end of february , or at the beginning of march , some at the beginning of april , and others not till the latter end thereof ▪ this hath been put in practice , and every one of them have had good success at one time , and bad at another . now my experience and my judgement is this , that is , it is best to raise them at the latter end of march , or about the beginning of april . the wayes for it are various and strange , and one mans judgment differeth from another , in this more than any other thing which is practical in a garden . i cannot stand to dispute , but take my following experience for your directions . at that time as i told it is best to raise them , then make a hot bed of hors dung , in manner ( as i told you ) for cucumbers , but let it be something higher , and something thicker , at the top thereof if you lay some bran it would be much the better ; so done , get the finest earth that may be , and cover the bed with it two inches thick or more , supporting of it from tumbling down ( as i told you of the cucumber beds ) then get your glasses , and see how many of them will stand conveniently upon the bed , then clap them down , the rim of them makes a mark , within that circle put a dozen or more of seeds , after the bed hath stood a day and been covered with litter , and in the meantime the seeds being steeped in milk , then set the glasses over them , lay litter between them , and over them , and round the bed , and mats upon bended poles over that , be watchfull the second and third day that the bed be not too hot , and if it be , then take away the litter from the sides , and make holes also in the sides to let out the steem , and when it is qualified that it be not over-hot , then lay the litter there again , about the fourth day , if it be so ordered , the seed cometh up , which if it come up sooner it seldom holdeth , and if it lieth much longer it seldom cometh up at all ; but i will passe that the seed come up ( as was said ) give the plants a little air once a day , not by taking of the glasses clean away , but by lifting up of one side of them for an hour or two , or such a matter , which will give them a green colour , and stay them for spending of their spirits . secondly , after the plants have been a fortnight sprung up , it is very probable that they may seem to decay or stand at a stay , the reason is , because they want that supply of heat which the bed did afford to them before , because it hath stood long , and the heat is qualified ; the cure is to get new hors-dung and litter one amongst another , and lay very thick against the sides of the bed , then under every glasse thrust down a small stick to the bottom of the bed , the use of it is to let up the heat and steem which is at the bottom , and that which the new laid dung and litter have infused in up , at those holes into the glasses , which doth warm , moisten and revive the plants . thirdly , the plants having stood here a moneth , and preserved with this care , then prepare beds or ridges to transplant them in , as followeth . first , let the place be extraordinary warm , sheltered from all winds ; then make your beds thus ; get hay and litter , and make a trench some half a foot deep and a yard wide , then lay the litter or hay therein , so that it may be half a foot thick ; this done , get new hors-dung , so much of it , that it may raise it two foot in height above the litter ridg fashion ; that done , get sticks of a yard long or thereabouts , as big as a walking cudgel , drive them into the middle of the bed at a yard distance , so low that there be but a hands breadth appear above the dung ; this observed , cast the earth that licth by against the sides of the bed , then riddle fine mould , and lay it atop at a hands breadth in thickness , lay a little straw thinly upon this bed , and the next evening after transplant your million plants four and four together thereon , and observe that they be set round those sticks , as i told you of , and a glass over each parcel of plants , upon your glasses lay straw or mats made a-purpose . fourthly , the plants thus planted out , they are there to remain , and not to be stirred any more ; and in this , especially in the governing of them afterwards , you are to consider three things ; the first is , that they have air once a day , and covered again at nights ; let not the glasses be took quite away , but be moved up on one side , while such time as the million vines grow too great for the glass , then you may take them away in some part of the day , and set them over the fruit in the night . secondly , watering is not the least thing to be considered in it , both as for the time , manner , and for the substance of it ; the best time to do it in , is in the morning soon after the suns approaching ; the manner of it is not to pour it all over the plant with a watering pot , as some do , but to put it in a hole , or holes by the root , so that it may soak leisurely carrying an earthly substance with it ; the water also must have the substance of pigeons-dung , and hors-dung in it , and standing in tubs in the ground , so that the sun may have power upon it to qualifie the coolness of it , and to clarifie that unnatural property that it hath in it for the advancing of such a pulse as millions , that delight only in heat and moisture . the third is , that they be gelded , and that is to nip off the leaves and fruit that spring very thick leaving but half as much as nature commonly putteth forth upon every vine ; the end that this is done for , is to cause the fruit to come to perfection the sooner which remaineth , and also to have it the larger and ripe the sooner . these are the ordinary wayes of raising musmillions , or as i may more fitly say , the principle things to be observed , yet there remains in each principle many particulars , which when time shall serve i shall treat of at large : in the mean space take these plain and serious truths , as you shall find them if they be put in practice . onions . i may not stand to multiply words where necessity requires not ; i suppose that onions are so well known that there are few people that need any directions for the vulgar way of raising of them , yet there is matter of consequence to be observed in the raising of them for profit and greatness , and in that particular i will speak a word or two . for the first , consider the quantity of seed , and the quality of the ground , if it be stiff it requireth the more seed , and to be sown the sooner ; if it be light , the latter and the lesser quantity of seed will serve : to guide you the better therein , ten pound soweth an acre for large onions , which are to be hoed with hoes of three inches in breadth , so that every onion may have six inches compass to grow in : the season for sowing of them in , is the first full moon in march ; another season is to sow them the first full moon in august , so that they may be scalions by the next easter , but they never serve for dry onions . purslane . i may say of this as culpepper saith of saffron in the english physician , pag. 328. it is well known , saith he , generally where it groweth : now i say of purslane , if you know it not already , and would willingly have it , then purchase the seed , and you shall obtain your desire , by ordering of it , as followeth : at may day , or a little before , make a bed of dung a foot high , of a yard in breadth , as long or as short as you please , according to the quantity as you would have of them : get then some riddled mould , and lay thereon near half an inch in thickness ; so done , cast the seed therin with a little mould upon it , so that it doth no more than cover it ; if the season be dry after it , then water it , the seventh day it usually comes up , and after that it must be continually watered every evening , and by june it will be fit to be cut ; these directions will well serve if they be duly observed , for the raising of it in its naturall season for salletting : but for the producing of it early or late , and for planting of it for pickling , i shall passe at this time . parsley . parsley is sown of the seed in march , it delighteth in a rich ground , and continueth even the longest of all seeds before any of it cometh up , but after it hath gotten above the ground , it prospereth so , that the more you cut it the better it groweth ; the second spring after it is sown it runneth to seed , and after that it usually dieth . parsnips . to speak any thing for the sowing and governing of a small quantity , it would be altogether needlesse , seeing hardly any countrey man is without them in his garden . for the ordering of a great quantity , take it in short thus , viz. four pound of seed soweth an acre , then guide the quantity of seed by your ground at this rate . now the manner of sowing of it is severall , for some sow the ground before they dig it , if it be light and sandy , but that i do not approve of : the best way is to sow it after the ground is digged , when it lieth as rough as may be possible , then the seed may be covered the better : if the ground be stiff and wet , then lay it as smooth as you can before it is sown . lastly , to cleanse these parsnips from weeds after they be come up , it is better to do it with a hoe than to weed it by womens hands , for when they are hoed it taketh away the parsnips where they be too thick , which doth as much hurt as weeds , considering they have not room to grow one by another , it also looseneth the earth , when weeders would beat it down , and make it the harder ; and that which is more , an acre of parsnips will be hoed three times for the price that it will be weeded once . peas of all sorts . which are usually planted are these , the hasting spur and the ordinary hasting , the sugar peas , the blew rousewell and the grey rousewell , the sanddige peas , and the bunch peas : for to treat of all these in particular is needless as to the manner : the times of planting of them differ , to have them early or late ; to have forward peas , plant them at alhollentide or before in this manner ; when the ground is digged then hoe up ridges at two foot distance , and in the tops of those ridges make drills with one corner of your hoe , therein cast the peas in pretty thick , because the winter following the cold , mice and worms will be apt to destroy them : the reason why i counsell you to sow them on the tops of such ridges is , because they should lye dry and warm , for all kind of forward peas delight in hot and dry soyl . lastly , take notice , that peas must be hone betwixt the chases the first time , and the second time the earth and weeds must be raised up about them with the hoe : there is much more belongeth to the planting of peas for the guiding of great quantities for profit , which i am very well acquainted with , but too much engaged to treat of now . potatoes . they are not known in the south parts of england , yet in the north parts they are planted in poor and rich mens gardens , for the goodness that they yeeld to their tables in the winter when no other roots are to be had ; in ireland they are so generall and so common , that i never saw any man that had land and habitation there but that he had store of potatoes for his use , and those which plant them for profit have twenty or thirty acres of them , more or less according to their abilities . it were needless for me to set down the order of planting of them , seeing it is not generally to be put in practice , for i have not seen of them but in those places which i named , and it were vanity for me to give them directions . pumpkins . are known of most countrey people , and i may say that there are few of them but would have great and sound pumpkins if they took this advice ; about may day or a little before , make a bed of cow dung and swines-dung , of a foot high and three or four foot in breadth , and as long as you please , lay thereon so much earth as will raise it an inch higher , then prick in your seeds afoot one from another , so that they may have room to grow , then lay a little chaff atop of the bed for keeping of the ground and the plants moist , and when the plants are come up , water them with such water as standeth by a dunghill once or twice a week , this done i hope by michaelmas that you will have pumpkins as big as a kilderkin of beer , and being baked and well buttered is good chear . radish if i should enter upon every particular of what belongeth to the raising of radish , to have them young and good nine moneths in the year , it would take up a large discourse , which i will pass , for i hope you are well acquainted with the manner , so i will only put you in mind of the seasons : first to have them early , sow them in the latter end of february , if frost and snow hinder not it will prosper , and you may have good radishes by the latter end of april if the ground be rich and forward , so they maybe sown every moneth after till july , for the having of them fresh and young one under another : another season is to sow them in september for to have them in march. let so much suffice . spinage . smooth and prickly , are both so well known i need but name it : this herb may be sown in as many seasons as i told you of the radish , and it will prosper very well in good earth , it would be often cut after it is come up , else it runneth to seed presently if it be sown in the spring time ; but it is much better to sow it in september , for then it is checkt of its high growth , and isready to be eaten in sallets when others are a sowing . skarots . it may be they have some other name , and if i am not mistaken , gravous marcom calls them creases , in his book entituled the whole art of husbandry . if you know them not by neither of these names , you may know them by this , they have roots resembling parsnips , many of them upon one head and as big as a mans middle finger ; the branches that spring from it are much like those of creases , running upto two foot high or more , whereon the tops groweth tufts of small brown seed something longish : of the seed or the slip skarots are raised , of the seed it is difficult , and long before it cometh to perfection , therefore i shall not trouble you with the manner of it : to set them of the slip , it is done in march , and placed in an extraordinary rich ground : first know what the slip is that is taken from the head of the root , where many of them are set together upon white strings as it were , and set in such ground and such times as i told you , at a foot distance , each plant being kept hoed afterward , at two years end they may be taken up in great roots and reserved to be eaten , for they are the best of all others either boyled or baked in pies , the slips or suckers may be set again . sorrell . the garden kind is for many kitchin uses , it is sown in the spring time in any ordinary earth , and it will prosper very well without any further care : i only name it because i would not have the kitchin garden without it . small suckory . this differeth not much from the indian-suckory , but that it is much smaller , and not so sharp-pointed leaves , and the tast is not so bitter . i shall wave the manner of the ordering of it , because that discourse of indian-suckory may very well serve for this . turnips . be white and yellow , the ordering of them is one : the seasons for sowing of them in , is in march , april and june , those that are sown in the two first moneths , require a hot , sandy and a light ground , those that are sown in june desireth a stiff clayey ground rather than a ight : now all that is to be observed in the doing of this is , that the ground be not over-seeded ; the just proportion that good ground will have of good seed , is after the rate of three pound in an acre , and they must be hoed with a six inch hoe after they have sprung up to a reasonable heighth , three hoings serves for one crop sufficiently . tongue-grass . or pepper-grass , i think others call it smallage , it is something like parsly at its first springing , but of a lighter green colour , afterward it shooteth up with many small stalks , and the tops thereof be set with many white flowers , which leaves store of red seed , which if it be suffered to scatter cometh up naturally ; this herb when it is young is used in fallets and hath a mighty hot biting taste : for the raising of it , you need but commit it to the earth , and it groweth , and flowereth , and seedeth , and as the seed falleth it springeth again of it self without any more trouble . now i have done here with the nature of plants and their propagation by seed . the conclusion . i shall ( as it fits the work and the place ) conclude my treatise upon the working of nature and the propagation of the seed royall . in the workings of nature ( as god hath created and decreed it to stand ) man is in respect of properties and motions no less than a little world , i may not write down those properties and motions , for if i did then my conclusion would be larger than my book ; but to be short , i find that if a man could rightly know himself he might comprehend all things else in the creation , yea the creator himself ; all wise men witness this truth against such as are atheists either in opinion or practice , who hold such a sleepy-headed conceit , that the creation was from eternity , and that all things comes from the course of nature . for the first of these , the scriptures make known to the weakness of our capacity how it was created , but they that are atheists believe not the bible , then let them learn how to confute or confirm these observations following . canst thou behold any building or artificial work so rare , but presently conclude that the band of an artificer was there ? canst thou see the earth so great , the firmament so wide , the ocean seas how they ebb and flow by time and tide ? but presently in thy faithless heart confess and say , that this great work was undone on one day ; till one by wisdom , glory , power and strength formed the heavens , and the earth at the length , and by his wisdom and love created each living creature , he is the true god , or the principal of nature : and so canst thou change the nature of the cornation-seed into a hurtfull , stinking hemlock weed ? then herein gods laws thou maist plainly see , that his work must be acknowledg'd in each herb , flower and tree : thus god that was and is , by his creation we him know ; and man that was his work him still doth show . secondly , they say , that all things come by the course of nature : true , but by whom had nature its beginning ? i answered you that before ; yet to know this better , look on the greatest oak-tree , and on the acorn , such as the acorn is , so was once the oak , and how an acorn did contract the substance of the earth into its nature to bring it into so great a growth man knoweth not , but man knows it is so : so by the beginning of the nature of one plant and the perfection thereof , i easily conceive the whole universal world had a beginning by a higher principle than man , which is god. thirdly , they cannot be convinc'd what keepeth nature still awork : to understand this consider , when once the simple atheists eyes first saw the witty inventions of man in making of clocks and engines , thou couldst not tell the cause of their going , till thou wast shewed the weights that went in a privy place by opening of the door unto thee , then thou diddest understand the cause : so it would be with thee , if the god of wisdom would draw the curtains of the skies , then the door would be opened where thou maist plainly see gods weight of eternal glory , which setteth the whole course of nature awork : thus wise men discern one thing by another : then thou dull spirited man , humble thy self for thy lack of wisdom and reason , and for thy too much ignorance , and lay thy mouth in the very dust . and this bringeth me to my last reason , viz. the propagation of the seed-royal . i know all sensible and unsensible creatures doth increase by that seed which is in it self : now the seed-royal is mans seed only , by reason of that union which is in election to be partaker of with the godhead : but first understand , there is a natural body , and there is a spiritual body , which maketh but one man , they being united together , for the spiritual body must dwell in the natural body , then it is fit the spirit should rule nature its dwelling place : but on the contrary , the natural body keepeth the spiritual a prisoner in one corner of the house , for fear he should bring him to the study and obedience of heavenly principles , then he should be took off the caring and coveting for the corrupt things of this life , then satans kingdom would be destroyed . there is also a natural seed , and a spiritual ; the seed of the body is that which nature breedeth in the secret members , and it is propagated by the sowing of it in the secret womb of its mother the flesh , and when it entereth into the troublesom world , it is nursed up with the fruits of its mother nature : now the seed of the spirit is that which is given a man to improve in the mind , and it is bred in the soul and understanding , and it is propagated by the sowing of it in the treasure of the heart , and nursed up with the fruits of its mother the church , then a man must fence it with faith , plant it with reason , dressing of it with diligence , watering of it with grace , watching of it with patience , sheltering of it with care , weeding of it with the sword of the spirit , protecting of it with prayer , looking for the increase thereof with a lively hope ; this done , the seed of the spirit will grow up and bring forth fruit to perfection , then he might gather it with the hand of truth , dispose of it with the eye of charity , set forth the goodnesse of it with the tongue of praise ; this mans person is cloathed with righteousness and adorned with holiness , his heart is full of wisdom , his lips utter knowledge , his ears encline to understanding , his desires and his deserts are the fullness of love , his feet walketh in the way of peace , and at his end he shall be translated into the heaven of heavens , before the blessed and beatifical sight of the glorious trinity , and there receive an immortal crown , with power to rule in unity and love , and to rest with saints and angels in joy and glory to all eternity . finis . the alphabetical table of all the plants in the foregoing treatise , being the garden of pleasure . flowers . a amorantus , p. 7 anstartium indecom , 8 angulshenelus , 9 african , 32 b bachelors-buttons , 10 bee-flower , ib. balm of christ , 11 bears-ears , 12 bell flowers , ib. c caterpillars , 46 crows-foot , 13 crokus , 14 cranes-bill , 15 cullenbines , 16 crown-imperial , ib. corn-flag , 18 cornation-gilliflowers , 19 , to 27 clove gilliflowers , 27 couslips , 28 d dayses , ib. daffodillies , 29 dragons-claws , 30 e emrose , 31 everlasting-pea , 33 everlasting life , 34 f flower-deluce , 34 , 35 , 36 flower of the sun , 37 french-marigold , ib french-pinks , 38 foxes-glove , 39 g globe-flower , 40 green couslips , ib. h holly-hock . 41 hearbit , 42 humble-plant , 43 hearts-ease , 44 i jerusalem-couslips , 45 indian-wheat , ib. l lillies , 46 , 47 larks-heel , 48 london-pride , 49 lupins , ib. ladies-thistle , 50 love in idle , ib. ladies-liveries . 51 ladies-smocks , ib. m marmadel deparve , 52 muscabions , 53 monks-hood , 54 marle-flower , ib. n nurssusus , 55 o oxslips , ib. oak of paris , ib. p pionies , 56 primrose-tree , ib. princes-feathers , 57 poppies , 58 pinks , 59 purple-primrose , 60 pawmers , ib. q queens-gilliflower , 61 r rose-campions , ib. rose-rubee , 62 rocket-flower , ib. s stock-gilliflowers , 63 , 64 snap-dragons , 65 sweet-williams , 66 scarlet-beans , ib. snails , 67 snow-drops , ib. start up and kiss me , 68 sensitive plant , 73 t tvlips , 68 , to 72 thrift . 73 turkey-caps , ib. v violets , 74 w wall-gilliflowers , ib. the table of the trees . a apricock , 75 almonds , ib. b bay-tree , 76 box , ib. c ciprus . ib. creeping-vine . 79 f fig-tree , 77 figs of india , ib. filleroy , 78 g gesamits , ib. h holiander , 79 horn-fig-tree ; ib. l laurel , 80 lowary , ib. lowrex , ib. lorestinus , 81 lignae vitae , ib. m mirtil-trees , 82 o orangr-trees , ib. p pomgraenate-tree , 83 peach-trees , ib. perriwinkle , ib. s sweet-bryar , 84 t tamarus , ib. the gillierose , ib. the province-rose , 85 the cinamon-rose , ib. v vines , 86 , 87 an alphabetical table of all the plants in the foregoing treatise , being the physical and fruitfull garden . herbs . a angelica , 88 alieompane , 89 alexander , ib. annis , 90 all-hail , ib. b bares-britch , ib. balm , 91 basyl , ib. blessed-thistle , ib : bares-foot , 92 buglos , ib. burridge , 93 blood-wort , ib. burnat , ib. betony . 94 c camomil , ib. comfrey , ib. cives , 95 cammel-beg , ib. chervil , ib. carrawayes , 96 clary , ib. ceursemary , ib. cummin , 97 coriander , ib. celandine , ib. d dragons , 98 dill , ib. e evat , ib. f fetherfew , 99 fennel , ib. french-honey-suckles , ib. french-mallows , 100 g gromwell , ib. gladin , 101 gooses-tongue , ib. garmander , ib. garlick , 102 h horse-redish , ib. herb-grasse , ib. horehound , 103 hyssop , ib. housleek . 104 i jerusalem-sage , ib. k kings-mallows , 105 kapons-tails , ib. l lovage , 106 liquorish , ib. lavender-cotton , 107 lavender-spike , 108 lavender-slip , ib. lemon-time , ib. m mallows , 109 march , ib. madrath , 110 marygolds , 111 mother-wort , ib. n nip , 112 o orpin , ib. p pepper-wort , ib. pot-margerum , 113 prick-madam , ib. purple-grasse , 114 penny-royal , 115 poppey , ib. r rosemary , ib. roman-sage , 116 rubarb , 117 s sparemint , 118 saffron , 119 sage , 120 summer savoury , ib. setterwort , ib. stone-crop , 121 shalot , ib. sweet maudlin , 122 scurvy-grass , ib. sweet fern , ib. sweet-covey , 123 sweet margerum , ib. sweet oak . 124 t taragon , ib. time , ib. tansie , 125 v valaren , 125 w wormwood , 126 winter-savoury , ib. the table of trees . b barberry , 127 c cvrrants , ib. g goosberries , 128 m mvlberries , ib. q quinces , 129 r rasberries , ib. roses , 130 s savin-tree , 131 strawberry-tree , 132 the alphabetical table of all the herbs , roots and pulse contained in the kitchin garden . a artichoaks , 134 b beets , 135 c cowcumbers , 136 colliflowers , 137 cabidges , 138 carrors , ib. corn-sallet , 139 e english beans , 140 f french beans , ib. g goards , 139 i indian suceory , ib. jerusalem artichoaks , ib. k kidney beans . 141 l lettice , 141 leeks . 142 m millions , ib. 143 , 144 o onions , 146 p pvrslin , ib. parsley , 147 parsnips , ib. peas of all sorts , 148 potatoes , ib. pumpkins , 149 r radish , ib. s sparrow-grasse , 134 spinage , ib. skarots , 150 sorrel , ib. small suckory , ib. t tvrnips , ib. tongue-grasse . 151 finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a28337-e650 a cunning invention . descrip . ordering . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . of kinds . names . sowing . season . of slips . colour . grafting . of sent. divers wayes for the preservation of gilli . flowers . various things . continuanee . nature . the last experiment . propagating . seasons of great force the worthiness of them . reasons why . ordering . descrip . planting . of sorts . sowing . another season . 2. of planing . of place . experiments . 2. 3. 〈…〉 names . descrip . sowing . 2. descrip . setting . planting . the dignity . seed . of flowering at certain seasons . of planting . the time . the place how. alterations . experiments . 2. descrip . of raising . time. descrip . descrip . divers kinds . sowing . 2. 3. of the name . descrip . care in propagation . 1. 2. preservation . the nature . descrip . planting . preservation . another sort of wall. flowers . descrip . descrip . descrip . raising . reasons . planting . a question . answer . of alteration . other sorts . observations . industry . nature . sowing . descrip . ordering . the names and kinds . of planting . observations . descrip . descrip . sowing . descrip . descrip . planting . various descriptions . descrip . sowing . 2. raising . descrip . descrip . planting . of planting . of kinds . sowing . transplanting . experiments . kinds . preparetions . 2. easie way of slips . planting . descrip . ordering . descrip nature . ordering . descrip . of raising . double sorts . of nature . the art of doubling . natures fancy . descrip . propagation . the increase . profit . descrit . descrip . of names . colour . suckers . colour altered . disputes of nature . grafting of seed . removing ofsent . crossing of nature . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . notes for div a28337-e12860 descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip . descrip .