vryne and expelleth the stone The water speedily healeth woundes if they bee washed mornyng and euening with the same this also profiteth vnto the exulceration and fracture of womens places which is wonte to happen after the delyuery of childe if so be the places be washed with the water both morning and euening What skil and diligence required in the workmanly sowing and ordering of the Onyon Chap. 20. THat the Onyons haue a bodie compassed and compact with many cartilagies there is none I beleeue whiche knoweth not The auntient husbandmen as witnesseth Columella named these Onyons bycause they grewe in one rounde heade togither yet not ioyned togither with so manye heades round about as the Garlike which vnto this day is familiarly named the Onyon of the Husbandmen with vs. The Onions for the more parte oughte to be sowen in the moneths of Januarye February and Marche in a fatte Earthe well dunged moiste and diligently trimmed whiche shot vp to some heigth ought to be remoued in the moneth of Aprill a good distance the one from the other and these further growen oughte carefully to bee weeded aboute and often laboured to cause them growe the bigger and to defende thē in time of a blustering winde by helps set against The worthy Neapolitane Rutilius writeth that the seedes desire to be bestowed in a fatte earthe often tourned and raked moiste and dunged and red also as the Greke Sotion in his husbandry willeth which afore ought to be cast vp that it maye putrifye throughe the colde and frostes in the Winter tyme as the skilfull Columella vttereth after these the Earthe to bee dunged and wythin twoo dayes after the grounde leuelled forthe and caste or trodden into beddes all the rootes and vnprofitable hearbes afore clensed out These workmanly handled in the moneth of March being a calme and pleasante daye the South or Easte winde at that tyme blowing the seedes shall workmanly be committed to the earth wyth Sauerie intermedeled betweene them as Plinie wylleth for so the plantes prosper the better The woorthie Greeke Sotion admonisheth the Gardener which would set Onyons to cut away all the hearye rootes and toppes of the greene blades before the bestowing wherby they may growe to big heades Others there are whiche only pluck away the blades nigh to the root for on suche wyse they sende the iuyce to the neither partes to cause the head grow bigge But these after the mynd of Rutilius ought in this maner to be placed or set thinne in beddes and both raked and weeded if these not often yet foure tymes at the least as Plinie willeth who also taught that t the ground be digged cast vp three tymes before the bestowing of y e seedes in the earth If the Gardener commit seeds to the earth in the wane or decrease of the Moone he shal possesse smal and soure ones if the seeds in the increase of the Moone then strong or bigge and of a moyster taste wyth the sourenesse maystred But the same not to be vnremēbred nor ouerpassed that in al the kindes of Onyons the same somewhat long and sharpe is wonte to bee sourer than the rounde and the redde one more than the white to these the drye one more than the greene and the raw more than the boyled the freshe also more than that seasoned or poudered with salte or the sodden one The Gardener or owner shall possesse farre greater Onyons if whē there is a place or roome for the setting againe they bee layed in Earth well laboured for twentie dayes space and so long left drying agaynst the sunne vntill all the moysture be gone or drawen forth by heate of the sunne after the instruction of the worthy Greke Sotion which Ruellius out of Palladius semeth greatly to mistake in that he ascribeth the same to be done to the Dill and not the Onyons whose heades maye also be bared by plucking off the vpper skinne before the setting againe in the Earth to prosper the better and yeelde the bigger seedes if they be set in the Earth well a hande bredth asunder The heades to be eaten before the ful rypenesse that these maye bee the sweeter ought rather to bee sowen in a moyste grounde among the young Plantes of the Cucumbers Gourdes and Melones If the owner wil rightly possesse and gather the seeds in due season when the greene stemmes are shotte vp highe and yeelde bigge heads they are then to bee guyded wyth two smal forkes of wooded fixed on eyther side as Columella willeth that the stems though the stayes shoaring them vpright maye not in anye bygge wynde knocke the heades togither to the spilling and losse of the Seedes on the Earthe which are not asore to be gathered that they inioye a blacke colour as after the Greekes Columella and Rutillius like vttered The stemmes and knops in which the Seedes are contayned ought to be gathered in the decrease of the wane of the Moone in a fayre and warme time when the leaues or blades begin of themselues to wyther and drie and that the seedes beginne to appeare blacke of themselselues for then ought the stemmes to be plucked vp by the rootes which knit togither in forme of garlands or otherwyse bounde vp to be layd in the Sunne to drie and rypen The Onyons will continue long vncorrupted as the sayd Sotion hath noted if so the Onyons be put into hot water or as Plinie willeth into saltie and warme water and after layed in the hotte sunne vntill they be through dry which lette bee hidden or couered with Barly straw and in such manner bestowed y t nether touch other by any part In many places the Onyons be hanged in the smoke and in Chimnies nere the heate of the fire and on such wise preserue them a long time The auntiente and skilfull writers of Husbandrie vtter that if the Gardener would possesse Onyons of a wonderful bignesse in the heade the seedes of the Onyons put within the seedes of Gourdes whyche so handeled bestowe in moyste beddes well turned in with dung into a like bignesse wil the heades of the Onyons increase if the Earth digged rounde about the small heades of the Onyons in the heauing or lifting of the earth shal be lifted vp yet in such maner done that the heades not quyte raysed out of the erth or plucked vp quite by the rootes as I afore vttered to be wrought with the Lecke The like also shall the owner obtayne if boaring the heade of an Onyon with a woodden pricke in sundrye places and putting into the holes Gourde seedes he bestow thē togither in a wel laboured Earth But in this place I thought not to omit that if the Gardener shall commit the seedes of the Onyons in due tyme to the Earth they wyll after growe into a head but they shal yelde lesse stoare of Seede But if the Gardener shal bestow little heades in the ground the heades wil after whyther and ware drye and be shotte
shall worke after this maner in taking a litle clodde of earth and the same to sprinckle with fayre water kneading it well in the hande which after appearing clammie and cleauing or sticking to the fingers doth vndoubtedly witnesse that earth to haue a fatnesse in it An other triall of a battell earth may thus be purchased if you digge vp a rotten clodde in a maner blacke and the same able inough to couer it selfe with the groweth of the owne grasse and appearing also of a mixte colour whiche earth if it be found thinne and loose may well be fastned and made clammie through the adioyning and mixing of a fat earth to it The garden grounde doth also require a sweetnesse to consist in it whiche the Gardener shall easely finde and knowe by taste of it if so be he take vp a clodde of earth in any parte of the ground which most misliketh him and moystening the clodde with fayre water in an earthen potsharde doth after the dipping of the finger in this moyst earth and water let a droppe softely fall on the tunge he shall incontinent feele and perceyue by reason of the taste of what condition the same is Further euery fatte earth beyng reasonably loose is euermore commended and chosen whiche of it selfe requireth smal labour and yeeldeth the most increase But worste of all others is that grounde whiche shalbe bothe dry and grosse leane and colde In the kindes of grounde the chalkie is to be refused whiche properly the auncients name the cleyishe and reddish earth The worthy Varro commendeth the same grounde whiche of it selfe beyng gentle and pliable yeeldeth properly walwurtes The same earth doth Columella greatly allowe which of the owne accorde yeeldeth or bringeth foorth wilding or Crabbe trees yong Springs the Slowe or Bullesse trees Elme trees and such like So that a battell ground is on suche wise founde and knowen the rather of the crescent things seene in it of the owne accorde yet of necessitie may euery grounde well agree to be mixed and turned in with dunge Florentinus vttereth an other triall of a fruitefull grounde if so be the Gardener diggeth vp a furrow of a foote and a halfe deepe and filleth the same againe with the owne earth which in short time after gapeth or choppeth this no doubt is a weake and leane earth But if the earth thus ordred swelleth or retcheth out then is it a sure note that the same is a battell and fatte grounde And this is noted to be a meane earth whiche after the digging and raking euen gapeth but a little This I thought not good to be couered nor willingly ouer passed that a garden plotte situated or standing neare to a mote or compassed by a mote is not alwayes lawdable in that the seedes bestowed in the same and diuerse plantes set in it do lightly and soone through the water vaporating foorth waxe olde yea the fruytes whether those shalbe of the hearbes or trees are for the more parte caused vnpleasant and ouermoyst Further conceyue that a garden grounde ought to be of a moderate increase and easie dressing whiche neyther is very moyst nor ouer dry of it selfe To these suche a earth is greatly commended as beyng new digged byrdes couet to it and that Crowes especially folow the new casting of the digger If the earth shalbe founde naughtie or vnfruitfull as the Cleyie Sandie and Chalkie then ought the same to be amended after the minde of the skilfull with mearle and dunge layed three foote deepe and well turned in with the earth if this be perceyued ouer thinne and leane then to be mixed and holpen by a fat earth or to a barreyne and ouer dry groūd may be mixed a moyst and very fatte earth A waterie ground is made the better if the same be mixed with a sandie or small grauelie earth and deepe Alleys made for the conueighyng and shifting of the water falling in the night But to vse such a tediouse paynes in these Plinie accompteth it a madnesse for what fruyte or gayne may be hoped after in bestowyng suche a trauayle and diligence in the like grounde plotte To conclude euery reasonable earth may very much be holpen thorough the well dunging and laboring of the Gardener of whiche matter in the proper place we meane fully to intreate Of the placing and standing of a Garden plotte with the necessarie benefite of water to a Garden and other matters profitable Chap. 5. IT is right necessary sayth Varro to place gardens neare to the Citie aswell for the benefite of pothearbes and rootes as all maner of sweete smelling floures that the Citie greatly needeth Where these placed in a soyle farre off that they can not so conueniently and in due time be brought to the market to be solde in such places are altogither disalowed and thought friuolous for the turne Cato doth very much commende the garden plot placed neare to the Citie in which both young trees to beare vp Uines and Willow or Osier trees be planted nigh to water sides and in places waterie and that through the garden grounde water or springs be seene running To these the seedes of most hearbes committed into a very well dunged dressed and fayre or large open plot in whiche besides all kindes of fruytes for the vse of man workemanly planted and set in apte times of the yeare This skilfull Cato also willeth that all kindes of garden groundes be placed and framed neare to the Citie aswell for the Garlande or Posie floures as all maner rounde and delectable rootes with the sweete and pleasant smelling trees as all the kindes of the Roses the sweete Jacemine the Eglantine bryar the Myrtill tree and all others of lyke sorte sowed and planted in due seasons of the yeare But a Garden plot onely seruing for the vse of potherbes and the kitchin ought especially to be a battell ground sufficient moyst of it selfe and well turned in or workemanly laboured with dung Garden plottes ought to be placed farre from Barnes Hay loftes and Stables if the same possibly may be refused or otherwise chosen for the turne in that the chaffe or duste of strawes as enimie to them the plantes hardly brooke and suffer in somuch that the very strawes blowē abroade with the winde and falling on hearbes do greatly annoy and harme them as the singular Florentinus in his Greeke instructions of Husbandry skilfully vttereth For these sayth he by cleauing to the plantes in the fallyng pearse the leaues which once pearced are incontinent burned by them All Gardens aswell prosper by the dunging with rootes as with the proper dunge allowable yet dungyng the Garden earth with the branches and leaues of trees is of the skilfull Gardeners very much disalowed as vnprofitable and noyouse to hearbes As to the well standing of a Garden behoueth the aptest and moste laudable placing of a Garden plot shalbe if the playne grounde lying somewhat a slope shal haue a course of spring water running through by
seueral partes But this course of water running through the Garden plot may in no wise be bigge And the smalnesse of the labouring and dressing of a Garden grounde is more of yeelde than the largenesse of it not labored in a maner at all It behoueth to haue a well in a Garden onlesse some running water as eyther ditche or small ryuer be neere adioyning for that a sweete water sprinckled on yong Plantes and Hearbes giueth a speciall nourishment If a well bee lacking in the Garden then digge a deepe pitte in some conuenient place of the Garden although it may be a painefull labour for the Gardener to drawe water out of the same For a Garden grounde needeth often to be watered through whiche all Seedes committed to the earth as Plinie reporteth both sooner breake foorth and speedier spread abroade That a pit with water of long continuance may be purchased the same at that time Columella willeth to be digged wheÌ„ as the Sunne shall obtayne or occupie the last degrees of virgo which is in the moneth of September before the Equinoctiall haruest For the vertue then of Well springes are throughly tried and founde out at whiche time through the long drought of Summer the earth lacketh the due moysture of rayne If a well or pitte to purpose cannot be made in the Garden then frame vp a squarepitte or Cesterne leaueled in the bottome with brycke and â—ime to receyue the rayne water falling with whiche in the hottest Summer dayes you may water the beddes of the Garden But if all these maner of healpes and wayes shall fayle the Gardener or can not wel be compassed in the Garden ground then shal he digge the ground after the minde of Palladius Rutilius three or foure foote the deeper or lower For the beddes on such wise ordered being workemaÌ„ly laboured and sowen may the better endure through the lowe standing the whole drought of the Summer dayes In the Garden ground besides this shall you obserue that when the Alleys or pathes of the beddes be ouer cloyed with water to digge deepe gutters here there after your discretion in suche order that the water falling and runnyng along may be guyded into a conuenient pitte made at the lower side or ende of the Garden for that onely purpose Here further learne that what Garden plot the nature of the moysture helpeth not the same may you aptly deuide into partes in conuerting the spaces digged and dressed for the winter time to lie open to the South and those prepared for the Summer time like vnto the North quarter What ayre commended for the benefite of a Garden and whiche be noâ—ous as well to Man as the Plantes and the reason why Garden plottes ought to be placed nigh to the owners house Chap. 6. EUery ground plâ—â—â—ying neare to the Cittie aswell the Garden as Orcharde ought to be placed neere to the house for the oftner recourse and diligence to be bestowed of the owner and the Garden especially to be laboured and well turned in with dung through whose iuyce and fatning the earth may yeelde hearbes of the owne accorde As touchyng the ayre commended for a Garden the same being cleare and temperate is beste alowed in that this not onely cherisheth and prospereth the hearbes growing in it but procureth a delight and comfort to the walkers therein An euill ayâ—â— in the contrarie mâ—â—â—et troubled with the vapours of standing pittâ—s ditches and suche like mixed to it dothe not onely annoy and corrupte the Plantes and Hearbes growing in that Garden faste by but â—ist choke and dull the Sâ—yrites of men by walkyng in the 〈◊〉 Besides â–ª the windes byting and frostes mortifying doe both harme and destroy Plantes Auicen wryting of the ayre doth in skilfull maner â—tter that the same ayre whiche after the Sunne setting is soone colde and after the Sunne rising speedily hote is both subtill and healthfull to man So that a contrarie ayre to this worketh the contrary to man and Plantes Yet that ayre is accompted worser which seemeth as it were to wring or binde hâ—rde togither the Heart yea making straight or letting the attraction of ayre The learned Neapolitane Rutilius besides these reporteth that y e subtilnesse or healthfulnes of ayre do declare those places free froÌ„ low valleys and stincking mistes or fogges in the night that might annoy both men and the Plantes Here is doth not much disagree from the matter to write in generall general of the qualities of the windes and of these in the briefest maner First the Easterly and Westerly windes be in a maner temperate of qualitie as betwene a hotenesse and coldnesse yet of the two the Easterly windes be knowen dryer Further the Easterly windes are for the more parte hoter than the Westerly the Westerly by reporte of the Auncient somewhat more moyst than the Easterly Of all the windes for the benefite of the Garden is the Southwest winde especially commended as the worthy Florentinus in his Greeke rules and others of experience affirme Besides these as vnto the clemencie or temperatenesse of ayre and healthfulnesse of the place belongeth a Garden plot in colde countries ought in a contrary maner to be placed as either to the East or South quarter if the same be such a plot of ground whiche bothe contayneth trees Plants or Herbes comming vp in it least the Garden plot excluded from these two partes by the obiect or standing against of some most great and high hill be so nipped frosen and withered with the extreame colde long continuyng or the Garden plotte otherwise farre distant form the comforte of the Sunne on the North parte or els the Sunne only shining low and weake at the West quarter of the same The singular Cato willeth that the Garden if a man can be placed at the foote of an Hill and the same beholding or lying open to the South especially in a healthfull place For a Garden plotte thus defended by an highe hill on the North parte and all the day comforted by the open face of the South quarter is procured to yeelde the sweeter and tymelier Fruytes in the seasons of the yeare But in hote Regions or Countries let the open place of a Garden grounde be rather situated towardes the North quarter whiche may through the like standing auayle aswell to health of bodie and quicknyng of the Spyrites as to profite and pleasure This besides conceyue that the placing of a Garden grounde neare to a Fenne or Marrishe is euery where to be misliked and refused if the same lie open towardes the South or Weste and yearely in the Summer time is accustomed to be drie for on such wise hapning the ayre thereabout gathered vp doth in the falling againe ingender eyther the Pestilence or wicked vermine much harming the Garden plot lying nigh to it There is also a great regarde to be had to the water mote or ditche standing nighe or rounde aboute the Garden grounde whether
instruction of the Epicure to a more delight of themselues in coueting to feede on daintie herbes and Sallates with meates delectable and taking an earnester care for the pleasing of their mouthes they laboured then to become skilfull and to vse a greater care about the ordering and apt dressing of Garden plottes by well fensing and comely furnishyng of their grounde with sundry needefull and delectable trees plantes and herbes in which trauayles and diligence of the husbandmen so good successe and commoditie ensuing procured not onely the willing carriage of herbes fruytes and other commodities farre off to be exercised vnto Cities and market Townes by which these through the sale obtayned a dayly gayne and yearely reuenew for the ayde of theyr housholde charges but allured them also to place and frame gardens aswell within Citties and Townes as faste by that a coste bestowed might after possesse the recreation and delight of mindes besides the proper gayne made by the fruytes floures and herbes gathered in them The Garden plottes at length grew so common among the meaner sorte that the charge and the chiefest care of the same was committed vnto the wyfe in somuch that these accompted not the wife of the house to be a husewife in deede if shee bestowed not a payne and diligence as Cato reporteth in the weeding trimming and dressing of the Garden But to be briefe and leauing further to reporte of antiquitie I thinke it high tyme to declare the effects and commoditie of this worke taken in hande and first to intreate of the care helpes and secretes to be learned and folowed in the Garden grounde All whiche in a pleasant maner shall after be vttered in destinct Chapiters to the furtherance and commoditie of many Gardeners and all suche hauing pleasure therein What care and diligence is requyred of euery Gardener to these what increase commoditie a well laboured earth yeeldeth Chap. 2. THe husbandman or Gardener shal enioy a most coÌ„modiouse and delectable garden whiche bothe knoweth can and will orderly dresse the same yet not sufficient is it to a Gardener that he knoweth or would the furtherance of the garden without a cost bestowed which the workes and labours of the same require nor the will againâ— of the workeman in doing and bestowing of charges shall smally auayle without he haue both arte and skill in the same For that cause it is the chiefest poynt in euery facultie and busines to vnderstand and know what to begin and follow as the learned Columella out of Varronianus Tremellius aptly vttereth The person whiche shall enioy or haue in a readinesse these three and will purposedly or with diligence frame to him a well dressed Garden shall after obtayne these two commodities as vtilitie and delight the vtilitie yeeldeth the plentie of Herbes floures and fruytes right delectable but the pleasure of the same procureth a delight and as Varro writeth a iucunditie of minde For that cause a Garden shal workemanly be handled and dressed vnto the necessarie vse and commoditie of mans life next for health and the recouerie of strength by sicknesse feebled as the singular Palladiusâ— Rutilius hath learnedly vttered and the skilful Florentinus that wrote cunningly of husbandry in the Greeke tunge certayne yeeres before him Lastly by sight vnto delectation and iucunditie through the fragrancie of smell but most of all that the same may furnishe the owners and husbande mans table with sundry seemely and dayntie dishes to him of small coste The Garden grounde if the same may be ought rather to be placed neere hande whereby the owner or Gardener may with more ease be partaker of such commodities growing in the garden and both oftner resorte and vse his diligence in the same So that this is the whole care and duetie requyred of euery owner and Gardener in their plot of ground Yet may I not be vnmindefull that the garden doth also require a dunging at the apt times of whiche in the proper place we shall after intreate What consideration and chosing to be vsed in any Garden plot with the goodnesse and worthinesse of euery earth Chap. 3. AS to the nature and goodnesse of a garden grounde the especialler that ought to be eschewed are a bitter and salte earth of taste if so be we meane to make a fertill commodiouse well yeeldyng ground for these two natures of earth were very much mislyked in Auncient tyme as may appeare by the skilfull Poete Virgill who sayth that euery earth is not allowed or commended for the yeelde of garden herbes For which cause the mynde of the auncient husebande men is that the Gardener by taking vp a clodde of Earth should artly trie the goodnesse of it after this maner in considering whether the earth be nether whote and bare nor leane by sande lacking a mixture of perfite earth nor the same founde to be wholly Chalke nor naughtie sande nor barrayne grauell nor of the glittering pouder or duste of a leane stonie grounde nor the earth continuall moyst for all these be the speciall defaults of a good and perfite earth The best grounde for a Garden is the same iudged to be whiche in the Sommer time is neyther very drie nor cleyie nor sandie and roughe nor endamaged with gapings procured by heate of the Sommer as the woorthie Didymus in his Greeke instructions of husbandry writeth Wherefore the earth whiche in the Sommer tyme is wonte to be dry eyther perisheth or loseth al the seedes sowen and plantes set in it or yeeldeth those thinne and weake prouing on the ground For the Clâ—yie ground of it selfe ouerfast holdeth but the sandie and rough in a contrarie maner so that neyther is wonte to nourish plantes nor retayne water Therefore an apt earth for a Garden shall you readily trie and finde out if the same through wet and dissolued with water you shall see to haue a muche clamminesse and fastnesse In whiche grounde if a waterinesse shall exceede then shall you iudge the same disagreable and vnfruitefull if dissoluing the earth with water you shall finde the same very clammie or much cleauing to the hande and fingers as it were waxe this earth shall you accompte as wholly vnprofitable Plinie willeth that a garden plotte before all other matters done to it be very well clensed of stones and to these that the earth proue not full of chappes or but few to be seene least the Sunne beames entering betweene may so scortch and burne the rootes of the plantes For whiche cause the best and gentle or worthiest earth shalbe chosen in whiche you minde to committe your seedes or for the same that the Nource as a mother may often agree to the fruyte or yeelde to be an ayder and furtherer to it Certayne playner instructions much furthering the Gardener in the knowledge and choyse of a good and battell ground with other matter necessarie Chap. 4. THe Gardener minding to trie and know a fatte earth for the vse of a garden
agaynst the time of committing seedes to the earth and in the Moneth of Marche to bee dunged againe that the earth well moystned with showres in the moneth of Aprill may be procured the apter for the bestowing of your finer and daintier seedes in the same Herein consider the leanenesse or fatnesse of your earth in the often dunging of it and the worthinesse of your seedes which may require a lyke paynes to be bestowed on the ground The plot of earth prepared for the Winter seedes ought to be wel turned in with dung about the end of September and the seedes committed to the earth after the grounde bee well moystned with showers The dung in a Garden plot for the planting of yong settes ought not to be cowched or layde next to the rootes of the plantes but in such order the dung vsed that a thinne bed of earth be first made for the setting of the yong hearbes next layed to this a handsome bed of dung as neyther to thicke nor thinne spred on that earth aboue that let an other course of earth bee raked ouer of a reasonable thicknesse which workemanly handled and done see that your plantes bee sette in handsome maner into the ground and in a chosen tyme. For the earth and beddes on such wise prepared helpe that the plants bestowed shall not at all be burned neyther the heate of the dung hastily breath forth to them Of the kindes of dung and which well commended for the dunging of Gardens Chap. 10. AS touching the worthinesse excellencie of dung the Greeke writers of husbandrie to whom many of the latin Authours consent affyrme that the Doues dung is the best bycause the same possesseth a mightie hotenesse for which they willed this dung to bee strawed the thinner and in a maner as thinne to be scattered abroade as seedes on the earth wherby the same may so season the earth measurably and not on a heape or thicke bestowed as M. Varro reporteth much like to the dung of cattel throwne abroad on the ground The dung also of the hen and other foules greatly commended for the fournesse except the dung of geese ducks and other waterfoules for their much and thin dunging And although this dung last bee weaker than the others yet may the same be profitable as the selfesame Varro witnesseth out of the Greâ—ke instructions of husbandrie A commendation next is attributed to the Asses dung in that the same beast for his leysurely eating digesteth easier and causeth the bitter dung which bestowed in the earth for that the same is most fertill by nature bringeth or yeeldeth forth least store of weedes and profiteth verie much all plantes and hearbes yea this causeth the most sweete and pleasantest herbes and rootes The third in place is the Goates dung bing most sowre which ensueth the sheepes dung yet fatter After this both the Oxe and Cow dung next the swines dung worthier than the Oxen or Kien but greatly disallowed of Columella for the mightie hotenesse in that the same burneth the seedes immediately bestowed in the earth The vilest and worst of all dungs after the opinion of the Greeke writers of husbandrie is the horses and moiles if either of these be bestowed alone in y e earth yet with the sower dungs mixed either wil profitably be abated or qualified But the same especially is to be lerned and obserued of euery Gardener and husbandman that they fatten not the earth if it be possible with dung of one yeares for the same besides y â— it is of no vtilitie it ingendreth also many noisome wormes and kindes of vermin But of the contrarie minde is Columella who willeth the earth to be fatned w t dung which hath lyen aâ—yere not aboue in that the same as he reporteth bringeth forth least weedes and possesseth as yet a sufficient strength for the turne But how elder the same be so much the lesse profitable in that it lesser auayleth yet the newest dung sayth he will well agree for Medowes or the fields in that the same procureth the more yeelde of grasse being bestowed in the Moneth of Februarie or Marche in colder countreys and the Moone increasing of light The mud also of a running water as the ditch or riuer may be employed in the stead of dung The dung besides of three yeares is esteemed very good for that in the longer time lying whatsoeuer this shall haue of the euill qualitie and stinking sauor the same by that time vapored forth if any hard matter consisted in the same the age throughly resolued it Howsoeuer it shall happen that the earth be the worthiest dung of all for floures Kitchin herbes is the verie thinne Ashes reported to be which in nature is hote For this kinde of dung eyther killeth or driueth away the Garden Fleas the wormes the canker wormes founde commonly on Colewortes Snailes and all other creeping things wasting the stemmes of plants and herbes The dung which men make if the same be not mixed with the rubbish or dust swept out of the house is greatly mislyked for that by nature it is hoter and burneth the seedes sowne in that earth so that this is not to bee vsed vnlesse the ground be a barren grauelly or verie louse sand lacking strength in it which being on suche wise requyreth the more helpe of nourishment and fatning through this kinde of dung yet for lacke of the foresayde dungs the others may bee put in vse so that these with the Spade be often chaunged and dispersed in the ground Here you may not forget that a watrie Garden plot requyreth the more plentie of dung but a drie earth needeth the lesser dunging the one for the dayly moysture running in it being ouercolde and stiffe is through the often applying of the hote dung resolued and made temperate And the other drie of it selfe through the heate consisting in it by much applying of this hote dung is of the same burned for that cause the moysture grounde ought to haue store of dung but the dryer small dunging That if no kind of dung can be purchased tâ—en in grauelly groundes it shall be best to dung the same with Chalke â—ut in Chalkie places ouer thicke those dung with grauelly earth for on such wise Garden plottes shal not only be caused to be battle and fruitfull but shall also become fayre and delectable as Columella the moste diligent and skilfull instructer of the Romaine Gardens witnesseth let this last instruction of Plinie be remembred that at what time soeuer you minde to dung a Garden for yeelding of fewe weedes see that the winde blowe then from the west quarter and the Moone decreasing of light and the earth also drie But for the dunging of a Medow as before vttered let the same be done in the increase of the Moone c. For by such an obseruation followed the plentifulnesse of yeeld is maruellous much increased as after the worthie Greekes the Latin wryters of
on suche wise handled the plantes springing and shooting vp weaken the lesse yea being feeble they shal mightly be holpen â—with water Bryne mixed and sprinckled on them There are câ—rtaine Greeke instructers of Husbandrie both of Plinie Columella and the Neapolitane Paladius Rutilius allowed and commended which will that the rootes of the wild Cucumbre be infused for one whole day and a night in faire water and with the same through the often sprinckling so to moisten well the Seedes the next day those Seedes couered ouer with a Blancket they will the next morrowe to be committed to the earth affirming the Seedes thereby to prosper the bâ—tter and these for a certaintie to bee preserued from all euill annoyances The selfe same doth the skilful Apuleius will that a fewe Lentels be also myxed with the seedes â— in the sowing of them for as much as the â—ame pulse by propertie auayleth againste the harmes of wyndes Thys authour further willeth that for a safety of the seedes bestowed a speckled Tode named of the Greekes Phrynon bee drawen by a lyne in the nyghte time rounde about the Garden or fielde afore the earth be laboured or diligently digged and dressed of the Gardener and the same after inclosed in an earthen potte to be buried in y e middes of the Garden or Falowe fielde which at the present sowing time approched shall then bee digged furth and throwen or carryed from that place a greate distaunce off least the plantes after the seedes sowen growing vppe in that place maye proue or become bitter and vnpleasant of smell The Egiptian and Greeke instructors of husbandrie reporte that the seedes after the bestowing will remayne vngnawen or bitten and free of harme by creeping things in the Garden if the seedes shall bee committed to the earth when the Moone possesseth hic halfe light or is quarter olde It might be thought an obliuiousnesse to haue ouerpassed y e physicke experiment of y e singular Democritus both for the seedes and plantes noted diligently of the skilfull Neapolitane Palladius Rutilius after this maner Bestow and close couer saith Democritus of the Sea or riuer Ereuises no fewer than ten in number into a glasse body filled vp with water the same set abrode in the aire let so stande to bee sunned for tenne dayes togither the Seedes that you would after haue to remaine in the earth vnharmed sprinckle and moisten with the same water for eyght dayes togyther after these eyght dayes ended as Rutilius instructeth doe in like manner with that water vntill the plantes after your desired minde be well sprung vp at whiche experiment thus handled you will greatly maruell for out of these Seedes what plants shall be sprung and shot vp will not only driue Beastes and Cattell from the eating of them but all other creeping things of what condition they be from the gnawing and biting of them of whyche matters shall further be intreated in the proper Chapiters a little after and for other defenses and helpes of Seedes as occasion offereth in the places shall be vttered The laudable instructions of the auntient in the nature and election of sundry Seedes with the apt times commended for the sowing of most Kitchin Herbes Chapter 18. THe singular Columella instructeth that all Seedes bestowed in the Garden for the vse and benefite of the Kitchin or potte ought rather be done in the increase of the Mone as from the first vnto the sixte day For asmuch as all Seedes committed to the Earthe in the decrease or waine of the Moone eyther slowly breake and shoote vp or else so weakely increase that these after serue to small purpose It many times also happeneth as the worthy Varro reporteth that although the Seedes bestowed in the Earth be done in the increase of the Mone the Seedes besides hauing a iuice waightie full white meale in them and in no maner corrupted or too old yet these notwithstaÌ„ding are hindered through some euill constellation which of the skilful is named an influence of Heauen were the Gardeners diligence neuer so muche so that it is not impertinent to the matter heere to recite what the worthy Neapolitane Palladius Rutilius reporteth of the Garden ground which sayeth that a garden plot placed and lying vnder a freshe and sweete aire and moistned gently by some Spring or sweete water runnyng by is in a manner battell and readie ynough whereby the same requireth but a small instructioÌ„ and diligence to be bestowed in the sowing of it The bestowing of Seedes in a moist earth the beddes afore short cast ought to be done in the warme season of the Spring as in May and the Mone increasing for seedes on suche wise handled prosper the better through the warme and drie time following But if occasion moueth you to commit Seedes into a drie ground and that water bee farre distant then digge the alleis of the beddes deepe and in a slope maner for the better leading of the water from beddes sufficiently moistned to others lacking moisture and to these such a drie Earth better agreeth to be sowen in the Haruest time the ground before well moystned with shoures heerein not forgetting the choise of seedes nearest agreeing to the natures of these two Earthes with the furtherance of the Moone at time of the sowing If the Gardener mindeth to commit seedes to the Earth in the Sommer time lette the same be done in the increase of the Mone in the monethes of July and August In the Haruest time about the middle of September and in October y e Mone in those monethes in hir first quarter for the time againe of committing Seedes to the Earth let the same be done in the Monethes of February and March the Mone at those times increasing of lighte The Seedes which ought especially to be sowen in the Earth about the ende of Haruest as about the middle of September and in October the Mone at those times increasing that these may all the Winter endure and be strengthned in the ground are the Endiue Onions Garlike Scalions the great Garlike yong Leekeheads Colewortes Mustard seede and such like The Garden ground naturally colde or all the day receyueth but a weake comforte of the Sunne through his shorte presence or tarying there or else in colde Countries as at Yorke and farther Northe In such places I say the bestowing of many seedes better agree to be done about the middle of the Spring or in the moneth of May in warme and caulme dayes the Mone then increasing of light But the seedes to be committed to the earth in those Countries and places in the Haruest time ought rather to be done sooner or before the time with vs where the Seedes otherwise to bee bestowed in hote Countries and places in the Spring time require farre timelyer to be done as in the beginning of the moneth of Marche and the Seedes to bee sowen in those places in the Haruest time to bee bestowed muche later The
Seedes that at will of the Gardener may be committed to the Earth either in Haruest or Spring time chiefly for the Kitchin or pot vnder a gentle ayre and in a Battle ground are these the Coleworts Nâ—uew Aâ—tiâ—hocke Endiue Lettuce Dyll Rocket Coliander Parselie Fennoll Radishe Parsnip Carret and sundry others Yet these by report of the skilfull come better forward being soweÌ„ in the moneth of July the country there hotte but in the countrie temperate the seedes ought rather in y e month of August and in the Countrie beeing colde in the month of September Those seede committed to the earthe in warme and caulme dayes prosper far better than those being sowen in hotte and nipping colde dayes for that the warme comfortablie drawe vppe the plantes where as the hotte dayes in a contrarie manner do drie and the bitter colde shut the earth The seedes which the Gardener mindeth to bestowe in the earthe ought not to be aboue a yeare olde and that brused haue a white meale wythin ful for otherwise being ouer old or withered they wil neither grow nor profit at all The fresher and newer that the seedes be at time of the bestowing in the Earthe as the Leeke the Coucumber and the Gourde so muche the sooner these breake and appeare aboue the Earthe contrariwise howe muche the older the seedes shall be as the Parsely Betes Organy Cresses Peneroyall and Coliander so much the speedier do these shoote vp and appeare aboue the Earth so that the seedes before the sowing be not corrupt Certayne preceptes of the skilful in our time for the sowing of many delectable floures and tender Herbes with the obseruations of the Moone in these and in other matters necessary Chap. 19. THe latter writers of husbandrie reporte that these tender Hearbes and pleasaunte floures as the Maioram Sauerie Herbe Fluellâ—ne Buglosse the blessed Thistil the Herbe Angelica Ualeriane Bauline Arâ—â—s Dil Fennel Organy Myntes Rue or herbe Grace Spâ—ragâ— â—â—ache Spynache Beetes Endyue Borage Rocket Taragone Parselie Sorrell Endiue Strawberrye Lettuce Artichocke and sundrye others the Marrigolde of all kyndes Rosecampion the redde and white the flower Amoure y e Floure Petilius the Columbine white and blew sweete Johns the Pincke Heartes ease the Pionie red Lillie herbe Sticas or Lauander gentle Batchlers button the Gillifloure of al kindes the Carnation and many others ought rather to be coÌ„mitted to the earth in the spring time and sowne in the Monethes of March and April for so they speedier come forwarde than bestowed in the Moneth of Februarie herein considering the state and diuersitie of the time The seedes also of the tender hearbes committed to the earth in an apt time and the Moone in hir first quarter doe the speedier shoote vp being especially sowne after showers of raine on sunny and warme places as lying open all the day to the Sunne which on such wise do the soonest and spediest break yea and appeare aboue the earth For which cause a diligent care must be had in the bestowing of tender Seedes that the winde then bloweth not from the North nor done in colde and close dayes for these both include the seedes in the earth and hinder their growing and shooting vp Seedes bestowed in hote places do sooner yeeld their stemmes and leaues yea these speediest giue their seedes Such time vse in the sowing of your seedes as may be both milde and warme in that warme dayes following speed more forwarde the seedes bestowed As touching the most seedes committed to the earth they ought rather as afore vttered to be newe not riueled but full bigge weightie fayre of color fattie or hauing a iuice which broken giue a white meale and no drie powder for the seedes that after the breaking yeeld a drie powder do well declare them to be corrupt and seruing to no purpose The seedes thus tried afore and bestowed at that time in the earth when flowers fell a day or two before and a temperate day at the sowing of the seedes doe verie well prosper the growing and procure these to shoote vp farre speedier In that a colde ayre at the sowing and a day or two after is knowne to bee harmefull to seedes through the including of them in the earth and hindring in theyr growth and shooting vp If necessitie forceth the Gardener to bestowe any seedes or plantes in a salt earth â–ª let these be eyther set or sowne about the ende of Haruest whereby the malice and euill qualitie of the ground may be so purged through the shoures falling al the Winter If the owner or Gardener mindeth to bestowe yong Trees in thâ—s grounde lette sweete Earth or Riuer sande bee turned in with the same The Greeke writers of husbandrie after whom Columella and Rutilius will that al the kindes of pulses as Peasone the Hastings Uetches Tares and such like to be sowen in a drie Earth sauing the Beanes which rather ioy to be bestowed in a moyst ground What seeds the Gardener mindeth to commit in a wel dressed earth let these be bestowed from the first day vntill the ful light of the Moone wel nigh for that seedes sowen in the Moone come vp thinne and the plantes insew weake of groweth Such trees as the husbandman mindeth to builde wyth all let those rather be cut downe after the consent of the skilfull in the laste quarter of the moone shee being at that tyme of small light yea neare to hyr chaunge and vnder the Earth In the cutting downe and gathering of corne as Macrobius wylleth for the longer preseruing of it and the straw drie so that the same be done in a drie season doth better agree being in the wayne of the Moone Such crescent things as the Gardener or Husbandman mindeth otherwise to sel ought to be cut and gathered in the full Moone wherby the greatnesse thereof suche things may yeelde a better sale and bee delectabler to the eye Such things as the Husbandman myndeth to preserue a long time moyst as Aples Peares Wardens such like let these after the minde of the skilfull bee rather gathered neare the full light of the Moone For the coÌ„mitting of seedes to the Earth although the antient Husbandmen prescribe proper monthes and dayes yet may euerye person herein kepe the precepte according to the nature of the place and ayre so that these diligently bee considered howe certayne seedes there are whiche speedier spring vp and certaine which slower appeare aboue the Earth The commended times to be obserued with the anoyannce and incommoditie to be eschewed in the bestowing of seedâ—s and plants in the Earth Chap. 20. The singular D. Niger learnedly vttereth that the more of estimation the seedes and plantes are with the trauailes there aboute bestowed so much the circumspecter ought euery Gardener and husbaÌ„dman to be and the more instructions and helpes the Gardener may attayne or the greater daunger he may therein auoyde the more carefull ought he and all others to be The dayly
or Gardener whiche woulde haue plantes growe vnto a greater bignesse than customable ought to remoue after four or fiue leaues be well come vppe and set them againe as out of one bedde bestowed into another and like from one Bordure into an other Although the owner maye at all seasons dispose plantes at hys will and pleasure yet is it better commended that all plantes bee chaunged into other Earth prepared when showers of rayne haue well moystned and softned the same The plantes also remoued and set agayne into a fatte Earthe well laboured and dressed needeth besides as Columella witnesseth no other amendemente by dung The skilful Neapolitane Palladius Rutilius in his worthy worke of Husbandry reporteth that when the Gardener hath bestowed sundrye kindes of seedes in one bedde togither whych after the dyligente watering bee so rysen that foure or fiue leaues of diuerse plantes are sprung aboue the Earth suche then after this Authours consent maye well bee remoued and set agayne into beddes workmanly prepared a certaine distance asunder being such plantes that before the setting require to hane the toppes of the leaues and endes of the rootes cut off wherby they may the freelyer grow vppe broade in Touffe or bigge in roote Those kindes of seedes which after their committing to the Earth and dyligente wateryng neede not after certaine leaues sprung vp to be remoued maye the owner or Gardener bestowe as Rutilius witnesseth in the Beddes the thynner the Moone herein remembred The worthy Columella in instructions of the Garden wylleth the owner or Gardener hauing an occasion to pull vp plantes and sette them agayne in Beddes and that the grounde the same tyme for the lacke of rayne bee ouer drye and harde to moysten and soften well the Earth a daye before with water sprinckled forth by a wateryng potte seruing onlye to that vse And certayne of these whiche require to bee sette a good distance asunder the worthy Rutilius wylleth to clippe off the toppes of the yong leaues and the endes of the rootes to cutte awaye before the bestowing agayne in Beddes workmanly prepared as lyke the Coleworte Cabedge Lettuce greate Leeke Nauewe and Rape agayne a good distaunce asunder are the Cucumber Gourde Melone Artichocke Nigella Romana and sundry otherâ— which thus placed in Beddes artly prepared may the readyer and handsomer be weeded and cherished by earth digged about so often as neede shall requyre wherby the plantes through helpe of diligent watering and furtheraunce of the Moone in the setting are after procured to increase the better and delectabler to the eye The yong settes for the Garden of pleasant delight and smell may the owner or Gardener also bestow in Bordurs at al seasons although better commended to bee done in the Spring time in breaking of the slyps or Braunches of one yeares groweth from the bodies of olde stockes and in wrything the endes aboute so to set them a good deapth into the Earth the Moone at that time drawing neare to hir chaunge and knowen to be vnder the Earth which much furthereth the settes in the sooner taking of roote But the skilfull Columella rather willeth to cleaue the ende of the Braunche or slyppe beneath into whyche clefte an Ote grayne to bee thrusted or puâ— and in y e setting deepe into the grounde to bestowt Ote graynes rounde about the same the Moone then neare to hir change rather than any dung And those yong Herbes whiche the Gardener myndeth to remoue neede not sayeth thys Columella to bee stryked aboute the rootes with any Dung but rather that the endes of theyr rootes before the setting agayne be cutte off as I aboue vttered The Marigolde Daysie Collumbine Primrose Conslippe sweete John Gilyfloures Carnations Pinckes and sundry other delectable floures are procured to increase the bigger fayrer and doubler if the owner or Gardener do often chaunge these into Beddes workmanlye prepared the Moone at those tymes consydered to bee increasyng of lyghte and that a diligence bestowed in the often watering As touching the pulling vppe of sundry dayntie Hearbes of pleasaunt sauour and that these â—o be sette agayne in Beddes orderly prepared after the course of the Moone with a care and dilygence to bee bestowed particularly on moste plantes of the Garden shall at large be vttered in the seconde parte of thys treatise where we purpose â—o iâ—treate of many laudable and weighty matters besydes The plantes which after certaine leaues spring vppe neede not to bee remoued into other Beddes are the Spynage Arache Dyll Sperage Sorrell Cheruile Parsely and dyuerse other of like sorte The laudable instructions of the wise in the gathering and preseruing of the greater number of Kitchyn Herbes and rootes with the times aptest for the like doing by aâ— floures dainty Herbes and rootes to the vse of physicke Chap. 26. THe best and worthyest rootes of Hearbes are for the more parte to be gathered in apt places when the leaues are beginning to fal off and the fruites or seedes already shedde so that the season be fayre for done in a raynie time the rootes be caused the weaker and filled wyth rude moysture The floures in like manner are to be gathered as the Borage Buglosse and al others of like sorte when they be wholly opened and before they feble except the floures of the Rose and Jacemyne whyche ought to bee gathered for the better and longer keeping before they bee much or rather but little opened The leaues and whole Herbes are to be gathered wheÌ„ these be come to their ful growth and perfection The fruites as the Melone Cucumber Cytrone and Gourde when these appeare yealowe and be come to their perfitte growth and perfection The seedes in like condition are to bee gathered when they be well ripened and before y e seeds shed on y e earth but those which remayn after the Herbes through dryed ought to be rubbed furth with the hands and kept vnto the time of sowing Here remembring that the seedes ought to bee gathered in a cleare season and in the wayne of the Moone And this for a general rule obserue that al those to be gathered as the Hearbes floures rootes fruites and seedes are to be done in a fayre and drye season and in the decrease of the Moone The Hearbes which the owner mindeth to preserue are afore to bee cleane picked and clensed and dryed in the shadowe being a place open towardes the South not moyste and free from smoake and dust These after are to be put in leather Bags rather than into Canuase the mouthes at the hanging vppe faste tyed and into wooden Boxes of the Boxe tree to the ende the Hearbes maye not lose theyr proper vertue as wee see those persons to doe whiche preserue daintie Hearbes for the winter time So that the Potecaries in my opinion are verye negligente which hang vppe the Physicke Hearbes in their open shoppes and warehouses through whiche the vertue of these not onlye breath away but the bags charged and
passe if he may kyll and bruse the same on the stinging but perillous wil the same stinging be if he refrain not the eating of Basill all that day of the stinging Florentius reporteth that the iuyce of the figge tree leaues dropped on the stinging mightily auayleth The learned Plinie affirmeth that the Ashes of the Scorpion drunke in wyne if the fitte of the Feuer bee not vppon the person to bee a singular remedie as the pouder of wormes burned to persons hauing wormes or to beastes the like ministred and anye bytten of a mad dogge if the heares of the same be burned and druncke do greatly auayle The Todes as the Greeke and Latine professours of husbandrie write may be driuen furth of the Garden ground with those remedies that the serpents for which cause the remedies and healpes against them to repeate I thinke here superfluous The wise as the learned Apuleius writeth wil in no maner harme or wast those seedâ—s committed to the Earth which before the sowing are steeped a tyme in the Gaule of an Oxe They will bee kylled in the grounde if the Gardener shal stoppe their commings forth with the fresh leaues of Rhododaphnes There be of the Greeke writers of husbandrie which wil that like portions of the wylde CucuÌ„ber or Henbane or of the bitter Almondes and blacke Noseworte bee orderly brused and tempered with Meale the same after wrought into Balles with Oyle to be layed at the holes of the fielde and house Myse Plinie wryteth that the seedes before the bestowing in the Earth infused eyther in the Gaule of a Weasell or the ashes of him committed to the Earth with the seedes doth like them from being harmed of Myse yet the plants springing out of these are greatly misliked â–ª for that they then giue the sauour of such a rancke beast so that the seedes are farre better commended to be steâ—ped afore in the gaule of an Oxe The skilâ—ull Africanus vttereth that the Gardener may eyther kyll or driue away Weasels if he mixe salte â—rmoniack with wheate paste and lay of the same in such place where these often haunte Others there be which wil the carefull Gardenâ—r to get one alyue and cutting of both tayle and testicles to let him so passe again for by that meanes others perceiuing the like sight will depart the place the easie experience of which matter wil after bring a credite to thee in the same For the dryuing away of the greater beastes conceyue these remedies folowing that if the Gardener shall water the seedes bestowed with the olde vrine in which the ordure of a dog shall be infused for a tyme they shal after â—e defended in y e growyng vp froÌ„ the spoyle of greater beasts The selfe same doth the worthy Democritus affyrme to come to passe as I afore vttered if that the owner take to the number of ten Riuer or Sea Creauises and in putting them into an earthen potte full of water he set the same in the sunne for ten dayes to bee wel heated and vapored through the hot beames which thus handled let hym sprinckle on the beddes and plantes that he would haue defended from the ayre great beastes yet may he not water the yonger plants but euery third day vntil these be growen vp stronger The skilful Africanus and other worthy wryters of Husbandrie report that if eyther the Pyonie or Herbe Personata be buried or otherwise sowen about banckes or bordures in the Garden or field are after as by a secrete protection preserued that neyther tâ—e great nor smaller beastes will after spoyle the plants there growing But if the Husbandman woulde haue hys trees preserued from being sore eaten and wasted of the greater beasts then let him exercise after the minde of Plinie this easie practise in â—asting or sprinckling on the leaues the water in whiche Oxe dung hath bin disolued so that he be sure those tymes that rayne will fall within a day after to the cleane purging againe of the braunches and leaues of that sauoure a matter in verie deede wittily deuised for the purpose The skilful practises and remedies against Hayle lightnings and tempestes beating downe and spoyling the Kitchin Hearbes trees and fruites Chap. 51. FOr the Hayle which for the more parte destroyeth both the labours of the Oxen and men conceiue these fewe remedies folowing That if the Husbandman woulde auoyde the same daunger at hand or ready to fal then let him draw about the grounde whether it be fielde Orchard or Garden the skinne of a Seale or Crocodil or Hyena and hang it after at the entrie or comming in of the place as the worthy Philostratus in his Greke coÌ„mentaries of husbaÌ„dry hath noted Others there be which seeing the Hayle at haÌ„d by holding vp a mighty Glasse do so take y e Image of the darck cloud directly ouer the place to y e end the abiect by the same remedy as Rutilius reporteth may offend whereby as doubled it may giue place to the other and on suche wyse be speedily auerted and moued away There were some as Philostratus writeth whiche with the righte hande drawing the Marrish Tortoise on hir backe laboured so aboute the Garden grounde or fielde and returned to the place where they began they so layed hir vpright in the furrow made w t hir backe and shored cloddes of eyther side that shee might not fal neither to one nor other side but abide steadie vpright to the ende she might so beholde the big thick cloudes directly ouer the place And the same at such times they exercysed in the syxt houre of the day or night Certayn others seming to be of greater skil when the Hayle approched did spreade ouâ—t euerie space of the Garden or field white Uine or fastned in some place right against the Tempest immenent a liue Owle with the wings spredde abrode whiche two remedies also muche auayle againste the lightnings and hayle as sayth the singular writer of Husbandrie Junius Columella in his little treatise of the Garden To vtter here the populare helpe againste Thunder lightnings and the daungerous hayle when the tempest approcheth through the cloude arysing as by the loude noyse of Gunnes shotte here and there with the loude sounde of Belles such like uoyâ—es which may happen I thinke the same not necessarie nor properly auailable to the benefite of the Garden The famous learned man Archibius whiche wrote vnto Antiochus king of Syria affirmeth that tempestes shal not be harmefull to plaÌ„tes nor fruites if the speckled Tode inclosed in a new Earthen pot be buried in the middle of the Garden or field Others there are which hang the feathers of the Eagle or Seales skinne in the middle of the Garden or at the foure corners of the same For these three as by a certaine secret propertie and for truth by a maruellous repugnancie to resist the lightnings and that of these the aboue sayde in no maner to be harmed or blasted is to memorie
and as tender or rather tenderer although not so delectable and haue good regarde that the seeds be not to old for these then bring forth plaÌ„ts out of kinde of whiche the reporte goeth that seedes sowen become Rapes or Nauews Such seeds as you would to indure for sixe yeres ought to be carefullie preserued Marcus Varro willeth the Coleworte to be sowen in saltie places and when three leaues bee come vp to sifte Nyter or salte Earthe on them so fyne as the froste falling for on suche wise handled these are caused the tenderer delectabler the vertue notwithstanding preserued which like practise is confirmed in y e Greke Husbandrie of Praxamus There be some which vse Ashes in steade of Nyter or for the same cause y t eyther may kil and destroy the Canker wormes which gretly offend waste y e Coleworts in some Gardens The singular Columella reporteth that the Colewort doth come soner softe and tender in the seething and doth kepe the green color without Nyter if the roote lapped aboute with three small blades of the sea weede be againe set in the Earth The worthy Plinie willeth the Reyte or sea weede to be put vnder the stalke in setting againe and vnto the same ende the delicate and tender seething vsed so that the Colewort before y e seething be steeped a time in Oyle and salte but in the seething put in a little salte for the Nitrous and salty substance consisting in it The Coleworte may be caused both bigge and pleasaunte if thrust into a whole you set it vnto the leaues in Earthe that no parte of the stemme bee lefte bare for doubte of perishing and as the same groweth vp in heigth and the earth shrinking from it so continually raise the Earth high vp to the bodie and cut away the outwarde leaues so that no more than the top of the leaues may appeare aboue the Earth The Coleworte often weeded aboute and workemanly dunged waxeth the stronger and causeth the Coleworte to be of a greater increase and tender of leaâ—e Al the yeare through may the Coleworte be cutte seing at the yeare as aforesayde the same may be sowen yet growen to feede it ought not to be cutte The tender tops of y e yong Colewort is greatly coÌ„mended for Sallets so y t somewhat hot both oyle Salt be bestowed vpoÌ„ When raine after a drought in sommer time falleth y e owner may renew those Coleworts decaying by plucking away from theÌ„ the decayed leaues which eyther shall bâ—e drye or eaten in manye places through The Cabedge Cole or white Cabedge may be sowen thick in beds but after certaine leaues come vp remoued into wel dressed beds halfe a yarde asunder growen especially to a bigge stemme or stocke these wel ioy vnder a colde ayre in that they are caused the teÌ„derer and delectabler through sharpe frosâ—es and the heads couered with strawe are caused both rounder and whiter The wrinckled crysped and Romayne Cabedges which of nature are more tender and delicate ought to be soweÌ„ in the month of March and remoued at certaine tymes of the yeare being alwayes watered when nede requireth When the Gardener or owner at any tyme seeth that the leaues of the Coleworte either wythereth or waxeth yealowe the same then is a note of the default of water which like happening causeth the leaues to be yealowe and ful of holes or lythie and feeble or else drye through which of necessity they must feeble and die If the Husbandman or owner would haue Colewortes tender and pleasant as afore vttered let him breake off in the sâ—tting againe the outwarde leaues for the inwarde leaues in the growing will after become better of taste and pleasanter in sauoure than the outwarde leaues were The redde Colewortes naturally growe throughe the aboundaÌ„ce of hotte dung or through the watering or well moystenyng of them wyth y e Lyes of wine or else by the planting of theÌ„ in hot places where the sunne dayly shyneth a long time togither Neuer take the toppes of the Romayne crysped nor the other for your turne and vse but alwayes the thicke leaues downewarde from the heade or toppes All the sortes or kindes of Coleworts may be planted at al seasons so that the tymes and Earth be neyther to colde nor to hot When you mynde to set them againe in holes made with a Dybbel cut away the endes of the rootes least in the setting into the earth they folde or bende to the ground which harme them greatly only those of a big growth are to be set againe which although they slowly take roote yet are they caused the stronger And y e rootes of these neiâ—her desâ—â—e any softe dung nor Riuer mud to be annoynted or layed about them nor to be set in a soft earth in that they ioy prosper in a ground meanly dry although the outward leaues wyther vntil the time a sweete rayne falling recouer their strength Some water the yonger Colewortes with salt water to cause them grow tender c. as afore vttered Plinie that incomparable searcher of the matter of nature reporteth that pottes or other vessels in whiche by water daylye seethyng â— crust or parget so fast cleaueth or is baked to the sides within that the same with no scouring can be gotten off yet by seething the Colewort in this potte the cruste immediatly and with ease falleth off Athenaeus wryteth that the Coleworte ought not in any case to bee planted or sowen neare to the vyne nor the vine in like maner nigh to it for such is the great enmitie betwene these two plants as Theophrastus witnesseth that being both in one plotte togither these so hinder one another that the vine in braunches growing further rather turneth or bendeth backe agayne from the Coleworte than stretching toward it it yeldeth lesse fruite there through And the same to be true Plinie affirmeth the wine in the Butte or Hoggâ—sheade to bee corrupted both in sauoure and taste throughe the Coleworte putte into it but the wyne agayne to be restored through the leaues of the Beete steped in it By which argumeÌ„t or profe Androcides singular in knowledge as the like Plinie writeth reported that the Coleworte grealye auayleth againste drunkennesse Of whiche it is nowe a common exercise among the Egiptians that greatly loue wyne to boile y e Coleworte w t their meates y t in eating of theÌ„ like prepared they may so anoyde y e annoyance of wine after drunke Paxamus a Greke writer of Husbandry reporteth y t if any poureth a little quantitie of wine by drops into y e licour of y e Coleworte boyling y e same after seetheth no more but quailed in streÌ„gth is corrupted changed in licor By a like man may contrarie gather y t the person which would drinke plenty of wyne withoute being ouercome with the same ought to eate afore a quantity of the rawe Coleworte with meate But for this matter heare the sentence of
or rather rosted vnder hotte imbers which after the Artly mixing with old Barrowes grease be in plaister forme applyed to the dayly griefes of the flanckes or sides doth in shorte time preuayle The iuyce of the Coleworte myxed wyth the oyle of Roses and applyed to the foreheade doth remoue the headache procured by heate of the Sun To this Coleworte boyled if you mixe the oyle of Almonds and Juyce of the sweete Pome Granate the same vsed doth in shorte time deliuer a drie coughe The Colewort after the opinion of certaine skilful Phisitions is founde to be harde in digestion swelleth the Bellie harmeth the flewmaticke in that the same increaseth humors and harmeth women hauing the redde course on them for so muche as the same increaseth such a fluxe If you would drie a moyst bellie then after the Colewortes be halfe sodden by pouring forth al the first in a manner poure in other warme water speedily which like boyle againe vntill the Coleworte in thys seething shal be tender and softe and in eating season it with a little pepper and salt but this may not be handled on such wise if you wold vse it for loosing of the bellie for then after the shifting of it out of the first hot licour into a panne standing fast by with oyle and a little salte prepared you must boyle againe vnto the tyme the same be readie The commended benefites of the distilled water of Colewortes THe leaues of the greene and common Coleworte are to bee distilled in a fayre and apte tyme aboute the beginnyng of June This water ministred or receiued vnto the quantitie of three ounces at a time morning and euening stayeth womeÌ„s reddes The distilled water of the Coleworte profiteth the byrth of chyld when the time of deliuerie is at hande if a Napkin wete in it be applyed often to the nose to smel vnto for by that meanes may shee happily be delyuered The like quantitie druncke healpeth the dropping of the vryne And druncke vnto the quantitie of three ounces at a time morning and euening stayeth a loose Bellie The Phisicke helpes of the water of the redde Coleworte THe leaues of the redde Coleworte gathered are to bee distilled in the ende of May. This water drunke in the morning fasting vnto the quantitie of sixe or seuen ounces at a time softneth a harde belly and three ounces at a time vsed for a moneth togither putteth awaye the gyddynesse of the heade thys water profiteth againste the Apoplexie and convulsion or Cramp in the members either drunck or annoynted on the greeued places This water helpeth the trembling and quiueryng of members if those bee often rubbed and suppled with it and the water suffered to drye these into partes by it selfe The linnen clothes wet in it applyed on inflame 〈◊〉 putteth away the heate and ceasseth or â—â—ageth the swâ—llingâ— and orderly drunke healeth vlcers both within and without the body so that the vlcers without be applyed with linnen cloâ—â—â—s both morning and euening What worthy instructions to be conceyâ—ed in the sowing and ordering of the Beete for the Poâ—te Chapter 2. THe Beete more often eaten at poore mens tables ought to be bestowed in a most fatte Earthe and sowen at any season but rather the Seedes to be committed to the Earth abouâ— the middle of December and vnto Marche and like in August to possesse Seedes which may indure for three yeares The Seedes ought rather to be thicke than thinne sowen in beâ—dde and shot vp to some growth as that four or fyue leaues be sprung aboue the Earth then in the Summer time the plantes are to be remoued if the beddes afore were moystned or wet with floures as the singular Columella writeth but if the grounde bee drie in the Haruest time then to remoue them where shoures lately fell and softned the Earth The Beete loueth or ioyeth to be often digged about and to be fedde with much dung for which cause the yong plantes to be sette againe ought after the endes of the rootes cut off and the toppes of the leaues clipped to be striked or annoynted about with newe Cow Dung and then bestowed in beddes a good distance asunder which after the plants be more growen vp to be diligeÌ„tly weeded about and the vnprofitable weedes throwen away for by that meanes they growe the fayrer and bigger being as I said bestowed in fatte Earthe and well dunged The Beete may be caused to growe bigge and brode as â—ostion in his Greeke instructions of Husbandrâ—e affirmeth if before the Beete shall be growen vp into a stemme and shot forth in stalkes the owner lay vpon y e head a brode Tile Posthard or some other thing of waight to presse the toppe gently downe for by that practise or meanes in the waightie bearing downe the Beete is caused to spreade into a breadth with the leaues The Beete becommeth the whiter and farre greater if the Husbandly Gardener annoynte or couer the roote with newe Oxe or Cowe dung and that hee cutte the roote and toppe of the yong Bete â–ª as the Leeke handled before the setting and after a bigger growth to pâ—asse it downe as afore vttered To haue the Beete growe redde water the plant with redde Wyne Lyes or set the same in a hote place where the Sunne dayly shineth long The Beete rosted in Imbers taketh away the stincking smell and sauoure of Garlike eaten if the same be eaten vpon or after the Garlike as the Greeke Menander hath noted Thys is maruellous to heare by the Seede of the Beete that it yeeldeth not the whole perfection or perfite Seedes in the first yeare but an increase in Seedes somewhat more the seconde yeare and in the third yeare a full perfection from the first sowing And Plinie reporteth that the Beete speedieâ— commâ—th forwarde with the olde Seede than with newe for whiche cause the matter demanded of a skilfull Gardener reported of experience that the Seedes of the Beete to sowe ought not to be gathered before the Beete had borne a thirde yeare after the first sowing of which Seedes sowen in due time of the Mone the best Beetes come and this not to be forgotten that when the tast of Wine through the Colewort as afore vttered is corrupted in the vessell the same againe by the sauoure of the Beete as through the leaues put into it is recouered These hitherto of the Beete The Phisicke benefytes of the Beete FIrst all the kindes of the Beete haue a cold moyst qualitie and the white Beete as Diphilus the Husbandly Phisition reporteth looseth the bellie and the redde Beete moueth or prouoketh vryne Galen affirmeth this Beete to be endued with a nytrous qualitie through which it both purgeth and clenseth filth whiche vertue is more effectuous in the white in so muche that it causeth the bellie laxatiue and purgeth the body of euill humors yet the fame passed to the stomacke byteth and plucketh it The iuice of the common Beete drunke
in that once sowen or planted it after commeth vp yearely of the owne accorde And for the delectable sauoure which it enioyeth much desired and vsed both in Brothes and Sallets But thys plant after the comming vp maye in no case bee touched with any Iron instrument in that the same soone after dyeth Thys plant flourishing in the Sommer becometh yelowish in the wynter time The Holyhocke or greater Mallowes of the Garden as Ruellius out of the learned Theophrastus affirmeth doeth often shoote vppe into the fourme of a tree and waxeth so great that the stemme or bodye of it may serue to the vse of a staffe which sendeth forth bigge stalkes and leaues both large and rounde The floure of this plant for the proper time flourishing is named y e winter Rose in that this plant yeeldeth floures like to the Rose from the beginning of Haruest vnto the winter time which floures both of y e red and white lesser than the fading or vanishing Rose longer indure and inioy force This Rose of the auntient Greekes was named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that the leaues as Columella reporteth turne about with the Sunne which at Noone time of the day are fully opened The auntient Romaynes did also name it the sowen or Garden Mallowes The cōmon people in time past greatly pleased w t the beautie of y e same named it y e beyōd sea Rose For in comelines nether of thē giueth place to y e Rose which if the same inioyed a sauour it were not inferoiure to the Rose seeing in coloure they be equall in bering of the red carnation and white so y t in sauoure the Rose only excelleth This for the worthy comelynesse and beautye to bee sette in windowes is at thys day diligently sowen and sette in Gardens The worthy Rutilius in his treatise of the Garden instructeth that the Seedes to be committed to the Earth ought rather to be bestowed about the middle of Aprill in a well dunged and fatte grounde and to be often watered vntill the plantes be well sprung vp The skilfull Columella in his Husbandrie vttereth that this rather ioyeth to be bestowed in a fatte Earth well turned in with dung and that moyst dung be layd about the rootes of the yong plantes in the setting againe whiche the sayde Authoure willeth to remoue after foure leaues are well shotte vp aboue the Earth This learned Columella writing of the holyhoke reporteth that the floure as the Marigolde openeth at the rising of the Sunne full spred at the Noone time and closeth agayne in the going downe of the Sunne The Phisicke benefites and healpes both of the Mint and Garden Malowes or holyhoke THe Garden Mint is reported to be hote and drie in the seconde degree and this in medicine oftner vsed drie than greene The worthy Florentinus a singuler professor of the Greeke instructions of Husbandrie writeth that the Mint for the same mighte well bee accompted an vnprofitable Hearbe seeing the Herbe applyed on a wound defendeth the same from waxing whole and to come to a skarre If the Minte bee put into Milke it neyther suffereth the same to courd nor to become thicke in somuch that layde into courded Milke this woulde bring the same thinne againe so that by the same vertue and propertie he sayeth to resist and abate the generation as well in Man as woman But others of a cōtrarie minde defending the Herbe accompted in very holsome and beneficiall to man If the Herbe boyled in Wine and Oyle be applyed on the Pappes of the newe milch Woman doth not after suffer the Milke to courde nor to be thicke and the Milke courded to become thinne again wherby it amendeth the hard and ranckled breasts in daunger to breake thorough the Milke courded For whiche cause this Herbe is wittily added in the potions of Milke that in the courding of the Milke within the stomacke no perill of strangling through the benefite of thys Herbe might ensew The Juice or water of the Hearbe drunke with the iuice of the Pomegranat stayeth the resting or belching of the stomacke vomiting as the worthy Democritus in his Husbandrie hath noted The Mint broughte to fine powder and ministred in Milke profiteth against the long wormes in the body If the swollen priuities bee often soupled with the decoction of the same it doth in short time remoue the swelling of them This drunke in water with Amylum aswageth the force of the painefull Fluxe of the bellie and scouring with bloud besides it stayeth the ouer greate course and shew of the reddes in women and the same healeth vlcers on the Infants heads The sauoure of this quickneth the spirites and minde and the tast worketh an appetite and earnest desire to meate The iuice of the freshe Hearbe drawen vp amendeth the defaulte in the Nosethrilles which also in the paine of the head and beating of the Temples is profitably annoynted The iuice of the Hearbe applyed with Uineger retaineth and stayeth the inward courses or Fluxes of bloud The Minte after the brusing with the Oyle of Roses applyed in plaister forme on harde pappes whiche bee swollen through the Milke doth not onely soften but defendeth them from mattering The Hearbe eaten with Uineger looseth the bellie but dayly eaten for a time togither dothe maruellously procure a seemely colour to that creature and this Hearbe at any time vsed is very profitable and holesome The iuice drunke with vineger profiteth the spitting forth of bloud the same annoynted on the forehead dothe aswage the griefes of the head the iuice with Hony and water applyed remoueth the paine and noyse or ringing of the eares The iuice tempered with Hony and annoynted on the eyes remoueth the moystnes and dimnesse of sighte The Mint after the boyling in Wine receyued amendeth a stinking or strong sauour of the mouth the mouth after the adding of Uineger to it washed diligently not only helpeth the teeth but purgeth the mattered Gummes If the teeth in like manner be washed fasting with the decoction of Mintes it letteth the mattering of the Gummes The decoction in Wine with a little Uineger added remoueth through the sundry times taking y e blistering of y e tung proceeding of heate The Hearbe also tempered with Uineger and annoynted neere and aboute the eyes doth in short time remoue the spottes in them The Mint in colde sicknesses yeeldeth a mightie comforting reioyceth the minde and stayeth the will to vomite The iuice after the mixing with Uineger and Brimstone annoynted with a feather on the Shingles doth with expedition ceasse the paine The Hearbe boyled in Wine aswageth the payne of the bowels and Kidneys and boyled in Wyne with Oyle beyng applyed in playster forme doth both dissolue and cure impostumes The Phisicke benefites of the Holyhoke do heere ensewe THe Malowes of the Garden or Holyhoke is the like moyst by nature as the other kindes of Malowes and serueth as well to outward as inward griefes The Herbe roote or Seedes
sweet Almonds or in any other pleasant iuyce or lycour whiche after the drying in the aire from the Sun beames he coÌ„mitteth them to the earth for on suche wise handled the fruites yelde the same sauour as the licour in whiche the seedes were soked and receiued For by a lyke example the heades shall sauour of the bay if the owner stiâ—pe them with the leaues of the Bay tree or he otherwise making holes bestowe the seedes within the bay berries before the coÌ„mitting to the earth And a lyke practise maye he exercise in all seedes that be greate The fruits of the herbe named the Artochoke wil become swete and delectable in the eating if y e owner before the coÌ„mitting of the sedes to the earth doe stiâ—pe them for two or three days either in new milk honey sugred water or wine aromatized and after the drying in the aire doth then bestow them in beds a foot distance one from the other The Artochocks be set in Haruest which is about the moneth of October that these may yeld plentie of fruits or heads ought to be those bearing big leaues stalkes wyth big stems growne or shot vp in the middes which big leaues after serue to none other purpose but to be broken froÌ„ the bodies and the plants to be bestowed agayn in beds with y e stems in like maner cut off and cast away as seruing to no vse well tourned in with dung these set in such maner that the tendrer leaues grow vptight the stemmed in y e middle being low broken off to be diligently couered with light earth And herin the Gardener must haue a care to y e watering of them at times nedeful if the seasons sufficieÌ„tly moyst not either in the winter or in any other time of the yeare to set forward or procure spedily the Artochockes to come set again the tender plants in well dunged beddes couering them well aboute with Ashes and black earth the better to beare suffer the cold Winter tyme which in the yeare followyng will yelde newe fruites Many skilfull Authours write that if the leaues of the Artochoke be well couered in the grounde aboute the beginning of Winter they will after become not only white but pleasâ—unter in the eating whereby to serue among the Winter meates Here I thinke it profitable to the owner to know that the big leaues or braunches ought yeerely to be broken off from the olde stemmes or bodies leaste the elder in their yeelde might bee hindred and the yonger plantes in farther distances set that these may prosper and sende forthe their fruites the better for suche is the fruitefull and plentyfull yeelde of this Plante that the braunches or great leaues broken off from the tender stemmes and set againe in the earth will after cleaue ioyne togither as certaine reporte and oftentimes to yeelde in the same yere both the stemme outward roughnes wyth prickes on it The skilfull writers of the Greeke Husbandrie will that the owner or Gardner in the opening and digging away of the Earth to cut them vp with a sharpe hooke leauing some part of the roote in the earth which so pulled vp and annointing the roote with softe dung set again in a well labored grouÌ„d turned in with olde dung wel three foote a sunder often water them when the drye season commeth vntill the plantes shall bee sufficientlye strengthned in the Earthe Those which the Gardner mindeth to let run or growe vnto Seede such shall hee separate from all the yong plantes as Palladius willeth and couer the heads eyther with a thinne Potshard or Barke of a tree in that the Seedes â—â—e commonly woâ—te to bee corrupted through the Sunne or shoures of Raine and by that meanes these to perishe and come to no vse whiche if the Seedes be eyther burnt with the Sunne or putrifyed with the moysture of shoures will after yeeld to the Gardener no commoditie in the bestowing in the Earth The owner or Gardener may not gather the fruites of the Artochokes all at one time for asmuche as the heads ripen not togither but one after the other so that the owner ought then to gather the fruites when as these onely haue floures belowe in forme of a Garlande and not before that time wherefore if the Gardener doe stay vntill all the floures be shedde the fruites will be the worser and lesser delectable in the eating The Gardener must carefully looke vnto that the Mice haunt not to the rootes of the Artochokes for once allured through the pleasaunte tast of them they after resort in great number from farre places to the maruellous spoyle of the rootes as the Greeke Varro in his worthy instructions of Husbandrie hathe diligently noted yet not leauing the same without a healpe and remedie for he reporteth that the sharp assault and enterprise of them is withstanded and driuen awaye if the Gardener eyther lappe Woolle aboute the rootes or Swynes dung or bestowe the Figgetree ashes in like manner about them The Moles in like manner doe maruellously harme and be iniurious to the rootes in so muche that through their often casting and hollowing of the ground the whole plantes are procured to fall or leane through feeblenesse in the Earth for remedie of whiche annoyance the Gardener may eyther bring vppe and learne a yong Catte or tame a Weesill to hunt dayly in those places There be which 〈…〉 plantes of the Artochoke in a fall and drie grounde to the ende the Moles should not so lightly in their working ouerthrowe them The owner whiche woulde vnderstande and knowe other healpes let him resort vnto those experiments whiche wee haue vttered in the first part The Phisicke benefites and helpes of the Artochoke THe Artochocke eaten greene or rawe with vineger reformeth the sauoure of the mouth The Eared and scalie kernels cleauing or sticking round about the heade being tenderly boyled after the manner of the Sperage from which after the licoure poudered the Eares agayne boyled with Butter and seasoned with vineger and Salte doe yeelde a delectable sauce with meate right profitable There be some which rather eate the Eares 〈◊〉 than sodden being afore prepared with Salte and the fine pouder of Pepper or Coliander seedes strawed vpon for by that meanes as they affyrme is the natural sweetnesse of them more kindly and delectably represented and felte Certain reporte that the Eares only steeped in wine to cause vrine and moue the venerial act as the worthy Hesiodus reporteth whiche as Ruellius hath noted at the bearing of the floure the Grashoppers then do lowdest sing and women greediest to the venerial acte but men at the same time flowst The roote after cleane scraping and keping forth of the Pyth boyled in wine and drunke not onlye amendeth the hardnesse of making water but the ranke sauoure stinking smel of the Armeholes which Xenocrates affirmeth of experience to send forth on such wise y e stincke in the vrine caused
the drying finely beating and searsing of the seedes vseth the same in steede of a clensing pouder The learned Galen writing of the vse and properties of the Cucumbers vttereth an instruction worthy the learning that although these sayth he be well digested of the Chollericke and that suche wythout care eate plentie or muche at a time of them doe after in the continuance of time increase a cold and somwhat grosse humour in the veines whyche not able to be digested in them doeth after corrupte the sounde bloude For that cause saithe he I iudge it profitable to refraine the meates being of an euill Juice and nourishemente although that those in certaine persons may easily be digested For to vs not takyng a care and regard of them is an euill Juice gathered after a good distance of time in the veines which assoone as the same once putrified by a lyghte occasion doth immediatly kindle and cause wicked feuers these hitherto Galen of the incommodities of the Cucumbers What skil and secreates are to be learned in the sowing and workmanly ordering of the Gourde Chap. 30. AL the kindes of the Gourdes requyre the same trauaile and diligence in the bestowing in the Earthe as afore vttred of the Cucumbers which after the large setting asunder and often watering appeare for the more parte aboue the Earthe by the sixte or seuenth day after the bestowing in beds The weake and tender braunches shot vp to some heigth and coueting by a certaine propertie in nature vpward require to be diuersly aided with poles to run vp in sundry manners as either ouer a rounde and vaulted Harboure to giue a more delighte throughe the shadowe caused by it and the seemely fruites hanging downe or else by poles directed quite vprighte in whiche the Gourde of all other fruites most earnestly desireth rather than to run braunching and creeping on the grounde like to the Cucumbers The plants loue a fat moyst and dunged loose ground as the Neapolitan Rutilius in his instructions of husbandry hath noted If a diligēce be bestowed in the oftē watring of them the plants require a lesser care and trauaile in that they are very muche furthered by the store of moisture although there may be found of those which resonably prosper with small store of moysture or being seldome watered and that they of the same yeelde fruite of a delectabler taste If the owner or Gardner happen to commit Seedes to the Earthe in a drye grounde and that the tender plants appear aboue the Earth hys care shall then bee to water them plentifullye for the speedier shooting vp after this manner by taking certayn pottes filled with water into whiche tongues of clothe afore layde to the bottoms of the pottes that these may the workmanlier distill and droppe often on the plants through y e stouping forward of them which no doubt profiteth greatly the plantes in drowth and hot seasons The longer and smaller haue fewe Seedes in them and for the same more delectable in the eating yea these better accompted of and solde in the Market The Gardner minding to committe of the Seedes to the Earthe oughte afore to stiepe them in a boll or panne of water for a nighte whereby the Seedes apte to be sowen may the surer be knowen whiche hee shall well perceiue by those resting in the bottome of the cunninger sorte preferred and vsed but the others swimmyng aboue as vnprofytable and seruing to no vse are willed to be throwen away The chosen Seedes are to be set in beds two togither with three fingers vnto the middle Jointes and the sharper endes fixed vpward but the beds afore oughte to be digged two foote deepe and so many broad and the Seedes bestowed well three or foure foote asunder one from the other in these filled vp with olde dung well turned in with the earth or rather to procure them speedier to grow and yeelde the fruite the sooner lette the beddes be filled with hotte horse dung new taken oute of the stable If the Gardner woulde possesse Gourdes of diuers formes as long rounde and shorte it behoueth hym to choose and sette the seedes accordinglye For those Seedes taken oute of the necke of the Gourde shall the owner after the councell of the singular Columella learned Plinie and Rutilius set in well dunged ground with the sharpe endes vpwarde Which after the well watering as aboue taught yeelde fruits long in fourme tenderer and better esteemed The Seedes taken oute of the myddes of the bellye and sette into the Earthe with the bigge endes vpwarde doe yeelde after the husbandely handeling and watering greate fruites rounde and large of whiche after the through drying and meate taken oute bee bottels and other vessells made to serue for diuers vses in that these growe farre larger in the belly than any of the other kindes The Seedes taken oute of the bottome of the Gourde and set with the grosse or big endes vpwarde doe also yeelde after the workmanlye ordering fruits both greate and large yet these far lesser and shorter And the Seedes in generall in what place they bee sette oughte to be bestowed in earth well dunged and the rather with hot horse dung new taken out of the stable if these bee set in the moneth of March But y e seeds in no maner may be bestowed in low places lest shours of rain falling hinder and corrupte the fruites throughe the ouermuche water cloying and standyng in the Alley or other low place The plants shot vppe to some heigthe oughte to bee diligentlye weeded aboute and the earthe heaped highe vp and when neede requyreth in the hot seasons to water them often If the Seedes happen to bee set in a Earthe smally laboured and hollowe when the plants be somwhat growen aboue the grounde the owner oughte to digge away of a good depthe from the yong plantes the Earthe rounde aboute that the rootes may the freelier runne and spreade abroad the plants further growen and shot vp may the owner erecte to runne and spreade like to a Uine well a mans heigthe If the plantes happen to be annoyed with the Leke or Garden fleas the owner shal remoue and driue them away by the only setting of the herbe Organye in sundry places among them on whiche if these happen to lighte they eyther are incontinente killed or caused to encrease but few after as the Greeke writers of husbandry in their skilful practises witnesse Out of which with diligence we haue also gathered these that to the owner or gardner may happily appere profitable as the Gourde a matter somwhat strange to yelde fruits without seeeds If the Seedes before the setting be stieped for three dayes at the least in Sesaminum or Sauine oyle as the Neapolitane Rutilius vttereth or in the Juice of that hearbe infused named Conyza in Englishe Fleabane The like may bee wroughte if after the condition of the Uine the principallest and firste stemme shotte vp be on such wise digged about