CHAP. XLI.
Of Strawberries.
STrawberries haue no need of great toyle or tilling, so that they be plan∣ted in some good ground not manured, notwithstanding, but well sha∣ded howsoeuer: because they delight greatly in the shadow of other hearbes, so also they are found growing amongst great tall trees, without any manner of husbanding or tillage. It is true that they grow well in the open Sun, so that they be watered once or twice a weeke, especially when they begin to looke red: they must be remoued euerie three yeares, to make them beare faire berries, and their earth raised about them once euerie yeare, and that about Christ-tide, and to weed them by hand when as weeds doe ouergrow them: in the ground whither you remoue them, you must first put horse-dung well rotted, or cowes dung, a scuttle full to euerie border that is three foot broad: dresse this ground in a drie time, and let it lye afterward, and in a moist time, but not rainie, you shall set the Strawberries halfe a foot euerie way, thrusting the earth close to the root with a dibble. In these you may obserue a certaine kind of wonderfull harmelesnesse and innocencie: which although they creepe vpon the earth, and be continually troden vpon by Ad∣ders, Lizards, Snakes, and other venimous beasts, are notwithstanding neuer infected with them, neither get they any venimous sauour, which sheweth that they haue no ••ffinitie with ven••me or poyson.
Amongst other pleasures or commodities that they afford, the juice or wine that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strained from strawberries, is good to take away the red pimples▪ & itching knobs, which grow in the face by the heat of the liuer, as also to take away the rednes••e of the eyes, and to wipe out the spots and knobs of the Leprosie. Likewise the deco∣ction of the roots and leaues of Strawberries made with wine, is singular good for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, if it be drunke for some time in the morning, as also to prouoke the termes