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SO soone as the ground is full of Seeds in all places, you must be carefull to water it, if by hap the place be drie of his owne nature, that so the Seed may not be hindered of his sprouting by the too much drinesse, or that the hearbe alreadie sprung may not die. The best water to water the pot-hearbs withall, is raine water, if it fall in the night, or in such a time as that it may
not heat the hearbes, for it washeth and cleanseth them from the dust and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that eateth them, especially if the Raine come driuing with a Northerne wind: for want of this, the Riuer or Brooke water is best next, being a little warme: in place of this, Well water drawne in the morning, and put in a barrell, or in some other thing of receit, that so it may take the heat of the Sunne beames, may serue: for cold and salt water is enemie to all sorts of hearbes, although that Theophrastus say, that salt water is more conuenient than anie other to water certaine plants. Beside••, you shall vnderstand, that for the speedie growing of hearbes, or for comforting them after they are once sprouted and risen aboue the earth, there is nothing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the world better, or more comfortable, than Sope ••uds, after they haue beene 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in, and are verie well cooled. The dregges of Ale, or lees of Wine, are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good to water Rosemarie with, or anie other tender Hearbe, Flower, or Pla•••• whatsoeuer. The time to water them, is the euening and morning, not the mid∣day for feare that the water, heated by the heat of the Sunne, might burne th•••• at the root.
After that the hearbes haue begun to put forth, you must weed the bad from the good, whose nourishment they would consume and ouer-shadow them withall: this must be done with a forked trowell whiles they be verie small, and with the hand (which Gardiners call by the name of making cleane) when the pot-hearbes are growne strong and great. Some doe also weed them thus, as well for the weight of the earth, and heauie falling of the water vpon them, as also because of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of folkes feet, whereby the earth becommeth hard: Wherefore if the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be soft, you need not to ••ake it but verie slightly. And you must know, that weeding is necessarie for Gardens at all times, except in the height of Winter, that is to say, from Nouember till March: in all which time it is not good to weed, because those weeds which doe then grow doe not offend or choake the hearbe••, but rather keepe them warme and comfort them: whereas, should they be taken away, you would leaue the stemme and roots of your hearbes so naked to all the bitternesse of Winter, that euerie small Rinde or Frost would endanger the vtter killing and destroying of them, as you may find by proofe, if you please not to giue credit to our relation.
Cutting of hearbes is also profitable for them at what time as they be somewha•• growne, thereby to make them to keepe their greenenesse the longer, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them the more beautifull and tufted, to keepe them from seeding, as also to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them somewhat a more pleasant smell than they had in their first stalke. By this meanes Lettuces and Coleworts are made better, and of a more pleasant taste, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their first leaues bee pluckt from them. In like manner, Turneps and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grow more beautifull, and tufted, if their leaues be cut. But all hearbes must not be cut at all times: for such as haue a hollow stalke, as Onions, and others, if they be cut when it rayneth, the blade or stalke of the Onion is filled full of water, and rotteth. And this is the cause why hearbes of such nature are not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be cut but in a faire and drie time: Or if not cut at all, it is better, except it be to keepe them from seeding, or to make the head a little the fairer; which, fresh moulding will better doe, and with lesse labour. As for your Scallions, Chyues, or Leekes, to cut them it is not amisse, because they are hearbes conti∣nually to be vsed for the Pot; and in that respect, the oftener cut, so much the better.
Watring.
What water is good for Seeds.
What time is good to water.
Weeding and raking.
Clipping or cut∣ting of hearbes.