of old seed. But the Beet seed hath a strange and wonderful quality aboue the rest: for it wil [unspec A] not come vp all in one and the same yeare. But some in the first, others in the second, and the rest in the third. And therfore sow as much seed as you will, yet shall you haue it grow but indiffe∣rently. There be herbs which wil grow and beare but one yere and no more: and there be other again which will continue many yeares together, as for example, Parsely, Porret, & Chibbols. For, sow these but once in a garden, they will beare from yere to yere from the same root, or els sow themselues. The most part of herbs do beare round seed, in some the seeds are long; in few, broad and flat in manner of a leafe, as in Orach. You shall haue seed also narrow & chamfered, like a gutter tile, as that of Cumin. Moreouer, there is a difference in colour, for some seeds be white, others black: in hardnesse also and softnesse; for some be harder or softer than others. Some seeds at euery branch of the plant, are contained within cods or bladders, as we may see [unspec B] in Raddish, Senuie, and Turneps or Rapes. The seeds of Parsely, Coriander, Dill, Fenell, & Cu∣men, grow naked & bare. But that of the Bleet, the Beet, Orach and Basil, is inclosed in a huske or hull. Lectuce seed lieth within a downe. As touching Basill aforesaid, nothing fructifieth more than it: & to the end that it may come vp in more plenty & abundance, they say it should be sowed with maledictions and ill words; for the more that it is cursed, the better it wil speed and prosper: yea, and when it is sowed, the mould of the bed must be parted and rammed down in manner of a pauement. And more particularly, they that sow Cumin, pray to God that it may neuer come vp. Such seeds as lie within an husk, hardly come to be dry and ripe therin: but Basil seed especially, and Gith or Nigella Romana. But they must be all throughly dried be∣fore they be seedow and fruitfull. This is generall in all herbs throughout, that they wil thriue [unspec C] and grow the better, if their seede bee sowed by heapes one vpon another, than scattering. And certainly both Leeks seed is sown & Garlick cloues set in that wise, namely, bound vp & tied together in some clouts or ragges wherein they be lapped. As for Parsely seed, against it should be sown, there would be an hole made with a little wooden dibil or pin, & therin it must be put with some dung after it. Furthermore, all garden herbs come vp either of seed and cloues set; or els of slips pulsed from the mother-plant. Some grow of seeds and sprigs both, as Rue, O∣rigan, & Basil; for euen this herb also last named will abide cutting when it is come to be one handbreadth, or a span high; and those cuttings will grow if they be planted. There be that are maintained by root and seed both, as Onions, garlick, and those which haue bulbous roots: like∣wise, all such as when they haue born yerely, leaue a root behind them stil in strength & vertue. [unspec D] Of such as grow of roots replanted, their roots continue long & branch much, as we may see in the bulbs, in Chibbols, & sea onions. Others put out branches sufficient, but not from the head or root, as Parsely and Beets. All herbs for the most part, do spring & shute again, if their stalke be cut off; vnlesse it be those that haue a smooth stem. And this is most seen in Basil, Raddish, & Lectuce, the stems wherof are cut for many purposes. And as for Lectuce, men hold, that the later spring thereof, when the first is gon, is the sweeter. Certainly, Raddishes eat the more plea∣santly, if their leaues be cropt off before the master stem or spire be growne big. And this also we obserue in Rapes or Turneps; for if you strip them also from their leaues & couer them ouer head with earth, yet will they grow all winter and continue till Summer following. Touching Basill, Sorrel, red Porret or Bleets, garden Cresses, Rocket, Orach, Coriander, they are all of one [unspec E] sort, & singular in their kind: for sow them where you wil, they be the same stil, neither are they better in one place than in another. It is a common receiued opinion, that Rue wil grow the bet∣ter if it be filched out of another mans garden: and it is as ordinary a saying, that stollen Bees wil thriue worst. Some hearbes there be which come without sowing or setting, as wild Mint, Nep, Endiue, and Peniroial. But howsoeuer there be but one single kind of those before rehear∣sed, yet on the contrary side, there be many sorts of others, which wee haue already spoken of, and will write more hereafter, and principally of Ach or Parsely.