Page 16
There is a speckled Cullenbine and the purple Cullenbine, * 1.1 the white and the blew: and many other mixt colours, which I shall not stand to name. The branches of Cullenbines die every year, and the root springeth again; the leaves are for good use for pot-herbs; and for physical uses, as you may see in Herbals; the seed of this flower doth ripen the lat∣ter end of July, and if you let it shed of it self, it will spring up again, if the earth be cleansed from weeds; so where they are once, soon the falling of the seed keepeth the Garden re∣plenisht with them, yet the old stock dieth standing four or five years: the time for sowing of these is chiefly in August, so that they may flower timely; the place ought to be in some borders, next a privy walk; be sure you let them not stand too thick, for then they will grow small and single; let them be cleansed from weeds. Thus much may serve for the ordinary sort of Cullenbines.
Now there is a more tenderer sort, which we call the thrice double converted Cullenbine; these are not much un∣like the former, but only they are much larger, and much exceeding the other in orient colour; these flower at the same time the other do, they seldom bear seed, but if you can procure either seed or slip, you shall order them, as fol∣loweth:
Prepare some fine boxes of earth, and therein sow your seed, or set your slip, having a diligent care over them after∣ward: by watering of the slip, and transplanting of the seed∣lings, sheltering of them from the frost and snow, you shall have them to flower early in the Spring: I cannot stand to set down every particular; there may be many means used to set forward the nature of them, but no way to alter the form, setting forward of the nature is but a watery substance, which I shall not speak of here, but refer it to that place where I treat concerning Cornation Gilli-flowers.