The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Of Goosberries, Cu••rans, Rarsberries, and Strawberries.

GOOSBERRIES and CVRRANS are much of one nature, and the same Husbandry that is required to the one is to the other: They must be planted in good rich Ground, and of a deep and light Mould. You must keep the Ground in good heart, by Soyling it at least every third Year, and keep it dug, and well Hoed, to be free from Weeds, which are great Enemies to them: Also keep the Trees clear from Succors, or young Shoots, by cutting them off close to the Root; and suffer not a Bushy thick Head, for that will hinder the Suns influence to Ripen the Fruit, nor will they bear so well, nor the Fruit be so large as if thus trimmed and ordered.

If you plant either Goosberries, or Curran-Trees, for a full Crop, four or five foot square is enough, and be sure to plant them in even Ranges, which is better for the Digging, Hoing, Gathering, and all occasions.

There are several sorts of Goosberries, as the English, both White and Red; the Yellow and White Dutch Amber, which are the best and fairest Fruit.

CVRRANS are of three sorts, the Red, the White, and the Black, which as yet is not common.

RARSBERRIES are an excellent Fruit; They delight in a good stiff Ground, and will grow in the Shade, but then the Fruit is not so good and pleasing to the Pallate, being more waterish. They are best set in Beds; and if the Plants are set about a foot asunder they will soon be too thick, by reason of the great store of Shoots that spring up.

In the Winter let the Borders be Pared, and the Earth cast up on the Beds, with Dung over them, which will very much nourish the Plants, and cause them to bear the better, and keep the Beds clear from Weeds.

STRAWBERRIES are also of several sorts, viz. the great White Strawberry, the ordi∣nary Red one that grows in the Woods, and the Virginia Strawberry of late years brought into England, being a large Berry, and of a delicate taste, far exceeding the English.

They delight to be set in new broken Ground, or at least where they have not grown before, and should be removed every third Year, other∣wise they will decay and cease bearing, so that they must be removed into fresh Ground well prepared, and rich: But Wood-Strawberries are found to prosper best in Gardens. The Beds may be about four Foot broad, and not too thick set, for they will soon spread: Let them be kept clean Weeded, and in the Winter pa••e the Borders, and cast the Earth on the Beds, with

some Dung, as before directed, for Rarsberries to nourish them.

Watering them, especially in the hot, dry Weather, doth cause a great Encrease, and makes the Berry the larger.

If you would have Strawberries in Autumn, cut away the first Blossoms that they put forth, to hinder their timely Bearing, and they will Blow anew, and Bear in Autumn.

Thus having treated of the Kitchin-Garden, [ 10] the next business shall be to speak of the Garden of Delight, for Flowers, Greens, &c.