The compleat gard'ner, or, Directions for cultivating and right ordering of fruit-gardens and kitchen-gardens with divers reflections on several parts of husbandry, in six books : to which is added, his treatise of orange-trees, with the raising of melons, omitted in the French editions / by the famous Monsr De La Quintinye ... ; made English by John Evelyn ... ; illustrated with copper plates.

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OF FRUIT-GARDENING AND Kitchen-Gardens. VOL. II. PART VI.

Of the Culture of Kitchen-Gardens.

THere's nothing seems less unknown than the Art of Cultivating Kitchen-Gar∣dens. It has been universally practised in all Ages, and almost in all Climates of the World, and the care to bring up and multiply in select places, some Herbs and Legumes, or Edible Plants, which Nature had produced promi∣scuously in the midst of the wild Fields, and which the first Men used for their only Food, has been, and still continues to be the Occupation of a great number of all sorts of People. And indeed, how many do we see, that being weary and tired, either with the fatigues of War, or the drudgery of publick Employments, or with the idleness of a City or Court Life, have chosen to retreat into the Country, to go (as our Proverb says) and plant Cabbages, and how many others are there, that take an extream pleasure in entertaining their Friends with Herbs and Sallets out of their own Gardens, stiffly main∣taining, that they taste much better than those bought in the Markets, and of common Gard'ners? And therefore since Kitchen-Gardens have been planted in all times, have I not some reason to fear, it may appear at first, either ridiculous or impertinent for me to subjoyn here a particular Treatise of that sort of Gardens.

I answer, that I will not deny but that almost as soon as there were Men upon the Earth, they had some kind of Kitchen-Gardens, and that in process of time, the curiosity of their Cultivation has been extreamly augmented, and has made mighty advances, and I am far from pretending, that the first sowing of Sallets, and Roots, and planting of Cabbages, and Artichokes, and rearing of Cucumbers, Melons, &c. begun in our days. No, I know well enough, that our Ancestours understood what belonged to the Culture of all those plants, and that the most part of the very Country-people, and of the meaner sort of the inhabi∣tants

of Cities, have some Tincture of it; nay, and I will ingenuously confess, that the knowledge I have my self in the management of Kitchen-Gardens, was chiefly attained by my often conversing with what we vulgarly call, able Market-Gard'ners. But I must add withall that as the Kitchen-Garden taken in a general sence, comprehends the Culture of a great number of different sorts of Plants, so there is hardly any Gard'ner that has made it his Business, to be skilful in cultivating generally all the sorts of them; it having ordinarily hapned, that one has applyed himself to the care and improvement of one particular part of this culture, which he has performed exactly well, neglecting the rest, whilst another has employed his industry, no less particularly in that which his Neighbour had neglected, and succeeded in it, as much sighting on his side, that other part in which the same Neighbour had so prosperously laboured; the different appetites of Men, but more especially, the different goodness of Soils and Climates, having been the true causes of those different affectations in the Cultivation of Pot or Kitchen-Plants.

Now it being undoubtedly necessary for a Gentleman's Gard'ner to be able to perform with equal skill and happiness, all the parts of Culture belonging to a Kitchen-Garden, that so he alone may be in a condition to furnish his Master with all the variety that a good Kitchen-Garden can produce, without wanting at least any of those productions that are of most importance, and it being no less expedient too for the Gentleman him∣self to know exactly what he may expect from his Gard'ner every Month in the Year, and what is the particular work that is to be done in every Season; I have therefore ta∣ken care to omit nothing that is necessary for either of them to be informed in, that the one may be able to give content by knowing how perfectly well to discharge his Duty, and the other be contented, when he knows he has sufficient Reason to be so. In or∣der to which, by way of answer to those, that may ask me what I pretend to say that is new, upon a Subject which I my self confess to be so very well known,

I shall first repeat the same thing which I have already laid down, and inculcated, as my intention in all the parts of this Work, viz. That I write not here for those which are actually Gard'ners by Profession, and that are skillful in it, but for the in∣struction, as well of those that have a mind to become so, as for Gentlemen that are cu∣rious in Gard'ning, being well assured there are a great many of these Latter, though ignorant in the particulars of this Science, that esteem it not unworthy of their Curiosity, and are fully perswaded it is capable of giving them Pleasure as well as Profit, and being no less certain, that I my self found a great deal in pursuing the acquisition of those lights I have attained in it, therefore I cannot but think, it will be sweet and gratefull to them to enjoy without Pains, the Fruits of the study I have made therein, and to find out an exact and faithful Collection of all that concerns this matter.

In the second Place, I shall answer, that 'tis my design to cut out a shorter way than the common Roads, for those young Persons who though very desirous of learn∣ing the Art of Gard'ning, yet would willingly be instructed by some other means than by bare seeing others Practice, it being a tedious and uncertain way, and had rather be taught by stated Rules and Principles, which, I think may be done in a little time, and by very short and easie methods.

Thirdly, I reply, that I shall set down here some particular experiments which I my self have made with Success, and which seem to me never to have been made before, and I think I may add, that they have been too well approved, not to merit to be di∣vulged.

Lastly, I answer, that my intention is to give such Directions, that the place designed for a Kitchen-Garden may be so well ordered in all its parts, that not only each part may perform its duty in respect of its Productions but by the accurate Symmetry and Proportion observ'd in modelling of the whole, it may be in a Condition to allure the Spectators, and at all times to delight the Eyes of the Curious.

And accordingly for these Reasons, I purpose here to follow exactly the Model and Platform I have already delineated and explained at the beginning of these Treatises of Gard'ning, conformably to which, I shall set down,

First, every thing that generally speaking, should be in all sorts of good and well∣furnisht Kitchen-Gardens, to which I shall add a Description of the Seeds and other things which serve for the Production and Multiplication of every particular Plant.

In the second place, I shall specifie not only all the things that may be gathered out of a Kitchen-Garden every Month of the Year, but also what work Gard'ners are to do in every one of those Months, and to those two heads I will joyn another, viz. a parti∣cular account of what should at all times be found in any Kitchen-Garden whatsoever, that

so we may be able to judge when there is any thing wanting in it, and when not.

Thirdly, I will explain what sort of Earth or Soil, and what sort of Culture are most proper for each sort of plants, to make them excellent; and because some of them are sown to remain always in the same place, and some, only to be transplanted elsewhere, and some again are propagated without Seed; I will give Directions at the same time how to order all of them, as well in respect to the Seasons in which they are to be sown or planted, as the manner of their Propagation.

Fourthly, I will shew how long each sort may profitably occupy its place, and which of them must be laid up in store for our Winter Provision, and which may by the help of Industry be produced in spite of the Frosts.

And fifthly and lastly, I will inform you how long any sort of Seed will last without spoiling, they having not all the same destiny in that Matter.

CHAP. I.

What things should be planted in any Kitchen-Garden of a reasonable extent, to render it compleatly furnished.

ALL the World is agreed, that there are few days in the whole Year in which we can be well without the assistance of the Kitchen-Gardens, whether it be in the fair and fruitful Season, whilst they are still growing on the Earth that first pro∣duced them, when we have no more to do but to go and gather them there; or in Winter when we must fetch them out of the Store-rooms, where we had timely laid them up for Security, before the arrival of the bitter cold, which not only makes the Earth unfruitful for a time, but destroys too a great part of those Vegetables which are so un∣happy as to be within its reach; and therefore it follows, that every day of the Year, we must be furnisht with what we need of this Nature, out of our own Gardens of Stores, or elsewhere, either by the liberality of our Friends, or what is most common from the Markets.

That you may therefore have at one view, the knowledge of what composes this a∣greeable assistance, that may be drawn out of the Kitchen-Garden. I shall here present you with a kind of Alphabetical Inventory of all the things that such a Garden should, and may furnish us with, throughout the whole course of the year.

A.

• ALenois Cresses. Vid. Cresses.
• Alfange, a sort of Roman Lettuce.
• Alleluia, Wood-sorrel, alias French-Sorrel, or Sharp Trefoil.
• Anis.
• Artichokes, both Green, Violet and Red.
• Artichokes, Costons, or Slip-suckers.
• Asparagus.
• Aromaticks; see Fine Herbs.

B.

• BAlm, called in French, Melisse.
• Basil or Basilick, both the Greater and the Lesser.
• Bays, the common sorts.
• Hot Beds, of several sorts, as for Sallets, and Spring-Radishes, and the first Early Strawberries, as for Musk-melons, Cucum∣bers, and Mushroons, and for raising some sorts of Flowers in the Winter, and other Plants to set again in the naked Earth, and for the forcing of Sorrel and Cabbage Let∣tuce, &c. to advance.
• Beet-Raves, or Red Beets, to produce Roots for Sallets.
• White Beets called Poirée, for Chards.
• Beans both of the common sort, and those called Harico's, or French Kidney Beans; as also Venetian Beans called Feve∣rolles.
• Bonne Dame, or Good Lady.
• Borage.
• Bour delais, or Verjuice Grape, both Red and White.
• Bucks horn Sallet.
• Bugloss.
• Burnet, called in French, Pimpernel.

C.

• CAbbages of all sorts.
• Capers of the Ordinary sort.
• Capucin Capers, called otherwise Nusturces.
• Caprons, a sort of Strawberries.
• Spanish Cardons.
• ...

• Carlots.
• Cellery.
• Chalots, vid Shalots, and Eschalots.
• Chards of Artichokes.
• Chards of Beets.
• Chassela's Grapes.
• Cheril, Musked and Ordinary.
• Chervi, or Skirrets.
• Chicons, the same with Alfange.
• Ciboules.
• Citrulls or Pompions, or Pumpkins.
• Cives.
• Colyflowers, and Coleworts, both comprehen∣ded under Cabbage in French.
• Cresses, as Al••nois or Garden Cresses.
• Cucumbers.
• Currans, which with Gooseberries, are both called Groseilles in French, and distin∣guish'd into the Prickly, the Red, and the Pearled.

D.

• Dragons or Estragon, a Sallet.

E.

• ENdive, White or Tame, as well the Cur∣led as the Plain, called in French Chicorée or Succory, as also the Wild sort.
• Eschalots, vid. Shalots.
• Estragon or Dragons, a Sallet.

F.

• FEnnel.
• French-Sorrel; see Allcluja.
• Furnitures for Sallets, which with the French, are Spare-mint, called by them Balm, as also Estragon, or Dragons, English Cives, Fennil, Chervil, as well the common as the Musked sort, and Basil, &c.
• Fine Herbs, called in English, Sweet-Herbs, but meant by the French of all hot scen∣ted Herbs, as Ti••e, Morjarom, Lavender, Rhue, Worm-wood, Hysop, &c. which are planted in Borders.

G.

• ...GArlick.
• Gooseberries, together with Currans, both confounded, under the name of Gro∣seilles in French, and distinguish'd into the Prickly, the Red, and the Pearled.
• Good Lady, vid. Bonne Dame.

H.

• HYsop.

L.

• LAvender in Borders.
• Leeks.
• Lettice of all sorts, according to the Sea∣sons, as well to sow in rows, or small Furrows, to cut when little, as to Cabbage, and to bind up, viz. the Coquille or Shell-Lettuce, alias the Winter, and the Passion Lettuce, the Curl'd bright Lettuce, and the Green Curl'd Lettuce, the Little Red Lettuce, the Short Lettuce, the Royal Let∣tuce, the Bellegarde, the Lettuce of Genua, of Perpignan, and of Auberviliers, the Impe∣rial, and the Roman Lettuce, which compre∣hends all the Chicons, both the Green and Red, otherwise called the Alphange Let∣tuce, and they are to tie up.

M.

• MAcedonian Parsty. Vid. Parsly.
• Mâches.
• Mallou's and Marsh-mallo••s.
• Marjoram in Borders.
• Melons or Musk-melons.
• Mint, called in French, Balm.
• Muskat, or Musk-grapes, both the White, the Black, and the Red.
• The Long Muscat, alias, the Passe-Musquée•• Mushrooms.

N.

• NAsturces, or Capucin Capers. See Ca∣pers.

O.

• ONions, both the Red and the White.

P.

• PArsly, as well the Common as the Cur∣led.
• Macedonian Parsly.
• Parsnips.
• Patience, a sort of Sorrel. Vid. Sorrel.
• Pease, from the Month of May, which are the Hastings, till Allhallow-tide.
• Passe Musquée. See Muscats.
• Piercepier, a sort of Stone Parsly.
• Pompions or Pumpkins, called in French, Ci∣truls.
• Potirons, a sort of flat Pumpion or Pumpkin.
• Purslain, both of the Green, and Golden or Red sort.

R.

• RAdishes, both in Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
• Raspberries, both Red and White.
• Responces, or Field-Radishes.
• Rue.
• Rocamboles, or Spanish Garlick.
• Rocket, a kind of Sallet. Furniture.
• Rose-mary.
• Rubarb.

S.

• SAge.
• Salsisie, or Goat's-Beard.
• Saracens or Turky Wheat.
• Savory.
• Scorzonera, or Spanish Salsi••ie.
• Sellery. See Cellery.
• Shalots. See Eschalots.
• Smallage.
• Sorrel, both the Great, the Little, and the Round.
• Spinage.
• Spare-Mint. See Mint.
• Straw-berries, both Red and White.
• Succory. Vide. Endive.
• Suckers of Artichokes.
• Sweet Herbs. See Fine Herbs or Aromaticks.
• Sharp Trefoil. See Alleluia.

T.

• TIme for Borders.
• Tripe-Madam.
• Sharp Trefoil, vid. Alleluia.
• Turkey or Saracens Wheat.
• Turneps.

V.

• VErjuice Grapes, vid. Bourdelais.
• Vines.
• Violets in Borders.

W.

• VVHeat. See Turkey and Saracen••
• Wheat.
• Worm-wood for Borders.
• Wood-sorrel. See Alleluia.

CHAP. II.

Containing a Description of the Seeds, and other things which contribute to the production and Multiplication of every sort of Plant, or Legume.

A Alenois Cresses: See Cresses. Alfange: See Lettuce.

ALLELUIA, or Wood, or French Sorrel, is a sort of Trefoil, that is multiplied only by Runners or slips, which sprout from the foot of it, as do Violets and Dai∣ses, &c. It bears a White Flower, but no seed.

Anis, Is propagated only by seed, which is pretty small, and of a yellowish Green, and is of a longish Oval Figure, Striped: Which Oval is Bunched on one side. In a word, it is altogether like Fennel-seed.

Artichoaks, are commonly multiplied only by their Oeillitons or little Eyes, or Off-Sets which are a sort of Kernals, which grow about the heart of the foot of their plants, ••hat is, in that part that separates the Root from the Eye or bud, out of which the stemm grows that produces the Artichockes: These little Eyes or off-sets begin commonly to breed at the very end of Autumn, or in Winter, when it is mild, and shoot forth their Leaves in the Spring, that is at the end of March, and in the month of April, at which time, we grope about the foot of the Artichoke, and separate or slip off these Suckers or off-sets, in French called little Eyes, and that is called Slipping, or dis-Eyeing.

These off-sets or suckers to be good, should be White about the heel, and have some little roots; those that are black about the heel, are old, and produce but very little Ar∣tichokes in the spring, whereas the others stay till August, September, or October, before they bring theirs to perfection, according to the intention of the Gard'ner.

Sometimes Artichokes are multiplied by the seed, which grows in the Artichoke bottoms, when they are suffered to grow old, to flower, and to open, and lastly to dry, about Midsummer.

When we tie them up in Autumn, we wrap and cover them up to their whole length, with straw or old dung, and so Whiten the Cottony sides of their leaves, to make Arti∣choke Chards of.

Asparagus, or Sparagras are propagated only by seeds which is black, a little oval, round on one side, and very flat on the other, about the bigness of a great pin's head, and grows in a shell, or round Cod, which is Red, and about the bigness of an ordi∣nary Pea; there are four or six seeds in each shell, and those shells grow in Autumn, upon the head of those Asparagus plants that are a little fairer and stronger than the rest. Sometimes those shells are sown whole, but the best way is to break them, and beat the seeds out of them. The time of sowing them is about the end of March.

B

BAlm, in French, Melisse, is multiplied only by Runners and Cuttings.

Basil, or Basilick, as well the Great, as the Small sort is multiplied by seed, which is of a blackish cinnamon colour, and very Small and a little oval, and is propagated no other way but that.

The common Bay, or Bays, is propagated by seeds which are Black, or else by Lay∣ers.

Beans, as the Marsh or Common Beans, which are pretty thick and long, of an oval figure, round at one end, and flat at the other, with a black list or Crease pretty thick and broad, of a sullied White colour, having a smoother skin than the Haricauts, or Kid∣ney Beans, which are likewise long and oval, but narrower, lesser, and thinner than the other, having a black list in the middle of one of the sides of the oval, which is round on one side, and a little bending Inward on the other. The Feverolles, or Venetian Beans, dister only from these last, in that they are a little less, and are some of them White, some Red, and some mottled with several Colours; there is one sort of them that is very small. Every body knows, they all grow in Cods.

Beet-Raves, or Beet-Radishes, that is, Red-Beets to produce Roots for Sallets, are mul∣tiplied only by Seeds, which are about the bigness of middling Peas, and round, but all gravelly in their roundness; they are yellowish, and so like those of the White Beet, that they are hardly to be distinguish'd one from the other, so that People are often mista∣ken, thinking they have sown Red Ones for Roots, and see nothing come up but White Beets; they are planted apart when designed to run to Seed.

White Beets, called Porrêe or Poirée, for Chards are also propogated only by Seed, which is like that of the Red Beets, only 'tis of a little duller colour: They are replanted to produce Chards.

Bonne-Dame, or Good Lady, is multiplied only by Seed, which is extreamly flat, and thin, and is round and reddish.

Borage is propagated only by Seed, which is black, and of a long bunchy Oval Fi∣gure, and having commonly a little white end towards the base or bottom, which is quite separated from the rest, the length is all Engraven as 'twere with black streaks from one end to the other.

Bugloss is likewise only multiplied by Seed, which is so like that of Borage, that they cannot be known asunder.

Buckshorn Sallet is multiplied only by Seed, which is one of the least we have; it is besides that, longish, and of a very dark Cinnamon colour, and grows in a Husk like a Rats Tail.

Burnet is propagated only by Seed, which is pretty big, and a little Oval, with four sides, and is all over engraven as 'twere in the spaces between those four sides.

C.

CAbbages, called in French, Choux, and comprehending both Cabbage, Coleworts, and Colyflowers of all kinds, of what Nature soever they be, are multiplied only by Seed, which is about the bigness of an ordinary Pin, or of Birding Powder, and is reddish, in∣clining to a brown Cinnamon colour.

Capucin Capers. See Nasturces.

Caprons. See Strawberries.

Spanish Cardons are propagated only by Seed, which is longish, oval, and about the bigness of a fair Wheat Corn; it is of a greenish, or Olive colour, mark'd with black streaks from one end to the other, and is Sown from the middle of April to the end.

Carrots are multiplied only by Seeds, which are small and oval, the sides of which are wrought with little streaks, or longish points very small; and one side of the flat part of the Seed is a little fuller, and more raised than the other, and both of them are marked long-ways with streaks; they are of the colour of a dead Leaf.

Collery is multiplied only by Seed, which is very small, yellowish, and of a longish oval Figure, and a little bunched.

Chalots: See Eschalots.

Chards of Artichokes: See Artichokes.

Chards of Beets: See Beets.

Chervil is multiplied only by Seed, which is black, very small, and pretty longish; striped long-ways; it grows upon the Plants that were Sown in the Autumn before, and Knits and Ripens in the Month of June.

Musked Chervil is multiplied likewise only by Seed, which is longish, black, and pretty big.

Chervi or Skirrets is multiplied only by Seed, which is oval, longish, and pretty small and narrow, streaked from one end to the other, and of the colour of a grayish white dead Leaf, and flat at one end.

Ciboules, or small Onions, are propagated only by Seed, of the bigness of a corn of or∣dinary Gun-powder, a little flat on one side, and half round on the other, and yet a little long and oval, and white on the inside; so like to which are the Seeds of both the Red and White Onion, and of Leeks, that it is very hard to distinguish them one from the other: Ciboules are Sown in all Seasons.

Citrulls, Pumpions, or Pumkins, are propagated only by Seeds, which are of a flat oval Figure, and pretty large and whitish, and are as 'twere neatly edged about the sides, excepting only at the bottom, where they stuck to the Citrull or Pumpion, in whose Belly they were formed.

Cives, called English Cives, are multiplied only by little Off-sets that grow round about their Tufts, which grow very big in time, from which a part of those Off-sets are taken to Replant.

Colyflowers: See Cabbages.

Coleworts: See Cabbages.

Cresses, called Alènois Cresses, are multiplied only by Seed, which is of a longish oval figure, small, and of an Orange yellow colour.

Cucumbers, or Cowcumbers, are propagated only by Seed, which is oval, a little pointed at both ends, but a little less at the lower end or bottom than at the other, out of which springs its Bud or Sprout; it is of a midling thickness, of a whitish colour, and is gathered out of the Bellies of those Cucumbers that are grown yellow with ripeness.

The Curran-Bushes, whose Fruit grows in Bunches, both the Red, and the White, called Dutch Currans; as also Goosberry-Bushes, called in French, Groseilles, as well as Cur∣rans, and named Picquans, or Prickly Groseilles, are multiplied as well by slips that are a little Rooted, that Sprout out of the foot of their Stocks every year in the Spring, as by simple Cuttings; we also Replant their Stocks of two or three years old.

D.

THe Dock, called Patience, being a sort of Sorrel, is multiplied only by Seed, which is like Sorrel Seed, only a little bigger.

Dragons, or Estragon, a Sallet: See Estragon.

E.

WHite Endive, called in French, Chicorée, i. e. Succory, is multiplied only by Seed, which is longish, and of a whitish grey colour, flat at one end, and roundish at the other, and grows upon the Stocks or Stems of the preceeding years growth; one would take it almost for nothing else but little bits of Herb cut pretty small.

Wild Endive, or Succory, is also propagated only by Seed, which is longish and black∣ish, and grows as the other doth.

Eshalottes, or Shalotts: See Shalots.

Estragon, or Dragons, being a Sallet, is multiplied only by Runners, or Cuttings.

F.

FEnnel is propagated only by Seed, which is pretty small, longish and oval, bunched, and streaked with greenish grey streaks.

French Sorrel: See Alleluia.

G.

GArlick is produced by a kind of Kernels, or Off-sets, which grow in great numbers about its Foot, and make all together a kind of Bulb like an Onion, which Kernels are called the Cloves of the Garlick; every Clove being concave or hollow on the inside, and convex, or bending outwards on the out-side, having at its lower end, a flat base or bottom, by which it is fastned to the body of the Foot or Stalk, out of which the Roots spring; and having on the top a pointed end, out of which springs its Bud, or Shoot, when it is planted in the Earth in the Months of March or April, in order to its bringing forth.

Good Lady: See Bonne Dame.

Goosberry-Bushes: See Curran-Bushes.

H.

HYssop, or Hysope, is propagated only by slips.

L.

LAvender is multiplied by Seed, and by the old Stocks or Plants replanted.

Lawrel, or Laurel: See Bays.

Leeks are multiplied only by Seed, which is altogether like that of Ciboules; they are Replanted in the Month of May, very deep in the Earth, to make their Stalks and Plants thick and white; and they are Sown in March as soon as the Frost will permit; their Seed grows in a kind of thick white Purse, which is round, and grows upon the top of a good long Stalk, and it keeps a pretty long time in that Purse or Hood before it falls.

Lettuces, of what sort so ever they be, are multiplied only by Seed, which is of a longish oval figure, streaked long-ways, sharp pointed at the ends, and very small; some are black, as those of Aubervilliers, but the most of them are white: when they are Sown in the Spring they run to Seed in the Month of July after; but the Winter Lettuces, called otherwise Shell Lettuces, after having past the Winter in the place where they were Re-planted in October run up to Seed in the Month of July following.

M.

MAcedonian Parsly: See Parsly.

Mâches, or Masches, are multiplied only by Seed, which is very small, and of an Orange colour.

Mallows, or Marsh-Mallows, are propagated only by Seeds, which are like one another in shape, but yet are different as well in colour as in bigness; for the Seed of the Mallows is much bigger than that of the Marsh-Mallows, and that of this latter is of a deeper brown than that of the plain Mallows; they are both Triangular, and streaked all over.

Marjoram is propagated only by Seed, which is very little, and shaped almost like a Limon, more pointed on one side than on the other; it is speckled in some places with little white specks, and is as 'twere streaked with white all over; it is of a pretty light Cinnamon colour.

Melons, or Musk-Melons, are multiplied by a Seed, which is like that of a Cucumber, excepting in colour, which in Melons is of a pale red, and is not so broad as that of the others; they are taken out of the Bellies of ripe Musk-Melons.

Mint, or Spare-Mint, called in French, Balm, is multiplied only by Runners that are like so many Arms that spring out of its Tuft, and take Root; it likewise is propagated by Cuttings, but bears no Seed.

Muscat: See Vines.

N.

NAsturces, commonly called Capucin Capers, are multiplied only by Seed, which is a kind of Pea or Haricot, or French-Bean, which climbs and gets up upon Branches or Poles which are near it; the Leaf of it is pretty large, and the flower, of an Orange colour; the figure of the Seed is a little Pyramidal, divided by Ribs, having all its superficies engra∣ven, and wrought all over, being of a grey colour, inclining to a light Cinnamon: They are Sown in hot Beds about the end of March, or the beginning of April, and af∣terwards they are Replanted by some Wall well exposed. The Seed easily falls as soon as ever 'tis Ripe, as doth that of Borage, and the Belles de Nuit, or Night Fair Ones; and therefore they must be carefully gathered.

O.

ONions, as well the White, as the Red, are multiplied only by Seed, which as I have already said, is like that of Ciboules.

P.

PArsly, as well the Common, as the Curled sort, is multiplied only by Seed, which is little and very small, and of a greenish grey colour, and a little bending inward on one side, and all over streaked with little rising streaks from one end to the other.

Macedonian Parsly or Alisanders is also propagated only by Seed, which is pretty big and oval, and a little more full and swelling on one side than on the other, which bends a lit∣tle inward, streaked throughout its whole length; and is also streaked a cross on the edges between the sides.

Passe-pierre: See Pierce-Pierre.

Parsnips are multiplied only by Seed, which is flat, and of a round figure, a little oval, and as if it were hemmed or edged, streaked throughout its length, and is of the colour of a brownish Straw.

Patience: See Dock.

Passe-Musquee: See Muscats, and Vines.

Peas, or Pease, are multiplied only by Seed; there are great Ones, little Ones, white Ones or yellow Ones, and green Ones. All the world knows they grow in Cods, and are almost round, and sometimes half flat.

Perce-Pierre vulgarly called Passe-Pierre, i. e. Pass, or Pierce Stone, being a kind of Stone-Parsly, is multiplied only by Seed, which is more long than round, pretty big, of a greenish grey colour, striped on the Back and Belly, and resembling a Lute in shape.

Pimpernell: See Burnet.

Pompions, or Pumpions, or Pumkins: See Citrulls.

Potirons, a sort of Flat Citrulls, or Pumpions, are multiplied only by Seed, which is altogether like that of the Common Citrull, or Pumpion, and grows in the same manner.

Purslain, as well of the Green, as Red, or Golden sort, is multiplied only by Seed, which is black, and extraordinary small, and of a half flat roundish figure. To have a good Crop of this Seed, the Purslain Plants must be Replanted at the end of May, at a full Foot distance one from the other: The Seed grows in little Husks or Shells, each of which contain a great many, and when we are to gather it, we cut off all the heads of the Stalks, and lay them to dry a little in the Sun, and then we beat the Seed out, and Fan, or Screen it.

R.

RAdishes are multiplied by Seed, which is round, pretty thick, and of a reddish Cin∣namon colour; it grows in a kind of little Cods, which they call Coque-Sigrues in Provence.

Raspberries, both Red and White, are propagated only by slips that sprout out of their stocks every year in the Spring time, and are sit to Replant the next Spring after.

Reponces, or Field Radishes, are multiplied only by Seed, and are a sort of little Radishes that are eaten in Sallats, and grow without any pains in the Fields.

Rocamboles, are a sort of mild Garlick, otherwise called Spanish Garlick, which is mul∣tiplied both by Cloves, and by Seed, which latter is about the bigness of ordinary Peas.

Rocket, being one of the Sallat Furnitures, is multiplied by Seed, which is extreme little, and of a Cinnamon, or dark Tan colour.

Rosemary is a little very odoriferous Shrub, that is propagated by Seed or Branches that have some portion of Root.

Rubarb is propagated only by Seed, which is pretty big, and triangular, the three An∣gles being as thin as very thin Paper, and there being a thickness in the middle where the Bud or Shoot is.

Rue is multiplied by Seed, whose shape resembles that of a Cocks Stone; it is of a black colour and rugged; but yet we usually propagate it rather by its Layers and Cuttings, than by its Seed.

S.

SAge is multiplied only by a kind of hooked slips that have a little Root.

Salsifie, or Goats-Beard, the common sort is multiplied only by Seed, which is al∣most like in all things to that of Scorzonera, except in its colour, which is a little greyer; it is of a very long oval figure, as if it were so many little Cods all over streaked, and as 'twere engraven in the spaces between the streaks, which are pretty sharp pointed to∣wards the ends.

Samphire or Sampire: See Pierce-pierre.

Saracens Wheat, or Turky Wheat, is a dark red Seed or Grain, about the bigness of an ordinary Pea, very smooth, round on one side, and a little flat on the other, where it is fastned to its Spike or Ear.

Savory is multiplied only by Seed, which is extraordinary small and round, slick, and grey.

Scorzonera, or Spanish Salsifie, is propagated only by Seed, which is small, longish and round withal, and of a white colour, and grows in a kind of Ball, mounted on the top of the Stalk of the Plant, having its point garnished with a kind of Beard like that of Pissabeds, or Dandelions.

Sellery: See Cellery.

Shalots or Eschalots, are multiplyed by Off-Sets or Kernels, which grow about the foot of its Plant, and are about the bigness of a Filberd Nut.

Smallage is multiplyed only by Seed which is reddish, and pretty big, of a roundish oval Figure, a little more full and rising on one side, than on the other, and is streaked from one end to the other.

Sorrel, as well the Lesser one which is the common sort, as the Greater one, are both multiplyed only by Seed, which is very small, slick, and of a Triangular Oval Figure, the ends of it being sharp and pointed, and being of an excellent dark Cinnamon Co∣lour.

Round Sorrel, is propagated only by Slips or Runners, so that out of one Tuft, we may easily make several plants of it.

French or Wood-Sorrel: See Alleluia.

Spare-Mint: See Mint.

Spinage is multiplyed only by Seed, which is pretty big, and horned, or Triangu∣lar on two Sides, having its corners very sharp pointed and prickly, and the other part which is opposite to those pointed Horns, is like a Purse, of a Grayish colour.

Straw-berry Plants, as well the white as the red, and those called Caprons, are propaga∣ted only by Runners, which are produced by a kind of Threads or Strings, which springing out of the body of the Plant, and creeping along upon the Earth, easily e∣nough take Root, at certain Joynts or Knots about a foot distance one from the other, which knots coming to take Root, make new Plants, that in two or three Months time, are fit to be transplanted, and they are placed three or four of them together, to make what we call a Tuft.

Succory: See Endive.

Suckers of Artichokes: See Artichokes.

Sharp Trefoil: See Alleluia.

T.

TIme is multiplyed by Seed, which is very small, and sometimes we separate those Plants or Stems of it that produce several rooted Slips or Suckers, to replant them in Borders, for Time is seldom planted otherwise.

Tripe Madam is propagated both by Seed, and Cuttings or Slips, every Stem or Stock of it producing several Arms, which being separated and replanted, easily take Root again. The Seed of it is Gray, and Longish, and almost of the shape of Parsly Seed; there grows a great deal of it upon every Seed Stalk, which runs up one above another, like those of Seed-Carrots, Parsnips, &c. there are seven or eight of them in a sort of little o∣pen Cup, where they grow ripe after the falling of a yellow Flower, inclining to an Olive colour.

Turkey Wheat: See Saracens Wheat.

Sharp Trefoil: See Alleluia.

Turneps are multiplyed only by Seed, which is almost like that of Cabbage.

V.

VInes of what sort soever they be, whether White, Red, or Black Muskat Chassela's, Bourdelais, Corinthian, or Long Muscat, called otherwise Passe-Musquée, &c. are mul∣tiplyed by Layers, by hooked or bent Slips, and especially Couched; and lastly, by Graft∣ing Cleft-wise.

Violet Plants, as well of the Double as Single sort, and of what colour soever they be, though they produce Seed in little reddish Shells or Husks, yet are multiplyed only by the Slips they produce, each Plant or Stock of them growing insensibly into a great Tuft, which is divided into several little ones, which being replanted, grow in time big enough to be likewise divided into others.

W.

Wheat: See Saracens and Turkey Wheat.

Worm-wood, is multiplyed by Seed, which is of a pretty odd Figure, being a little bent inward in its smallest part, and a little open on the other end, which is bigger and rounder, and upon which there is a little black spot. Its colour is yellowish at the bigger end, and its sharper end inclines a little to black. Its Seed is seldom used, because it is very difficult to fan or sift, being very light, and therefore when we have need of propagating Worm-wood, we make use rather of its Cuttings and Layers, that are a lit∣tle rooted.

Wood-Sorrel: See Alleluia.

CHAP. III.

Shews what a good Kitchen-Garden may yield us every Month in the Year, and how a Gard'ner may and ought to employ himself there in every one of those Months.

THe Experience of hot Countries sufficiently convinces us, that the Earth taken in ge∣neral, is capable at all Seasons, to produce all manner of things, without any extraor∣dinary assistance of Art, because in those parts, there is no Season in the Year, in which she is not teeming, but by a contrary experience we find, that our Climate is too cold to afford us any such fertility; and yet because there are few days, in which a Man has not oc∣casion to make up a part of his nourishment and subsistance with something of the growth of his Garden; It concerns the industrious Gard'ners so to manage it, that it may not only produce enough amply to suffice for our daily use, during the five or six Months in which the Earth acts at her Ease, by the favour of the Sun's Neighbourhood, but also furnish us at the same time, a sufficient Provision for those five or six Months in which she is suspended from her ordinary functions.

Now among the Barren and less happy Months that commonly make the greatest op∣position to our Culture, are reckoned the last fifteen days of November, all December, and January, and the first fifteen days of February; the violence of the Frosts which in that Season use to harden and cool the Earth, and the abundance of Snow with which it is then wont to be covered, putting such a perfect stop to all Vegetative Operations, that the most fertile Soil becomes at that time altogether like that which never was blessed with that accomplishment.

But notwithstanding all those hindrances, there is still work enough to be done in Win∣ter, to keep us from being quite idle, and a great deal of Assistance too to be drawn from our Gardens, even in that Season, that we may not labour under too great a scar∣city of their Productions; and therefore I have determined to give you a particular ac∣count of every one of those works, and of every one of those Commodities which our Gardens will afford us, during every one of the twelve Months of the Year, and shall begin with that which, because it passes for the first, and opens and begins the Year, seems to me best to deserve the preference.

Works which may be done in a Kitchen-Garden, in the Month of January.

TO Prune all sorts of Trees, whether Dwarfs or Wall-Trees, to prepare some of them to plant as soon as ever the Ground shall be open after the hard Frosts, and the melting of the Snow that covered it.

To make Trenches, to plant Trees, to dig Molds to amend them; to dig round the Feet, either of Trees over Luxuriant, to cut off their thick Roots, and by that means to make them fructifie, or of such as are infirm, to trim and redress them.

To make Hot Beds, to sow forward Cowcumbers, and Sallets in, whether in Rows or little Furrows, or under Bells. To make Screens to cover those Seeds in case of need: The first hot Beds for Cowcumbers, as also for Musk-melons, are usually made at the very beginning of the Month, and at the same time we may make hot Beds for Mushrooms.

To heat or force Asparagus.

To heat Beds of Sorrel, Patience, Borage, &c.

To raise on hot Beds, Jacinths, Narcissus's of Constantinople, and some Tulips, &c.

To make Trails, Trellisces, or Frames for Wall-trees.

To pull down the hot Beds of the last Year, and to take the rotten Dung that com∣posed them, and lay it upon those Grounds we would amend, or Meliorate.

To lay apart some Molds to have them at Hand, to prepare for the hot Beds, and we may also clear and cleanse the places of the Hot beds, in order to the making of new ones.

To tie up with Bands of Straw, the tops of the Leaves of Long Lettuce, which have not Cabbaged, to make them Cabbage, or at least to whiten them, when they are grown big enough for it.

To raise some Strawberries upon hot Beds, to have some ripe in the Months of April and May.

To dung Figg-trees, in order to have early Figs.

And in fine, to advance the doing by little and little, all that the Spring Season is wont to do with an extraordinary Expedition.

To plant Trees in Baskets, to Pot, and Case Figg-trees, to lay Vine and Fig-tree Bran∣ches, to clear your Trees of Moss, if troubled with it, which is done best in rainy wea∣ther, with the back of a Knife, or some such instrument.

But it would be to little Purpose to know what to do, without being informed how to do it, and therefore for your instruction in pruning, I referr you to my fourth Book, which treating throughly of that Subject, may excuse me from speaking any more of it here.

And as to the way of making hot Beds, you must first know, they are to be made only with Long Horse-Dung, or Mule-Dung, which is to be either all New, or mixed with a third part at most of Old, provided it be dry, and not rotten, for that which is rotten, is not at all proper for making hot Beds, no more than the Dung of Oxen, Cows, Hogs, &c. as well, because it has little or no heat, as because ordinarily those kinds of rotten Dung are accompanied with an unpleasing smell that infects the Plants raised upon such Beds, and gives them an ugly Taste.

By New Long Dung, is to be understood, that which is taken from under the Horses, and has served them for Litter but one Night or two at most.

By Long old Dung, is meant that which has been piled up ever since it was new, in a dry place where it has lain all Summer, to be ready to be used, either to make Coverings for Fig-trees, Artichoaks, Endive, &c. against the Winter Cold, or to make hot Beds after the ordinary manner, which is thus performed.

After we have mark'd and proportioned out the place where the Bed is to be, and mark'd out likewise with a Cord, or with Stakes, of what breadth it must be, there must be brought a Rank of Baskets full of Long Dung, one at the tail of the other, begin∣ning the Rank or Row where the Bed is to end; which done, the Gard'ner begins to work where the Rank of Baskets ends, that so the Dung not being intangled with any thing lying upon it, may more easily and handsomly be wrought into the Bed. Then the Gard'ner takes up this Dung with a Fork, and if he be any thing handy, places it so neatly and tightly in laying every layer of his Bed, that all the straw ends of the Dung, are turned inwards, and what remains, serves to make a kind of back or fence on the out-side. The first layer being thus compleated exactly to the breadth that is marked out, which is commonly of about four foot, and to such a length as is thought fit, the Gard'∣ner proceeds to lay the second, third, &c. beating them with the back of his Fork, or else treading them with his Feet, to see if there be any defect, because the Bed must be equally stuft every where, so that no one part may be less strong of Dung than another, which being done, he continues it to the designed length, proportioning it still by Lay∣ers, till the Bed reach the length, breadth, and heighth it should have, which heighth is of between two and three foot when 'tis first made, and sinks a full foot lower when it is setled.

Now as to the intention of these Hot Beds, some of them are designed for the raising, or forwarding of some plants which our Climate is not capable naturally of producing in the naked Ground, as for example, for the raising of Radishes, little Sallets, Straw-berries, Cucumbers, Musk-Melons, &c. and the better to compass those ends, we make Hot Beds during the Months of November, December, January, February, March and April. These Beds must be covered over with a certain quantity of small fine mold, as we shall afterward Direct, and must have heat enough to communicate to that mold, and to the plants that are nourished by it; And therefore those Hot Beds that are an Inventi∣on of Gard'ners against the Cold, which is the cruel Enemy of Vegetation, must be well made.

In the second place, there are other Beds which are to serve for Mushrooms, in all the seasons of the Year, and such may be made every Month, though they act not till about three Months after they are made; and that is, when all their great heat being quite spent, they are grown mouldy within; this sort of Beds are made in a new and sandy Ground, in which is first made a Trench of about six Inches deep, then we cover them with a layer of about two or three Inches thick of the same Earth; they are raised in the form of an Asses back, and over the covering of Earth, we lay another of five or six In∣ches thick of Long Dry Dung, which serves in Winter, to shelter the Mushrooms from the Frost, which destroys them: and in Summer, from the great heat that broils them, and likewise to prevent the mischievous effects of the same excessive heat, we further take care gently to water these Mushroom Beds twice or thrice a week.

As for the breadth of Hot Beds, it should be in all sorts of them, of about four foot, and their heighth must be of between two and three when they are first made, because they sink afterwards a full foot, when once the great heat of the Bed is past; As for the length that is to be regulated by the quantity of Dung we have to make them with, so that according to that, we make them of several lengths; But in heighth and breadth, all Beds should be as near as may be, alike proportioned.

The difference which there is in other respects, between Hot Beds that are to produce plants by their heat, and those which are designed for Mushrooms, consists first in that those of the first sort need not be sunk down within the Earth like the others, which are usually sunk about half a foot, unless they be designed for such Beds as we call Deaf Beds, that is to say, Beds sunk so over Head and Ears into the Earth, that when filled up, they exceed not the superficies of the rest of the Ground about them, in height. In the second place, this difference consists, in that those of the first sort must be flat and even above, whereas these others must be raised in form of an Asses Back.

Lastly, it consists in that those of the first sort must be Loaden with a pretty good quantity of very small mold, as soon as they are made, whereas there must be but a very little mold laid upon the others; That mold by its weight, makes the Beds heat, and settle the sooner. We lay upon them sometimes more, and sometimes less mold; as for Example, we throw on to the quantity of six or seven Inches thick, if it be to sow ordinary plants in, as Sallets, or Musk Melons, or Cucumbers, or to plant Cabbage Lettuce, and Asparagus to be advanced by heat; and to the depth of a foot, if we be to sow Ra∣dishes, and to replant Sorrel, and Musk Melons, and pots of Straw-berries, &c.

But before we sow or replant any thing whatsoever upon any new made Hot Beds, the first precaution we must observe, is, to stay six or seven days, and sometimes ten or twelve, to give the Bed time first to heat, and afterwards to give time to that heat which is very violent, to abate considerably; This abatement appears when the whole Bed is sunk, and when thrusting down our hand into the mold, we perceive in it but a moderate heat. Then it is we are to begin handsomly to shape out and adjust the mold, for which purpose the Gard'ner, makes use of a board of a foot broad, which he places upon the sides of the Bed about two Inches from the Edge, and joining close to the mold, and having thus placed it, he endeavours to keep it firm and tight, as well with his left hand and Knee, as with the strength of his whole Body, and then with his right hand, he begins at one end, to press down the mold against the board, so hard, till he bring it to so firm a consistence, that how light and loose soever it were before of its own Nature, yet it may be able to keep up it self alone, when the board is taken away, as well as if it were a solid body. When the mold is thus adjusted to the whole length of the board, then he removes the board to another place, and so continues till he has performed the same operation on all sides of the Bed. And if the board be a little longer, and consequently a little more unwieldy than ordinary, then there must two or three persons join together to work in the same manner, and at the same time, to adjust this mold; or if the Gard'ner be all alone, he must keep the board tight with some Pins, fastned in the sides of the Dung Bed already adjusted; And when the thing is done, the mold should have at least a full half foot extent less on every side, than the lower part of the Bed, and in its oblong square figure, appear as even as if it were a Bed formed on the plain Ground; After which, the Beds are to be employed for those occasions that first obliged us to make them. All things in them would either perish, or be much endamaged, if we sowed or planted in them sooner, or if we should delay our doing it any longer. The heat of the Bed, may last in a condition to be able to perform well its effects for about ten or twelve days after it is sown or planted; but when that time is past, if we perceive the Bed to be too much cooled, we must renew the heat with some good new long dung, or fresh warm litter applied round about it, both to recruit the heat, and to maintain it afterwards in that good tem∣per in which it should be, and in which it was before, when we begun to sow and plant there; so that the plants instead of wasting away or perishing there, may increase and thrive visibly as they should do. It is not so very needful to tell you, that when a man has two Beds next one another, one recruiting of heat will serve for them both, because there's no body but knows it, but it is good to know, that this recruiting of heat between two Beds, should not be by a great deal so strong as when there is but one; for the ordinary Interval or space left between two Beds for the path, being about the breadth of one full foot, a little Dung will suffice to fill it up, and that new heat is reciprocally maintained in its vigour by the Neighbour-hood of the two Beds, that border on each side upon it; But when there is but one Bed, our addition of Dung for a new heat, must be at least two foot broad, all along the whole length of the Bed, and to its full height, and many times it must be higher than that.

When we are to renew the heat, it is not always necessary to make an application of new Dung, it being many times sufficient to stir that the bottom upwards, which we last applied, and which needs it, provided it be not too much rotted, which stirring of it is enough to renew the heat for eight or ten days longer; and there is no need of applying new Dung but when by the rotting of all the last, or of at least a good part of it, we find it to be no longer fit to yield that heat which is necessary for those plants that are raised on Hot Beds.

If they be Asparagus, or Straw-berries which we have taken out of their Cold Beds, and replanted in Hot ones, and there be any apprehension of the Cold, we must care∣fully cover them with Glass Bells, or Chasses or Glased Frames; and to hinder the Frost from penetrating even them, and spoiling what is underneath them, we use besides to cover them with Screens of dry Long Dung, or Litter, or Straw, which we put over the Glass Bells or Glased Frames, and plants never fail to produce upon Beds thus ac∣commodated and maintained in a due heat, by such recruitings Renewed from time to time.

This manner of proceeding is good and commodious enough for Sorrel; because being animated by the moderate heat of the Hot Bed, it springs up there for some fifteen days time, just as that do's that grows in the naked Ground in the Month of May, and afterwards dies; But it is not so good for Asparagus, because they when they are pull'd

up and Replanted, never produce such fine Shoots, as when they are Dunged and heat on the naked Earth.

It follows then, that the best method for Asparagus, and even for Sorrel too, is to take up for about two foot deep, all the Earth in the paths between two cold Beds, (which paths should be a full foot broad) and fill them up afterwards with Long Warm Dung, to heat the neighbouring Earth, and if it be for Asparagus, to cover the whole Cold Bed with the same Dung, to help to warm the Earth; And when the Asparagus begin to sprout, we put Bells upon each plant, or else cover the whole Bed with Glased Frames; after which, the heat of these paths must be renewed by stirring them the bottom upwards, or by renewing from time to time an application of fresh Dung, covering besides the Bells or Glass Frames with dry long Dung, or Screens of Straw, or such like matter, for the reasons above expressed, when we were treating of Asparagus and Sorrel in Hot Beds. The Asparagus plants being thus warmed, and feeling under those Bells or Glass Frames an Air as comfortable as in the Months of April or May, they produce shoots that are Red at first comming up, but which afterward turn green and long, like those that Nature it self produces in warm and temperate seasons. The only inconvenience of these Artificial heatings is, that because they must be very violent to penetrate a Cold Earth, they dry up and spoil those plants, so that such Asparagus, instead of continuing for fif∣teen years together, to bear well as otherwise they do, never spring kindly afterward, and though they be let alone two or three years after a first heating, yet at most, are able to endure but one more.

The Straw-berries which are forced on Hot Beds begin to put out their shoots in Janua∣ry, and Flower in February and March, and yield their Fruit in April and May. The best method of raising them, is to pot them in September, in a tolerable good and light Earth, and afterwards to plant them in Hot Beds in December; they may also be planted in Hot Beds without potting at all, in the Month of March; their runners and some of their leaves must be taken off, if they have too many; the Earth in their Pots must be kept always loose and a little moist, and if there happen any excessive heats in some days of March and April, they must have a little Air given them towards the North, and they must be covered a Nights.

To have little Sallets of Lettuce to cut, mixed with Chervil, Cresses, &c. with the furnitures of Mint, Taragon, &c. and to have Radishes, &c. we make such Hot Beds as I have directed, and we steep in water about twenty four hours, a little bagg of Lettuce Seed, after which time, we take it out, and hang it in a chimny corner, or in some other place where the Frost can't reach it, and the Seed so wetted, drains it self from the water, and heats to such a measure, that it sprouts, and then after we have made upon our Hot Beds some little furrows of about two Inches deep, and about as broad, with a little stick that we draw hard over the mold, we sow that sprou∣ted Seed in those furrows, so thick that it covers all the bottom of the furrows; There must be a French Bushel to sow a Bed of fourteen Toises or Fathoms long, and of four foot broad, and when 'tis sown, we cover it with a little mold cast upon it lightly with the hand; and each cast of the hand dextrously performed, should cover a furrow as much as it needs, which done, we put some Bells or long Rice Straw over them to hinder the Birds from Eating them, and the heat from evapourating, or the Frost by chilling it, from destroying the Seed, we take away the Straw when at the end of five or six days, the Seed begins to spring well, and at length, ten or twelve days after it is commonly high enough to be cut with a Knife, and eaten in Sallets, that is to be understood, if the Ice and Snow, and even the heat of the Bed be not too excessive. We take the same course with Chervil, and Cresses, save only that they must be sown without steeping their Seeds.

As for Mint, Taragon, Cives, and other Furnitures of Sallets, they are planted on the Hot Bed in the same manner as on the Cold one.

As for Radishes, we seldom steep them to make them sprout, the skins of their Seeds being so tender, that in less than a days time, they would be melted all to a Pap.

I have directed how to sow Roaishes, in the Works of November, where we treat of preparing the provisions we would have from our Gardens in January, February, and March.

It is convenient to sow in the beginning of this Month, or even in November, and December, a Hot Bed of Parsley to supply us with fresh, in the Spring time to serve us till that we should sow in the naked Earth, at the end of February, be grown to its per∣fection.

To lay the branches or slips of Vines, Fig-Trees, Goose-berry and Curran Bushes, to take Root, we need only Couch, or lay down their branches into the Earth and cover them in the middle with Earth, to the height of five or six Inches, which are to re∣main in that condition, till the month of November following, when having taken Root, we take them up, that is, separate them from the Tree, and plant them where we have occasion for them.

To Circumpose Trees by planting them in Baskets, Pots, and Boxes, or Cases, we first fill half way with Earth those Baskets, Pots, or Boxes, and then having pruned and trim'd the Trees as I have directed in the Treatise of Plantations, we Plant them, plunging the Baskets and Pots quite into the Earth, but leaving the Boxes or Cases above Ground:

The way of potting the Bulbous Roots of Tubereuses, Juncquills, Narcissus's of Con∣stantinople, Jacynths, &c. is first to put them into Pots, and then to plunge those Pots into Hot Beds, covering the Beds carefully with Glass Frames, Bells, Straw Screens, &c.

To warm or force Fig-Trees, we must have some in Boxes or Cases, and make for them in January, a Deaf Hot Bed (being a Hot Bed made in a hollow dug into the Earth, and raised only even with its surface) and place the Boxes upon it. Then we must have some square Glass Frames about six or seven foot high, which must be fitted purposely to be applied against a Wall exposed to a Southern Aspect: And so the Dung in the Hot Bed fermenting into a heat, warms the Earth in the Box, and by consequence, makes the Fig-Tree sprout; That Bed is to be put into a new ferment when there is occasion, and great care must be taken to cover those Glass Frames close, that no Cold may get within them.

During the whole Month of January we continue to sow upon Hot Beds, under Bells, Lettuces to be Replanted again as I have directed in the Works of December; as also to Replant them under Bells, as well to serve for the Nursery, as in the places they are designed for, and as to the Seeds when sown, we may let alone covering them with mold, if we please, it being enough to pat with the flat of our hands upon the Bed, to press the mold close about them; we use the same method with Purslain sown under Bells, for we can hardly throw so little mold upon those Seeds to cover them, but we shall through too much.

To have some fine little Lettuces for Salleting, we must sow under Bells some of the Bright curled sort, and sow it thin, and stay till it has shot forth two leaves before we gather it. The Seeds of these Lettuces must be sown thin, that the Plants may grow tall, and if we see them come up too thick, we must thin them; the choisest sorts of Lettuce for the Spring season, are the Curled Fair or Bright Lettuce, and after that, the Royal Lettuce, the Short Lnttuce, and above all, the Shell Lettuce, &c. We also sow under Bells, to Replant again, Borage, Bugloss, and Arach, or Orage.

The right method of making Trenches, and diging of molds, is not as was hereto∣fore practised, first, to throw out of those Trenches all the Earth, and then to throw it in again; for that was unprofitably to handle the same Earth twice, and so to lose time, and spend money to no purpose.

The best way to do it then, is to make at first a Gage full as broad as the Trench and of the length of a Toise or Fathom, and to throw up upon the bordering Alley, all the Earth that is taken out of that Gage, which will be all the Earth we shall need handle twice, because at the end of the Trench there will remain one Gage, empty, which must be filled up with the Earth that came out of the first, when the first Gage is made, we must fill it up with the Earth that is to be dug up to make the next, throwing that part of it into the bottom which was at the Superficies, and making a new Superficies of that which was at the bottom; This kind of moving the Ground, makes a natural Slope before the Workman, and in case the Soil must be Dunged, we must have Dung ready placed all along the side of the Trench, and whilst two or three men are at Work in turning up the Earth, and throw∣ing it before them, there must be one at the side of the Trench, to scatter Dung upon that Slope by which means the mold is well mixed, and not at all tram∣pled on, as it is by common Gard'ners, that first lay a layer of Dung, and then a layer of Earth, and afterwards dig the whole over again, continuing this way of laying of layers of Dung and mold, and to turn up one over another, till their Trench be quite filled up as 'tis to remain.

Works to be done in February.

IN this Month, we continue the same works we were doing in the last, if we have had the foresight and convenience to begin them then, or else at least we set upon beginning them now in earnest.

Therefore we set to manuring the Ground if the Frost permits us, and about the end of the Month, or rather to wards Mid-March, or later, that is towards Mid-April, we sow in the naked Ground those things that are long a rearing; as for Example, all sorts of Roots, viz. Carrots, Parsnips, Chervils or Skirrets, Beet-Raves, or Red-Beet-Roots, Scorzo∣neres, and above all, Parsly-Roots.

We sow now also Onions, Leeks, Ciboules, Sorrel, Hasting Peas, Garden or Marsh-Beans, Wild Endive, or Succory, and Burnet.

If we have any Shell-Lettuces that were sown in Autumn last, in some well sheltered place, we now replant them on Hot Beds under Bells, to make them Cabbage betimes. And particularly we take care to replant on them some of the Curld Bright Lettuces, which we sowed last Month, because they turn to better account than the others.

We begin at the latter end of the Month, to sow a little green Purslain under Bells, the Red, or Golden sort being too delicate and tender to be sown before March.

We replant Cowcumbers and Musk-melons, if we have any big enough, and that upon a Hot Bed, in some place well sheltered, either by Walls, Straw or Reed Hedges, or some other Invention to keep off the Wind.

We also sow towards the end of the Month, our Annual Flowers, in order to replant them again at the latter end of April, and the beginning of May.

We also sow our first Cabbages, if as we should, we have not a provision of some in a Nursery under some good shelter, which we should have sown at the beginning of Au∣gust, and replanted in October in the Nursery; we replant these latter in the places they are designed for, taking care not to replant any that begins to run to Seed.

We begin to Graft all sorts of Trees in the Cleft, and we prune and plant them; we plant also Vines, and about Mid-February, if the weather be any thing fair, is the pro∣per time to begin all sorts of Works.

We only make now the Hot Beds which we have occasion to make use of for Radishes, little Sallets, and to raise those things which we are to replant again in the Cold Beds.

We take care to maintain the necessary heat about our Asparagus, and to gather those that are good.

As also to maintain the Heat in the hot Strawberry Beds.

We unnail our Wall-trees in order to prune them the more commodiously, and then nail them up anew.

At what time soever Radishes are gathered, they must be tied up in Bunches, and put to steep in Water, or else they will wither, and retain too biting a taste.

We also continue to plant Trees when the Weather and the Soil will permit us.

Works to be done in March.

AT the beginning of this Month, it appears who are the Gard'ners that have been idle, by their not furnishing us with any thing which the diligent and skilful ones supply us with, and by their having neglected to sow their Grounds which lie for the most part as yet unsown, though the weather has been favourable for it. There is now no more time to be lost in delaying the sowing of the first Seeds that are to be sown in the naked Earth, and of which we have spoken in the Works to be done about the end of February. Good Gard'ners ought to cover with Mold, the Cold Beds which they have sown with their designed Seeds, for fear the waterings and great Rains should beat down the Earth too much, and render its Superficies too hard for the Seeds to pierce and shoot through; they should also bank up their cold Beds tightly with a rake, that so the Rain water, or that of their waterings may keep in them, and not run out of them into the Paths; and in fine, if they have never so little of the Spirit of Neatness in them, they will not fail to take away all the Stones the Rake meets with in its way.

The way to cover well all these Seeds with Earth, is to harrow or rake, that is, to move it extreamly to and fro, which is commonly done with an Iron Rake.

About Mid-March at furthest, we make the hot Beds in which we are to replant the earliest Musk melons.

We sow in the naked Earth, in some well sheltered place, all those things which we are to plant again in the like; as for Example, both our Spring Lettuce, and that which we are to replant again at the latter end of April, and at the beginning of May, viz. the Curl'd Bright Lettuce, and the Royal, and Bellegarde Lettuce, the Perpignan Lettuce which is greenish, the Alfange, the Chicons, and the Green, Red and Bright Genua Lettuces are near two Months on the Ground, before they grow big enough to be replanted. And we also sow Cabbages for the latter Season, and Collyflowers to plant them in their proper pla∣ces, about the end of April and beginning of May; and if they come up too thick, we take out some, and replant them in a Nursery, to make them grow bigger, &c.

We sow Radishes in the naked Earth, among all the other Seeds we are sowing, because they do no harm there, but are fit to be gathered at the beginning of May, before either the Sorrel, Chervil, Parsly, Ciboule, &c. be grown big enough to suffer any incommodity by them.

We sow Arrach, or Orage, in the naked Earth.

About Mid-March, we sow Citruls or Pompions upon hot Beds, to replant in the begin∣ning of May.

Commonly there is nothing fit to be replanted in Cold Beds at their coming out of the hot ones, till the end of April, or the beginning of May, unless it be Lettuce, and the Earth must be a little warmed before we remove any thing into it out of a Hot Bed, in which the Plants were still cherished with some remaining heat, or else they will all come to nothing there.

We make an end of pruning and planting during the course of this Month, of all Garden-Trees, and also of Gooseberry, Curran, and Raspberry shrubs, &c. It is very conve∣nient to delay the pruning of vigorous Trees till they begin to sprout, as well to let them spend their first Strength, as to prevent the losing any of their Fruit Buds which we cannot till then discern, and which come to their perfection in the Spring-Season.

We take up at the beginning of the Month, with Mold and all, the plantation of Strawberrys, which we had in the Nursery, to form Cold Beds and Squares of them to re∣main and to refurnish those where there want any.

We sow some seed of piercepier or Garden Sampire in some tub of Earth, or in the na∣ked Ground some sheltered place; it requires commonly two Months to come up, and when it is big enough, we replant it in the Month of May, and sometimes we let it grow till the next year, in order to replant it at the foot of some Wall.

We sow a third time a few more Peas, for we should be sure to sow some of them e∣very Month of the Year, and these now sown must be of the great square sort.

We now have some Mushrooms either upon some Hot Beds made purposely for them, or in some other places well dunged.

At the very beginning of the Month, we sow some little quantity of Endive very thin, to have some of it whited about Mid-summer.

When we know that the Paths between hot Beds, or Asparagus Banks, have been stuf∣fed with very long Dung, so that there seems not to be heat enough in them, and if it be very hot weather, it is convenient to water them reasonably well, that so the Straw in them being wetted, may the more easily ferment into a heat.

Towards the end of the Month, or at the beginning of April, we sow a little Cellery in the naked Earth, to have some late in the Months of August and September. Cellery is commonly almost a Month a coming up; and we sow a little of it at the same time on a Hot Bed, in order to have some of it early.

We digg about the Roots of Fruit-Trees, that we may have finisht that work before they blossom; the Frost being more dangerous in Soils newly moved and turned up than in others.

We begin now to uncover a little our Artichokes, but seldom begin to manure them till the full Moon of March be past, which is generally very dangerous both to them and to the Figg-trees, which last must not yet be quite uncover'd, it being enough to do it half way, at the same time we take off all their dead Wood and Branches, whether kil∣led by the Frost, or by any other means.

About the middle of March or before, if the weather be mild, we begin to sow some Red or Golden Purslain upon hot beds under Bells, and continue still to sow of the Green sort.

We replant in their sixt places common Cabbages and Milan Cabbages, which we should take care to have ready in our Nursery, from the beginning of November last past, in some well sheltered place, but we replant none of those that begin to mount, that is, to run up their stalks, as if they were going to Seed.

We sow upon some end of a cold bed in plain Earth, some Asparagus Seed for a Nursery, to furnish us with a Provision of it, which is sown like other Seed.

We plant the Asparagus Squares we have occasion for, to which purpose we make choice of a fine Plantation of one years growth, or else of one of two.

The way to plant Asparagus is, to place two or three Plants of them together, and neatly to spread out their Roots without cutting them but very little, unless we please, and then to cover them with a layer of Earth of two or three Inches thick, to plant these Tufts Checquer-wise, at a foot and a half's distance one from the other.

This Cold Bed should generally be full four Foot broad, that there may be room enough for three ranks of them. But if we design to force any of them by heat in Winter, we must make the Cold Beds but three Foot broad, and we must observe, if the Ground be dry, to lay the Bed hollow within the Earth, with a good Spade, and by that means raise the Paths Arch-wise, making use of the Soil that comes out of it to cover again by lit∣tle and little, and year by year, the Plantation as it grows stronger, and rises out of the Ground. But if it be in a moist Ground, and very cool, it is better not to make the Bed so low nor hollow, but on the contrary to keep it a little higher than the paths, that the Winter waters may descend out of it into them, and may not rot the Plants, to which nothing is more dangerous than too much wet.

Asparagus both old and young must be carefully howed, or cleared of Weeds, and in this Month of March, before they begin to appear above Ground, we must afford them a little manuring, by turning up the Earth to the depth of half a foot about them, to give the young Asparagus the more Liberty to shoot up.

The Radishes that are sown on hot Beds with a cast of the Hand, are generally not so fair nor so good as those sowed in holes, and are more apt to grow hollow and strin∣gy than they.

We still continue to make some Hot Beds for Radishes, that we may be still supplied with them, till the beginning of May, when those sown in plain Ground come in. All the o∣ther Months in the Year will produce us enough of them, if we will take the pains to sow some from time to time, and be careful liberally to water them.

At the beginning of the Month it will be time to replant what we have a mind should run to Seed, viz. Leeks and Onions, and especially the white sort, Cloves of Gar∣lick Cloves and Seeds of Shalots, white Cabbage, Pancaliers Cabbage, &c. Now likewise we are to tie up such Lettuces as should Cabbage, and yet do not, which tying makes them in a manner Cabbage by force.

We sow the Seed of Pannacht or striped Gilliflowers upon Hot Beds, before the full Moon, to replant them in May; we also sow the Annual Flowers upon hot Beds, to replant at the latter end of May, viz. Passe velours, or Velvet Flowers, called also Flower gentles, and A∣maranthus, Indian Ocellus or French Marygolds, Indian Roses, the Belles de Nuit.

We make an end of Planting Trees both in their fixed places, and in Baskets.

We bestow the first manuring upon all sorts of Gardens, as well to render them agreea∣ble to the sight, during the Easter Holy-Days, as to dispose the Ground for all sorts of Plants and Seeds.

We set in the Ground, Almonds that have sprouted breaking off the sprout before we plant them.

We sow in the Flower Plots, or Parterres, some Seeds of Poppy, and of Larks Heels, which will flower after them that were sown in September.

We plant Oculus Christi.

Towards the twentieth day of this Month, we sow some Capucin Capers, or Nasturces, to Replant them again a Month after in some good Exposition, or at the foot of some Tree.

Works to be done in April.

THere is no Month in the year wherein there is more work to be done in Gardens than in this, for now the Earth begins to be very fit, not only to be manured, but to receive whatsoever we have a mind to plant or sow in it, as Lettuce, Leeks, Cabbage,

Borage, Bugloss. Artichokes, Tarragon, Mint, Violets, &c. Before the Month of April, it is as yet too cold, and after April, it begins to be too dry.

We furnish those places where any new planted Trees give but little marks of their prospering, whether it be by Gum, in stone Fruit, or by pitiful small shoots in all man∣ner of Fruit-Trees. But for this important Reparation, we must have brought up ready to our hands, some Trees in Baskets, which an understanding curious Person will never fail to have made provision of, who will have the pleasure to plant some of them near those that thrive not so well as they should do, when he is not well assured they will absolutely die; for when we are sure of that, we pluck them up quite, to make room for them we should substitute in their place, for which purpose, we make choice of close and rainy weather.

We perform now our second pruning of the Branches of Peach-Trees, I mean only the Fruit Branches, in order to cut them off short to that part just above where there is Fruit Knit; and if any of those Peach-Trees, have produced any very thick shoots upon high Branches, as sometimes it happens after the full Moon of March, we pinch them to make them multiply into Fruit Branches, and to keep them low, when there is occa∣sion, that they may not run up too high before their time.

Peas sown in a good Exposition, at the very middle of October, should begin towards the middle of April, to put forth at least their first Blossoms, and consequently must be pinch'd; the Blossom springs out commonly in Peas, from the middle of the fifth or sixth Leaf, from which same place, there springs an Arm or Branch that grows exceed∣ing long, and produces at each Leaf, a couple of Blossoms like the first, and there∣fore the more to fortify the first, we cut off that new Arm or shoot, just above the second flower.

We continue to trim Musk Melons and Cucumbers, to new heat our Hot Beds, and make new ones, and to sow Cucumbers, that we may have some to replant that may ripen about the end of Summer, and beginning of Autumn.

We make some hot Mushroom Beds in new Ground, the manner of doing which, I have already described elsewhere.

'Tis the Moon of this Month, that we vulgarly call the Ruddy Moon, it being very subject to be windy, cold and dry, and to be fatal thereby to many new planted Trees, unless great care be taken to water them about the Foot, once a Week; For which purpose we make a round hollow circle or small Trench, round about their foot just over the part where the Extremities of their roots are, and then pour into the said Trench or Circle, a pitcher full of water if the Tree be little, or two or three, if it be bigger, and when the water is soak'd in, we fill up the Circle again, if we think good, with Earth, or else we cover it with some dry Dung, or Weeds newly pluck'd up, that we may the better repeat our watering once a Week during the extream dry Wea∣ther.

We weed up all the ill weeds that grow among good Seed, we take the same course with Straw-berries, Peas, and replanted Lettuce, and we howe all about them, the better to loosen the Earth, and open a passage for the first rain that shall fall.

About the middle of April, we begin to sow a little White Endive, in plain Ground, to whiten it in the same place; and provided it be thin sown, no Seed comes so easily up as this sort of Endive.

At the middle of April we also sow in their places, the first Spanish Cardons, and the second at the beginning of May; the first are commonly a Month in coming up, and the others about 15 days.

We also still sow in this Month, some Sorrel, if we be not sufficiently provided with it before; and we sow it either in Cold Beds, in little furrows, which is handsomest, or else scatteringly on the plain Ground, which is most common; or else upon the sides of Squares, to serve for an edging: we likewise replant in rows or furrows, that which we remove from other places, and is but about a year old, and especially of that of the large sort, whether our necessities have obliged us to break up some Bed of it, and that we be not minded to lose it, or whether we do it designedly.

We use the same method with Fennel and Anis, and if the high winds, and Cold hin∣der us not, we begin to give a little Air to our Musk Melons under Bells, and continue to give them a little more and more of it by degrees, till the end of May, when if we be in a good Climate, we take off the Bells quite. And we lift up each Bell with three little forks, otherwise the plant hurt by its sides, would dwindle and grow lank. And if after we have given it a little Air, the Cold continues still sharp enough to spoil the branches and Leaves of it that are sprouting, we take care to cover them with a little dry Litter.

At the end of the Month, we replant the Radishes we have removed from the Hot Beds where we first raised them, to make a good provision of Seed, choosing for that purpose, those that have the Reddest roots and the fewest leaves, and we need only make holes at a foot distance one from the other, in one or more Cold Beds, with a planting stick, and thrust in the Radishes into those holes, and then press down the Earth about them, and afterwards water them, if the rain do's not spare us that labour.

We choose apart of the fairest of the Cabbage-Lettuces, as well the Winter ones, which are the Shell, and Jerusalem Lettuces, as the Curles Bright Lettuce raised upon Hot Beds and under Bells, to plant them all together in some Cold Beds at a foot distance one from another, to let them run to Seed; which we also perform with a planting stick.

We plant edgings of Time, Sage, Marjoram, Hyssop, Lavender, Rue, Worm-wood, &c.

We replant Spring Lettuce, to Cabbage, which succeed one another in this order; the Curled Bright Lettuce is the first and best, as being the most tender and delicate, but it requires a mild and light Soil, or above all, a Hot Bed to plant it on, under Bells, from the Month of February, and during all the Month of March, and the beginning of April. A gross Soil agrees not with it, for instead of growing bigger there, it dwindles to nothing.

The Green Curled Lettuce, the George Lettuce, the Little Red Lettuce, and those called the Royal, the Bellegarde, and the Perpignan, follow next after. The Royal Lettuce is a very fair and thick Lettuce, which differs only from the Bellegarde in that it is a little less Curled. The Capucin, Short, Aubervilliers, and Austrian Lettuces succeed them, and run not so easily to Seed, as the preceeding ones. The Alfanges, Chicons, and Imperials which are all Lettuces to tie up, bring up the Rear; and the Genua Lettuces, both the Red, Bright, and Green, are the last Summer Lettuces; we must replant a good number of them at the very beginning of May, to have them good about Mid-summer, and all the rest of the Summer; of all Lettuces, this sort best endures the great heats, and is least disposed to run to Seed; for which reason to obtain Seed of it, we must have sown it upon Hot Beds from the very Month of February, that we may have some good plants of it to set again at the latter end of April.

The Royal Lettuce begins again to be fit to be replanted about the middle of September, to supply us, together with that of Genua, all the rest of Autumn. From the end of August, we begin to sow the Shell, or Winter Lettuce, that we may have some fit to re-plant in the Months of October, and November, for our Winter provision.

It is hard to make any Descriptions of these sorts of Lettuces, exact enough to distin∣guish them by, the difference between them consisting chiefly in having Leaves a little more or less green, or Curled; It is enough for the curious to know their names, to be enabled to ask for them of their Friends, or buy them of the Herb Merchants, we learn∣ing effectually to know them in the using. The two Crisped or Curled Sorts are so called, from the Curling of their Leaves, and the Red ones from their Colour. The Shell Lettuce has a very round Leaf which is very apt to shut up like a Shell.

There is an infinite Diversity of kinds of Lettuces, the worst is that which we call Cats Tongue, which is very sharp pointed, and never Cabbages. The Aubervilliers Lettuce grows so very hard that it is scarce fit for Sallets, but is better for pottage; but yet it is very subject to be bitter.

We must not fail every fifteen days, to sow a little Genua Lettuce, that we may always be provided with some fit to replant during all the whole Summer, till the middle of September; we must be careful and especially in rainy weather, to destroy both the Black and Shell Snails that come out of the Walls where they breed Young ones, because they do a great deal of mischief by gnawing the young Shoots of Trees, and new plan∣ted Lettuces and Cabbages. If the Ruddy or Dry Winds Reign, as they generally do this Month, we must carefully and plentifully water every thing in our Kitchen-Garden, except it be the Asparagus.

We continue to Trim Musk Melons, and Cucumbers, and plant new ones upon new Hot Beds, at the beginning of this Month, and we also sow some in the naked Ground, in little Dikes filled with mold, or compost, like to those I have already mentioned for Cardons.

We now likewise search the Woods for Young Straw-berry Plants, to make Nurseries of, in some part of our Garden, we plant tufts of two or three plants of them together at four or five Inches distance one from another, and if the Soil be dry, in a hollow Bed of two or three Inches deep, the better to retain and preserve the rain water, and that of our waterings, or else upon some Bed near some Northern Walls.

We also now dis-eye or separate the Off-Sets or Slips of our Artichokes, as soon as they are big enough, and we plant as many of them as we need, two or three of them in each hole, or Trench of about three or four Inches deep, and two full Foot and a half distance one from the other, each Bed should be four foot wide, and contain two rows of Artichoke Plants along its sides, and there must be a void space left in the middle, of three foot wide for the planting of Leek Chaids, or great whited Leeks, or else of Collyflowers, in imitation of the Market-Gard'ners, who are good Husbands of their Ground. The two Artichoke Plants which we set in each hole, must be placed a full foot and half distance one from the other.

We still continue planting Asparagus, and filling the places where there are any wan∣ting, if we can timely discover them, and we take care to water the new Plants.

We likewise still bind up those Lettuces that Cabbage not as they should.

We keep open the Windows of the green Houses, where our Orange Trees are in fair weather, to reaccustom them by little and little, to the wide Air; towards the end of the Month, we bring out our Jasmin and trim it; we also begin to prune our Vines at the first coming in of the Month, if we have neglected to do it about the middle of March last; and we prune the Wall Vines sooner than those in the open Fields.

We have already in the month of March, set into the Earth, those Almonds which sprouted early, and in this Month we set those which having not sprouted at the same time with the others, had been put up back again into Mold, Earth, or Sand.

In the beginning of this Month, Gardens should be almost in their Perfection, as well for their general neatness, and pleasing Prospect, as being all over covered either with the green Seedlings of all sorts which have been sown, or with Plants which have been set, excepting Endive, Succory, Celery, Collyflowers, &c. which are not replanted till about the middle of May. In fine, if we have neglected any thing that should have been done in March, we must be sure to do it at the very beginning of this Month, and particularly, we must sow Parsly, wild Endive, or Succory, and the first Harico's or French-Beans, the second being to be sown about the middle, and the third at the latter end of May, that so we may have a crop of them about two Months after sowing.

About this time, the Strawberries growing in the naked Earth, shoot forth their stems, when we must take exact care to pluck all the Cuckows among them, that is, those Straw-berry plants that blossom much without knitting; nay, I would have the Caprons pluckt up too, unless any Person have a particular fancy for them, they are easie to be known by their thick short and Velvet stems, their large Flowers, and their very long Velvet, and sharp pointed Leaves; but the Cuckows are somewhat hard to be distinguisht, parti∣cularly till their stems be formed. The most part of them are Strawberry Plants that have degenerated, and yet so, that the Leaves of the good ones and the bad ones are pretty like one another; but those degenerate Plants in process of time by their runners, pro∣duce an infinite number of others, which to appearance are very fair, and consequent∣ly very apt to deceive us, yet those that are acquainted with them, observe that they are a little more Velveted, and somewhat greener than the good ones. And in Conclu∣sion, I must tell you, that if extraordinary care be not taken to extirpate those unlucky Plants that impose upon us thus by their Beauty, we shall in little time find our▪ selves stockt with none but such, to which the Proverb particularly agrees, which saith, a fair show, but little Fruit.

We sow our last Cucumbers about the tenth or twelfth of this Month, to have some lateward ones, and such as may be fit to pickle in October, which last are commonly called Cornichons, or horned Cucumbers, and in English, Crumplings, and Guerkins.

The Strawberry stems must be much pinched, and some of them must be quite plucked up too when they shoot up in too great Numbers from feeble Plants; by pinching, here is meant the taking off the last Flowers and last Buds of every stem, leaving but three or four of those that first appeared upon those stems, and which are nearest to the Ground.

It is particularly about the end of this Month, that May Moon begins, that is so fer∣tile, and so vigorous in its Productions, when we must with all possible care run over our Wall-trees, and draw from behind the Trails, those Branches that grow between them and the Wall, as well the smaller ones, as more particularly those that are thick: at the same time Peach-Trees and other Stone-Fruit-Trees are to be pruned the third time, it having been done the second time whilst they were in Blossom, to take away all those Branches that had not blossom'd. And at this time we reckon, that all those Blossoms that will knit at all, are already knit, and accordingly we are not to count any of them for true Peaches, but those only that are well knit, and of a pretty bigness too, because

till then, many of them continue to fall, though they seemed well knit. And therefore it is convenient to shorten all those Branches which having been left long purposely for Fruit, have not answered that end, but have either retained no Fruit at all, or a very small quantity, and which perhaps sprout but weakly, that is, produce but very little shoots, or perhaps nothing but Leaves, the feeblest of those Branches must be dischar∣ged of all their shoots, to one or two at most, and in general, all those Branches must be shortned, that appear not vigorously, or that are blasted by the Ruddy Winds. And Lastly, we must leave only such a burden of Branches and Fruit on the Tree as shall be proportionable to its greater or lesser Vigour, and accordingly we must leave a great deal upon vigorous Trees, especially if they be sprung from Stones, and but a little on them that are weak, and always aim as near as may be, to form that which we call a goodly Tree, taking all possible care that each Fruit-Branch may have its Fruit at its Extremity. This third pruning should be done either before we new nail up our Wall-Trees, or at least whilst we are nailing them.

At this time likewise, we are to pinch, that is to say, break off, to four or five Eyes or Buds, those thick shoots in Peach-Trees that are sprung out since the main Pruning of that year, in order to make them shoot out three or four midling shoots, one where∣of may be for a Wood Branch, and the rest for Fruit; this Operation is to be perfor∣med particularly upon those very thick shoots that spring out of the Extremity of a Tree that is grown high, when it has already attained its due height. It is likewise sometimes, though rarely performed upon the lower shoots, when we have occasion to fill up any void places that are made near any very thick Branches, whether young or old, which we have cut short the last Winters Pruning; those thick Branches are but too subject ei∣ther not to sprout at all, or to grow full of Gum, both they and the young Shoots they produce in the Spring time.

It is not convenient to pinch any of all the other Fruit-Trees, excepting Graffs, when having been graffed upon thick stocks, they have begun to shoot out with too much ri∣gour, because the shoots of such graffs would grow too high, and too bare, if they were not checkt by this Operation, and made to produce many Branches that prove good, instead of one that otherwise might have remained useless, unless it be in such occasions we may pinch as long as we please, we shall never gain any advantage by it. Some∣times pinching extends likewise to Fig-Trees, but that is not to be done till the end of May, as I shall further shew afterwards.

Works to be done in May.

THe Effects of Vegetation during the Month of March, seemed to be but little proofs of Trial which Nature then made in order to some greater performances. For alass, Trees blossoming or shooting forth Leaves, or beginning to put forth swelling Buds. &c. are all marks of lesser vigour than weakness, after which, in the producti∣ons of April, we have seen the same Nature augment in strength, and shew its effects by the knitting of Fruit, lengthning out Branches, and the coming up of sown Seeds, &c. But at length when we once come to the Month of May, 'tis then that Mother of Vegeta∣tion seems in earnest to display and exert all the force she is Mistress of, in order to the maintaining her self in that flourishing Estate during the whole Months of June and July following, at this time covering the Walls with new Branches, plumping the Fruit, and covering the Earth with a lovely and charming verdure, &c. And now our Gar∣d'ners have great need to be upon their Guards, to prevent their Gardens falling into dis∣order, because 'tis most sure, that if they be not now extreamly careful and laborious, there is no Disaster, but they may expect; pernicious Weeds will in little time choke up all their good Seeds, their Walks and Alleys will be overgrown, and their Trees will fall into the greatest Confusion, for which reasons it will highly concern them to be ex∣treamly watchful and diligent to weed, manure, cleanse, to take off all superfluous Leaves and Sprigs, and to nail up Wall-trees, by which means it will be in their Power to acquire the desirable Commendation of having adorned and set out their Gardens with all the lustre and excellency which they ought to have.

Green Peas, that were sown in Banks or Borders in October, now begin to recompense our Pains, and to blossom at the coming in of this Month, (the Blossoms last commonly about eight or ten days before they begin to pod, and in three weeks after, they are fit to gather, and shell. In the mean while, about the seventh or eighth day of the Month, we should plant our Collyflowers, Milan Cabbages, Capucin Capers, or Nasturces, Beet-Chards, &c.

If we plant them sooner, they commonly run to Seed, which is to be avoided; and in fine for those things, we ought not to pass the fifteenth day, nor likewise for the sowing of Winter Cabbages. We now make all the hast we can, to make an end of dis-eying or slipping our Artichokes, which are vigorous, and seem to have need of being discharged and thinned, and we make an end of planting new ones. The Eyes or Sucker-slips are good enough, provided they be pretty thick and white, though they have no root at their heel or foot, and we may be sure to have very fine Fruit from them in Autumn, and in truth it were to be wished, they would yield none sooner, because those produced before that time are commonly pitiful, starveling, and as 'twere abortive Fruits. Yet 'tis not enough to plant only some good thick young slip-suckers, but we must likewise plant some midling ones, especially in some well sheltred place, only to fortifie themselves there during the rest of the year, that they may be able to yield us their first Artichokes next Spring; those which have born in Autumn, not making such swift advances as these other. Next we are to plant our Beet Chards almost at the same time, which are well placed, if planted in the middle of the Artichokes, that is, one Beet plant between two Artichokes, so that there may be some in one Rank, and none in the other, for there must be room enough left free, to go upon to water, weed, manure, gather, and to cover them too, when need shall require.

The Earliest Musk Melons begin to knit in the first quarter, or at the full of this Months Moon, but chiefly at the wane of it, if their Beds were very hot at the full, and are grown cooler at the wane.

We also at the same time Rank our Fig-Trees in the place alloted for the Fig Planta∣tion, that we may have them in the disposition we desire. They begin then to put forth their Leaves and shoots, and at length their Fruit begins to plump at the full Moon.

Towards the end of the Month, we begin with diligence and expedition, to nail up the new shoots of Wall-Trees, if they be strong enough to suffer it: And it is convenient to have finish'd this Work at the beginning of June, because at the end of that Month, we must begin the second nailing of the first shoots, and the first of those which were never yet nail'd. We must likewise pinch, or break off the thick shoots we find, whether because after the first pinching of April, they have not multiplied into Branches as far as they extend, and on the contrary, have produced yet but one thick shoot, or because, though they have multiplied into Branches, they have produced one shoot thick enough to be pinched; for otherwise that thick shoot would be unuseful and per∣nicious; unuseful, because it must be taken away, or at least be cut very short, and pernicious, because it will, as one may say, have robb'd other necessary shoots of that nourishment they should have had: Always taking it for a Rule, that we must in nailing, take care to couch all those Branches which may and ought to be couched, without tying several of them together, or taking away, or plucking off any that is sightly, unless it be that we can by no means couch it, in which case, we must cut it off within the breadth of a Crown piece of the place from whence it sprouts, in hopes that out of the two sides of the remaining stump of that thickness, there may sprout some good Fruit-Branches, we must also have a care not to lay one cross another, unless we be necessarily obliged so to do, to fill up a void place, or to preserve a uniform equality.

If there be any Trees designed to mount upright, we must accordingly order for that purpose, the Branch that seems most proper for it.

We tie the graffs either to their Trunk, or to sticks set up on purpose by them, to make them grow in that figure we would have them, and hinder them from being bro∣ken by the Winds.

We sow a great deal of Genua Lettuce, and we replant some of them, and of the other Lettuces also.

We likewise trim Pear-Trees, either to take off the false shoots if any appear, which is done by plucking them quite away when they make a confusion, or even such others which though they be good, yet because they might produce that confusion which is so much to be avoided in a Tree, must therefore be taken off, for the better fortifying of those that are to make the figure of that Tree; for a second shoot will grow much more vigorous, if we take away that which being at the extremity of the pruned Branch was counted for the first.

We sow Endive, that we may have some good, at the end of July, which may be white∣ned in the same place where it first grew, without removing, if it being sown thin, and well watered during the whole Month. We now also take the advantage of some rainy

weather, to replant in their designed places, our annual Flowers, some of them seldom failing to come to good there; we likewise take the advantage of the same time, to fill up with Basketed, or Circumposed Trees, the places of those that are dead, or that thwart our expectations, or that give us no very good hopes of their thriving. The manner of doing it, is, to make a hole big enough to hold the Basket and Tree, then to put it in, and carefully to fill up with Earth all the hollow space round about the Basket, and to press it down hard either with the foot or hand, and then to pour down all round upon it, two or three pitchers full of water, in order to the better incorporating the Earth without, with that within, so that there may not be left the least hollow in the world. It is necessary to renew these waterings two or three times during the rest of the Summer.

We also still plant Beet Chards, choosing for that purpose the brightest of those that are of the growth of the last sown Seeds, as being both fairer and better than those which are green.

We continue our Nurseries of Straw-berry Plants till the end of this Month, at which time, we may perfectly distinguish the good ones by their Stems, or upright shoots.

We also still continue to tie up those Lettuces that Cabbage not as they should.

We sow no more Lettuces, except Genuz Lettuces, after the middle of May, because all the rest but only this last sort, are too apt to run to Seed.

We replant Musk Melons and Cucumbers in the naked Earth in little Holes or Trenches filled with mold; we also plant Pumpions▪ or Citruls in the like holes, at the distance of three Toises or Fathoms, they are such as have been raised on Hot Beds, and therefore to make them take root again, the sooner, we cover them with something for five or six days, unless it rain, the great heat of the Sun, otherwise being apt to make them wither, and sometimes to kill them quite.

We continue to sow a few Peas, which must be of the biggest sort; and if we think good, we pull off some of the Branches of the others that are over vigorous, after they are well cleared of Weeds; Peas that are disbranched, bearing a more plentiful crop than others.

We bring out our Orange-Trees at the first quarter of this Months Moon, if the weather begin to be secure from the assaults of the Frost, and we put them into boxes that have need of it; I referr you for their culture to the Treatise I have composed expresly about that subject: It was our care during all the fair days in April, to leave open the windows of their Conservatories, to accustom them by degrees, to the open Air.

We trim our Jasmins when we bring them out, cutting off all their Branches to the length of half an Inch.

At the end of this Month, we begin to clip for the first time, our palisades, or pole hedges of Box, Filaria's, Yew and Espicia's.

Above all things, care must be taken to water all our plants largely, or else they will all roast and scorch, whereas by the help of seasonable waterings, we may visibly perceive them thrive. We also now water new planted Trees, and for that purpose, we make a hollow Circle of four or five Inches deep, round about the extreamities of the roots, and pour into it some pitchers of water, and when 'tis soak'd in, we either throw back the Earth into the Circle, or else we cover it with dry Dung, or little, in order to renew our waterings several other times, till the Trees have taken fast root again, after which, we fill it up with Earth again.

We may begin to replant our Purslain for Seeding towards the end of the Month.

We continue to trim Musk Melons, but we replant no more of them after the middle of May.

But we still continue to plant Cucumbers.

About the end of the Month; we begin to plant Cellery, and we use two ways of planting it, viz. either in Cold Beds hollowed into the Ground, as we do Asparagus, plan∣ting three ranks of them in every Bed, and placing both the ranks, and the Cellery plants at about a foot distance one from another, and that is the best way for them when they are a little bigger than ordinary, that so we may be able to raise the earth about them afterwards, with that which was taken out of the furrows, and which was thrown upon the next Cold Beds, or else we replant them on plain Ground at the same distance as before, and at the end of Autumn, binding them first with two or three bands; these are rai∣sed in tufts, that we may replant them as nigh as we can, to one another, that so they

may be the more easily covered with long dry Dung, and be the better whitened, and defended from the Frost.

Towards the end of the Month, we begin to tie our Vines to their props, and to nail up such stocks of them as are planted by Walls, after we have first clear'd them of all their feeble, unprofitable, and unfruitful Shoots and Sprigs.

We likewise plant single Anemonies, which flower a Month after, and we may have planted some every Month since the last preceeding August, they blowing and flowering in the same manner, if not hindered by an extream cold Season.

At the very beginning of the Month, or at least as soon as ever we can, we pick off, and thin our Apricocks when there are too many of them, never leaving two close to∣gether, that so those we leave on, may grow the bigger, and at the end of the same Month, we may pick off, and thin our Teaches and Pears, if they be big enough, and there be two many of them. About that time also, or at the beginning of the ensu∣ing Month, the first bright Cabbages are to be sown for Autumn and Winter, the biggest of them which are replanted in July, being to be eaten in Autumn, and the less vigorous which are replanted in September and October, being to serve for our Winter Provi∣sion.

During all the Month of May, the shoots of Wall-Trees are apt enough to slide them∣selves behind their trails or props as I have said in the Month of April, and we shall hardly be able to draw them out again without breaking them, unless we do it in time, and be careful once every Week, to take an exact view all along our Walls, to reme∣dy so mischievous an inconvenience, against which too much caution cannot be used. Ma∣ny Branches grow crooked, rugged, parched, and hooked at the ends, and their Leaves also; and therefore about the full Moon, we must pull off those Leaves so crumpled and hooked, and break off as low as we can, the parched shoots, that there may spring o∣thers instead of them that may be better and streighter. Fig-Trees too must now be pruned, and especially those in Boxes, of the method of doing which, I have compo∣sed a particular Treatise.

We continue to sow a few Radishes among other Seeds, as we should have also done in the two last preceeding Months.

We also now take the advantage of some gentle Showers, or of very cloudy weather, to uncover what we have sheltred under Glass Bells or Frames, as well for the watering of our Beds, as for the inuring and hardening them to indure the open Air.

If our Garden be situated in a Sandy and dry Ground, we endeavour by the help of some little Dykes or Gutters, to carry off all the water that falls sometimes in hastly Storms, to those places that are manured, that none of it may be unprofitably wasted in the Walks or Allies, and if they be situated in Ground that is too strong, fat and moist, such as that of our new Kitchen-Garden at Versailles, we drain it away from those Grounds that are incommoded by it, by conveying it into the Walls or Allies, to spend it self there, or shooting it off into Stone gutters that carry it out of the Gar∣den; for which purpose we must raise our Ground into arch'd ridges.

During all this Month, it is good to lay yellow stock Gilliflowers, by planting cut∣tings of them, where ever we have a mind, or by laying their Branches that still grow to their Plants.

Those that are curious in Carnations and Clove-Gilliflowers, in order to have double ones, sow some good Seeds of them about the 5, 6, 7, or 8th. of May Moon, in earthen Pans, or wooden Tubs, that at least they may begin to sprout at the full Moon, which sometimes happens in June, but most commonly in May, those plants ought to grow big enough to be removed in September, into the naked Earth, that so they may have taken Ground before the Equinox; others again content themselves with sowing their Seeds be∣fore the Equinox.

We should likewise replant before the end of May, some green curled, and Aubervilliers Lettuce, that we may have some all the Month of June, together with the Chicons, and Imperial Long-Lettuce.

We must also at this time endeavour to destroy the thick white Worms, which now spoil the Strawberries, and Cabbage Lettuce, and take away the green Caterpillars, which quite cat up the Leaves of the Curran and Gooseberry bushes, and so spoil their Fruit.

At the end of May, we should also thin those Roots that grow too thick, and replant those we have plucked up in another place, as Beet-raves, or Red Beet-Roots, Pars∣nips, &c.

We may replant Daisies, Bears-Ears, and white double Narcissus's, though in Flower, that not at all hindering them from taking Root again.

Works to be done in June.

IHere repeat the same Caution I have already given at the beginning of the Works of each Month, which is, that we must be careful to do that at the beginning of this Month, which we could not do in the last, and we must moreover continue all the same Works, excepting hot Beds for Musk-melons, which now have no longer need of them, but we may still make some for the latter Cucumbers, and for Mushrooms.

We may also plant some Artichokes, till the twelfth or fifteenth of the Month, which being well watered, will serve for the next Spring. Waterings are to no purpose, if they soak not to the Root, and therefore the deeper the Plant is rooted, the more plentifully must it be watered, and especially in dry Ground, for in wet Grounds, they must be wa∣tered both less often, and less plentifully. For example, Artichokes growing in light Grounds, have need of a Pitcher full or two of Water, for each Plant, whereas in stronger Grounds, one pitcher full will serve three.

Towards the middle of June, we plant Leeks in Holes or Trenches six full Inches deep, at half a foot's distance one from the other, which is done with a planting stick, placing but one of them in each hole, without heeding to press down the Earth close about the Leek, when we have done, as is practised to all other Plants that are set with a planting stick.

We continue to sow Endive, and Genua Lettuce, that we may be furnisht with some to replant upon occasion, all the rest of the Summer, and we gather the Chervil that is the first that runs up to Seed from the Chervil, that was sown the Autumn before, cutting off all the Seed stems, and when they are dried, threshing out the Seed, and fanning it like Wheat.

The same method is practised with all Seeds that are gathered each in their proper Seasons, and especially in the Months of July and August, taking great care to prevent the Birds, who are very greedy of them, from devouring them.

We replant Beet Chards in order to have them good to eat in Autumn, and they are best placed in the void space remaining between the Artichoke Ranks, they must be set at the distance of a Foot and a half one from the other.

We must take great care to extirpate all the Weeds which now grow up in abun∣dance, and that particularly before they run to Seed, to prevent their multiplying which they are apt to do but too much of themselves without sowing.

We must now also without further delay, clip all our Palisade's, and edgings of Box, so that they may be all furnisht at furthest at Mid-Summer, and have time to shoot out a∣gain before Autumn; and we must liberally water all Seeds sown in our Kitchen Gar∣dens.

We must water plentifully, and every day the Cucumbers upon Hot Beds, and Musk-melons moderately two or three times a Week, allowing half a pitcher full of Water to each Plant.

From the very middle of June we begin to graff by Inoculation, our Stone-Fruit-Trees, and especially Cherries upon great Trees, upon Wood of two years growth, which are cut off three or four inches from the place where the Scutcheon is to be placed. The best time for this, is always before the Solstice.

Gross Soils must be often stirred and manured, that they may not have time to grow hard, and chap, commonly we bestow an universal manuring or stirring up the Ground upon all our Gardens in this Season, and the best time to stir dry Grounds in, is either a little before or after Rain, or even whilst it rains, that the water may the more swiftly penetrate to the bottom, before the great heat comes to turn it into Vapors, and for strong and moist Soils, we must wait for hot and dry weather, to dry and heat them, before we move them, carefull Gard'ners make Dykes to convey the gluts of Water that fall about this time in hasty Storms, a cross their Squares, especially if their Ground be light; but on the contrary, if it be too strong, they drain the water out of the Squares, as I have said already, when I was speaking of the works of May.

Persons curious in Carnations, and Clove-gilliflowers, should have begun before this time to put Rings about each plant of them, to keep up their mounting stems, and hinder the Winds from breaking off their Buds or Buttons, the like they do to their Sedums, &c. and if they have not yet done it, they do it in this Month, and not only take off

from them the small Buds that grow upon them in over great Numbers, to fortifie the principal ones, but likewise the greatest part of the mounting stems, in order to pre∣serve only one of the fairest, and most likely, to produce the most beautiful Flowers.

We also still continue to destroy the thick white Worms that spoil the Strawberries and Cabbage Lettuce.

We carefully cultivate our Orange-Trees, according to the method prescribed in the Treatise I have composed purposely on that Subject.

The Wild Purslain begins to appear at the beginning of June, and lasts till the end of July, which must be carefully scraped.

We take up our Tulip Roots out of the Ground at the end of this Month, their Leaves being then withered.

We disbranch Harico's or French-Beans, and towards the end of this Month, we sow Peas to have them fit to eat in September.

Works to be done in July.

THis Month likewise requires a great deal of application and activity in a Gard'ner, to do all that he could not do the last Month, and to continue still all the same Works, but only the hot Beds. Now the great heats without waterings, do very great damage, but being allayed with frequent waterings, give Birth to very fine Producti∣ons.

In this Month, many sorts of Seeds are gathered, and Endive is sown for the provisi∣on of Autumn and Winter. We also sow Royal Lettuce to have it good for use at the end of Autumn.

We also still continue to sow some Ciboules, and white Beets for Autumn, and some few Radishes in cool Places, or such as are extreamly well watered, to have them fit to eat at the beginning of August.

If the Season be very dry, we begin at the latter end of the Month, to graff by in∣oculation of a Dormant Bud, upon Quince-trees, and Plum-Trees

We begin to replant White or Bright Cabbages for the end of Autumn, and the beginning of Winter.

We sow more Lettuce Royal.

We sow for the last time, our Square Peas in the middle of July, that we may have some to spend in October.

In this Month particularly, Peach-Trees produce several shoots. About the middle of July, we begin to lay our Clove-gilliflowers and Carnations, if their Branches be strong enough to bear it, otherwise we must stay till August, or the middle of September.

From the very middle of August, we begin to sow Spinage to be ready about the middle of September, and Mâches for Winter Sallets, and Shell-Lettuces, to have Provision of Cabbage-Lettuces at the end of Autumn, and during the Winter Season.

We replant Strawberry Plants in their designed Places, which we had raised in Tufts.

We gather Lettuce and Radish Seeds, as soon as ever a part of their Pods appears dry, and then we pull up their Plants, and lay the whole a drying.

We also gather the Seeds of Chervil, Leeks, Ciboules, Onions, Shalots, and Rocamboles, or Spanish Garlick.

We sow Radishes in the naked Earth, for Autumn.

At the latter end of the Month, we sow some Cabbage in some good Exposition, to re∣move into a Nursery, in some other well sheltered place, where they are to pass the Win∣ter, in order to be replanted in their designed places in the following Spring.

We also sow all the Month long, some Shell-Lettuces in some good Exposition, as well to replant at the end of September, or beginning of October, in the places where they are to remain under some good shelter, as to have some ready hardned to the cold, to replant again after Winter, either in the naked Earth in the Month of March, or upon hot Beds; at the very beginning of February, and if the Winter be very cold, they must be covered with long Litter.

We may sow Onions to have good ones the next year, at the very beginning of July, which it is best to replant in the Month of March next following.

We now water liberally.

We replant a great deal of Endive at a large foot distance between Plant and Plant, as also Royal and Perpignan Lettuces, which are very good in Autumn and Winter.

We sow Mâches for Lent.

We still continue to replant Winter Cabbages.

We shear our Palisade's the second time.

We continue to nail up our Wall-Trees, and by little and little, to uncover those Fruits, which we would have tinged with much Red, as Peaches, Api Apples, &c.

We tye up our Endive with one, two, or with three bands, if it be very high, but the uppermost Band must be always looser than the rest, otherwise the Lettuce will burst in the sides whilst it is whitening.

At the middle of August we begin to cover with compost, the Sorrel that was cut very close to recruit its vigour, a good Inch's thickness of Compost is enough to strew all over it, because they would be apt to rot, if we should use more to them.

We still continue sowing of Sorrel, Chervil, and Ciboules.

We pluck off the runners of Strawberry Plants, to preserve their old Stocks in the greater vigour, and when their Fruit is past, which is about the end of July, or the be∣ginning of August, we cut away all the old stems, and old Leaves, that they may pro∣duce new ones.

We also cut away all the old Stems of Artichokes, when the Artichokes are taken off.

We still continue sowing of Spinage, for the beginning of Winter.

We take our Onions out of the Ground as soon as their Stems begin to dry, and we let them lie ten or twelve days a drying in the Air, before we lay them up in our Grana∣ry, or some other dry place, or else we bind them up in Ropes, because otherwise they would ferment and rot, if they were laid up before they were dry.

We gather our Shalots at the very beginning of the Month, and draw our Garlick out of the Ground.

At the end of August the Florists set into the Earth their Jacinths, fair Anemonies and Ranunculus's or Crow-foots, Junquills, Totus Albus's and Imperials.

We destroy both ordinary Flies and Wasps which eat the Figs, the Muscat Grapes, and other Fruits, and for that effect, we tye some Bottles or Cucurbit-glasses full of water mix∣ed with a little Honey, to some of their Branches, by which means, those insects being allured by the sweetness of the Honey, enter into the necks of those Glasses, and so perish in that mixture, but they must be emptied and shifted with new Water, as often as they begin to fill with those little unlucky insects.

Though the first Bud of a Clove-gilliflower or Carnation is beautiful and Promi∣sing, it do's not follow thence, that all the rest will be so too.

The Beauties of a Carnation are, to be high and tall, well burnisht and garnisht, well ranged, of a lovely colour, well plumed and displayed, and of a perfectly Velvet-like softness to the Touch.

At the beginning of this Month, we tread down the stems of Onions, and the Leaves of Beet-raves, or Red Beet Roots, Carots, Parsnips, &c. or else we take off their Leaves quite, to make their Roots grow the bigger in the Ground, by hindering their Sap from spending it self above Ground.

It is still a good Season enough to lay Clove-gilliflowers and Carnations.

Works to be done in September.

THE Ground in Gardens in this Month should be universally covered all over, so that there should be not so much as the least spot in it without some Kitch∣en and Esculent Plants, whether sown or replanted, which is not altogether so necessa∣ry in the preceeding Months, both because we then reserve a good part of our Ground for Winter Plants, such as are Lettuces, Endive, Peas, &c. and because some plants re∣quire a very considerable time to arrive to perfection in, and would not have enough if they were allowed less than to the end of Autumn.

We still continue the works of the preceeding Month.

We make hot Beds for Mushrooms.

We replant a great deal of Endive, and that closer together now than in the forego∣ing Months, that is, we place them at half a foots distance one from the other, because now their Tufts grow not so large as before.

They must be replanted in almost all the spare places from the very beginning of the Month, till the fifteenth or twentieth day. At the latter end of the Month, we sow Spinage the third time, which will be good in Lent, and even in the Rogation season fol∣lowing.

We still continue planting Winter Cabbages, and especially those of the Greener sort.

We may likewise still about Mid-September, sow some Cold Beds of Sorrel, and replant some old, there being yet time enough for it to attain to a sufficient vigour before the first Frosts come.

During this whole Month we continue to remove Straw-berry Plants out of our Nur∣series, to reimplace those tufts which are dead in our Beds, and we immediately water them, as we must do all Plants which we set a new.

We set some in Pots towards the twentieth day, if we intend to force any in the Winter.

About the fifteenth of the Month, we graff Peach-Trees upon Almond-Trees, and upon other Peach-Trees as they stand in the places where they are to remain; the sap being then too much diminished to be in any capacity to overflow the Scutcheons.

We tie up first with Osier withs, and afterwards towards the fifteenth of the Month, we carefully wrap up with long Litter, or new straw, some Spanish Cardons, and Arti∣choke Plants, to have them whitened or Blanched about fifteen or twenty days after; But great care must be taken in wraping them up, to keep them perfectly upright, otherwise they will overset, and snap in sunder on one side; and to hinder the winds from laying them on one side too, they must be fenced with a Bank of Earth of about a full foot high.

Towards the end of the Month, we plant Cabbages in Nurseries, in some well sheltred place, in order to replant them in their designed places assoon as the Winter is over.

From the fifteenth of the Month to the end, and till the middle of October, we replant Shell Lettuces in some well sheltered place and especially near the foot of some Southern and Eastern Wall, that we may have some of them Cabbage for our spen∣ding in Lent, and during the whole Months of April and May.

We bind up our Cellery with one or two bands below, and then we raise a Butt or Bank about it, either with very dry long Dung, or with very dry Earth, to whiten it; but we must have a care not to tie it up but in very dry weather. The same caution must be observed in all Plants that are to be tied, after which, we cut off the extreami∣ty of the Leaves, to prevent the sap from ascending and spending it self to no pur∣pose, by which means it is kept down in the Buried Plant, and makes it grow thick.

We also now tie up the Leaves of some Collyflowers whose Fruit seems to begin to be formed.

We cover with compost, the Sorrel which has been cut.

We sow Maches for Lent, and for Reponces, it is not worth the while to sow them in a Garden because there are enough of them in the Spring time, to be found in the Corn Fields, and by hedge sides.

It is particularly in the Month, and during all Autumn, that Gard'ners most desire rain.

We continue to destroy Flies and Wasps that eat the Figs, Muscat Grapes, and Pears, and other Fruits, &c. with Bottles, or Cucurbit Glasses of Honied Water.

We sow Poppies and Larks Heels in Flower Gardens, to have them Flower in June, and July, before them that are sown in March.

In this Month, and the precedent one, we replant Endive among Cabbage Lettuces, these latter having commonly performed their duty, before the Endive is come to its full growth. Waterings must be continued as long as the weather is Hot and dry.

Good Winter Endive, if our Garden be in a sandy Soil, must be sown from the middle of August, to St. Lambert's Day, which is the seventeenth of this Month; and if it be in a stronger and heavier Soil, it must be sown a little sooner, and that always very thin, that in a Month's time, it may grow big enough to remove, that is to say, about as thick as ones Finger. It should be planted till the middle of September, at six or se∣ven Inches distance between Plant and Plant, that it may be replanted a second time, and that nearer together, afterwards, at the beginning of September two or three Inches deep in the Earth, if it be dry and sandy, or at least in a sloping Ground, without cutting off any thing from the Root, which has produced a little tuft, and it must

be covered in frosty weather, to prevent the cold from rotting it to the very Heart, which caution being observed, it will keep till Lent, whereas Endive that is come to its full growth before the bitter cold weather, will not keep at all in Winter.

Works to be done in October.

WE continue the same Works as in the preceeding Month, except Graffing, the Season for which is now past, but we are particularly busie in preparing Cel∣lery and Cardons; we plant a great many Winter Lettuces, and some too upon old Hot Beds, to force them so as to have them good for our eating about Martlemas.

At the beginning of the Month, till the tenth or twelfth day, we sow some Spinage to be ready for the Rogation Season.

We also sow our last Chervil upon the Ground, that it may be come up before the great Frosts, and may yield Seed betimes the next Year.

At the very beginning of this Month, if we did not do it at the beginning of the last, we take down our Hot Beds, and apply our selves to making of Stacks or large Cocks of the mouldiest Dung, to raise Mushrooms on.

We plant Winter Cabbages on those Stacks, we lay aside all the Mold or made Earth, to use again when we make new Hot Beds, and we carry away the rottenest Dung to those Grounds that are to be dunged.

About the middle of October, we carry back into their Houses our Orange-Trees, Tube∣roses, and Jasmins, placing them there with some agreeable Symmetry, leaving the Win∣dows open in the day, so long as it freezes not, but keeping them always carefully shut at Night, till at last we shut them up quite, and carefully dam up both them and the Doors.

We lay the Tuberose Pots upon their Sides to drain them from the Water, that the Roots of those plants may not rot in them.

We begin to plant all sorts of Trees as soon as their Leaves are fallen.

We still continue to plant a great many Winter Lettuces in some well sheltered Place, and on some good Borders, at six or seven Inches distance one from the other, there u∣sually perishing enough of them to prevent our Complaints of their growing too thick together.

Towards the middle of October, the Florists plant their Tulips, and all other Bulbous Roots not yet set into the Ground.

In this Month we must perform our last manuring and turning up of strong, heavy, and moist Grounds, as well to destroy the Weeds, and give an Air of neatness and a∣greeableness to our Gardens in this Season, when the Country is more visited by all the World than at any other time, as to make that sort of Ground timely contract a kind of Crust, that may hinder the Winter waters from so easily penetrating them, and on the contrary, may shoot them off down to places of a lower Situation.

We continue our Hostilities against the Wasps that destroy the Figs and Grapes, and the good Plums and Pears, &c.

We cut old Chervil, that it may spring afresh.

It is convenient to begin to sow now in some well sheltered place towards the South or East, or else upon Hot Beds, those Sallets, &c. that are to be made use of in Winter, or early in the Spring, upon Condition they be well covered when sown, against the cold, when it shall be time.

Works to be done in November.

IN this Month we begin to force an Artificial Spring by the means of our Hot Beds, up∣on which we sow little Sallets, viz. Small Lettuce to cut, Chervil, Cresses, &c.

We plant Lettuce to Cabbage, under Bells or Glass Frames, and we replant upon them, Mint, Tarragon and Balm Plants, and some Sorrel, wild Endive or Succory, and Macedonian Parsly. We also sow in them Peas, Beans, Parsly, and Burnet, and if the weather still continue pretty fair, we make an end of planting Lettuces in places of good shelter.

This is peculiarly the Month of the greatest Work and Labour of all, in order to the avoiding the inconvenience of wanting Garden necessaries, which is an ordinary Compa∣nion in this dead Season, to those that have been wanting in timely foresight; for in

earnest the Cold fails not to make great Havock in the Gardens of the lazy; and there∣fore at the very beginning of the Month, how flatteringly fair soever the weather appear, there must be some dry long Dung brought and laid near the Endive, Arti∣chokes, Chard Beets, Cellery, Leeks, Roots, &c. that being ready at hand, it may with the more facility in few hours be thrown upon every thing that needs it, to prevent their destruction; and assoon as ever the Cold begins to declare it self, we must begin to cover our Fig-Trees.

Now is the proper time to make Plantations of all sorts of Trees, and of Goose-berry, Curran, and Rasp-berry Shrubs, and 'tis good to continue on till the end of March, un∣less it be when it Freezes hard, or when the Earth is covered with a great deal of Snow.

During all the same time, we set Trees and Shrubs in Baskets, which we dispose of in some particular place, and especially towards the Northern quarter. We set in them Standards as well as Dwarfs, keeping an exact account in writing of the order of the several kinds. These Baskets are to be placed at half a foot distance one from the other, and must be so well interred, that but just their Brims at most may be discerned above Ground: And we couch in those Baskets, such Trees as are designed for Wall-Trees, just in the same manner as if we were actually planting them by Walls, and those which are designed to be planted in the open Air, we place upright in the middle of the Bas∣kets.

Assoon as the Frosts begin to appear, we begin to use the long Dung which we have been carefull to order to be brought and laid ready in needfull places; for example, if it be for Artichokes, we may keep them a little elevated towards the North, to serve them instead of a small shelter, till we cover them quite, or else if we be pressed with work to be done elsewhere, we cover them presently, always taking care however before we cover them, to cut off all that is withered from them. A little of this Dung serves a∣gainst the first attacks, but we redouble our coverings as the Cold augments. They which are not provided with that sort of dry Dung, may use instead of it, such dry Leaves as are gathered up in the neighbouring Woods.

If we have a mind to whiten for Chards any of the biggest of those Artichoke Plants, we tie them below with two or three Bands, and then we wrap them about with long dry Dung, or straw, which we bind over them again, as we have already directed when we were speaking of Cardons.

In dry Soils, we earth up a little our Artichokes, which would be pernicious in wet Grounds, because it would rot the Artichoke Plants.

It is convenient to let the Artichokes alone so covered till the full Moon of March be past, that being commonly very dangerous; and many Gard'ners are the cause of the loss of their Artichokes, when they let themselves be tempted by some fair days in March, to take off their coverings quite, and to proceed to manuring them; for if we uncover them, it should at most, be but a little, and we should always have that caution, to leave the Dung close by them, to be ready at hand to cover them again, in case the Frost returns.

At the very beginning of the Month, before the Frosts be come, we make an end of tying up our Endive that is big enough to suffer it, and we cover it with what we can get: we also cover our other Endive in the same manner, which we could not tie up. It likewise whitens equally well; and it is very convenient, if we have a conserva∣tory, to plant as many as we can of the biggest of them there, in tufts, as we shall further shew afterwards.

We cut down Asparagus stalks when the Seed is Ripe, which we carefully lay up, if we be minded to sow any of them in the following Spring. It would be dangerous to cut those stalks sooner, as well because of spoiling the Seed, as the plants or stocks themselves, which might by that means be irritated to an abortion, and producing before their time, some pitiful sorry little new shoots.

We take the advantage of some fair dry weather, to lay up all we have a mind to keep for our Winters provision; and for that effect, we take up the plants in tufts, with Earth hanging to them, before they be Frost bitten, and plant them very close to one another in the Conservatory, which are for Example, all Roots, as Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet-raves, or Red Beet Roots, and Artichokes, which have Fruit. The Green ones are more proper for this purpose than the Violet ones, which are more tender and less able to resist the Frost, and more apt to putrefie in that part next their stem, than the others which are more rustical and hardy. And also Spanish Cardons, Collyflowers and Endive or Succory, as well the White, as the Wild sort, and even Leeks and Cellery, though both

these last will keep well enough in the naked Earth, when they are well covered: But here it is to be noted, that Cellery when once whitened must be eaten presently, otherwise it would rot; And we must be carefull to raise some of it late, that may remain small in the Earth, without being very much covered, which serves for the latter end of February and the Month of March.

Those Persons who live near Woods, will do well to gather up the leaves there, not only to make use of for coverings, as I have said, but likewise to lay them to rot in some hole, the powder of them being very good, and especially to make use of for mold.

We now open and lay bare the Roots of Trees that seem to languish, in order to take from about them the old Soil, cut off as much of their Roots as is found in an ill condition, and Earth them up again afterwards with good new Earth.

We make some Hot Beds for Mushrooms. The method to make them well, is to choose some spot of new, and as near as can be, light and sandy Ground, and dig there a hollow Bed of five or six Inches deep, of three or four wide throughout, and of what length we please. The Dung must be either of Horse, or Mule, and must be already pretty dry, and such as has been piled up some time: Then we make the Bed about two foot high, ranking and pressing the Dung as close and tight as we can, yet so disposing it that the upper part of it may be raised into a ridge like the Back of an Asse, that it may the better shoot off the waters to the right and left, which if they should pierce through it, would rot the Dung; after that, we cover the Bed to the thickness of two foot more, with the Neighbouring Earth, over which again, we throw another covering of three or four Inches thick of Litter, which in the Winter may guard from the great Cold, and in the Summer, shade from the violent heat the Mushrooms which may be expected to shoot up about three or four Months after.

We cleanse Trees of Moss that are troubled with it.

They which have great Plantations of Trees to prune, should now begin that opera∣tion upon those which are least vigorous.

We employ the long dry Dung of which we ought to have made provision in the Summer, to cover our Fig-Trees, as well those of the Wall, as Dwarfs; and for these last, we tie all their Branches as close as we can conveniently, together with Osier Withs, that we may the more easily wrap them about with this covering; and for the Wall-Trees, we endeavour to leave so many of the higher Branches as we can, on the sides, and to tie several of them together to poles or forked sticks that are to serve them for Props, and by that means too, we cover them with more ease, and less charge. We leave on them that covering till the full Moon of March be past, at which time, we only take off part of it, till the full Moon of April be likewise past, the Frosts of these two last Months being dangerous to the young Fruit which then begins to put forth it self, as the Winter Frosts are to the Wood which they make to turn all into Pith.

They whose Pear-Trees are pestered with Tiger Babbs, will do well now, not only to gather up the Leaves that are attack'd by them, to burn them immediately, but also to scrape their Branches with the back of a Knife to clear them of the Eggs or Seed of that Cursed Insect, which remains sticking to them all Winter, for though we cannot so far prevail that way, as totally to exterminate them, yet however there will be so many Enemies destroyed, as we destroy of those Eggs.

The days being now very short, skilful Gard'ners will therefore work by Candle∣light till Supper time, either in making of Straw-Screens and Coverings, or preparing Trees for planting, as soon as the Frost permits them, or in designing, &c.

We put those Trees into the Earth in furrows which we could not plant, covering up their Roots as carefully as if we were planting them in their designed places, without leaving any hollow Chinks about their Roots, because otherwise the great Frost would spoil them.

We may begin at the latter end of the Month to force such Asparagus, as are at least three or four years old, and this forcing is performed, either on the cold Bed in the place where they grow, which is the best way, or else upon a Hot Bed, if we be minded to remove them. But ordinarily we stay till towards the beginning of the next Month, before we make any Essays of that kind, it being in my Opinion, long enough to have of them for four Months together by Artifice, till Nature be ready to furnish us with more of them for two Months longer by her own sole Virtue and Power, not but that we might begin to force them at the very beginning of September or October.

The way of forcing them is, to dig the Earth out of a Path, to the depth of two Foot, and the breadth of one full foot and a half, if originally the Path were but three Foot over, because there must be at least six or seven good inches of Earth be left next the Asparagus Tufts. The Path being thus voided, we fill it up with long hot Dung, very well ramm'd and trodden down, till it be a full foot higher than the Super∣ficies of the Cold Bed, at the first making, and after fifteen days, we stir this Dung over again, mixing some new Dung with it, the better to enable it to communicate sufficient heat to the two adjoyning Cold Beds, but if it appear too much mortified, so that the Asparagus does not shoot up briskly enough, then this recruiting of the path-way with fresh Dung and stirring, must be repeated afterwards as often as it shall be necessa∣ry, which commonly happens to be once every ten or twelve days. If there fall any great Rains or Snow, that may have too much rotted that Dung, so that it appears not to retain a sufficient heat, then must it be quite taken away, and all new put in its place; for in fine, this Bed must always be kept extreamly hot; as to the Cold Bed, in which the Plants are, the Ground must be digged up, and stirred a little in it, to the depth of a∣bout four or five Inches, as soon as the path-way is filled up, for it cannot be done be∣fore, because of bringing the Dung to that, (which cannot be done without much trampling on the Soil) which digging being finished, we cover the said Cold Bed with some of the same long Dung, to the thickness of three or four Inches, and at the end of fifteen days, so much time at least being necessary to give activity to those Asparagus Tufts, that in this Season, are as 'twere dead, or at least benumbed with the cold, we lift up the Dung to see whether the Asparagus begin to shoot or no, and if they do, at every place where they appear, we clap a Glass Bell, which we also take great care to cover close with long Dung, and especially a-nights, to prevent the Frost from penetrating in the least man∣ner in the World, to the Asparagus, which being so extreamly tender and delicate as 'tis, would be absolutely spoiled by the least breath of Cold. If in the day time, the Sun shine out a little bright, we must not fail to take off the Dung from the Bells, that the Asparagus may be visited by those kindly beams that animate all things, and if besides those Bells, we had likewise Glass Frames to clap over them, and so doubly to cover whole Beds of Plants, that would still be more commodious and more advantageous for bring∣ing to effect this little Master-piece of our Art. By these helps, the Asparagus springing out of that warm Earth, and meeting with a warm Air under those Bells, grow red and green, and of the same thickness and length as those of the Mont••s of April and May; nay, and prove a great deal better too, because they have not only been unattack'd by the injuries of the Air, but have attained their perfection in much less time than the o∣thers, and I can without vanity affirm, that I was the first that by the inducement of some very plausible Reasons, devised this expedient, to oblige the greatest King in the World, with a Pleasure before to him unknown.

I add here, that a Bed of Asparagus dextrously forced, and well maintained, produces abundantly enough for a Fortnight or three Weeks, and that because the King should not want during the whole Winter, this new Dish which he beholds with so gracious an Eye, as soon as the first Beds begin to furnish him, I begin to force as many new ones, and so continue the same course every three Weeks, till the end of April, when Nature advertises me, that 'tis time to put an end to those Violences I have done Her, and that she is then willing in her Turn, to serve us some Dishes prepared by her own skill.

I can likewise tell you, that though my Beds are but ••i••teen Toises or Fathoms long, and that I force but six at a time, yet there is spent on them each time, at least fifty Cart loads of Dung, and that the only Vexation I meet with in this Work, is to see an infinite number of Glass Bells broke with covering and uncovering them every day, in spite of all the care I can take to prevent it.

We may likewise remove old Asparagus Plants out of Cold Beds into Hot ones, it being true that they spring there, but they never prove so fair as the others, and are attended besides with this inconvenience, that they die there in a very short time.

We force Sorrel and Wild Endive, or Succory, Macedonian Parsly or Alisanders, &c. in the same manner as we do Asparagus, but most commonly it is done rather upon Hot Beds, than on the naked Earth, and the Success is very speedy and infallible, and particularly in procuring in one fifteen days time, Sorrel that is as fair as that of the Month of May.

We should have finished our last manuring of dry Grounds the fifteenth day of this Month, as well to render them impenetrable to the Rain and Snow waters, as to destroy the Weeds, and to make our Gardens appear something neat and handsome.

We preserve in their places, or rather we transplant in Turfs, such Cabbages as we design for Seed; and if in the Month of April, we perceive they meet with any diffi∣culty in making their way, we must help them by giving the Cabbage a cut cross-wise on the Head pretty deep, by which means the Seed stem will the more easily pass. We do the same thing in May to some sorts of Cabbage Lettuce, which have much ado otherwise to run up to Seed.

To have Radishes betimes, that is, towards Christmas, or Candlemas, we sow them in Hot Beds about the middle of November. I have already laid down directions for the making of Hot Beds, in the works of February: That which is particularly to be observed for Radishes, is that we must beat down with a board, the Superficies of the mold, to render it a little solid, and to prevent it from rowling into the holes that are to be made to Sow the Radishes in, after which, that the Bed may be handsomly Sown, we take a cord rubbed with Plaster, or Chalk, or other white matter, and holding it well stretched out between two of us, we mark out with it as many white lines, at three or four Inches distance one from another, both throughout the whole length and breadth of the Bed, as its extent will permit, and then with a round wooden planting stick of a full Inch thick, we make holes all along every line at the like distance of three or four Inches one from another, and we put only three Radish Seeds into every hole, and if we chance to let fall any more we pull up all the Radishes that come up above the number of three. They which observe not to mark out such lines, but make their holes by random-sight only, have their Beds not so handsome, and they which make their holes nearer, and which leave more than three Radishes in a hole, run the hazard of having Radishes with a great many leaves and but little Root, there are many Market Gard'ners whose practise it is, to Sow lines or rows of Lett••ces in February and March, a cross their Beds of Ra∣dishes, but then the holes must be made at the distance of seven or eight Inches; and the Lett••ces thus sown in lines, will be gathered and spent, before the Radishes are fit to gather.

If it freezes very hard we cover the Hot Bed, with long steeped Straw, for five or six days, besides which, for its further defence against the rigours of the Winter, wecover them with Straw-Screens or coverings, supported upon Traverse Frame•• or Cradles composed of Stakes, or other Poles of Wood, placed very near the Superficies of the mold, and we stop the sides close up, and if the Frost increase notably, we put a new load of long dung over those Straw-Screens, but if it be but moderate, there will need no other covering, the heat of the Bed being sufficient to defend the Plants; Radishes thus sown come up in five or six days, and if the holes had not some Air, they would be smoothed and grow dwinling in piercing through the small Straw.

We must not fail at the beginning of this Month, to take up in Turf, the Cellery which we had planted at a reasonable distance, in the Months of June and July, in particular Cold Beds; and when we have taken it up, to carry it into the Conservatory, or else to replant it in some other Cold Bed, placing its Plants very close together, that they may the more easily be covered.

Assoon as the White Frosts seem to be setled, we must cover our Winter-Lettuces which are planted in well sheltred places, but not with dry Dung as other Plants, for fear some of the filth should get into the heart of those that Cabbage, but with very clean Straw, upon which we lay some long pole of Wood, to keep it in its place, and hinder the wind from blowing it off.

Works to be done in December.

IF it be a pertinent caution I have given at the beginning of every Month, That we ought then to be careful to finish what we could not do in the preceeding Month, it is particularly necessary to repeat it at the beginning of this Month, with respect to that which last expired. Assoon as December is come it is no longer time to dally. For now the Earth in Gardens is quite strip'd of all its usual ornaments, and the Frost that seldom fails to signalize it self this Month, without respecting the quality of their Ma∣sters, spares no bodies Gardens, but unmercifully destroys all it meets with of a nature too delicate to endure its rigour; and therefore it concerns us now to make an end of housing and of covering what we could not house or cover in the Month of November, viz. Endive, Cardons, Cellery, Artichokes, Roots, Collyflowers, Chard-Beets, Leeks, Fig-Trees, &c. And above all things, we must be careful to preserve those Novelties which we may have begun to advance by Art, as Peas, Beans, Cabbage, Lettuce, and little Sallets,

to avoid the displeasure of seeing perish in one bitter Night, what we have been labour∣ing two or three Months to advance.

We may likewise still at the beginning of the Month, continue to sow some early Peas, upon some banks made of Earth raised in double slopes along by some Wall placed in a good Exposition, and especially that towards the South.

We transport our rotten Dung to those places we design to muck, and spread them abroad there, that the rain and Snow waters may the better penetrate them, and carry their Salt a little below the Superficies of the Earth where our Seeds are to be sown.

We interr our Almonds in some Basket, to Sprout. They should have sprouted by the Month of March, to be ready then to be planted in their allotted places. It is conveni∣ent to prevent the great Frost from coming at them; for which end the Baskets must be housed up in the Conservatory, or else well covered with long Dung if left in the naked Earth. The way to lay these Almonds to sprout, is first to lay at the bottom of the Basket, a layer of Sand, Earth or mold, or made Earth between two and three Inches thick, and to lay a Layer of flat Almonds, upon it with their sharp ends inwards, till its first layer of Earth be quite covered with the layer of Almonds, upon which we lay a second layer of Mold or Sand of two Inches thick, and then upon that again a second layer of Almonds placed in the same manner as the first, and so a third and fourth, &c. till the Basket will hold no more.

It is likewise not amiss to put one single layer of Almonds into the naked-Earth, and to cover them with Earth, to the thickness of about three Inches: When they begin to come up at the latter end of April, we take them in up Turfs, that is, with some Earth hanging to them, and breaking off their sprouts, we replant them in their designed places, in rows distant one from another, a foot and a half, and in those rows, the Almonds must be placed at the distance of half a foot from each other.

We are busie in making trails for Wall-Trees.

We may prune Trees as long as there is no Icicles, or hoar upon the Branches, and as the hard Frosts do not raign, for they harden the Wood so that the pruning knife can∣not easily pass: Always observing that we must never prune Wall-Trees without unnail∣ing them, because it would be too troublesom to do it otherwise, neither can we so well discern what Work we are to do.

One of the most principal Works of this Month, is, at the beginning of it, to make a Hot Bed of long new Dung of the ordinary breadth of four foot, and height of three, and assoon as its great heat is spent, we must sow upon it, under Glass Bells, some good bright Curled Lettuce, and assoon as 'tis grown a little big, which usually happens in a Month's time, we must take up the fairest, and plant it in a Nursery upon another Hot Bed, and under other Bells, to the number of twenty, or twenty five under every Bell, and when they are grown reasonably big there too, we must take up the biggest with a little Earth about them, to replant them to the number of five or six under each Bell, to remain there till they be quite Cabbaged, which usually happens towards the latter end of March, and we take care to fence them well from the Cold, as well with coverings of Litter, as by new heating their Beds.

We practise the same method in sowing these Lettuces in the Month of January, and in replanting in February, that we may have some ready betimes, that is, towards the end of March, and to continue so doing till the Earth produces us some of her self, without the help of Hot Dung. At this time they that employ themselves in rear∣ing Novelties, spend the most part of each day in covering them at night, and uncovering them in the morning, or else all comes to nothing.

When in the Winter time, we are raising and forcing of Lettuce upon Hot Beds, and under Bells, we must be careful often to lift up the Bells, to take away the dead Leaves, there being a great many that rot and perish, and one rotten Leaf rots others. The inside of the Bells must also be cleansed from the filth and moisture that gathers there in abundance, and when there comes a fair Sun shiny day, we must not fail to lift up the Bells, that the moisture may be dryed up that sticks about the Leaves. But the chiefest thing to be observed above all, is to keep the Beds moderately hot, by recruiting and new heating, and fermenting them from time to time.

Provisions and Products we may have from our Gardens in the Month of January.

BEsides the good Pears following, viz. Leschasseries, Ambrets, Thorn Pears, St. Ger∣mains, Dry Martins, Virgoulees, and Winter Boncretiens, &c. and these good Apples, viz. Calvils, Pippins, Ap••'s, Courpendu's, or short stalkt Apples, Fennellets, or Fennel-Ap∣ples, &c. And lastly, besides some sorts of Grapes, as the ordinary Muscat, the long Mus∣cat, the Chassela's, &c. every Person may have Artichokes, &c.

All sorts of Roots, as Beet-raves, or Red Beet-Roots, Scorzonera's, Carrots, Parsnips, com∣mon Salsifies, or Goat's Beard, Turneps, &c.

Spanish Cardons, and Chards of Artichokes whitened.

Cellery whitened.

Macedonian Parsly or Alisanders whitened.

Fennel, Anis, and Endive, as well that which is called the White, as that which is called Wild, or Succory.

Collyflowers, &c. All these things must have been brought into the Conservatory in the Months of November and December, and ordered as I have directed in speaking of the Works to be done in those two Months.

Besides which, we have also Pancaliers, Milan, and Bright, or large sided Cabba∣ges.

These sorts of Cabbages are not carried into the Conservatory: on the contrary, they must be Frost-bitten in the open Air, to make them tender and delicate.

We may also have some Citruls or Pumpions, and some Potirons, or flat Pumpions, by the help of a Conservatory.

We may have also pickled Cucumbers, pickled Purslain, pickled Mushrooms, and pick∣led Capucin Capers, or Nasturces.

We may have Onions, Garlick and Shalots, out of the Conservatory.

We may have Leeks, Ciboules, Burnet, Chervil, Parsly and Alleluia, or Wood-Sorrel, &c.

We may have very good Reddish Green Asparagus, which are better than those that grow naturally in April, and all the Month of May.

And by the help of Hot Beds, or heated Path-ways, we may have very fine Sorrel, as well of the round as long sort, and little Sallets of Lettuce to cut, with their Furnitures of Mint, Tarragon, Garden-Cresses, tender Chervil, &c. and Parsly, Borage, Bugloss, &c.

We may likewise have little Radishes upon Hot Beds, provided the abundance of Snow, and the rigour of the Frosts be not so terrible great, that we cannot for so much as a few hours in a day, uncover the Beds on which they are, nor give them any new Recruits of heat, without which, all that is planted of this sort, on Hot Beds, is subject to grow yellow, and come to nothing.

We may likewise have Mushrooms upon Hot Beds made on purpose for that effect, and which are kept carefully covered with long dry Dung, to prevent the hard Fosts from spoiling them.

We have now naturally but few Flowers, except those of Laurel-Time, or Laurus Thymus, and Snow drops, but by the help of Hot Beds, we may have some single A∣nemonies, Winter Narcissus's, and Narcissus's of Constantinople, Crocus's, &c. And we have now Lawrel Rose-leaves to garnish the Dishes we serve up to Table.

Provisions and Products of February.

THE Weather usually begins to grow a little milder this Month, so that as to Flow∣ers, we may now naturally by the favour of a good Shelter and a good Exposition, have of all those sorts which I told you in my Discourse of the Products of the last Month, might be raised by forcing on Hot Beds. Besides which, we may have some Primroses, and the heat of the Hot Beds may even produce us some Tulips, and Totus Al∣bus's.

But in respect of Kitchen-plants, we have as yet only those things which we have before mentioned; that is to say, we continue to spend the Stock we have in the Conser∣vatory or Store-house, and what we raise by the assistance of our Hot Beds, and artifici∣al heatings, as little Sallets, Sorrel, Radishes, Asparagus, &c.

Provisions and Products of March.

VVE have now upon our Hot Beds, abundance of Radishes, and little Sallets, and of Sorrel, and Cabbage Lettuces under Bells, which are the bright cur∣led Lettuces sown in November and December, and afterwards transplanted into other Hot Beds. The other sorts of Lettuces will not come to any thing under Bells.

We continue to have forced Asparagus, and to spend what we had laid up in the Con∣servatory, as Cardons, Collyflowers, &c.

As to Flowers, if the cold be not extraordinary violent, we have every where, and that naturally, all those sorts which blow only in good Expositions in the preceeding Months, besides which, we have Violets, Jacinths, Passe-touts, and single Anemonies.

And towards the end of the Month, we have English Narcissus's, Narcissus's of Al∣gers, English Iris, or Flower-de-Luces, yellow Stock-Gilliflowers, Nonesuch Narcissus's, single and double Hepatica's, as well of the Red, as of the pale Violet Sort, Hellebore Flowers, some single Junquils, of which we sometimes compose double ones, by putting the Leaves of two or three into one Button.

And we need not now force any Flowers, unless it be single or double Junquils, if the Weather be very hard.

And if the weather be very mild, we have double Anemonies, Bears Ears, Fritillaria's, some Spring Tulips, Daisies, Flammes, or Flame-flowers, Persian Iris, and Junquils at the latter end of the Month.

Provisions and Products of April.

VVE have now abundance of Radishes, Spinage, and Sallets with their Furnitures, and other edible Herbs.

We have likewise at the very beginning of the Month, bright curled Cabbage Lettu∣ces, if we have taken care to raise any upon Hot Beds, otherwise we have none, for the Winter Lettuces are not as yet Cabbaged.

We have also at the very beginning of the Month some Strawberries by the extraordi∣nary help of our Hot Beds, and Glass Frames, if we have had the Will, or convenience to make use of them.

We have Asparagus produced naturally and without Artifice.

We have an infinite number of Flowers, as Anemonies, Ranunculus's or Crew foots, Im∣perials, Narcissus of Constantinople, English Narcissus, and Algers Narcissus, white Narcissus, Prim-Roses, Violets, Hepatica's, both red and pale blue, and about the end of the Month we have fair Tulips.

Provisions and Products of May.

IT is now the time of the flourishing Reign of all sorts of Verdures and Green things, and of Sallets, Radishes, Asparagus, and Cucumbers as to their plenty and abundance. Peas and Strawberries now begin to come in, and we may and ought to have of those sorts of Long Lettuces call'd Alfanges, and white Chicons, provided we have had time∣ly care to raise some upon Hot Beds, and early to transplant them, either in other Hot Beds, or else in the naked Earth in some well exposed place.

We have an infinity of all sorts of Flowers, Tulips, Stock-gilliflowers of all colours, Prim-roses both deep blue and pale blue, Musaris, Daisies, Flames, Spring Honey-Suckles, Roses of Gueldres, single Anemonies, &c.

We begin to have Orange Flowers as soon as ever the Orange-Trees, are brought out of their Conservatories about the middle of May.

We have also both single and double Narcissus's, and Peonies both of the Flesh, or Car∣nation, and of the very red colour.

We begin likewise to have some Spring Larks Heels.

We have the Flower of the Trifolum Arboreum, or yellow Trefoil, growing on a shrub, and both the Common and Persian Lilac, Mary-golds, and Sedums, otherwise called Palmaria, and Musked white stock Gilliflowers, both single and double, that is to

say, the Julians. As likewise Columbines, Veronica's, or Fluellins, plumed or panached Jacinths, yellow Martagons, with their Flame coloured Pendant, Spanish Carnati∣ons, &c.

Towards the end of the Month, we begin to have abundance of Strawberries, and some early Cherries.

Provisions and Products of June.

VVE have now abundance of all sorts of red Fruits, as Strawberries, Currans, Gooseberries, Cherries, and Bigarro's or Heart-Cherries, &c.

Some Pears, and particularly little Muscats.

We have upon the plain and natural Earth, all sorts of Sallets with their Furni∣tures.

Abundance of all sorts of Kitchen Herbs.

Abundance of Artichokes and Beet-Chards.

Great store of Peas, and of Garden, and French Beans.

Great store of Mushrooms and Cucumbers.

At the end of the Month, we begin to have some Verjuice Grapes, and White En∣dive,

We have also great plenty of fine, or sweet and strong scented, or Aromatick Herbs, viz. Time, Sage, Savory, Hyssop, Lavender, &c. And also of Medicinal Herbs.

We have Roman Lettuces, and white Alfange Lettuces, and abundance of Genua Lettuces.

We have Purslain.

We have abundance of Flowers, as well to garnish Dishes, as to set out Flower∣pots, viz. Double Poppies of all colours, white, pale, violet, flesh-coloured, or Carna∣tion, flame coloured, purple, violet colour'd, and panached or striped; yellow, and vio∣let pansies, Larks Heels, Julians, Fraxilenes, or Fraxinella's, or Bastard Dittanies, Ro∣ses of all sorts, viz. double, panached or striped, double Eglantines, or Dog-roses, Roses of Gueldres, Cinnamon Roses, white Lillies, yellow Lillies, Matricaria's, or Feather∣few's, Asphodel or Asphondel Lillies, Calves-snowts, Virga Aurea, or Golden Rod, of Jassee Flowers of two colours, Gladiolus's, Veronica's, or Fluellins, Spanish Carnations, Mignards, Verbascums, or Mullein Flowers, double Coqueriers.

Thlaspi or Treacle Mustard of two sorts, the great and little Muscipula's, Valerians, Toute-Bonnes, or Algoods, or Good Harries, Poets Gillyflowers, both the white and Carnations, yellow Willow Herbs, or Loose-strifes, Lady-Gloves; and towards the mid∣dle of June, Roman Chervil, Orange Flowers, Tuberoses, single Anemonies, Mignardi∣ses, and Marine, or Sea violets.

We have still very fine Pippins.

We begin to see some Cabbages.

We have likewise some Musk-melons at the latter end of the Month, and some very fine Carnations, and double Jerusalem Cresses.

Provisions and Products of July.

VVE have in this Month abundance of Artichokes, Cherries, Griots, or Agriots, and Bigarro's, or Heart Cherries.

Plenty of Strawberries, Peas and Beans.

Great store of Cabbages, Musk-melons, Cucumbers, and all sorts of Sallets.

Some white Endive, and some Radishes.

Some Plums, viz. the yellow Plum, and the Ceriset, or little Cherry-plum.

Some Summer Calvill-apples.

A great many Pears, viz. Maudlin-Pears, Cuisse Madams, or Lady Thighs, Great Blanquets, or great White Pears, Orange-green Pears, &c.

About the middle or latter end of July, we have the first Figs.

We have Peas and Beans of two sorts.

We have Radishes, and

Abundance of Muskmelons towards the middle of the Month.

We have Verjuice.

As for Flowers, we have still a great many, and the most part of them I have men∣tioned in the preceeding Month.

We have besides them, Geranium Nocteolens, or Night smelling Cranes-bill, Rue with its Olive-colour'd Flower, Jerusalem Cresses, both single and double, Clovons, Indian Harico's, or Kidney-Beans, of a flame colour, which last till November, Cyanus, or Dog, or Corn∣flowers, both white, and pale violet, Capucins, or Nasturces, Camomils, Staphysagria, or Staves∣acre, and towards the middle of July, Clove-gilliflowers and Carnations begin to come in.

Provisions and Products of August.

WE have at this time abundance of Summer Pears, and of Plums, and of some sort of Peaches, as Maudlin, Minion, and Bourdin Peaches, &c.

As also of white Endive.

Plenty of Figs.

Great store of Musk-melons and Cucumbers.

We have also some Citruls or Pumpions.

A great many Cabbages.

We have Verjuice.

We continue still to have all sorts of green Herbs, all Kitchen-Roots, and Onions, Garlick and Shalots. As also,

Abundance of Larks-Heels, Indian Roses, and Indian Gilliflowers, or French Marigolds, great store of Musked Roses, Monthly Roses, Jasmin, Latter Larks-Heels, Tuberoses, Matrica∣ria's, and greater or lesser Thlaspi's, and besides them, Sun-flowers, Asters, or Oculus Chri∣sts's, &c.

Provisions and Products of September.

WE have now abundance of Violet Peaches, Admirables, Purple, Persick Peaches, &c. Great store of Russelet, or Russet Pears, melting Pears of Brest, some Butter-Pears, &c.

Plenty of Endive, and of Succory, and of Cabbages.

Towards the end of the Month begins to come in abundance of second Figs.

At the latter end of the Month we have likewise some Spanish Cardons, some Artichoke Chards, some Cellery Stocks, a great many Citruls, or Pumpions, store of Artichokes, and some Musk-melons still.

Some Collyflowers.

We begin to have some good Muscat Grapes.

We have Vine Leaves to garnish our Dishes.

We have Verjuice.

And some Oranges.

As to Flowers, we have now great store of Tuberoses, Asters, or Oculus Christi's, of Flower gentles, Velvet Flowers, or Amaranthus, of Indian Gilliflowers, or French Marygolds, of Indian Roses, Marvels of Peru, Tricolor Volubilis, Lawrel, or Bay Roses, both white and Car∣nation, Ultramarine Roses, Ordinary Stock-Gilliflowers, both of the white and violet Sorts, &c. Ciclamens, and some Orange-Flowers, with single Anemonies.

Provisions and Products of October.

VVE have abundance of second Figs.

Plenty of Muscat and Chassela's Grapes.

Great store of Butter Pears, Doyennee, or Dean-Pears, Bergamots, Vine-Pears, Lansacs, Cra∣sans, and Messier-Johns.

Abundance of Endive and Succory, Cardons, Artichoke-Chards, Beet-Chards, Mushrooms, and Cucumbers, and still some Musk-melons too, if there have been no hard Frosts.

We have all manner of green Pot-Herbs, Sorrel, Beets, Chervil, Parsly, and Ciboules, Roots, Garlick, Onions, and Shalots.

Great store of Peaches, viz. Admirables, Nivets, White Andillies, Latter Violet Peaches, Yellow latter Peaches, Rambouillet, and Cadillac Pavies, or Bastard Peaches, Yellow Pavies, and Red Pavies.

Spinage and latter Peas.

For Flowers, we have single Anemonies, Tuberoses, Lawrel, Time, Flowers, Velvet Flow∣ers, Jasmins, Lawrel-Roses, Ciclamens, &c.

Provisions and Products of November.

VVE have still in the beginning of the Month, some Figs, and some latter Yellow Pavies.

We have Winter Thorn Pears, Bergamots, Marchionesses, Messire Johns, Crasans, Peti∣toins, some Virgoulee Pears, Ambrets, Leschasseries, Amadots, &c.

We have Artichokes.

We have abundance of Autumnal Calvil Apples, and some white Calvils.

The Fennelets or Fennel Apples, and Courpendu's, or short stalkt Apples begin also to ri∣pen.

We have Spinage, Endive and Succory, Cellery, Lettuces, Sallets, and Pot Herbs, and Cab∣bages of all sorts, and Roots and Pumpions.

For Flowers, we have almost the same as in the foregoing Month, as also some be∣ginnings of Thlaspi semper virens, or ever green Thlaspis.

Provisions and Products of December.

BY the assistance of our Store-house and Conservatory, we have all the same things that we already mentioned in the Month of November.

We may also now begin to have some forced Asparagus; And,

Some very green and tall Sorrel, in spite of the hardest Frosts.

We have Spinage.

We have Winter Cabbages, as well of the bright and long-sided sort, which are the most delicate, as of the green sort.

We have abundance of Virgoulee Pears, Thorn Pears, Ambrets, St. Germans, Dry Martins, Portal Pears, &c. As also,

Of Api Apples, Pippins, Courpendu's, Femellets, or Fennel Apples, and some Calvils too still, &c.

As to Flowers, we have store of Lawrel, Time, Flowers, and we have some Anemonies and Ciclamens.

CHAP. IV.

How to judge certainly by viewing and visiting a Kitchen-Garden, whether there be any thing wanting in it, which it should be stockt with.

IT is no inconsiderable thing to understand certainly, not only what Provisions a Kitch∣en-Garden well maintained and ordered may furnish us with every Month in the Year, but likewise what works are to be done there in every Season, by an able Gard'ner, but yet that is not enough to make a Gentleman so knowing, as to be able to give him∣self the Pleasure to judge certainly by viewing of his Kitchen-Garden, whether it be indeed so well stockt or no, as to want nothing that it should have. For in fine, we must not expect always actually to find init, all the advantages we are beholding to Gardens for. We know indeed, that it should bring forth a provision for the whole Year, but we know very well too, that it does not bring forth all days in the Year, for example, in the Winter Months we hardly see in it any of its Productions, the most part of them being then carried out of it, and laid up in Store-houses and Conservatories. And besides, a∣mong the Plants that are to be seen in it at other times, how many is there which have not then attain'd to their perfection, which yet ought to make a Figure in this Garden, though they require perhaps two or three, and sometimes five or six Months time to arrive to it? Thus it is in the beginning of the Spring, with all Legumes or Edible Plants, and green things, and thus it is too in the Summer, with the principal Fruits of the other Sea∣sons, upon which Consideration, I thought it not impertinent nor unuseful, to shew yet

a little more particularly wherein consists the excellency and accomplishment of a Kitchen-Garden, judging of it acccording to the proportion of what we ought to find in it every time we go into it, and to give you the more exact and perfect an Idea of it, I will as near as I can, draw you the picture of our Kings, which is in its kind, the greatest that ever was beheld, as its Master is the greatest Prince that ever yet appeared; not, that I exhibit this Picture to engage any Person to copy it, but only to direct them how by the Rules of a just Comparison, and proportion of great things to little, they may take such Measures, as they shall think most accommodated to their own particular conve∣niences.

I will begin this Chapter with the Month of January, as I have done the two next preceeding ones, and shall tell you first, That in the Month of January, we ought to be very well satisfied with the Garden in Question, if we find in it a reasonable quantity of Winter Lettuces planted in Borders by Walls, and covered with long Straw, or Straw Screens. And Secondly, if we find in it some Squares of Artichokes, and Beet-Chards well covered with long Dung, with the like provision of Cellery, Endive, Common Parsly, and Macedonian Parsly, or Alisanders, &c. and ordered after the same manner. And in the third place, some Winter Cabbages, Ciboules, Sorrel, and Sallet Furnitures, and if these two last be sheltred with some sort of Covering. And if in the fourth place there be some squares of Asparagus without any other Artifice, than what is used to warm and force them in their Cold Beds, as I do, and have begun to do in November and December. All o∣ther Kitchen-plants must be housed and laid up, as Roots, Onions, Cardons, Artichokes, Col∣lyflowers, &c. In the fifth place, we may be content if we find the Fig-Trees well covered, all places where Trees should be, well filled up with Trees, or at least, with holes dig∣ged, and Trenches prepared, ready for planting them, or the Roots of those bared and laid open, that begin to languish, in order to their Cure. Sixthly, if we see Men busie in clearing the Fruit-Trees of Moss, and other filth that Spoils them, and if over and above that, we find there any Hot Beds for the Novelties of the Spring time, such as are Strawberries, Radishes, Little Sallets, Peas, Beans, Cabbage Lettuces, Parsly, Cucumbers, and Musk-melon Plantations, &c. If we likewise see some Fig-Trees and some other Trees forced and advanced by artificial Warmth, what then ought we not to say in praise of the Gard'ner, especially if we find the Walks and Alleys kept neat and clean, and no Garden Tools or Utensils any where neglected?

Having told you what should compose the Beauty of a Kitchen-Garden in the Month of January, I think it needless to add any Description of what makes it imperfect and disagreeable as well in that Month, as in all the rest of which I shall afterwards treat, be∣cause any Body may easily discern of himself, that 'tis just the contrary and reverse of what I have just now specified, that is to say, a want of any thing that should be in it, Negli∣gence, Slovinglyness, &c. which we are to look upon as the Monsters of Kitchen Gardens.

In the Month of February, we must certainly expect to see the beginning of a great Bustling and Activity in Garden works, we should now find the most part of those things flourishing, and grown pretty forward, that we told you were to be raised on Hot Beds, in the preceeding Month, and if about the latter end of the Month, the Weather appear pretty temperate, and there happen so considerable a Thaw as to promise an end of the great cold, our Gard'ners should then begin to dig and manure the Squares and the Coun∣ter Borders prepare the Cold Beds, sow those sorts of Seeds that are long coming up, as Parsly, Onions, Ciboules, Leeks, &c. They must likewise now earnestly mind the pruning of Trees, as well Dwarfs, as Wall-Trees, and palisade or nail up these last for the first time, and particularly they must take care to make Hot Beds for the replanting of Musk-melons and Cucumbers, and for little Sallets, Radishes, Cabbage-Lettuces, &c.

In March, when the Sun begins to pleasure us with both indifferent fair, and pretty long days, and nature begins visibly to grow warm and active, our Gard'ners also should with new and fresh vigour, and Application, bestir themselves in all parts of their Gar∣den, and be seen indefatigably to pursue all the works I have mentioned in the particular Treatise I made on that subject, and which therefore 'tis not necessary to repeat here again; so that if the extent of our Ground be great, and the number of Labourers propor∣tionable, we should have the pleasure with one cast of an Eye to see them diging, making up, sowing, planting, howing, weeding, graffing, pruning, &c. for in fine, before the Month be out, the most part of the Ground should be taken up either with Seeds or plants, which are to serve for provision for the whole year. All that was before covered with Dung, ought to be discharged of its coverings, which are now grown hidious, assoon as they cease to be necessary, and every thing ought to breath the free Air, which begins now to cheer both Animals and Plants; we should at this time have at least something to begin to

gather, either of Sallets or Radishes, of the new Season, if the Hot Beds of the foregoing Months have not as yet obliged us with that pleasure; But neatness and politeness ought particularly to glitter every where, and serve for a varnish to all the Alleys, and the dressed Grounds, that together with the first dawning of the rising Green that is now springing out of the Womb of the teeming Earth, and the perfumed breath of those Plants which Heavens richer influences have made odoriferous, and the abundance of Flowers which begin to display their beauties on every side, and the harmony of the pretty Birds, which a sort of extraordinary gayety and briskness at this time inspires with amo∣rous prattle, and with melodious Airs to strive to out-vie each other. This neatness may concurr to make a Theater of pleasure universally perfect, which may with irresistible allurements intice the curious to the divertisement of walking in so delicious a place.

In the Month of April, we are not to find any thing new to be done in our Kitchen-Gar∣dens, unless it be an augmentation of Hot Beds for Musk-Melons and Cucumbers. The Earth in them should now be covered almost all over with a new decoration of Infant Plants; Here we should see Artichokes rising as 'twere from the dead, and there Asparagus piercing the Ground in a thousand places; here we should with pleasure observe the Cabbage Let∣tuce wind up it self into round Balls, and here that multitude of Green Herbs, and Legumes, so different in colour, and so various in their shapes; These, these are the Innocent and natural Dainties which there present themselves for the nourishment, and Delicious entertainment of Humane kind. The Jacinth, the Tulip, the Anemone, the Ranimculus, and so many other Flowers, with what Glories do they not adorn the Gardens where they are? That which is here to be remarked, is only the ordinary main∣taining of what is already done and perfected; but that which should most take up our thoughts is the hopes of a future crop of Fruits, every one now being eager to run and view the Trees that shed their Blossoms, to see whether much Fruit knit upon them or no, or else to visit the Hot Beds of Musk-Melons and Cucumbers that seem to have taken well, to see how liberally they are like to recompence them for all the pains bestowed upon them.

When the Month of May comes in, what contentment have we not in useful Gardens; and how great are the sweets of enjoyment which we begin then to taste? We have now no longer occasion to demand why such and such spots of Ground are yet bare, Spanish Cardons, Collyflowers, Chard-Beets, Cellery, and even Arti∣chokes, and Cabbage Lettuces, which were not to appear so early, and for which those places were designed, coming to occupy them at the latter end of April, or beginning of this Month, and Purslain which because of the delicateness of its temper, had till now been retain'd in the Seed Closet, comes out at this time to gild the Earth, and to offer it self in abundance to pleasure its Master. The Straw-berries beginning to come now to maturity open and lead the way to the other Red Fruits which are immedi∣ately to follow after them: Green Peas are ready to satisfie the longing Appetire of the lickerish Palate. Mushrooms shoot up in Crowds; and in fine, of all the things contained in the Alphabet I have premised before this Treatise, there is hardly any but Spinage, and Mâches, that stave off the performance of their duty till August and September, for we may now see some little beginnings even of Endive, and if Hasting or Early Cherries were the first Fruit that appeared in this Month of May, the Hasting Apricocks, the Little Muscat Pears, and the Avant Peaches, or Forward Peaches will not leave them long alone to enjoy the glory of being the sole Riches and Ornaments of our Gardens, all these Fruits being now preparing themselves to appear in a very few days; the Musk-Melons likewise will not stay long behind them, &c. while the Cucum∣bers with an infinite number both of Lettuces and of other Plants, satisfie both our Palates and Necessities, as the Flowers together with the Orange-Trees, which in Mid-May we carry abroad out of their houses, perform likewise their functions in delighting both our Sight and Smell.

The parching heat of the Month of June, hinders us indeed from going into our Garden in the heat of the day, but what charms are there not in going to visit it Morning and Evening, when the cool breathings of a gentle Zephir reign there with Sovereign sway? Now is the Season when we may visibly perceive with our Eyes, all things to grow and thrive, and see a Branch that five or six days before, was not above a foot long, now shot out to three or four. Leeks are now planted, and squares covered with Green Herbs, compleat the tapestry; that odorns the Ground the Vine Flowers make an end of throughly embalming the air which was already all over perfumed with the grateful odour of the Straw-berries.

We gather in all parts, and at the same time with profusion distribute all those Plants that are become so beautiful and accomplish'd; we fill up the places again we had disfurnish'd, so that there hardly ever remains any part void; and nature now affects no better divertisement than to be amazing us with miracles of fertillity, so well assisted as she is, by the kindly warmth of the Father of Light; only she needs now and then the Auxiliary refreshment of convenient moisture, moisture which the propitious Clouds sometimes abundantly pour down, but which sometimes the Gard'ners Industry too is fain to supply her with in time of need. The Cold Beds and Counterborders Levelled and ad∣justed so even to a line, and so well furnish'd with Cabbage-Lettuces, what pleasure do they not afford to behold them? That forest of Artichokes of different colours which appears in a select and particular place, doth it not call out to the curious to come and admire them, and more especially to judge of their goodness and delicacy, whilst they are also passing their opinions of their beauty and abundance? The Palisades and Pole-Hedges so exquisitely well extended, and resounding with the warbling notes of chirping Birds which we pass through in going to this Kitchen-Garden, commence the pleasure of their walk, compleat it at their going back, and inspire them with a longing desire to return again with all convenient speed.

In these two Months of July and August, Kitchen-Gardens should be so richly and happily endowed with whatsoever their condition is capable of, that we may find plenty of all things there both to satisfie the pleasures of the present, and provide for the ne∣cessities of the future time, so that let us require of them what we please, they may be as ready to answer as we to make our Demands.

As for example have we a mind to all or any sorts of Herbs, Roots, Sallets, Perfumes, &c. They will immediately furnish us with them; have we a fancy to any Musk-Melons those chief and principal Fruits of our Climate? we may smell them a great way off, and need but follow our noses and go and visit them, and stoop and gather them; Would we have any Cucumbers, flat Pumpions, or other Pumpions or Citrulls, Mushrooms, &c. They will present us with store of them; Do our Appetites further crave after Artichokes, or Pears, Plums, Figs. &c. we may be sure to find there a considerable quantity of all those things; or, Have we a mind likewise to have any sweet and Aromatical Herbs, as Time, Sage, Savory, &c. or any relishing Plants, as Garlick, Onions, Ciboules, Leeks, Rocamboles, or Spanish Garlick, &c. There we need not fear to be supplied. Nay, the four or five next preceeding Months seem only to have laboured for these two last, so that we may expect all should go well in our Gardens in this season, if we be provided with a good Gard'ner, and which above all things, has the skill to chuse well, and Judg∣ment enough to know how and when to gather. The Carnations now are no small Or∣naments to our Gardens; and the Florists now are busie in couching their layers, and forget not to take their Bulbous Roots out of the Earth, to lay them up in places of shelter and security.

If in July and August our Kitchen-Gardens have signalized themselves by their Musk-Melons, Cucumbers, Legumes, and even by their Plums, their first Figs, and some few Pears, &c. we shall see that in the Months of September and October which succeed them, they will shew themselves exceedingly Glorious in the matter of Fruits which will be by the abundance of Peaches, Muscat, and Chassela's Grapes, of second Figs, and of Russelet, Butter, Verte Longue, or Long Green, and Bergamot Pears, &c. This being undoubtedly the true Season for Fruits, and the time in the whole year wherein the Country is most frequented.

That moderate temper of the Air which now keeps an agreeable Medium between the great Heat of the Dog-days newly past, and the bitter Cold that is to bring on Winter; this charming moderate temper I say, of the weather, Invites out the inhabitants of the Cities, to make a sally out to go and breath the free Air of the Countrey, and to assist at the diverting employment of the Vintage, and gathering of Fruits: And the Gardens ought now to surpass in an infinite quantity of all they were accustomed to produce in other Months, nor is it fit now to suffer one speck of Ground to lie idle. For if any square has been newly disfurnished, as for example, a Garlick Onion, or Shallot Square, &c. we should take care to fill it up presently again with Spinage, Mâches, Cheroil, Ci∣boules, &c. The same course is to be taken with some Beds of Summer Lettuces, which should be succeeded by a great number of Endive Plants, Winter Lettuces, &c. The Bulbous Roots of Flowers must now be put into the Earth again, to begin to take such new Root as may defend them against the rigours of the approaching Win∣ter.

The first White Frosts of November that make the Leaves of Trees grow Yellow, and loosen them from the places where they grew, that shrivel up and rot the Leaves of Endive, and of the larger Lettuces, and that Blacken the Artichoke Tops, &c. are as so many cruel, and Dreadful fore-runners, that give us warning of the approach of Winter that common and merciless Enemy of all Vegetation: And therefore we must take care early to secure in our Conservatory or store-house, all that is liable to be spoiled by the Cold without-doors, and besides, to cover with long dry Dung, that which we cannot conveniently take out of the Ground, and which yet will run great hazard of perishing without being sheltered with some covering, and so in this kind of hasty breaking up, and removing, I would have every body extraordinary busie in plying their duty, and I would advise our Gard'ner to increase the number of his Labourers, to prevent the damage he is theat'ned with. The prickle Baskets, and Hand-barrows should at this time be plyed with the greatest vigour and diligence, so that there may be always the one going thither and coming away again loaden with such things as are to be laid up or housed in the store-house or Conservatory, and the other filled with Dung, to cover that which is to be left upon the Ground. In a word, I cannot tell how to pardon those that either by imprudence or negligence, let themselves be surprized in such important occasions as this, for I would not have them indulge themselves any rest at all, till all their business be done: I would likewise have the store-house or Conser∣vatory well filled, and all things in it placed in a regular order. And I would have the whole Garden put on as 'twere another strange and new kind of cloathing, and such a Cloathing as at another time would render it ugly and disagreeable. I need not name here of what stuff it must be composed, we may smell well enough, that it must be gene∣rally of long Dung.

The Month of December, is still not without standing in need of a great deal of activity, for it often happens that the preceeding Month proves too short to let us finish all that should be done in it, which must therefore be made an end of in this, and that particularly if the Cold have not yet made all the havock it is capable of: We must then mind exactly to do all I have directed to be done under the head of the Works of this Month; so that we should expect to see now a great diligence used to prepare the Novelties of the following Spring; to clear the places of old Hot Beds, and to make preparation for the making of new ones with all imaginable expedition, and care taken not only to have a good provision of long Dung, and a great many Glass-Bells, but likewise to keep all the Glass-Frames in good repair, &c. And here I shall not forget to recommend to those curious persons who are blessed with the means to do it, the care to force Asparagus, and to recruit their Beds with new warmth as often as their great heat shall begin to flag. It is a work indeed of no inconsiderable pains and ex∣pence, but the pleasure to see growing in the midst of the severest Frost and Snow, abun∣dance of Asparagus, both thick, green, and every way most excellent, is great enough to take us off from grudging at our cost or trouble, and it may be truly said, that 'tis a priviledge hardly belonging to any but our King, to taste of such a pleasure as that, which is perhaps none of the least which his Versailles has afforded him by the care I have had the honour to take of it for that effect; and I may add, that 'tis certainly the only place in the world, where a Ground naturally Cold, backward and unfruitful, was ever seen to be forced to bear in the midst of the hardest Winter, what the best Grounds produce not but in temperate Seasons.

CHAP. V.

What sort of Ground is Proper to each Legume and Kitchen-Plant.

IT is certain, there are certain sorts of Grounds which want none of the good Quali∣ties required to make them produce in every Season, and for a long time together, all sorts of fair and good Legumes, supposing always, that they be reasonably well culti∣vated: And there are some that besides that, have the faculty to produce them more early some than others, and they are such Grounds as they commonly call Black Sands, in which is found an equal temper between dry and moist, accompanied with a good exposition, and with an inexhaustible Salt of fertility, rendring them easie to be entred by the spade, and to be penetrated by the rain waters: But on the other hand, it is no less certain that it is rare enough to find any of these perfect sorts of Earth, and that on the

contrary, it is very usual to meet with those that offend either in being too dry, light, and parching, or over moist, heavy and cold, or else by being unfortunately situated, as be∣ing some of them too high, some too sloping, and some again too low, and too much in a bottom. Happy are those Gard'ners that meet with those first sorts of Ground that are so admirably well disposed for Cultivation, in which they have hardly ever a∣ny bad success to fear, but commonly all manner of good Fortune to expect: on the o∣ther side unhappy, or at least much to be pitied are those whose Lot it is to have always some of the great Enemies of Vegetation to combat with, I mean, either great drought, or more especially excessive moisture, because this last, besides that it is always attended with a chilling cold that retards its productions, is likewise apt to rot the greatest part of the Plants, and consequently, it is very difficult to correct, and almost impossible en∣tirely to surmount so great a defect, but it is not altogether so difficult to qualifie a dry temper, for provided it be not extream great, and that we have the convenience of Wa∣ter to water it, and of Dung to amend and inrich it, we are Masters of two Soveraign and Infallible Remedies, which we must apply for its cure. And so by care and pains we may get the Conquest over those dry and stubborn Lands, and force them to bring forth in abundance all things we shall regularly demand of them.

It follows thence, that when we are so happy as to meet with those choice good sorts of Ground, we may indifferently both sow and plant every where in them, any sorts of Legumes or Plants whatsoever, with an assured Confidence, that they will prosper there. The only Subjection we are obliged to in such Grounds is, first, to weed much, because they produce abundance of Weeds among the good Herbs, and secondly to be of∣ten removing our Legumes, and changing their places, which is an essential point of Practice in all sorts of Gardens, it being not at all convenient to place for two or three times together, the same Vegetables in the same piece of Ground, because the Nature of the Earth requires these sorts of Changes, as being as 'twere assured in this Diversity, to find wherewithall to recruit and perpetuate its first vigour. And though in those good Grounds all things prosper admirably well, yet is it a most undoubted truth, that Southern and Eastern Expositions are here as well as every where else, more proper than those of the West and North, to forward, and improve its productions, witness Strawberries, Ha∣sting Peas, Cherries and Muscat-Grapes, &c. To balance which, these last Expositions have likewise some peculiar advantages, that make them to be esteemed in their turn; for Example, during the excessive heats of Summer, that often scorch up every thing, and make our Legumes and other plants run up too hastily to Seed, they are exempt from those violent impressions, which the Sun makes upon those places that are fully exposed to his burning Rays, and consequently our Plants will, maintain themselves longer in good plight in those situations than in the others.

It also follows from hence, that if any Person have Ground, though tolerably good, yet not of an equal goodness all over, either caused by the difference of its natural tem∣per, or situation, and sloping inclination upwards or downwards, that then I say, the skill and industry of the Gard'ner shews it self, by knowing how to allot every plant the place in which it may best come to maturity in every Season, as well in regard of for∣wardness, and sometimes of Backwardness, as of its outward Beauty, and inward per∣fection.

Generally speaking, those Grounds that are moderately dry, light, and sandy, and such as though they be a little strong and heavy, are situated on a gentle rising towards the South or West, and are backed by great Mountains, or fenced by high Walls against the Cold Winds, are more disposed to produce the Novelties of the Spring, than the strong, heavy, fat and moist Sands, but likewise on the other Hand, in Summers when there falls but little Rain, these last produce thicker and better nourisht Legumes, and require not such large and frequent Waterings, so that we may find some sort of Consola∣tion and Satisfaction in all sorts of Grounds.

However though absolutely speaking, all things that may enter into a Kitchen-Garden, may grow in all sorts of Grounds that are not altogether Barren, yet it has been obser∣ved in all times, that all sorts of Earth agree not equally with all sorts of Plants, our able Market Gard'ners in the Neighbourhood of Paris, justifie the truth of this by a most convincing Experience, for we see that such of them whose Gardens are in Sandy Grounds, seldom mind to plant in them any Artichokes, Collyflowers, Beet-Chards, Onions, Cardons, Cellery, Beet-raves or Red Beet-Roots, and other Roots, &c. as those do that have theirs in stronger and more hearty Lands, and on the contrary, these last employ not their Ground in Sorrel, Purslain, Lettuce, Endive, and other small plants that are delicate and subject to perish with Mildew, and the wet rot as do those whose Gardens are in light∣er Lands.

From all that I have asserted, there result two things, the first is, that an able Gard'∣ner which has a pretty dry or hilly Ground to cultivate with an Obligation to have of all sorts of things in his Garden, should place in the moistest parts those plants that re∣quire a little moisture to bring them to perfection, as Artichokes, Red Beet-Roots, Scorzo∣nera's, Salsisies, Carrots, Parsnips, Skirrets, Beet-Chards, Collyflowers and Cabbages, Spinage, Common Peas, Beans, Currans, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Onions, Ciboules, Leeks, Parsly, Sor∣rel, Radishes, Patience or Dock-Sorrel, Sweet Herbs, Borage Bugloss, &c. And (suppo∣sing the Provisions above specified, without which nothing will be sightly, be already planted in its other parts) he should fill up the drier parts of the same Garden with Let∣tuces of all Seasons, Endive, Succory, Chervil, Tarragon, Basil, Burnet, Mint, and other Sallet-Furnitures, and Purslain, Garlick, Shalots, Winter-Cabbages, Hot Beds of all sorts of Plants, and of little Sallets; he may likewise plant in the same places what Grapes he has a mind to, and he must place his Legumes there at moderate distances, because they grow not of so large a Size and Stature there, as in fatter places. And lastly, he must keep his Walks and Path-ways higher than his dressed Grounds, as well to draw into these latter the Rain waters that would be but unuseful and incommodious in the Walks, as to render the artificial waterings he shall be obliged to use, of the greater advantage to them, by preventing them from running out any where aside, which must be one of his principal Applications.

He must also chuse out in the same Grounds those Parts which come the nearest to the good temper between dry and moist, for the raising of Asparagus, Strawberries, Cardons, Cellery, &c. because these sorts of Plants languish with drowth in places too dry, and pe∣rish with rottenness in parts over-moist. He must place in the Borders under his Nor∣thern Walls his Alleluia's, Latter Strawberries, and Bourdelais, or Verjuice Grapes, and in the Counter-Borders of the same Northern Quarter, he may make his Nursery Beds for Strawberries, and sow Chervil all the Summer long, the North side in all sorts of Grounds, being most proper for those purposes. And as this Gard'ner should be curious of No∣velties, he ought to look upon the Banks under the Walls towards the South and East to be a marvellous and favourable shelter for the raising them; as for Example, for the procuring of Strawberries and early Peas at the beginning of May, Violets at the entrance of March, and Cabbage-Lettuces at the beginning of April. He should likewise plant in the dressed Banks next to the same Eastern and Western Walls, his Nursery of Cabbages, and sow there his Winter Lettuces, that is, Shell-Lettuces, to remain there all Autumn and Winter, till in the Spring it be time to transplant them into the places where they are to come to perfection; He should likewise plant in the Borders of the same Walls, his Passe-pierre, or Sampire, which he can hardly have by any other means, which course is to be followed in all sorts of Gardens; and in the Winter time he should likewise observe this particular caution to throw all the Snow off from the neighbouring places upon the dressed Borders of those Wall-trees, and especially those of the Eastern Quarter, both for the erecting of a Magazine, as 'twere of moisture in such places up∣on which the Rain but seldom falls, as upon those in which the violent heat of Summer is like to be of pernicious influence.

The second thing that Results from what I before laid down, is, That the Gard'ner whose Garden is in a very fat and moist Ground, must take a quite contrary method with all his Plants to that just now above mentioned; always assuring himself that those parts of it which are very moist, unless he can find means to drain and render them lighter, will be of no other use to him than to produce noxious Weeds, and consequent∣ly, that those which partake the least of that intemperature, whether by their own Nature and Situation, or by the care and industry of the ingenious Gard'ner, are always to be lookt upon as the best for all sorts of things. He must place in the driest parts most of those Plants that keep in their places for several years together, excepting Currans, Goose-berries, and Raspberry Bushes; as for Example, Asparagus, Artichokes, Strawberries, Wild Endive or Succory, &c. In other places, let him put those things which in Summer re∣quire the least time to come to perfection, viz. Sallets, Peas, Beans, Radishes, nay and Cardons, Cellery, &c. and because all things grow thick and tall in those fat and moist places, therefore he must plant his Kitchen-plants there, at greater distances one from the o∣ther, than in drier places; he must also keep his Beds and dressed Grounds, raised high∣er than his Walks and Path-ways, to help to drain out of his Grounds the Water that is so hurtful to his Plants, and for that Reason, his Beds of Asparagus, especially, as like∣wise his Strawberry and Cellery Beds, &c. no more than those of his Sallets must not be made Hollow, as those must be that are made in drier Grounds.

I have had good Success in the new Kitchen-Garden at Versailles, where the Ground is fat, viscous, and as 'twere Clayie, by raising in the midst of it, certain large squares where the frequent Rain Waters in the Summer, of the Year 1682. remained without penetrating above seven or eight Inches deep, and by having given to the said squares by the means of that elevation, a sloping descent on each side, all along the bottom of which I made at the same time some little dikes or water-courses about a foot deep, as well to sepa∣rate the squares from the Counterborders as particularly to receive the mischievous waters which by staying on the squares, otherwise would ruine all the Plants in them; which waters afterwards discharged themselves into stone gutters which I had purposely ordered to be made to carry them off. I afterwards raised most of the Counterborders in the same manner, Arch-wise, that what water might remain in them might shoot off into the sides of the walks, all along which there were other little dikes almost unperceivable, to receive those waters and convey them into the same stone gutters-newly above mentio∣ned; and I can truly affirm, that before I used this precaution, all that I had in those squares, not only of Kitchen-Plants, even to the most rustical and hardy sort of them, as Artichokes, Beet-Chards, &c. but to the very Fruit-Trees were visibly perceived to pe∣rish, the Plants with the rot, and the Trees with the Jaundice, besides which mischiefs, the winds easily threw up my Trees by the Roots, because they could hardly take any fast hold in that kind of Ground that were grown liquid and soft like new made mortar, or Pap. My forecast and diligence were a great help to me in that cas, eand I sincerely advise all those that shall have to do with places of the like difficulty, to use the same method, if they can find out no better expedient.

The reasoning by which I was induced to this way of proceeding, was this: That though the excessive quantity of water did reduce that unhappy sort of Ground to a kind of Marsh, and thereby disposed it afterwards by the operation of the great heat to grow as hard as a stone, and consequently rendred it uncapable of culture in either of those two states wet, or dry, yet I say, my reason suggested to me, that if I could hinder the first inconvenience which was the rendring of this Ground too Liquid and Marshy, it would be an infallible means to secure me against the second, which was to see them grow hard and stony, because I concluded, that if my Grounds having been once made light and loose, could be kept reasonably dry after that, as they would be if the waters were hindred from lodging in them, they would not be any more so closely glued together as to grow into any such kind of stony consistence, but would become tractable like other Lands; and accordingly I found my reasoning answered by the success which I expected.

CHAP. VI.

What sort of Culture is most proper for every particular Plant.

IT is a very considerable Advance to have settled a Garden upon a good foot at first and to have wisely employed, or at least assigned out all its parts according to the diffe∣rent Qualifications of its Ground, the goodness of its Expositions, the order of the Months, and the nature of each Plant; But that is not all, we must likewise carefully cultivate them, in such a manner as they peculiarly require.

For there is a general Culture of Kitchen-Gardens, and there is a particular Culture peculiar to each Plant. As to the general Culture, it is well enough known, that the most necessary and important points of it consist first, in well amending and mucking the Earth, whether it be naturally good or not, because Kitchen-Plants exhaust it much; secondly, in keeping it always loose and stirred, either by digging up whole Beds, to Sow or transplant in them, &c. or such other places where the spade may be employed, as for Example, among Artichokes, Cardons, &c. or by pecking and grubbing up where the closeness of the Plants to one another, will permit us to use only grubbing instru∣ments, as for Example, among Straw-berries, Lettuces, Endive, Peas, Beans, Cellery, &c. Thirdly, in watering plentifully all sorts of Plants in very Hot weather, and especially in sandy Grounds, for those that are strong and rank require not so much, always obser∣ving that in both sorts of Ground, watering is not so necessary for Asparagus, nor for borders or edgings of Time, Sage, Lavender, Hissop, Rue, Worm-wood, &c. which need but little moisture to keep them in good plight; Fourthly, it consists in keeping the

Superficies of our Ground clear of all sorts of Weeds, either by Weeding, or digging, or by only raking them over, when they have not been long dressed, so that as far as 'tis possible, the Earth may always appear as if it had been newly stirred up.

I shall not insist any longer here upon the head of the General Culture, because it is so well known to all people, but shall only declare my Opinion and the practice of able Gard'ners in that which is peculiarly to be used to each particular plant.

And I shall begin with observing to you, that among Kitchen-Plants, there are some that are Sown to remain still in the place where they were first, and others again, only to be transplanted elsewhere; that there are some that prove well both ways; some that are multiplied without Seed, some that are transplanted whole, and some that are cut to be transplanted; that there are some which for the supply of Man-kind, bear several times in a year, and that last longer than a year; others that produce but once in a year, but yet last to bear for several years after; and Lastly some again, that perish after their first production.

The Plants of the first Class, are Radishes, almost all Red Beet-Roots, Carrots, Parsnips, Skirrets, Turneps, Maches, Reponces, Scorzonera's, Salsifies, and besides them, Garlick, Chervil, Wild Endive, or Succory, Harts-Horn Sallet, Garden-Cresses, Shallots, Spinage, Beans, small Lettuce to cut, Parsly, Burnet, Cutting Beets, Peas, Purslain, &c. and the greatest part of our Sorrel, Patience or Sharp-Leav'd Dock, Onions, and Ciboulees.

The Plants of the second Class which succeed not without being transplanted, are Chard-Beets, Cellery, and the greatest part of our White Endive, both long and tied, and Cabbages, unless they be sown very thin, or be very much thinn'd after they are sown; of this Class are also Cabbages, most Musk-Melons, and Cucumbers, Citrulls or Pum∣pions, Potirons or flat Pumpions, Leeks, &c.

Those of the third Class, that is, such as may be indifferently either continued in the places where they are first sown, or transplanted elsewhere, are Asparagus, though most commonly they are sown at first in Nurseries, to be transplanted a year or two after; as also Basil, Fennel, Anis, Borage, Bugloss, Cardons, Capucin Capers or Nasturies, Ciboulees, Savory, Time, Musked Chervil, &c.

The Plants of the fourth Class that are multiplied without being sown, are Alleluia, or Wood-Sorrel, English Cives, Violets, &c. Because they grow into thick Tufts which are separated into many; Artichokes are propagated by their Eyes, Off-sets, or Slips; Mint, and Round Sorrel, Tripe Madame, Tarragon, Balm, &c. by their Layers or Branches that take Root where they touch the Earth, the two last of which have also the advan∣tage of multiplying by Seed, as likewise have the Artichokes sometimes. Straw-berries propagate by their Runners, Rasp-berries, Goose-berries, and Currans, by their Slips, or Suckers, and by their Cuttings which also take Root. Lavender, Worm-wood, Sage, Time, and Marjoram, by their Branches which take Root at their joints, and are also multi∣plied by their Seed; the common Bays, both by Layers and Seed too; Vines, and Fig-Trees, by their Suckers, Hooked Slips, and Cuttings whether Rooted or not Rooted.

In the fifth place, those Plants of which we cut off some part either of the Leaves or Roots or both at the same time, in order to transplant them, are Artichokes, Chard-Beets, Leeks, Cellery, &c. And those others whose Leaves we do not cut at all, though it be good always to trim their Roots a little to refresh them, are Endive, and Succory, most commonly, and Savory, Sorrel, &c. and all Lettuces, Alleluia or Wood-Sorrel, Violets, Basil, Arrach or Orage, Borage, Bugloss, Capucin Capers or Nasturces, Cabbages, Tarragon, Samphire, Straw-berries, Marjoram, Musk-Melons, Cucumbers, Citrulls or Pumpions, Purslain; and Radishes for Seed, &c.

The Plants that bring forth several times in a year, and yet last for some years follow∣ing, are Sorrel, Patience or Sharp Dock, Alleluia or Wood-Sorrel, Burnet, Chervil, Parsley, Fennel, all Edging, or Sweet Herbs, Wild Endive or Succory, Macedonian Parsley or Alisanders, Mint, Tarragon, Samphire, &c.

Those that produce but once in the year, but yet last bearing for several years together afterwards, are Asparagus, and Artichokes.

And Lastly, those that cease to be useful after their first production, are all Lettuces, Common Endive, Peas, Beans, Cardons, Melons, Cucumbers, Citrulls or Pumpions, Oni∣ons, Leeks, Cellery, Arrach or Orage, and all Plants whose Roots are only in use, as Red Beets, Carrots, &c.

Now to give you a particular account of the Culture that belongs to every several sort of Plant, I must tell you, that this Culture consists, first, in observing the distances they are to be placed at one from the other; second, in the Triming of such as need it;

third, in planting them in that situation, and disposition, which they require; fourth, in giving them those assistances which some of them have need of to bring them to perfection, or which are convenient for them, whether it be by typing up, or wrapping about, or Earthing up, or otherwise covering them, &c.

I begin in the ALPHABETICAL Order

A.

ALIS ANDERS: See Macedonian Parsley.

Alleluia, or Wood-Sorrel, when it grows old, grows into Tufts, and being a Plant that grows in the Woods, and consequently that loves the shade, we therefore plant it along by the sides of our Northern Walls, at the distance of about one foot between one plant and another; the more we strip it of its Leaves, which is one good quality it has, the more fresh ones it shoots forth: It is enough to set it two Inches into the Ground; it lasts three or four years without being renewed, and to renew it, we need do no more than to separate or slip out the great Tufts of it into several little ones, and replant them again immediately, which is to be done in the Months of March and April; a little watering in very Hot weather, and especially in sandy Grounds, is a very great and welcome help to them.

Anis and Fennel are commonly sown pretty thin, either in surrows, or borders; their Leaves are used in Sallets among other Furnitures. They run to Seed towards the Month of August, and when their stalks are cut down, they shoot out new Leaves the next year that are as good as the first, but however it is best to renew them every two years.

Arrach, Orrach, or Orage, is propagated only by Seed, and is both one of the quickest both in coming up, and in running to Seed, which latter it does at the very beginning of June. It is sown pretty thin, and to have good Seed of it, we must transplant some plants of it in some separate place. The Leaf of this plant is very good both in pottage, and in stuffings or farces; we use it almost as soon as it peeps out of the Earth, for it passes away very quickly; and to have some the more early, we sow a little quantity of it upon a Hot Bed: It thrives well enough in all sorts of Grounds, but yet it grows always fairer in good Grounds than in but indifferent ones.

Aromatick or sweet, or spicy Herbs such as are planted in Edgings of Borders, as Mar∣joram, Time, Sage, Rosemary, &c. See their Culture under the several Titles of each of those particular Herbs.

Artichokes, as we have already elsewhere told you, are multiplied by their Eyes, Suck∣ers, Slips, or Off-Sets, which every plant of them usually shoots out every year in the Spring, round about its old Root, and which must be taken off as soon as they are grown big enough, leaving only at each place three of the best and furthest distant one from the other. For the planting them, we commonly make little Trenches, or Pits about half a foot deep, and three foot distant one from another, and filled with Mold, and we place two rows of them regulated by a line, in each Bed, which is to be full four foot broad, and parted from the next Bed by a path-way of one full foot; these Trenches of Pits are to be made at about half a foots distance from the edge of the Bed, and Checquerwise one towards the other; we place two Slips in a right Line in each space containing between Nine and Ten Inches in Length. We must renew them once every three years at least, cut off their Leaves at the beginning of Win∣ter, and cover them with long dry dung during all the very cold weather till the end of March, when we must uncover them, and slip them, if their Slips be yet big e∣nough, or else stay three Weeks or a Month longer till they be, then we must labour and move the Earth well about them, and dung them with the rottenest part of that Dung that served them for a covering; we water them moderately once or twice a Week, till about the end of May, their Fruit begins to appear, and from that time we must wa∣ter them plentifully, that is two or three times a Week, during the whole Summer, al∣lowing half a Pitcher full of Water to each plant, and especially in Grounds naturally dry; those planted in the Spring, should bring their Fruit to perfection in Autumn fol∣lowing, if well watered, and they which do not, ought to yield their first Fruit in the next Spring after, in case they be strong enough to resist the sharpness of the Winter. Artichokes have not only the hard weather, and excess of wet to fear, but they have the Field Mice likewise for their Enemies, those mischievous little Animals gnawing their Roots in the Winter-time, when they find nothing better in the Gardens, and for that

reason, it's good to plant one Rank of Beet-Chards between two Ranks of Artichokes, that the Field-Mice finding the Roots of these last the tendrer of the two, may fall up∣on them instead of the others, as they never fail to do. There are three sorts of Arti∣chokes, viz. the green, or otherwise white ones, which are the most early, the violet ones, whose Fruit is almost of a pyramidal Figure, and the red ones which are round, and flat like the white ones. The two last sorts are the most delicious.

Artichoke Chards. See Chards.

Asparagus are sown at the beginning of the Spring like other Seeds, that is, they are sown in some Bed well prepared; they must be sown indifferent thin, and raked with an Iron Rake, to cover them with Earth. About a year after, if they be big enough, as they will be, if the Ground be good, and well prepared; or if not, at least at two years end, we must tranplant them, which is to be done about the end of March, and all the Month of April; and for that effect we must have Beds between three and four foot broad, and separated one from the other; if it be in ordinary Ground, we dig these Beds hollow with a good Spade, throwing up the Earth we take out of them upon the Path-ways; and as to strong, heavy and moist Grounds, I would have them ordered as I have done the Kitchen-Garden at Versailles, that is to say, I would not have the Beds in them at all laid hollow, but on the contrary, raised and kept higher than the Path-ways, too much wet being mortal to these Plants. Asparagus thus sown shoot out Tufts of Roots round about their Eye, or Mother Root; that is to say, round the place from whence all their shoots are to Spring, which Roots spread between two Earths, and in order to transplant them either into a hollow Bed, or a high raised Bed, we bestow a good tho∣rough Tillage on the bottom of the Trench, and if the Ground be not very good, we dung it a little, and afterward we plant two or three stocks of these young Plants, or∣derly in ranks upon the Super••icies of the Bed prepared for them, without needing to trim the extremity of their Roots, or at least, but a very little, and if our intention be, to force these Asparagus by an artificial heat, when they are grown big enough, we place them at a foot distance one from the other, and if they be to remain to grow after the usual manner, we allow them at a foot and a half's distance, but in both Cases, we place them Checquerwise, and when they are so placed, we cover them up again with two or three Inches depth of Earth: if any of them fail to Spring up, we may reimplace them with new ones two or three Months after, which is to be done in the same man∣ner as we planted the others, only taking care to water the new planted ones sometimes during the great heat, and to keep them always well weeded, and well dug about, or else we mark out with little sticks the empty places, and stay till the Spring before we fill them up again. Every year we cover the Bed with a little Earth taken off from the Path-way, because instead of sinking, they always are rising by little and little: we dung them moderately every two years, and let them shoot up the first three or four years without gathering any, till we see them begin to grow pretty thick, and then we may force as many as we please of them, or if not, we continue to gather of them every year a crop for fifteen years, before we need to renew them. Every year about Martle∣mas, we cut down all their stems, every stock producing several stems, and take the seed of the fairest of them for Seed, if we would have them come to bear at the time above-mentioned. To draw them out of their Nursery-Beds, we use an Iron Fork, the Spade be∣ing too dangerous for that work, because it would cut, and hurt those little Plants.

We must not fail every Year at the latter end of March, or beginning of April, that is, before the Asparagus begin to sprout naturally, to bestow a small dressing or stirring of the Ground about three or four Inches deep, on every Bed, taking care not to let the Spade go so deep, as to hurt the Plants; which small dressing serves, both to kill the Weeds and to render the Superficies of the Earth loose, and thereby not only the better to dispose it to drink up the Rain, and the May-dew that nourishes the Stocks, but likewise to facilitate the passage of the Asparagus in sprouting. The particular and most dreadful Enemies of Asparagus are a sort of little Fleas, that fasten upon their shoots, make them miscarry, and hinder them from thriving; they are most troublesome in ve∣ry hot and dry years, not appearing at all in other years; there has been no Remedy found yet against this mischief.

B.

BAlm, called in French Melisse, is an Odoriferous Herb, whose Leaf when tender, makes a part of Sallet-Furnitures. It is multiplyed both by Seed, and by rooted Branches, like Lavender, Time, Hyssop, &c.

Basil is an annual Plant, that is very delicate. We seldom sow it but upon Hot Beds, and not in open Ground, as we do Purslain, Lettuce, &c. We begin to sow some in that manner at the very beginning of February, and we may continue so to do the whole year. Its tender Leaves are mixed in a small quantity, with the Furnitures of Sallets, among which, they make an agreeable perfume; It is likewise used in Ragou's, especially dry ones, for which reason, we take care to keep some for Winter. We gather its Seed in the Month of August; and usually to make it run to Seed, we transplant it in the Month of May, either in Pots, or Beds. There are several sorts of it, but that which bears the biggest Leaves, and especially if they incline to a Violet Colour, and that which bears the least Leaves, are the two most curious; that which produces midling ones, being the ordinary or Common sort.

The Common Bays, or Bay-Tree, is a shurb of no very great use in our Gardens, and therefore it is enough to have some few Plants of it in some well sheltered place, to gather some Leaves of them when occasion requires.

Beans, as well those of the Common, and Garden sort, as those called Kidney-Beans, and French-Beans, and in French, Aricôs, are sown in open Ground, and grow not other∣wise; The Aricô French, or Kidney-Beans, are sown about the latter end of April, and all the Month of May, and are very sensible of the Frost; The Common Garden Beans are sown at the same time with Hasting-Peas, both in November, and in Febru∣ary.

Hot Beds. See the Works in November.

Bete-raves, or Red Beet-Roots, are annual Plants propagated only by Seed, and are seldom transplanted. They are sown in the Month of March, either in Beds or Borders. They must be sown very thin, or at least if they come up too thick they must be very much thinned, or else they will not grow so fair and large as they should be. They require a very good, and well prepared Ground: They are the best that have the Reddest substance and the Reddest Tops: They are not good to spend till towards the end of Autumn, and all the Winter Season. To have Seed of them, we transplant in March some of the last years Roots that we have preserved from the Frost, their Seed is gathered in the Months of August and September.

White, or Chard-Beets: See Chards.

Borage and Bugloss, grow and are to be ordered in the same manner as Arrach, only they come not up so vigorously. We sow of them several times in the same Summer, because their Leaves, in which consists all their excellence, are good only whilst they are tender, that is, while they are young. Their little Violet Colour'd Flowers serve to adorn Sallets. Their Seed falls assoon as 'tis ripe, and therefore must be carefully watch'd: The surest way is to cut down the stalks, and lay them a drying in the Sun, assoon as ever the Seeds begin to ripen, and by that means we shall lose but very few.

Bourdelai's, otherwise called Verjuice, as well the White, as Red sort, is a kind of Vine which is pruned, and slipt, or layed, and graffed and planted as other Vines are in the Months of January, February, and March. Care must be taken to tie up its Branches, either to props, or some sort of trail, about the middle of June at latest, or else the wind destroys it quite: We must also pick and pluck off the weak and unprofitable Branches of these Vines; and when we prune them, 'tis enough to leave two, three, or four fair Branches at most upon each stock, and to keep them not above three or four buds long, every one of which usually shoots forth one bearing Branch, with three or four fair Bunches of Grapes upon each Branch. My practice is in all sorts of Vines, but par∣ticularly in the Muscat or Musked sorts, to keep the lower Branches shorter by two buds, than the highest, to keep the Plant always low, when I would not have them mount up upon a Trail.

Buckshorn-Sallet: See Hartshorn-Sallet.

Burnet, called in French Pimprenelle, or Pimpernelle, is a very Common and ordinary Sallet furniture, which is seldom sown but in the Spring, and is sown thick either in Beds or Borders.

It often Springs afresh after cutting, of which the youngest shoots must be chosen for Sallets, the Leaves that are any thing old being too tough. It does it a great deal of good to water it in Summer. There is but one sort of it whose Seed is gathered at the end of Summer.

C.

CAbbages of all sorts of Kitchen-Plants take Root again the easiliest when transplanted, as they are likewise the most known, and most used of any in our whole Gardens. They are multiplied by Seed, and are of several sorts and Seasons. There are some called White, or headed Cabbages, which are for the service of the latter end of Summer, and for Autumn. There are some Curled, called Pancaliers, and Milan Cabbages, which produce small headed Cabbages, for Winter; there are some of a Red or Violet Colour; and some called long sided Cabbages, whereof some are Bright or White, and very delicate, ripe in Vintage time, and others Green, and are not very good till they be Frost-bitten. Lastly, there are some called Choux Fleurs, i. e. Cabbage Flowers, and by the English Collyflowers, which are the most noble and valuable of them all, and are not used in pottage, but in choice intermesses; they cannot endure the Frost, and therefore assoon as they begin to form their heads, they must be covered with their Leaves tied up for that end over them, with Straw bands, to guard them from the insults of the Cold that spoil and rot them. They are for our Winter spending, and must be sheltred in the Green house or Conservatory, whither they must be carried and there planted with a turf of their old Earth, about them, where they commonly are used to perfect the full growth of their heads. All other Cabbage-Plants yield Seed in France, but only these, whose Seed we are fain to have brought up from the Eastern Countries, which makes them ordinarily very dear. To make Cabbages run to Seed, we use every year either in Autumn or Spring to transplant some of the best and fairest of them, which run to Seed in the Months of May and June, that is gathered in July and August.

You are by the way to remark two things; The first is, that all thick Plants that run to Seed, and grow pretty high, as Cabbage, Leeks, Ciboules, Onions, Red Beet-Roots, Car∣rots, Parsnips, Cellery, &c. must be supported either with upright props, or cro••s sticks, to hinder the wind from breaking down their stems before the Seed be Ripe.

The second is, that we seldom stay to let any Seeds dry upon their Plants as they stand, it being enough to let them only Ripen, when we cut down their stems, and lay them to dry upon some Cloth, after which, we beat them out, and fan and cleanse them and lay them up when they are fully dry: And thus we do with the Seeds of Cresses, Chervil, Parsley, Radishes, Borage, Bugloss, &c.

Ordinary Capers grow upon a sort of small Shrub that is raised in niches made purposely in well exposed Walls, for that end, which are filled with Earth to nourish the Plants; and every year in the Spring we prune their Branches, which afterwards shoot out buttons or swelling buds, which are pickled up in Vinegar to be used in Winter, either in Sallets, or in pottage.

Capucine-Capers, or Nasturces, are annual Plants which are usually sown in Hot Beds, in the Month of March, and transplanted again in the naked Earth along by some Walls, or at the foot of some Trees, where their mounting stalks which are but weak, and grow pretty high may take some hold, to support themselves. They are also planted in Pots, and Boxes, in which some sticks are set up to support their stalks. Their Buttons or round Buds before they open, are good to pickle in Vinegar. Their Flower is pretty large of an Orange Colour, and very agreeable. They must be carefully watered in the Summer, to make them shoot vigorously, and so long time as they should. Their Seed falls to the Earth assoon as ever 'tis ripe, as well as that of Borage and Bugloss, and therefore must be carefully gathered up.

Caprons, are a sort of large Straw-berries, not over delicate, which ripen at the same time as those of the better kind. Their Leaves are extraordinary large, velveted and of a darkish Green Colour. They are little to be prized, and are found in the Woods as other Straw-berries are.

Spanish Cardons or Cardoons, grow only from Seed. They are sown at two several times.

The first is commonly about the middle, or latter end of April, and the second, at the beginning of May.

They must be sown in good and well prepared Ground, and in little Trenches or pits a full foot wide, and about six Inches deep, filled with Mold. We make Beds of four or five foot wide, in order to place in them two ranks of those little Trenches or pits checker-wise. We put five or six Seeds in every hole, with intention to let but two or three of them grow, if they all come up, taking away those that are over and above that

number, either to throw away, or to new stock those places where there perhaps are none come up, or where we may have sown some few upon a Hot Bed for that intention. And if in fifteen or twenty days we do not see the Seed come up, we should uncover them, to see whether they be rotten, or begin to sprour, that so we may fill up their places with new ones in case of need. The Seeds of the first sowing are generally three weeks coming up, and those of the second fifteen days. Cardons must not be sown before the middle of April, for fear they should grow too big, and run to Seed in August and September, and then they are not good. Great care must be taken to water them well; and when towards the end of October, we have a mind to whiten them, we take the advantage of some dry day, first to tie up all their Leaves with two or three bands, and some days after, we cover them quite up with Straw or dry Litter well twisted about them, so that the Air may not penetrate to come at them, except it be at the very top, which we leave open.

These Cardoon Plants thus wrapt up, whiten in about fifteen days or three weeks, and grow fit to Eat. We make an end of tying up, and wrapping, or covering all that we have in our Gardens, when we perceive the Winter approach, and then we take them up with the Earth about them, to transplant them in our Green House, or Con∣servatory: Some of those Plants are good to transplant in the naked Earth in the following Spring, to run to Seed in June, or July, or else some Plants of them tied up in their first places, will serve for that three or four times together.

Carrots are a sort of Root, whereof some are White, and others Yellow, that grow only from Seed, and require the same care and ordering which we have already described under the head of Red Beet-Roots.

Cellery, is a sort of Sallet produced by Seed, and is not good but at the end of Autumn, and during the Winter Season. We sow of it two several times, to be supplied with it so much the longer, because that which has been long sown, easily runs to Seed, and grows hard. We sow it then the first time upon Hot Beds in the beginning of April, and because its Seed is so extream small, we cannot help sowing it too thick, so that if we be not careful to thin it, and crop it in time, to make it grow to some strength and bigness before we transplant it, it warps and flags its head too much, and grows weak, and shoots its Leaves straglingly outward, instead of producing store of them from the middle of its stock. The surest way is to transplant it in a Nursery Bed, placing the Plants two or three Inches one from another, for which we make holes with our fingers only; we transplant that which comes of the first sowing at the beginning of June, and sow our second sowing, at the latter end of May, or beginning of June, but 'tis in open Beds, and we take the same care to thin, crop, and transplant this, as we did that of the first sowing, but we must plant more of it the second time, than at the first. There are two ways of transplanting it; the one is in a Pit or Trench one full spit deep, and between three and four foot broad, in order to place in it three or four ranks of these Plants at the distance of one foot from one another: This way of making hollow Beds Earth up our Cellery in, is good only in dry Grounds, wet ones being too apt to rot, it. The second way of transplanting it, is in plain Beds that are not made hollow, and at the same distances as in the other, taking care in both sorts of Beds to water them ex∣treamly in Summer time, its chief goodness consisting in being tender, as well as in being very White. Watering contributes to the first kind of goodness, and for the second, you are to observe, that to Whiten Cellery, we begin at first to tie it with two bands when it is big enough, chusing dry weather for that effect, and afterward we Earth our Cellery Plants quite up, with Earth taken off the high raised path-ways, or else cover it all over with a good quantity of long dry Dung, or dry Leaves, as we do Cardoons. Cellery so Earthed up with dry Earth, or Clothed with long dry Dung, or dry Leaves, to the very top of its Leaves, Whitens in three weeks or a Month, and because when 'tis Whi∣ted, it rots as it stands, if it be not presently eaten, by consequence, we are not to Earth it up, or cover it with Dung, but in such proportion as we are able to spend out of hand; there needs no other precaution to be used to it so long as it does not freeze; but as soon as ever it begins to set to freeze, we must then cover up our Cellery quite over head and ears, for a hard Frost spoils it presently. And that we may the more easily cover it, after we have first tied it up with two or three bands, we take it up with the Earth about it, at the beginning of Winter, and plant it in another Bed, setting the Plants as close as we can one to another, and then there needs much less stuff to cover them, than when they are left standing in their old places at such great distances asunder. The way to raise Seed from them, is, to transplant some Plants of them in some by-place, after Winter is past, which will not fail to run to Seed in the Month of August, we know but one sort of it.

Chards of Artichokes, otherwise called Costons, are the Leaves of fair Artichoke Plants tied, and wrapt up with Straw in Autumn and Winter, which being covered up all o∣ver but at their very top, with Straw, grow white, and by that means, lose a little of their bitterness, so that when they are boiled, they are served up like true Spanish Cardons, but after all, are not so good, and besides the Plants often rot and perish whilst we are whiting them.

Chard-Beets are Plants of white Beets transplanted in a well prepared Bed, at the di∣stance of a full foot one from the other, which produce great Tops, that in the middle have a large white, and thick downy Cotton-like Main shoot, and that downy Cotton-like shoot is the true Chard used in Pottages and Intermesses. After we have sown white Beets upon Hot Beds, or in the naked Earth, in the Month of March, we transplant that which is yellowest in Beds purposely prepared, and by taking care to water them well during the Summer, they grow big and strong enough to resist the hard winter cold, provided care be taken to cover them with long dry Dung, just as we do Artichokes. They are likewise well placed, when two Ranks of them are transplanted between two Ranks of Artichokes. We uncover them in April, and dress the Earth about them, and give them careful attendance, and by the means of this diligent Culture, they produce those fine Chards we have in the Rogation Season, and in the Months of May and June; in fine, they run to Seed, which we gather in the Months of July and August, to sow in the following Spring.

The Chassela's is a very good and sweet sort of Grape, of which there are two kinds, white and Red, and this latter is very scarce and rare, but the other very common. It requires the good Expositions of the South, East and West, to be so much the yellower, the more firm and crackling, the better; It is of all Grapes that which keeps lon∣gest, if it be not suffered to grow too ripe upon the Vine before it be gathered. Its Culture which consists in pruning it, is the same with that of the Bourdelais or Verjuice Grape.

Musked Chervil is one of our Sallet-Furnitures, and at the beginning of the Spring, whilst its Leaves are young and tender, it is agreeable, and proper to contribute towards the giving a perfuming Relish, but they are to be used no longer when they are old and tough. It remains several Years in its place without being spoiled by the Frost, so that its Stock grows pretty big and high: it runs to Seed towards the Month of June, and by that is multiplyed.

Ordinary Chervil is an annual Plant, or rather a plant of few Months, which serves for many Uses, and especially in Sallets, when it is young and tender, and therefore we ought to see a little of it every Month proportionably to the occasions we have for it, and to the quantity of Ground we have. It runs very easily to Seed, and if we have some of it betimes, we must sow it about the end of Autumn, and doubtless we shall have the Seed quite ripe towards the middle of June following; we cut down the stalks as soon as it begins to grow yellow, and beat it out as we do that of other Plants.

Chicons are a sort of Lettuces to tie up; see their Culture under Lettuces. Cibouls or Chibouls, properly speaking, are but Onions that are degenerated, and of which Nature has as 'twere miscarried, that is to say, Onions that instead of producing a thick Root in the Earth, and one single stem, produces but a small Root, and several Stems, or upright Shoots, and those which produce most of them, are most esteemed, which are the sort of which we should be most careful to preserve Seed, and which if planted in March will yield us Seed fit to gather in August. We sow Cibouls almost every Month in the Year, except in very hard Weather, when the Earth cannot be cultivated; their Seed is so per∣fectly like that of Onions, that they cannot be distinguisht one from the other, but the former never recover so as to produce Onions, and particularly those we pluck up out of the Onion Beds, which are sown too thick, and must be thin'd, that those which are left, may grow the bigger. We thin our Cibouls also for the same, and we transplant some which prosper very well, and grow big when they are so transplanted. It is conveni∣ent sometimes to water our Ciboul Beds in Summers that prove extraordinary dry, and un∣less in such cases, they will not need watering, but however they must be always planted in good Earth.

English Cives, otherwise called Appetites, are multiplied by producing thick Tufts, which are slipt out and separated into many little ones, and are transplanted nine or ten Inches asunder, either in Borders or Beds; they require pretty good Ground, with which if they be accommodated, they will last three or four years without removing, without needing any great culture; it being enough to keep them well weeded, and to water them some∣times

during the great heat. It is their Leaves only, that are used for one of the Sallet Furnitures.

Citrulls or ordinary Pompions, Pumpions, or Pumkins, and Potirons, or flat Pumpions, as every body knows, are the biggest productions the Earth brings forth in our Climates, for whose culture there is little to be done; usually we sow them in Hot Beds towards the middle of March, that being the only way to preserve and multiply them, and at the end of April, we take them up with the Earth about them, to transplant them in holes made for that purpose, of about two foot diameter, and one foot deep, and two Toises or Fathoms asunder one from the other, which are filled with mold; when their Vines begin to grow five or six foot long, which happens about the beginning of June, we throw upon them in the middle of that length some shovels full of Earth, both to prevent their being broken by the winds driving them to and fro, and to make them take root at the place so covered, by which means the Fruit that grows beyond that part, will be the better nourished and consequently grow the bigger: There are two sorts of Citruls or Pumpions, the Green, and the Whitish ones, but neither of them are sit to be gathered till they be Augusted, that is till they be grown Yellow, and their skin grown tough enough to resist ones nail. We keep of them in our store-houses, till about the middle of Lent, when they have been seasonably gather'd, and well defended from the Cold: All sorts of situation in the open Air agree with them well enough, but yet they which are well exposed ripen sooner than the others; we trim nothing off from them, but only content our selves with watering them sometimes when the Summers are excessive dry. Their Seed is found in their Bellies.

Coleworts and Collystowers are included under Cabbage.

Costons of Artichokes: See Chards.

Garden Cresses, is one of the little Sallet Furnitures, and is a Plant that lasts but a little while. We sow of it every Month as we do Chervil, that we may have always some of it that is tender; and we sow it very thick. It is propagated only by Seed, which it is very apt to run to, and which we begin to gather at the end of June, cutting down the stalks in order to dry them, and beat out the Seeds and winnow them as we do those of other Plants, assoon as we perceive any of them to ripen.

Cucumber: See their culture under the head of Melons, and Musk-Melons. It is to be observed, that a Cucumber Plant yields a great quantity of Fruit, and for a long time, when 'tis well cultivated, and especially when 'tis well watered.

Currans and Goose berries, both being comprehended under the French name Groseilles, both the Red and White, or Pearled sort, termed in English, Currans, and the prickly sort, called in English, Dutch Goose-berries, are kinds of little Fruit shrubs, which yield a great deal of Fruit. They produce round about their old stock, a great number of rooted suckers or slips, which serve to propagate them, besides which their Branches and espe∣cially the young ones that are cut off from them, take root easily. They are planted in the Month of March, at the distance of at least six good foot one from the other, either in whole Beds, or squares, or in the void spaces between the Dwarf-Trees which are usually planted about the squares of Kitchen or Fruit-Gardens. Both of them delight in a Ground that is a little moist, the better to enable them to produce thick shoots, and consequently good Fruit.

The Red and Pearled, or White sort, called in English Currans produce Bunches, which are Ripe in July, but the prickly ones, named in English, Goose berries, produce none, but bear their Fruit upon single stalks all along the young Branches of the preceeding years growth, and that at the place of every one of the Eyes or Buds of that Branch. The Fruit of this latter is used particularly in March and April, in Compôtes or wet sweet-meats, and sauces, for which uses it must be very Green, for when it is Ripe, it grows too soft and flat. The culture that is most proper to be used to both Currans and Goose-berries, and especially to the Currans, consists in cutting away all their old wood, and preserving only that of one and two years growth: for a confused mixture of one with the other, is not only very indisagreeable and pernicious, but the old Branches will bear nothing but very small Fruit, till at last they quite degenerate, so that they will bear none but small, common, and very crabbed sowre Currans or Goose-berries, and assoon as the old stocks have done bearing any longer either fair Branches or good Fruit, we should take a Re∣solution utterly to grub them up, after we have first raised a plantation of new ones in some other choice fresh piece of Ground, to supply their places; for a Garden ought by no means to be without fair Currans and Goose-berries, and assoon as ever the new ones begin to bear, we are to destroy the old ones, which make but a very unsightly figure in a Garden.

D.

SHarp Dock, or Dock-Sorrel, or Patience, properly speaking, is but a sort of very great or large Sorrel, which is very sower. We content our selves only with some borders, or perhaps, some one single Bed of it, to have some of its Leaves to mix now and then among our Sorrel. The manner of raising it is the same we practise with Sor∣rel.

E.

ENdive is a sort of very good annual Plant used in Sallets, and in our pottage in the Autumn and Winter Seasons, provided it be well whitened, and consequently tender and delicate; it is multiplied only by Seed. There is the Common or Garden Endive, and wild Endive, called also Succory, the common name in French to them both. The Common Endive is of several kinds, viz. The White, which is the most delicate, and the Green sort which is the most rustical, and best able to resist the Cold, as likewise the Curled sort, and that which is not Curled.

All sorts of them agree tolerably well with all kinds of Ground. We seldom begin to sow any of them till towards the middle of May, and then they must be sown very thin, or be very much thinned, aftewards in order to be whitened in the places where they first grow, without transplanting, and we also sow but a little quantity of them at once, because they are too apt to run to Seed: The season for sowing a greater quantity of them is at the latter end of June, and during the whole Month of July, in order to have some good for spending in September, and we afterwards sow a great deal of it again in August, that we may have a sufficient provision of it to supply us all the rest of Autumn, and the first part of the Winter. When our Endive comes up too thick, we cut it, or else pull up some of it, to thin it, that the rest may grow big enough to be transplanted; and when we transplant any of it in Summer time, it must be placed at the distance of a large foot between Plant and Plant; we usually make great Beds of five or six foot broad, in order to transplant them afterwards in rows markt out strait with a cord. This Plant requires great and frequent waterings; and when 'tis big enough we must go to work to whiten it, for which effect, we tie it up with two or three bands according as its height requires; and being so tied, it whitens in fifteen, or twenty days: But because it is very apprehensive of the Frost, therefore assoon as ever the Cold begins to come on, we cover it with long dry Dung, whether it be tied up or no: At the end of September, we plant the stocks of it pretty near together because then it grows neither so high, nor spreads so much as in Summer: And if we can save any Plants of it in Winter, we must transplant them again in the Spring in order to produce Seed that may have sufficient time to ripen. Those persons that have a good Conservatory or Green house, will do well to house it up there, but they which have none must be content to cover it up well with a good quantity of long dry Dung, so that the Frost may not come at it.

Wild Endive, or Succory is sown at the very beginning of the Month of March, and that pretty thick, and in Ground well prepared. We endeavour to fortifie it, and make it grow big all Summer, by watering, and cropping it that it may be fit to whiten in Winter.

There are some People that will eat it Green in Sallets though it be never so bitter, but commonly they rather desire it whitened: And to whiten it, we cover it up with a great deal of long Dung, after we have first cut it close to the Earth, by which means, it been forced to spring up in obscurity, and shaded from all light, its young shoots grow White and tender. The neatest way is by the interposition of some props crossing from side to side, to keep the Dung from touching it, since it shoots up in the same manner under such a hollow covering as under a close one, so that care be taken, so well to stop up passages on all sides, that no light or Air at all get in. Being thus ordered, its shoots are much cleanlier, and relish not so much of the Dung. They which have Conservatories may transplant some of it thither in Winter, it sprouting well enough there, when it is but a little obscurely placed. When it is Green it endures the Frost well enough, and at the very latter end of May, it runs to Seed. Many People eat its young shoots in Sallets when they are young and tender.

F.

FEnnel is one of our Sallets Furnitures which grows only from Seeds, and is seldom transplanted. It resists the Cold of Winter. We sow it either in Beds or Borders. It springs again, when cut. Its youngest and tendrest shoots are the best. Its Seed is gathered in August; and in fine it agrees well enough with all sorts of Grounds. See more of it under Anis.

Furnitures, which are Mint, Tarragon, Samphire, &c. See their culture under the several titles of those Plants that compose them.

G.

GArlick is propagated by heads, or kernels called Cloves, about the end of February which are set three or four Inches deep in the Ground, and at three or four Inches distance one from the other. They are taken out of the Earth at the end of July, and laid to dry in a place free from moisture, in order to preserve them from one year to another.

Goose-berries: See Currans.

H.

HArtshorn or Buckshorn Sallet, is a little annual Plant whose Leaves when tender, are used in Sallet Furnitures they are sown in March very thick, it being impossible to sow them thin, because their Seeds are so very small which are gatherad in the Month of August. The little Birds are very greedy of them, as they are of all other small Kitchen Plant Seeds. When the Leaves of this Plant are cut, there spring up fresh ones, as do al∣so from Sorrel, Cives, Parsley, &c.

Fine, or Sweet Herbs: See Aromaticks.

L.

LAvender serves to garnish borders in Kitchen-Gardens, and yields a Flower which with∣out being separated from its stalks, is used to put among clean Linen to perfume it. It is multiplied both by Seed, and by its Branches or Slips which have taken Root at their joints.

Leeks are sown at the end of Winter, and that pretty thick, and in Beds well prepared, after which during the whole Month of June, we take them up neatly and transplant them into other Beds which are no less carefully prepared; in order to which, we make with a planting stick, holes about four Inches deep, and half a foot asunder, and after we have a little trimmed both their Roots and Leaves, we only slide down a single Plant into every hole, without minding to press down the Earth about it, as we do to all other Plants; however we take care to grub up the Weeds about them from time to time, and to water them a little in very dry weather, that their stems may grow to a due thickness, and may whiten before Winter; when the Frost is very brisk, it is best to cover them, or else, to set them into Earth in the Conservatory; it is likewise very conve∣nient, to take them up out of their Bed where they are planted a little at large, and to place them nearer together afterwards in another Nursery Bed, and cover them up with long Litter, because otherwise when it freezes hard, we should not be able to get them out of the Ground without breaking them. We may leave some of them standing after Winter, to run to Seed, or else we may Plant some in a separate place for that purpose. Their Seed is gathered in August, and there is one sort that is bigger than the ordinary one, which is the best.

Lettuces are Plants that are the most ordinarily and commonly seen in our Kitchen-Gardens, and are indeed the most useful Manna of them, and especially for Sallets, of which almost all the World is most constantly amorous. We have many things; for in the first place, there are Lettuces of different Seasons, those which are good in certain Months in the year being not good in others; and those which grow well in the Spring, thriving not well in Summer; and they which prosper in Autumn and Winter, coming tonothing, nei∣ther in Spring nor Summer, as will be seen afterwards: In the second place, there are some that with the ordinary help of the general culture attain their due perfection, and contri∣bute both to the nourishment and pleasure of Man-kind, and they are the Cabbage Lettuces.

Thirdly, there are some that necessarily require the Art of Industry and the Gard'ner to advance them to that degree of perfection which they should have; and they are such as must be tied up to make them grow white, without which they would be neither tender, nor sweet, nor good; such as are the Roman Lettuces, &c. Nay, and I have thought fit sometimes to tie up those that were to cabbage, when I saw they did not cab∣bage soon enough, by which means they may be forced to cabbage whether they will or no. I use this Method particularly with some sorts of Winter Lettuces, that is, when there are any of them which though furnished with leaves big enough to cabbage, yet for want of sufficient heat, are hindred from turning, that is from growing hard; and this expedient is a very soveraign Remedy against that Defect, in a surly Season; and besides these general distinctions, the number of the particular Kinds of Lettuces is greater than of any other sort of Kitchen-plants whatsoever, as will appear more especially by the order they observe in respect of the Seasons; and the order of the Cabbage-Lettuces, as near as I can describe it, is this.

The first that cabbage at the going out of Winter, are the Shell Lettuces so call'd, because their Leaf is round almost like a Shell. They are otherwise called Winter-Lettu∣ces, because they pretty well indure ordinary Frosts, which none of all the other Lettu∣ces can do. These are sown in September, and afterward transplanted in some Wall-Border towards the South and East, in the Months of October and November, or else they are sown upon Hot Beds under Bells, in the Months of February and March, and are good to eat in April and May. We have at the same time another sort of Reddish Lettuces called Passion Lettuces, which prosper very well in light Grounds, but not over well in others that being colder and stronger or heavier, easily infect them with slimy Snivel. Both these kinds should when they thrive, produce very thick and good Heads. To these succeed the Bright curled Lettuces, which usually cabbage in the Spring, that is before the heat grows any thing excessive, but they must not be planted in strong and heavy Lands. They likewise do well enough upon a Hot Bed, and especially under Glass Bells or Frames; for when they are sown in January, and transplanted as soon as they are grown any thing thick, or else left thin upon their Nursery-Beds, they cabbage as soon as the Winter-Let∣tuces, and are very excellent.

There is about the same Season, two other sorts of Curled Bright Lettuces; viz. one called George Lettuces, which are thicker and less curled than the ordinary Curled Bright Lettuces; and another called the Minion Lettuce, which is the least sort. Both these last require such Ground as we term good black Sand, but yet their Heads seldom cabbage close enough, that is to say, are not ordinarily so hard and firm as those of the right Curled Bright Let∣tuces.

The Curled Green Lettuces come in near about the same Season with the preceeding ones, but are not so tender nor delicate.

There is also a sort of small red ones, and another named Short Lettuces, both which have all the necessary qualifications of good Lettuces, excepting only that their Heads are small, and that they likewise require Black Sandy Ground.

The first Lettuces supply us amply as I have said, during the Months of April and May, and the beginning of June, but after that time they are too apt to be influenced to run to Seed by the great heat that then comes on. They are followed during the rest of June, and all the Month of July, by those called the Royal Bellegardes, or Fair Looks, Bright Genua's, Capucins, Aubervilliers, and Perpignans; of which last, there are both green and bright, both of which produce very fair and very good heads, and thrive well enough in strong Grounds too, when the Summer proves not too Rainy; but cold, or too frequent Rains infect them with Slime and Snivel, and consequently destroy them. The Capucin Lettuces are reddish, cabbage easily, even without transplanting, and are pretty delicate. The Aubervilliers bring forth Heads that are too hard, and sometimes bitter withall, and are more used for boiling than for Sallets. The difference that appears between the Royal and the Bellegardes or Fair look'd Lettuces, is only, that the former are a little more Greenish, and these last a little Brighter.

However in the Summer time, the tied Lettuces are mixed among the cabbaged ones, viz. the Roman Lettuces which are open, and are called Chicons, or Bright, and are termed Al∣phanges, which last are more delicate than the Chicons, both to raise, and when they are eaten in Sallets. There are also a sort which are stiled Imperial Lettuces, which are of an ex∣traordinary great Size, and are likewise very delicate to the taste, but very apt to rot as soon as ever they grow white; there are besides, a certain kind of large Reddish Chi∣••••••s, which whiten in a manner of themselves without tying, and are good in course Grounds, and succeed usually pretty well in Summer, for as for the green Chicons, we

cannot well have them but in the Spring, because they run too hastily to Seed. The Lettuces that defend themselves best from the great heat that predominates about the end of July, and all the Month of August, are those we call Genua Lettuces, and especially the green sort, for the Bright Genua, and Red Genua run more easily to Seed, and will hardly come to good but in light Grounds. We should therefore prepare a great many of these green Genua's against the Dog-days, and the first Frosts; we may also intermix with them some few Bright, and some Red Genua's; but more especially we should be sure to mix with them some Alfanges, and a great quantity of bright or white Endive, as likewise, a great many Perpignan Lettuces, both of the bright and green kind. The great Inconveniencies that happen to Cabbage Lettuces, are first, that they often degene∣rate so far as to cabbage no more, which is discovered by their Leaves growing out in length like a Cat's Tongue, as Gard'ners term it, or by their changing their natural colour into another more or less green; and therefore we must be very careful to gather no Seed from any but such as cabbage very well, for which effect, we should be sure to mark out at first, some of those that turn best, in order to reserve them to run to Seed where they stand, or to remove them with a turf of the Earth about them into some separate place assigned for that purpose.

The second is, that as soon as the most part of them are cabbaged, they must be spent, unless we would have the displeasure to see them run to Seed without doing us a∣ny Service; in which Respect the Market Gard'ners have a great advantage beyond o∣ther Persons, because they can sell off in one day, whole Beds of these Cabbage Lettuces, for commonly the Beds which were new planted at the same time, Cabbage likewise all at once, whereas in other Gardens, we cannot spend them any faster than we need them, for which Reason we are obliged to plant often of them, and that in greater quantity than we are able to consume, that we may have a continual supply of them successively, without any Discontinuation, it being much more commodious to have an over-plus quantity of them, than to want. The surest way is to keep particularly to those sorts that are the most Rustical, and that last a great while cabbaged before they run to Seed, such as are the Shell Lettuces, the Perpignans, the Green Genua's, the Aubervilliers, and the Austrichettes, or Austrian Lettuces, which I must confess too, are a long time cab∣baging.

The third inconvenience is, that the Morie, that is, the Rot which begins at the ends of their Leaves, seizes them sometimes, and that when the Ground or the Sea∣son are not favourable to them, they remain thin and lean, and run up to Seed instead of spreading and cabbaging. There is hardly any Remedy to prevent this Rot be∣cause there is hardly any to be found effectual against the cold and rainy Seasons that cause it; but against the defects that may be in the Ground, there are infallible ones, that is to say, it must be amended and improved with small Dung, if it be barren, whether it be a sandy, or a Cold and gross Earth; and to this last, we should give a little slope, if when the Ground is good, the waters spoil it by settling too much in it, and by that means, make all the Plants growing there to rot. Good Dung throughly rotten, be∣ing the Soul and Primum Mobile of Kitchen-Gardens, without which, no more than without frequent waterings, and dressing of the Ground no man can ever be rich in fine and goodly Legumes.

There yet remains to be known for the perfect understanding the ordering of Let∣tuces, that they which grow biggest must be placed ten or twelve inches one from the other, which is to be understood of the Shell Lettuces, Perpignans, Austrians, Bellegardes, or Fair-looks, Aubervilliers, Alfanges, and Imperials; and for those that bear heads but of a midling size, the distance of seven or eight inches is enough, which are the Bright Curled, the short, the little Red, and the Green Chicon Lettuces, &c. Those that will be good husbands may sow Radishes in their Lettuce Beds, because the Radishes will be all drawn out and spent before the Lettuces cabbage; and for the same reason, because the Endives are much longer before they come to perfection than the Lettuces, we may Plant some of these last among the Endives; they agree well enough one with the other: and so we may have a double crop to gather upon one and the same Bed and in the same Season; for the Lettuces are gathered first, and afterwards the Endives arrive to their full good∣ness.

M.

MAches, are a sort of little Sallet which we may call a wild and rustical Sallet, because indeed it seldom is brought before any noble Company. They are multiplied by Seed which is gathered in July, and are only used towards the end of Winter. We make Beds for them which we sow about the end of August; they are hardy enough to resist the rigours of the Frost, and because they produce a great many little Seeds that easily fall, though we have but a little quantity of them, they will propa∣gate themselves sufficiently, without any other culture but weeding them.

Mallows and Marsh-mallows ought to be allowed a place in our Kitchen-Gardens, though civility will not permit us to explain in this Treatise what uses they serve for, and though they be rather Plants of the wild fields than of a Garden. They grow of their own accord, and have no more need of cultivating than any of the Weeds that infest the good Herbs. When we have a mind to have any of them in our Gardens, it will be best to sow them in some by-place.

Marjoram, or Marjerom, is an Odoriferous Plant of which we compose agreeable Borders and Edgings. There is the Winter Marjoram, which is the best, and the Summer Marjoram which lasts not beyond that Season. Both of them are multiplied by Seed, and likewise by Rooted slips or suckers. They are principally used in making Per∣fumes.

Mint, called in French, Balm, when once planted, needs no other particular culture than being cut down close to the Ground every year, at the end of Autumn, to make it shoot out store of tender Sprouts in the Spring, which are mingled with the Furnitures of Sallets for them that love them a little spicy and perfumed. It must be renewed every three years at least, and placed always in good Earth. The Branches when cut off, take Root at the place where they are covered, and by that means, of one great Tuft, we may easily make a great many, which are to be planted at the distance of a foot one from the other. In the Winter likewise, we plant some thick Tufts of it upon Hot Beds and by taking care to cover them with Bells, they spring very well for about fif∣teen days, and then perish.

Muscats are a kind of Grapes, which when they attain to their natural goodness, are one of the most considerable commodities of a Kitchen-Garden. There are three sorts of them, viz. White, Red, and Black, the White is commonly the best of the three, it re∣quires temperate Countries like that of the Isle of France, and the Expositions of the South and East, and always a light Ground, we seldom see any good ones in pure Earth, and if it be in hot Climates, or Gravelly, and Sandy Ground; they prosper very well upon Counter-Espaliers, or Pole Hedge-Trees, and even in the open Air. Their Goodness consists in having large, yellow, and crackling Berries, and growing thin in their Clu∣sters, and in a pretty rich musked taste, but yet not too strong like the Spanish ones. The Province of Tourain produces admirable ones. Their Culture is exactly the same with that of the Chassela's Grapes, both as to their Pruning, and manner of Propaga∣tion.

The Long Muscat, called otherwise the Passe-Musquee, is another sort of Grape whose Berry is bigger and more longish than that of the ordinary Muscat, and its clusters are also longer, but yet its taste is nothing near so rich as that of the others.

N.

NAsturces: See Capucin Capers.

O.

ONions are red or white, which last are sweeter and more prized than the red ones. There's no Body but knows how many uses they serve for. They are propagated only by Seed, which is commonly sown at the latter end of February and beginning of March, in Beds of good Earth, and well prepared, and afterwards raked with an Iron Rake, to cover them, as is done to other small Seeds. They must be sown thin, that they may have room to grow to their full bigness, and therefore if they come up too thick, they must be thinned by pulling some of them up as soon as they are big enough for that, which is towards the Month of May, which we transplant in order to use instead of Ci∣bouls. Though the ordinary Season for sowing Onions, be at the end of Winter, yet we

maysow some in September, and transplant them afterwards in the Month of May, by which means we may have some full grown at the very beginning of July, which we may ga∣ther, plucking them first out of the Ground as soon as that time comes, and then after we have dried them two or three days in the hot Sun, lay them up in some dry place, to keep all the year in case of need. We must not forget when our Onions begin to appear with pretty thick Stems above the Superficies of the Earth, that is, when they begin to advance towards their Maturity, to break them down, either by treading them under our Feet, or with a board pretty hard pressed down upon them, because by that means the nourishment that was before spent in their stems, being hindered from mounting upwards, will remain and settle all in that which I think, is but improperly called their head, and make it grow so much the bigger. I have already told you elsewhere, how their Seed is to be raised.

P.

PArsley, as well of the Curled as ordinary sort, is of great use in Kitchens all the year long, as well for its Leaves as Roots. It is comprehended under the Title of Ver∣dures or green Pot-herbs. We ought not to fail in the Spring, to sow a reasonable quanti∣ty of it in every Garden, and that pretty thick, and in good, and well prepared Ground. When its Leaves are cut, it shoots out new ones like Sorrel. It well enough resists a mo∣derate, but not a violent cold, and therefore 'tis best to bestow some covering on it in Winter, to defend it. When we would have any of it produce large Roots, we must thin it in the Beds or Borders where 'tis sown. It requires pretty much watering in very hot weather. There are some that pretend to have a kind of Parsly bigger than ordinary, but for my part I know no such kind. The Curled Parsly appears more agreeable to the Sight, than the Common sort, but is never a whit better than it for that. We gather our Parsly Seeds in the Months of August and September.

Macedonian Parsley, or Alisanders, is one of the Furnitures of our Winter-Sallets, which must be whitened like Wild Endive, or Succory; that is to say, at the end of Autumn, we must cut down all its Leaves, and then cover the Bed where it grows, all over with long dry Dung, or Straw Screens, so close, that the Frost may not come at it, by which means, the new Leaves that spring from it, grow white, yellowish and tender. We sow it in the Spring, pretty thin, because it produces a great many large Leaves, and we gather its Seed at the latter end of Summer. It is a good hardy Plant, and that de∣fends its self very well from the Drought, without requiring much watering.

Parsnips are a sort of Roots well known in our Kitchens. We sow them towards the end of Winter, either in open Ground, or Borders, and that always pretty thin, and in good and well prepared Ground; and if they come up too thick, they must be thinned as soon as May comes in, that they which are left, may be the better nourisht, and grow the fairer. They are propagated only by Seed, for the raising which, the same care is to be taken as we have directed for that of Red Beet-roots, Carrots, &c.

Passe Musquee: See Muscats.

Patience, or Sharp Dock: See Dock.

Peas, or Pease may be placed in rank of Kitchen-plants. It is a good rustical or hardy Plant, which commonly is sown in the open Field, without needing any other Culture than being weeded whilst 'tis young, that is, before it begins to codd. But when they are propt, they yield more than when they are not. They require pretty good Ground, and a little Rain to make them tender and delicate, and must be sown pretty thin. There are several sorts of them, viz. Hastings, Green, White and Square ones, otherwise called large codded Peas, &c. We may have of them in the Months of May, June, July, August, September and October. For to have some all that while after the first, we have no more to do, but to sow them in different Months, to have them fit for eating three Months after. Those sorts we are most choice of in Kitchen-Gardens are the Hastings both White and Green, which are of a midling Size. We sow them at the end of October, under the shelter of some Eastern or Southern Walls, and we raise Ridges or sloped Banks too, sometimes for that purpose; and to dispose them to come up so much the sooner when they are Sown, we make them Sprout five or six days before, by laying them to steep two days in Water, and afterwards laying them in a place where the cold cannot reach them, till their first Root begins to appear. Hard wea∣ther spoils them quite, which is the reason why all we can do, will not procure us any good ones till the latter end of May. We likewise sow some upon hot Beds, at the end of February, in order to transplant them by the sides of some well exposed Walls, in

case those sown at the latter end of October preceeding, happen to have been spoiled by the Frost. Our last time of Sowing them is at Midsummer, to have them fit to eat a∣bout All-hallow-tide.

Pompions and Potirons, or Flat Pompions: See Citrulls.

Purslain is one of the prettiest Plants in a Kitchen-gardens, which is principally used in Sallets, and sometimes in Pottages. There are two sorts of it, viz. The Green, and the Red, or Golden; this latter is the more agreeable of the two to the Eye, and more deli∣cate and difficult to rear, so that in hard weather we have much ado to make it grow even upon hot Beds, and under Bells, for it seldom prospers in open Beds till about the middle of May, and then too, the Earth must be very good, sweet, and very loose, and the weather very fair. And therefore for our first Purslain which we are not to begin to sow upon hot Beds till towards the Middle of March, we must use only the Green sort, because the Yellow or Golden sort dwindles away as soon as 'tis come up, un∣less the Season be a little advanced, and the Sun a little hot, which is, towards the end of April. It is commonly sown very thick, because its Seed is so very small, that it can∣not be sown thin. When we sow it upon hot Beds, either when 'tis cold, and that by consequence Glass-bells or Frames are needfull, or in milder Weather, we only press down the Mold about it with our hands, or with the back of a Spade; but when we sow it in open Beds which must be well prepared for that purpose, we rake it over five or six times with an Iron Rake, to make the Seed enter into the Ground.

They way to raise Seed from it, is to transplant some Plants of it that are big e∣nough, into Beds well prepared, at the distance of eight or ten inches ones from the o∣ther: The Months of June and July are proper for that effect. And then in a little time after, they are run up, and have done flowring, assoon as ever we perceive any of their Husks to open, and discover some black Seed, we must cut down all their Stems and lay them some days in the Sun till all the Seed be quite ripened, and then we beat them out and winnow them, &c. We must be carefull to transplant each sort a∣part by it self, that we may not be mistaken in the Seed when we are to sow it. The Stick Stalks of Purslain that is run to Seed, are good to pickle in Salt and Vinegar, for Winter Sallets.

R

RAdishes, when they are qualified with all the goodness they should have, that is, when they are tender, and snap easily, and are sweet, are in my Opinion, one of the Plants that give the most pleasure of any in our Kitchin-gardens, and that give it as often, and for as long a time as any of them all; and I look upon them as a kind of Manna in our Gardens. There seems to be no great pains required to make them grow, it being indeed only necessary to sow them pretty thin, in well prepared loose and mel∣low Earth, and to water them soundly in drie Weather, and with this culture they will attain to all the perfection they are capable of. But the main points here in Que∣stion, are first, to be always provided with Seed of a good kind; and secondly, to take order to have Radishes without discontinuation, from the Month of February, till the coming in of the Frosts in the middle of November. As for Seed of a good kind, know, that is it that produces few Leaves, and a long red Root, for there are some that pro∣duce a great many leaves and little Root; and when we are once provided with Seed of a good kind, we must be extreme carefull to propagate it, that we never be without a stock of it; for which effect, in the Month of April, we must choose out among those Radishes that are come of the last years Seed, such, as I have said, which have the fewest Leaves and the most Root, and reddest Necks, and transplant them quite whole in some well prepared spot of Ground, a foot and a half a sunder: Being so transplanted, they will run up, flower and yield Seed ripe enough to gather towards the end of July; and then we cut down their stems; and after they have been dried some days in the Sun, we beat out the Seed, and winnow it, &c.

Those stocks of them that run up to Seed, shoot up their Branches to such a height, and perpetuate their flowers so far as if they knew not where to stop; and therefore it is good to pinch off these Branches to a reasonable length, that the first Podds may be the better nourished.

But 'tis not enough to raise good Seed, we must likewise take order to be supplied with good Radishes for eight or nine Months in the year. The first that are eaten grow on Hot-beds, the manner of raising which, I have explained in the Works of November; and by the means of those Hot Beds, we may have some during the Months of Februa∣ry

March and April; otherwise we have none; and in order to have some all the other Months, we must sow some among all manner of Seeds, they coming up so very quickly, that we have time to gather off our Radishes before they can do any harm to the other Plants. Radishes are extreamly apprehensive of the excessive heat in Summer, which makes them grow strong as they term it, that is, too biting, stringy, and sometimes very hard; and therefore in that Season we would affect to sow them in very loose Mellow Ground, where the Sun shines but little; and the best way should be, to make up along by the sides of some Northern Walls, a Bed or two for that purpose, filled with mold to the depth of a large foot and an half, and to sow our Radishes there, and water them well. In Spring and Autumn, when the Sun is not so Hot, Radishes take well enough in open Ground, and in the wide unsheltered Air.

Rass-berries, or Rasp-berries, as well as the White as Red, begin to Ripen at the begin∣ning of July. They are planted in March, either in Beds or borders observing the distance of two foot between Plant and Plant. They shoot out during the Summer many well Rooted Suckers, some of which we take away to make new plantations with, by which means the old ones are likewise renewed for they drie assoon as their Fruit is gathered. The only culture used to them is, first, in the Month of March to shorten all their new shoots which we preserve round about the old stock, and which ought to be only the thickest and handsomest, and in the second place, to pluck away all the small ones, as likewise the old ones that are dead.

Reponces are a sort of small sweet Radishes which grow wild in the Country, and especially in the Corn, and are eatch in Sallets in the spring time. They are multiplied only by Seed.

Rocamboles: See Shallots.

Rocket is one of our Sallet Furnitures, which is sown in the Spring as most of the others are. Its Leaf is pretty like that of Radishes, and its Seed is very small, and almost like Purslain Seed, but it is of a Reddish, or rather darkish Cinnamon Colour.

Rosemary is another sort of Odoriferous Plant which is principally used for the per∣fuming of Chambers, and in decoctions for washing the Feet. It is multiplied in the same manner as Rue, and other border Plants, and lasts five or six years in its place.

Rue is a Plant of very strong smell, of which we plant some borders in our Gardens; it is propagated both by Seed, and Rooted slips, and is hardly of any use but against the vapours of the Mother.

S.

SAge is a border Plant, whose culture has nothing of particular, but is like that of the other border Herbs, as Rosemary, Lavender, Worm-wood, &c. There is a sort that is parti-Coloured, which to some people appears more agreeable than the common Sage, which is of palish Green Colour.

Spanish Salsifie, or Sassifie, otherwise Scorzonere, is one of our chiefest Roots, which is multiplied by Seed as well as the others, and is admirable good boiled both for the plea∣sure of the taste, and the health of the Body. It is propagated only by Seed which is sown in March. We must be careful to sow it pretty thin, whether it be in Beds or borders, or else at least to thin it afterward, that its Roots may grow the bigger. Scorzonere runs up to Seed in the Months of June and July, and is gathered assoon as 'tis Ripe.

Common Salsifie is another sort of Root cultivated after the same manner as the preceed∣ing one, but is not altogether so very excellent. They easily pass the Winter in the Ground. It is good to water both sorts of them in very dry weather, and to keep them well weeded, and especially, to put them into good Earth well prepared, of at least two full foot deep.

Samphire called in French, Pierce Pierre, or Passe-Pierre, is one of our Sallet Furnitures that is multiplied only by Seed, and which being by nature very delicate requires to be planted by the sides of Walls exposed to the South or East, the open Air, and great Cold being pernicious to it. We usually sow it in some Pot or Tub filled with mold, or else on some side-Bank towards the South or East, and that in the Months of March or April, and afterwards transplant it in those places above-mentioned.

Savory is an annual Plant a little Odoriferous, which grows only from Seed, and whose Leaves are used to some Ragou's, and particularly among Peas, Beans; it is sown in the Spring either in Beds or borders.

Scorzonere, or Scorzonera: See Spanish Salsifie.

Shallots, otherwise Rocamboles, or Spanish Garlick, require no other culture than com∣mon Garlick, and are particularly remarkable for that their Seeds are as good to eat as their Cloves taken out of the Earth. Their Seed is large and serves to propagate them as well as the Cloves or Kernels that compose their Root.

Skirrets are a sort of Roots propagated by Seed, and cultivated like other Roots, as is directed in the Month of March.

Spinage is one of those Kitchen Plants that requires the best Ground, or at least that which is most amended and improved. They are multiplied only by Seed. We sow them either in open Ground, or else in furrows or strait rows upon well prepared Beds and this we do several times in the year, beginning about the sixteenth of August, and finish∣ing a Month after; the first are fit to cut towards the middle of October, the second in Lent, and the last in Rogation time; Those which remain after Winter, run up to Seed towards the end of May, which we gather about the middle of June. When they are once cut they spring up no more, as Sorrel do's. All their culture consists in keeping them very clear from Weeds; and if the Autumn prove extraordinary dry, it is not amiss to water them sometimes. They are never transplanted no more than Chervil, Cresses, &c.

Sorrel in Kitchen-Garden terms, is placed under the title of Verdures, or Green Pot Herbs, and accordingly is much used in the Pot. There are some sorts of it that produce a lar∣ger Leaf than others, which are called Sorrel of the greater sort. All the sorts may be sown in the Months of March, April, May, June, July and August, and in the beginning of September too, provided they be allowed sufficient time to grow big enough to resist the rigour of the Winter, we sow Sorrel either in open Ground, or else in strait rows, or furrows, in Beds or borders, in all which cases, it must be sown very thick, because many of its Plants perish. It requires a ground that is naturally good, or else well im∣proved with Muck. Its culture consists in being kept very clear of Weeds, in being well watered, and being covered with a little mold once or twice a year, after 'tis first cut down very close to the Ground. That mold serves to give it new vigour, and the Sea∣son most proper for applying it, is in the hot Months of the year. Sorrel is most com∣monly multiplied by Seed, though sometimes we transplant some of it that thrives very well. We gather its Seed in the Months of July and August. There is a particular sort of Sorrel, which is called Round Sorrel, its Leaves being indeed Round, whereas those of the other sorts are very sharp and pointed. The tender Leaves of this sort are sometimes mixed with Sallet Furnitures. But it is ordinarily used most in Bouillons, or thin Broths. It is multiplied by running Branches, that take Root in the Earth, as they run over it, which being taken off, and transplanted, produce thick Tufts which also produce other runners, and so in infinitum.

Sharp Dock, or Dock-Sorrel: See Dock.

Wood Sorrel, or Alleluia: See Alleluia.

Straw-berries, as well the White as the Red, multiply and perpetuate themselves by running Suckers that springing out of their old stocks, take Root. It is observed, that a new plantation of them taken out of the Woods, turns to better account when transplan∣ted, than one slipt of from the Garden Straw-berries. We plant them either in Beds or borders, both which must be well prepared, amended and laboured or stirred up in one manner or other. If it be in dry and sandy Ground, both the Beds and borders must be sunk a little lower than the Allies or path-ways, the better to retain both the rain that falls, and the water we bestow on them; a quite contrary course must be taken, if we plant them in strong, heavy, and fat Earth, and that is almost all pure Clay, because excessive moisture rots the Plants. We place them usually nine or ten Inches asunder, putting two or three little Plants into each hole which we make with a planting stick. The best time to plant them in is during the whole Month of May, and in the beginning of June, that is to say, before the great heat comes in. And we may plant them all Summer long in rainy Seasons. It is particularly requisite to plant Nurseries of them in the Month of May, and that in some place near the North Quarter, the better to shelter them from the violent heat of the Summer Sun, and then we plant them but three or four Inches one from the other, and when they are grown big enough there, we transplant them afterwards in the Month of September in order to make Beds or squares of them, accor∣ding as we find occasion to have a greater or less abundance of them. Their culture consists chiefly, first, in watering them well in dry Seasons; secondly in leaving, but a moderate number of stems or upright shoots to every stock, three or four of the most vigourous being enough; in the third place, in leaving but three or four Straw-berries of

them that appeared first, and nearest the stock, on every stem, and therefore we must pinch of all their other Blossoms that almost endlessly grow out at the ends of those that have already Blossomed, or are still in Blossom, because none but the first produce any fair Straw-berries, hardly any of the last being ever known to knit or come to any per∣fection, but when we are careful to pinch them off judicially we may be assured always to have good Straw-berries. I have already given directions in the works of the Month of February, how to raise Hasting Straw-berries. Curious Persons have usually two Straw-barries of two several Colours, viz. Red and White, but they place them in separate Beds. The great Enemies of Straw-berry Plantations are the Ton's which are great White Worms, that in the Months of May and June, gnaw the necks of their Roots between two Earths, and so kill them; to prevent which, in those Months we should carefully search every day, under the Roots of all our Straw-berries that begin to wither, where we shall commonly find one of these great Worms which after they have done a mischief to one, pass on to do the same to other Straw-berry Plants, and kill them in the same manner. Straw-berry Plants bear very well the year after their planting, if plan∣ted in May; but yield very indifferently, if not planted till September, after they are taken out of the Woods; yet in the second year they bear wonderfully, but that being past, they produce but very pitifully, and therefore 'tis good to renew them every two years; it is likewise convenient to cut off every year their old tops, when the Straw-berries are gone, which is commonly at the latter end of July. The earliest Straw-berries that ri∣pen towards the end of May, are those that were planted by the sides of Southern or Ea∣stern Walls, and they that ripen last, are such as are planted in a Northern Exposition.

Succory: See Endive.

Sweet Herbs: See Aromaticks.

T.

TArragon is one of the perfuming or Spicy Furnitures of our Sallets, it is propagated both by rooted slips and Seed. It springs again several times after 'tis cut; it endures the Winter, and needs little watering in the driest weather in Summer, when we plant it, we must allow eight or nine inches distance between Plant and Plant in the Beds we set with it. The best time to plant in, is in March and April, which hinders not, but that we may transplant it again in the Summer Season.

Time is another odoriferous Border-plant, which is multiplied as well by Seed as rooted Branches or Slips. A Border of Time is a considerable and necessary Ornament in our Kitchen-Gardens.

Tripe-Madam is one of our Sallet-Furnitures; it is used chiefly in the Spring when it is tender, but a little of it ought to serve in the Summer, because then it is too tough. It is multiplyed both by Seeds and Cuttings.

Turneps or Turnips are not properly Kitchen-Garden Plants, but yet where they are spa∣cious, they may be admitted into them. They are propagated only by Seed, and are sown very thick in Beds, some in March, and others in August. We gather their Seed in July and August, every Body so well knows their use, that I need speak no more of them here.

V.

Verjuice Grapes: See Bourdelais.

Vines: See the several heads of Bourdelais, Muscats, &c.

Violets, and especially the double ones serve to make pretty Borders in our Kitchen-Gardens. Their flowers make a very agreeable Figure when they are artfully placed on the Superficies of Spring-Sallets. Every Body knows, that they are propagated by Tufts, that is, by dividing one great Tuft into several little ones, which likewise in time grows thick, and fit to be divided into other little ones.

W.

WOrmwood. The plants of this and all other Plants placed in Borders of Edgings, and therefore called Border-plants, as of Time, Lavender, Hyssop, &c. are plan∣ted by a Line, and at the distance of two or three Inches one from the other, and five or six inches deep in the Ground. It is good to clip them every Spring, and to renew them every two years, and to take away their oldest and decayed stocks. Their Seed is gathered about the Month of August.

CHAP. VII.

Shewing how long every Kitchen Plant may profitably stand in its place in a Kitchen-Garden; which of them must be housed in the Conservatory to supply us in the Winter, and which are they which we may force to grow by Art, in spite of the Frost. And lastly, how long each sort of Seed will last without losing its Virtue.

IT is a very important point in Gard'ning, to know how long every plant may use∣fully possess the place where it grows in our Gardens, that so the forecast of an a∣ble Gard'ner, may prepare others immediately to substitute in the places of such as be∣ing as 'twere, but Passengers, take up their places but a few Months; for by this means, not only there remains no unprofitable spot of Ground in our Gardens, but we seem be∣sides to reap a sensible pleasure by enjoying in some Sense beforehand some things that are not yet in Nature.

To treat of this matter well, I think it very pertinent to speak first of those Plants that are of long duration, whether in respect of the time they take up in attaining to their Perfection, or of that in which they continue bearing. All sorts of Grapes, Capers, and As∣paragus, doubtless, hold the first Rank in this number, for Vine and Caper plants last five and twenty or thirty years, and as to Asparagus, reckoning from the time we first sow or transplant them, we ought hardly ever to begin to gather them till their shoots be of a competent thickness, which happens not till the third or fourth year after, but after that time, provided they be placed in good Ground and carefully cultivated, they may very well be suffred to stand ten or twelve years, it being certain that they will not fail to shoot up and bear vigorously and plentifully during all that time; but yet if we per∣ceive any decay in them sooner, we may destroy and break them up sooner, and if on the contrary, we find them continue to produce well longer than we have limited, we may continue them longer in their places.

Rasberry, Curran, and Gooseberry shrubs, easily last eight or ten years.

Artichokes must be renewed, that is new planted in a fresh place after the third year.

The Borders of Wormwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Marjoram, Rue, Rosemary, Sage, Time, Violets, &c. provided they be not endamaged by an extraordinary hard Winter, may subsist in their places three or four years, if care be taken to clip them pretty close every Summer.

Alleluia, or Wood-sorrel, Mint, Musked Chervil, English Cives, Tarragon, Sorrel, Patience, or sharp Dock, Samphire, Macedonian Parsly or Alisanders, Tripe-Madame, &c. may likewise last well enough in their places three or four Years.

Strawberry Plants may last three years, Wild Endive or Succory, Anis, Ordinary Parsly, Burnet, Fennel, Scorzonere, and Common Salsifie, &c. last two years.

Leeks both to cut, and for Chards, and Cibouls, &c. last a year, that is, from one Spring to another.

Borage, Bugloss, Red Beet Roots, Spanish Cardons, Carrots, Skirrets, Cabbages, Milan Cab∣bages, Collyflowers, Citruls or Pumpions, Harts-horn Sallet, Potirons or Flat Pumpions, Pars∣nips, Leeks, &c. keep their places nine Months, that is, reckoning from the Spring, when they were sown, to the end of Autumn.

Garlick, Basil, Nasturces or Capucin Capers, Cucumbers, and Melons or Muskmelons, Sha∣lots, Onions, and the first or Summer Turneps, &c. take them up only during the Spring and Summer Seasons, so that their places may receive a new Decoration of Plants in Au∣tumn.

Arrach, or Orage, Ordinary Chervil, White Endive, and Succory Garden Cresses, and all sorts of Lettuces, whether to cabbage, or to tie up, &c. take up their Ground about two Months.

Radishes, Purslain, and Ordinary Chervil, &c. take up their places but five or six Weeks, and therefore they must be new sown every fifteen days in Summer time.

Hasting Pease and Beans, continue on the Ground six or seven Months, reckoning from the Month of November when they are sown, but common Peas and Beans, and Aricôs, or French-Beans, take it up but four or five Months.

Spinage and Màches keep theirs all Autumn and Winter, and therefore are planted in places, where we have already raised such Plants as last not beyond the Summer.

Mallows and Marsh-mallows are multiplied only by Seed, and pass not beyond the Win∣ter.

The Plants that require housing in the Conservatory during Winter, are Cardoons, Cellery, Artichoke heads, both the Endives, as well the White, as the Wild sort, all that are known by the name of Roots, as Red Beet Roots, Carrots, &c. as likewise Leeks, Citruls or Pumpions, Potirons or Common Pumpions, Garlick, and Shalots. All the rest resist the injuries of the Winter well enough, viz. Cabbages, Parsly, Fennel, Cibouls, and even Tar∣ragon, Mint, Samphire, Tripe-Madame, Balm, Asparagus, Sorrel, &c. But they sprout not till the Spring, unless forced on Hot Beds. Other Plants are not acquainted with that sort of help, or rather Violence, such as are all Roots, and Garlick, Onions, Leeks, Cab∣bages, &c. Add to this, that by the same expedient of Hot Beds, we may also raise in the height of cold Weather, little Sallets of Lettuces, with their Furnitures of Cresses, Cher∣vil, Mint, &c.

There remains now nothing but to know how long each sort of Seed will keep good, upon which I must tell you, that generally speaking, most Seeds grow naught after one of two years at most, and therefore it concerns us always to be provided with new ones, if we would not run the hazard of sowing to no purpose in the Spring. There are hard∣ly any but Peas, Beans, and the Seeds of Muskmelons, Cucumbers, Citruls or Pumpions, and Potirons or Flat Cucumbers, that last eight or ten years. The Seeds of Collyflowers last three or four, and those of all sorts of Endive and Succory, five or six years. Of all sorts of Seeds there are none that keep so small a time as Lettuce Seed, which yet are better the second, than the first year, but yet are good for nothing the third.

The End of the Sixth and Last PART.

Notes

• The Art of Cul∣tivating Kitchen-Gardens and Pot-Herbs, &c. An∣cient and Uni∣versal.
• Beatus ille qui precul negotits, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prisca Gens Mor∣taliam, paterna rura bebus exer∣cet suis, &c. Hor. Fp d. 2. Happy the Man from toilsom cares set free, Who does regain Man's ancient Li∣berty; Plowing his Ground with Oxen of his own. By Parents l••fe, fr••e from usurious Loan.
• A French Bushel is 20 Pound weight, or near a peck and half English.
• January.
• February.
• March.
• April.
• May.
• June.
• July and Au∣gust.
• September and October.
• November.
• December.