The Garden of Eden, or, An accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in England with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth, as well in seeds and herbs, as the secret ordering of trees and plants / by that learned and great observer, Sir Hugh Plat.
About this Item
Title
The Garden of Eden, or, An accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in England with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth, as well in seeds and herbs, as the secret ordering of trees and plants / by that learned and great observer, Sir Hugh Plat.
Author
Plat, Hugh, Sir, 1552-1611?
Publication
London :: Printed for William Leake ...,
1654.
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Subject terms
Gardening -- Early works to 1800.
Fruit-culture -- Great Britain.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A54994.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The Garden of Eden, or, An accurate description of all flowers and fruits now growing in England with particular rules how to advance their nature and growth, as well in seeds and herbs, as the secret ordering of trees and plants / by that learned and great observer, Sir Hugh Plat." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A54994.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 26, 2025.
Pages
descriptionPage 31
THE
GARDEN OF
EDEN.
OR,
A briefe Description of
all sorts of Fruits & Flowers,
with meanes how to ad∣vance
their nature and
growth in England.
I Shall not trouble
the Reader with
any curious rules
for shaping and
fashioning of a Garden or
Orchard; how long, broad, or
high the Beds, Hedges, or
Borders should be cōtrived;
For every man may dispose
it as his House or quantity
of ground requires. And (to
descriptionPage 32
deale freely) I look on such
work as things of more fa∣cility
then what I now am a∣bout.
Every Drawer or Em∣broiderer,
nay (almost) each
Dancing-Master may pre∣tend
to such niceties; in re∣gard
they call for very small
Invention, & lesse learning.
I shall therefore speake to
that which common sear∣chers
passe over, or never
aymed at, being somewhat
above their reach, who neg∣lect
the cause of what they
find effected. Yet I shall be∣gin
with the ground, soile,
or earth it selfe, as the Foun∣dation
of all; still confessing
what light or assistance I
had from those who im∣ployed
their hours this way
as well as my selfe.
descriptionPage 33
2. Break up your ground,* 1.1
and dung it at Michaelmas.
In Januar. turn your ground
three of four times, to min∣gle
your dnng and earth the
better, rooting up the
weeds at every time. Pro∣ved
by Mr. T. T.
3 In winter time,* 1.2 if you co∣ver
the ground which you
meane to break up in the
Spring, with good store of
Fern, it keepeth down grass
and weeds from springing
up in winter, which would
spend some part of the heart
of the ground, and it doth
also inrich the ground very
much, for all manner of
Roots and hearbs. By Mr.
And. Hill. Ashes of Fern are
excellent.
ground with Soot, which
Mr. Stutfield (that married
my Lord North's Brothers
Daughter) assured me to
have found true in pasture
grounds, the same onely
strewed thinly over.
5. Shavings of Horn strew∣ed
upon the ground,* 1.4 or first
rotted in earth, and (after)
that earth spread upon the
ground, maketh a Garden
ground very rich. Probatum
at Bishops Hall, By H. P.
7. The surest way to have
your seeds to grow,* 1.6 is to
sow such as are not above
one year old, T. T.
8. If hearbs be nipped with
the fingers,* 1.7 or clipped, they
descriptionPage 35
will grow to have great
heads. T. T.
9. Chuse such seeds as be
heavy,* 1.8 & white with in, T. T.
10. Swines & Pidgeons
dung are good for potherbs
and sisted ashes laid about
them,* 1.9 killeth Snails,* 1.10 T. T.
11. If you would have Gar∣lick,* 1.11
parsnep, radish, turnep,
carot, &c. to have a large
root, tread down the tops
often, else the sap will run
into the leaves, T. T.
12. Take the cutting of a
Vine from a branch that
spreadeth most in the midst
of the Tree,* 1.12 and not from
the lowest nor the highest
branch, having five or six
joynts from the old stock,
and it would be a cubit
long or more:* 1.13 plant it in
descriptionPage 36
Octob. or March. T. T.
13. Proine not your young
Vines untill they have had
three years growth.* 1.14 T. T.
14. Every slip of a Bay tree
will grow,* 1.15 strip off the great
leaves, and set them in
March when the sap begin∣neth
to rise. T. T.
15. Every plant of an El∣dern
will grow.* 1.16 T. T.
16. First,* 1.17 put some good
fat dung into water, and
therein water your Leekes
one night, and make your
beds of good fat dung, that
the dung may be a foot at
the least in depth: then co∣ver
the bed with Fern, and
set the Leekes with a great
planting stick, and fill not
the holes with earth, but
water them once in two
descriptionPage 37
dayes and no more; after
this maner of setting I have
seen Leekes as great as the
stemme of a spade. T. T.
18. After the Lettice is all
blowen,* 1.19 and some of the
bolles begin to bear a white
poff, then cut off the whole
great stem, and lay it a dry∣ing
in the sun: and when it
is dry, beat it up and down
with thy fist upon a boord,
& put altogether in a dish,
& blow away softly all the
dust.* 1.20T. T. And if you sow or
set your lettice in the shade
they will be very great.
19. When it hath bolles,* 1.21
cut it up, and lay all the
hearb to dry in the shadow
then beat it out. T. T.
descriptionPage 38
20. Strawberries which
grow in woods,* 1.22 prosper
best in Gardens: and if you
will transplant them forth
of one Garden into another
then enrich the last ground
by watering the same either
with Sheeps dung,* 1.23 or Pid∣geons
dung infused in wa∣ter;
by Master Hill.
21. The muske and yellow
Rose,* 1.24 and all those double
and centiple Roses, may
well be grafted in the bud
upon the Sweet-brier. By
Mr. Hill.
22. If you would have
Pompions to grow excee∣ding
great,* 1.25 first plant them
in a rich mold, then trans∣plant
those sets into other
fat mold, watring them
now and then with the wa∣ter
descriptionPage 39
wherein Pidgeons dung
hath been infused, then
take away all the hang-bies,
maintaining only one or
two main runners at the
most, and so you shall have
them grow to an huge big∣nesse.
Proved by Mr. Hill.
You must nip off these side
branches about blossoming
time, with their flowers and
fruits; and take heed you
hurt not the heads of the
main runners, for then your
pompions will prove but
dwindlings.
23. In winter time raise
little hills about your Arti∣chokes
close to the leaves,* 1.26
because they are tender;
and if any extream frosts
should happen, they might
descriptionPage 40
otherwise be in danger to
perish.
23.* 1.27 If you cut away the
old branches of a Muske∣rose,
leaving onely the
shoots of the next year to
bear; these shootes will
bring forth musk roses the
next year, but after all o∣ther
musk-rose trees. By
Mr. Hill.
25.* 1.28 The roots of every
tree and plant, are most full
of sap when their tops or
heads are most green and
flourishing: and when the
bark of the Tree will pill
and loosen from the body,
then will the rind also loo∣sen
from the root; and
when the tops begin to wi∣ther
or stand at a stay, then
doe the rootes likewise.
descriptionPage 41
And therefore that com∣mon
opinion, that rootes
are best and of most force in
Winter, is erroneous. So as
if I should gather any roots,
for the use of Physick or
Surgery, I would gather
them either at their first
putting forth of leaves, or
else between their first
springing, & the springing
up of their branches, when
they begin to encline to∣wards
their flowring. By
A. H.
26.* 1.29 If every evening you
lay a great colewort or cab∣bage
leaf upon the top of
every Artichoke, this will
defend the apple from the
violence of the frost.* 1.30 By
Goodman the Gardiner.
27. A branch of Box or
descriptionPage 42
Rosemary will carry their
leaves gilded a long time
fair,* 1.31 notwithstanding the
violence of rain, if you first
moisten the leaves with the
gum of Mastick, first dissol∣ved
in a hard egge accor∣ding
to art, and leafe-gold
presently laid thereon. Do
this in a Summers day, when
all the dew is ascended, and
when the Sun being hot,
may presently harden the
Mastick, and so bind down
the gold fast unto it. Quaere,
if Myrrhe and Benjamin
will not do the like, dissol∣ved
as before.
28. Make gum water as
strong as for Inke,* 1.32 but make
it with Rose-water; then
wet any growing flower
therewith, about ten of the
descriptionPage 43
clock in a hot Summers
day, and when the Sun shi∣neth
bright, bending the
flower so as you may dip it
all over therein, and then
shake the flower well; or
else you may wet the flow∣er
with a soft callaver pen∣sill,
then strew the fine sear∣ced
powder of double refi∣ned
sugar upon it: do this
with a little box or searce,
whose bottom consisteth of
an open lawn, & having al∣so
a cover on the top; hold∣ing
a paper under each
flower, to receive the sugar
that falleth by: and in three
houres it will candy, or har∣den
upon it; & so you may
bid your friends after din∣ner
to a growing banquet:
or else you maycut off these
descriptionPage 44
ers so prepared, and dry
them after in dishes two or
three dayes in the sun, or by
a fire, or in a stove; and so
they will last six or eight
weeks, happily longer, if
they be kept in a place
where the gum may not re∣lent.
You may doe this also
in Balme, Sage, or Borrage,
as they grow.
29. I hold it for a most de∣licate
and pleasing thing to
have a fair Gallery,* 1.33 great
Chamber or other lodging,
that openeth fully upon the
East or West sun, to be in∣wardly
garnished with
sweet Hearbs and Flowers,
yea and Fruit if it were pos∣sible
For the performance
whereof, I have thought of
these courses following.
descriptionPage 45
First, you may have faire
sweet marjerom, basil, car∣nation,
or rose-mary pots,
&c. to stand loosely upon
faire shelves, which pots
you may let down at your
pleasure in apt frames with
a pulley from your Cham∣ber
window into your
Garden, or you may place
them upon shelves made
without the room, there to
receive the warme sun, or
temperate raine at your
pleasure, now and then
when you see cause. In eve∣ry
window you may make
square frames either of lead
or of bords, well pitched
within: fill them with some
rich earth, and plant such
flowers or hearbs therein as
you like best; if hearbs you
descriptionPage 46
may keep them in the shape
of green borders, or other
forms. And if you plant
them with Rosemary, you
may maintain the same
running up the transumes
and movels of your win∣dowes.
And in the shady
places of the room, you may
prove if such shady plants
as do grow abroad out of
the Sun, will not also grow
there: as sweet Bryars, Bayes,
Germander, &c. But you
must often set open your
Casements, especially in the
day time, which would be
also many in number; be∣cause
flowers delight and
prosper best in the open
aire. You may also hang in
the roof, and about the
sides of this room, small
descriptionPage 47
pompions or Cowcombers,
pricked full of Barley, first
making holes for the Barley
(quaere, what other seeds or
flowers will grow in them
and these will be over∣grown
with green spires,* 1.34 so
as the Pompion or Cow∣comber
will not appear.
And these are Italian fancies
hung up in their rooms to
keep the flies from their
Pictures: in Summer time,
your chimny may be trim∣ed
with a fine bank of moss,
which may be wrought in
works being placed in
earth, or with Orpin, or the
white flower called Ever∣lasting.
And at either end,
and in the middest place
one of your flower or
Rosemary pots, which you
descriptionPage 48
may once a week, or once
every fortnight, expose
now and then to the sunne
and rain, if they will not
grow by watering them
with raiue water; or else,
from platformes of lead o∣ver
your windows, raine
may descend by smal pipes
and so be conveyed to the
roots of your hearbs or
flowers that grow in your
windowes. These pipes
would have holes in the
sides, for so much of them
as is within the earth, and
also holes in the bottome,
to let out the water when
you please in great showers
And if you back the bor∣ders
growing in your win∣dowes
with loose frames to
take off and on, within the
descriptionPage 49
inside of your windows, the
Sun will reflect very strong∣ly
from them upon your
flowers and hearbs. You
may also plant Vines with∣out
the walls, which being
let in at some quarrels, may
run about the sides of your
windows, and all over the
sealing of your rooms. So
may you do with Apricot
trees, or other Plum trees,
spreading them against the
sides of your windowes. I
would have all the pots
wherein any hearbs or
flowers are planted,* 1.35 to have
large loose squares in the
sides; and the bottoms so
made, as they might be ta∣ken
out at ones pleasure,
and fastned by little holes
with wiers unto their pots,
descriptionPage 50
thereby to give fresh earth
when need is to the roots,
and to remove the old and
spent earth, and so in your
windowes: See more of this
in Numb. 30.
30. To have Roses or
Carnations growing in
Winter,* 1.36 place them in a
Room that may some way
be kept warm, either with
a dry fire, or with the steam
of hot water conveyed by a
pipe fastened to the cover
of a pot, that is kept see∣thing
over some idle fire,
now and then exposing
them in a warm day, from
twelve to two, in the Sun,
or to the rain if it happen
to rain; or if it rain not in
convenient time, set your
pots having holes in the
descriptionPage 51
bottom in pans of rain wa∣ter,
& so moisten the roots.
I have known Master
Jacob of the Glassehouse to
have Carnations all the
winter by the benefit of a
room that was neare his
glasse house fire; and I my
self, by nipping off the
branches of Carnations
when they began first to
spire, & so preventing the
first bearing, have had flow∣ers
in Lent, by keeping the
pots all night in a close
room, and exposing them
to the Sun in the day time,
out at the windowes, when
the wather was temperate:
this may be added to the
Garden (mentioned Nu. 20.)
to grace it in winter, if the
roome stand conveniently
descriptionPage 52
for the purpose.
31.* 1.37 You shall oftentimes
preserve the life of a Carna∣tion
or Gilliflower growing
in a pot, that is almost dead
and withered, by breaking
out the bottom of the pot,
and covering the pot in
good earth, & also the old
stalks that spring from the
roots; but every third or
fourth year, it is good to slip
and new set them.
32.* 1.38 If you make an Or∣chard
of dwarf-Trees, suf∣fering
none of them to
grow above a yard high;
then may you strain course
Canvas over your Trees in
the blooming time, especi∣ally
in the nights and cold
mornings, to defend them
from the frosts: And this
descriptionPage 53
Canvas being such as Pain∣ters
use, may after be sold
with the losse onely of a
penny upon the ell. You
may use it onely for Apri∣cots,
and such like rare fruit
whose blossoms are tender;
or else to backward them
after they be knit, if you
would have them to beare
late when all other Trees of
that kind have done bear∣ing.
In this dwarf Orchard
I would have the walks
between the Trees either
pavedwith brick, or gravel∣ed,
and the gravel born up
with bricks, that the sun
might make a strong re∣flection
upon the Trees, to
make them bear the sooner.
And to bring forth the
better digested fruit, I
descriptionPage 54
would also have the plot so
chosen out, that all easterly
and northerly winds may
be avoided by some de∣fence.
I would have it but a
small Orchard; and if it
were walled in, it were
so much the better. Help
this Orchard with the best
artificial earths and waters
that are.* 1.39 I think a Vineyard
may thus be planted, to
bring forth a full, rich, and
ripe Grape: or if you could
happen upon a square pit
of a yard deep, whose banks
are sloaping▪ & whose earth
have been philosophically
prepared (as before Num.
10.) & that your Trees were
bound sloaping to the sides
of your Orchard, and back∣ed
with boards, or lead, for
descriptionPage 55
reflexion, that so your trees
would prosper and beare
most excellent fruit: And to
keep your Trees low, when
your stock is at such height
as you would have it,* 1.40 nip
off all the green bunds when
they come first forth, which
you finde in the top of the
Tree, with your fingers;
and so, as often as any ap∣peare
in the top, nip them
off: and so they will spread
but nor grow tall; even as
by nipping off the side buds
onely, you may make your
Tree to grow streight and
tall, without spreading,
till you see cause: And
thus with your fingers
onely, and vvithout any
toole, you may keep your
young Trees grovving in
descriptionPage 56
what form you please.
33.* 1.41 To have early fruit,
you must have an especial
care to plant or graffe such
fruits, as are the earliest of
all other, and then adde all
artificial helps thereto.
34.* 1.42 Two quarts of Oxe∣bloud
or Horse bloud for
want thereof, tempered
with a hat full of Pidgeons
dung, or so much as will
make it up into a soft paste,
is a most excellent sub∣stance
to apply to the prin∣cipal
roots of any large tree,
fastening the same about
them, after the root of the
Tree hath taken ayr a few
dayes, first, by lying bare:
and it will recover a Tree
that is almost dead,* 1.43 and so
likewise of a Vine. For this
descriptionPage 57
will make a decaying Tree
or Vine to put forth both
blossoms and fruits afresh.
This must be done to the
Tree about the midst of Fe∣bruary,
but apply it to the
Vine about the 3d or 4th of
March. This is of M. Nicholson
Gardiner.
35. Get a load or two of
fresh Horse dung,* 1.44 such as is
not above 8. or 10. dayes
old, or not exceeding four∣teen:
lay it on a heap till it
have gotten a great heat, &
then make a bed thereof an
ell long, and half a yard
broad, and eighteen inches
high, in some sunny place,
treading every Lay down
very hard as you lay it;
then lay thereon three
inches thick of fine black
descriptionPage 58
sifted mold; prick in at eve∣ry
three or four inches di∣stance
a Muske mellon seed,
which hath first bin steeped
twenty four hours in Milk:
prick the top of your bed
full of little forks of wood
appearing some four or five
inches above ground; upon
these forks lay sticks, and
upon the sticks so much
straw in thicknesse, as may
both keep out a reasonable
showre of rain, and also the
sun, & likewise defend the
cold (some strain canvas
slopewise onely over their
beds) let your seeds rest so
untill they appeare above
ground, which will com∣monly
be in six or seven
dayes. You must watch
them carefully when they
descriptionPage 59
first appeare; for then you
must give them an howers
sunne in the morning, and
another in the afternoon;
then shall you have them
shoot an inch and a halfe
by the next morning; then
strew more fine earth about
each stalk of such plants as
have shot highest, like a lit∣tle
hill to keep the Sun from
the stalks: for if the Sun
catch them, they perish; and
therefore you shal often see
the leaves fresh, when the
stalks wither. Heighten
your hills, as you shall per∣ceive
the stalk to shoot
higher and higher. The
plants must remain till they
have gotten four leaves,* 1.45
and then remove them, ta∣king
up earth and dung to∣gether
descriptionPage 60
carefully about eve∣ry
root: make a hole fit for
every of them good
ground, placing them (if
the ground serve) upon an
high slope bank, which ly∣eth
aptly for the morning
sun, if you may; let this
bank be covered with field
sand two inches thick all
over, except neare about
the plants (this ripeneth &
enlargeth the fruit greatly)
then cover each plant with
a sugar pot, gilliflower pot,
or such like, having a hole
in the bottom; or else prick
in two sticks acrosse, arch∣wise,
and upon them lay
some great leaves to keep
your plants from rain, sun
and cold. After they have
been planted a day or two,
descriptionPage 61
you may give them two
houres sun in the morning,
and two in the evening, to
bring them forward, but,
till they have stood 14.
dayes, be sure to cover
them from 12 to 4 in the
afternoon every day, and
all night long. These pots
defend the cold, and keep
out all worms from spoyl∣ing
your plants; and there∣fore
are much better then
leaves. Note, that you must
defend them in this manner
in the day time, until your
plants have gotten leaves
broad enough to cover
their stalks and roots, from
all injury of weather; and
then may you leave them
to the hot Sun all the day
long.
〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
descriptionPage 60
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descriptionPage 61
descriptionPage 62
If there be cause, you
must with rain water, wa∣ter
them now and then, but
not wetting the leaves. And
if by any exceeding cold, or
moysture, your plants doe
not shoot forward suffici∣ently,
but seem to stand at
a stay, then take some
blood and pidgeons dung
tempered (as before in Num.
34.) apply the same to the
roots of the young plant;
leaving some earth betwixt
the roots, and the same will
make them to shoot out ve∣ry
speedily. Remember to
plant three plants toge∣ther
ther in each place, being
round, and a little deep,
and of the bignesse of a
round trencher. Now when
they have shot out all
descriptionPage 63
their joynts (which you
shall perceive when you see
a knot at the very end of
the shoot, which is some∣what
before the flowring
time) then some do use to
cover every knot, or joynt,
with a spade or shovel
full of fine and rich earth;
and thereby each knot will
root, and put forth a new
shoote (quaere, of the same
course in Pompions or
Cowcumbers) by means
whereof you shall have
great increase of Mel∣lons.* 1.46
When your Mellons are
as big as Tennis Balls, then
if you nip off at a joynt, all
the shoots that are beyond
them,* 1.47 the Mellons will
grow exceeding great; for
descriptionPage 64
then the sap doth not run
any more at waste. But some
hold, that you shall have
greater Mellons though not
so many, if you suffer their
shoots to run on without
earthing the knots; and
then, when when you see
your Mellons of the bigness
of Tennis balls (as before)
then nip off, at a joynt, all
the shoots that are beyond
the Mellons, but meddle
not with the chief runner.
This of Mr. Nicholson Gardi∣ner.
Lay your young Mel∣lons
upon Ridge-tiles, to
keep them frō the ground,
and for reflection.
36. Make a high bank,
slopewise like a penthouse,* 1.48
that openeth to the Sun,
and is by some means de∣fended
descriptionPage 65
from all hurtfull
winds: plant your Straw∣berries
therein, and water
them with the infusion of
some apt dung, now and
then, when the weather is
dry.
37. Bow down the bran∣ches
of Roses,* 1.49 having buds
upon them, into a vessel of
wood pitched, standing
within the ground, to keep
them long upon the stalk,
or to prevent frosts if you
see cause.
38. Quaere,* 1.50 What Pigeons
dung and bloud, applyed
to the rootes of Roses, or
Carnations, will do, in the
forwarding of their bea∣ring.
39. Plant Roses,* 1.51 accor∣ding
to the manner set
descriptionPage 66
down for Strawberries
before (Num: 36.) to have
them before all others.
40. Make a Lay of sand,
and a lay of carot rootes,* 1.52
cutting away the toppes
close to the root, with some
of the small ends of the ca∣rots;
do this in October or
Novemb: in dry weather:
and about the last of De∣cember
where there is no
frost, unpack them againe;
and if you will then keep
them longer, you must pare
off the shooting at the up∣per
end of the root, and
then lay them in sand. This
out of Gardiners Kitchin-Garden,
printed 1599. So of
Parsneps and Turneps.
41. Quaere,* 1.53 If binding the
bark somewhat hard with
descriptionPage 67
a packthred, or rather with
Brawn-bands,* 1.54 will not keep roses, and other flow∣ers
and fruits, long from
blowing, by staying the sap
from rising.
42. To have rootes pros∣per
and grow great,* 1.55 you
must trench your dung a∣bout
the depth of your
root which you would
sow; and if the root once
get into the dung, then it
forketh, and gathereth fi∣bras,
whereas otherwise it
will grow wholly into a
long, round, and fair root,
of Mr. Andr. Hill
43. But if you desire to
multiply your seed,* 1.56 not
respecting the rootes, then
mix your dung first well
rotted with good mold,
descriptionPage 68
and therein sow your seeds
and they will encrase
much: so as for seeds the
dung must lye in the top,
and for roots in the bot∣tom
By Mr. Andr. Hill
43. Gather your carot or
parsnep seeds &c.* 1.57 from the
highest spiring brances,
and out of some friends
Garden, where you may be
sure of the best; sow these
seeds about March, or A∣pril:
and at drawing time
choose the fairest roots of
all other; cut off their tops
somewhat low, and set
them againe, and then let
them seed the next yeare;
then take the seedes from
the highest toppes and sow
them, and so shall you have
most faire and large roots.
descriptionPage 69
This of Master Hunt, the
good horseman.
44. Take off the tops as
far as the green goeth,* 1.58viz.
till you come to the wood,
from Carnations, Gilliflow∣ers,
&c. slit them upward
thorough the nethermost
joynt, thrusting between
the joyns some fine sear∣ced
earth, made first into
pap; and with the same pap
close the ends round about
as big as a Walnut: make
holes in your pots, and put
in your tops so earthed;
these do seldome or never
faile. By Minisris Hill. Also,
the old root is here preser∣ved,
and you may carry
these tops thus earthed 100
miles in a box.* 1.59Quaere, if this
secret will not also extend
descriptionPage 70
to stock Gilliflowers, Wall∣flowers,
&c.
45. Cut off a bought from
any tree; and two inches
from the bottom,* 1.60 take a∣way
the bark round about,
prick it into the ground,
and it will grow. Quaere.
46. In the end of Fe∣bruary
or March,* 1.61 wet the
ground first, and about
eight or nine of the clocke
at night, by candle-light,
gather up all the Wormes
in dishes, and so you may
destroy them.
47. A Rich mold for a
Garden:* 1.62 See among the
Trees. Numb: 29.
48. Set or sow Kernells
in November,* 1.63 Nuts in Fe∣bruary,
stones of fruit in
March, all in the increase
descriptionPage 71
of the Moon.
49. Quaere,* 1.64 Of graffing ro∣ses,
the splicing way, and
so of thyme, rosemary, hy∣sope,
&c. to be graffed in
this manner, either one up∣on
another, or graffing
them upon the boughes or
branches of trees, if happi∣ly
they will take.
50. Whether the colour,
sent,* 1.65 or tast, may be altered
in a Flower or Hearb, by
Art, see the Title, Trees and
Plants, numb: 90.
51. Instead of privy hed∣ges
about a quarter,* 1.66 I com∣mend
a Fence made with
lath or sticks, thinly placed
and after graced with
dwarf apple, and plumme
Trees, spred abroad upon
the stick.
descriptionPage 72
52. When you would
have a strong and speedy
White-thorne hedge about
your garden,* 1.67 set your plant
high and sloping, and not
flat, after the common man∣ner.
Prick in the cut∣tings,
with the slope side
downward, that the rain
may not get in between
the Wood and the Bark.
Weed these hedges twice
every yeare, and as the
sprowts doe grow of some
length, let them be platted,
or brayded upward from
the ditch; defend them
from Cattell with a dry or
dead hedge.
53 Let Carnations or
Gilliflowers shed their
leaves,* 1.68 and leave the cods
standing upon the root
descriptionPage 73
till the end of October, v••z.
so long as you may for the
danger of frost: then cut
off the stems with the cods
upon them; stick them up∣right
in some dry place in
an upper roome, and so let
them rest untill the Spring,
then sow them. Your Car∣nation
seed will prove faire
large pink, and beare in
Carnation time; by S.
54. Your Coleflower seed
will not ripen till Michael∣mas,
* 1.69 or a week after; let it
stand so long or longer, if
you feare not frost, before
you gather the seeds, which
grow in yellow cups; and
being ripe, are also yellow
themselves.
Be sure you gather the
cups before the seedes be
descriptionPage 74
shed; put these seeds with
their cups or cods in a box,
but cover not the box, and
keep the box in some place
from the frost; prick them
in about the full of the
Moon in Aprill, when cold
weather is spent: remove
them when they have got∣ten
four leaves, and in the
full of the Moon in any
case. Remove some of them
in severall moneths,* 1.70 and so
you may save them grow∣ing
with Coleflowers till
Christmas. Your ground
cannot be too rich for
them; the best removing is
not till June and July, and
those of least growth, are
best to remove late, to bear
in Winter. Cover each
Coleflower in frosty wea∣ther,
descriptionPage 75
every night with two
of their great leaves, fastned
in two places, with two
woodden pricks. Do this
also in cold gloomy dayes,
when the sun shineth not.
55. Graft the branches of
Carnations the splicing
way,* 1.71 as in small twigges of
Trees, placing upon each
branch a severall coloured
flower, but let the branches
which you graft, be wood∣dy
enough. By S.
56. Cause large Carnati∣on
pot to be made,* 1.72viz.
double in bignesse to the
usuall pots, let them have
ranks of sloping holes, of
the bignesse of ones finger,
each rank one inch distant
from another. Set in the
midst of the pot a Carna∣tion,
descriptionPage 76
or a Lilly, and in eve∣ry
of the holes, a plant of
thyme or hysop; keep the
thyme or hysop as it grow∣eth,
even with clipping, or
in the forme of frets or bor∣ders,
and set these pots up∣on
faire pillars in your Gar∣den,
to make a beautifull
shew.* 1.73 Also, you may ei∣ther
of stone or wood, make
Pyramides, losinges, circles,
pentagons, or any forme of
beast or fowle, in wood, or
burnt clay, full of slope
holes (as before) in Gilli∣flower
pots; these being
planted with hearbes, will
very speedily grow greene,
according to the forme
they are planted in: And in
this manner may you in
two yeares space, make a
descriptionPage 77
high pyramid of thyme, or
rosemary. In hot weather,
they would be shaded with
some strained canvas from
the sun,* 1.74 and watered now
and then by some artificiall
meanes. Also, a fret or
border may be cut out in
wood or lead,* 1.75 and after
placed in a Garden when
the hysope or thyme sides
are growne to some height
to be let thorough the cuts,* 1.76
and alwayes after kept by
clipping, according to the
worke of the border, or
fret: let the earth settle
well before you sow your
seeds;* 1.77 water with an infusi∣on
of dung, or good earth,
because otherwise the earth
within your molds will
spend, and then your plants
will decay.
descriptionPage 78
57. Sow English Annis
seeds when the Moon is at
the full in February,* 1.78 or any
time between the full and
the change: if frosts will
not suffer you to take the
full Moon, hatch them in∣to
the ground, with a rake
stricken thick upon them:
then strew new hors-dung
thinly upon the ground,
to defend the seedes from
the frost. These will ri∣pen
about Bartholomewtide;
then respecting the Moon
as before, sow againe, and
these seeds will be ripe soo∣ner
then those which were
sowen in February. These
seeds will also come up
well, being self-sowen, only
break up the ground a∣bout
them when they be∣gin
descriptionPage 79
to ripen. That ground
which you would sow in
February, breake up about
Michaelmas; let it lye and
crumble all the Winter:
then when you meane to
sow, stir it up againe, that
it may be mellow; for, the
mellower the better. A
black rich mellow ground
is best, and they like well
in a rich dunged ground:
Proved by S.
58. Having well earthed
your Artichocks, then strew
upon them some fresh hors∣dung,* 1.79
one inch in thick∣nesse,
and so leave them all
the winter: By 23. 56.
59.* 1.80 Sow Onion seeds in
February within eight
dayes after the full at the
farthest (but the neerer the
descriptionPage 80
full, the better, so all will
go to seed, or head, and
not grow to scallions: after
you have sowed them, co∣ver
them as you did your
Annis seeds, before in Num.
57. By S.
60. Sow the early Pease
as neer Midsommer as the
Moon will suffer,* 1.81 if you
would have them come a∣bout
six weekes after Mi∣chaelmas:
but if you would
have them ripe in May,
then sow them in the be∣ginning
of September,
somewhat before or after,
as the Moon will give you
leave: at the full is good,
or three dayes before the
full, and till eight dayes af∣ter
the full, is also good:
these will be ripe in May.
descriptionPage 81
Make your holes about one
inch and a halfe deepe,
wherein you set your pease;
let the ground be rich, mel∣low,
and ordered, as before,
(numb. 57.) in Annis seeds;
beare them up with stickes,
as they doe the Garden∣pease;
cover them after
they be set with new hors∣dung
about halfe an inch
thick, all over; and (if you
may possibly) plant them
so, as that they may be de∣fended
from the North,
and Northeast, by reason of
some hedge or wall. Quaere,
of covering them with un|
sleakt lime powdered, after
they have been steeped in
some apt liquor a conveni∣ent
time; by S.
in February, respecting the
Moon as in Annis seedes,
(Num: 57) but they need no
dunging: By S.
62.* 1.83 In Aprill make a deep
overthwart cut or gash into
a Briony root, taking away
the earth first from it; put
in a Goos-quill a little un∣der
the slit, sloping the
quill at the end which you
thrust into the root: but first
make a hole with your
knife to get in the quill,
and so you may gather
great store of the water of
Briony, placing a Receiver
under the quill; By S.
63.* 1.84Quaere, If one may
not prevent the early bud∣ding
of the Rose, by cross∣hacking
the bark (as in
trees to kill mosse, or to
descriptionPage 83
stay their sap from rising.)
65.* 1.85 You may multiply
many rootes from a pro∣vince
rose, and the double
musk-rose, (quaere, of Car∣nations)
if you buy a graf∣ted
rose tree, that hath got∣ten
many sprowts from the
place graffed, and setting
the root so as the body
may lye sloping neer the
earth: then lay as many of
the branches as you may
conveniently into the
earth, loosing every slip a
little from the body, and
pricking with an aule a∣bout
the joynt that is next
the slip, from whence many
sprowts will issue. And
thus may you have great
store of Province roses
without graffing in the bud,
descriptionPage 84
because each of them stan∣deth
upon his owne roote;
whereas the bud is maintai∣ned
from one Roote, whch
also maintaineth many o∣ther
branches. By S. See before
in numb. 53.
65.* 1.86 Put some of your
seeds in a sawcer of faire
water, set it a while upon a
Chafingdish of Coales; and
if they be good, they will
sprowt in a short time, else
not.
66. Quaere,* 1.87 In what time
seeds may be made to grow
in earth, moystened with
warme water now and
then, and the same placed
in a warme roome, over a
Fornace, with a small tem∣perate
heate under the
same.
descriptionPage 85
67. Remove a Plant of
stock gilliflowers when it
is a little woodded,* 1.88 and not
too greene, and water it
presently; doe this three
dayes after the full, and re∣move
it twice more before
the change. Doe this in
barren ground, and like∣wise
three dayes after the
new full Moone, remove
againe; and then remove
once more before the
change: Then at the third
full Moon, viz. eight dayes
after, remove againe, and
set it in very rich ground,
and this will make it to
bring forth a double flower;
but if your stock-gilliflow∣ers
once spindle, then you
may not remove them. Al∣so,
you must shade your
descriptionPage 86
plant with boughs for three
or foure dayes after the
first removing; and so of
Pinks, Roses, Daysies, Fea∣therfew,
&c. that grow
single with long standing.
In removing, breake not
the least root. Make Tu∣lipees
double in this man∣ner.* 1.89
Some think by cutting
them at every full Moone
before they beare, to make
them at length to beare
double. Num: 71.
68. By sitting upon a hill
late in an evening,* 1.90 neere a
Wood, in a few nights a
fire drake will appeare;
marke where it lighteth,
and there you shall finde an
Oake with Misletoe there∣in,
at the Root whereof
there is a Misell-childe,
descriptionPage 87
whereof many strange
things are conceived.* 1.91Beati
qui non crediderunt.
69. Gather your Grapes
at the full of the Moon,* 1.92 and
when they are full ripe, slip
each bunch from the stocke
whereupon it grew, and
hang those bunches along
by beames, in the roofe of a
warme chamber, that doth
not open to the East, or to
the North, and these will
keepe plump and fresh till
our Lady day, or therea∣bout:
or else with every
bunch, cut off some of the
stock whereupon the stalke
grew, and then hang up the
bunches. Both these wayes
be true; By S.
70. Make a ••••••tle square
or round hole in a Tree,* 1.93 or
descriptionPage 88
in some great arme there of,
of halfe an inch, or an inch
deep, fill it with earth, sow
therein some Rosemary
seeds, Wall-flower, Carna∣tion,
or other seeds; and
these will grow first in the
earth, and after root in the
sap of the Trees, and seeme
in time as if they were
graffed.
71. Remove both double
and single stock-gilliflow∣ers,* 1.94
when they are halfe a
foot high, and then they
will stand six or seaven
yeares: whereas otherwise
they will decay very spee∣dily:
See before, Num. 67.
72. If you remove any
rooted plants of Hearbe or
flower,* 1.95 though it be some∣what
forward in the Sum∣mer,
descriptionPage 89
so as you do it in the
evening, after the heat is
past; and plant it present∣ly,
and water it, there is no
danger of the parching heat
of the sun the next day.
But in any case heave up
the Earth with the Root
carefully, so as you do not
breake the least sprigge of
any root; for then the sap
goeth out of the Plant, and
it perisheth. This way you
may recover great Gilli∣flower
rootes, and others,
without danger; by S.
73. Cut your Roses,* 1.96 after
they have done bearing, so
soone as the Moone will
give you leave, viz. the
fourth, fift, or sixt day after
the change, and so you shall
have store of Roses againe
descriptionPage 90
about Michaelmas, or after.
Take heed you cut no
branch of a Rose so low, as
that you leave no leading
branches upon it: for that
will hinder the bearing of
the Roses exceedingly. It is
also good in the after-said
dayes after the change,* 1.97 to
cut any Hedge, Arbour, &c.
to make it grow the better:
By S.
74. If you would have
Peascods before all men,* 1.98
sow the early pease in Au∣gust,
three dayes before the
full Moon, or within six
dayes after, and these will
come very early; By S.
75. How to plant the
Gelderland rose,* 1.99 see among
Trees and Plants, Numb:
119.
descriptionPage 91
76. How to have Onion
seeds,* 1.100 Annis seeds, and other
seedes, to keepe full and
plump, see among Trees:
Numb: 135.
77. Sow at every wane
before Midsommer,* 1.101 to
have Radishes unseeded,
and one under another;
but at Midsommer wane
so we Radish, Spynage, &c.
but once, to grow till win∣ter
unseeded; Proved by
Tomkins the Gardner.
78. The double Piony,* 1.102
and Flowerdeluce, will
grow of their own seed. By
Tomkins.
79. Lime beaten to pow∣der,* 1.103
and mixed with corne
before it be sowen, preven∣teth
Rookes, and other
fowle, from devouring the
descriptionPage 92
same. By my Cousin Mathews
of Wales; Quaere, If it do not
also help to enrich.
80. Gather you Grapes, as
before,* 1.104num. 69. dry them in a
stove, till the faint water be
spent, and so you may keep
them all the yeare for your
table. Quaere, If they will not
plump up againe at any
time in warm water. Quaere,
of drying all manner of ap∣ples,
plummes, peares, &c.
this way, for lasting. Before
numb. 69.
81. As soone as your
Strawberries have done
bearing,* 1.105 cut them down to
the ground; and as often as
they spire, crop them, till
towards the Spring, when
you would have them to
proceed towards bearing:
descriptionPage 93
now and then as you cut
them, strew the fine pow∣der
of dryed Cow-dung
(quaere of Pidgeons dung)
upon them, and water
them when there is cause.* 1.106
Field strawberries, this
way, will grow two inches
about in bignesse, as I am
credibly enformed. Enrich
Carnation pots this way.
82. To water your pyra∣mides,* 1.107
pentagons, globes,
beasts, &c. made of wood,
or lead, and overgrowne
with hearbes, as before in
num. 56. let there be placed
a long and large pipe of
Lead, or tinne plate, reach∣ing
from the bottome to the
top; let the bottome be so∣dred
up, and let it have di∣vers
holes in the sides, at a
descriptionPage 94
reasonable distance: then
have an exceeding large
funnell of tin plate, to let in
to the pipe at your pleasure
to receive so much raine as
will water the same suffici∣ently;
and when it raineth
not, you may also water
thereby with some rain∣water
kept of purpose.
83. Quaere, If Pompions
planted in large pots,* 1.108 will
not grow and beare fruit:
for then you may have an
Arbour of them in an open
tarras, leades, or gutter, ha∣ving
a frame to support the
fruit. Enrich the earth; as
before, Numb. 83. now and
then, to nourish the plant
the better.
84. Quaere,* 1.109 If Musk-mel∣lons
will not grow, and
descriptionPage 95
beare in such pots, for so in
a Leads or tarras, the sunne
will shine shrongly upon
them; and you may defend
frosts and cold winds by
streining of canvas: water
the pots with raine water
put into other pannes,
wherein you may place
these pots when you want
raine.
85. cut you Roses when
they are ready to bud in an
apt time of the Moon,* 1.110 and
they will begin to bud,
when other Roses have
done bearing: this is an
excellent secret, if frosts
happen in budding time:
for so may you have store of
Roses, when others shall
have few or none, and may
then be sold at a high rate.
descriptionPage 96
This I proved the 18th. of
March 1606. being a few
dayes after the change, up∣on
divers standards at Bed∣nal-green,
being extreame∣ly
nipped with frosts, in
budding time; and many
of them did yeeld me great
store of Roses, when the
rest of my Garden did in a
manner fail.
86.* 1.111 Cut your Rose-stan∣dards
in the twelve dayes,
and not before: so they will
beare exceeding well. Pro∣ved
often by Garret the Apo∣thecary,
and Pigot the Gar∣dener.
87.* 1.112 Towards Winter,
new earth your Gilliflow∣ers,
Carnations; and such
other flowers as you would
defend from the violence
descriptionPage 197
of Winter; then whelme
carnation pots that are bot∣tomlesse
upon them, or ha∣ving
a great hole in the bot∣tom:
and by this meanes,
neither the sharp windes,
nor the frost, can easily
pearce to their roots. I hold
this to be a good course for
the defence of Artichokes* 1.113
in Winter.
88.* 1.114 You may keep bun∣ches
of Grapes that are
sound and well gathered,
in stone pots, covering
them carefully, with sand.
descriptionPage 98
TO choose ground for a Hop-Garden,
you must be sure it bee not a moorish
or wet soyle (though such perhaps may
content a wild Hop) but a dry ground, if
it be rich, mellow, and gentle, is absolutely
best. Yet a light mold (though never so
rich) is unapt for this purpose, for the hea∣viest
ground will bear the greatest weight
of Hops. Place your Garden so as the Sun
may have free accesse to it, either all day,
or warmest part of the day. It must be guar∣ded
also from the wind, either naturally
defended by hills, which is best; or arti∣ficially
by Trees: but your Trees must
stand aloofe, lest the shadow of them reach
the Hops, or drop wet upon them, which
will destroy all. About the end of March,
or beginning of April, take your roots from
some Garden where they are yearly cut,
and where the hills are raised high (for
there the roots will be greatest) let each
root be nine or ten inches long, let there be
three joynts in every root, and of the last
yeer's springing; but be sure no wild hops
cumber the ground, which cannot be di∣stinguished
by the root, but by the fruit, or
stalk.