The fittest seasons for sowing of seeds.
TO prescribe Rules according to our Climate, to tha• of VIR∣GINIA, may have much of affection, but without all perad∣ventures, little of Wisdome. Wee must therefore seeke for a nea∣rer correspondence in parallells. Having therefore seene some let∣ters of an ancient date written by Frenchmen, then employed in VIRGINIA, to their Intrusters, wherein they confesse that of all the Provinces of FRANCE: None came so neare to that noble Countrey, as LANGUEDOCK and PROVENCE, two of the Eyes of that Kingdome, abounding withall the delights and deli∣cacy Page 72 that ITALY can pretend to, or SPAIN• boast of; I could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition, of plan∣ting and replanting, might in some measure correspond with that place where the English are now s•ated, and having seene a regu∣lar distribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing, grafting• and other offices belonging to the industrious Lovers of Agriculture; I should both unsatisfie my owne conscience, and disoblige that Countrey, and its Christian Inhabitants, if I did not publish it with the same resentment of affection I received it; not that any should bee so pinioned to these Precepts, that neither wea∣ther, inconveniency, or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them: But I speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the sea∣sons according to these prescriptions will sort well with V•RGI∣NIA in generall, and the Planters in particular, to whom it is in∣tended, and indeed it is as exact • Directory as any yet published.
I am not ignorant that Criticks will laugh at this; much good doe it them• and why so many Moneths for the same seed? W•y so many Repetitions? My Exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early, but their continuance: Will it offend him that wee have Ar•ichokes in May? and July both? Be∣cause wee may have Cabbage, Lettuse in April, shall wee bee for∣bidden to have any in May: the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen, and in what Moneth and Moone, if hee apprehend it not; I can send him to no Moneth, but that of June, nor Moone, but that of Midsommer.
Page 73He that will sow seed, must know that,
- Som• may 〈◊〉•owen at a•• times of the Moneth and Moone, as,
- Asparagus,
- Colewort of all sorts,
- Spinage,
- Lettuse,
- Pa•s•ips,
- Reddish.
- Others would be sowed in a certaine Moneth and Moone• as there must bee sowen in February, the Moone being —
- New
- Full
- Spike
- Ga•like
- B••age
- Bug••sse
- Ch••use
- Cori•nder
- G•urds
- W•ter ••esses
- M•••••ne
- Pa•ma Christi
- Flower gen•le
- W•ite Poppy
- Pu•s•ane
- Radish
- R••ket
- Rosemary
- Sorrell
- Double Marigold
- Thyme.
- Anise
- Viole••
- B•ites
- Ski•worts
- Wh•te Succory
- F•n•〈◊〉
- P•••l•y.
- H••y •histle
- Cole Cabbage
- White Cole
- Green Cole
- Cucumbe••
- H•rts-horn•
- Samp•••
- D••rs graine
- Spinage
- Cabbage-Lettuce
- M•l•••
- Onions
- La•ke•-he•le
- Burnet
- Leekes.
- Old
Page 74Sow in March the Moone being,
- New
- Full
- Garlick
- Borage
- Cher•ile
- Cori•nder
- Gourds
- M•joran•
- White Poppy
- Pu•s•in•
- Radish
- Sorr•ll
- Double Marigold
- Thyme
- Violets.
- Anise
- Blee•s
- Skirwor•s
- Succory
- •en••ll
- Apples of Love
- Marvellous Apples.
- Artichoke•
- Basil
- Thi••le•
- Blessed Thi••le
- Col• Cabbage
- White Cole
- Greene Cole
- Citron•
- Cucumbers
- Harts-horne
- Sampire
- Di•rs grain•
- Spinage
- G•lly• flowers
- Hyf•op
- Cabbage Lettuse
- Melons
- Onyons
- Flower gentle
- Burnet
- Leeke•
- Sav••y.
- Old
Sow in April the Moon being
- New
- Majorane
- Flower gentle
- Thyme
- Violet••
- Full
- Apples of Love
- Marvellous Apples.
- Old
- Artichokes
- Cabbage Cole
- Citrons
- Harts-horne
- Sampire
- Gilly flower•.
In May in the old of the Moon Blessed Thi•le.
In June th• Moone
- New
- Go•rds
- Radishes.
- Old
- Melo•s
- Cucumbers.
In Jul• the Moone
- Full
- White Succory
- Cabbage Lettu•e.
- Old
- White Succory
- Cabbage Lettu•e.
In August the Moone being Full White Succory.
Page 75Herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted at all times, except Chervils, Arrage, Spinage, and Persely, which are nothing worth when they are transplanted; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist, rainy weather, otherwise they must bee very diligently watered.
You may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is d•u∣ble, in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe, full, hea∣vy, firme, grosse, and of a good colour, not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises.
Some grow bettter of new seedes, as Leeks, Cucumbers.
Others grow better of old seeds, as Coriander, Persley, Savory, Beets, Origanum, Cresses, Spinage, Poppey.
Further observe, that you must preserve from cold, Lettuses, Ar∣tichokes, Basill, Cabbage Cole, Diers graine, Melons, fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth.
Make •ccount that seedes thrive and prosper much better, when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the ex∣treames of cold and heate, then in hot, cold or dry dayes.
Bee pleased to remember, that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather, in the Wane of the Moone.
They must be kept
- some in
- Boxes of wood, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- Bagges of Leather, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- Vessels of Earth, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- others, as
- Onions, In their Huske.
- Chibols, In their Huske.
- Leeks, In their Huske.
- •o do regularly, we sho•ld
- Plant in the la•• of the Moone.
- Gather Grafts in the la•t but one of the Moone.
- Graft two dayes af∣ter the change of the Moone.
