Systema horti-culturæ, or, The art of gardening in three books ... / by J. Woolridge, gent.

SECT. I. Of Perennial Greens, and such Plants that cannot endure Cold.

AS in the former part of this Treatise we began at the more hardy Winter Greens, so here it will be not unproper to observe the same order. And as there we named the fa∣mous Cypress first, so here shall we begin with the most beloved odoriferous Myrtle, so highly esteem'd by Romans, the great Admirers of Rarities, before the Foundation of Rome: That the sweet perfume thereof when burn'd, be∣came an Attonement for the Offence the Ro∣mans had committed in ravishing the Sabine Virgins. And its Sacred Branches (being first consecrated I suppose) were sufficient to puri∣fie them from so Venial a Sin. In memory of which Offence, and Satisfaction, on that very place the zealous Romans then erected a Sacrd Temple dedicated to Venus Cloacina, the God∣dess of such pleasures and patroness of the in∣nocent Myrtle. Myrtle Trees were also by the same Romans planted and propagated as O∣mens or Prognosticks of good or evil to their State and Government. So superstitious were they ever esteemed.

In Pliny's time there was an old Temple and Altar that had been consecrated to Venus Myr∣tea.

Cato mentioned the Conjugal Myrtle, which Pliny supposes to have proceeded from that which was dedicated to Venus Cloacina, and used it seems in their Marriages.

Pliny attributes a strange effect to it, that if a man hath a great Journey to go on foot, and carry in his hand a Stick or Rod of the Myrtle-Tree, he should not be weary nor think his day long and tedious: It's probable its opera∣tions are more vigorous in such places where it naturally delights, than here where a kind of force is put upon it. But we here in England can second this Vertue in that of an Elder-stick, which if a young Horseman carry in his poc∣ket, although he ride hard and far, yet shall he not be galled; as some affirm.

There are several sorts of Myrtles here known in England; there is the broad leav'd Myrtle, and the narrow leav'd Myrtle, both very fine sweet smelling Shurbs; but the most elegant is that which in the Autumn affords such plenty of double white Blossoms, being a Plant very worthy the care of the most ingenious Florist, and are not so great a vexation as delight; what∣ever Mr. Rea's opinion is, Rapinus seems to be of another.

Despise not humbler Plants, for they no less, Than Trees, your Gardens Beauty do increase. With what content we look on Myrtle-Groves!

They are not so tender but an easie defence will make them endure hard Winters. I have

known many Trees planted on Borders, endure several Winters, that have not been over se∣vere, and never in the greatest extremity re∣quired but a Tilt from the Wind and Snow.

The Plants produced from Layers are the most hardy, those from Seeds the most tender, the same it is with most odoriferous Herbs, as Thyme, Marjerom, Hysop, &c.

If planted in Pots or Boxes they are easily removed into your more open Green Houses, or Vaults,

There is a sort of Myrtle with a large Leaf called Spanish Myrtle, that will endure all Weather without shelter.

There are the Indian yellow, and the Spanish white Jassemines that are very curious Shrubs, and yield most fragrant Flowers, equalling al∣most the Orange-flowers, and deserve a place in your more open Green House or Vault, where a mean defence will preserve them from the too great severity of the Winter.

Cytisus Maranthe lunatus, is a Plant sown as ordinarily in the Asian Territories, as common Pulse are here, and is both Branch and Seed, the best Food for all their Cattel, and is a great encreaser of Milk in Beasts as well as in Women, but here with us preserved as a rari∣ty in Pots or Cases, and so to be disposed in great Colds, into the Conservatory.

The Oelander or Rose-bay, is a Plant bearing some of them blush, and some white Flowers, and will prosper if secured from the most vio∣lent cold, as the other beforementioned Plants are.

The same may be said of Laurus Indica, al∣though as yet a great stranger.

The Maracoc, usually termed the Passion-flower, from the Thorns and pointed Leaves it hath representing the Thorns werewith our Saviour was Crowned, and Nails where∣with he was nailed to the Cross as the Au∣thors of the name imagined.

This Plant increaseth much by Cions na∣turally growing from it, and if the Root be preserved from the extremity of the Frost, it will yield many beautiful Flowers yearly in August.

Snails as naturally affect this Plant, as they do the Fruit of the Nectarine Tree, and as Cats do the Marum Syriacum and therefore care must be taken to defend it from them.

Ornithogalon or the Star-flower of Arabia, which yieldeth a beautiful Flower in May, as that of Aethiopia in August, must be preserved as the other plants.

The Indian flowring Reed, if often watered and secured in the Winter, yields store of Flo∣wers, but the Indian Fig is a very low Plant growing one Leaf on another, and is there∣fore called Leaf upon Leaf, and only preserved in the Winter for the rarity of it, no Plant in Nature being like it.

The Male Cistus is a plant of no great e∣steem, yet preserved for the rarity thereof, as is the Cistus Ledon.

The Indian Jucca not only affordeth us its sharp-pointed Flag-like Leaves, but sometimes its beautiful Flower, and is preserved only for the rarity thereof, and usually prescribed to be defended from the Winter cold, but by some affirmed to endure the most severe Wea∣ther.

Periploca or Virginian Silk, of little value, is much of the same nature, for the defence of those Plants which only suffer in extream Colds; a slight Shelter may serve, either as they stand abroad in their proper places, or by removing them into some Garden-House, not so close as the Conservatory for the more tender Plants ought to be.

Or a Vault or Cave may be made a little within the surface of the Earth, about the edges wereof may be disposed as you think fit your several Pots or Boxes.

Or you may sink a hole for each single Pot or Box, so that the Plant may be a little be∣low the surface of the ground, over which an ordinary Shelter from the Wet may serve, or if you sink it deeper, it will defend your Plant the better.

For as the Earth in the Summer preserves Plants, or what else you place therein, cool from the scorching Rayes of the Sun, so doth it from the extremity of Cold in the Winter: Neither hath the Wind, or Morning Air in that Season, so great an advantage over a Plant thus posited, as it hath if it be on a level.

Notes

• Of the Myrtle.
• Cloacina.
• Of the In∣dian Jasse∣mine, and Spanish Jassemine.
• Of Cytisus Lunatus.
• Oelander.
• Indian Bay.
• Maracoc.
• Star-flower of Arabia, and of E∣thiopia.
• Indian Reed, and Indian Fig.
• Cistus Mas.
• Jucca.
• Virginian Silk.