The garden of pleasure containing several draughts of gardens, both in embroyder'd-ground-works, knot-works of grass, as likewise in wildernesses, and others : with their cuts in copper / by Andrew Mollet.

After the Ground-works in Embroidery, follow the Compartiments of Turff-work, and of Flowers, which, being kept as they ought to be, will make a glorious shew; they are more proper for this Country then any other Country of the World, by reason that the Gardeners are more ex∣pert and skilful in laying and keeping of Turff then any other Country Gardiners. Nevertheless, since it may be this Books fate to cross the Sea, we shall give some short directions to the Out landish Gardiners, how to chuse the fittest Turff for this use, as also how to keep and order it after the English manner.

In the first place, that Turff must be chosen on which Sheep commonly feed, which ought to be free from all other Herbs, except Camomile; then you must have a slicer with along and crooked handle, to cut the said Turff in direct Lines, still remembring to slope your hand whilst you cut, that if the Turff chance to be raised, it may be neatly rejoyned and put to∣gether again, so that it may seem as if it was made long since. This cut∣ting of the Turff must be made square one foot in breadth, and three in length, of the thickness of an inch at the most, that it being raised with the slice of Iron somewhat bended, and with a handle of a convenient length, it may be roll'd like a sheet of Paper, to be transported where 'tis necessary, and plac't with Art according to the Traces of our Ground-works. The best season for this work is after Michaelmas; for, if you stay till the Spring, there happen then sometimes Droughts, which do endamage extreamly the said Turff, so that one is sometimes forced to water it, and yet notwith∣standing it hinders not the good grass from dying, and nothing remains on our Turffs but base Herbs and Weeds. But, let us come to the means to maintain and keep the said Turff, which is done by often Mowing and Rowling of it; first with a Rouler of Wood, to take off the Worm-cast; then afterwards with the stone Rouler, to render it the firmer and more tite: This rouling must be done every day, or at the least every other day; and it must be Mowed at the least twice a week, that the grass may grow the thicker, and the Knots lie alwayes close cut and smooth: the sithe must be made accordingly, and so stockt, that it may be laid flat upon the grass, so as to cut it the more even.

There remains yet a word to say concerning the Garden-Alleys, which are the chiefest Ornaments of a Garden, and wherein England excelleth other Countreys, as well as by its art in Turffing; wherefore we shall give some small instructions therein, which may be of use in Forreign Countreys: which is, that, to have fair Walks, in which one may walk in all weathers with ease, there must be chosen a firm gravelly Sand, without the least mix∣ture of any earth, except Clay, in case the gravel be too stony; and after it has been sifted somewhat grosly, let the biggest be laid in the bottom of the Walks, and that which is sifted on the top, very even, but only three or four

inches higher in the middle then on the sides, just enough to drain the wa∣ters and no more; for I do not approve so great slopings which some use to give to Alleys, which are troublesome to those that walk, by their over∣roundness. The Walks being thus gravelled, they must be neatly kept by Weeding and Rouling of them daily with a stone Rouler: Note by the by, that the said small gravel or course sand must be laid as thick as may be, that the Worms may not pierce through; to that purpose it will not be amiss to lay all sorts of rubbish in the bottom of the said Alleys.

This is in brief what was to be said concerning the Turff-works, and the Alleys belonging to the Garden of Pleasure; there may be added ano∣ther bed or couch upon the surface of the said Alleys, viz. small shells, which are commonly found on the Sea-shore; which shells must be bea∣ten very small, and strewd lightly over the said surface, the more to prevent the Worms from piercing through, and add a greater Ornament to the Walks.

We shall now come to the distinguishing of Ground-works and Knots of Grass, each in their place and order; the first is to contain 60 Toises square in in-work; the cross-Alleys, from one Angle to the other, between four and five Toises, with the Fountain in the middle of 8 Toises in Dia∣meter, and the four other Fountains at the four Angles; All, as is descri∣bed in our Design, set down at the beginning of the Ground-works in Em∣broidery, Fol. 4. as being intended to be drawn upon our great General Draught; but before we go on with the particulars of these said grass-Knots, it will not be amiss to give a word of advice concerning our intention in the structure of the said Knots, which is, that the Master-stroke which forms the Design be planted of Box, and clipped square; the space from one bor∣der to the other is the path-way, which is to be of nine foot in breadth in the great Designs, but of six foot in the lesser; in the middle of which path ought to be made a List of grass, which will make a lovely shew from on high: Then, in the middle of the cut pieces should be made a List to set Flowers in, which must be raised some three or four inches higher then the level of the ground, exactly fallow, according to the order of the Knots; then, in some places lay the cut pieces of Turff, in others plant Camomile and matted Pinks; above all, still observing the exact Symmetry and true proportion; In stead of setting Flowers in the List, it may be sanded or gravel'd with another colour'd Sand then that of the Paths, but of an even Level: As also those that will not make use of Box, may make use of Boards or Planks Pitch'd within side, and Painted without, that they may last the longer; which Planks being aptly disposed according to our De∣signs, will give no small satisfaction to the curious. These things above∣mention'd being well understood, it will be, I believe, easie enough to contrive all manner of Designs for the greater Perfection of the Garden of Pleasure.

Now we shall go on with the Particulars of our Grass Knots, the

second of which in Fol. 19. contains 40 Toises square in in-work; its Fountain is to be 7½ in Diameter, and the 24 Statues to be set up upon their Piedestals, or else half-Statues and half Cyprus-Trees, all in proportion with the grass List in the middle of the Paths, as they are described in the Design.

The third Fol. 20. is an Oblong square Knot, of 50 Toises in length, and 38 in breadth in in-work, the eight-square Fountain 6 in Diameter, and the Alleys 4½ in breadth, with Statues and Grass-Lists in the middle of the Paths, as may be seen upon the Design.

The Fourth, Fol. 21. is another Oblong square-Knot of 38 Toises in length, and 30 in breadth, in in-work; its Fountain of 6 in Dia∣meter, and the Alleys 4 in breadth, the Statues and Grass-Lists placed in their due places as aforesaid.

The fifth, Fol. 22. is also a grass-Knot, but without cross-Alleys, containing about 28 Toises square, with the outward Walks, which are of three Toises, or 20 Foot in breadth, the Fountain of 4 in in-work, the whole accompanied with Statues, and adorned with a Grass-List in the middle of the Paths, with a half-oval at the end, and a Terrasse or high Walk on the Front, as it may be noted on the Design.

The Sixth, Fol. 23. is an Oblong square Knot, without cross-Alleys, containing about 29 Toises in Front, and 22½ in depth, the whole in-work, adorned with Statues and Grass-Lists in the middle of the Paths. This Design differs from the others, by reason that there is neither strait lines nor compass-strokes in it; We made it in one of the Castles belonging to the late Prince of Orange, called Honsclerdeck.

The seventh and last grass-Knot, Fol. 24. is also an Oblong∣square, without cross-Alleys, containing 40 Toises in length, and 26 in depth; the Statues and Cyprus-Trees being disposed with due pro∣portion, as also the Grass Lists in the middle of the Paths, as is de∣scribed upon the Design.

This is in short what I thought fit to say concerning the Embroider'd Ground-works, which ought to be planted with Box, as also touch∣ing the Grass and Box-Knots: Now it remains that we Treat of the Embroider'd Turff-ground-works, as also of the Knots without Box; and finally of Wildernesses and Labyrinths or Mazes: And we shall begin with the Royal-Garden, which we have contrived by His Ma∣jesties Order in His Park at St. James's.

This Royal Garden, Fol. 25. contains 200 Toises in length, and 50 in breadth; and whereas there is no place near it from which it may be view'd from on high, we have therein omitted all Embroi∣dered ground-works, and Knots of grass, and have contrived it into

several Parallelograms, according to its length; and in regard it falls out, that at one end there happens to be a wild Wood, we have contrived another of green Trees over against it, of which the great Tree which was found standing there in the middle makes the Head, both of the green Wood and the rest of the Garden; which Tree we thought fit to leave as a remembrance of the Roy∣al Oak. The Lists in the said Parallelograms are Planted with dwarf-fruit-Trees, Rose-Trees, and several sorts of Flowers; the circumference is planted with Cyprus-Trees and other green Plants, to make Palissado's of about five foot high, with two perforated Gates to every square; the said Lists are parted with Grass in the manner of Knots. Finally, the Alleys are of five Toises in breadth, with their Lists, in the middle of which are planted dwarf-fruit-Trees and Vines; the great Walk on the Right-hand is raised Terrass-like, and Turff't; having a Fountain of five Toises in Di∣ameter, and a Round of Grass whereon to set up a Dial or Sta∣tue, as also in several places Cut-Angles, as may be seen upon the Design.

The first Ground-work in Embroidery of Grass, Fol. 26. con∣tains fifty Toises square in in-work; the Fountain eight in Dia∣meter, and the Alleys four in breadth, the Lists of grass which en∣viron the 4 Triangles, have 4 foot in breadth, and may be border'd with Boards in stead of Turffs, and set with low-Flowers; likewise at each Angle there may be Cyprus-Trees neatly kept and cut. We made this and the following Design much like unto those in Fol. 3. and 16. that thereby all the foregoing Designs which are in Em∣broidery, may be the more easie to the less skilful in Designs, for to add or diminish according as it will be thought convenient, when they come to be put in Practice.

The second Ground-work, Fol. 27. is of Grass-Embroidery, of a Parallelogramick form, containing 36 Toises in front, and 29 in depth; the outward List four Foot in breadth, with four Cut-Angles, wherein may be set up, either Statues, or Cy∣prus-Trees, beside what is placed in the center of the said De∣sign.

The third Ground-work in Embroidery of grass, Fol. 23. con∣tains about 35 Toises in breadth, and 40 in length, from one Angle to the other, with a half-oval, both upon the Basis, and at the end of the said ground-work: There may be set up in it four Statues, viz. one in the middle of the List of the half-oval up∣on its Basis, two upon the inward great strokes over against one another, and the Fourth in the Center of the double C. there re∣maining yet four places in which Cyprus-Trees may be Planted.

The Fourth Design, Fol. 29. is a Grass Ground-work, contain∣ing 50 Toises in in-work; its eight-square Fountain seven in Dia∣meter, and the Alleys four in breadth; in each square there may be set up three Statues, and four Cyprus-Trees planted, or else but one single Statue in the Center of each square, as also at the four external Cut-Angles of the said Squares, and all the other places planted with Cyprus-Trees; it is to be noted, that all those marked with small points, ought to be grass, and the rest gravel, which must be renew'd every year, by reason that the Worms casts take away its lovely colour, which is one of the chiefest ornaments of Grass Ground∣works; the same may be understood concerning the Designs in Em∣broidery in general.

The Fifth, Fol. 30. is also a grass Ground-work, containing 40 Toises in breadth, and fifty in length, from Angle to Angle, with a quarter of an oval at each side of the upper end, in whose Center is an eight-square of grass to set a Statue on; as also at the four outward Angles, and likewise in the four Parallelograms of our Design, with the Cyprus-Trees planted in order, all according as it is described in the Design. It is to be noted, that one of the said Parallelograms of our Design, may be also contrived singly on ground, and that in making of it bigger or less as need requires; as likewise, it may easily be turned into a Wilderness, giving a conve∣nient breadth to the grass-Lists; which must be changed into Al∣leys with Palissado's on each side, and the rest filled confusedly with Wood.

This is sufficient as for the Ground-works in Embroidery, and grass-Knots in general; there remains now to treat concerning the Wildernesses, which are distinguished two-fold, viz. Wildernes∣ses planted of wild Trees, and those that are planted with all sorts of ever-greens. This last kind is fittest in the Gardens of Pleasure, and the first are most convenient in Parks, and more remote places, as growing higher and thick, which would not sute well with the inclosure of the Garden of Pleasure.

The first Wilderness, Fol. 31. contains 44 Toises square, the Al∣leys three in breadth, and the Fountain six in Diameter; the four inward Walks, as also the four large Arbors at the Angles of them may be made of Timber, vaulted at the top, so as to joyn neatly there to the Palissado's, that, during the violent heat of Sum∣mer, one may have the conveniency of cool shades, under which to sit shelter'd from the parching Rayes of the Sun, either for stu∣dious Retirement, or the enjoyment of Society with two or three Friends, a Bottle of Wine and a Collation: Nevertheless, I do not so much approve of this kind of Covering, for two Reasons;

The first, because it is unwholsome for want of Air; The Second, by reason that the Green cannot well grow in the inside of them, and by consequence the Palissado's, though of Quick-set, and ve∣ry green without, seem but like dead Wood within; therefore if the Curious are desirous to have of them in their Gardens, it will be requisite they should have great Gaps, or Windowes made in the top at some convenient distance, through which the Air may come in, and by this means prevent such inconveniences.

The Second Wilderness, Fol. 32. contains 40 Toises square in in-work, the Alleys two in breadth, and the Fountain eight in Di∣ameter; what is fill'd with small points ought to be grass, and the rest Sand or gravel and Flowers, as may be seen in the Design. The great stroke which forms the Design is to set a Palissado in, which may be suffer'd to grow some five foot high at the most, which must be understood of all the other Designs of Wildernes∣ses.

The third Wilderness, Fol. 33. is a Parallelogram, containing 36 Toises in length, and 26 in breadth; the outward Walk three, and the other inward ones two; the Fountain six in length and four in breadth, the List of flowers and grass in their proper places; the whole according as it is described in the Design.

The Fourth and last Wilderness, Fol. 34.. is also a Parallelogram, containing 42 Toises in length, and 28 in breadth; the Arbors joyn∣ing one to another, and the Statues and Trees set in their places in order, as may be seen in the Design.

We shall end our Designs with the Labyrinths or Mazes, whose Palissado's are to be planted in double ranks, that they may be thereby the stronger and thicker, to hinder the going through them. The first, Fol. 35. is of an eight-square form, containing 36 Toi∣ses square in in-work, the Alleys are to be 12 foot in breadth or more.

The second Labyrinth, Fol. 36. is an Oblong square, containing 36 Toises in breadth, and 44 in length in in-work; this is wholly without all proportion, nevertheless it will make a pretty shew on Ground. It is to be noted, that the most of space that can be given to Labyrinths is the best; therefore it will be necessary to chuse some convenient place out of the Garden to contrive them in, where one may have space enough, as 60 or 80 Toises in square.

I hope I have rendred my self sufficiently to be understood for the Designing of all General Draughts, Ground-works, Wilder∣nesses, and other Designs which may make up a Garden of Plea∣sure; the which I have done, that the less skilled in the adorning

of Gardens, may reap thereof both use and pleasure in their Deco∣rations; the whole WORK being the Product of my many years Practice and Labour, and the Skill which I have acquired there∣by; Therefore I entreat all Lovers of the Art of Gardening, to take in good part this small WORK of mine, which I have Pub∣lished for the Publick good.