Part 3

Then _Time_, of which are also two kindes, the running _Time_, and the Garden _Time_: they delight in fertile ground, and from the séede are very slow of growth, therefore it is best euer to set them from the slip. The running _Time_ doth delight in the shadow, but the Garden _Time_ in the Sunne.

[Sidenote: French Mallowes.]

Then French-_Mallowes_, which will ioy in any ground, and are quicke of growth.

[Sidenote: Cheruill.]

Then _Cheruill_, which will not by any meanes grow with any other Hearbe.

[Sidenote: Of Dill.]

Then _Dill_, which may be sowne almost in any moneth of the yéere as well as March: it endureth all weathers, but loueth the warmth best.

[Sidenote: Of Isop.]

Then _Isop_, which in like manner as _Time_ is, slow of growth from the séed, and therefore fitter to be set from the slips, after it hath once taken roote it encreaseth wonderfully, and will hardly be destroyed.

[Sidenote: Of Mints.]

Then _Mints_, which flourish onely in the Summer time, but dye in the Winter, it delighteth most in the moyst ground.

[Sidenote: Violets.]

Then _Violets_, the leaues whereof are a good Pot-hearb, and the Flowers preserued in close glasse pots, with strong Wine-vinegar and Sugar, a most excellent Sallet: it doth delight to grow high, and will grow spéedely eyther from the plant or from the séed.

[Sidenote: Of Basill.]

Then _Basill_, which would be sowne in the warme weather, as at the beginning of May, for the séed is tender, and when you haue sowne it, you shall presse the earth downe vpon it with your féet, for the séede can endure no hollownesse: if you sowe it at the fall of the Leafe, you shall sprinkle the séede with Vinegar, and when you water it let the Sunne be at his height.

[Sidenote: Sweet Marioram.]

Then swéet _Marioram_, which would be sowne on rich ground, and farre from Sunneshine, for it taketh no delight in his beames.

[Sidenote: Marigolds.]

Then _Marigolds_, which renew euery moneth, and endure the Winter as well as the Summer: this Hearbe the oftner you remoue it, the bigger it groweth.

[Sidenote: Of Strawberries.]

Then _Strawberries_, whose leaues are a good Pot-hearbe, and the fruit the wholesommest berry: this Hearbe of all other, would be set of the plant, and not sowne from the séed, for the oft changing and remouing of it causeth it to grow bigger and bigger: it groweth best vnder the shadowes of other Hearbes, but very sufficiently in beds, or else where.

[Sidenote: Of Borage and Buglosse.]

Then _Borage_ and _Buglosse_, both which are of one nature: they would be sowne in small quantity, for where they take they will runne ouer a whole Garden: the séed must be gathered when it is halfe ripe it is so apt to shed, and when you gather it you must plucke vp the stalkes, leaues & all, and so laying them one vpon another thrée or foure dayes, their own heat will bring the séed to ripenes.

[Sidenote: Of Rosemary.]

Then _Rosemary_, which is an Hearbe tender and curious, yet of singular vertue: it is soone slaine with frost or lightening: it will grow plentifully from the séede, but much better from the slip, it delighteth to be planted against some Wall where it may haue the reflection of the Sunne, for to stand vnpropped of himselfe, the very shaking of the winde will kill it.

[Sidenote: Of Penyroyal.]

Then _Penyroyall_, which most properly is vsed to be mixt with Puddings, made of the bloud of Beasts, & Oatmeale: of it there be two kindes, Male and Female: the Male beareth a white flower, and the Female a purple: it must be sowne in small quantity, for it will runne and spread ouer-much ground: it delighteth most in moyst earth.

[Sidenote: Of Leekes.]

Then _Leekes_, which would haue a fertile ground, and as soone as they be shot vp a good length you shall cut the blades to the polt, and then remoue the heads, and set them borderwise about your other beds: this remouing after the cutting off the blades, wil make them grow bigger, and prosper better, as for thrusting Oyster-shels or Tyle-shreads vnder them, to make the heads bigger, it is a toy, for if the mould be loose and good, the Léeke will come to his perfect growth: they may be sowne both in March, Aprill, May, and Iune, and they may be remoued all Iuly, August, September and October.

[Sidenote: Of Onions.]

Then _Onions_, which differ not much from the nature of Léekes, they loue a fertile Soyle, and would be sowne with the séeds of Sauory: when they come vp if they grow too thicke, as is often séene, you shall plucke vp some and spend them in the Pot and in Sallets, to giue the rest more roome, and some you shall take vp and replant in other beds, which you may preserue for séede: those _Onions_ which you would not haue to séede, you shall cut off the blades in the midst, that the iuyce may descend downeward, and when you sée the heads of the _Onions_ appearing aboue the earth, you shall with your féet tread them into the ground: there be some very well experienst Husbands, which will take the fayrest, goodliest and soundest Onions they can get, and in this moneth of March set them thrée fingers déepe in the earth, and these of all other bring forth the purest and best séede, for which purpose onely they are preserued: as soone as your séed-Onions are knotted, you shall vnderproppe them with square cradles, made of stickes, least the waight of the boules which carry the séede, should breake the blades.

[Sidenote: Of gathering Onion-seede, or the Onion.]

The time of gathering your séede is, when it is all turned purely blacke, and the time of gathering the Onions is, when the heads doe forsake the earth, after they be gathered you shall lay them on a dry floore for a fortnight, or more, and then binde them vp in ropes, and hang them where they may haue the ayre of the fire, onely note that shall gather your Onions in the increase of the Moone, as they were sowne, and not otherwise.

Many other Pot-hearbs there be, which for as much as they differ nothing, eyther in sowing, planting, or ordering, from these which I haue rehearsed, I will héere omit them, and thinke this sufficient, touching the sowing and ordering of all manner of Pot-hearbs.

CHAP. IIII.

_Of the sowing of certaine Hearbs, which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinall, yet euer in the Husbandmans Garden._

[Sidenote: Of Arage.]

Of Hearbes which are medicinall, I will begin with _Arage_ or _Orache_, which being colde and moyst is very excellent against the hot Gout: it is to be sowne in any moneth, from February till December: it loueth much moisture, and therefore must be oft watered: it must be sowne excéeding thinne, and quickly couered, for the ayre is offensiue.

[Sidenote: Of Lumbardy Loueage.]

Next it is _Lumbardy_, _Loueage_, which being hot and dry, is very purgatiue, it desireth a very fruitfull ground, but if it be sowne where it may haue much shadow and some shelter accompanied with moysture, it will grow in any ground, the moneths for sowing thereof, is, from the midst of February till Haruest.

[Sidenote: Of Fennell.]

_Fennell_ is also hot and dry, and it comforteth the stomacke, openeth the inward vessels, and helpeth disgestion; it may be sowne in any moneth, and vpon any indifferent ground, especially if it be a little stony, the séede would not be very old, though of all other it be the longest laster.

[Sidenote: Of Anise.]

_Anise_ is hot and dry, it dissolueth humors and obstructions, and is very comfortable to weake stomacks, it delighteth in a good and loose mould, and is to be sowne in the height of the Spring onely.

[Sidenote: Of Comin.]

_Comin_ is of the nature of _Anise_ and _Fennell_, and mixt with either, is very soueraine against all inward sicknesses procéeding from cold, it loueth a fruitfull rich earth & much warmth, and therfore the later it is sowne in the Spring, it is so much the better, and aboue all things it would be sowne in the hottest time of the day, & if it be mixed with other séeds, it is so much the better, and appeareth the sooner.

[Sidenote: Of Coliander.]

_Coliander_ is of the nature of the earth, cold & dry, it helps disgestion, & suppresseth vapours which offend the braine, it may be sowne vpon any indifferent ground, & in any month except December and Ianuary, the elder the séedes are the better so they be sound, and they desire much watering.

[Sidenote: Of Rue.]

_Rue_ or _Hearb-grace_ is hot and dry, & is very soueraigne against all inward infection, putrifactions, and impostumations, it ioyeth in any reasonable ground so it grow warme and dry, the moneths fittest for the sowing thereof, is March, Aprill or May, and the mould would be firme and not subiect to ryuing, whence it procéedes that no meanure is so good for the encrease thereof as horse-dung and ashes mixt together: the beds would be made high & discending, that no moysture may stay thereon, they must be carefully wéeded, for in their first growth otherwise they are soone choaked.

[Sidenote: Of Organie.]

_Organie_ is hot and dry, and excellent against any sicknesse of the liuer, the ground in which it most ioyeth would be a little stonie, and full of rubbish, yet by no meanes vndunged, the moneth fittest for the sowing thereof is March and September, the Moone being in _Libra_ or any other moist signe, it must be continually watred till it appears aboue the earth, but after forborne, for being once well bred, it is euer certaine.

[Sidenote: Of white Poppy.]

White _Poppy_ is cold and moyst, and much prouoketh sléepe: it delights to be sowne in a rich, warme, dry ground, in the moneths of March, September or Nouember.

[Sidenote: Of Germander.]

_Germander_ is hot and dry, and excellent against the Kings euill; obstructions of the Spléene and hardnesse of Vrine; it is a hard hearbe, and will prosper in any ground, it is to be sowne, either in the spring or fall of the leafe, and is most comly for the setting forth of knots in Gardens.

[Sidenote: Of Cardus Benedictus.]

_Cardus Benedictus_, or the blessed Thistell, is hot and dry, it is very soueraine against most inward sicknesses, stancheth blood, and is a great comforter of the braine, it delighteth in a rich ground and a loose well tempered mould, it must be sowne very shallow, and not couered aboue two inches déepe, the first quarter of the Moone is best to sowe it in, and in the moneths of March, May or September, if you sowe a little fine flaxen Wheat with it, no doubt but it will prosper the better.

[Sidenote: Of Angellica.]

_Angellica_ is hot and dry, it openeth and dissolueth obstructions, is an excellent cordiall against poyson, and all infections, it helpeth the collicke, and cureth the biting of madde dogges or venemous beasts, it loueth a fruitfull dry mould, but may not indure the trouble of wéedes, it is to be sowne in March or Aprill, & it flourisheth in Iuly & August, it hath a swéet odour, and helpeth all euill & infected ayres.

[Sidenote: Of Valerian.]

_Valerian_ is hot & dry and preuenteth infection, it helpeth stitches and other griefes procéeding from windy causes, it loueth to grow in moist and low places, the ground being well meanured, and till it be shot at least a handfull high, it must be kept with continuall watring, the moystest time of the yéere is the best to sowe it in.

[Sidenote: Of Elecampana.]

_Elecampana_, is hot and moyst, and good for offences in the lungs, or any outward ioynt, being troubled with paine procéeding from colde: it is better much to be set then sowne, yet notwithstanding it may safely enough be sowne at any time after mid-March, the ground being rich, soft, and loose, and the séede strowed very thinne, and at least two fingers distance one from another.

[Sidenote: Of Pepperwort.]

_Pepperwort_ is hot and drye, yet of the two much more hot, it is good against all kinde of aches, and other paine in the ioynts, or sinewes: it delighteth in a rich blacke Soyle, fat and loose: it would be sowne in February, and remoued in September.

[Sidenote: Of Philipendula.]

_Philipendula_ is very hot and dry, and is good against abortiue births, Stone, Strangury, or any griefe procéeding from colde causes: it may be sowne in any barraine, stony, or grauelly Soyle, in the months of May, Aprill, or September: it neither desireth much wéeding, nor much watering, but being once committed to the ground appeareth sodainely: and thus much of those Hearbes which are fit for Medicine, of which though there be many others, yet they differ not in their ordering from these already declared.

CHAP. V.

_Of diuers sorts of Sallet-Hearbes, their manner of sowing and ordering._

[Sidenote: Of Lettuce.]

Amongst the many numbers of Sallet-Hearbes I thinke it not amisse to beginne first with _Lettuce_, which of all other whose vertue is helde in the leafe, is most delicate, tender, and pleasant: the ground then in which it most delighteth, is that which is most fertile, best laboured, and of the finest mould, being soft, loose, and more enclining to moysture then drinesse: it may be sowne in any moneth of the yeare, from February to Nouember; it is very quick of growth, and will appeare aboue the earth in foure dayes after the sowing: it would at first be sowne thicke, and carefully kept with morning and euening watrings, if the season be dry, but not otherwise: after it is growne and faire spread aboue the earth, which will be in a moneths space or there-abouts, you shall chuse out the fairest and goodliest plants, and taking them vp with the earth and all, about their rootes, replant or remoue them to a new bed of fresh mould, and there set them a foote distance one from another, and fixe their rootes fast and hard into the ground: then couer or presse them downe with Tyle or Slate stones, to make them spread and not spring vpward, by which meanes the leaues will gather together, and cabbadge, in a thicke and good order, for it is to be vnderstood, that the oftner you remoue your _Lettuce_, the fairer and closer they wil cabbage. There be diuers which obserue to remoue _Lettuce_ as soone as sixe leaues are sprung aboue the ground; but I like better to remoue them when they begin to spindle: they are most estéemed in the moneths of Aprill, May, and Iune, for in Iuly they are supposed to carrie in them a poysonous substance.

[Sidenote: Of Spynage.]

Next the _Lettuce_ I preferre the hearbe _Spynage_, which delighteth in a well-dunged earth, and may be sowne in Aprill, March, September, or October: it would not be mixed with other séedes, because it prospereth best alone.

[Sidenote: Of Sparagus.]

_Sparagus_ ioyeth in a fertill moist ground, the mould being made light which couers it, and the ground well dunged, the Spring is the best time to sowe it, and it must be sowne in long furrowes or trenches made with your finger, and not vniuersally spread ouer the bed as other séeds are: it loueth moysture, but may not endure the wet to lye long vpon it, and therefore the beds would a little descend it: must not be remoued till the rootes be so feltred together, that they hinder the new branches from springing vp, which commonly is two yeares.

[Sidenote: Of Colworts.]

_Colworts_ or _Cabbadge_ séede delighteth in any well husbanded ground, and may be sowen in all sorts and seasons as _Lettuce_ is, and must also in the like manner be remoued, after the principall leaues are come forth, which will make them to gather together, and cabbadge the better: and as they may be sowen in any season of the yeare, so likewise they may be remoued at all seasons likewise, except the frost or other vnseasonable weather hinder you: and although some men will not allow it to be sowen in clay grounds, grauell, chalke, or sand, yet they are deceiued; for if the earth be well ordred, they will grow plentifully, onely you must obserue when you remoue them to let them haue earth roome enough.

[Sidenote: Of Sage.]

_Sage_ is in Gardens most common, because it is most wholesome, and though it may be better set from the slip then sowen in the séede, yet both will prosper, it loueth any well drest ground, and may be sowen either in February, March, September, or October: it loueth also to grow thick and close together, and will of it selfe ouercome most wéedes: it asketh not much dung, neither too great care in watring, onely it would be oft searched, for Toades and other venemous things will delight to lye vnder it, the more Sunne and ayre it hath, the better it is.

[Sidenote: Of Purslane.]

_Purslane_ is a most excellent Sallet-hearbe, and loueth a fertile soile, and though it may be sowen almost in any moneth, yet the warmest is the best, as Aprill, May, Iune, or Septemb. Buck ashes are an excellent meanure for them, and for most Sallet-hearbs else, but aboue all they loue dry dust and house-swéepings, they are apt to shed their séede, whence it comes that a ground once possest of them will seldome want them, they may also be remoued, and will prosper much the better.

[Sidenote: Of Artichokes.]

_Artychokes_ loue a fat earth, and may be sowen in February or March, the Moone encreasing, the séedes must not be sowen together, but set one by one a good distance asunder; they must lye somewhat déepe, and be firmely couered; yet if you can procure them, I rather wish you rather to set them from Slips or young Plants, then sowe them from the séedes, for they doe so naturally loue the earth, that you can hardly slip so wast a leafe from an _Artychoke_ as will not take roote; if you sowe the séede, you must be carefull to wéede and water them well, for the first leaues are very tender: also if you remoue them after their first springing, the fruit will be bigger and better.

[Sidenote: Of Garlicke.]

_Garlicke_ is best in September and Nouember, to be set from the cloue, in & about the borders of beds, or other séedes, halfe a foote one from another, and in February, March, and Aprill, to be sowen from the séede: it must be ordered as you order _Onyon_ séede, it loues not much wet nor extreame drought, onely it desires a good mould which is rich and firme, yet not too much dunged.

[Sidenote: Of Raddish.]

_Raddish_ loueth a fertile ground, that is well dunged, chiefly with mans ordure, that is déepe trencht, and hath an easie and light mould, and the séedes would be placed either in rowes, or about the borders of beds, as you doe _Garlicke_: the manner of sowing it is with a dibble or round sticke, to make a hole into the ground almost a foote déepe, and then into that hole to put not aboue two séedes at the most, and then close the hole vp againe, and let the holes be foure fingers one from another, it may be sowen in most months of the yéere if the frost hinder not, and to make the roote large & tender, and to kéepe the branch from séeding; you shall as it springs crop off the principall leaues which grow against the heart of the root: to tread them downe into the earth after they haue fast roote is good also.

[Sidenote: Of Nauew.]

_Nauew_, if the earth haue any small goodnesse in it will grow plentifully, neither is offended with any ayre, onely the mould would be loose and rough, for otherwise it many times turneth to Rape: the séede naturally commeth vp very thicke, therefore it is expedient to remoue them and plant them thinner, for that best preserueth their natures, they may be sowne in February, March, Aprill, September, or October.

[Sidenote: Of Parsneps and Carrets.]

_Parsneps_ or _Carrets_ are of one and the selfe nature, they delight in a good fat earth, and would be sowne reasonably thicke, in long déepe trenches like furrowes, hauing a gentle and easie mould either in the moneth of Ianuary, February, or March, or in September, October, or December, they must be carefully well wéeded, and if the earth be fat, they néede not much watring or other attendance.

[Sidenote: Of Pompyons.]

_Pompyons_, _Gourds_, or _Mellons_, desire a very good ground, or by Nature or Art, the séedes must be sowne very thinne, as at least halfe a foote one from another, they would lye reasonably déepe, yet the mould very gentle which couers them, they are subiect to spread and runne ouer much ground, therefore as they grow you must direct their stemmes so as they may not annoy one another, and when they flower you shall lay broad Tiles or Slate stones vnder them, that the fruit nor flower may not touch the earth; if you plash them vp against trées or walles where they may haue the reflection of the Sunne, the fruit will be larger, pleasanter, and sooner ripe: they néede no wéeding nor watring after you sée them appeare aboue the earth, and the best seasons to sowe them in, is February, March, or Aprill, those are the best _Pompyons_ which haue the smallest séedes, and are of the most yellowest complexion.

[Sidenote: Of the Cowcumber.]

_Cowcumber_, is a delicate, pleasant, yet very tender fruit, and delighteth in an extraordinarie fat earth, especially during the opening or sprouting of the séede, therefore the best and most vndoubted safest way for sowing them is, first in some corner of your Kitchin garden to make a bed of two or thrée yards square of olde Oxe dung, and Horse dung mixt together, and at least a yard or better high from the earth, then couer this bed of dung with the richest garden mould you haue, better then halfe a foote thicke: then thereon place your séedes halfe a foote likewise one from another, and be most sure that your séedes be hard and sound (for any softnesse in them sheweth rottennesse) then couer them foure fingers thicke with the like mould: then within seauen or eight dayes, after you shall sée them appeare aboue the earth, but in any wise let them continue still till the principall leaues be come forth, and they begin to créepe out in length, then with your hand griping the whole plant, take it vp by the rootes with the earth and all, and plant it in a bed new digged & trimmed for the purpose with a rich loose mould, and so replant and remoue each roote seuerally one after another, and they will grow and bring forth in great plenty. Now by the way you must obserue, that as soone as you haue sowne your séedes you shall prouide a Mat, Canuasse, or other couering, which being placed vpon stakes ouer the dung bed, shall euery night after Sunne-set be spread ouer the same, and not taken away till the Sunne be risen in the morning, for this will defend the séedes from frosts and other cold dewes which are very dangerous. Now if any demand why these séedes are thus sowne first on the bed of dung, they shall vnderstand that besides the warmth and fertility thereof, that the séedes are so pleasant and tender, that wormes and other créeping things in the earth will destroy them before they can sprout, which this bed of dung preuenteth. The months most fit for sowing these séedes, are Aprill, May and Iune onely, for other are much too colde, and in this manner you may sowe any tender séede whatsoeuer.

[Sidenote: Of the Beane of Egipt.]

_Beanes_ of _Egipt_ delight in a moyst watrish ground, rather fertile then any way giuen to barrainnesse, yet will plentifully enough prosper in any indifferent earth: they are rather to set then sowe, because they must take strong roote, and be fixed somewhat déepe into the earth, and the moneth which is most proper for them, is the latter end of Ianuary, all February and the beginning of March onely.

[Sidenote: Of Skerrets.]