_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.