place of the growing, saue only to prouoke a vomit, which it
will doe very strongly.
CHAP. CXXI.
_Cytisus._ Tree Trefoile.
There are so many sorts of _Cytisus_ or Tree trefoiles, that if I
should relate them all, I should weary the Reader to ouerlooke them,
whereof the most part pertaine rather to a generall worke then to this
abstract. I shall not therefore trouble you with any superfluous, but
only with two, which we haue noursed vp to furnish waste places in a
garden.
_Cytisus Maranthe._ Horned Tree Trefoile.
This Tree Trefoile which is held of most Herbarists to bee the true
_Cytisus_ of Dioscorides, riseth vp to the height of a man at the most,
with a body of the bignesse of a mans thumbe, couered with a whitish
bark, breaking forth into many whitish branches spreading farre, beset
in many places with small leaues, three alwayes set together vpon a
small short footestalke, which are rounder, and whiter then the leaues
of Beane Trefoile: at the ends of the branches for the most part, come
forth the flowers three or foure together, of a fine gold colour, and
of the fashion of Broome flowers, but not so large: after the flowers
are past, there come in their places crooked flat thinne cods, of the
fashion of a halfe moone, or crooked horne, whitish when they are ripe,
wherein are contained blackish seede: the roote is hard and woody,
spreading diuers wayes vnder the ground: the whole plant hath a pretty
small hot sent.
_Cytisus vulgatior._ The common Tree Trefoile.
This _Cytisus_ is the most common in this Land, of any the other sorts
of tree trefoiles, hauing a blackish coloured barke, the stemme or
body whereof is larger then the former, both for height and spreading,
bearing also three leaues together, but smaller and greener then the
former: the flowers are smaller, but of the same fashion and colour:
the cods blackish and thin, and not very long, or great, but lesser
then Broome cods, wherein there lyeth small blackish hard seede: the
roote is diuersly dispersed in the ground.
The Place.
The first groweth in the kingdome of Naples, and no doubt in
many other places of Italie, as Matthiolus saith. The other
groweth in diuers places of France.
The Time.
They flower for the most part in May or Iune: the seede is ripe
in August or September.
The Names.
The first (as I said) is thought of most to be the true
_Cytisus_ of Dioscorides, and as is thought, was in these later
dayes first found by Bartholomæus Maranta of Naples, who sent
it first to Matthiolus, and thereupon hath euer since beene
called after his name, _Cytisus Maranthæ_. Some doe call it
_Cytisus Lunatus_, because the cods are made somewhat like vnto
an halfe Moone. We call it in English, Horned Tree Trefoile.
The other is called _Cytisus vulgaris_ or _vulgatior_; in
English, The common Tree Trefoile, because we haue not any
other so common.
The Vertues.
The chiefest vertues that are appropriate to these plants, are
to procure milke in womens breasts, to fatten pullen, sheep &c.
and to be good for bees.
CHAP. CXXII.
_Colutæa._ The Bastard Sena Tree.
Wee haue in our Gardens two or three sorts of the Bastard Sena tree; a
greater as I may so call it, and two lesser: the one with round thin
transparent skins like bladders, wherein are the seede: the other with
long round cods, the one bunched out or swelling in diuers places, like
vnto a Scorpions tale, wherein is the seede, and the other very like
vnto it, but smaller.
1. _Colutæa Vesicaria._ The greater Bastard Sena with bladders.
This shrub or tree, or shrubby tree, which you please to call it,
riseth vp to the height of a pretty tree, the stemme or stock being
sometimes of the bignesse of a mans arme, couered with a blackish
greene rugged barke, the wood whereof is harder then of an Elder,
but with an hollownesse like a pith in the heart or middle of the
branches, which are diuided many wayes, and whereon are set at seuerall
distances, diuers winged leaues, composed of many small round pointed,
or rather flat pointed leaues, one set against another, like vnto
Licoris, or the Hatchet Fitch; among these leaues come forth the
flowers, in fashion like vnto Broome flowers, and as large, of a very
yellow colour: after which appeare cleare thinne swelling cods like
vnto thinne transparent bladders, wherein are contained blacke seede,
set vpon a middle ribbe or sinew in the middle of the bladder, which if
it be a little crushed betweene the fingers, will giue a cracke, like
as a bladder full of winde. The roote groweth branched and woody.
2. _Colutæa Scorpioides maior._
The greater Scorpion podded Bastard Sena.
This Bastard Sena groweth nothing so great or tall, but shooteth out
diuersly, like vnto a shrub, with many shoots springing from the root:
the branches are greener, but more rugged, hauing a white barke on
the best part of the elder growne branches; for the young are greene,
and haue such like winged leaues set on them as are to be seen in
the former, but smaller, greener, and more pointed: the flowers are
yellow, but much smaller, fashioned somewhat like vnto the former,
with a reddish stripe downe the backe of the vppermost leafe: the long
cods that follow are small, long and round, distinguished into many
diuisions or dents, like vnto a Scorpions tayle, from whence hath risen
the name: in these seuerall diuisions lye seuerall blacke seede, like
vnto the seede of Fenigrecke: the roote is white and long, but not so
woody as the former.
3. _Colutæa Scorpioides minor._ The lesser Scorpion Bastard Sena.
This lesser Bastard Sena is in all things like the former, but somewhat
lower, and smaller both in leafe, flower, and cods of seede, which haue
not such eminent bunches on the cods to be seene as the former.
The Place.
They grow as Matthiolus saith about Trent in Italie, and in
other places: the former is frequent enough through all our
Countrey, but the others are more rare.
The Time.
They flower about the middle or end of May, and their seede is
ripe in August. The bladders of the first will abide a great
while on the tree, if they be suffered, and vntill the winde
cause them to rattle, and afterwards the skins opening, the
seede will fall away.
The Names.
The name _Colutæa_ is imposed on them, and by the iudgement
of most writers, the first is taken to bee that _Colutæa_
of _Lipara_ that Theophrastus maketh mention of, in the
seuenteenth chapter of his third booke. But I should rather
thinke that the _Scorpioides_ were the truer _Colutæa_ of
Theophrastus, because the long pods thereof are more properly
to bee accounted _filiquæ_, then the former which are _vesicæ
tumentes_, windy bladders, and not _filiquæ_: and no doubt
but Theophrastus would haue giuen some peculiar note of
difference if he had meant those bladders, and not these cods.
Let others of iudgement be vmpeeres in this case; although I
know the currant of writers since Matthiolus, doe all hold the
former _Colutæa vesicaria_ to be the true _Colutæa Liparæ_
of Theophrastus. Wee call it in English, Bastard Sena, from
Ruellius, who as I thinke first called it Sena, from the forme
of the leaues. The second and third (as I said before) from
the forme of the cods receiued their names, as it is in the
titles and descriptions; yet they may as properly be called
_Siliquosæ_, for that their fruite are long cods.
The Vertues.
Theophrastus saith it doth wonderfully helpe to fatten sheepe:
But sure it is found by experience, that if it be giuen to man
it causeth strong purgings both vpwards and downwards; and
therefore let euery one beware that they vse not this in steede
of good Sena, lest they feele to their cost the force thereof.
CHAP. CXXIII.
_Spartum Hispanicum frutex._ Spanish Broome.
Although Clusius and others haue found diuers sorts of this shrubby
Spartum or Spanish Broome, yet because our Climate will nourse vp none
of them, and euen this very hardly, I shall leaue all others, and
describe vnto you this one only in this manner: Spanish Broome groweth
to bee fiue or sixe foote high, with a woody stemme below, couered with
a darke gray, or ash-coloured barke, and hauing aboue many pliant, long
and slender greene twigs, whereon in the beginning of the yeare are set
many small long greene leaues, which fall away quickly, not abiding
long on; towards the tops of these branches grow the flowers, fashioned
like vnto Broom flowers, but larger, as yellow as they, and smelling
very well; after which come small long cods, crested at the backe,
wherein is contained blackish flat seede, fashioned very like vnto the
Kidney beanes: the roote is woody, dispersing it selfe diuers waies.
The Place.
This groweth naturally in many places of France, Spaine and
Italie, wee haue it as an ornament in our Gardens, among other
delightfull plants, to please the senses of sight and smelling.
The Time.
It flowreth in the end of May, or beginning of Iune, and
beareth seede, which ripeneth not with vs vntill it be late.
The Names.
It is called _Spartium Græcorum_, and _Spartum frutex_, to
distinguish it from the sedge or rush, that is so called also.
Of some it is called _Genista_, and thought not to differ from
the other _Genista_, but they are much deceiued; for euen in
Spaine and Italie, the ordinary _Genista_ or Broome groweth
with it, which is not pliant, and fit to binde Vines, or such
like things withall as this is.
The Vertues.
There is little vse hereof in Physicke, by reason of the
dangerous qualitie of vomiting, which it doth procure to them
that take it inwardly: but being applyed outwardly, it is found
to helpe the _Sciaticæ_ or paine of the hippes.
[Illustration:
1 _Colutæa vulgaris._ Ordinary bastard Sene.
2 _Periploca recta Virginiana._ Virginian Silke.
3 _Colutæa Scorpioides._ Scorpion bastard Sene.
4 _Spartum Hispanicum._ Spanish Broome.
5 _Ligustrum._ Priuet.
6 _Saluia variegata._ Party coloured Sage.
7 _Maiorana aurea._ Guilded Marierome.
]
CHAP. CXXIIII.
_Periploca recta Virginiana._ Virginian Silke.
Lest this stranger should find no hospitality with vs, being so
beautifull a plant, or not finde place in this Garden, let him be here
receiued, although with the last, rather then not at all. It riseth vp
with one or more strong and round stalkes, three or foure foote high,
whereon are set at the seuerall ioynts thereof two faire, long, and
broad leaues, round pointed, with many veines therein, growing close to
the stemme, without any foote-stalke: at the tops of the stalkes, and
some times at the ioynts of the leaues, groweth forth a great bush of
flowers out of a thinne skinne, to the number of twenty, and sometimes
thirty or forty, euery one with a long foote-stalke, hanging downe
their heads for the most part, especially those that are outermost,
euery one standing within a small huske of greene leaues, turned to
the stalkeward, like vnto the Lysimachia flower of Virginia before
described, and each of them consisting of fiue small leaues a peece,
of a pale-purplish colour on the vpperside, and of a pale yellowish
purple vnderneath, both sides of each leafe being as it were folded
together, making them seeme hollow and pointed, with a few short chiues
in the middle: after which come long and crooked pointed cods standing
vpright, wherein are contained flat brownish seede, dispersedly lying
within a great deale of fine, soft, and whitish browne silke, very
like vnto the cods, seede, and silke of _Asclepias_, or Swallow-wort,
but that the cods are greater and more crooked, and harder also in
the outer shell: the roote is long and white, of the bignesse of a
mans thumbe, running vnder ground very far, and shooting vp in diuers
places, the heads being set full of small white grumes or knots,
yeelding forth many branches, if it stand any time in a place: the
whole plant, as well leaues as stalkes, being broken, yeeld a pale
milke.
The Place.
It came to me from Virginia, where it groweth aboundantly,
being raised vp from the seede I receiued.
The Time.
It flowreth in Iuly, and the seede is ripe in August.
The Names.
It may seeme very probable to many, that this plant is the same
that Prosper Alpinus in the twenty fift Chapter of his Booke
of Egyptian plants, nameth _Beidelsar_; and Honorius Bellus
in his third and fourth Epistles vnto Clusius (which are at
the end of his History of plants) calleth _Ossar frutex_: And
Clusius himselfe in the same Booke calleth _Apocynum Syriacum_,
_Palæstinum_, and _Ægyptiacum_, because this agreeth with
theirs in very many and notable parts; yet verily I thinke this
plant is not the same, but rather another kinde of it selfe:
First, because it is not _frutex_, a shrub or wooddy plant,
nor keepeth his leaues all the yeare, but loseth both leaues
and stalks, dying down to the ground euery yeare: Secondly,
the milke is not causticke or violent, as Alpinus and Bellus
say _Ossar_ is: Thirdly, the cods are more crooked then those
of Clusius, or of Alpinus, which Honorius Bellus acknowledgeth
to be right, although greater then those he had out of Egypt:
And lastly, the rootes of these doe runne, whereof none of them
make any mention. Gerard in his herball giueth a rude figure of
the plant, but a very true figure of the cods with seede, and
saith the Virginians call it _Wisanck_, and referreth it to the
_Asclepias_, for the likenesse of the cods stuffed with silken
doune. But what reason Caspar Bauhinus in his _Pinax Theatri
Botanici_ had, to call it (for it is Clusius his _Apocynum
Syriacum_) by the name of _Lapathum Ægyptiacum lactescens
siliqua Asclepiadis_, I know none in the world: for but that he
would shew an extreame singularity in giuing names to plants,
contrary to all others (which is very frequent with him) how
could he thinke, that this plant could haue any likenesse or
correspondencie, with any of the kindes of Dockes, that euer
he had seene, read, or heard of, in face, or shew of leaues,
flowers, or seede; but especially in giuing milke. I haue you
see (and that not without iust and euident cause) giuen it a
differing Latine name from Gerard, because the _Asclepias_
giueth no milke, but the _Periploca_ or _Apocymum_ doth; and
therefore fitter to be referred to this then to that. And
because it should not want an English name answerable to some
peculiar property thereof, I haue from the silken doune called
it Virginian Silke: but I know there is another plant growing
in Virginia, called Silke Grasse, which is much differing from
this.
The Vertues.
I know not of any in our Land hath made any tryall of the
properties hereof. Captaine Iohn Smith in his booke of the
discouery and description of Virginia, saith, that the
Virginians vse the rootes hereof (if his be the same with this)
being bruised and applyed to cure their hurts & diseases.
CHAP. CXXV.
_Ligustrum._ Primme or Priuet.
Because the vse of this plant is so much, and so frequent throughout
all this Land, although for no other purpose but to make hedges or
arbours in Gardens, &c. whereunto it is so apt, that no other can be
like vnto it, to bee cut, lead, and drawne into what forme one will,
either of beasts, birds, or men armed, or otherwise: I could not
forget it, although it be so well knowne vnto all, to be an hedge bush
growing from a wooddy white roote, spreading much within the ground,
and bearing manie long, tough, and plyant sprigs and branches, whereon
are set long, narrow, and pointed sad greene leaues by couples at euery
ioynt: at the tops whereof breake forth great tufts of sweete smelling
white flowers, which when they are fallen, turne into small blacke
berries, hauing a purple iuyce within them, and small seede, flat on
the one side, with an hole or dent therein: this is seene in those
branches that are not cut, but suffered to beare out their flowers and
fruit.
The Place.
This bush groweth as plentifully in the Woods of our owne
Countrey, as in any other beyond the Seas.
The Time.
It flowreth sometimes in Iune,and in Iuly; the fruit is ripe in
August and September.
The Names.
There is great controuersie among the moderne Writers
concerning this plant, some taking it to be κύπρος of
Dioscorides, other to be _Phillyrea_ of Dioscorides, which
followeth next after _Cyprus_. Plinie maketh mention of
_Cyprus_ in two places; in the one he saith _Cyprus_ hath
the leafe of _Ziziphus_, or the Iuiube tree: in the other
he saith, that certain do affirme, that the _Cyprus_ of the
East Country, and the _Ligustrum_ of Italy is one and the same
plant: whereby you may plainly see, that our Priuet which is
_Ligustrum_, cannot be that _Cyprus_ of Plinie with Iuiube
leaues: Besides, both Dioscorides & Plinie say, that _Cyprus_
is a tree; but all know that _Ligustrum_, Priuet, is but an
hedge bush: Againe, Dioscorides saith, that the leaues of
_Cyprus_ giue a red colour, but Priuet giueth none. Bellonius
and Prosper Alpinus haue both recorded, that the true _Cyprus_
of Dioscorides groweth plentifully in Egypt, Syria, and those
Easterne Countries, and noursed vp also in Constantinople,
and other parts of Greece, being a merchandise of much worth,
in that they transport the leaues, and young branches dryed,
which laid in water giue a yellow colour, wherewith the Turkish
women colour the nailes of their hands, and some other parts
of their bodies likewise, delighting much therein: and that it
is not our _Ligustrum_, or Priuet, because _Cyprus_ beareth
round white seede, like Coriander seede, and the leaues abide
greene alwaies vpon the tree, which groweth (if it bee not
cut or pruined) to the height of the Pomegranet tree. I haue
(I confesse) beyond the limits I set for this worke spoken
concerning our Priuet, because I haue had the seede of the true
_Cyprus_ of Dioscorides sent mee, which was much differing from
our Priuet, and although it sprang vp, yet would not abide any
time, whereas if it had beene our Priuet, it would haue beene
familiar enough to our Countrey.
The Vertues.
It is of small vse in physicke, yet some doe vse the leaues in
Lotions, that serue to coole and dry fluxes or sores in diuers
parts.
CHAP. CXXVI.
_Saluia variegata._ Party coloured Sage. And
_Maiorana versicolor siue aurea._ Yellow or golden Marierome.
Vnto all these flowers of beauty and rarity, I must adioyne two other
plants, whose beauty consisteth in their leaues, and not in their
flowers: as also to separate them from the others of their tribe, to
place them here in one Chapter, before the sweete herbes that shall
follow, as is fittest to furnish this our Garden of pleasure. This
kinde of Sage groweth with branches and leaues, very like the ordinary
Sage, but somewhat smaller, the chiefest difference consisteth in the
colour of the leaues, being diuersly marked and spotted with white and
red among the greene: for vpon one branch you shall haue the leaues
seuerally marked one from another, as the one halfe of the leafe white,
and the other halfe greene, with red shadowed ouer them both, or more
white then greene, with some red in it, either parted or shadowed, or
dasht here and there, or more greene then white, and red therein eyther
in the middle or end of the leafe, or more or lesse parted or striped
with white and red in the greene, or else sometimes wholly greene the
whole branch together, as nature listeth to play with such varieties:
which manner of growing rising from one and the same plant, because it
is the more variable, is the more delightfull and much respected.
There is another speckled Sage parted with white and greene, but it
is nothing of that beauty to this, because this hath three colours
euidently to bee discerned in euery leafe almost, the red adding a
superaboundant grace to the rest.
_Maiorana aurea siue versicolor._ Yellow or golden Marierome.
This kinde of Marierome belongeth to that sort is called in Latine
_Maiorana latifolia_, which Lobel setteth forth for _Hyssopus Græcorum
genuina_: In English Winter Marierome, or pot Marierome: for it hath
broader and greater leaues then the sweete Marierome, and a different
vmbell or tuft of flowers. The difference of this from that set forth
in the Kitchin Garden, consisteth chiefly in the leaues, which are in
Summer wholly yellow in some, or but a little greene, or parted with
yellow and greene more or lesse, as nature listeth to play: but in
Winter they are of a darke or dead greene colour, yet recouering it
selfe againe: the sent hereof is all one with the pot Marierome.
Wee haue another parted with white and greene, much after the manner
with the former.
The Place, Time, Names, and Vertues of both these plants,
shall be declared where the others of their kindes are
specified hereafter, and in the Kitchen Garden; for they differ
not in properties.
CHAP. CXXVII.
_Lauendula._ Lauender Spike.
After all these faire and sweete flowers before specified, I must
needes adde a few sweete herbes, both to accomplish this Garden, and to
please your senses, by placing them in your Nosegays, or else where, as
you list. And although I bring them in the end or last place, yet are
they not of the least account.
1. _Lauendula maior._ Garden Lauender.
Our ordinary Garden Lauender riseth vp with a hard wooddy stemme aboue
the ground, parted into many small branches, whereon are set whitish,
long, and narrow leaues, by couples one against another; from among
which riseth vp naked square stalkes, with two leaues at a ioynt, and
at the toppe diuers small huskes standing round about them, formed in
long and round heads or spikes, with purple gaping flowers springing
out of each of them: the roote is wooddy, and spreadeth in the ground:
The whole plant is of a strong sweete sent, but the heads of flowers
much more, and more piercing the senses, which are much vsed to bee put
among linnen and apparrell.
[Sidenote: _Flore albo._]
There is a kinde hereof that beareth white flowers, and somewhat
broader leaues, but it is very rare, and seene but in few places with
vs, because it is more tender, and will not so well endure our cold
Winters.
2. _Lauendula minor seu Spica._ Small Lauender or Spike.
The Spike or small Lauender is very like vnto the former, but groweth
not so high, neither is the head or spike so great and long, but
shorter and smaller, and of a more purplish colour in the flower: the
leaues also are a little harder, whiter, and shorter then the former;
the sent also is somewhat sharper and stronger. This is not so frequent
as the first, and is nourished but in some places that are warme, and
where they delight in rare herbes and plants.
The Place.
Lauender groweth in Spaine aboundantly, in many places so
wilde, and little regarded, that many haue gone, and abiden
there to distill the oyle thereof whereof great quantity now
commeth ouer from thence vnto vs: and also in Lanquedocke, and
Prouence in France.
The Time.
It flowreth early in those hot Countries, but with vs not
vntill Iune and Iuly.
The Names.
It is called of some _Nardus Italica_, and _Lauendula_, the
greater is called _Fæmina_, and the lesser _Mas_. We doe call
them generally Lauender, or Lauender Spike, and the lesser
Spike, without any other addition.
The Vertues.
Lauender is little vsed in inward physicke, but outwardly; the
oyle for cold and benummed parts, and is almost wholly spent
with vs, for to perfume linnen, apparrell, gloues, leather, &c.,
and the dryed flowers to comfort and dry vp the moisture of a
cold braine.
CHAP. CXXVIII.
_Stœchas._ Sticadoue, Cassidony, or French Lauender.
Cassidony that groweth in the Gardens of our Countrey, may peraduenture
somewhat differ in colour, as well as in strength, from that which
groweth in hotter Countries; but as it is with vs, it is more tender
a great deale then Lauender, and groweth rather like an herbe then a
bush or shrub, not aboue a foote and a halfe high, or thereabouts,
hauing many narrow long greene leaues like Lauender, but softer and
smaller, set at seuerall distances together about the stalkes, which
spread abroad into branches: at the tops whereof stand long and round,
and sometimes foure square heads, of a darke greenish purple colour,
compact of many scales set together; from among which come forth the
flowers, of a blewish purple colour, after which follow seede vessels,
which are somewhat whitish when they are ripe, containing blackish
browne seede within them: the roote is somewhat wooddy, and will hardly
abide the iniuries of our cold Winters, except in some places onely, or
before it haue flowred: The whole plant is somewhat sweete, but nothing
so much as Lauender.
The Place.
Cassidony groweth in the Islands Stæchades, which are ouer
against Marselles, and in Arabia also: we keep it with great
care in our Gardens.
The Time.
It flowreth the next yeare after it is sowne, in the end of
May, which is a moneth before any Lauender.
The Names.
It is called of some _Lauendula siluestris_, but most vsually
_Stæchas_ in English, of some Stichadoue, or French Lauender;
and in many parts of England, Cassidony.
The Vertues.
It is of much more vse in physicke then Lauender, and is much
vsed for old paines in the head. It is also held to be good
for to open obstructions, to expell melancholy, to cleanse
and strengthen the liuer, and other inward parts, and to be a
Pectorall also.
CHAP. CXXIX.
_Abrotanum fæmina siue Santolina._ Lauender Cotton.
This Lauender Cotton hath many wooddy, but brittle branches, hoary or
of a whitish colour, whereon are set many leaues, which are little,
long, and foure square, dented or notched on all edges, and whitish
also: at the tops of these branches stand naked stalkes, bearing on
euery one of them a larger yellow head or flower, then eyther Tansie or
Maudeline, whereunto they are somewhat like, wherein is contained small
darke coloured seede: the roote is hard, and spreadeth abroad with many
fibres: the whole plant is of a strong sweete sent, but not vnpleasant,
and is in many places planted in Gardens, to border knots with, for
which it will abide to be cut into what forme you thinke best; for it
groweth thicke and bushy, very fit for such workes, besides the comely
shew the plant it selfe thus wrought doth yeeld, being alwayes greene,
and of a sweet sent; but because it quickly groweth great, and will
soone runne out of forme, it must be euery second or third yeare taken
vp, and new planted.
The Place.
It is onely planted in Gardens with vs, for the vses aforesaid
especially.
The Time.
It flowreth in Iuly, and standeth long in the hot time of the
yeare in his colour, and so will doe, if it be gathered before
it haue stood ouer long.
The Names.
Diuers doe call it as Matthiolus doth, _Abrotanum fæmina_, and
_Santolina_; and some call it _Chamæcyparissus_, because the
leaues thereof, are somewhat like the leaues of the Cypresse
tree: Wee call it in English generally Lauender Cotton.
The Vertues.
This is vsually put among other hot herbes, eyther into bathes,
ointments, or other things, that are vsed for cold causes. The
seede also is much vsed for the wormes.
CHAP. CXXX.
_Ocimum._ Bassill.
Bassill is of two sorts (besides other kindes) for this our Garden, the
one whereof is greater, the other lesse in euery part thereof; as shall
be shewed.
1. _Ocimum Citratum._ Common Bassill.
Our ordinary Garden Bassill hath one stalke rising from the root,
diuersly branched out, whereon are set two leaues alwayes at a ioynt,
which are broad, somewhat round, and pointed, of a pale greene colour,
but fresh, a little snipt or dented about the edges, and of a strong or
heady sent, somewhat like a Pomecitron, as many haue compared it, and
thereof call it _Citratum_: the flowers are small and white, standing
at the tops of the branches, with two smal leaues at euery ioynt vnder
them, in some plants green, in others browne vnder them: after which
commeth blacke seede: the roote perisheth at the first approach of
winter weather, and is to be new sowen euery yeare.
2. _Ocimum minimum siue Gariophyllatum._ Bush Basill.
The bush Basill groweth not altogether so high, but is thicker spreade
out into branches, whereon grow smaller leaues, and thicker set then
the former, but of a more excellent and pleasant smell by much: the
flowers are white like the former, and the seede blacke also like
it, and perisheth as suddenly, or rather sooner then it, so that it
requireth more paines to get it, and more care to nourse it, because we
seldome or neuer haue any seede of it.
_Ocimum Indicum._ Indian Basill.
The Indian Basill hath a square reddish greene stalke, a foote high
or better, from the ioynts whereof spreade out many branches, with
broade flat leaues set thereon, two alwayes together at the ioynt, one
against another, as other Basils haue, but somewhat deepely cut in on
the edges, and oftentimes a little crumpled, standing vpon long reddish
footestalkes, of a darke purple colour, spotted with deeper purple
spots, in some greater, in others lesser: the flowers stand at the tops
of the stalkes spike-fashion, which are of a white colour, with reddish
stripes and veines running through them, set or placed in darke purple
coloured huskes: the seede is greater and rounder then the former, and
somewhat long withall: the roote perisheth in like manner as the other
former doe. The whole plant smelleth strong, like vnto the other Basils.
The Place.
The two last sorts of Basils are greater strangers in our
Country then the first which is frequent, and only sowen and
planted in curious gardens. The last came first out of the West
Indies.
The Time.
They all flower in August, or Iuly at the soonest, and that but
by degrees, and not all at once.
The Names.
The first is vsually called _Ocimum vulgare_, or _vulgatius_,
and _Ocimum Citratum_. In English, Common or Garden Basill.
The other is called _Ocimum minimum_, or _Gariophyllatum_,
Cloue Basill, or Bush Basill. The last eyther of his place,
or forme of his leaues, being spotted and curled, or all, is
called _Ocimum Indicum maculatum_, _latifolium_ & _crispum_. In
English according to the Latine, Indian Basill, broade leafed
Basill, spotted or curled Basill, which you please.
The Vertues.
The ordinary Basill is in a manner wholly spent to make sweet,
or washing waters, among other sweet herbes, yet sometimes it
is put into nosegayes. The Physicall properties are, to procure
a cheerefull and merry heart, whervnto the seede is chiefly
vsed in pouder, &c. and is most vsed to that, and to no other
purpose.
[Illustration:
1 _Santolina._ Lauender Cotton.
2 _Lauendula._ Lauender Spike.
3 _Stœchas._ Cassidony.
4 _Chamædrys._ Germander.
5 _Ocimum minus._ Fine Bassill.
6 _Marum._ Herbe Masticke.
7 _Maiorana._ Sweete Marierome.
]
CHAP. CXXXI.
_Maiorana._ Sweete Marierome.
Wee haue many sorts of Marierome; some that are sweete, and but Summer
plants; others that are greater and not so sweet; and some also that
are wilde. Of all these I will onely select some of the choisest that
are fit for this place, and leaue the other for the next garden, and
the garden of simples, or a generall worke: yet hereunto I will adioyne
another sweete plant called Masticke, as participating neerer with them
then with Time, whereunto many doe referre it.
1. _Maiorana maior æstiua._ Common sweet Marierome.
The sweet Marierome that is most frequently sowen in our Country, is a
low herbe little aboue a foote high when it is at the highest, full of
branches, and small whitish soft roundish leaues, smelling very sweet:
at the toppes of the branches stand diuers small scaly heads, like vnto
knots, (and therefore of some called knotted Marierome) of a whitish
greene colour, out of which come here and there small white flowers,
and afterwards small reddish seede: the roote is composed of many small
threds or strings, which perish with the whole plant euery yeare.
2. _Maiorana tenuifolia._ Marierome gentle.
This Marierome hath likewise diuers small branches, growing low, and
not higher then the former, but hauing finer and smaller leaues, hoary
and soft, but much sweeter: the heads are like vnto the former, and so
are the flowers and seede, and the whole plant abiding but a Summer in
the like manner.
3. _Marum._ Herbe Masticke.
The neerer resemblance that this herbe hath with Marierome then with
Tyme (as I said before) hath made me place it next vnto the small sweet
Marierome. It riseth vp with a greater, and a more woody stalke then
Marierome, two foote high or better in some places, where it liketh
the ground and ayre, branching out on all sides towards the vpper
part, leauing the stemme bare below, if it bee old, otherwise being
young, thinly furnishing the branches from the bottome with small
greene leaues, bigger then the leaues of any Tyme, and comming neere
vnto the bignesse and forme of the last recited finer Marierome, but
of a greener colour: at the toppes of the branches stand small white
flowers on a head, which afterwards turne into a loose tuft of a long
white hoary matter, like vnto soft doune, with some leaues vnderneath
and about it, which abide not long on the stalkes, but are blowne away
with the winde: the seede is so small if it haue any, that I haue not
obserued it: the roote is threddy: the whole plant is of a sweete
resinous sent, stronger then the Marierome, and abideth our winters, if
it be carefully planted and regarded.
The Place.
The sweete Marieromes grow naturally in hot Countreyes: the
first in Spaine &c. the second is thought to come out of Syria,
or Persia first into Italie, where they much esteeme it, and
plant it curiously and carefully in pots, and set them in their
windowes, beeing much delighted therewith for the sweet sent it
hath. The first is vsually sowen euery yeare in most gardens
with vs: but the second is very rare and daintie, and must as
daintely be preserued being more tender then the former. The
herbe Masticke is thought to be first brought out of Candie,
Clusius saith he found it in Spaine: It is planted by slippes,
(and not sowen) in many gardens, and is much replanted for
increase, but prospereth onely, or more frequently, in loamie
or clay grounds then in any other soyle.
The Time.
The sweete Marieromes beare their knots or scaly heads in the
end of Iuly, or in August. Herbe Masticke in Iune many times,
or in the beginning of Iuly.
The Names.
The first of the two sweet Marieromes called _Maiorana_ in
Latine _à maiore cura_, is taken of most writers to be the
_Amaracus_ or _Sampsuchum_ of Dioscorides, Theophrastus and
Plinie, although Galen doth seem a little to dissent therefrom.
The other sweet Marierome hath his name in his title as much
as can be said of it. The next is thought by the best of the
moderne Writers to be the true _Marum_ that Galen preferreth
for the excellent sweetnesse, before the former Marierome in
making the _Oleum_, or _vnguentum Amaricinum_, and seemeth to
incline to their opinion that thought _Amaracus_ was deriued
from _Marum_. It is the same also that Galen and others of the
ancient Writers make mention of, to go into the composition
of the _Trochisci Hedychroi_, as well as _Amaracus_ among the
ingredients of the _Theriaca Andromachi_. In English we call it
Masticke simply, or Herbe Mastick, both to distinguish it from
that Tyme that is called Masticke Tyme, and from the Masticke
Tree, or Gum, so called. Some of later times, and Clusius with
them, haue thought this to be Dioscorides his _Tragoriganum_,
which doth somewhat resemble it: but there is another plant
that Matthiolus setteth forth for _Marum_, that in Lobels
opinion and mine is the truest _Tragoriganum_, and this the
truest _Marum_.
The Vertues.
The sweete Marieromes are not onely much vsed to please the
outward senses in nosegayes, and in the windowes of houses,
as also in sweete pouders, sweete bags, and sweete washing
waters, but are also of much vse in Physicke, both to comfort
the outward members, or parts of the body, and the inward also:
to prouoke vrine being stopped, and to ease the paines thereof,
and to cause the feminine courses. Herbe Masticke is of greater
force to helpe the stopping of vrine, then the Marierome, and
is put into Antidotes, as a remedie against the poyson of
venemous Beasts.
CHAP. CXXXI.
_Thymum._ Tyme.
There are many kindes of Tyme, as they are vsually called, with vs,
some are called of the garden, and others wilde, which yet for their
sweetnesse are brought into gardens, as Muske Tyme, and Lemon Tyme; and
some for their beauty, as embroidered or gold yellow Tyme, and white
Tyme. But the true Tyme of the ancient Writers, called _Capitatum_, as
a speciall note of distinction from all other kindes of Tyme, is very
rare to be seene with vs here in England, by reason of the tendernesse,
that it will not abide our Winters. And all the other sorts that with
vs are called garden Tymes, are indeede but kindes of wilde Tyme,
although in the defect or want of the true Tyme, they are vsed in the
stead of it. With the Tymes I must doe as I did with the Marieromes in
the Chapter before, that is, reserue the most common in vse, for the
common vse of the Kitchen, and shew you only those here, that are not
put to that vse: and first with the true Tyme, because it is knowne but
to a few.
1. _Thymum legitimum capitatum._ The true Tyme.
The true Tyme is a very tender plant, hauing hard and hoary brittle
branches, spreading from a small wooddy stemme, about a foote and a
halfe high, whereon are set at seuerall ioynts, and by spaces, many
small, long, whitish, or hoary greene leaues, of a quicke sent and
taste: at the tops of the branches stand small long whitish greene
heads, somewhat like vnto the heads of _Stæchas_, made as it were of
many leaues or scales, out of which start forth small purplish flowers
(and in some white, as Bellonius saith) after which commeth small
seede, that soone falleth out, and if it be not carefully gathered,
is soone lost, which made (I thinke) Theophrastus to write, that this
Tyme was to be sowne of the flowers, as not hauing any other seede: the
root is small and wooddy. This holdeth not his leaues in Winter, no
not about Seuill in Spaine, where it groweth aboundantly, as Clusius
recordeth, finding it there naked or spoiled of leaues. And will not
abide our Winters, but perisheth wholly, roote and all.
2. _Serpillum hortense siue maius._ Garden wilde Tyme.
The wilde Tyme that is cherished in gardens groweth vpright, but yet
is lowe, with diuers slender branches, and small round greene leaues,
somewhat like vnto small fine Marierome, and smelling somewhat like
vnto it: the flowers growe in roundels at the toppes of the branches,
of a purplish colour: And in another of this kinde they are of a pure
white colour.
There is another also like hereunto, that smelleth somewhat like vnto
Muske; and therefore called Muske Tyme, whose greene leaues are not so
small as the former, but larger and longer.
3. _Serpillum Citratum._ Lemon Tyme.
The wilde Tyme that smelleth like vnto a Pomecitron or Lemon, hath many
weake branches trayling on the ground, like vnto the first described
wilde Tyme, with small darke greene leaues, thinly or sparsedly set
on them, and smelling like vnto a Lemon, with whitish flowers at the
toppes in roundels or spikes.
4. _Serpillum aureum siue versicolor._ Guilded or embroidered Tyme.
This kinde of wilde Tyme hath small hard branches lying or leaning
to the ground, with small party coloured leaues vpon them, diuided
into stripes or edges, of a gold yellow colour, the rest of the leafe
abiding greene, which for the variable mixture or placing of the
yellow, hath caused it to be called embroidered or guilded Tyme.
The Place.
The first groweth as is said before, about Seuill in Spaine, in
very great aboundance as Clusius saith; and as Bellonius saith,
very plentifully on the mountaines through all Greece. The
others growe some in this Country, and some in others: but wee
preserue them with all the care wee can in our gardens, for the
sweete and pleasant sents and varieties they yeeld.
The Time.
The first flowreth not vntill August; the rest in Iune and Iuly.
The Names.
Their names are seuerally set downe in their titles, as is
sufficient to distinguish them; and therefore I shall not neede
to trouble you any further with them.
The Vertues.
The true Tyme is a speciall helpe to melancholicke and
spleneticke diseases, as also to flatulent humours, either
in the vpper or lower parts of the body. The oyle that is
Chimically drawne out of ordinary Tyme, is vsed (as the whole
herbe is, in the stead of the true) in pils for the head and
stomach. It is also much vsed for the toothach, as many other
such like hot oyles are.
CHAP. CXXXII.
_Hyssopus._ Hyssope.
There are many varieties of Hyssope, beside the common or ordinary,
which I reserue for the Kitchen garden, and intend onely in this place
to giue you the knowledge of some more rare: _viz._ of such as are
noursed vp by those that are curious, and fit for this garden: for
there are some other, that must be remembred in the Physicke garden, or
Garden of Simples, or else in a generall worke.
1. _Hyssopus folijs niueis._ White Hyssope.
This white Hyssope is of the same kinde and smell with the common
Hyssope; but differeth, in that this many times hath diuers leaues,
that are wholly of a white colour, with part of the stalke also: others
are parted, the one halfe white, the other halfe greene, and some
are wholly greene, or with some spots or stripes of white within the
greene, which makes it delightfull to most Gentlewomen.
2. _Hyssopus folijs cinereis._ Russet Hyssope.
As the last hath party coloured leaues, white and greene, so this hath
his leaues of an ash-colour, which of some is called russet; and hath
no other difference either in forme or smell.
3. _Hyssopus aureus._ Yellow or golden Hyssope.
All the leaues of this Hyssope are wholly yellow, or but a little
greene in them, and are of so pleasant a colour, especially in Summer,
that they prouoke many Gentlewomen to weare them in their heads, and on
their armes, with as much delight as many fine flowers can giue: but
in Winter their beautifull colour is much decayed, being of a whitish
greene, yet recouer themselues againe the next Summer.
4. _Hyssopus surculis densis._ Double Hyssope.
As this kinde of Hyssope groweth lower then the former or ordinary
kinde, so it hath more branches, slenderer, and not so wooddy, leaning
somewhat downe toward the ground, so wonderfully thicke set with
leaues, that are like vnto the other, but of a darker greene colour,
and somewhat thicker withall, that it is the onely fine sweete herbe,
that I know fittest (if any be minded to plant herbes) to set or border
a knot of herbes or flowers, because it will well abide, and not growe
too wooddy or great, nor be thinne of leaues in one part, when it is
thicke in another, so that it may be kept with cutting as smooth and
plaine as a table. If it be suffered to growe vp of it selfe alone, it
riseth with leaues as before is specified, and flowreth as the common
doth, and of the same sent also, not differing in any thing, but in the
thicknesse of the leaues on the stalkes and branches, and the aptnesse
to be ordered as the keeper pleaseth.
_Chamædrys._ Germander.
Lest Germander should be vtterly forgotten, as not worthy of our
Garden, seeing many (as I said in my treatise or introduction to this
Garden) doe border knots therewith: let me at the least giue it a
place, although the last, being more vsed as a strewing herbe for the
house, then for any other vse. It is (I thinke) sufficiently knowne to
haue many branches, with small and somewhat round endented leaues on
them, and purplish gaping flowers: the rootes spreading far abroad, and
rising vp againe in many places.
The Place.
These Hyssopes haue beene most of them noursed vp of long time
in our English Gardens, but from whence their first originall
should be, is not well knowne. The Germander also is onely in
Gardens, and not wilde.
The Time.
They flower in Iune and Iuly.
The Names.
The seuerall names whereby they are knowne to vs, are set
forth in their titles; and therefore I neede not here say
more of them then onely this, that neyther they here set
downe, nor the common or ordinary sort, nor any of the rest
not here expressed, are any of them the true Hyssope of the
ancient Greeke Writers, but _supposititiæ_, vsed in the stead
thereof. The Germander, from the forme of the leaues like vnto
small oaken leaues, had the name _Chamædrys_ giuen it, which
signifieth a dwarfe Oake.
The Vertues.
The common Hyssope is much vsed in all pectorall medicines,
to cut fleagme, and to cause it easily to be auoided. It is
vsed of many people in the Country, to be laid vnto cuts or
fresh wounds, being bruised, and applyed eyther alone, or with
a little Sugar. It is much vsed as a sweet herbe, to be in
the windowes of an house. I finde it much commended against
the Falling Sicknesse, especially being made into Pils after
this manner: Of Hyssope, Horhound, and Castor, of each halfe
a dramme, of Peony rootes (the male kinde is onely fit to be
vsed for this purpose) two drams, of _Assafætida_ one scruple:
Let them be beaten, and made into pils with the iuyce of
Hyssope; which being taken for seuen dayes together at night
going to bed, is held to be effectual to giue much ease, if
not thoroughly to cure those that are troubled with that
disease. The vse of Germander ordinarily is as Tyme, Hyssope,
and other such herbes, to border a knot, whereunto it is often
appropriate, and the rather, that it might be cut to serue (as
I said) for a strewing herbe for the house among others. For
the physicall vse it serueth in diseases of the splene, and the
stopping of vrine, and to procure womens courses.
* * * * *
Thus haue I led you through all my Garden of Pleasure, and shewed you
all the varieties of nature noursed therein, pointing vnto them, and
describing them one after another. And how lastly (according to the vse
of our old ancient Fathers) I bring you to rest on the Grasse, which
yet shall not be without some delight, and that not the least of all
the rest.
[Illustration:
1 _Thymum legitimum._ The true Tyme.
2 _Serpillum maius hortense._ Garden wilde Tyme.
3 _Serpillum Citratum._ Lemon Tyme.
4 _Hyssopus versicolor siue aureus._ Golden Hyssope.
5 _Chamædrys._ Germander.
6 _Spartum Austriacum siue Gramen plumarium minus._ The lesser
feather Grasse.
7 _Gramen striatum vel sulcatum._ Painted Grasse or Ladies Laces.
]
CHAP. CXXXIII.
_Gramina._ Grasses.
There are among an infinite number (as I may so say) of Grasses, a few
onely which I thinke fit to be planted in this Garden, both for the
rarity of them, and also for your delight, and the excellent beauty
that is in them aboue many other plants. One of them hath long agoe bin
respected, and cherished in the country gardens of many Gentlewomen,
and others. The others are knowne but vnto a few.
1. _Gramen striatum._ Painted Grasse or Ladies laces.
This kinde of Grasse hath many stiffe, hard, round stalkes, full of
ioynts, whereon are set at euery ioynt one long leafe, somewhat broad
at the bottome, where it compasseth the stalke, and smaller to the end,
where it is sharpe pointed, hard or rough in handling, and striped all
the length of the leafe with white streakes or lines, that they seeme
party coloured laces of white and greene: the tops of the stalkes are
furnished with long spikie tufts, like vnto the tufts of Couch Grasse:
the rootes are small, white, and threddy, like the rootes of other
Grasses.
2. _Gramen Plumarium minus._ The lesser Feather-Grasse.
This lesser Feather-Grasse hath many small, round, and very long
leaues or blades, growing in tufts, much finer and smaller then any
other Grasse that I know, being almost like vnto haires, and of a
fresh greene colour in Summer, but changing into gray, like old hay in
Winter, being indeede all dead, and neuer reuiuing; yet hardly to be
plucked away vntill the Spring, and then other greene leaues or rushes
rise vp by them, and in their stead, and are aboue a foote in length:
from the middle of these tufts come forth rounder and bigger rushes,
which are the stalkes, and which haue a chaffie round eare about the
middle thereof, which when it is full growne, is somewhat higher then
the toppes of the leaues or rushes, opening it selfe (being before
close) at the top, and shewing forth three or foure long ayles or
beards, one aboue another, which bend themselues a little downewards
(if they stand ouer long before they are gathered, and will fall off,
and be blowne away with the winde) being so finely feathered on both
sides, all the length of the beard, and of a pale or grayish colour,
that no feather in the taile of the Bird of Paradise can be finer,
or to be compared with them, hauing sticking at the end of euery one
of them, within the eare, a small, long, whitish, round, hard, and
very sharpe pointed graine, like vnto an oaten graine, that part of
the stalke of the feather that is next vnder it, and aboue the seede
for some two or three inches, being stiffe and hard, and twining or
curling it selfe, if it be suffered to stand too long, or to fall away,
otherwise being straight as the feather it selfe: the roote is composed
of many long, hard, small threddy strings, which runne deepe and far,
and will not willingly be remoued, in that it gaineth strength euery
yeare by standing.
3. _Gramen Plumarium maius._ The greater Feather-Grasse.
The greater Feather-Grasse is like vnto the lesser, but that both the
leaues and the feathers, are greater, and nothing so fine, grosser
also, and of lesse beauty and respect, though whiter then it; and
therefore is not so much regarded: for I haue knowne, that many
Gentlewomen haue vsed the former lesser kinde, being tyed in tufts, to
set them in stead of feathers about their beds, where they haue lyen
after childe-bearing, and at other times also, when as they haue been
much admired of the Ladies and Gentles that haue come to visit them.
The Place.
The first of these Grasses, as Lobel saith, groweth naturally
in the woods and hils of Sauoy. It hath long agoe beene
receiued into our English gardens. The second, as Clusius
saith, in Austria, from whence also (as I take it) the greater
came, and are both in the gardens of those, that are curious
obseruers of these delights.
The Time.
The first is in its pride for the leaues all the Spring and
Summer, yeelding his bush in Iune. The other giue their
feather-like sprigs in Iuly and August, and quickly (as I said)
are shed, if they be not carefully gathered.
The Names.
The first is called by Lobel _Gramen sulcatum_, or _striatum
album_; of others _Gramen pictum_. The French call it
_Aiguellettes d’armes_, of the fashion that their Ensignes,
Pennons, or Streamers vsed in wars were of, that is, like vnto
a party coloured curtaine. In English vsually Ladies laces,
and Painted Grasse. The first of the other two is called
_Gramen plumarium_ or _plumosum_, and _minus_ is added for the
distinction of it. Clusius calleth it _Spartum Austriacum_,
of the likenesse and place where he found it. The last is,
called _Gramen plumarium_, or _plumosum maius_, The greater
Feather-Grasse.
The Vertues.
These kindes of Grasses are not in any time or place that I doe
heare of applyed to any Physicall vse; and therefore of them I
will say no more: but here I will end the prime part of this
worke.
THE ORDERING OF THE KITCHEN GARDEN.
CHAP. I.
_The situation of a Kitchen Garden, or Garden of Herbes, and what sort
of manure is fittest to helpe the decaying of the soyle thereof._
Hauing giuen you the best rules and instructions that I can for your
flower Garden, and all the flowers that are fit to furnish it, I now
proceede to your herbe garden, which is not of the least respect
belonging to any mans house, nor vtterly to bee neglected for the
many vtilities are to be had from it, both for the Masters profit
and pleasure, and the meynies content and nourishment: all which if
I should here set down, I had a large field to wander in, and matter
sufficient to entreat of, but this worke permitteth not that libertie:
and I thinke there are but few but eyther know it already, or conceiue
it sufficiently in their minds. Passing therefore no further in such
discourses, I come to the matter in hand, which is to shew you where
the fittest place is for an herbe garden. As before I shewed you that
the beautie of any worthy house is much the more commended for the
pleasant situation of the garden of flowers, or of pleasure, to be in
the sight and full prospect of all the chiefe and choisest roomes of
the house; so contrariwise, your herbe garden should bee on the one
or other side of the house, and those best and choyse roomes: for the
many different sents that arise from the herbes, as Cabbages, Onions,
&c. are scarce well pleasing to perfume the lodgings of any house; and
the many ouertures and breaches as it were of many of the beds thereof,
which must necessarily bee, are also as little pleasant to the sight.
But for priuate mens houses, who must like their habitations as they
fall vnto them, and cannot haue time or meanes to alter them, they must
make a vertue of necessity, and conuert their places to their best
aduantage, by making their profit their chiefest pleasure, and making
one place serue for all vses. The choyce of ground for this Garden, is
(as I said before) where it is fat, fertill and good, there needeth
the lesse labour and cost; and contrariwise, where it is cold, wet,
dry or barren, there must bee the more helpes still added to keepe
it in heart. For this Garden by reason of the much and continuall
stirring therein, the herbes and rootes drawing out the substance of
the fertilitie thereof more aboundantly then in the former, must be
continually holpen with soyle, or else few things of goodnesse or worth
will come forward therein. The stable soyle of horses is best and most
proper for any colde grounds, for being the hottest, it will cause any
the seedes for this Garden to prosper well, and be more forward then in
any other ground that is not so holpen. The stable soyle of Cattell is
of a colder and moister nature, and is therefore more proper for the
hot sandy or grauelly grounds, and although it bee longer before it bee
brought to mould then that of horses, yet it will outlast it more then
twice so long. Let euery one therefore take according to the nature
of the ground such helpes as are most fit and conuenient, as I haue
here and before shewed. But I doe here ingenuously confesse my opinion
of these forcings and helpings of ground, that howsoeuer it doth much
good to some particular things, which because they delight in heate,
and cannot be brought to perfection without it in this our Countrey,
which is colder then their naturall from whence they are brought, must
therefore haue artificiall helpes to forward them; yet for many other
things the compost doth much alter and abate the naturall vigour, and
quickenesse of taste, that is perceiued in them that grow in a naturall
fat or sandy soile that is not so holpen.
CHAP. II.
_The forme of a Garden of herbes for necessary vses, with the ordering
thereof._
As our former Garden of pleasure is wholly formable in euery part with
squares, trayles, and knots, and to bee still maintained in their due
forme and beautie: so on the contrary side this Garden cannot long
conserue any forme, for that euery part thereof is subiect to mutation
and alteration. For although it is conuenient that many herbes doe grow
by themselues on beds, cast out into some proportion fit for them, as
Tyme, Hissope, Sage, &c. yet many others may bee sowen together on a
plot of ground of that largenesse that may serue euery mans particular
vse as he shall haue occasion to employ it, as Reddish, Lettice and
Onions, which after they are growne vp together may be drawne vp and
taken away, as there is occasion to spend them: but Carrots or Parsneps
being sowen with others must bee suffered to grow last, because
they require a longer time before they be fit to be taken vp. Other
herbes require some large compasse of ground whereon they may grow of
themselues without any other herbes growing among them, as Artichokes,
Cowcumbers, Melons, Pompions. And some will doe so with their Cabbages
also, but the best and most frugall way now vsed, is to plant them
round about the border of your plot or ground whereon you plant
Cowcumbers, Pompions, or other things, in that by this meanes so much
ground will be well saued, and the other things be no whit hindered
thereby, which else a great deale of ground must be employed for them
apart. So that by this that I haue here said, you may perceiue the
forme of this Garden is for the most part, to bee still out of forme
and order, in that the continuall taking vp of the herbes and rootes
that are sowen and planted, causeth the beds or parts of this Garden
to lye broken, dismembered, and out of the order that at the first it
was put into. Remember herewithall that (as I said before) this Garden
requireth the continuall helpe of soyle to be brought into it, in that
the plenty of these manner of herbes and rootes doe so much waste
the fertilitie and fatnesse of the ground, that without continuall
refreshing it would quickly become so poore and barren, that it would
not yeelde the worth of the seede. The ordinary time to soyle a Garden,
is to bring in manure or dung before Christmas, and eyther bury at some
small depth, not too deepe, or else to lay it vpon the ground that the
winter frostes may pierce it, and then turne it shallow into the ground
to sow your seeds in the Spring.
CHAP. III.
_How to order diuers Garden herbes, both for their sowing, spending,
and gathering of the seede._
Ovr chiefest and greatest Gardiners now adaies, doe so prouide for
themselues euery yeare, that from their owne grounds they gather the
seede of many herbes that they sowe againe: for hauing gained the
best kind of diuers herbes, they will be still furnished with the
same, and be not to seeke euery yeare for new that oftentimes will not
yeelde them halfe the profit that their choyce seede will: I say of
many herbes, but not of all; for the best of them all hath not ground
sufficient for all sorts, nor will our climate bring some to that
perfection that other forraine doth, and therefore the seede of some
things are continually brought from beyond Sea vnto vs. And againe
although our chiefe Gardiners doe still prouide their owne seede of
diuers things from their owne ground, because as I said it is of the
best kinde, yet you must vnderstand also, that good store of the same
sortes of seeds are brought from beyond the Seas, for that which is
gathered in this Land is not sufficient to serue euery mans vse in the
whole Kingdome by many parts; yet still it is true, that our English
seede of many things is better then any that commeth from beyond the
Seas: as for example, Reddish, Lettice, Carrots, Parsneps, Turneps,
Cabbages, and Leekes, of all which I intend to write in this place;
for these are by them so husbanded, that they doe not sow their owne
grounds with any other seede of these sorts but their owne: which
that you may know the manner how to doe, I will here set it downe,
that euery one may haue the best directions if they will follow them.
Of Reddish there are two sorts, one more early then the other: they
vse therefore to sow their early Reddish first, that they may haue
the earliest profit of them, which is more worth in one fortnight,
then in a moneth after. And to effect this they haue some artificiall
helps also; which are these: They vse to digge vp a large plot of
ground where they intend to sow their seede a little before or after
Christmas, casting it into high bankes or ridges fiue or sixe foote
asunder, which they suffer to lye and take all the extreame frosts
in Ianuary to mellow the earth, and when the frostes are past, they
then beginne to bring into it good store of fresh stable dung, which
they laye neyther too deepe nor too thicke, and couer it with the
mould a hand breadth thicknesse aboue the dung, which doth giue such
a warmth and comfort to whatsoeuer is sowen thereon, that it forceth
it forward much sooner then any other way can doe: And to preuent
both the frostes, and the cold bitter windes which often spoyle their
seede new sprung vp, they vse to set great high and large mattes made
of reedes, tyed together, and fastened vnto strong stakes, thrust
into the ground to keepe them vp from falling, or being blowne down
with the winde; which mattes they place on the North and East side to
breake the force of these winds, and are so sure and safe a defence,
that a bricke wall cannot better defend anything vnder it, then this
fence will. In this manner they doe euery yeare to bring forward their
seede to gaine the more by them, and they that will haue Reddish
early, must take the same course. The other sort of Reddish for the
most part is sowen in Februarie, a fortnight after the other at the
least, and likewise euery moneth after vnto September, that they may
haue young continually. For the blacke Reddish, although many in many
places doe sowe it in the same time, and in the same manner that the
ordinary is sowen, yet the nature thereof is to runne vp to seede more
speedily then the other, if it haue so rich ground to grow vpon, and
therefore the best time to sow it is in August, that so it may abide
all winter, therein is the chiefest time for the spending thereof, and
to keepe it vntill the beginning of the next yeare from running vp to
seed: the gathering whereof, as also of the other sort, is all after
one manner, that is, to be pulled vp when the pods change whitish, and
then hanged vpon bushes, pales, or such other thing, vntill they bee
thorough dry, and then beaten or thrashed out vpon a smooth plancher,
or vpon clothes, as euery ones store is, and their conueniencie.
Lettice is sowen oftentimes with the early Reddish, in the same manner
before said, that they may haue Lettice likewise as early as the time
of the year will permit them, which they pull vp where they grow
too thicke, spending them first, and so taking vp from time to time,
vntill they stand two foote in sunder one from another, and beginne
to spindle and shoote vp for seede. In this is vsed some arte to make
the plants strong to giue the better seede without danger of rotting
or spoyling with the wet, which often happeneth to those about whom
this caution is not obserued: Before your Lettice is shot vp, marke
out the choysest and strongest plantes which are fittest to grow for
seede, and from those when they are a foote high, strippe away with
your hand the leaues that grow lowest vpon the stalke next the ground,
which might rot, spoyle or hinder them from bearing so good seede;
which when it is neere to be ripe, the stalkes must be cut off about
the middle, and layde vpon mats or clothes in the Sunne, that it may
there fully ripen and be gathered; for it would be blowne away with the
winde if it should be suffered to abide on the stalkes long. Parsneps
must be sowen on a deep trenched mellow ground, otherwise they may run
to seede the first yeare, which then are nothing worth: or else the
rootes will be small staruelings and short, and runne into many spires
or branches, whereby they will not bee of halfe the worth. Some vse to
sow them in August and September, that so they may bee well growne to
serue to spend in Lent following, but their best time is in February,
that the Summers growth may make them the fairer and greater. When
they runne vp to seede you shall take the principall or middle heades,
for those carry the Master seede, which is the best, and will produce
the fairest rootes againe. You shall hardly haue all the seede ripe at
one instant, for vsually the chiefest heads will be fallen before the
other are ripe: you must therefore still looke them ouer, and cut them
as they ripen. Carrots are vsually sowen in March and Aprill, and if
it chance that some of them doe runne vp for seede the same year, they
are to be weeded out, for neyther the seed nor roots of them are good:
You must likewise pull them vp when they are too thicke, if you will
haue them grow fair, or for seed, that they may grow at the least three
or foure foot in sunder: the stalkes of Carrots are limber, and fall
downe to the ground; they must therefore be sustained by poles layde
acrosse on stalkes thrust into the ground, and tyed to the poles and
stalkes to keepe them vp from rotting or spoyling vpon the ground: the
seed hereof is not all ripe at once, but must be tended and gathered
as it ripeneth, and layd to dry in some dry chamber or floore, and
then beaten out with a stick, and winnowed from the refuse. Turneps
are sowne by themselues vpon a good ground in the end of Iuly, and
beginning of August, to haue their rootes best to spend in winter; for
it often happeneth that those seedes of Turneps that are sowen in the
Spring, runne vp to seede the same yeare, and then it is not accounted
good. Many doe vse to sow Turneps on those grounds from whence the same
yeare they haue taken off Reddish and Lettice, to make the greater
profit of the ground, by hauing two crops of increase in one yeare.
The stalkes of Turneps will bend downe to the ground, as Carrots doe,
but yet must not be bound or ordered in that manner, but suffered to
grow without staking or binding, so as they grow of some good distance
in sunder: when the seede beginneth to grow ripe, be very carefull to
preserue it from the birds, which will be most busie to deuour them.
You shall vnderstand likewise that many doe account the best way to
haue the fairest and most principall seede from all these fore-recited
herbes, that after they are sowen and risen to a reasonable growth,
they be transplanted into fresh ground. Cabbages also are not only
sowen for the vse of their heads to spend for meat, but to gather their
seede likewise, which howsoeuer some haue endeauoured to doe, yet few
haue gained good seede, because our sharpe hard frostes in winter haue
spoyled and rotted their stockes they preserued for the purpose; but
others haue found out a better and a more sure way, which is, to take
vp your stocks that are fittest to be preserued, and bring them into
the house, and there wrap them eyther in clothes, or other things to
defend them from the cold, and hang them vp in a dry place, vntill the
beginning of March following, then planting them in the ground, and
a little defend them at the first with straw cast ouer them from the
cold nights, thereby you may be sure to haue perfect good seede, if
your kinde be of the best: Sowe your seed in the moneths of February or
March, and transplant them in May where they may stand to grow for your
vse, but be carefull to kill the wormes or Caterpillers that else will
deuoure all your leaues, and be carefull also that none of the leaues
bee broken in the planting, or otherwise rubbed, for that oftentimes
hindereth the well closing of them. Leekes are for the most part
wholly noursed vp from the seede that is here gathered; and because
there is not so much store of them either sowne or spent, as there
is of Onions by the twentieth part, we are still the more carefull
to be prouided from our owne labours; yet there be diuers Gardiners
in this Kingdome, that doe gather some small quantity of Onion seede
also for their owne or their priuate friends spending. The sowing of
them both is much about one time and manner, yet most vsually Leeks
are sowne later then Onions, and both before the end of March at the
furthest; yet some sowe Onions from the end of Iuly to the beginning
of September, for their Winter prouision. Those that are sowne in the
Spring, are to be taken vp and transplanted on a fresh bed prepared
for the purpose, or else they will hardly abide a Winter; but hauing
taken roote before Winter, they will beare good seede in the Summer
following: You must stake both your Leekes and your Onion beds, and
with poles laid a crosse, binde your lopple headed stalkes vnto them,
on high as well as belowe, or else the winde and their owne weight
will beare them downe to the ground, and spoile your seede. You must
thinne them, that is, pull vp continually after they are first sprung
vp those that growe too thicke, as you doe with all the other herbes
before spoken of, that they may haue the more roome to thriue. Of all
these herbes and rootes before spoken of, you must take the likeliest
and fairest to keepe for your seede; for if you should not take the
best, what hope of good seede can you expect? The time for the spending
of these herbes and rootes, not particularly mentioned, is vntill they
begin to runne vp for seede, or vntill they are to be transplanted for
seede, or else vntill Winter, while they are good, as euery one shall
see cause.
CHAP. IIII.
_How to order Artichokes, Melons, Cowcumbers, and Pompions._
There are certaine other herbes to be spoken of, which are wholly
noursed vp for their fruit sake, of whom I shall not need to say much,
being they are so frequent in euery place. Artichokes being planted of
faire and large slips, taken from the roote in September and October
(yet not too late) will most of them beare fruit the next yeare, so
that they be planted in well dunged ground, and the earth raised vp
like vnto an Anthill round about each roote, to defend them the better
from the extreame frosts in Winter. Others plant slips in March and
Aprill, or sooner, but although some of them will beare fruit the
same yeare, yet all will not. And indeede many doe rather choose to
plant in the spring then in the fall, for that oftentimes an extreame
hard Winter following the new setting of slips, when they haue not
taken sufficient heart and roote in the ground, doth vtterly pierce
and perish them, when as they that are set in the Spring haue the
whole Summers growth, to make them strong before they feele any sharpe
frosts, which by that time they are the better able to beare. Muske
Melons haue beene begun to bee noursed vp but of late dayes in this
Land, wherein although many haue tryed and endeauoured to bring them to
perfection, yet few haue attained vnto it: but those rules and orders
which the best and skilfullest haue vsed, I will here set downe, that
who so will, may haue as good and ripe Melons as any other in this
Land. The first thing you are to looke vnto, is to prouide you a peece
of ground fit for the purpose, which is either a sloping or sheluing
banke, lying open and opposite to the South Sunne, or some other fit
place not sheluing, and this ground also you must so prepare, that all
the art you can vse about it to make it rich is little enough; and
therefore you must raise it with meere stable soyle, thorough rotten &
well turned vp, that it may be at the least three foote deepe thereof,
which you must cast also into high beds or balkes, with deepe trenches
or furrowes betweene, so as the ridges may be at the least a foot and
a halfe higher then the furrowes; for otherwise it is not possible to
haue good Melons growe ripe. The choise of your seede also is another
thing of especiall regard, and the best is held to be Spanish, and
not French, which hauing once gained, be sure to haue still of the
same while they last good, that you may haue the seede of your owne
ripe Melons from them that haue eaten them, or saue some of the best
your selfe for the purpose. I say while they last good; for many are
of opinion, that no seede of Muske Melons gathered in England, will
endure good to sowe againe here aboue the third yeare, but still they
must be renewed from whence you had your choisest before. Then hauing
prepared a hot bed of dung in Aprill, set your seedes therein to raise
them vp, and couer them, and order them with as great care or greater
then Cowcumbers, &c. are vsed, that when they are ready, they may be
transplanted vpon the beds or balkes of that ground you had before
prepared for them, and set them at the least two yards in sunder, euery
one as it were in a hole, with a circle of dung about them, which vpon
the setting being watered with water that hath stood in the Sunne a day
or two, and so as often as neede is to water, couer them with strawe
(some vse great hollow glasses like vnto bell heads) or some such other
things, to defend them both from the cold euenings or dayes, and the
heate of the Sunne, while they are young and new planted. There are
some that take vpon them great skill, that mislike of the raising vp
of Melons, as they doe also of Cowcumbers, on a hot bed of horse dung,
but will put two or three seedes in a place in the very ground where
they shall stand and growe, and thinke without that former manner of
forcing them forwards, that this their manner of planting will bring
them on fast and sure enough, in that they will plucke away some of the
worst and weakest, if too many rise vp together in a place; but let
them know for certaine, that howsoeuer for Cowcumbers their purpose and
order may doe reasonable well, where the ground is rich and good, and
where they striue not to haue them so early, as they that vse the other
way, for Muske Melons, which are a more tender fruit, requiring greater
care and trouble in the noursing, and greater and stronger heate for
the ripening, they must in our cold climate haue all the art vsed vnto
them that may be, to bring them on the more early, and haue the more
comfort of the Sunne to ripen them kindly, or else they will not bee
worth the labour and ground. After you haue planted them as aforesaid,
some of good skill doe aduise, that you be carefull in any dry season,
to giue them water twice or thrice euery weeke while they are young,
but more afterward when they are more growne, and that in the morning
especially, yea and when the fruit is growne somewhat great, to water
the fruit it selfe with a watering pot in the heate of the day, is of
so good effect, that it ripeneth them much faster, and will giue them
the better taste and smell, as they say. To take likewise the fruit,
and gather it at the full time of his ripenesse is no small art; for if
it be gathered before his due time to be presently eaten, it will be
hard and greene, and not eate kindly; and likewise if it be suffered
too long, the whole goodnesse will be lost: You shall therefore know,
that it is full time to gather them to spend presently, when they begin
to looke a little yellowish on the outside, and doe smell full and
strong; but if you be to send them farre off, or keepe them long vpon
any occasion, you shall then gather them so much the earlier, that
according to the time of the carriage and spending, they may ripen in
the lying, being kept dry, and couered with woollen clothes: When you
cut one to eate, you shall know it to be ripe and good, if the seede
and pulpe about them in the middle be very waterish, and will easily
be separated from the meate, and likewise if the meate looke yellow,
and be mellow, and not hard or greene, and taste full and pleasant,
and not waterish: The vsuall manner to eate them is with pepper and
salt, being pared and sliced, and to drowne them in wine, for feare of
doing more harme. Cowcumbers and Pompions, after they are noursed vp
in the bed of hot dung, are to be seuerally transplanted, each of them
on a large plot of ground, a good distance in sunder: but the Pompions
more, because their branches take vp a great deale more ground, &
besides, will require a great deale more watering, because the fruit is
greater. And thus haue you the ordering of those fruits which are of
much esteeme, especially the two former, with all the better sort of
persons; and the third kinde is not wholly refused of any, although it
serueth most vsually for the meaner and poorer sort of people, after
the first early ripe are spent.
CHAP. V.
_The ordering of diuers sorts of herbes for the pot, for meate, and for
the table._
Tyme, Sauory, and Hyssope, are vsually sowne in the Spring on beds by
themselues, euerie one a part; but they that make a gaine by selling to
others the young rootes, to set the knots or borders of Gardens, doe
for the most part sowe them in Iuly and August, that so being sprung
vp before Winter, they will be the fitter to be taken vp in the Spring
following, to serue any mans vse that would haue them. Sage, Lauender,
and Rosemary, are altogether set in the Spring, by slipping the old
stalkes, and taking the youngest and likeliest of them, thrusting them
either twined or otherwise halfe a foote deepe into the ground, and
well watered vpon the setting; if any seasonable weather doe follow,
there is no doubt of their well thriuing: the hot Sunne and piercing
drying Windes are the greatest hinderances to them; and therefore I
doe aduise none to set too soone in the Spring, nor yet in Autumne,
as many doe practise: for I could neuer see such come to good, for
the extremity of the Winter comming vpon them so soone after their
setting, will not suffer their young shootes to abide, not hauing taken
sufficient strength in the ground, to maintain themselues against such
violence, which doth often pierce the strongest plants. Marierome and
Bassill are sowne in the Spring, yet not too early; for they are tender
plants, and doe not spring vntill the weather bee somewhat warme: but
Bassill would bee sowne dry, and not haue any water of two or three
daies after the sowing, else the seede will turne to a gelly in the
ground. Some vse to sowe the seed of Rosemary, but it seldome abideth
the first Winter, because the young plants being small, and not of
sufficient strength, cannot abide the sharpnesse of some Winters,
notwithstanding the couering of them, which killeth many old plants;
but the vsuall way is to slippe and set, and so they thriue well.
Many doe vse to sowe all or the most sorts of Pot-herbes together on
one plot of ground, that they neede not to goe farre to gather all
the sorts they would vse. There are many sorts of them well knowne
vnto all, yet few or none doe vse all sorts, but as euery one liketh;
some vse those that others refuse, and some esteem those not to bee
wholesome and of a good rellish, which others make no scruple of. The
names of them are as followeth, and a short relation of their sowing or
planting.
Rosemary, Tyme, and Sauorie are spoken of before, and Onions, and
Leekes.
Mints are to bee set with their rootes in some by-place, for that their
rootes doe creepe so farre vnder ground, that they quickly fill vp the
places neare adioyning, if they be not puld vp.
Clarie is to be sowne, and seedeth and dyeth the next yeare, the herbe
is strong, and therefore a little thereof is sufficient.
Nep is sowne, and dyeth often after seeding, few doe vse it, and that
but a little at a time: both it and Clarie are more vsed in Tansies
then in Broths.
Costmarie is to be set of rootes, the leaues are vsed with some in
their Broths, but with more in their Ale.
Pot Marierome is set of rootes, being separated in sunder.
Penniroyall is to be set of the small heads that haue rootes, it
creepeth and spreadeth quickly.
Allisanders are to be sowne of seede, the tops of the rootes with the
greene leaues are vsed in Lent especially.
Parsley is a common herbe, and is sowne of seede, it seedeth the next
yeare and dyeth: the rootes are more vsed in broths then the leaues,
and the leaues almost with all sorts of meates.
Fennell is sowne of seede, and abideth many yeares yeelding seede; the
rootes also are vsed in broths, and the leaues more seldome, yet serue
to trimme vp many fish meates.
Borage is sowne of seede, and dyeth the next yeare after, yet once
being suffered to seede in a Garden, will still come of it owne
shedding.
Buglosse commeth of seede, but abideth many yeares after it hath giuen
seede, if it stand not in the coldest place of the Garden.
Marigolds are sowne of seede, and may be after transplanted, they abide
two or three yeares, if they be not set in too cold a place: the leaues
and flowers are both vsed.
Langedebeefe is sowne of seede, which shedding it selfe will hardly be
destroyed in a Garden.
Arrach is to be sowne of seede, this likewise will rise euery yeare of
it owne seed, if it be suffered to shed it selfe.
Beetes are sowne of seede, and abideth some yeares after, still giuing
seede.
Blites are vsed but in some places, for there is a generall opinion
held of them, that they are naught for the eyes: they are sowne euery
yeare of seede.
Bloodwort once sowne abideth many yeares, if the extremity of the
frosts kill it not, and seedeth plentifully.
Patience is of the same nature, and vsed in the same manner.
French Mallowes are to be sowne of seede, and will come of it owne
sowing, if it be suffered to shed it selfe.
Ciues are planted onely by parting the rootes; for it neuer giueth any
seede at all.
Garlicke is ordered in the same manner, by parting and planting the
rootes euerie yeare.
These be all the sorts are vsed with vs for that purpose, whereas I
said before, none vseth all, but euery one will vse those they like
best: and so much shall suffice for pot-herbes.
CHAP. VI.
_The manner and ordering of many sorts of herbes and rootes for
Sallets._
If I should set downe all the sorts of herbes that are vsually gathered
for Sallets, I should not onely speake of Garden herbes, but of many
herbes, &c. that growe wilde in the fields, or else be but weedes in
a Garden; for the vsuall manner with many, is to take the young buds
and leaues of euery thing almost that groweth, as well in the Garden
as in the Fields, and put them all together, that the taste of the one
may amend the rellish of the other: But I will only shew you those
that are sown or planted in gardens for that purpose. Asparagus is a
principall & delectable Sallet herbe, whose young shootes when they
are a good handfull high aboue the ground, are cut an inch within the
ground, which being boyled, are eaten with a little vinegar and butter,
as a Sallet of great delight. Their ordering with the best Gardiners
is on this wise: When you haue prouided seede of the best kinde, you
must sowe it either before Christmas, as most doe, or before the end
of February; the later you sowe, the later and the more hardly will
they spring: after they are growne vp, they are to be transplanted in
Autumne on a bed well trenched in with dung; for else they will not bee
worth your labour, and set about a foote distance in sunder, and looke
that the more carefull you are in the replanting of them, the better
they will thriue, and the sooner growe great: after fiue or six yeares
standing they vsually doe decay; and therefore they that striue to haue
continually faire and great heads, doe from seede raise vp young for
their store. You must likewise see that you cut not your heads or young
shoote too nigh, or too much, that is, to take away too many heads from
a roote, but to leaue a sufficient number vncut, otherwise it will kill
the heart of your rootes the sooner, causing them to dye, or to giue
very small heads or shootes; for you may well consider with your selfe,
that if the roote haue not head enough left it aboue the ground to
shoote greene this yeare, it will not, nor cannot prosper vnder ground
to giue encrease the next yeare. The ordering of Lettice I haue spoken
of before, and shall not neede here to repeate what hath beene already
said, but referre you thereunto for the sowing, planting, &c. onely I
will here shew you the manner of ordering them for Sallets. There are
some sorts of Lettice that growe very great, and close their heads,
which are called Cabbage Lettice, both ordinary and extraordinary, and
there are other sorts of great Lettice that are open, and close not,
or cabbage not at all, which yet are of an excellent kinde, if they be
vsed after that especiall manner is fit for them, which is, That when
they are planted (for after they are sowne, they must be transplanted)
of a reasonable distance in sunder, and growne to be of some bignesse,
euery one of them must bee tyed together with bast or thread toward
the toppes of the leaues, that by this meanes all the inner leaues may
growe whitish, which then are to be cut vp and vsed: for the keeping
of the leaues close doth make them taste delicately, and to bee very
tender. And these sorts of Lettice for the most part are spent after
Summer is past, when other Lettice are not to be had. Lambes Lettice
or Corne Sallet is an herbe, which abiding all Winter, is the first
Sallet herbe of the yeare that is vsed before any ordinarie Lettice is
ready; it is therefore vsually sowne in August, when the seede thereof
is ripe. Purslane is a Summer Sallet herbe, and is to be sowne in the
Spring, yet somewhat late, because it is tender, and ioyeth in warmth;
and therefore diuers haue sowne it vpon those beddes of dung, whereon
they noursed vp their Cowcumbers, &c. after they are taken away, which
being well and often watered, hath yeelded Sallet vntill the end of the
yeare. Spinach is sowne in the Spring, of all for the most part that
vse it, but yet if it be sowne in Summer it will abide greene all the
Winter, and then seedeth quickly: it is a Sallet that hath little or
no taste at all therein, like as Lettice and Purslane, and therefore
Cookes know how to make many a good dish of meate with it, by putting
Sugar and Spice thereto. Coleworts are of diuers kinds, and although
some of them are wholly spent among the poorer sort of people, yet some
kindes of them may be dressed and ordered as may delight a curious
palate, which is, that being boyled tender, the middle ribs are taken
cold, and laid in dishes, and vinegar and oyle poured thereon, and so
eaten. Coleflowers are to be had in this Countrey but very seldome,
for that it is harde to meete with good seede: it must bee sowne on
beds of dung to force it forward, or else it would perish with the
frost before it had giuen his head of flowers, and transplanted into
verie good and rich ground, lest you lose the benefit of your labours.
Endiue is of two sorts, the ordinary, and another that hath the edges
of the leaues curld or crumpled; it is to be whited, to make it the
more dainty Sallet, which is vsually done in this manner: After they
are grown to some reasonable greatnesse (but in any case before they
shoote forth a stalke in the midst for seede) they are to be taken vp,
and the rootes being cut away, lay them to dry or wither for three
or foure houres, and then bury them in sand, so as none of them lye
one vpon another, or if you can, one to touch another, which by this
meanes will change whitish, and thereby become verie tender, and is a
Sallet both for Autumne and Winter. Succorie is vsed by some in the
same manner, but because it is more bitter then Endiue, it is not so
generally vsed, or rather vsed but of a verie few: and whereas Endiue
will seede the same yeare it is sowne, and then dye, Succorie abideth
manie yeares, the bitternesse thereof causing it to be more Physicall
to open obstructions; and therefore the flowers pickled vp, as diuers
other flowers are vsed to be now adaies, make a delicate Sallet at all
times when there is occasion to vse them. Of red Beetes, the rootes are
onely vsed both boyled and eaten cold with vinegar and oyle, and is
also vsed to trimme vp or garnish forth manie sorts of dishes of meate:
the seede of the best kinde will not abide good with vs aboue three
yeares, but will degenerate and growe worse; and therefore those that
delight therein must be curious, to be prouided from beyond Sea, that
they may haue such as will giue delight. Sorrell is an herbe so common,
and the vse so well knowne, both for sawce, and to season broths and
meates for the sound as well as sicke persons, that I shall not neede
to say anie more thereof. Cheruill is a Sallet herbe of much vse, both
with French and Dutch, who doe much more delight in herbes of stronger
taste then the English doe: it is sowne early, and vsed but a while,
because it quickly runneth vp to seede. Sweete Cheruill,or as some call
it, Sweete Cis, is so like in taste vnto Anise seede, that it much
delighteth the taste among other herbes in a Sallet: the seede is long,
thicke, blacke, and cornered, and must be sowne in the end of Autumne,
that it may lye in the ground all the Winter, and then it will shoote
out in the Spring, or else if it be sowne in the Spring, it will not
spring vp that yeare vntill the next: the leaues (as I said before) are
vsed among other herbes: the rootes likewise are not onely cordiall,
but also held to be preseruatiue against the Plague, either greene,
dryed, or preserued with sugar. Rampion rootes are a kinde of Sallet
with a great many, being boyled tender, and eaten cold with vinegar
and pepper. Cresses is an herbe of easie and quick growth, and while
it is young eaten eyther alone, or with parsley and other herbes: it
is of a strong taste to them that are not accustomed thereunto, but it
is much vsed of strangers. Rocket is of the same nature and qualitie,
but somewhat stronger in taste: they are both sowen in the Spring,
and rise, seede and dye the same yeare. Tarragon is an herbe of as
strong a taste as eyther Rocket or Cresses, it abideth and dyeth not
euery yeare, nor yet giueth ripe seede (as far as euer could bee found
with vs) any yeare, but maketh sufficient increase within the ground,
spreading his roots all abroad a great way off. Mustard is a common
sawce both with fish and flesh, and the seede thereof (and no part of
the plant besides) is well knowne how to be vsed being grownded, as
euery one I thinke knoweth. The rootes of horse Radish likewise beeing
grownd like Mustard, is vsed both of strangers and our owne nation,
as sawce for fish. Tansie is of great vse, almost with all manner of
persons in the Spring of the yeare: it is more vsually planted of the
rootes then otherwise; for in that the rootes spread far and neere they
may be easily taken away, without any hurt to the rest of the rootes.
Burnet, although it be more vsed in wine in the Summer time then any
way else, yet it is likewise made a sallet herbe with many, to amend
the harm or weak rellish of some other herbs. Skirrets are better to
be sowen of the seed then planted from the roots, and will come on
more speedily, and be fairer rootes: they are as often eaten cold as a
Sallet, being boyled and the pith taken out, as stewed with butter and
eaten warme. Let not Parsley and Fenell be forgotten among your other
Sallet herbes, whereof I haue spoken before, and therefore need say no
more of them. The flowers of Marigolds pickt cleane from the heads, and
pickled vp against winter, make an excellent Sallet when no flowers
are to be had in a garden. Cloue Gilloflowers likewise preserued or
pickled vp in the same manner (which is _stratum super stratum_, a lay
of flowers, and then strawed ouer with fine dry and poudered Sugar, and
so lay after lay strawed ouer, vntill the pot bee full you meane to
keepe them in, and after filled vp or couered ouer with vinegar) make
a Sallet now adayes in the highest esteeme with Gentles and Ladies of
the greatest note: the planting and ordering of them both is spoken of
seuerally in their proper places. Goates bearde that groweth in Gardens
only, as well as that which groweth wilde in Medowes, &c. bearing a
yellow flower, are vsed as a Sallet, the rootes beeing boyled and pared
are eaten cold with vinegar, oyle and pepper; or else stewed with
butter and eaten warme as Skirrets, Parsneps &c. And thus haue you here
set downe all those most vsuall Sallets are vsed in this Kingdome: I
say the most vsuall, or that are noursed vp in Gardens; for I know
there are some other wilde herbes and rootes, as Dandelion &c. but they
are vsed onely of strangers, and of those whose curiositie searcheth
out the whole worke of nature to satisfie their desires.
CHAP. VII.
_Of diuers Physicall herbes fit to be planted in Gardens, to serue for
the especiall vses of a familie._
Hauing thus shewed you all the herbes that are most vsually planted in
Kitchen Gardens for ordinary vses, let mee also adde a few other that
are also noursed vp by many in their Gardens, to preserue health, and
helpe to cure such small diseases as are often within the compasse of
the Gentlewomens skils, who, to helpe their owne family, and their
poore neighbours that are farre remote from Physitians and Chirurgions,
take much paines both to doe good vnto them, and to plant those herbes
that are conducing to their desires. And although I doe recite some
that are mentioned in other places, yet I thought it meete to remember
them altogether in one place. Angelica, the garden kinde, is so good
an herbe, that there is no part thereof but is of much vse, and all
cordiall and preseruatiue from infectious or contagious diseases,
whether you will distill the water of the herbe, or preserue or candie
the rootes or the greene stalkes, or vse the seede in pouder or in
distillations, or decoctions with other things: it is sowen of seede,
and will abide vntill it giue seede, and then dyeth. Rue or Herbe
grace is a strong herbe, yet vsed inwardly against the plague as an
Antidote with Figs and Wall-nuts, and helpeth much against windy
bodies: outwardly it is vsed to bee layde to the wrestes of the hands,
to driue away agues: it is more vsually planted of slips then raised
from seede, and abideth long if sharpe frostes kill it not. Dragons
being distilled are held to be good to expell any euill thing from the
heart: they are altogether planted of the rootes. Setwall, Valerian,
or Capons tayle, the herbe often, but the roote much better, is vsed
to prouoke sweating, thereby to expell euill vapours that might annoy
the heart: it is only planted of the rootes when they are taken vp, and
the young replanted. Asarabacca, the leaues are often vsed to procure
vomiting being stamped, and the strained iuice to a little quantitie,
put into a draught of ale and drunke, thereby to ease the stomacke of
many euill and grosse humours that there lye and offend it; diuers
also take the leaues and rootes a little boyled in wine, with a little
spice added thereunto, to expell both tertian and quartan agues: the
rootes of our English growing is more auaileable for these purposes
then any outlandish: it is planted by the roote; for I could neuer see
it spring of seede. Masterwort commeth somewhat neere in propertie vnto
Angelica, and besides very effectuall to disperse winde in the bodie,
whether of the colicke or otherwise; as also very profitable to comfort
in all cold causes: it yeeldeth seede, but yet is more vsually planted
from the rootes being parted. Balme is a cordiall herbe both in smell
and taste, and is wholly vsed for those purposes, that is, to comfort
the heart being distilled into water either simple or compound, or the
herbe dryed and vsed: it is set of the rootes being parted, because it
giueth no seede that euer I could obserue. Camomill is a common herbe
well knowne, and is planted of the rootes in alleyes, in walkes, and
on bankes to sit on, for that the more it is troden on, and pressed
downe in dry weather, the closer it groweth, and the better it will
thriue: the vse thereof is very much, both to warme and comfort, and to
ease paines being applyed outwardly after many fashions: the decoction
also of the flowers prouoketh sweat, and they are much vsed against
agues. Featherfew is an herbe of greater vse for women then for men,
to dissolue flatulent or windy humours, which causeth the paines of
the mother: some vse to take the iuice thereof in drinke for agues:
it is as well sowen of the seede as planted of the rootes. Costmary
is vsed among those herbes that are put into ale to cause it haue a
good rellish, and to be somewhat physicall in the moneth of May, and
doth helpe to prouoke vrine: it is set of the rootes being parted.
Maudlin is held to be a principall good herbe to open and cleanse the
liuer, and for that purpose is vsed many wayes, as in ale, in tansies,
and in broths &c. the seed also is vsed, and so is the herbe also
sometimes, to kill the wormes in children: it is sowen of the seede,
and planted also of the separated rootes. Cassidonie is a small kinde
of Lauender, but differing both in forme and qualitie: it is much vsed
for the head to ease paines thereof, as also put among other things to
purge melancholicke diseases: it is sowen of seede, and abideth not a
winter vnlesse it bee well defended, and yet hardly giueth ripe seede
againe with vs. Smallage is a great opening herbe, and much more then
eyther Parsley or Fenell, and the rootes of them all are often vsed
together in medicines: it is sowen of seede, and will not bee wanting
in a Garden if once you suffer it to sow it selfe. Cardus Benedictus,
or the Blessed Thistle, is much vsed in the time of any infection or
plague, as also to expell any euill symptome from the heart at all
other times. It is vsed likewise to be boyled in posset drink, & giuen
to them that haue an ague, to help to cure it by sweating or otherwise.
It is vsually sowen of seed, and dyeth when it hath giuen seed. Winter
Cherries are likewise nursed vp in diuers gardens, for that their
propertie is to giue helpe to them that are troubled eyther with the
stopping or heate or their vrine: the herbe and berries are often
distilled, but the berries alone are more often vsed: after it is once
planted in a garden it will runne vnder ground, & abide well enough.
Celondine is held to bee good for the iaundise, it is much vsed for to
cleere dim eyes, eyther the iuice or the water dropped into them: it is
sowen of seede, and being once brought into a garden, will hardly be
weeded out; the seede that sheddeth will so sow it selfe, and therefore
some corner in a garden is the fittest place for it. Tabacco is of two
sorts, and both vsed to be planted in Gardens, yet the English kinde
(as it is called) is more to be found in our Countrey Gardens then the
Indian sort: the leaues of both sorts indifferently, that is, of eyther
of which is next at hand, being stamped and boyled eyther by it selfe,
or with other herbes in oyle or hogs suet, doe make an excellent salue
for greene wounds, and also to clense old vlcers or sores; the iuice of
the greene leaues drunke in ale, or a dryed leafe steeped in wine or
ale for a night, and the wine or ale drunke in the morning, prouoketh
to cast, but the dryed leafe much stronger then the greene: they are
sowen of seede, but the Indian kinde is more tender, and will not abide
a winter with vs abroade. Spurge that vsually groweth in Gardens, is
a violent purger, and therefore it is needfull to be very carefull
how it is vsed: the seede is more ordinarily vsed then any other part
of the plant, which purgeth by vomiting in some, and both vpwards and
downwards in many; the iuice of the herbe, but especially the milke
thereof, is vsed to kill wartes: it is sowen of seede, and when it doth
once shed it selfe, it will still continue springing of the fallen
seede. Bearefoote is sowen of seed, and will hardly abide transplanting
vnlesse it bee while it is young; yet abideth diuers yeares, if it
stand not in too cold a place. This I speake of the greater kinde;
for the lower small wilde kinde (which is the most ordinary in this
land) will neuer decay: the leaues are sometimes vsed greene, but most
vsually dryed and poudered, and giuen in drinke to them that haue
the wormes: it purgeth melancholy, but especially the roots. In many
Countries of this Land, and elsewhere, they vse to thrust the stalk
of the great kinde through the eare or dewlap of Kine and Cattell,
to cure them of many diseases. Salomons Seale, or (as some call it)
Ladder to heauen, although it doth grow wilde in many places of this
Land, yet is planted in Gardens: it is accounted an excellent wound
herbe to consolidate, and binde, insomuch that many vse it with good
successe to cure ruptures, and to slay both the white and the red fluxe
in women: it is planted altogether of the rootes, for I could neuer
finde it spring from the seede, it is so strong. Comfry likewise is
found growing wilde in many places by ditch sides, and in moist places,
and therefore requireth some moist places of the garden: it is wholly
vsed for knitting, binding, and consolidating fluxes and wounds, to be
applyed either inwardly or outwardly: The rootes are stronger for those
purposes then any other parts of the plant. Licoris is much vsed now
adaies to bee planted in great quantitie, euen to fill many acres of
ground, whereof riseth a great deale of profit to those that know how
to order it, and haue fit grounds for it to thriue in; for euery ground
will not be aduantagious: It will require a very rich, deepe and mellow
ground, eyther naturall or artificiall; but for a priuate house where
a small quantitie will serue, there needeth not so much curiositie: it
is vsually planted of the top heads, when the lower rootes (which are
the Licoris that is vsed) and the runners are cut from them. Some vse
to make an ordinary drinke or beuerage of Licoris, boyled in water as
our vsuall ale or beere is with malt, which fermented with barme in the
same manner, and tunned vp, serueth in stead thereof, as I am credibly
informed: It is otherwise in a manner wholly spent for colds, coughes
and rheumes, to expectorate flegme, but vsed in diuers formes, as in
iuice, in decoctions, syrrups, roules, trochisces, and the greene or
dryed roote of it selfe.
And these are the most ordinary Physicall herbes that are vsed to be
planted in gardens for the vse of any Country familie, that is (as I
said before) farre remote from Physitians or Chirurgions abidings, that
they may vse as occasion serueth for themselues or their neighbours,
and by a little care and paines in the applying may doe a great deale
of good, and sometimes to them that haue not wherewith to spend on
themselues, much lesse on Physitians or Chirurgions, or if they haue,
may oftentimes receiue lesse good at their hands then at others that
are taught by experience in their owne families, to be the more able to
giue helpe to others.
THE KITCHEN GARDEN.
THE SECOND PART,
Containing as well all sorts of herbes, as rootes and fruits, that
are vsually planted in Gardens, to serue for the vse of the Table
whether of the poore or rich of our Countrey: but herein I intend not
to bring any fruite bearing trees, shrubbes, or bushes; for I reserue
them for my Orchard, wherin they shal be set forth. So that in these
three parts, I suppose the exquisite ornament of any worthy house
is consummate for the exteriour bounds, the benefit of their riches
extending also to the furnishing of the most worthy inward parts
thereof: but because many take pleasure in the sight and knowledge of
other herbes that are Physicall, and much more in their properties and
vertues, if vnto these three I should adde a Physicke Garden, or Garden
of Simples, there would be a quadripartite complement, of whatsoeuer
arte or nature, necessitie or delight could affect: which to effect
(as many my friends haue, intreated it at my hands) will require more
paines and time then all this worke together: yet to satisfie their
desires and all others herein, that would bee enformed in the truth,
and reformed of the many errours and slips set forth and published
heretofore of plants by diuers, I shall (God assisting and granting
life) labour to performe, that it may shew it selfe to the light in due
conueniencie, if these bee well and gratefully accepted. And because
I ended with some sweete herbes in the former part, I will in this
part beginne with the rest, which I reserued for this place, as fitter
for the pot and kitchen then for the hand or bosome, and so descend
to other herbes that are for meat or sallets: and after them to those
rootes that are to be eaten, as meate or as sallets: and lastly the
fruits that grow neere, or vpon the ground, or not much aboue it; as
the Artichoke, &c. in which I make a shorter description then I did in
the former, rather endeauouring to shew what they are, and whereunto
they are vsed, then the whole varietie or any exact declaration: which
methode, although in some sort it may bee fitting for this purpose,
yet it is not for an history or herball: I shall therefore require
their good acceptance for whose sake I doe it, not doubting, but that
I, or others, if they write againe of this subiect, may polish and
amende what formerly hath beene eyther mis set, or not so thoroughly
expressed, besides some additions of new conceits; seeing I treade out
a new path, and therefore those that follow may the easilier see the
Meanders, and so goe on in a direct line.
CHAP. I.
_Maiorana latifolia, siue maior Anglica._ Winter, or pot Marierome.
Winter Marierome is a small bushie herbe like vnto sweete Marierome,
being parted or diuided into many branches, whereon doe grow broader
and greener leaues, set by couples, with some small leaues likewise at
the seuerall ioynts all along the branches: at the tops whereof grow a
number of small purplish white flowers set together in a tuft, which
turne into small and round seed, bigger then sweet Marierome seede:
the whole plant is of a small and fine sent, but much inferiour to the
other, and is nothing so bitter as the sweete Marierome, and thereby
both the fitter and more willingly vsed for meates: the roote is white
and threddy, and perisheth not as the former, but abideth many yeares.
The Vse of winter Marierome.
The vse of this Marierome is more frequent in our Land then
in others, being put among other pot-herbes and farsing (or
faseting herbes as they are called) and may to good profit bee
applyed in inward as well as outward griefes for to comfort the
parts, although weaker in effect then sweete Marieromes.
CHAP. II.
_Thymum vulgatius siue durius._ Ordinary Garden Tyme.
The ordinary Garden Tyme is a small low wooddy plant with brittle
branches, and small hard greene leaues, as euery one knoweth, hauing
small white purplish flowers, standing round about the tops of the
stalkes: the seed is small and browne, darker then Marierome seed: the
root is woody, and abideth well diuers Winters.
_Thymum latifolium._ Masticke Tyme.
This Tyme hath neyther so wooddy branches, nor so hard leaues, but
groweth lower, more spreading, and with somewhat broader leaues; the
flowers are of a purplish white colour, standing in roundles round
about the stalkes, at the ioynts with leaues at them likewise. This
Tyme endureth better and longer then the former, and by spreading
it selfe more then the former, is the more apt to bee propagated by
slipping, because it hath beene seldome seene to giue seede: It is not
so quicke in sent or taste as the former, but is fitter to set any
border or knot in a garden, and is for the most part wholly employed to
such vses.
The Vse of Tyme.
To set downe all the particular vses whereunto Tyme is applyed,
were to weary both the Writer and Reader; I will but only note
out a few: for besides the physicall vses to many purposes,
for the head, stomacke, splene, &c. there is no herbe almost
of more vse, in the houses both of high and low, rich and
poore, both, for inward and outward occasions; outwardly for
bathings among other hot herbes, and among other sweete herbes
for strewings: inwardly in most sorts of broths, with Rosmary,
as also with other faseting (or rather farsing) herbes, and to
make sawce for diuers sorts both fish and flesh, as to stuffe
the belly of a Goose to bee rosted, and after put into the
sawce, and the pouder with breade to strew on meate when it is
rosted, and so likewise on rosted or fryed fish. It is held by
diuers to bee a speedy remedy against the sting of a Bee, being
bruised and layd thereon.
[Illustration:
1 _Maiorana maior Anglica._ Pot Marierome.
2 _Thymum vulgatius._ Garden Tyme.
3 _Satureia._ Sauorie.
4 _Hyssopus._ Hyssope.
5 _Pulegium._ Penniroyall.
6 _Saluia maior._ Common Sage.
7 _Saluia minor primata._ Sage of vertue.
]
CHAP. III.
_Satureia siue Thymbra._ Sauorie.
There are two sorts of Sauory, the one called Summer, and the other
Winter Sauorie: The Summer Sauory is a small tender herbe, growing not
aboue a foote and a halfe high, or thereabouts, rising vp with diuers
brittle branches, slenderly or sparsedly set with small long leaues,
soft in handling, at euery ioynt a couple, one against another, of a
pleasant strong and quicke sent and taste: the flowers are small and
purplish, growing at the toppes of the stalkes, with two small long
leaues at the ioynts vnder them: the seede is small, and of a darke
colour, bigger then Tyme seede by the halfe: the roote is wooddy, and
hath many strings, perishing euery yeare wholly, and must bee new sowen
againe, if any will haue it.
The Winter Sauorie is a small low bushie herbe, very like vnto Hyssope,
but not aboue a foote high, with diuers small hard branches, and hard
darke green leaues thereon, thicker set together then the former by
much, and as thicke as common Hyssope, sometimes with foure leaues or
more at a ioynt, of a reasonable strong sent, yet not so strong or
quicke as the former: the flowers are of a pale purplish colour, set
at seuerall distances at the toppes of the stalkes, with leaues at the
ioynts also with them, like the former: the roote is woody, with diuers
small strings thereat, and abideth all the winter with his greene
leaues: it is more vsually encreased by slipping or diuiding the roote,
and new setting it seuerally againe in the Spring, then by sowing the
seed.
The Vse of Sauorie.
The Summer Sauorie is vsed in other Countryes much more then
with vs in their ordinary diets, as condiment or sawce to their
meates, sometimes of it selfe, and sometimes with other herbes,
and sometimes strewed or layde vpon the dishes as we doe
Parsley, as also with beanes and pease, rise and wheate; and
sometimes the dryed herbe boyled among pease to make pottage.
The Winter Sauorie is one of the (farsing) faseting herbes as
they call them, and so is the Summer Sauorie also sometimes.
This is vsed also in the same manner that the Summer Sauorie
is, set downe before, and to the same purposes: as also to put
into puddings, sawsages, and such like kindes of meates. Some
doe vse the pouder of the herbe dryed (as I sayd before of
Tyme) to mixe with grated bread, to breade their meate, be it
fish or flesh, to giue it the quicker rellish. They are both
effectuall to expell winde.
CHAP. IIII.
_Hyssopus._ Hyssope.
Garden Hyssope is so well knowne to all that haue beene in a Garden,
that I shall but _actum agere_, to bestow any time thereon, being
a small bushie plant, not rising aboue two foote high, with many
branches, woody below, and tender aboue, whereon are set at certaine
distances, sundry small, long and narrow greene leaues: at the toppe of
euery stalke stand blewish purple gaping flowers, one aboue another in
a long spike or eare: after which followeth the seede, which is small
and blackish: the rootes are composed of many threddy strings; the
whole plant is of a strong sweet sent.
The Vse of Hyssope.
Hyssope is much vsed in Ptisans and other drinkes, to help
to expectorate flegme. It is many Countrey peoples medicine
for a cut or greene wound, being bruised with sugar and
applyed. I finde it is also much commended against the falling
sickenesse, especially being made into pils after the manner
before rehearsed. It is accounted a speciall remedy against
the sting or biting of an Adder, if the place be rubbed
with Hyssope, bruised and mixed with honey, salt and cummin
seede. A decoction thereof with oyle, and annointed, taketh
away the itching and tingling of the head, and vermine also
breeding therein. An oyle made of the herbe and flowers, being
annointed, doth comfort benummed sinewes and ioynts.
CHAP. V.
_Pulegium._ Pennyroyall.
Pennyroyall also is an herbe so well knowne, that I shall not neede
to spend much time in the description of it: hauing many weake round
stalkes, diuided into sundry branches, rather leaning or lying vpon
the ground then standing vpright, whereon are set at seuerall ioynts,
small roundish darke greene leaues: the flowers are purplish that grow
in gardens, yet some that grow wilde are white, or more white then
purple, set in roundles about the tops of the branches; the stalkes
shoote forth small fibres or rootes at the ioynts, as it lyeth vpon the
ground, thereby fastening it selfe therein, and quickly increaseth, and
ouer-runneth any ground, especially in the shade or any moist place,
and is replanted by breaking the sprouted stalkes, and so quickely
groweth.
Other sorts of Pennyroyall are fit for the Physicke Garden, or Garden
of Simples.
The Vse of Pennyroyall.
It is very good and wholesome for the lunges, to expell cold
thin flegme, and afterwards to warme and dry it vp: and is also
of the like propertie as Mintes, to comfort the stomacke, and
stay vomiting. It is also vsed in womens baths and washings:
and in mens also to comfort the sinewes. It is yet to this
day, as it hath beene in former times, vsed to bee put into
puddings, and such like meates of all sorts, and therefore in
diuers places they know it by no other name then
Pudding-grasse.
The former age of our great Grandfathers, had all these hot
herbes in much and familiar vse, both for their meates and
medicines, and therewith preserued themselues in long life
and much health: but this delicate age of ours, which is not
pleased with any thing almost, be it meat or medicine, that is
not pleasant to the palate, doth wholly refuse these almost,
and therefore cannot be partaker of the benefit or them.
CHAP. VI.
_Salvia._ Sage.
There are two especiall kindes of Sage noursed vp in our Gardens, for
our ordinary vse, whereof I intend to write in this place, leauing the
rest to his fitter place. Our ordinary Sage is reckoned to bee of two
sorts, white and red, both of them bearing many foure square wooddy
stalkes, in some whiter, in others redder, as the leaues are also,
standing by couples at the ioynts, being long, rough, and wrinkled,
of a strong sweete sent: at the tops of the stalkes come forth the
flowers, set at certaine spaces one aboue another, which are long and
gaping, like vnto the flowers of Clary, or dead Nettles, but of a
blewish purple colour; after which come small round seede in the huske
that bore the flower: the roote is wooddy, with diuers strings at it:
It is more vsually planted of the slips, pricked in the Spring time
into the ground, then of the seed.
_Saluia minor siue pinnata._ Small Sage or Sage of vertue.
The lesser Sage is in all things like vnto the former white Sage, but
that his branches are long and slender, and the leaues much smaller,
hauing for the most part at the bottome of each side of the leafe a
peece of a leafe, which maketh it shew like finns or eares: the flowers
also are of a blewish purple colour, but lesser. Of this kinde there is
one that beareth white flowers.
The Vse of Sage.
Sage is much vsed of many in the moneth of May fasting, with
butter and Parsley, and is held of most much to conduce to the
health of mans body.
It is also much vsed among other good herbes to bee tund vp
with Ale, which thereupon is termed Sage Ale, whereof many
barrels full are made, and drunke in the said moneth chiefly
for the purpose afore recited: and also for teeming women, to
helpe them the better forward in their childebearing, if there
be feare of abortion or miscarrying.
It is also vsed to be boyled among other herbes, to make
Gargles or waters to wash sore mouths and throates: As also
among other herbes, that serue as bathings, to wash mens legs
or bodies in the Summer time, to comfort nature, and warme and
strengthen aged cold sinewes, and lengthen the strength of the
younger.
The Kitchen vse is either to boyle it with a Calues head, and
being minced, to be put with the braines, vinegar and pepper,
to serue as an ordinary sawce thereunto: Or being beaten and
iuyced (rather then minced as mannie doe) is put to a rosted
Pigges braines, with Currans for sawce thereunto. It is in
small quantity (in regard of the strong taste thereof) put
among other fasting herbes, to serue as sawce for peeces of
Veale, when they are farsed or stuffed therewith, and rosted,
which they call Olliues.
For all the purposes aforesaid, the small Sage is accounted to
be of the more force and vertue.
CHAP. VII.
_Horminum sativum._ Garden Clary.
There is but one sort of Garden Clary, though many wilde, which hath
foure square stalks, with broad rough wrinkled whitish leaues, somewhat
vneuenly cut in on the edges, and of a strong sweete sent, growing
some next the ground, & some by couples vpon the stalkes: the flowers
growe at certaine distances, with two small leaues at the ioynts vnder
them, somewhat like vnto the flowers of Sage, but lesser, and of a
very whitish or bleake blew colour: the seede is of a blackish browne
colour, somewhat flat, and not so round as the wilde: the rootes spread
not farre, and perish euery yeare that they beare flowers and seede. It
is altogether to bee sowne of seed in the Spring time, yet sometimes it
will rise of it owne sowing.
The Vse of Clary.
The most frequent and common vse of Clary, is for men or women
that haue weake backes, to helpe to comfort and strengthen the
raines, being made into Tansies and eaten, or otherwise. The
seede is vsed of some to be put into the corner of the eye, if
any mote or other thing haue happened into it: but assuredly
although this may peraduenture doe some good, yet the seede of
the wilde will doe much more. The leaues taken dry, and dipped
into a batter made of the yolkes of egges, flower, and a little
milke, and then fryed with butter vntill they be crispe, serue
for a dish of meate accepted with manie, vnpleasant to none.
CHAP. VIII.
_Nepeta._ Nep.
Although those that are Herbarists do know three sorts of Nep, a
greater & two lesser, yet because the lesser are not vsuall, but in
the Gardens of those that delight in natures varieties, I do not here
shew you them. That which is vsuall (and called of manie Cat Mint)
beareth square stalkes, but not so great as Clarie, hauing two leaues
at euery ioynt, somewhat like vnto Balme or Speare Mintes, but whiter,
softer, and longer, and nicked about the edges, of a strong sent, but
nothing so strong as Clary: the flowers growe at the toppes of the
stalkes, as it were in long spikes or heads, somewhat close together,
yet compassing the stalkes at certaine ioynts, of a whitish colour,
for forme and bignesse like vnto Balme, or somewhat bigger: the rootes
are composed of a number of strings, which dye not, but keepe greene
leaues vpon them all the Winter, and shoote anew in the Spring. It is
propagated both by the seede, and by slipping the rootes.
The Vse of Nep.
Nep is much vsed of women either in baths or drinkes to procure
their feminine courses: as also with Clarie, being fryed into
Tansies, to strengthen their backes. It is much commended of
some, if the iuyce thereof be drunke with wine, to helpe those
that are bruised by some fall, or other accident. A decoction
of Nep is auaileable to cure the scabbe in the head, or other
places of the body.
CHAP. IX.
_Melissa._ Baulme.
The Garden Baulme which is of common knowne vse, hath diuers square
blackish greene stalkes, and round, hard, darke, greene pointed leaues,
growing thereon by couples, a little notched about the edges, of a
pleasant sweete sent, drawing nearest to the sent of a Lemon or Citron;
and therefore of some called _Citrago_: the flowers growe about the
toppes of the stalkes at certaine distances, being small and gaping,
of a pale carnation colour, almost white: the rootes fasten themselues
strongly in the ground, and endure many yeares, and is encreased by
diuiding the rootes; for the leaues dye downe to the ground euery
yeare, leauing no shew of leafe or stalke in the Winter.
The Vse of Baulme.
Baulme is often vsed among other hot and sweete herbes, to make
baths and washings for mens bodies or legges, in the Summer
time, to warme and comfort the veines and sinewes, to very good
purpose and effect, and hath in former ages beene of much more
vse then now adaies. It is also vsed by diuers to be stilled,
being steeped in Ale, to make a Baulme water, after the manner
they haue beene taught, which they keepe by them, to vse in
the stead of _Aqua vitæ_, when they haue any occasion for
their owne or their neighbours Families, in suddaine qualmes
or passions of the heart: but if they had a little better
direction (for this is somewhat too rude) it would doe them
more good that take it: For the herbe without all question is
an excellent helpe to comfort the heart, as the very smell
may induce any so to beleeue. It is also good to heale greene
wounds, being made into salues: and I verily thinke, that our
forefathers hearing of the healing and comfortable properties
of the true naturall Baulme, and finding this herbe to be so
effectuall, gaue it the name of Baulme, in imitation of his
properties and vertues. It is also an herbe wherein Bees doe
much delight, as hath beene found by experience of those that
haue kept great store; if the Hiues bee rubbed on the inside
with some thereof, and as they thinke it draweth others by the
smell thereof to resort thither. Plinie saith, it is a present
remedy against the stinging of Bees.
CHAP. X.
_Mentha._ Mintes.
There are diuers sorts of Mints, both of the garden, and wilde, of the
woods, mountaines, and standing pooles or waters: but I will onely in
this place bring to your remembrance two or three sorts of the most
vsuall that are kept in gardens, for the vses whereunto they are proper.
Red Mint or browne Mint hath square brownish stalkes, with somewhat
long and round pointed leaues, nicked about the edges, of a darke
greene colour, set by couples at euery ioynt, and of a reasonable good
sent: the flowers of this kinde are reddish, standing about the toppes
of the stalkes at distances: the rootes runne creeping in the ground,
and as the rest, will hardly be cleared out of a garden, being once
therein, in that the smallest peece thereof will growe and encrease
apace.
Speare Mint hath a square greene stalke, with longer and greener leaues
then the former, set by couples, of a better and more comfortable sent,
and therefore of much more vse then any other: the flowers hereof growe
in long eares or spikes, of a pale red or blush colour: the roots
creepe in the ground like the other.
Party coloured or white Mint hath square greene stalkes and leaues,
somewhat larger then Speare Mint, and more nicked in the edges, whereof
many are parted, halfe white and halfe greene, and some more white then
greene, or more green then white, as nature listeth: the flowers stand
in long heads close set together, of a blush colour: the rootes creepe
as the rest doe.
[Illustration:
1 _Horminum sativum._ Garden Clary.
2 _Nepeta._ Nep.
3 _Melissa._ Baulme.
4 _Mentha satiua._ Garden Mintes.
5 _Balsamita mas, seu Costus hortorum._ Costmary.
6 _Ageratum._ Maudeline.
]
The Vse of Mintes.
Mintes are oftentimes vsed in baths, with Baulme and other
herbes, as a helpe to comfort and strengthen the nerues and
sinewes.
It is much vsed either outwardly applyed, or inwardly drunke,
to strengthen and comfort weake stomackes, that are much giuen
to casting: as also for feminine fluxes. It is boyled in milke
for those whose stomackes are apt to cause it to curdle. And
applyed with salt, is a good helpe for the biting of a mad
dogge.
It is vsed to be boyled with Mackarell, and other fish.
Being dryed, is often and much vsed with Penniroyall, to bee
put into puddings: as also among pease that are boyled for
pottage.
Where Dockes are not ready at hand, they vse to bruise Mintes,
and lay them vpon any place that is stung with Bees, Waspes, or
such like, and that to good purpose.
CHAP. XI.
_Balsamita mas & fæmina, seu Costus hortorum maior & minor._
Costmary and Maudeline.
Costmary or Alecoast is a sweet herbe, bearing many broad and long
pale green leaues, snipped about the edges, euery one vpon a long
foote-stalke; among which rise vp many round greene stalkes, with such
like leaues on them, but lesser vp to the toppe, where it spreadeth it
selfe into three or foure branches, euery one bearing an vmbell or tuft
of gold yellow flowers, somewhat like vnto Tansie flowers, but lesser,
which turne into small heads, containing small flat long seede: the
roote is somewhat hard and stringy, and being diuided, is replanted in
the Spring of the yeare for increase.
Maudeline hath somewhat long and narrow leaues, snipt about the edges:
the stalks are two foot high, bearing many yellow flowers on the tops
of the branches, in an vmbell or tuft like vnto Tansie: the whole herbe
is sweete, and somewhat bitter, and is replanted by slipping.
The Vse of Costmary and Maudeline.
Costmary is of especiall vse in the Spring of the yeare, among
other such like herbes, to make Sage Ale, and thereupon I
thinke it tooke the name of Alecoast.
It is also vsed to be put among other sweete herbes, to make
sweete washing water, whereof there is great store spent.
The leaues haue an especiall vertue to comfort both the
stomack and heart, and to warme and dry a moist braine. The
seede is much vsed in the Country, to be giuen to children for
the wormes, in the stead of wormseed, and so is the seede of
Maudeline also.
Maudeline is much vsed with Costmary and other sweet herbes, to
make sweete washing water: the flowers also are tyed vp with
small bundels of Lauender toppes, these being put in the middle
of them, to lye, vpon the toppes of beds, presses, &c. for the
sweete sent and sauour it casteth. It is generally accounted
of our Apothecaries to be the true _Eupatorium_ of Auicen, and
the true _Ageratum_ of Dioscorides; but Dodonæus seemeth to
contradict both.
CHAP. XII.
_Tanacetum vulgare & crispum._ Tansie.
Ovr Garden Tansie hath many hard greene leaues, or rather wings of
leaues; for they are many small ones, set one against another all along
a middle ribbe or stalke, and snipt about the edges: in some the leaues
stand closer and thicker, and somewhat crumpled, which hath caused
it to be called double or curld Tansie, in others thinner and more
sparsedly: It riseth vp with many hard stalks, whereon growe at the
tops vpon the seuerall small branches gold yellow flowers like buttons,
which being gathered in their prime, will hold the colour fresh a long
time: the seede is small, and as it were chaffie: the roote creepeth
vnder ground, and shooteth vp againe in diuers places: the whole herbe,
both leaues and flowers, are of a sharpe, strong, bitter smell and
taste, but yet pleasant, and well to be endured.
The Vse of Tansie.
The leaues of Tansie are vsed while they are young, either
shred small with other herbes, or else the iuyce of it and
other herbes fit for the purpose, beaten with egges, and fryed
into cakes (in Lent and the Spring of the yeare) which are
vsually called Tansies, and are often eaten, being taken to
be very good for the stomack, to helpe to digest from thence
bad humours that cleaue thereunto: As also for weak raines and
kidneyes, when the vrine passeth away by drops: This is thought
to be of more vse for men then for women. The seed is much
commended against all sorts of wormes in children.
CHAP. XIII.
_Pimpinella siue Sanguisorba._ Burnet.
Burnet hath many winged leaues lying vpon, the ground, made of many
small, round, yet pointed greene leaues, finely nicked on the edges,
one set against another all along a middle ribbe, and one at the end
thereof; from among which rise vp diuers round, and sometimes crested
browne stalkes, with some few such like leaues on them as growe belowe,
but smaller: at the toppes of the stalkes growe small browne heads or
knaps, which shoote forth small purplish flowers, turning into long and
brownish, but a little cornered seede: the roote groweth downe deepe,
being small and brownish: the whole plant is of a stipticke or binding
taste or quality, but of a fine quicke sent, almost like Baulme.
The Vse of Burnet.
The greatest vse that Burnet is commonly put vnto, is to put a
few leaues into a cup with Claret wine, which is presently to
be drunke, and giueth a pleasant quicke taste thereunto, very
delightfull to the palate, and is accounted a helpe to make
the heart merrie. It is sometimes also while it is young, put
among other Sallet herbes, to giue a finer rellish thereunto.
It is also vsed in vulnerary drinkes, and to stay fluxes and
bleedings, for which purposes it is much commended. It hath
beene also much commended in contagious and pestilentiall agues.
CHAP. XIIII.
_Hippolapathum sativum, siue Rhabarbarum Monachorum._
Monkes Rubarbe or Patience.
Garden Patience is a kinde of Docke in all the parts thereof, but that
it is larger and taller then many others, with large and long greene
leaues, a great, strong, and high stalke, with reddish or purplish
flowers, and three square seede, like as all other Dockes haue: the
roote is great and yellow, not hauing any shew of flesh coloured veines
therein, no more then the other kinde with great round thin leaues,
commonly called _Hippolapathum rotundifolium_, Bastard Rubarbe, or
Monkes Rubarbe, the properties of both which are of very weake effect:
but I haue a kinde of round leafed Dock growing in my Garden, which was
sent me from beyond Sea by a worthy Gentleman, Mʳ. Dʳ. Matth. Lister,
one of the Kings Physitians, with this title, _Rhaponticum verum_,
and first grew with me, before it was euer seen or known elsewhere in
England, wᶜʰ by proof I haue found to be so like vnto the true Rubarbe,
or the Rha of Pontus, both for forme and colour, that I dare say it
is the very true Rubarbe, our climate only making it lesse strong in
working, lesse heauy, and lesse bitter in taste: For this hath great
and thicke rootes, as diuersly discoloured with flesh coloured veines
as the true Rubarbe, as I haue to shew to any that are desirous to see
and know it; and also other smaller sprayes or branches of rootes,
spreading from the maine great roote, which smaller branches may well
be compared to the _Rhaponticum_ which the Merchants haue brought vs,
which we haue seene to be longer and slenderer then Rubarbe, but of the
very same colour: this beareth so goodly large leaues, that it is a
great beauty in a garden to behold them: for I haue measured the stalke
of the leafe at the bottome next the roote to bee of the bignesse of
any mans thumbe; and from the roote to the leafe it selfe, to bee two
foote in length, and sometimes more; and likewise the leafe it selfe,
from the lower end where it is ioyned to the stalke, to the end or
point thereof, to bee also two foote in length, and sometimes more; and
also in the broadest part of the leafe, to be two foote or more ouer
in breadth: it beareth whitish flowers, contrary to all other Dockes,
and three square brownish seede as other Dockes doe, but bigger,
and therefore assuredly it is a Docke, and the true Rubarbe of the
Arabians, or at the least the true _Rhaponticum_ of the Ancients. The
figure of the whole plant I haue caused to be cut, with a dryed roote
as it grew in my garden by it selfe, and haue inserted it here, both
because Matthiolus giueth a false figure of the true Rubarbe, and that
this hath not been expressed and set forth by any before.
The Vse of Patience, and of the Rubarbe.