A NEW ORCHARD AND GARDEN TEXT

for _England_, that we had more Orchards and Gardens, and more large. And therefore we leaue the quantity to euery mans ability and will. CHAP. 5. _Of Fence._ Seeing we allow Gardens in Orchard plots, and the benefit of a Garden is much, they both require a strong and shrowding fence. Therefore leauing this, let vs come to the hearbes themselues, which must be the fruit of all these labours. CHAP. 6. _Of two Gardens._ Hearbes are of two sorts, and therefore it is meete (they requiring diuers manners of Husbandry) that we haue two Gardens: A garden for flowers, and a Kitchen garden: or a Summer garden: not that we meane so perfect a distinction, that the Garden for flowers should or can be without hearbes good for the Kitchen, or the Kitchen garden should want flowers, nor on the contrary: but for the most part they would be seuered: first, because your Garden flowers shall suffer some disgrace, if among them you intermingle Onions, Parsnips, &c. Secondly, your Garden that is durable, must be of one forme: but that, which is for your Kitchens vse, must yeeld daily rootes, or other hearbes, and suffer deformity. Thirdly, the hearbs of both will not be both alike ready, at one time, either for gathering, or remouing. First therefore _Of the Summer Garden._ These hearbs and flowers are comely and durable for squares and knots and all to set at _Michael-tide_, or somewhat before, that they may be setled in, and taken with the ground before winter, though they may be set, especially sowne in the spring. Roses of all sorts (spoken of in the Orchard) must be set. Some vie to set slips and twine them, which sometimes, but seldome thriue all. Rosemary, Lauender, Bee-flowers, Isop, Sage, Time, Cowslips, Pyony, Dasies, Cloue Gilliflowers, Pinkes, Sothernwood, Lillies, of all which hereafter. _Of the Kitchen Garden._ Though your Garden for flowers doth in a sort peculiarly challenge to it seise a profit, and exquisite forme to the eyes, yet you may not altogether neglect this, where your hearbes for the pot do growe. And therefore, some here make comely borders with the hearbes aforesayd. The rather because aboundance of Roses and Lauender yeeld much profit, and comfort to the sences: Rose-water and Lauender, the one cordial (as also the Violets, Burrage, and Buglas) the other reuiuing the spirits by the sence of smelling: both most durable for smell, both in flowers and water: you need not here raise your beds, as in the other garden, because Summer towards, will not let too much wet annoy you. And these hearbes require more moysture: yet must you haue your beds diuided, that you may goe betwixt to weede, and somewhat forme would be expected: To which it auaileth, that you place your herbes of biggest growth, by walles, or in borders, as Fenell, &c. and the lowest in the middest, as Saffron, Strawberries, Onions, &c. CHAP. 7. _Diuision of hearbs._ Garden hearbs are innumerable, yet these are common and sufficient for our country House-wifes. _Hearbs of greatest growth._ Fenell, Anglica, Tansie, Hollihock, Louage, Elly Campane, French mallows, Lillies, French poppy, Endiue, Succory and Clary. _Herbes of middle growth._ Burrage, Buglas, Parsley, sweet Sicilly, Floure-de-luce, Stocke Gilliflowers, Wall-flowers, Anniseedes, Coriander, Feather fewell, Marigolds, Oculus Christi, Langdibeefe, Alexanders, Carduus Benedictus. _Hearbes of smallest growth._ Pansy, or Harts-ease, Coast Margeram, Sauery, Strawberries, Saffron, Lycoras, Daffadowndillies, Leekes, Chiues, Chibals, Skerots, Onions, Batchellors buttons, Dasies, Peniroyall. Hitherto I haue onely reckoned vp, and put in this ranke, some hearbs. Their Husbandry follow each in an Alphabeticall order, the better to be found. CHAP. 8. _Husbandry of Herbes._ _Alexanders_ are to be renewed as _Angelica_. It is a timely Pot-hearbe. _Anglica_ is renued with his seede, whereof he beareth plenty the second yeare, and so dieth. You may remoue the rootes the first yeare. The leaues distilled, yeeld water soueraigne to expell paine from the stomacke. The roote dried taken in the fall, stoppeth the poares against infections. _Annyseedes_ make their growth, and beareth seeds the first yeere, and dieth as _Coriander_: it is good for opening the pipes, and it is vsed in Comfits. _Artichoakes_ are renewed by diuiding the rootes into sets, in _March_, euery third or fourth yeare. They require a seuerall vsage, and therefore a seuerall whole plot by themselues, especially considering they are plentifull of fruite much desired. _Burrage_ and _Buglas_, two Cordials, renue themselues by seed yearely, which is hard to be gathered: they are exceeding good Pot-hearbes, good for Bees, and most comfortable for the heart and stomacke, as Quinces and Wardens. _Camomile_, set rootes in bankes and walkes. It is sweete smelling, qualifying head-ach. _Cabbages_ require great roome, they seed the second yeare: sow them in _February_, remoue them when the plants are an handfull long, set deepe and wet. Looke well in drought for the white Caterpillers worme, the spaunes vnder the leafe closely; for euery liuing Creature doth seeke foode and quiet shelter, and growing quicke, they draw to, and eate the heart: you may finde them in a rainy deawy morning. It is a good Pothearbe, and of this hearbe called _Cole_ our Countrie House-wiues giue their pottage their name, and call them _Caell_. _Carduus Benedictus_, or blessed thistle, seeds and dyes the first yeere, the excellent vertue thereof I referre to Herbals, for we are Gardiners, not Physitians. _Carrets_ are sowne late in _Aprill_ or _May_, as Turneps, else they seede the first yeere, and then their roots are naught: the second yeere they dye, their roots grow great, and require large roome. _Chibals_ or _Chiues_ haue their roots parted, as Garlick, Lillies, &c. and so are they set euery third or fourth yeere: a good pot-hearb opening, but euill for the eies. _Clarie_ is sowne, it seeds the second yeere, and dyes. It is somewhat harsh in taste, a little in pottage is good, it strengtheneth the reines. _Coast_, Roote parted make sets in _March_: it beares the second yeere: it is vsed in Ale in _May_. _Coriander_ is for vsage and vses, much like Anniseeds. _Daffadowndillies_ haue their roots parted, and set once in three or foure yeere, or longer time. They flower timely, and after _Midsummer_, are scarcely seene. They are more for ornament, then for vse, so are Daisies. _Daisie_-rootes parted and set, as Flowre-deluce and Camomile, when you see them grow too thicke or decay. They be good to keepe vp, and strengthen the edges of your borders, as Pinkes, they be red, white, mixt. _Ellycampane_ root is long lasting, as is the Louage, it seeds yeerely, you may diuide the root, and set the roote, taken in VVinter it is good (being dryed, powdered and drunke) to kill itches. _Endiue_ and _Succory_ are much like in nature, shape, and vse, they renue themselues by seed, as Fennell, and other hearbs. You may remoue them before they put forth shankes, a good Pot-hearbe. _Fennell_ is renued, either by the seeds (which it beareth the second yeere, and so yeerely in great abundance) sowne in the fall or Spring, or by diuiding one root into many Sets, as Artichoke, it is long of growth and life. You may remoue the roote vnshankt. It is exceeding good for the eyes, distilled, or any otherwise taken: it is vsed in dressing Hiues for swarmes, a very good Pot-hearbe, or for Sallets. _Fetherfewle_ shakes seed. Good against a shaking Feuer, taken in a posset drinke fasting. _Flower-deluce_, long lasting. Diuide his roots, and set: the roots dryed haue a sweet smell. _Garlicke_ may be set an handfull distance, two inches deepe, in the edge of your beds. Part the heads into seuerall cloues, and euery cloue set in the latter end of _February_, will increase to a great head before _September_: good for opening, euill for eyes: when the blade is long, fast two & two together, the heads will be bigger. _Hollyhocke_ riseth high, seedeth and dyeth: the chiefe vse I know is ornament. _Isop_ is reasonable long lasting: young roots are good set, slips better. A good pot-hearbe. _Iuly-flowers_, commonly called _Gilly-flowers_, or _Cloue-Iuly-flowers_ (I call them so, because they flowre in _Iuly_) they haue the name of _Cloues_, of their sent. I may well call them the King of flowers (except the Rose) and the best sort of them are called _Queene-Iuly flowers_. I haue of them nine or ten seuerall colours, and diuers of them as big as Roses; of all flowers (saue the Damaske Rose) they are the most pleasant to sight and smell: they last not past three or foure yeeres vnremoued. Take the slips (without shanks) and set any time, saue in extreme frost, but especially at _Michael tide_. Their vse is much in ornament, and comforting the spirits, by the sence of smelling. _Iuly flowers_ of the wall, or wall-_Iuly-flowers_, wall-flowers, or Bee-flowers, or Winter-_Iuly-flowers_, because growing in the walles, euen in Winter, and good for Bees, will grow euen in stone walls, they will seeme dead in Summer, and yet reuiue in Winter. They yeeld seed plentifully, which you may sow at any time, or in any broken earth, especially on the top of a mud-wall, but moist, you may set the root before it be brancht, euery slip that is not flowr'd will take root, or crop him in Summer, and he will flower in Winter: but his Winter-seed is vntimely. This and Palmes are exceeding good, and timely for Bees. _Leekes_ yeeld seed the second yeere, vnremoued and die, vnlesse you remoue them, vsuall to eate with salt and bread, as Onyons alwaies greene, good pot-hearb, euill for the eyes. _Lauendar spike_ would be remoued within 7 yeeres, or eight at the most. Slips twined as Isop and Sage, would take best at _Michael-tide_. This flower is good for Bees, most comfortable for smelling, except Roses; and kept dry, is as strong after a yeere, and when it is gathered. The water of this is comfortable. White _Lauendar_ would be remoued sooner. _Lettice_ yeelds seed the first yeere, and dyes: sow betime, and if you would haue them _Cabbage_ for Sallets, remoue them as you doe _Cabbage_. They are vsuall in Sallets, and the pot. _Lillies_ white and red, remoued once in three or foure yeeres their roots yeeld many Sets, like the Garlicke, _Michael-tide_ is the best: they grow high, after they get roote: these roots are good to breake a Byle, as are Mallowes and Sorrell. _Mallowes_, French or gagged, the first or second yeere, seed plentifully: sow in _March_, or before, they are good for the house-wifes pot, or to breake a bunch. _Marigolds_ most commonly come of seed, you may remoue the Plants, when they be two inches long. The double Marigold, being as bigge as a little Rose, is good for shew. They are a good Pot-hearbe. _Oculus Christi_, or Christs eye, seeds and dyes the first or second yeere: you may remoue the yong Plants, but seed is better: one of these seeds put into the eye, within three or foure houres will gather a thicke skinne, cleere the eye, and bolt it selfe forth without hurt to the eye. A good Pot-hearbe. _Onyons_ are sowne in _February_, they are gathered at _Michael-tide_, and all the Summer long, for Sallets; as also young Parsly, Sage, Chibals, Lettice, sweet Sicily, Fennell, &c. good alone, or with meate as Mutton, &c. for sauce, especially for the pot. _Parsly_ sow the first yeere, and vse the next yeere: it seedes plentifully, an hearbe of much vse, as sweet Sicily is. The seed and roots are good against the Stone. _Parsneps_ require and whole plot, they be plentifull and common: sow them in _February_, the Kings (that is in the middle) seed broadest and reddest. Parsneps are sustenance for a strong stomacke, not good for euill eies: When they couer the earth in a drought, to tread the tops, make the rootes bigger. _Peny-royall_, or Pudding Grasse, creepes along the ground like ground Iuie. It lasts long, like Daisies, because it puts and spreads dayly new roots. Diuide, and remoue the roots, it hath a pleasant taste and smell, good for the pot, or hackt meate, or Haggas Pudding. _Pumpions_: Set seedes with your finger, a finger deepe, late in _March_, and so soone as they appeare, euery night if you doubt frost, couer them, and water them continually out of a water-pot: they be very tender, their fruit is great and waterish. _French poppy_ beareth a faire flower, and the Seed will make you sleepe. _Raddish_ is sauce for cloyed stomacks, as Capers, Oliues, and Cucumbers, cast the seeds all Summer long here and there, and you shall haue them alwaies young and fresh. _Rosemary_, the grace of hearbs here in _England_, in other Countries common. To set slips immediately after _Lammas_, is the surest way. Seede sowne may proue well, so they be sowne in hot weather, somewhat moist, and good earth: for the hearbe, though great, is nesh and tender (as I take it) brought from hot Countries to vs in the cold North: set thinne. It becomes a Window well. The vse is much in meates, more in Physicke, most for Bees. _Rue, or Hearbe of Grace_, continually greene, the slips are set. It lasts long as Rosemary, Sothernwood, &c. too strong for mine Housewifes pot, vnlesse she will brue Ale therewith, against the Plague: let him not seede, if you will haue him last. _Saffron_ euery third yeere his roots would be remoued at _Midsummer_: for when all other hearbs grow most, it dyeth. It flowreth at _Michael-tide_, and groweth all Winter: keepe his flowers from birds in the morning, & gather the yellow (or they shape much like Lillies) dry, and after dry them: they be precious, expelling diseases from the heart and stomacke. _Sauery_ seeds and dyes the first yeere, good for my Housewifes pot and pye. _Sage_: set slips in _May_, and they grow aye: Let it not seed it will last the longer. The vse is much and common. The Monkish Prouerbe is _tritum_: _Cur moritur homo, cum saluia crescit in horto?_ _Skerots_, roots are set when they be parted, as _Pyonie_, and Flower-deluce at _Michael-tide_: the roote is but small and very sweet. I know none other speciall vse but the Table. Sweet _Sicily_, long lasting, pleasantly tasting, either the seed sowne, or the root parted, and remoued, makes increase, it is of like vse with Parsly. _Strawberries_ long lasting, set roots at _Michael-tide_ or the Spring, they be red, white and greene, and ripe, when they be great and soft, some by _Midsummer_ with vs. The vse is: they will coole my Housewife well, if they be put in Wine or Creame with Sugar. _Time_, both seeds, slips and rootes are good. If it seed not, it will last three or foure yeeres or more, it smelleth comfortably. It hath much vse: namely, in all cold meats, it is good for Bees. _Turnep_ is sowne. In the second yeere they beare plenty of seed: they require the same time of sowing that Carrets doe: they are sicke of the same disease that Cabbages be. The roots increaseth much, it is most wholesome, if it be sowne in a good and well tempered earth: Soueraigne for eyes and Bees. I reckon these hearbs onely, because I teach my Countrey Housewife, not skilfull Artists, and it should be an endlesse labour, and would make the matter tedious to reckon vp _Landtheefe_, _Stocke-Iuly-flowers_, _Charuall_, _Valerian_, _Go-to bed at noone_, _Piony_, _Licoras_, _Tansie_, _Garden mints_, _Germander_, _Centaurie_, and a thousand such physicke Hearbs. Let her first grow cunning in this, and then she may enlarge her Garden as her skill and ability increaseth. And to helpe her the more, I haue set her downe these obseruations. CHAP. 9. _Generall Rules in Gardening._ In the South parts Gardening may be more timely, and more safely done, then with vs in _Yorkeshire_, because our ayre is not so fauourable, nor our ground so good. 2 Secondly most seeds shakt, by turning the good earth, are renued, their mother the earth keeping them in her bowels, till the Sunne their Father can reach them with his heat. 3 In setting hearbs, leaue no top more then an handfull aboue the ground, nor more then a foot vnder the earth. 4 Twine the roots of those slips you set, if they will abide it. Gilly-flowers are too tender. 5 Set moist, and sowe dry. 6 Set slips without shankes any time, except at _Midsummer_, and in frosts. 7 Seeding spoiles the most roots, as drawing the heart and sap from the root. 8 Gather for the pot and medicines, hearbs tender and greene, the sap being in the top, but in Winter the root is best. 9 All the hearbs in the Garden for flowers, would once in seuen yeeres be renued, or soundly watered with puddle water, except Rosemary. 10 In all your Gardens and Orchards, bankes and seates of Camomile, Peny-royall, Daisies and Violets, are seemely and comfortable. 11 These require whole plots: Artichokes, Cabbages, Turneps, Parsneps, Onyons, Carrets, and (if you will) Saffron and Scerrits. 12 Gather all your seeds, dead, ripe, and dry. 13 Lay no dung to the roots of your hearbs, as vsually they doe: for dung not melted is too hot, euen for trees. 14 Thin setting and sewing (so the rootes stand not past a foot distance) is profitable, for the hearbs will like the better. Greater hearbs would haue more distance. 15 Set and sow hearbs in their time of growth (except at _Midsummer_, for then they are too too tender) but trees in their time of rest. 16 A good Housewife may, and will gather store of hearbs for the pot, about _Lammas_, and dry them, and pownd them, and in Winter they will make good seruice. Thus haue I lined out a Garden to our Countrey Housewiues, and giuen them rules for common hearbs. If any of them (as sometimes they are) be knotty, I referre them to Chap. 3. The skill and paines of weeding the Garden with weeding kniues or fingers, I refer to themselues, and their maides, willing them to take the opportunitie after a showre of raine: withall I aduise the Mistresse, either be present her selfe, or to teach her maides to know hearbs from weeds. CHAP. 10. _The Husbandry of Bees._ There remaineth one necessary thing to be prescribed, which in mine opinion makes as much for ornament as either Flowers, or forme, or cleanlinesse, and I am sure as commodious as any of, or all the rest: which is Bees, well ordered. And I will not account her any of my good House-wiues, that wanteth either Bees or skilfulnesse about them. And though I knowe some haue written well and truely, and others more plentifully vpon this theame: yet somewhat haue I learned by experience (being a Bee-maister my selfe) which hitherto I cannot finde put into writing, for which I thinke our House-wiues will count themselues beholding vnto me. {SN: Bee-house.} The first thing that a Gardiner about Bees must be carefull for, is an house not stakes and stones abroad, _Sub dio_: for stakes rot and reele, raine and weather eate your hiues, and couers, and cold most of all is hurtfull for your Bees. Therefore you must haue an house made along, a sure dry wall in your Garden, neere, or in your Orchard: for Bees loue flowers and wood with their hearts. This is the forme, a Frame standing on posts with a Floore (if you would haue it hold more Hiues, two Floores boorded) layd on bearers, and backe posts, couered ouer with boords, slate-wise. IC Let the floores be without holes or clifts, least in casting time, the Bees lye out, and loyter. And though your Hiues stand within an hand breadth the one of another: yet will Bees know their home. In this Frame may your Bees stand drye and warme, especially if you make doores like doores of windows to shroud them in winter, as in an house: prouided you leaue the hiues mouths open. I my self haue deuised such an house, and I find that it keeps and strengthens my Bees much, and my hiues will last sixe to one. {SN: Hiues.} M. _Markham_ commends Hiues of wood. I discommend them not: but straw