_Containing Rules for Hearbs and Seedes_ of common vse, with their times and seasons, when to set and sow them.

TOGETHER,

With the Husbandry of Bees, published with secrets _very necessary for euery House-wife_.

As also diuerse new Knots for Gardens.

The Contents see at large in the last Page.

Genes. 2. 29.

_I haue giuen vnto you euery Herbe, and euery tree, that shall be to you for meate._

IC

_LONDON_,

Printed by _Nicholas Okes_ for IOHN HARISON, at the golden Vnicorne in Pater-noster-row. 1631.

THE COVNTRY HOVSVVIFES GARDEN.

CHAP. 1.

_The Soyle._

{SN: Dry.} {SN: Hops.} The soyle of an Orchard and Garden, differ onely in these three points: First, the Gardens soyle would be somewhat dryer, because hearbes being more tender then trees, can neither abide moisture nor drought, in such excessiue measure, as trees; and therefore hauing a dryer soyle, the remedy is easie against drought, if need be: water soundly, which may be done with small labour, the compa.s.se of a Garden being nothing so great, as of an Orchard, and this is the cause (if they know it) that Gardners raise their squares: but if moysture trouble you, I see no remedy without a generall danger, except in Hops, which delight much in a low and sappy earth.

{SN: Plaine.} Secondly, the soyle of a Garden would be plaine and leuell, at least euery square (for we purpose the square to be the fittest forme) the reason: the earth of a garden wanting such helpes, as should stay the water, which an orchard hath, and the rootes of hearbes being short, and not able to fetch their liquor from the bottome, are more annoyed by drought, and the soyle being mellow and loose, is soone either washt away, or sends out his heart by too much drenching and washing.

Thirdly, if a garden soyle be not cleere of weedes, and namely, of gra.s.se, the hearbes shall neuer thriue: for how should good hearbes prosper, when euill weeds waxe so fast: considering good hearbes are tender in respect of euill weedes: these being strengthened by nature, and the other by art? Gardens haue small place in comparison, and therefore may be more easily be fallowed, at the least one halfe yeare before, and the better dressed after it is framed. And you shall finde that cleane keeping doth not onely auoide danger of gathering weedes, but also is a speciall ornament, and leaues more plentifull sap for your tender hearbes.

CHAP. 2.

_Of the Sites._

I cannot see in any sort, how the site of the one should not be good, and fit for the other: The ends of both being one, good, wholesome, and much fruit ioyned with delight, vnlesse trees be more able to abide the nipping frostes than tender hearbes: but I am sure, the flowers of trees are as soone perished with cold, as any hearbe except Pumpions, and Melons.

CHAP. 3.

_Of the Forme._

Let that which is sayd in the Orchards forme, suffice for a garden in generall: but for speciall formes in squares, they are as many, as there are diuices in Gardners braines. Neither is the wit and art of a skilfull Gardner in this poynt not to be commended, that can worke more variety for breeding of more delightsome choyce, and of all those things, where the owner is able and desirous to be satisfied. The number of formes, Mazes and Knots is so great, and men are so diuersly delighted, that I leaue euery House-wife to her selfe, especially seeing to set downe many, had bene but to fill much paper; yet lest I depriue her of all delight and direction, let her view these few, choyse, new formes, and note this generally, that all plots are square, and all are bordered about with Priuit, Raisins, Fea-berries, Roses, Thorne, Rosemary, Bee-flowers, Isop, Sage, or such like.

{Ill.u.s.tration: The ground plot for Knots.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Cinkfoyle.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Flower-deluce.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: The Trefoyle.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: The Fret.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Lozenges.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Crosse-bow.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Diamond.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Ouall.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: Maze.}

CHAP. 4.

_Of the Quant.i.ty._

A Garden requireth not so large a scope of ground as an Orchard, both in regard of the much weeding, dressing and remouing, and also the paines in a Garden is not so well repaied home, as in an Orchard. It is to be graunted, that the Kitchin garden doth yeeld rich gaines by berries, roots, cabbages, &c. yet these are no way comparable to the fruits of a rich Orchard: but notwithstanding I am of opinion, that it were better for _England_, that we had more Orchards and Gardens, and more large.

And therefore we leaue the quant.i.ty 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.