A New Orchard And Garden Part 8

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, Batch.e.l.lors b.u.t.tons, 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.