branches covered in the old with a gray and in the young green bark plentifully adorned with thick bright-shining green leaves and many long stalks set with whitish flowers which are succeeded by small Cherries black when ripe with stones like to the common Cherries The aptness of this to be increased hath made it common and therefore seldom admitted into curious Flower-gardens yet it may be a fit ornament for Court-walls and those on the North side of the Fruit-garden Laurus Tinus THe Wilde Bay being spread upon a Wall will be five or six foot high and full of branches bearing at every joynt two leaves which are smooth something long and of a dark green colour at the tops of the branches come forth great tufts of small white flowers with blush edges sometimes succeeded by small blew berries wherein the seed is contained There is another of this kind called Laurus Tinus folio glabro that differeth onely in that the leaves are larger and of a brighter green colour Laurus Tinus Lusitanica THe Wilde Bay of Portugal differeth from the last in that the leaves are harder fuller of veins and of a browner green colour and the flowers a little inclining to purple the berries like those of the former but smaller Laurus Rosea sive Oleander THe Rose Bay-tree is of two sorts the one bearing red flowers and the other white in no other respect differing the stemme groweth to the bigness of a Mans Thumb divided into three branches bearing at every joynt long hard thick dark green leaves at the ends of the branches come forth the flowers which are of a deep blush colour in the one and white in the other consisting of four long narrow round-pointed leaves which with us fall away without bringing seeds Laurus Indica THe Indian Bay with us thrives slowly and is seldom found above four foot high it groweth in a thick bush the branches covered with a yellowish green bark thick set with leaves which are betwixt those of the Cherry-Bay and the common kind something resembling those of the Cytron-tree the flowers grow in a long spike of a greenish white colour succeeded by berries like small Olives This fine Plant is a stranger in England and though an Indian yet if defended from Frosts in Winter will last many years and may be increased by Layers Having now set down so many Bays as we think fit for this place we will conclude with two other Greens which in their beautiful still-green leaves much resemble them for should we follow the method of an Herbal and place every kind in a particular Chapter we should not so well inform such as desire to be Florists either in the choice of and manner how to order plant and dispose every particular which is a knowledge chiefly to be inquired and learned by all ingenious lovers of these delights Mala Arantia THe Orenge-tree considered as it groweth with us may more fitly be placed among the Greens than with the Fruits for that all the benefit it affordeth us consisteth in the beauty of the ever-green leaves and sweet-smelling flowers the fruit in our cold Countrey never coming to maturity Orenge-trees in Spain and other hot Countries grow to tall and fair trees but with us seem no other than shrubs The bark of the elder boughs is brown and the younger green with some thorns the leaves are large and of a fresh shining green colour twining a little like those of Ivie with many small holes in them of a strong sweet sent and never falling untill new thrust them off the flowers are of a whitish colour and very sweet succeeded by small round green fruit which in time groweth to be something large and of a yellowish red colour as every one knoweth for although the Tree be rare and strange to many the Fruit is common and well known unto all Arbutus THe Strawberry-tree groweth slowly seldom rising to more than two yards high in Ireland its proper Countrey but with us not so tall the body hath a rough and the branches a smooth bark the leaves are alternately green like the Bays finely purled about the edges long and round pointed the flowers grow on the ends of the branches with long stalks which are small little white bottles like those of the Lily of the valley succeeded by red berries when ripe like to Strawberries of a harsh taste containing many small seeds The Cherry-Bay flowereth in May and the fruit is ripe in September The Wilde Bay flowereth in Winter but in March and April is in its greatest beauty The Rose Bay and the Indian seldom flower before July The two Wilde Bays are hardy and easily rised either from Suckers or Layers the two other Rose Bays and Orenges are more tender and must be planted in strong Cases to be housed in Winter the Rose Bay is apt to yield Suckers by which it is increased as the Indian Bay by laying down the branches The Orenge-tree is in its greatest beauty in the Spring in respect of the sweet flowers younger and elder fruits with gallant green leaves wherewith this busie Plant is at one time and at all times in an agreeable Climate plentifully furnished Young Plants may be raised by setting the Kernels in March in rich Earth in Cases to be housed in Winter for they will not endure one nights frost they may be grafted in the bud or by approch with some more generous kind The Strawberry-tree is in its greatest glory in October and November when the berries are ripe which mixing with the fine green leaves are a delightful object Young Plants are commonly raised from Seeds and some by Layers but it will be long before they root and when removed the Earth must be taken with them and carefully planted for they are nice in their nonage but elder Plants very hardy and will prosper under any warm Wall and last many years CHAP. II. Myrtus THE Myrtle-tree by the care of the Curious that delight in things that are so may be preserved in our cold Countrey although it be tender and impatient of our long frosty Winters In hot Countries there are many more diversities of this Plant than we shall mention or trouble our selves withall for indeed such tender things put us to more pains in their preservation than they afford us pleasure in the enjoyment being rather a vexation than a delight we will therefore make choice of such that by solemn invitation diligent attendance and courteous entertainment will vouchsafe to live with us and leave the rest to the Poets to grace the Elyzian Groves or build green Bowers to shade the Paphian Queen and first of that best known Myrtus Latifolia THe Broad-leafed Myrtle groweth in a thick bush sometimes four or five foot high full of branches set with fine bright-shining sweet and ever-green leaves somewhat broad and long at the joynts of the branches come forth the flowers composed of fine small white leaves with some white threds
and rarest Shrubs that are planted in Cases in a most healthy and flourishing condition CHAP. III. Florentium Arbuscularum OF Flower-bearing Trees and Shrubs which fall their leaves in Winter and renew them again every Spring there are many kinds in this place we will mention the rarest and such onely as are fittest to furnish our Flower-garden and leave the rest to beautifie the end of our Book And first of the biggest and best known Cerasus flore pleno THe double-flowered Cherry is in all parts thereof like unto the common English Cherry-tree the onely difference is in the flowers which of this are large thick and double of a pure white colour and many growing together which fall away without bearing fruit recompencing that defect by the multitude of fair double flowers wherewith it is yearly adorned There is another double-blossom'd Cherry of the kind of the common small black Cherry which the French call Merisziere that beareth large double flowers as big as the lesser double white Rose this is common in France and doubtless a little time will make it so in England Arbor Persica flore multiplici THe double flowered Peach-tree differeth in nothing from the ordinary but onely in the flowers those of this being double consisting of three or more rows of leaves of a reddish blush colour seldom succeeded by any fruit the beauty of the flowers recompencing that defect Balaustium sive Malus Punica silvestris THe double-blossom'd wilde Pomegranate-tree is the rarest of all the flowering Trees and Shrubs if pruned up it will grow seven foot high otherwise in a thick bush full of small branches with some thorns thereon and many small shining green leaves which fall away in Winter and are renewed late in the Spring at the sides and ends of the branches come forth many hard hollow reddish or Coral-coloured cups and out of them most beautiful flowers as big and double as the largest and thickest Province-rose and of an excellent bright crimson colour There is another of this kind with double flowers that is lesser in all the parts thereof the leaves of a sadder green and the flowers more inclining to the colour of an Orenge we also hear of another with double striped flowers which is yet a stranger in England Syringa sive Gelsiminum Arabicum THe double white Pipe-tree or Jasmine of Arabia is a rare and tender Shrub much desired by all Florists it hath divers long slender stiff woody branches whereon grow many fair large leaves something resembling those of the common white Syringa but smoother larger eaven at the edges and of a fresh green colour two standing at every joynt one against the other and at each joynt contrary to other at the ends of the branches come forth divers flowers standing on several foot-foot-stalks each in a hose like those of the common white Jasmine containing fair double flowers consisting of two and sometimes three rows of round-pointed white leaves each row containing five or six leaves the middle of the flower is hollow and something yellow of a strong sweet sent like unto that of Orenge flowers Syringa laciniatis foliis sive Gelsiminum Persicum THe blue Syringa with cut leaves or Persian Jasmine cometh up with many small woody branches finely decked with dainty green leaves which are small long cut in and divided almost to the middle rib some into three small leaves on a side and a larger at the point others into two and some have but one on each side and that bigger at the end All these varieties are commonly to be seen in the leaves of this fine Plant at the end of the branches come forth the flowers many together in fashion like unto those of the ordinary blue Syringa or Lylac but smaller and of a finer purplish blue colour and better sent Oleaster exoticus THe strange wilde Olive or Tree of Paradise is a sweet and beautiful Plant and though a great stranger is contented with our homely entertainment it riseth up with woody shoots of a dark yellowish colour set with long narrow whitish green leaves bearing along the branches divers small flowers of a greenish yellow colour which in its natural Countrey but seldom with us are succeeded by green berries like unto small Olives which when they are ripe will be of a reddish colour the whole Plant as well leaves as flowers is of a sweet and pleasant sent This out of Ferrarius Cytisus Maranthe Horned Tree Trifoile riseth four or five foot high the body seldom bigger than a Mans Thumb covered with a whitish bark and the branches more white the leaves stand three together lesser rounder and whiter than those of the ordinary Laburnum the flowers are like those of Broom of a gold yellow colour which in May come forth three or four together at the ends of the branches succeeded by crooked flat thin Cods like Horns or Half-moons from whence called by the additions of Corniculatus and Lunatus it is a tender Plant usually set in Cases and housed with Greens in Winter not to be increased by Seeds or Layers but by taking off some new Slips in June setting them in the shade and keeping the Earth moist by frequent but gentle waterings Althaea fruticosa SHrub Mallow hath woody branches covered with a whitish bark set with soft woolly whitish green leaves in fashion like those of the Ribes or Curran-tree the flowers are large and like those of a single Holly-hock in some of a deep reddish or violet-purple in others paler or lighter with the bottom of a deeper purple running into the leaves in small veins and there is another that hath fresher green leaves and white flowers with a large purple-spot in the bottom Of this sort there is another that hath the flowers striped with faint purple or blush lines Amomum Plinii TRee Night-shade riseth about a yard high with a woody stemm and many green branches set with small long green leaves something uneaven at the edges which fall away in Winter at the joynts of the branches it putteth forth two or three flowers together of a star-like form turning back the leaves which are white with a yellow pointill in the middle like unto those of the ordinary Night-shade which falling away are succeeded by small green berries that in December will be of a fine red colour like unto little red Cherries wherein is contained small flat white seeds Solanum fruticosa THe Shrub Night-shade hath a woody stock and branches about a yard high of a dark brown colour with sad green leaves the flowers are like those of the common Night-shade in one white and in another of a blue colour There is one of this kind that hath the green leaves variegated with white Spiraea frutex THe Shrub Spiraea riseth up with divers woody stalks about a yard high set with leaves like those of Sally but lesser and nicked on the edges at the tops of the stalks come forth divers small pale Peach-coloured flowers thick set
together in a long spike lessening by degrees like a pyramis the root is woody and lasting flowers in August endures the Winter and is increased by Layers Hypericum frutex WOody St. Johns wort hath two three or more woody stalks which rise about a yard high beset at certain distances with tufts of small green leaves and among them many small flowers white and a little purple in the middle this pretty Plant flowereth in the end of April endureth the Winter and is increased as the former by Layers Mezerion DWarf Bay groweth in a thick bush full of branches in some old Plants rising three or four foot high covered with a tough bark and set with small whitish round-pointed green leaves which fall away in Autumn the flowers are small consisting of four leaves growing thick and close together on the sides of the new Shoots wherewith they are on all sides covered which in one the most common are of a pale blush colour in another white and in a third of a deep Peach-colour almost red these flowers are sweet and may be smelled at distance which being past in their places come forth many small berries which when they are ripe are of a red colour The double-flowered Cherry is in blossom in April and the double-flowered Peach in March the Cherry may be grafted in any other Cherry-stock but the best way is to make choice of a stock that is big enough to hold two grafts which may be grafted near the ground the one graft of this and the other of the Flanders Cluster-cherry which growing up together planted against a wall the branches intermixed and nailed one within the other so that after the double flowers of the one are past the double fruits of the other may succeed will be a wonder to those that do not understand by what means it is brought to pass conceiving both to proceed from one kind The double Peach will thrive best and bring forth fairer flowers being spread upon a wall having been inoculated on an Apricock-stock The Balaustium bringeth forth its beautiful flowers towards the end of August it is a tender Plant and must be either set in Boxes that it may be housed in Winter or else under a South wall where it may have the benefit of the Sun in Somer and the roots about it covered with Pease-straw or Litter to keep them warm from freezing in the Winter and the branches also must be thatched with Broom or some other provision to defend them from nipping frosty air which otherwise will cause them to die even to the ground and many times never to spring again but those that are desirous to preserve this and other tender Plants and have a convenient house to remove them into in Winter then this may be so handled and not trusted abroad in the open air for that the trouble of housing and preserving of a few will be almost as great as that of many and new Plants may be raised either from Suckers which it is apt to yield or by laying down the branches The double white Syringa or Arabian Jasmine brings forth its fair odorous flowers from the beginning of May untill the end of September it is a great stranger in England and very apt to leave us upon the least dislike therefore those that desire to entertain so curious and nice a guest must aford it warm lodging in the Winter and diligent attendance in the Spring when first it comes abroad and then perhaps it may be complemented to an acceptance of our courser countrey fare The blue Syringa with a cut leaves or Persian Jasmine flowereth in April and is as courteous as the other is curious it will live abroad in the open air planted under a wall and yield us increase by laying down the branches or by cuttings being apt to root and thrive if a little defended from Frosts in Winter The Oleaster flowereth in May and is planted and increased in the same manner as the last mentioned and endureth the Winter as well I intend that described by Ferrarius and not that kind common with us which wanteth the properties said to belong to this noble Plant. The Shrub-Mallows shew their flowers commonly in August sometimes later they are tender and must be planted under a wall and defended in Winter the usual way to raise them is by laying down the branches in the Earth and sometimes from the seeds gained out of hotter Countreys for ours seldom bring any to perfection they may be grafted the Aproach-way one upon another so that from one root you may have all the forementioned varieties Tree Night-shade is a Plant well known and chiefly respected for the beauty of the red berries which will abide on the branches in Winter at which time standing among Myrtles and other Greens it maketh a fine shew it is raised by sowing the seeds in March which are apt to come up and grow especially if they be sowed in a Pot of good Earth and housed in the Winter The Shrub Night-shade is in flower toward the end of May and increased by Layers The blossoms of the Mizerions begin to appear in the end of January and usually continue flowering untill the beginning of April they are hardy and will grow any where the way to raise them is by sowing the berries as soon as they are ripe which will be about the middle of July they will lye long in the ground before they come up therefore are usually sowed in some large Box filled with good Earth and set in some place out of the way where it will need no other attendance than onely weeding the second Spring after the sowing and not before they will come up they which have nigh stood a year or two may be removed according to the pleasure of the owner CHAP. IV. Rosa THE Rose-tree is of divers excellent kinds not known to former Ages wherewith our English Gardens are now graced and here in this place to be handled together with our old store which for many respects are not to be neglected and first we will begin with the red Rose of England the most common and best known of all others and in order proceed to the rest Rosa rubra Anglica THe English red Rose wherewith all persons are so well acquainted that it needeth no description we have observed some variety therein the flowers of some to be of a far deeper Red than those of others and others to be much doubler and thicker of leaves than the common kind whereof I have one that is of a deep red colour and as thick and double as any Rose whatsoever and of late we have found another of this kind with striped beautiful flowers thence called Rosa mundi THe Rose of the world in all the parts differeth not from this ordinary red Rose but onely in the colour of the flowers which in this are for the most part of a pale blush colour diversly spotted marked and striped throughout every
either by inoculating the buds of them in other stocks or by laying down the branches in the earth the best stocks to be inoculated upon are the Damask the White the Francford and the wilde Eglentine the best time about Midsomer or as soon as good buds can begotten All stocks of budded Roses must be carefully kept from Suckers and if the Buds be placed near the ground after one years growth the budded lance may be laid in the earth to root whereby it will become a natural Tree one of which is more worth than three that are budded for that every Sucker that comes from them will be of the same kind whereby they may be increased but all Roses are not apt to yield Suckers and therefore the speediest and most certain way is to lay down the branches putting some old well rotted Dung about the place where they are laid which will make them root the sooner All Roses are hardy enough and will endure the Frosts in Winter and the better the soil is you set them in the better they will thrive and the fairer will be the flowers they are usually disposed up and down the Garden in bushes and under walls and set in rows or hedges supported and kept in on either side the several-coloured Roses intermixed and well placed blowing together will make a most gallant and glorious prospect After they have done bearing they must be cut with the Garden-shears something near and toward the Spring each branch cut again with a knife close to a leaf-bud and what is dead or superfluous taken away Now there are some Roses that are not fit to be planted in a hedge as the Musk Roses which will not bear at all unless they grow to some high wall or house-side where they may have liberty to grow to their full height which will be commonly eight or nine foot high also the double yellow which is the most unapt of all others to bear kindly and fair flowers unless it be ordered and looked unto in an especial manner for whereas all other Roses are best natural this is best inoculated upon another stock others thrive and bear best in the Sun this in the shade therefore the best way that I know to cause this Rose to bring forth fair and kindly flowers is performed after this manner First in the stock of a Francford Rose near the ground put in a Bud of the single yellow Rose which will quickly shoot to a good length then half a yard higher than the place where the same was budded put into it a Bud of the double yellow Rose which growing the Suckers must be kept from the Root and all the Buds rubbed off except those of the kind desired which being grown big enough to bear which will be in two years it must in Winter be pruned very near cutting off all the small Shoots and onely leaving the biggest cutting off the tops of them also as far as they are small then in the Spring when the Buds for leaves come forth rub off the smallest of them leaving onely some few of the biggest which by reason of the strength of the stock affording more nourishment than any other and the agreeable nature of the single yellow Rose from whence it is immediately nourished the Shoots will be strong and able to bear out the flowers if they be not too many which may be prevented by nipping off the smallest Buds for flowers leaving onely such a number of the fairest as the Tree may be able to bring to perfection which Tree would stand something shadowed and not too much in the heat of the Sun and in a standard by it self rather than under a wall These Rules being observed we may expect to enjoy the full delight of these beautiful Roses as I my self have often done by my own practice in divers Trees so handled which have yearly born store of fair flowers when those that were natural notwithstanding all the helps I could use have not brought forth one that was kindly but all of them either broken or as it were blasted Tell me what flow'r kind Nature doth disclose May be compared to the lovely Rose Whose Beauty Virtue Scent and Colours are In Life in Death in Bud and Blossom rare And if one kind these graces all comprise What then in thirty choice varieties Friend muse no more nor reckon what else rare Since all conclude the Rose without compare But wing thy thoughts to mount three stories higher Up to his Throne that thus adorn'd the Briar And now after this long walk it will be time to retire where we may sit in some shady Bower and behold the several flower-bearing and climbing woody Plants wherewith the same is covered and adorned which with others of like nature but more rarity shall be the subjects of our next discourse CHAP. V. HAving done with so many of the flower-bearing Trees and Shrubs as we intended for this place we will treat of some other woody flower-bearing Plants that being Climbers serve conveniently to cover Somer-bowers and first we will begin with the Jasmines whereof there are divers excellent varieties most of them peculiar to such Countries where the benignity of the Air and fertility of the Soil is agreeable with such delicate and tender Constitutions and although we cannot expect such rare Plants to prosper in our cold Country yet there are some of this kind contented to live with us with which and some others more tender together with Wood-binds and Virgins-bower this Chapter will acquaint you and first with the most common Jasminum album THe white Jasmine hath divers green flexible branches that come forth of the bigger boughs which proceed from the root set with winged leaves of a dark green colour standing two together at the joynts made of many small-pointed leaves set on each side of a middle rib usually three on a side and one bigger and more pointed at the end at the tops of the young branches divers flowers come forth together in a tuft each on a long foot-foot-stalk which are small long and hollow opening into fine white-pointed leaves and of a strong sweet scent which with us fall away without bringing seed Jasminum Catalonicum THe Catalonian or Spanish Jasmine riseth not half so high as the former the branches and green leaves are like but larger and shorter the flowers are of the same fashion but much bigger and before they are open of a blush colour and after white with blush edges more sweet than those of the former Jasminum Hispanicum multiplex THe double Spanish Jasmine is in the manner of growing like unto the last the greatest difference is in the flowers which of this are white like the first but bigger and double consisting of two rows of leaves with some smaller coming forth of the middle or hollow bosoms of the flowers which are as sweet as those of the former Jasminum luteum THe yellow Jasmine hath many long slender woody branches
if it but touch the ground much more if it be laid artificially therein the chief use of these and the common white Jasmine is to cover Arbours or adorn the walls of houses Clematis or Virgins-bower the several kinds thereof will be in flower most part of July and August they grow well with us and endure long easily increased by laying the branches these are commonly used to cover Arbours for which purpose they fitly serve but many of the young and small branches are apt to die in Winter which must be pruned in March and the nearer they are cut the fairer the flowers will be in Somer following The Maracoc bringeth forth his beautiful flowers in August and is more tender than the other the stalks die to the ground every Winter and spring again from the roots in May which must be covered and defended from extreme hard frosts in Winter the roots run far and come up in divers places whereby it may be much increased we usually plant them in large Pots in the richest Earth we can get which will stop the running of the roots be conveniently removed into a house in Winter and into the Sun in Somer for unless it stand in some hot place and the Somer be according it will not bear at all therefore to help it forward many with good success set the Pot with this Plant up to the top in a Hot bed where Melons or choice Annuals have been sowed as soon as they are taken off or removed CHAP. VI. HAving passed through those greater woody flower-bearing Trees Shrubs and Plants we will proceed to some lesser whose stalks like the last die to the ground in Winter and rise again from the roots at the Spring and then conclude with some small woody Plants that for the beauty of their flowers are preserved in our choicest Gardens Fraxinella flore rubente BAstard Dittany with a reddish flower riseth up with divers round hard woody brownish stalks about two foot high the lower parts whereof are furnished with many winged leaves resembling those of Liquorish or of a young Ash consisting of seven nine or eleven set together somewhat large and long finely purled about the edges of a sad green colour and strong resinous scent the upper part of the stalks are furnished with many flowers growing in a spike at distances one above another each containing five long leaves whereof four stand on the two sides bending upwards the fifth hanging down turning up again the end of a faint or pale red colour striped through every leaf with a deeper red having a tassel in the middle made of five or six long purplish threds that bow down with the lower leaf and turn up the ends again with a little freeze or thrum at the ends of each of them the flowers are succeeded by hard stiff clammy husks horned or pointed at the ends something like those of the Columbine but bigger rougher and harder wherein is contained round shining black seeds the root is white very large and spreading under ground the whole Plant throughout all the parts thereof hath that strong resinous scent not so pleasant to the Nose as the flowers are delightful to the Eye Fraxinella flore rubro BAstard Dittany with a red flower differeth from the former in that it is bigger in all the parts thereof the leaves of a darker green colour the flowers grow in a longer spike and of a deeper red colour of this kind there is another raised from the seeds of this whose flowers grow thicker on the stalk than any other kind and are of a deep bloudy red colour Flaxinella flore albo BAstard Dittany with a white flower hath the leaves and stalks of a fresher green colour than any of the former and the flowers white and not altogether so big in no other thing differing from the former Fraxinella flore albo caeruleo BAstard Dittany with an Ash-coloured flower differeth onely from the last in the colour of the flowers those of this being of a pale blue or Ash colour there is also another variety of this raised from the seeds of this kind which is lesser in all the parts thereof than any of the other and the flowers are of a bleak blue colour striped with a deeper blue or violet colour Having now done with the varieties of the stately though strong-scented Fraxinella we will conclude with a kind or two of sweet-smelling Cistus leaving the many other diversities to their natural habitations being Plants so tender that the trouble in keeping them would be more than the pleasure of having them Cistus mas THe male Cistus is a small shrubby Plant growing with us about three or four foot high having many slender brittle woody branches covered with a whitish bark whereon are set many long and something narrow whitish green leaves crumpled and something hard in handling two standing at every joynt the flowers come forth at the ends of the branches three or four together upon slender foot-foot-stalks each consisting of five small round leaves like unto a small single Rose of a fine reddish purple colour with many yellow threds in the middle which soon fall away and are succeeded by round hard hairy heads containing small brown seeds Cistus Ledon THe Gum Cistus riseth higher and spreadeth more than the former with many blackish woody branches whereon are set divers long narrow dark green leaves but whiter on the backsides standing two together at every joynt the stalk and leaves being bedewed with a clammy sweet moisture but much more in hot Countries than in ours which being artificially taken off is that black sweet Gum called Ladanum at the tops of the branches stand single white flowers larger than those of the former like single Roses with five leaves each having at the bottom a dark purplish spot broad below and pointed upwards with some yellow threds in the middle after the flowers are past cornered heads succeed wherein is contained small brownish seeds like those of the former The Fraxinella's are in flower about the end of June and continue most of July the seed is ready to gather about the end of August which will by the springing of the Pods be all lost unless care be taken to prevent it This is a hardy Plant and will endure many years without removing and yield many new Plants which in the beginning of March may be taken from the old root they are also raised from seeds sowed in rich earth as soon as the frosts are past in February from whence varieties may be raised especially from those of the deep red the white and the Ash colour The Cistus is raised from seeds and the Plants housed in Winter for they will not endure the cold air CHAP. VII HAving now done with all such Greens Flower-bearing Trees Shrubs and woody Plants that are of most beauty and esteem we will proceed to Flowers beginning with those vulgarly called French Flowers which are such as have either Scaly Bulbous
Grumous or Tuberous roots from whence the Leaves Stalks and Flowers do yearly spring most of them dying even to the very roots shortly after their flowering and first of Lilies and their kinds whereof there are many diversities the Martagons being of the same family out of all which I shall cull the best and purposely omit the rest as Vulgars not worthy entertainment the Crown Imperial is also a kind of Lily which although it be common and of small regard yet to follow the example of divers good Florists and to make way for some newer and nobler kinds thereof than were formerly known we will begin this Chapter of Lilies and Martagons therewith and so pass to the rest in order Corona Imperialis THe Crown Imperial hath a great round Fox-scented root from whence springeth up a tall and strong stalk garnished from the ground unto the middle thereof with many long shining green leaves from whence it is naked upwards bearing at the top a tuft of small green leaves and under them eight or ten flowers according to the age of the Plant hanging down round about the stalk in fashion like unto a Lily consisting of six leaves of an Orenge colour with many veins of a deeper colour on the backsides of the flowers next the stalks every leaf thereof hath a bunch or eminence of a sadder Orenge colour than the rest of the flowers and on the inside those bunches are filled with sweet-tasted clear drops of water like unto Pearls each flower having in the middle a stile compassed with six white chives tipt with yellow pendents Corona Imperialis flore multiplici THe double Crown Imperial is of later discovery and more esteem than the former and chiefly differeth from it in the flowers which in this are constantly double each flower containing fifteen or sixteen leaves whereas those of the other common kind have but six the leaves of these double flowers are narrower with a drop or Pearl at the head of each of them of the same colour with those of the common kind and as many flowers on one stalk The plant at first coming up is redder and contineth longer so than the ordinary The green leaves of darker colour and the tuft on the top above the flowers bigger and consisting commonly of more leaves This is a gallant plant deserving esteem although the other is now little regarded Corona Imperialis flore luteo THe yellow Crown Imperial differeth only from the first common kinde in that the flowers are of a fair yellow colour and now more rare than that with double flowers Corona Imperialis angustifolia flore rubente THe narrow-leaved Crown Imperial with a reddish flower differeth from the other single kinds in that the leaves are much narrower the flowers smaller and of a light red or pale Rose-colour Lilium Persicum THe Persian Lily hath a root like unto that of the Crown Imperial but longer smaller and whiter from whence springeth up a round whitish green stalk beset from the bottom to the middle thereof with many long and narrow whitish green leaves from whence to the top stand many small flowers hanging down their heads each containing six leaves of a dead or over-worn purple colour with a pointill and chives in the middle tipt with yellow pendents The Crown Imperial flowereth in the end of March or beginning of April and the Persian Lily almost a moneth after it they are both increased by assets that come from the old roots which lose their fibres every year and therefore they may be taken up after the stalks are drie which will be in June and kept out of the ground untill August they may be set in borders or corners of large knots among ordinary Tulips and other flowers that lose their fibres that they may be taken up together the Crown Imperial especially that with double flowers is an excellent ornament in the middle of a large Flower-pot among Daffodills Tulips Anemonies Hyacinthes and other flowers of that season the Persian Lily is a flower of small beauty and onely received for variety the dull and heavy colour serving to set off and cause others to seem the more glorious Lilium Rubrum THe red Lily is a vulgar flower and many sorts thereof common in every Country-womans Garden the which are seldom accepted by any Florists There are three other kinds which are of some regard in respect they bear fairer flowers than any of the other common sorts we will insert those only and pass over the rest as regardless plebeans not worth mentioning Lilium Cruentum bulbiferum THe fiery red bulbed Lily riseth up from a great white scaly root as all the Lilies have with a strong tall stalk set with many long dark-green leaves and at the top adorned with many fair large flowers each composed of six broad thick leaves of a fiery red colour at the tops and towards the bottoms of an Orenge-colour with small black specks bearing among the flowers and along the stalk divers bulbes like little roots which being set in time will bring forth flowers like unto those of the original Lilium Rubrum flore pleno THe double red Lily is like unto the former in root stalk and leaves but without bulbes not so big nor of so dark a green colour it commonly beareth many Orenge-coloured single flowers on one stalk with many small brown specks on the insides thereof and some times but one fair double flower as if the leaves of many flowers were united in one which although it be but accidental yet it hapneth in this kind more frequently than in any other red Lily for if you have many roots of this sort you will always have some double flowers and many more in some years than in others Lilium Luteum THe yellow Lily is like the last double Lily but taller and bigger the flowers are many on one stalk and wholly of a fine Gold-yellow colour this is more esteemed than any of the former Lilium Album THe white Lily affordeth three diversities two besides the common kinde which are of more estimation than any of the red Lilies and for the beauty of the one and rarity of the other deserve to be regarded Lilium Album vulgare THe common white Lily is so well known that it needeth no description it hath a scaly root bigger and yellower than those of the red Lily the stalk is tall the leaves broad and long of a fresh green colour the flowers are six or eight on one stalk in an old plant but fewer in the younger which in fashion are like those of the former but turning back the points of the leaves which are of an excellent pure white colour with a pointell and white chives in the middle tipt with yellow pendents Lilium Album Byzantinum THe white Lily of Constantinople differeth from the common white Lily in that it is smaller in all the parts thereof and beareth more flowers usually twenty or thirty on one stalk which many times will
of a whitish green colour like that of the Tulip with some small bulbs growing sometimes on the ends of the leaves but commonly betwixt them and on the stalk neer the ground which being set will produce a plant of the same kind the stalk riseth up a yard high naked round and smooth bearing a great umbel or tuft of small star-like purplish flowers upon equal foot-foot-stalks which continue long before they decay The root is very great white and of the smell of Garlick Moly Indicum sive Caucafon THe Indian Moly hath leaves like the former but shorter and broader the stalk riseth up not so high as the leaves without any flowers but onely bearing a cluster of reddish scaly bulbs each as big as an Acorn standing on foot-stalks which being set will bring a Plant of the same kind the root is great and white covered with a dark-coloured coat and increaseth but little under ground Moly montanum Pannonicum THe Moly of Hungary is of two sorts the first hath three or four broad long green leaves which are carried up with the stalk a foot high one above another having at the top some sad reddish bulbs and between them long foot-stalks with flowers of the fashion of those of Homers Moly and of a pale purple-colour the root is small but very apt to increase the second Moly of Hungary is like the first but that the green leaves are smaller and the stalk beareth a greater cluster of dark green bulbs the flowers are like those of the first in fashion colour and manner of growing and the root is covered with a dark purple coat Moly Serpentinum SErpents Moly is like the former but of much more beauty and regard for that the bulbs on the head of the stalk are redder the stalk lower and the small green leaves twine and crawl from whence it took the name the flowers that grow among the bulbs are more beautiful than those of either of the two former and the scent not so strong the root is small and round increasing into many small round roots no bigger than a small Pease Moly montanum flore luteo THe yellow Moly hath two long broad leaves when it will flower otherwise but one of the colour and near of the bigness of those of the Tulip between which cometh up a slender stalk bearing at the top a tuft of yellow star-like flowers greenish on the back and with yellow threads in the middle the root is whitish apt to increase and smelleth strong of Garlick as the flowers and leaves do also Moly montanum latifolium Hispanicum THe Spanish purple Moly hath two long broad leaves like the last described betwixt which the stalk riseth up two foot high bearing at the top many star-like flowers of a fine delayed purple colour with threads of the same colour tipt with yellow near the ground it yieldeth bulbs by which it may be easily increased this hath no scent of Garlick in any part Moly pyxidatum argenteum Hispanicum THe Spanish silver-cupped Moly hath two or three long rush-like leaves which pass away when the stalk is risen up to his height which will be three foot or more bearing a great head of flowers which after some time spread much open the flowers grow on long foot-stalks of a silver-colour with lines on both sides the leaves in fashion small and hollow like a cup the root is white and cleer and not very apt to increase and without any ill scent in any part thereof Moly Dioscorideum DIoscorides his Moly hath a small transparent root covered with a thick yellowish skin from whence springeth up three or four narrow Grassy leaves with a stalk a foot and half high bearing at the top a tuft of milk-white flowers like unto those of Ramsons with little or no scent of Garlick There is another of this sort that is lesser and the leaves of the flowers rounder pointed these and the yellow are the most common of all the kinds of Moly Moly Muscatum Monspeliense THe sweet Moly of Montpelier hath four or five small leaves no bigger than bents with a stalk about a foot high bearing many small star-like white flowers which if the end of Somer be hot and dry smell like Musk or Civet the root is small very tender and must be carefully defended from Frosts in Winter Homers Moly flowereth in May and continueth untill July the Indian Moly beareth the head of bulbs in June and July and all the rest flower about the same time except the last whose time is late in September These lose their fibres and may be taken up after the stalks are dry and the biggest roots preserved to set again casting away the small off-sets wherewith many of them are very apt to be pestred especially if they stand long unremoved they are all hardy and will thrive in any soil except those whose tenderness is expressed in the description the flowers of most of them are neither fair nor sweet and onely preserved by those that affect varieties their best use is to adorn flower-pots where they will continue if the water be renewed a long time and set off other flowers of the same season being placed among them There are some others of this family not worth mentioning for those described are enough if not too many unless they were of a more worthy generation CHAP. XIV Asphodelus THe Asphodill for that it beareth star-like flowers is next to be described there are some few diversities of them of which we will take the best onely and leave the rest as neither worth collecting nor retaining Asphodelus major albus ramosus THe great white branched Asphodill hath many crawling hollow three-square leaves sharp-pointed lying on the ground about the root the stalk from the middest of them riseth round smooth and naked divided at the top into many branches more or less according to the age of the Plant bearing many star-like flowers consisting of six leaves whitish on the inside with some yellow threads in the middle and stripped with a pale purple line down the back of every leaf the root is composed of many thick cloggs biggest in the middle and smaller at both ends fastened together at the head of a grayish dark colour on the outside and yellow within Asphodelus albus non ramosus THe white unbranched Asphodill is like the former but that the stalk is without branches and the flowers whiter without any line or stripe on the back sides of the leaves the cloggs of the roots are smaller and fewer than those of the other Asphodelus major flore carneo THe blush-coloured Asphodill differeth from the last in that the leaves are a little spotted and the flowers of a blush-colour which causeth it to be more esteemed Asphodelus major flore albo striato THe great white striped Asphodill hath many long and broad green leaves which for the most part lye on the ground the stalk riseth up smooth like the white unbranched Asphodill with many
the middle and a long feathered topt pointell the green leaves succeed the flowers sometimes appearing before Winter but most usually not untill the Spring the root is small and white like that of the lesser purple Crocus montanus Autumnalis THe Autum mountain Crocus springeth later than any of the former about the end of October with three or four short green leaves and after them the flowers which are of a pale bleak blew colour standing on short foot-foot-stalks scarcely appearing above ground at the first but afterwards grow a little higher the root is great with a flat bottom covered with a dark-gray coat and increasing very little These are all the Autumn kinds hitherto discovered those of the Spring are in flower one after another and many of the best together from the middle of February unto the middle of March the Duke Crocus and those with netted roots being commonly the first and the greatest purple the last those of Autumn flower from the beginning of September to the end of October one after another in order as they stand described All these several sorts of Crocus both of the Spring and Autumn lose their fibres with their leaves and may then be taken up and kept dry those of Autumn until August and of the Spring untill October they are hardy and will prosper in any place the Vernal increase exceedingly if they stand any time unremoved as the true Saffron doth which is taken up every third year the other Autumnal increase very little the best place to plant Spring Crocus is close up to a wall or pale or on the edges of boarded borders round about the Garden mingling the colours of those of a season together as the whites with the purples the best Cloth of Gold with the Royal the deep purple feathered with the lighter and so of the rest by observation most of them may be distinguished by the roots and so placed according to the fancy of the Planter but the fore-mentioned places are the best for that few other flowers appear untill they are past for should they be set among Tulips as some use to do the Grassy leaves after the flowers are gone would more trouble and disgrace the place than the flowers did delight and adorn it many more varieties than are yet discovered may be raised from the seeds of the best of these being sowed in September and every other year in July removed and set wider untill they bear flowers mak ng the ground light and rich into which they are transplanted which will be a great addition unto them CHAP. XVIII Iris bulbosa THe bulbous Flower-de-luce is of two sorts the one bigger and the other lesser in all the parts thereof the first is called Iris bulbosa latifolia the broad-leaved bulbous Iris or Flower-de-luce whereof there are many fine varieties the other is called Iris bulbosa tenuifolia the narrow-leaved bulbous Flower-de-luce of which there are more diversities than in the former but most of them of less esteem Before we proceed to the descriptions of these there are two other sorts of Flower-de-luces deserve to be mentioned and first that called Iris bulbosa prima Clusii latifolia THe first great bulbous Flower-de-luce of Clusins before the long broad flaggy thin green leaves rise up to half their height or length putteth forth two or three flowers from the middle of them standing on short weak foot-stalks each flower consisting of nine leaves as all Flower-de-luces do whereof those three that stand upright are short and closed together the three that fall down turn up the ends and the three arched leaves which in other Flower-de-luces cover the bottoms of them stand up parted into two ends in some white but in most of a sky-colour with a long stripe in each of the three falling leaves and all these diversities have been found in this flower although there be but one kinde thereof altering in colour according to the nourishment it receiveth as it hapneth in divers other Plants After the flowers are past the green leaves grow longer the root is somthing big round and white covered with brown skins having two or three long thick roots growing under it from whence many small fibres shoot into the ground Iris Persica THe Persian Iris or Flower-de-luce cometh up with one two or three flowers according to the age of the Plant as soon as the green leaves begin to appear above the ground which after the flowers are past grow broad long and flaggy like those of the former the flowers stand on weak short foot-stalks composed of nine leaves the three that turn down are of a pale sky-colour with a large spot of brown purple almost black on the ends thereof with another spot of deep yellow above it streaming along the middle of these leaves under the arches with many small spots of the same dark purple-colour on both the sides thereof the three arched leaves that cover the lower part of the falling leaves are of the same pale sky-colour with the ridge but a little blewer and the ends parted in two pieces and turned up the three other leaves which in other Flower-de-luces stand up and are called the top leaves in this are very small and turn down towards the stalk of the same pale sky-colour that is in the arched leaves the root is like that of the former The first is said to flower in its natural Country in January and February but with us not untill April and most usually in May the other flowereth with us in the end of February or beginning of March The first is a tender Plant and must be planted in a warm place and defended from Frosts in Winter the other is more hardy and will grow and bear flowers plentifully in any good soil after the leaves are dryed down and about the time that Tulips are taken up the roots of these may be removed but in the taking of them up care must be had that the long roots that grow under the bulb be not broken they may be kept dry untill September and then parted and planted again in good rich earth and in a warm place where they may stand three years unremoved but if you take them up every other year they will bear the better Iris bulbosa major sive Anglica caerulea THe English blew bulbous Flower-de-luce riseth up with five or six big thick long leaves crested on the back and hollow on the other side blunt at the ends and of a whitish green colour out of the middle whereof the stalk riseth about two foot high bearing at the top out of a thin skinny hose one and sometimes two flowers composed of nine leaves three turned downwards longer and broader than any of the other each having a yellow spot about the middle of the broadest part of the leaf as in all others of this kind that follow it hath three other small and arched leaves covering the lower parts of the falling leaves turning up the ends
fashion to the Gladiolus or Corn-flag of a bright crimson colour after the flowers the seeds are contained in three-square heads which are round and black of the bigness of a Pease it hath a great white tuberous root full of knobs whereby it aptly increaseth There is of this kind another differing onely in the colour of the flowers which in this are yellow with reddish spots These Plants must be set in large Boxes in good earth often watered and housed in Winter for one nights Frost will destroy them Ficus Indica minor THe Indian Fig with us consisteth of leaves onely one springing out of another proceeding from one leaf put half into the earth which taketh root and puts out others these leaves are a finger thick flat and round-pointed of a pale green colour with a shew at the first of brown prickles on the upper-side at the tops of the leaves in June break out the flowers which are composed of two rows of pale yellow leaves with a yellow thrum tipt with red in the middle after the flowers are past the head they stood on grows bigger in form of a Fig but never comes to any perfection with us There is another of this kinde that hath bigger and much larger leaves but will not endure our cold Winters for the lesser kind is planted in Pots or Tubs and housed in Winter or else the Frosts will rot and destroy it CHAP. XXXI Auricula Ursi BEars Ears are nobler kinds of Cowslips and now much esteemed in respect of the many excellent varieties thereof of late years discovered differing in the size fashion and colour of the green leaves as well as flowers the which we will list under these colours namely purple red or scarlet yellow or Buff-colour snow or milk-white and acquaint you with so many fine diversities in each of them as may be sufficient to stock a Florists Garden who from their seeds handled according to the following directions may raise many new varieties Auricula flore purpureo THe purple Auricula is of divers sorts some deeper and some lighter we will begin with that best known commonly called the fair Downham from whose seeds many good flowers have been raised this hath many green leaves somewhat long and mealy narrow from the bottom to the middle and broader by degrees almost to the ends which are something round and striped about the edges out of the middle of the leaves and from the sides of them the stalks spring up five or six inches high bearing at the top many flowers of a fine bright murrey or reddish purple colour each flower consisting of five small leaves parted at the ends with a white circle or eye in the middle standing in small cups wherein after the flowers are fallen appear small round heads with a prick in the middle containing small brown seeds the root hath many long white strings like unto those of the Primrose or Cowslip This description may serve for all the rest with such additions as may distinguish the difference or need exceptions This was one of the first good flowers of this kind that we had and takes the name from the first owner my very good friend Mr. John Downham a reverent Divine and an industrious Florist from whom many years since I had this and divers other fine flowers Mr. Good 's purple Auricula is a strong Plant with large leaves a big tall stalk bearing a great Truss of many fair fine rich purple flowers with snow-white eyes that will not wash yellow with rain as some do but abide white to the last this noble kind was raised by Mr. Austen in Oxford and given to Mr. John Good of Balioll College whose now it is there called Mistris Buggs her fine purple was raised by her in Battersey neer London it is like the former in all the parts but that the great head of flowers stands more erect of a deeper purple and broader white eyes Mr. Whitmores purple is also a very good flower fair and large many on one stalk of a lighter purple than any of the former with fair white eyes this was raised by my worthy friend William Whitmore of Balmes near Hodgsden Esquire who was pleased the last Spring to give me a Plant thereof Purple Fransway is another good flower it beareth a great truss of rich shining purple flowers with very large white eyes The black Imperial may be reckoned with the purples it hath small leaves and a short stalk but beareth many fair flowers close set together of so dark a purple colour that without much error it may be called black with fair snow-white eyes this was raised in Oxford Rickets sable Auricula is like the last onely a little bigger in all the parts but of as black a colour with fair white eyes this was lately raised by Mr. Rickets of Hogsden often remembred the best and most faithful Florist now abouts London The purple striped Auricula is small in all the parts hath a weak low stalk bearing four or five purple flowers striped with white The purpled and Lemon-coloured striped Auricula is a much bigger and stronger Plant than the last the stalk is stiff but not tall bearing often eight or ten flowers which are Lemon-colour striped with reddish purple this was also raised by Mistris Buggs before mentioned and is a flower of good esteem There are divers other good purples which have been raised from seeds by my self and others and every year produceth new varieties not to be confined within any limits Auricula flore rubro sive coccineo THe Red or scarlet-colour Auricula is of divers sorts one of the best I know is called Mistris Austins scarlet it hath large leaves a strong upright stalk bearing a great truss of fine scarlet flowers with snow-white eyes divers other excellent flowers have been raised in Oxford by Mr. Jacob Bobert keeper of the publike Garden There are divers sorts of reds inclining to scarlet some redder and some yellower than others some with large flowers and many on one stalk with white or pale yellow eyes upon many of which several fantastical names by those that raised them have been imposed as the Fair Virgin the Matron the Alderman Mercury and the other Planets the Cow the Red Bull c. There are some raised from seeds that are crimson others carnation and one by my self that beareth a great truss of large blood-red flowers with fair white eyes Besides these there are raised from seeds infinite other varieties of Rose-colours Blushes Cinamon and other fine colours those whose flowers are of new and strange colours with white eyes that will not wash are chiefly to be marked out and preserved Auricula flore luteo THe yellow Auricula is of small esteem those that bear the largest flowers the biggest truss of the deepest yellow colour and white eyes are most regarded but the more ordinary sorts are commonly cast away as I have done above fourty in one year that came of seeds but
the end thereof then cover it which being shaded for some time and watered if the ground be any thing good will grow and prosper very well and certainly this is the best and most absolute way to raise double stocks of any kind that hath been practised by any and in the like manner you may cut and set slips of the best Wall-flowers Gilliflowers or of any other woody Plant that will grow of slips a pretty practice for Ladies and Gentlewomen for whose sakes chiefly it is here inserted they may also be increased by laying the slips after the manner of Gilliflowers CHAP. XXXVI Hesperis sive Viola Matronalis DAmes Violet or Queens Gilliflower is a common Plant growing plentifully in every Country-womans Garden and by them called Close Siences of which they have two sorts one bearing pale blush and the other white flowers both single consisting of four leaves onely but we have three nobler varieties of this flower worthy to be received into the choicest Gardens the first of them and most known is called Hesperis flore pleno albo THe double white Queens Gilliflower is in all parts so like the common single kinde except the flowers that I need to set down onely their differences those of this are very many on one branch and one stalk often times hath many branches of flowers which stand close and thick together commonly in a long spike each flower being thick and double of a pure white colour and delicate sweet scent especially in the evening for which property it is called Hesperis Hesperis flore pleno purpurascente THe double purplish Queens Gilliflower differeth in nothing from the former but in the colour of the flowers those of this being as many on one stalk or branch as thick and double and of the same scent but of a fine pleasant light reddish purple-colour deeper than that of the common single kind and of newer date than the double white Hesperis flore pleno variegata THe double striped Queens Gilliflower is in all parts like the last but that the flowers which are of the same purplish colour are finely striped with white and therefore more esteemed than either of the other of this sort we have one that beareth single striped flowers respected for the seeds sake which sowed may produce varieties They flower from May to the end of July and are easily raised for almost any slip or branch thereof set in the ground shaded and watered will grow onely the nipping of the buds for flowers from such new set Plants as soon as they appear would not be neglected the single kinds will seed from which the double sorts have been raised CHAP. XXXVII Ptarmica flore pleno aliis DOuble Pellitory and others for in this Chapter I shall give you several Plants that bear double white flowers and although they be of several families I have joyned them together for that each of them would scarce deserve a particular Chapter and all of them bear pretty flowers and are entertained for variety in most Florists Gardens the double wild Pellitory hath tall slender stalks set with long narrow green leaves snipt about the edges like unto the single that grow wild in the fields bearing at the top of the stalk many small double white flowers the roots are composed of many long white strings which run in the ground and spring up in divers places whereby it is very apt to be increased Parthenium flore pleno DOuble Featherfew is in all things like unto the common single kind well known unto all the onely difference is in the flowers which of this are very thick and double being white and something yellow in the middle this is increased by setting the slips that run not up to flower in the end of August Chamaemelum flore pleno DOuble Camomill is like the ordinary but that the green leaves are of a fresher green colour and larger the flowers of this also are larger and very double being white with some yellowness in the middle this is more tender than the common kind and must yearly be renued by setting young slips thereof in the Spring Cotula flore pleno DOuble Dogy-fenel hath many small deep dark green leaves bearing at the tops of the branches divers broad spread double white flowers without scent the root is composed of many small strings and increased by setting the slips in the end of August nipping of the buds for flowers as soon as any appear Cardamine flore pleno DOuble Lady Smocks hath many winged leaves lying on the ground like those of the wild kind from whence many small stalks come forth bearing many double white flowers the small stringy roots creep in the ground and come up in divers places Bellis flore pleno DOuble Daisies are of divers sorts and some of them for variety entertained in good Gardens the chiefest are the greater white the all-red the great red and white the childing Daysie the abortive naked double green Daysie and divers other varieties there are scarce worthy naming they all flower in April and may be easily increased by parting the roots in the Spring or Autumn if they stand too much in the Sun unless often watered it will soon scorch and destroy them CHAP. XXXVIII Caryophilbus hortensis GIlliflowers are the pride of Somer as Tulips are the glories of the Spring all those now in esteem are such as in Holland and Flanders have been raised from seeds which is the cause they are so frail and apt to perish after they have born flowers we had heretofore many good kinds that were not seedlings but few of them now to be found in any of our Gardens Of these Dutch flowers I have known more than a hundred distinct varieties by several names all of them fair large thick and double flowers well striped flaked marbled or powdered with white or blush either upon darker or lighter red crimson or carnation sadder or brighter purple deeper or paler Scarlet and white so that all the best varieties now in being may be comprehended under these three sorts that is red and white purple and white and scarlet and white in all which colours there are many fine varieties the which we will insert under those names by which they are generally received and known beginning with a dozen of the best in every sort the rest being all very good flowers but indeed there is no end of these seed-flowers every year producing new varieties and perhaps within two or three years few of those now in esteem left for commonly the Plants after they have born flowers die in Winter a property common to most seedlings To describe every particular flower would be tedious and to small purpose in respect of their frailty therefore I conceive the naming the best in every sort will be sufficient to inform those that desire to collect them which done we shall further enlarge touching their propagation culture planting and preservation Gilliflowers red and white GHarles
hairy tufts of a reddish purple colour which are divided into several parts wherein when full ripe great store of small white seeds is contained this is an old flower and common called by some Country women Love lies a bleeding we have now of this kind some other varieties that differ chiefly in the tufts or flowers some bigger others lesser some purple mixed with green others wholy of a whitish green colour they are hardy sowed in April will flower in the end of July and perish with the first frosts Amaranthuus purpureus minor THe lesser purple Flower Gentle cometh up with yellowish green leaves a little reddish something broad at the stalk and sharp pointed the stalk set with these leaves riseth about two foot high branched at the top and bearing flowers which are long soft and gentle tufts of hairs many standing close together in form of a Pyramis of an excellent rich deep shining murrey purple colour which it will retain after it is gathered many moneths the seeds of this as of all the rest are small black and shining and the roots perish as those of the former Amaranthus diversorum colorum FLower Gentles of divers colours do little differ from the last either in leaves stalks or seeds only as their flowers are of deeper or lighter colours so are the leaves paler green and lesser red than other the chiefest difference is in the flowers which are not only of many several colours but notably differing in form of growing some with one spike others with many some round and others more flat and divided into divers parts the colours most common to these flowers are purple scarlet and gold-colour in some deeper in others lighter or paler in very great variety and in all exceeding bright and shining fine flowers to be set in pots to supply the place of Gilliflowers these coming to flower as soon as they are past and with the great African Marigold make a gallant shew in a Garden Amaranthus tricolor FLower Gentle of three colours differeth from the former in that the leaves are in some hot years parted into three colours namely green red and yellow the flowers small and of no esteem the whole beauty of the plant being in the marking of the leaves the seeds like those of the former and the root as soon perishing They flower usually in August but some years not untill late in September therefore that they may flower betimes and perfect their seeds sow the seeds in a hot bed about the middle of March after the plants are come up and have gotten some strength make a new hot bed and after the violent heat is past take them up with earth about them and set them therein about the beginning of May transplant them where they may stand to bear flowers the place must be open to the Sun and the foil light and rank and often watered Thus by removing them from one hot bed to another it will cause them to thrive and not only afford you many gallant flowers but store of good seeds which will continue good three or four years so to prevent wanting you may reserve a quantity from year to year for indeed no good Garden would be unfurnished with these beautiful flowers the chiefest and most deserving esteem of all the annuals or seed-flowers Helichrysum sive Amaranthus luteus THe golden Flower Gentle or Goldy locks is a stranger in our Countrey it will neither be raised from seeds or live if the Plants should be procured out of the hotter Countreys yet I have seen two sorts thereof in flower in London many years since they came up with small stalks thinly set with narrow long whitish green leaves bearing at the ends of the stalks many small double gold-yellow flowers in the one round and in the other bigger and flat at the top both keeping their colour and not shedding their leaves many moneths after they are gathered as I have seen in divers dry Plants these and the Cats-foot or Cotton weeds grow wild in some parts of Italy Candy and other hot Countreys but will not live with us CHAP. x. Delphinium LArks-heels are ofseveral sorts as well double as single yet there is but one kind worth the preserving which is that called Delphinium elatius flora pleno DOuble upright Larks-heels have small jagged leaves tall upright stalks branched at the top and bearing many fine double flowers in form like to the Rose-Colombine in several Plants of sundry entire colours as purple blew Ash-colour Rose-colour pale blush or white these are the most usual colours yet sometimes some roots will bring flowers that are striped and variegated with blew end white and often with some leaves blew and others purple after the flowers are past the seeds are contained in small horned pods which are black and round the which being sowed will bring some Plants with single but most with double flowers the roots perish in Winter They flower according to the time of sowing them sooner or later in July or August but I have often had Plants that have come up from seeds fallen out of the pods before Winter which have continued and born fair double flowers in June following and furnished me with much good seed The usual time to sow these seeds is the beginning of April but to get good seeds which is a chief consideration in these Plants I usually sow some as soon as they are ripe in some place where they may be defended from long frosts in Winter and one of these Winter plants is worth ten of those raised in the Spring and will yield more good seed yet in some kindly Somers those of the Spring will seed reasonable well Next unto these two other Plants are ranked in respect their flowers resemble the single Larks-heels the first is called Nasturtium Indicum INdian Cresses or yellow Larks-heels spread into many long trayling branches four or five foot long which unless supported lie on the ground and take up much room the leaves are smooth and round the flowers of a fair yellow colour in fashion something like a single Larks-heel but the leaves stand plainer and some of them are streaked with red the flower is so well known that I need not to be curious in describing it for few Gardens of any note are without it the seeds are rough and uneaven falling of themselves and gathered off the ground and preserved for the root dies in Winter The flowers come forth in July and the Plant continues flowring until it be checked by frosts the seeds are sowed in April and if they be ripe and good are apt enough to come up and the trayling branches as they grow may be led upon a pack-thred fastened unto sticks into what form you please or they may be bound to rods stuck in the earth that they may not ly on the ground The other Plant wherewith we will conclude this Chapter is called Balsamina foemina THe female Balsam-Apple hath a thick reddish stalk
smaller in all the parts than the former the leaves of a fresher green and almost round three growing together close to the stalks the middlemost biggest the Flowers are like those of the former of the same season and the Cods small and hairy at the ends both these Plants are aptly increased either by Seeds or Suckers Colutea vesicaria THe great bastard Sena with bladders hath a stock sometimes as big as a mans Arm divided into many branches set with winged leaves like those of Lycoris the Flowers come forth in May like those of Broom but of a paler yellow colour after which appear clear thin transparent bladders containing black seeds Colutea Scorpioides major THe greater Scorpion poded bastard Sena is lower and lesser in all the parts than the former and chiefly differeth in that the bladders which succeed the Flowers are distinguished into many divisions like unto a Scorpions tail containing small seeds this and the former are raised from Seeds Suckers Layers or Cuttings Spartum Hispanicum SPanish Broom hath a woody stalk divided into many small long green twigs with small long green leaves which soon fall away and leave the twigs naked the Flowers come forth in May towards the top of the branches like those of common Broom but larger the Cods are long and small containing brown flat seeds by which this Plant may be increased as also by Suckers Nux vesicaria THe bladder Nut if pruned up and kept from Suckers will grow to be six foot high the bark is whitish and the leaves like unto those of Elder the Flowers white and sweet many hanging down on a long stalk after them greenish bladders each containing one smooth small Nut with a green Kernel it is too apt to send forth Suckers and thereby to be increased Sambucus Rosea THe Gilder Sose riseth six or more foot high spreading into many branches with broad leaves divided into three Sections at the tops of the young branches comes forth a round ball of many single white Flowers close set together it flowers in May with the Pionies which placed together in Chimneys or Windowes make a fine shew the Plant is hardy and of long lasting increased by Suckers which will soon bear Flowers Syringa flore albo THe white Syringa or Pipe Tree never riseth tall but groweth in a bush with many small branches and divers Suckers from the root the leaves stand two at a joynt which are ragged crumpled a little pointed and dented about the edges the Flowers in May come forth at the ends of the Branches many together consisting of four white leaves with yellow thrids in the middle it is easily increased being too apt to put forth Suckers Lylac sive Syringa flore caeruleo THe blue Syringa or Pipe-Tree is so common that it needeth no description especially the ordinary kind with blue Flowers but there are three other sorts more rare which chiefly differ in the colour of the Flowers those of the one being Snow white another Silver colour that is white with a light wash of blew the third hath larger Shoots grows more upright and beareth more and much fairer Flowers on one branch than any of the former and of a fair purple colour they all flower in April and must yearly be discharged of Suckers else they will choak the tree and cause it to die or not bring forth Flowers this said I need not tell you how this Plant is increased they are all hardy Plants except the white which is more tender and would be Planted on a Wall Paliurus CHrists Thorn riseth in some places five or six foot high with many slender branches set with broad and round leaves veined and a little pointed also thick set with small Thorns the Flowers are small and yellow many together on a long stalk which in Palestine its natural place but not with us are succeeded by round flat shelly fruit covered with a fleshy skin including two or three small hard brown and flat seeds this Thorn is much esteemed for its rarity but especially for the name being that as is supposed wherewith our Saviour was crowned and is increased by laying the Branches Rhus Mrytifolia THe Myrtle-leaved Sumach riseth yearly from the Root with many small branches sometimes four or five foot high set with winged leaves like those of the broader-leaved Myrtle on each side a middle rib at the tops of the Branches come forth divers Flowers consisting of many purple thrids which turn into small black Berries containing small Seeds whereby as also by parting the Roots new Plants are raised Rhus Virginiana THe Virginian Sumach or Bucks-horn tree groweth in some places six foot high the young branches are of a reddish brown colour handling like Velvet resembling the Velvet head of a Buck yielding milk if cut or broken the Leaves are many set on each side of a middle rib snipt about the edges at the ends of the Branches come forth long and thick brown tufts made of many soft and woolly thrums among which appear many small Flowers much redder than the tufts which yield small Seeds the Root putteth forth many Suckers whereby it is increased Hedera Virginiana THe Virginian Ivy riseth up with divers small stems divided into many long weak branches which set against a Wall will fasten thereunto with small claws like a Birds foot and climb to the top of a tall Chimney the Leaves at first are red and crumpled but after fair and green divided into five six or more leaves standing together upon a small foot-foot-stalk set without order the Flowers with us only appear in bud but never open the Roots run on the top of the ground and by cutting some of them from the stock and turning up the ends new Plants may be raised Tamarix THe Tamarisk Tree is well known to most persons in some places by long standing it groweth tall and great though commonly with small and weak branches the red Shoots set with small short hairy soft green leaves which fall away in Winter this is of little beauty or esteem but there is another of this kind more rare in respect the leaves are wholly white and abide so constantly from year to year this as the other is increased by Suckers or Layers Larix THe Lanch-tree with us groweth slowly and to be found in few places it hath a rugged bark and boughs that branch in good order with divers small yellowish bunched eminences set thereon at several distances from whence tufts of many small long and narrow smooth leaves do yearly come forth it beareth among the green leaves many beautiful flowers which are of a fine crimson colour and in its natural place succeeded by small Cones like Cypress-nuts whereby new Plants are raised being hardly increased any other way Of all these flower-bearing and beautiful Trees I have placed this Larch-tree the last in respect it is the rarest and although it falleth the leaves in Winter nearest in nature to those ever-green Trees that are
Repetition in this place to inform such as are to learn how these several Operations are to be performed And first for the laying of Gilliflowers make choice of such Slips as are strongest and fittest to lay prune the sides and ends of the top-leaves and under the middlemost joynt cut the stalk half through and slit the same upwards to the next joynt make a hole in the Earth something wide and gently bend it down thereinto with a small hooked stick to keep it from rising then turn up the head of the Slip that the slit may open in which posture hold it with one hand and earth it up with the other pressing it down to keep the Slip upright lastly water it Now there are some good Slips that grow so far from the ground that they cannot be laid therein in this case we make use of small Pots with a slit in the one side through which we draw the prepared Slip into the Pot holding it down and covering the slit with a thin plate of Lead provided for the purpose bending the upper end over the edge of the Pot to stay it turning up the Slip and filling the Pot with fine rich Earth pressed down to keep it from rising These Slips Pots and all other Slips laid must be often watered which will cause them to get roots the sooner The best time for laying of Gilliflowers is from the middle of June to the same time in July the sooner the better provided the Slips be well grown hard enough to endure cutting and bending down In the beginning of September you may take them off with Earth about them and set them in Beds or Pots filled with good Earth before prepared place these Pots in the shade and sometimes gently water them but take heed of too much wet lest it rot the small fibres and so destroy the young Plants which for prevention of great Rains ought to be sheltered with a shelf of thin Boards provided for the purpose which place not too near them that they may not want air Now for the laying of Roses Gasmines Jreens and other woody Plants after directed to be raised by Layers make choice of such a Launce or Branch as may easily be bended to the ground those Shoots of the same year are best and root soonest cut it half through on the under-side at a knot or joynt if it have any then slit the same upward two or three inches long and prick the Bark thorough with a blunt-pointed Awl in divers places about the slit take off the tops of all laid Plants except Greens then make a wide hole to hook it down and proceed as in Gilliflowers In such Plants as are unapt to root bind the upper end of the slit very hard with a Packthred or Wier which will stop the sap and hasten the effect desired and fail not to put some rank Earth about the place layed The best time to lay Greens or indeed any other Plants is about the middle of August that they may prepare for rooting at the Spring these Layers having passed a year in the ground will be ready to be taken off and if you find them well rooted it will be seasonable to remove them otherwise they may stay a year longer All Layers must be frequently watered which will cause them to root the better Cuttings are to be taken as soon as the Sap begins to rise and cut sloping from a knot or joynt at the lower end like a Deers foot and left about a foot long make a deep Trench and lay them therein a little sloping fill the Trench with good Earth pressed down something hard within two fingers of the smaller ends All Plants that will grow of Cutting will root sooner being layed but Cuttings of such Plants as we have not our selves may be had of others and in that case chiefly to be used These Cuttings must be often watered as the former As for Budding or Inoculating of Roses it is performed after the same manner as that of Fruits where among the several ways of Grafting you will find ample direction for the doing thereof When you are to make a Hot Bed cast all your Horse-dung and wet Litter on a heap in a corner of the Stable that is of a fortnights gathering more or less according to your store then in the place where you intend to make it knock in four Stakes which must be left a yard at least above ground place them at the corners so that the Bed may be four foot broad and of what length you please then lay the Horse-dung with the wet Litter betwixt the Stakes suitably not more short dung in one place than another untill you have rais'd it two foot high which tread down hard all over and let not one place be softer than another then in the same manner raise it two foot higher which tread down as the former and so proceed untill you have raised the Bed a full yard high after it is hard trodden which done knock in more Stakes about it beat up the sides close and wrap it about with large ropes of Hay or long Litter two wreaths above the dung then take some of the Earth of an old hot Bed or of the best in your Kitchin-garden and sift it which lay on your Bed four inches thick arch it over with small Poles and cover it with Mats Hair-cloth or Canvas which will cause it to heat in four or five days then give it air and when the violent heat is over sow your Seeds and cover the Bed again the next day if you find the Bed over hot give it more air if too cold cast some Straw on the covering untill the heat return which by thrusting your finger into the Earth you may find whether too hot or cold and by this means by airing and covering you may keep the Bed in a constant temper which should be warm rather than hot When the Seeds come up give them air to dry the moisture raised by the heat of the Bed and for your choicest Seeds cover them from the Sun with Glasses raised to give them air and some part of the day take them off to acquaint the young Seedlings with the Sun by degrees which grown strong take up and plant in rich Earth in your Garden but keep them from the mid-day Sun untill they are well setled in their new lodging We shall now give you some Draughts for Gardens and then proceed to acquaint you with our Plants and Flowers CHAP. I. Laurus THE Bay-tree among the Greens for many special properties may challenge Priority and therefore we will begin with some noble kinds thereof omitting that common Bay wherewith all are so well acquainted and fix that ever fresh and flourishing Fruit-bearer in the front of our Florilege called Laurocerasus THe Bay-cherry is a stately ever green Tree growing in some places ten or twelve foot high but most commonly in a thick Bush full of boughs and
come flat and broad with a hundred or more flowers thereon like unto those of the common kinde but smaller Lilium Album flore pleno THe double white Lily is in all things like unto the common kinde the flowers onely excepted which in this are usually five or six on one stalk and all of them constantly double consisting of many small long white leaves which grow on the foot-stalks one above another forming a long double flower the leaves of them are long green before they open or turn white and unless the season be very fair they never open at all this is esteemed for the rarity of the double flowers more than for any beauty that is in them Martagon THe mountain Lily or Martagon is next to be described whereof there is some diversity they are divided into two primary kinds that is those that bear broad green leaves in rundles about the stalks at distances the which are called mountain Lilies and others that bear narrow long green leaves sparsedly set on the stalks in some bigger and in others smaller out of which we will collect the best and describe them in order Martagon Imperiale sive Lilium montanum majus THe Martagon Imperial hath as all the Martagons have a scaly pale yellow root the stalk riseth a yard high of a brownish colour beset at certain distances with Caudles of broad green leaves and naked betwixt at the top of the stalk come forth in an old plant fourscore or a hundred flowers thick set together each on a several foot-stalk hanging down their heads and turning the leaves back again as all Martagons do which are thick and fleshy of a pale purple colour with brown spots on the inside a stile in the middle with six yellow chives tipt with Vermillion pendents Martagon flore Albo. THe white Martagon differeth from the former in that the stalk is greener the flowers fewer and not so thick set on the stalk and are in this of a white colour with yellow pendents Martagon flore albo maculato THe white spotted Martagon is very like the last in manner of growing only the stalk is brown and the flowers inclining to a blush colour with many red spots on the insides thereof in no other respect differing from the former There are some other varieties of the Martagons or mountain Lilies kept in vulgar Gardens which are not worth the mentioning these three sorts being the most acceptable Martagon Canadense maculatum THe spotted Martagon of Canada may serve to bring up the rear and follow the mountain Lilies for that the green leaves grow on the stalk in rundles the root of this stranger is smaller and the stalk lower than any of the former bearing four or five flowers on long foot-stalks in form like a red Lily hanging down their heads of a fair yellow colour with many black spots on the inside a pointell and six chives tipt with red pendents Martagon Constantinopolitanum THe Martagon of Constantinople hath a great yellowish scaly root from whence springeth up a brownish stalk beset confusedly with many something large round pointed green leaves on the top of the stalk come forth three four or more flowers on long foot-stalks hanging down their heads and turning the leaves back again which are of a fair Orenge-colour deeper in some than in others with a pointell and six chives tipt with yellow pendents this is common in every ordinary Garden and had not been here inserted but to make way for a better kinde thereof Martagon Constantinopolitanum maculatum THe red spotted Martagon of Constantinople differeth from the other in that the flowers are larger more on a stalk of a deeper Orenge or Scarlet colour and thick specled on the inside with many small black spots which addeth very much to the beauty of the flower Martagon Panonicum THe Martagon of Hungary is like the last in root leaves and form of flowers onely the leaves are larger and thinner set on the stalks the flowers much bigger and of a bright pale Orenge-colour this as it is the rarest of all the Martagons so is it the hardest to come by Martagon Virginianum THe Virginian Martagon hath a close compacted round scaly pale yellow root from the sides whereof more frequently than the top come forth the stalks about three foot high sparsedly set with whittish green leaves bearing at the head three four or more something large flowers turning back like that of Constantinople of a Gold yellow colour with many brown spots about the bottoms of the flowers with the points or ends of the leaves that turn up of a red or Scarlet colour and without spots this is a tender Plant and must be defended from Frost in Winter there is another of this kind that beareth more flowers on one stalk differing from the former in that these are of pale colours but spotted as the other Martagon Pomponium THe Martagon of Pompony hath a great yellowish brown scaly root from whence springeth up a green stalk two or three foot high promiscuously thick set with many small long green leaves almost to the top where stand many flowers in number according to the age of the Plant for in some that have stood long unremoved I have had fourscore or an hundred flowers on one stalk which are of a yellowish Orenge-colour with small black specks on the inside thereof in fashion like to the red Martagon of Constantinople but smaller there is some variety in this Plant for some of them have broader and shorter green leaves than others and there are others that flower a fortnight after the most common and best known of this kinde Martagon Luteum punctatum THe yellow spotted Martagon hath a great scaly root like that of the last but bigger the stalk riseth up in the same manner with broader green leaves the flowers also are of the same size and fashion but of a pale greenish yellow colour with many black specks on the inside thereof and not so many on one stalk as the former Martagon luteum non punctatum THe yellow Martagon without spots differeth onely from the other in that the flowers of this are all of that pale greenish yellow colour without any specks or marks these yellow Martagons for variety may be admitted and were they as pleasing to the scent as they are to the sight would be of more esteem than now they are there is one other variety of this yellow Martagon which differeth only in the time of the flowering which is not untill July and in that the flowers are of a fairer and deeper yellow colour All these Lilies and most of the Martagons flower in June that of Pompony is the earliest which flowereth towards the end of May those of Constantinople are later as about the end of June or beginning of July and that of Virginia the last of them all whose time of flowering is in August They are all increased by the roots too fast being strong and hardy Plants except that
of Canada and that of Virginia both which are very tender and unapt to thrive or live at all in our Country the roots of all the other hold their Fibres and therefore do not affect to be often removed which when there is occasion to do the best time is as soon as the stalks are fully dry for then they will have fewest Fibres these scaly roots must be set reasonable deep four or five inches over the head in the earth which every other year should be opened down to the bottoms of them not hurting or stirring any of the Fibres and all the off-sets and young roots taken away the mother root only left unto which some richer earth may be then conveniently put before it be covered by this means the flowers of the old root will be fairer and many more on one stalk the ground not pestered and new Plants gained As for these tender Martagons of Canada and Virginia they will not endure to stand abroad but must be planted in the richest and hotest earth can be gotten in Boxes or large Pots and set in some Seller in the Winter where they may not Freez CHAP. VIII Fritillaria THe Fritillary and the varieties thereof are next to be described the which may be divided into two distinct kinds the first those with small roots sharp-pointed green leaves and large flowers and the other with bigger roots round pointed whiter green leaves and different fashioned smaller flowers of each kinde there are several sorts and diversities we will begin with the first and first of that best known Fritillaria vulgaris THe common checquered Fritillary hath a small round white root made of two pieces as if it were cleft in the midst out of which cleft the stalk springeth a foot high or more with some few leaves thereon dispersed at the top thereof out of a tuft of four or five hollow long green sharp-pointed leaves cometh the flower hanging down the head like to that of the ordinary Crown Imperial consisting of six leaves of a sullen reddish purple colour checquered with a deeper purple the inside of the flower is of a brighter colour than the outside with a stile and six chives tipt with yellow pendents after the flower is fallen the stile which is the seed-vessel standeth upright and containeth flat gristly seeds like unto that of a Tulip but lesser The old roots of this sort will bring two and three flowers on one stalk and the seeds diversities some paler and some brighter than others and some flowering in March a moneth before others Fritillaria flore duplici albicante THe double blush Fritillary is in all the parts thereof like the former onely the flower is double consisting of twelve leaves or more of a pale purple or blush colour spotted as the other this is not accidental but natural and is constantly double Fritillaria alba THe white Fritillary differeth chiefly from the first in that the leaves and stalk are greener and the flower white the seeds of this being sowed bringeth varieties some flowering a moneth before others some bearing larger flowers and some two on one stalk Fritillaria flore luteo THe yellow Fritillary is in all things like the last onely the flower of this on the outside as well as inside is of a perfect yellow colour Fritillaria flore atro rubente THe dark red Fritillary hath green leaves whiter broader and shorter than the former the flower is larger of a dusky red colour on the outside and bloud-red on the inside which falls away sooner than those of the other sorts and this is that the Walloons have lately brought over which they call the black Fritillary a flower of small beauty and less continuance Fritillaria maxima rubra THe great red Fritillary is in all the parts thereof like unto the last described but bigger the flowers also are larger of a dark red colour usually two or three upon one stalk a much better flower than the last but almost as soon decaying These are the varieties of the first kind of Fritillaries and now we will proceed to describe those of the other sort Fritillaria flore luteo major THe greater yellow Fritillary hath a bigger and broader root than any of the former the leaves are broader shorter and round-pointed the stalk about two foot high and of a whiter green colour than those of the former the flower is long small and of a faint yellow colour Fritillaria flore luteo punctato THe spotted yellow Fritillary hath round-pointed whitish green leaves like the last the flower is bigger and longer than any of the former of a pale yellow colour diversly spotted and checquered which addeth much to the beauty thereof Fritillaria lutea maxima Italica THe great yellow Italian Fritillary hath darker green leaves than the former the flower longer and of a dark yellowish purple colour spotted with small red checquers this is that which hath been lately brought unto us out of Flanders by the name of the Isabella-coloured Fritillary Fritillaria Italica flore luteo viridi THe small Italian yellowish green Fritillary is like the last but smaller the flowers are small and long two or three on one stalk and turn up the brims of the leaves which are of a yellowish green colour spotted with purple little respected for that the smell thereof is very offensive Fritillaria angustifolia exotica viridi albicante multiplex THe exotick narrow-leaved Fritillary with a whitish green double flower is of more rarity than the former it hath a tall stalk narrow green leaves and a large short double flower of a fullen whitish green colour Fritillaria lutea juncifolia Lusitanica THe small yellow Fritillary of Portugal hath smaller and shorter round-pointed leaves than any of the former the flower is also small of a yellow colour more spotted and checquered than any of the yellow Fritillaries Fritillaria Pyrenaea THe black Fritillary is in all things like the yellowish green but that the stalk and flowers are shorter than those of the last and of a dark sullen blackish green colour Fritillaria Hispanica umbellifera The Spanish black Fritillary only differeth from the last in that it is bigger and beareth four or five flowers hanging round about the stalk like those of the Crown Imperial The early kinds of Fritillaries do flower about the end of March or beginning of April the other after those are past for the space of a moneth one after another the great yellow is the last whose time of flowering is in the end of May. The roots lose their fibres as soon as the stalks are dry and may then or any time before the middle of August be taken up and kept dry for some time but if taken up too soon or kept too long out of ground will either perish or be much weakened thereby therefore take them not up before the middle of July nor keep them out of the ground after the beginning of August they may be set
of the ground with two or three brown leaves which be long and hollow of a whitish green on the upper side brown underneath and half round the stalk beareth at the top thereof five or six small star-like flowers consisting of six leaves of a fair blew colour Hyacinthus stellatus flore albo THe white starry Jacinth hath leaves like the former but of a fresher green colour the flowers are of the same fashion and white a little inclining to blush there is one of this kind with snow-white flowers and there is another that beareth blush flowers Hyacinthus Stellatus praecox THe early Starry Jacinth hath broader and fresher green leaves than the former with blew flowers the flowers of this are bigger and of a brighter blew colour there is one of this kinde likewise that beareth white flowers and another more rare than any of the former of this kinde the flowers whereof being as large as those of the first blew and of a fine blush colour The Grape-flowers are in flower in April the great Oriental Jacinth betimes in March the white and purple early Winter Jacinths in January or in the beginning of February the other Oriental Jacinths both single and double flower in the end of March and beginning of April the Ash-coloured starry Jacinth flowreth in April and the other Starry Jacinths in February and beginning of March They all lose their fibres and may be yearly removed in June or July but none of them except the Oriental would be kept long out of ground they are hardy and require small attendance most of them bear seeds which being sowed and preserved as that of Tulips produce new diversities There are some others which I have purposely omitted as the Woolly Jacinth which I have had many years but never could see one flower of it it is common in Spain but will not flower in England and of these described the best are the fair double blew and the double white Oriental Jacinths the Celestial the white and the blush Starry Jacinths the other are pretty flowers but of less beauty and esteem CHAP. XII Ornithogalum THe Star of Bethlehem and the varieties thereof are next to be handled some of them are fine flowers and others not worth the naming the which we will pass over and describe the best onely Ornithogalum Arabicum THe Star-flower of Arabia hath many long green leaves like unto those of the Oriental Jacinth from whence riseth up a round green stalk about two foot high bearing at the top thereof upon long foot stalks divers large flowers with small short green-pointed leaves at the bottom of each of them consisting of six pure white leaves with six white threds about it tipt with yellow pendents the root is great and white with a flat bottom the fibres being gone which it yearly loseth this is very impatient of frost and will not abide with us unless it be carefully preserved and defended in Winter Ornithogalum maximum album THe greatest white Star of Bethlehem hath many fair broad long fresh green leaves which spring early out of the ground and continue from the beginning of February to the end of May at which time they begin to fade and the stalk with the head of flowers beginneth to rise and before they are blown the leaves will be all gone the stalk when in flower is a yard high green smooth and round bearing at the top a great bush or spike of flowers upon long foot-stalks which grow shorter and shorter to the top of the stalk the flowers open by degrees first below and so upwards consisting of six white leaves spread open like a Star with a white umbone in the middle beset with many threds tipt with yellow the root is great and hath a flat bottom like the former but more hardy to endure and apter to increase whereby it is now grown common Ornithogalum Neapolitanum THe Star-flower of Naples riseth out of the ground early with four or five long hollow pointed whitish green leaves standing round together the stalk riseth two foot high bearing many flowers each containing six long narrow leaves of a shining white colour on the inside and of a whitish green on the outside turning back toward the stalks with six other small leaves in the middle standing round together like a cup with a white pointell and six threds tipt with yellow the root is white and increaseth too much and therefore requireth to be yearly taken up and freed from off-sets wherewith it is apt to be pestered Ornithogalum Luteum THe yellow Star of Bethlehem cometh up at the first with one long round greenish leaf which opening a little above the ground yieldeth another small leaf shorter than the first from whence riseth a stalk four or five inches high bearing at the top four or five small green leaves and among them the like number of small yellow star-like flowers with a small greenish line down the backs of the leaves and some small reddish threds in the middle the root is small round white and cleer and although it yearly loseth the fibres it will not endure to be kept but very little time out of the ground Ornithogalum Aethiopicum THe Star-flower of Ethiopia hath green leaves a foot long and an inch broad wooly when broken and a stalk a cubit high bearing from the middle to the top many large white star-like flowers wiâ—h some yellowness in the bottoms of them with a three-square head compassed with white threds tipt with yellow the root is thick round and white almost as tender as that of the first There are some other varieties as the great white spiked Star of Bethlehem which is like the former great white but lesser and not so good the flowers grow in a larger spike but much thinner set on the stalk there are some others that bear small white flowers not worth retaining The Arabian flowreth in May the second in June that of Naples and the yellow in April but the Aethiopian not untill August They lose their fibres and the roots may be taken up as soon as the stalks are dry and kept out of the ground untill the end of September except those of the yellow which will not endure out of the earth but a little time that of Arabia and that of Ethiopia are both tender and will not endure the extremity of our long frosty winters therefore they must be planted in boxes in rich hot sandy earth and housed in winter the yellow may be set among other tender roots that require to be covered and defended from frosts in winter the other are hardy and may be set in any place among other roots that lose their fibres CHAP. XIII Moly WIld garlick yieldeth some diversities worthy of entertainment the which are next to be described and first we will begin with that so much celebrated by the antient Poets Moly Homericum THe great Moly of Homer riseth up with two or three great thick long hollow leaves
years from the sowing before they come to bear flowers yet it is worth the labour and attendance for that seeds of the two Lilly Asphodills may be obtained from places far distant better than plants Having done with these flower-bearing plants before we pass to the rest of the Bulbous roots the varieties of Paeonies are to be handled which shall be the subject of our next discourse CHAP. XV. Paeonia THe Peonie is of two sorts Male and Female The Male is to be known from all the rest in that the leaves are constantly whole without any division and the roots are long and round of this there is but one sort and that preserved more for its Physical properties than for the beauty of the flowers the Female is of many sorts some bearing single and others double flowers the leaves of them all are cut in and divided on the edges more or less and the roots are more tuberous growing in clogs like those of the Asphodill with many round pieces fastened to the head with smaller strings There are four sorts that bear single flowers which are the Male kind with purplish red single flowers the common Female with smaller and darker purplish single red flowers the blush with large blush flowers and the single Piony of Constantinople whose flowers are larger than those of the Male kind and of a deeper red colour without any shew of purple these are of small esteem yet the two last for variety may be admitted those that bear double flowers are best worthy to be regarded the which we will particularly describe and first begin with that best known Paeonia foemina vulgaris flore pleno rubro THe double red Peonie hath many stalks and store of leaves divided or cut in at the edges of a dark green colour the flowers grow on the tops of the stalks which are very large thick and double of a full deep red colour and seldome continuing above eight days before they shed their leaves the roots are many long clogs fastened to the head or main root with smaller strings this is so common and well known that it needeth no description Poeonia foemina flore pleno purpureo THe double purple Peony differeth from the last in that it is smaller in all the parts thereof and the leaves of a whiter green colour the flowers are double consisting of some broad and many narrow leaves of a fine bright shining purple colour which fall away like those of the former Paeonia foemina flore pleno rubescente THe double Carnation Peony hath lower and stiffer stalks than the former with smaller leaves divided or cut-in in some places on the edges as all the Female kinds are the flowers are neither so big nor so double by much as those of the common red of a bright shining carnation colour at the first opening but dayly declining and waxing paler untill it come to be almost white never shedding the leaves but abiding long and at last wither on the stalk the roots are like the former but smaller and of a brighter brown colour on the outside I have one of this kind that beareth large thick and double flowers consisting of many long round pointed leaves the ends and sides thereof turn white in one hot day and continue so with a red stripe in the middle many days then wither on the stalks Paeonia foemina flore pleno albicante THe double blush or white Peonie is in the manner of growing like unto the last described but taller the green leaves something larger more veined and ribbed than those of any the other sorts the flowers are much bigger than those of the last and more thick and double which at the first opening are of a fine light blush colour but by standing blown in a few days will turn to be of a pale white and so continue a long time before they decay the leaves not falling off but withering on the stalk like those of the last and this is accounted the best of all the double Peonies which have hitherto come to our knowledge I have often heard of a double Peonie that hath snow white flowers from the first opening thereof and so abiding constant to the last but have not seen any such and therefore doubt the verity of the report Paeonia faemina flore pleno variegata THe double striped Peonie in the manner of growing is like the last but something smaller in all the parts thereof the flowers are double of a fine red colour striped and variegated with white abiding long in flower and at last the leaves wither but fall not off They all flower in May sooner or later as they stand more or less in the Sun All the Peonies are hardy and being set in good ground will continue and abide many years without removing they are commonly set in great tufts in the middle or corners of knots or on borders and may be taken up parted and planted again from September unto the end of October those roots that have sprouts or buds at the ends of them are best to be planted for those clogs or roots that are without them will ly in the ground and never spring at all except those of the double purple every piece whereof will grow being aptest to increase of all other in some years the double kinds do bring some seeds to perfection which being set or sowed very thin in September or October where they may stand unremoved until they flower which will be about seaven years from the sowing herhaps some new varieties may be produced especially from the seeds of the Carnation Blush Purple and variegated kinds And now we will return to the rest of the blubous and tuberous-rooted plants remaining to be described and set them down in order according to their similitude and several relations to each other and first of that whick flowreth first though vulgarly accounted last CHAP. XVI Colchicum THe Meadow-Saffron whereof there are many sorts some of them for the beauty of their flowers deserving place in this Collection the which shall be described the rest bearing single flowers wholly of one colour and neither eminently striped nor checkered we will pass over as not worth the trouble Colchicum versicolor THe party-coloured Meadow-Saffron and all the rest except those of the Spring bring forth their flowers in Autum before the green leaves appear which being kept back by Winter come not up untill February the flowers of this come out of the ground late in the year three four or more from one root standing on very short foot-stalks composed of six leaves whereof some are white others of a pale purple and some of them half white and the rest purple with some threds or chives in the middle like unto the Crocus or Safforn-flowers of the Spring after the flowers are past the green leaves do not presently come forth little of them appearing above ground before the end of February which at first are of a dark brown colour but with
yellowish green leaves folded one within another at the bottom and opening towards the tops out of the middle of those leaves riseth a round stiff stalk two foot high bearing at the top thereof one gallant great flower consisting of nine leaves as all the rest do the three lower leaves being very large and broad are of a sad purple colour almost black diversly spotted straked and marked with a grayish white colour with a great black freez or fringe in the middle of each of them the three arched leaves that cover the smaller part of these lower leaves are of the same colour and marked in the same manner but a little paler especially towards the sides and ends the three upper leaves are also very large and marked like the other but of a brighter and more lively colour by much the roots are tuberous thick and long like those of other flag Flower-de-luces but of yellower brown colour with many great long flat fibres Iris Chalcedonica minor THe lesser Chalcedonian Iris or Turky Flower-de-luce differeth from the former in that it is lesser in all the parts thereof the leaves of a yellower green colour the flower darker and not so eminently marked They flower in May sooner or later as the Spring is forward or backward These are the best kinds of flag Flower-de-luces after the flowers are past sometimes the roots will lose their fibres and then the green leaves will dye to the ground such as do must be taken up and kept out of the ground untill the middle of October the best time to transplant them is in the end of August or beginning of September the best place under a South-wall and the best soil that which is fresh and mixed with well-rotted and fine sifted wood-pile earth and if they be covered and defended from hard Frosts in Winter they will prosper and bear flowers much the better some use to take up the roots in the end of June and keep them dry untill October which maketh them the apter to bear flowers Iris Dalmatica major THe great Flower-de-luce of Dalmatia hath great broad Sedg-like green leaves a tall stalk bearing three or four large flowers on several branches that come from the top and sides thereof which are in fashion like the flowers of the common great flag Flower-de-luce of a pale blew or watchet colour and sweet scent the root is great and tuberous proportionable to the rest of the parts Iris Asiatica caerulea THe blew Flower-de-luce of Asia is like the last but something lesser in all the parts the stalk more branched and bearing more flowers which are of a deeper blew colour than those of the former Iris Lusitanica biflora THe twice flowring Portugall Flower-de-luce is in all things like the common great purple flag Iris but a little lesser and flowreth in the Spring and again commonly the same year in Autumn the flowers of this are sweeter than any of the former Iris Camerarii purpurea versicolor THe variable purple Flower-de-luce of Camerarius hath green leaves almost as big as those of the last but shorter the flower is of the same fashion but lesser the three lower leaves are of a reddish purple the arched leaves of a bleak yellow shaddowed with purple and the three top-leaves of a dull smoky yellowish purple colour we have another that is taken for the true Iris Camerarii in respect it agreeth with the description of Clusius a man of excellent judgement this hath great thick knobby roots broad flaggy leaves a reasonable-tall smooth stalk and flowers of a blew colour welted down the middle of the leaves with yellowish white and the falling leaves fringed about with a thick plaited fringe of the same yellowish white colour there is another that passeth under that name that hath flowers of a pale blew or sky-colour fringed about the leaves like the former but with a deeper blew colour than is in the rest of the flower Iris caerulea versicolor THe blew party-coloured Flower-de-luce hath green leaves something lesser than the former the flowers are variable in their colours for some have the falls blew at the edges and the rest white the arched leaves of a whitish yellow and the top-leaues of a pale sky-colour with yellowish edges in some the blew is deeper with dark spots in some very pale and there is one whose upright leaves are of a bright watchet with yellowish edges and the falling leaves party-coloured half blew and the other ash-colour with yellowish edges Iris alba versicolor THe white variable Flower-de-luce in roots green leavs is like that of Camerarius the stalk riseth almost a yard high bearing four or five flowers one above another which are of a silver colour with a list of blewish purple down the backs of the top-leaves and the lower leaves are whipt about the edges with blew the arched leaves of a pale sky-colour and more blew towards the ridge this is a pretty flower but doth not deserve that nick-name Iris gloriosa as some have put upon it Iris aurea angustifolia Tripolitana THe yellow Flower-de-luce of Tripoly hath green leaves a yard long and almost an inch broad the stalk four foot high not big but stiff and round bearing at the top thereof two or three long narrow-leaved gold yellow flowers in fashion like those of the bulbous Flower-de-luce Iris angustifolia major caerulea THe great blew narrow-leaved Flower-de-luce hath dark green leaves like the last but neither so long nor so broad the stalk riseth a little above the leaves bearing many flowers which blow one after another of a bright blew colour and in fashion like those of the last Iris angustifolia versicolor Clusii THe narrow-leaved variable Flower-de-luce of Clusius hath a thick tuft of narrow long green leaves from whence if the plant be old and have stood long come up many round stalks higher than the leaves bearing four or five small flowers one above another the lower leaves whereof are variably marked with white and blew but the arched and top-leaves are wholly of a light blew colour the root consisteth of many long strings whereby it fasteneth strongly in the ground and much increaseth there is another of this kind that beareth white flowers Iris angustifolia major flore duplici THe greater double narrow-leaved Flower-de-luce hath long narrow green leaves but broader and shorter than those of the last and not so thick set together the flowers seem like many thrust together coming confusedly out of one husk not having the distinct parts of a Flower-de-luce and sometimes it cometh with two or three small flowers of distinct form rising out of one husk the flowers are of a fair blew colour with many veins of white running through the leaves the roots are like those of the last but bigger and not so apt to increase Chamaeiris latifolia alba major THe great white dwarf Flower-de luce hath something broad but short green leaves a stalk about half a foot high bearing
like Purslane bunched and set with leaves like those of the Peach-tree about the stalk from the middle upwards come the flowers on short foot-stalks which are of two or three shadows of purples with spurs behind like single Larks-heels but bended downwards these flowers are succeeded by round rough heads pointed at the end wherein is contained small round blackish seeds the root dies at the first approch of Winter The flowers come forth in July and August and rarely yield any good seeds in our Countrey the Plant is tender and must be sowed in a hot bed and remov'd into good ground and carefully attended with watering in the heat of Somer else it will quickly perish CHAP. XI Blattaria MUllen or Moth Mullen hath some diversities that are commonly raised from seeds whose roots perish in Winter but there are others that will continue many years and yield increase from the root the first of which is that called Blattaria flore purpureo THe purple Moth Mullen hath dark green broad leaves lying on the ground from among which riseth up a stalk a yard high bearing from the middle to the top many fair purple flowers consisting of five leaves with some threds in the middle the root is long and brown abiding many years and increasing of this kind there is another that beareth flowers of a Violet blew colour in other respects not differing Blattaria lutea odorata SWeet yellow Moth Mullen hath leaves of a grayer green colour than those of the former the stalk riseth about a yard high divided into branches bearing pale yellow flowers of the fashion of the other but smaller and of an excellent sweet scent the root abiding as well as the former Blattaria flore luteomajor THe great yellow Moth Mullen hath larger and greener leaves than any of the former the stalk four foot high bearing many fair yellow flowers broader and larger than those of the purple which are succeeded by round buttons containing seeds the root perisheth in Winter after it hath born flowers and seeds Like unto this kind there is a newer variety differing only in that the flowers are betwixt red and yellow but more red than yellow and abiding the Winter Blattaria flore albo WHite Moth Mullen differeth from the great yellow in that the flowers are not all thing so broad and of a fair white colour with purple threds in the middle the root perishing in the same manner The two first flower in the beginning of May the rest in June These are plants of little reputation those whose roots continue are the best they may be increased by parting the roots or raised from seeds and will bear flowers the second year The great yellow and the white are raised of seeds only the root not lasting like those of the three other sorts CHAP. XII Papaver Multiplex DOuble Poppies are become the common ornaments of the Kitchen-Garden and are so well known that they need no description the colours of the flowers are red purple Scarlet Lead-colour white or blush and of these many varieties some deeper and others lighter there is one that beareth small but very double flowers every leaf whereof is half white and half red and another of a fine Scarlet colour striped with white besides these the small double rich Scarlet which differeth onely from the single field Popy in the doubleness of the flowers is of some esteem but the rarest of all the rest is one lately discovered differing onely from the last in that the flowers are of a fine Gold yellow colour They flower in June and yield store of seeds which falling of themselves or gathered and sowed in the Spring will come up and prosper in any place the party-coloured red the striped Scarlet the small double Scarlet and especially the yellow are those most esteemed CHAP. XIII Nigella THe Fennel-flower hath some few varieties whose seeds are preserved and yearly sowed in Gardens the Plant is so common and well known that it needeth little description the first is that single kind called Nigella Hispanica SPanish Nigella hath leaves like Fennel the flowers are single consisting of five larger leaves than those of the other sorts commonly of a bleak blew colour with a green head in the middle compased about with little gaping hollow leaves and a yellow line after the flowers are past the head grows bigger with a crown on the top spread like a Star the seeds are round and of a yellowish green colour Nigella flore duplici THe double Nigella hath leaves like the former the flowers consisting of three or four rows of smaller leaves one lying under another of a pale blew colour in one and white in another the seeds are black contained in round heads They flower in the end of June or beginning of July and are yearly raised from seeds which sowed in the Spring are apt to come up and require small attendance CHAP. XIV Crysanthemum COrn-Marigold is an annual scarce worth the sowing some retain two sorts that is Crysanthimum Creticum the Corn-Marigold of Candy which is a simple single pale yellow flower and Crysanthimum Peruvianum the Corn-Marigold of Peru which is that great Monster we call the Flower of the Sun of which there are two sorts the one bearing round and the other Oval yellow flowers heretofore admired but now grown common not at all respected Calendula flore plena DOuble Garden-Marigolds are yearly sowed of seeds in Kitchen-Gardens there is one kind thereof that beareth fair large double flowers far excelling the other common kinds After Atticus flore luteo YEllow Star-wort hath rough leaves of a dark green colour the stalk divided into branches bearing at the ends five or six green leaves standing round like a Star with a flower in the middle consisting of narrow long pale yellow leaves compassing a yellowish brown thrum these flowers appear in June and as soon as the seeds are ripe the root dies we have another which we call After Atticus Italorum the Italian Star-flower commonly called the blew Marigold which will continue many years and yield increase from the root it flowereth late seldom before September and the flowers like those of a single Marigold but of a purplish blew colour with a yellowish brown thrum in the middle Flos Africanus THe African or French Marigold and the varieties thereof are well known to most persons that delight in flowers there are three principal kinds and of them some that bear single others double flowers some deeper and others paler but the best of them is that called Flos Africanus maximus multiplex THe greatest double African or French Marigold hath many winged leaves like those of the Ash finely purled about the edges and of a dark green colour the stalk riseth commonly a yard high towards the top divided into branches set with green leaves and each branch bearing one large double flower consisting of a multitude of leaves of a fair gold-yellow colour on the upper side and
there is another way more ready than this which I have long used with success it differs onely from the former in that from the cross cut the Bark is slit upwards and the Shield formed and put in accordingly leaving the end below the bud longer then may serve and after it is thrust up as high as is necessary cut off what is superfluous at the cross cut with which the end must joyn than bind it as the former There are other ways of Inoculating but these two are the best and the later the more expedite and easie to be performed The best time to Inoculate is in the evening of a fair day in a dry season for rain falling on the buds before they have taken will destroy most of them after three weeks you may cut away the binding and in March following the head of the stock three fingers above the bud which being well grown cut close that the stock may cover In placing of grafts or buds in stocks you must consider what Trees you intend them for either standards or for walls and so graft or bud them high or low accordingly as also to lodge them on that side of the stock which is most exposed to the strongest winds to prevent their being blown out or loosened When your Grafts are grown half a yard high those you find inclined to shoot up in one lance pinch off their tender tops which will prevent their mounting and cause them to put forth side-branches in March following prune away those are small and what you find superfluous cutting the long lances close behind a bud a thing always to be observed in pruning If the ground of your Nurcery be good and kept from Weeds by often turning most of these Grafts especially the stone-fruits will be ready to transplant within a year or two but Pears and Apples grafted on the forementioned stocks to form Dwarf or wall-Trees growing slowly require more time and not to be removed untill the stocks are covered The best time to transplant and set Trees is about the middle of October which must be carefully taken up that the roots be not cut or broken but before they are set you must cut off such roots as run down and the ends of those you find too long as also most of the small threds where they grow too thick Which done the ground and place where they are to be planted being prepared and wide holes opened raise a small hill in the centre thereof whereon set your tree opening and spreading the roots round about it then cover them with the best earth and shake the tree that the roots lie not hollow treading it down to fasten them Standards all know are to be set upright but if naturally they lean any way let it be towards South-West from whence the strongest winds commonly proceed these must be supported with strong stakes that they be not tossed but kept upright wall-trees are to be placed at such distance as they may be leaned to the wall and most conveniently spread and nailed thereunto The best time to plash prune and nail trees is in February after the great Frosts are past except Peaches and Nectorins which being cut before the rising of the sap are apt to dye after the knife and so stump and deform the Tree therefore such must be left untill they begin to put forth buds and blossoms Spread the boughs and branches upon the wall like the ribbs of a Screen fan or the fingers of your hand displayed and let not one cross the other leaving no place bare such as will not come handsomely to the wall must be cut off close to the stock and the ends of the small branches close behind a leaf bud and in Sommer when they put forth new wood rub off such buds as growing may deform the Tree after Midsomer you must give your Trees a second pruning by cutting away the new lances to give Sun and Air to the fruits to cause them to ripen and be well colouted The pruning of Trees dependeth much on the discretion of the Operator who is to consider the growth of every Tree and what may most conveniently be taken away without leaving the walls too bare The well and seasonable pruning of Trees in Sommer will cause them to set thick with Fruit-buds and bear plentifully and if too many cut off the smallest leaving so many as the Tree may be well able to nourish and bring to perfection There are many other observations about fruit Trees but these inserted are the most essential which together with what you will find at the end of every Chapter where each particular is described may be sufficient to inform all such as desire to be Planters besides their own practice will every year inform them Experience being the best Tutor I confess I might have spared part of this pains by referring the Readers unto two little Books long since written in French and now lately translated into English and some others good in their kinds yet in respect of us and our Climate very deficient as all I have seen are which defects I have endeavoured to supply and to make this work as absolute as I was able in directing the choice of particulars as well as the order of their propagation The French Gardener gives us the names of a multitude of Pears and other fruits about Paris but nothing to direct our choice so that if any should be desirous to obtain some of the best from thence he might easily be mistaken having no better a Guide than a bare name to direct him indeed for good fruit we need search no further than the Nurceries about London which are now abundantly furnished with many excellent varieties in every kind which may be had with little labour and small charge and in respect every one that desires to Plant hath not experience or perhaps the knowledge which sorts of every kind are fittest to be collected either in relation to their goodness the soil and situation of the Gardens where they are to be planted I shall therefore endeavor by the following papers to give the best directions I am able and acquaint you with what I have learned in fourty years practice and first begin with Apples CHAP. I. Pomum APples are fruits fitter for Orchards than Gardens yet some choice kinds may conveniently be planted in large Fruit-Gardens either in Bushes or on North-walls which ought not to be left naked these Apples well ordered will not onely cover the walls with fair green leaves but also bear store of good fruits the fittest for this purpose are those that follow The Juniting is a small yellow red-sided Apple upon a wall ripe in the end of June The King Apple is as early ripe as the last bigger and much better tasted The Margaret or Magdalen Apple is a fair and beautiful fruit yellow and thick striped with red early ripe of a delicate taste sweet scent and best eaten off the Tree
in the middle and very sweet the roots consisting of many strings and fibres as all Trees Shrubs and Wood-plants do Myrtus minore folio THe Lesser-leafed Myrtle groweth like the former but not so high the leaves are thicker on the branches and smaller pointed at the ends like them but of a deeper green colour in other respects little differing Myrtus rotundiore folio THe Box-leafed Myrtle differeth onely from the last described in that the leaves of this are round-pointed like unto the leaves of Box in all other parts agreeing There is another narrow-leafed Myrtle with small sharp-pointed leaves and branches erect for which it is called the upright Myrtle and we have another with narrow leaves thick set with close-compacted branches whence called the Birds-nest Myrtle Myrtus latifolia flore pleno THe double-flowered Myrtle in the manner of growing and green leaves is like unto the first described onely as it is more tender it groweth neither so large nor tall the chiefest difference is in the flowers which in this are white like those of the other but very thick and double and of a delicate sweet sent Myrtus Boetica latifolia THe great Spanish or Laurel-leafed Myrtle is bigger in all the parts than any of the former it riseth to the height of a Man and the leaves are like those of the Bay but of a whiter green colour set in a double row on both sides the branches sweet in sent and in flowers and fruit little differing from the first described These are the varieties of Myrtles preserved in Cases by our best Florists and diligently housed in Winter yet the last is more hardy and with any care will endure planted at large the violence of Winter We shall now subjoyn two other fine Greens and so conclude this Chapter Gelsiminum Indicum flavum odoratissimum THe sweet yellow Indian Jasmine is a beautiful Green and riseth with us about two foot high dividing into branches covered with a purplish coloured Bark adorned with many fair shining dark ever-green leaves in fashion like those of the Pomegranate but longer and broader the flowers are like in form to those of the common white Jasmine but bigger of a fair yellow colour and sweet sent in their natural Countrey succeeded by fruits like small Olives which with us flowering late never arrive to any perfection Phyllirea Variegata THe Variegated or striped Phyllirea is the most beautiful of all the kinds and therefore in this place to be described as deserving a Case and to stand among the fairest Greens for the other sorts fit onely to form ever-ever-green Hedges you will find in the end of this Volume among Greens more vulgar This fine Plant riseth if suffered to the height of a Man thick set with small branches and those with small ever-green leaves constantly edged and striped with white and may by the Shears be fashioned into what form you affect The Myrtles blossom about the middle of August and continue flowering commonly untill the middle of December the Indian yellow Jasmine flowers about the same time and the striped Phyllirea whose glory consists in the variegated ever-green leaves is at all times a choice object of delight and hardy enough to be planted at large where a little defended from Snows and Frosts it will endure the Winter as well as the more ordinary kinds All these Plants are commonly set in Cases and with Orenges and tender Plants housed in Winter and increased by Layers after the manner before directed The best time to transplant the more hardy kinds of Greens is about the Tenth of March and for the more tender to be set in Cases toward the end of April the Earth you set them in must be fresh and such that hath long lain on an heap well mixed with good old Neats dung often turned and well mixed untill throughly rotted but before this Earth be put into the Cases it must be skreened or sifted and a good quantity of short sticks of Oler Withy or any other soft wood else broken bricks pebble-stones and such like rubbish laid in the bottom of the Cases to draw away superfluous moisture and prevent clogging which would rot the smaller fibres and spoil the Plants if not destroy them Small sticks also cut short must in some quantity be mingled with the Earth wherewith fill the Cases within three inches of the top these sticks will keep the Mould hollow and from clinging which done rase or cut the bottoms of your Roots and artificially set your Greens and other tender Plants therein but not too deep by any means rather chusing to leave some part of the Roots uncovered than to place them too much under ground as soon as they are set water them and keep them shelter'd from Wind and Sun untill they have taken root after a fortnight you may by degrees acquaint them with the Air and when you find they have gotten strength set them abroad The same order is to be used with such Layers as you shall take off to plant in Cases in August Commit your Cases with Orenges Myrtles and other tender Plants betimes before the first Frosts to their Winter-quarters the Conservatory but shut them not up in the day-time especially unless constrained by Fogs or Frosts which lasting long you must on fairer days acquaint them again with the Sun and Air by degrees during extreme Frosts and when Water will freeze in your Conservatory in default of Stoves or raised Hearths you must attemper the Air with Pans of Charcole especially at night let the Coles be half burnt out before the Pans be placed and then not set too near the Plants In March when the great Frosts are past open the doors and give them Sun and Air by degrees a little at first which increase with the Spring about the end of April set them forth and wash them clean especially the Greens with a Watering-pot from dust and cobwebs and you must not forget while they are in the house to water them gently especially in November and after long Frosts but let not the water touch the Leaves of any of the Greens and chuse rather to give housed Plants too little water than too much As soon as the Heats begin cover the Earth in the Cases some considerable thickness with Moss it will keep the Earth moist and from clinging and water them as you find cause Every Spring and Autumn that is a little before you set forth your Plants and before you house them you must take some of the Earth out of the Cases and open the rest with a Fork or other fit tool not hurting the roots of the Plants and fill them up again with rank Earth two parts Dung well rotted and preserved for that and such like purposes These are the Rules observed by Mr. John Rose the ingenious Keeper of the Garden at Essex-house in the Strand where is now to be seen under his regiment a most noble Collection of the choicest Greens
towards the end of September the Roses are very like the Damask but something more double and not all things so sweet Rosa Belgica sive vitrea flore rubicante THe blush Belgick Rose hath bigger branches and fuller of thorns than any of the former the green leaves thicker stiffer and of a whitish green colour the flowers grow many together on the ends of the branches which are about the bigness of the ordinary Damask Rose but very thick and double and of a fine pleasant pale blush colour and sweet sent this is the greatest bearer of all the Roses and the distilled water thereof is almost as good as that of the Damask some call it the white Province Rose and some the Batavick Rose And these are the diversities of the Damask or paler-coloured Roses we shall now proceed unto the yellow Roses and set down such diversities of them as are come to our knowledge Rosa lutea simplex THe single yellow Rose groweth as high as the Damask the young shoots are full of small hairy prickles and of a dark reddish colour the leaves are small and the flowers single containing but five leaves of a pale yellow colour it is but a wilde Rose and onely entertained in Gardens for variety Rosa Austriaca flore phoenicio THe scarlet Rose of Austria is in all the parts thereof like unto the last described the chiefest difference is in the colour of the flowers which in this on the inside of the leaves is of a fine scarlet and on the outside of a pale brimstone colour and although this Rose be but single like the former yet in respect of the colour so different from all other Roses it is esteemed by all lovers of flowers Rosa lutea flore pleno THe double yellow Rose in the manner of growing doth something resemble the single kind the shoots are small and not so red the leaves are rather smaller and of a pale yellowish green colour the flowers when they come fair as they seldom do are very thick and double containing a multitude of small pale yellow leaves often with a great thrum in the middle but when it cometh well it hath no thrum at all but the leaves are folded in the middle like unto those of the Damask Province Rose the sent is not considerable its glory consisting in the form and colour onely These are all the varieties of yellow Roses that as yet are come to our knowledge and now in the next place we will take a view of the diversities of white Roses beginning with the most common Rosa alba vulgaris THe common white Rose is so well known unto all persons that it needeth no description there are two sorts of ordinary white Roses the one much doubler and fairer than the other the best kind beareth fine double pure white Roses and setteth off others very well so that although it be common yet we may afford room for one bush among the rest to increase the number of varieties Rosa incarnata THe blush Rose differeth in nothing from the ordinary white Rose but onely in the colour of the flowers for those of this are at the first opening of a fine pleasant blush colour which after grow something whiter in all other respects agreeing with the former Rosa moschata flore pleno THe double Musk Rose riseth very high with many green branches and dark green shining leaves armed with great sharp thorns the flowers come forth on long foot-stalks at the ends of the branches many together in a tuft most of them flowering together being small whitish or Cream-coloured Roses not very double the first row of leaves being much bigger than the rest which are small and stand loosly not forming so fair a double flower as the ordinary white Rose There is another of this kind that beareth single Roses of much lesser esteem than this the flowers of both are chiefly valued for their scent which is sweet like unto Musk from whence they took the name commonly they flower in August after all others are past but their usual time is in September Rosa Moschata alter THe other Musk Rose of some called the Damask Musk Rose and of others the white Cinnamon Rose is in the leaves and branches like the other but groweth not so high the leaves larger and of a whiter green colour the flowers bigger whiter and more double than those of the former but not altogether so sweet this flowereth before the other in the end of other Roses or presently after them Rosa Canina flore pleno THe double Dog Rose in leaves and branches is like the lesser white Rose or wilde kind hereof the flowers are double for which it is esteemed of a faint whitish blush colour and weak Rosa semper virens THe ever-ever-green Rose groweth like the wilde Eglentine the leaves fall not away in Winter as those of other Roses which property hath imposed the name but stay on untill they are thrust off at the Spring by new the flowers stand four or five together at the ends of the branches which are single containing but five leaves which are of a pure white colour and something in scent resembling the Musk Rose Rosa Hispanica Moschata THe Spanish Musk Rose riseth as high as the last with great green branches and bigger green leaves the flowers are single containing five large white leaves with an eye of blush in them like in scent to the last described Rosa Pomifera major THe great Apple Rose hath a great stock and many reddish branches with green sharp thorns the leaves are like those of the common white Rose the flowers small and single standing on prickly buttons bearded like other Roses which after the flowers are fallen grow great red and of the fashion of a Pear which red berries or apples are the chiefest ornament of this kind Rosa Eglenteria flore duplici THe double Eglentine onely differeth from the common single wilde kind in that the flowers of this are double composed of two and sometimes three rows of leaves of a pretty reddish colour the scent both of the green leaves and flowers is the same with the wilde kind All these several sorts of Roses do bring forth their fair sweet pleasant and profitable flowers in June and continue flowering all that moneth and most part of July except such onely whose time is expressed in their Descriptions The best and most esteemed are first of the red Roses that called Rosa mundi the Rose of the world Vitriensis the red Belgick Rose the marbled Rose the Rose without thorns and the red Province Rose of the Damask Roses the crystal Rose Mrs. Hearts Rose the blush Belgick Rose the monethly Rose and the Damask Province Rose of the yellow Roses the scarlet Austrian Rose and the double yellow Rose of white Roses the blush Rose and the Damask Musk Rose These are all excellent Roses and none of them would be wanting in any good Florists Garden Roses are increased
rising from the root set at distances with three small dark green leaves together the middle or end-leaf being the biggest at the joynts where the leaves come forth stand long stalks bearing small long hollow flowers ending in five and sometimes six yellow leaves after the flowers are past round black-shining berries succeed them the roots are tough and white creeping in the ground and coming up in divers places much increasing Jasminum Indicum flore phoeniceo THe Indian scarlet Jasmine from a large spread root consisting of many great fibres and smaller strings cometh up one two or more flexible branches not able to sustain themselves without the help of something to support them putting forth at every joynt some small short tendrils whereby it will strongly fasten unto any woody substance at the joynts come forth two winged leaves which are as large almost as Rose leaves full of veins and finely nicked on the sides which most usually stand three on a side and one at the end which are reddish at the first but afterwards of a fair yellowish green colour the flowers come forth at the ends of the branches many together which are long like a Fox-glove opening at the ends into five fair broad leaves like unto that of the Gentianella with a stile and small threds in the middle of a yellow or Saffron colour in some Plants the flowers have small red lines on the insides thereof others of a deep dark scarlet colour veined with small yellow lines These are the varieties of Jasmines growing in our English Gardens unto which we will insert some other woody climbing flower-bearing Plants which seem conveniently to cover and beautifie some Bowers as Periclimenum perfoliatum THe double Honisuckle which is so common that it needeth no description it is very fit to cover an Arbour in respect of the much spreading thereof and the multitude of sweet flowers grow in five or six stories one above another with round green leaves circling the stalk betwixt every roundle of flowers which are of the form of the wilde Honisuckle but fairer yellower and much sweeter Periclimenum Italicum flore rubro THe red Italian Honisuckle groweth something like the wilde kind with such green leaves but redder branches spreading very much so that two Plants one of the former and another of this are sufficient to cover a large Arbour the flowers of this are very many coming forth together in great tufts from the ends and sides of the red branches which are longer and better formed than those of the other which at first before they are fully blowen are wholly of a fine red colour but afterwards more yellow about the ends or upon part of the flowers which make a gallant shew and are of a sweet scent but not so strong as the former Clematis peregrina flore rubro REd Virgins-bower hath many limber woody weak branches covered with a brown thin outer bark and green underneath winding about any thing it can take hold of the leaves stand at the joynts consisting of three parts whereof some are notched on one side and some on both the flowers come from the joynts upon long foot-stalks which are made of four leaves standing like a cross of a sullen dark-red or liver-colour the roots are a bundle of browh strong strings fastened to a head running deep in the ground Clematis peregrina flore purpureo PUrple Virgins-bower differeth nothing at all from the former but onely in the colour of the flowers those of this being of a sad heavy bluish purple Clematis peregrina flore pleno purpureo THe double purple Virgins-bower in all the parts thereof is like unto the former but bigger and stronger the flowers are of the same colour with those of the last described and exceeding thick and double the outward leaves being broad like the former and the inner narrow and folded close together like a large button in the middle of the flower which open by degrees but so slowly that the outward leaves commonly fall away before the other open or shew themselves which is a great defect in this flower I have heard of two others of this kind which are said to grow in the Florists Gardens about Rome bearing double flowers the one of a bluish Peach-colour and the other white Maracoc sive Clematis Virginiana THe Virginian Climber riseth out of the ground in May with many long round winding stalks more or less according to the age and liking of the Plant which will grow with us to be five six or more foot high from the joynts come forth the leaves at each one and from the middle to the top a small clasper like that of the Vine and a flower also the leaves are broad at the bottom and about the middle divided into three parts nicked about the edges the bud of the flower before it openeth is like unto the seed-vessel of the common single Nigilla but longer having at the top five crooked horns which opening this bud or head divideth it self into ten parts susteining the leaves of the flower which are very many long sharp-pointed narrow and orderly spread open one by another some lying straight others crooked these leaves are of a whitish colour thick-spotted with a Peach colour having towards the bottom a ring of a perfect Peach-colour and above and beneath it a white circle which addeth much to the beauty of the flower in the midst whereof riseth an Umbrane which parteth it self into four or five crooked spotted horns from the midst of these riseth another roundish head which carries three nails or horns biggest above and smallest at the lower end never with us is this flower succeeded by any fruit but in the West Indies its natural Countrey it beareth a fruit like unto a Pomegranate from whence called there Granadilla containing a whitish pulp and many cornered rough black seeds of the bigness of Pear-kernels the roots are long somewhat thicker than those of Sarsa Parilla which run far in the earth and put up heads in several places The Jasmines bring forth their flowers from July untill the middle of August the first white and the common yellow are hardy and will endure our cold Winters and increase fast enough by Suckers but the Indian yellow is tender and not so easily raised this and the Spanish both sorts must be planted in Pots Tubs or Boxes that they may be housed in Winter with us they are usually encreased especially the Spanish kinds by grafting them late in the Spring the Approch-way upon the stock of the common white Jasmine the other Indian Jasmine flowereth about August and will endure the Winter if it be defended in its nonage but older Plants are hardy enough and may be encreased by Layers those which I have I raised from seeds which came from Virginia The double Wood-bind flowereth in May and the red in the end of June there is nothing more easily increased for every branch of either of them will take root
after turns white the bottom and Tamis dark blew Gresound is a low small Flower of a dark red colour striped and feathered with pale-yellow the bottom of a dark greenish colour and the Tamis almost black Star of Venus hath a larger Flower of a good carnation-colour marked and veined with pale yellow at first which after turns white the bottom and Tamis both blew Paragon Mullen is bright carnation and sometimes well striped with white the bottom and Tamis blew Agot Romane is an old flower most pale Rose-colour sometimes well marked about the edges with crimson and striped with white the bottom and Tamis blew Marbre Harlus is an ordinary flower most flesh-colour marked with Isabella and sometimes a little white the bottom and Tamis dark blew Tenebris is a large strong flower of a dark deep red colour like that called de Roy with small veins of Peach-colour a small pale yellow bottom and dark brown Tamis All these Tulips and many others may be had of Mr. Rickets of Hogesden near London These beautiful flowers warmed by the Raies of the returning Sun disclose their bravery to salute the first approaches of the welcome Spring the Praecoces flowering from the beginning of March untill a good part of April be spent at which time the Medias begin to display their noble colours and about the end of that moneth or the beginning of May are in the height of glory and when past the Serotinas succeed and commonly continue the greatest part of that month The roots of all Tulips lose their Fibres every year and are to be taken up as soon as the stalks are dry which is commonly about Midsomer and kept dry out of the ground untill the time of setting them which in cold grounds is about the end of September and in hot and more fertil grounds October The more common and ordinary kinds may be set in borders or spaces in knots according to the fancy of the owner but for the richer and more noble sorts they will deserve to be lodged in particular beds by themselves provided for that purpose after the manner hereafter directed When the roots are ready to be taken up make choice of a fair calm day and in stiff or hard grounds a long hollow Trowel will be fit for the purpose but in the best light ground it may be done with the hands onely As the several flowers are taken up lay them on papers whereon the names are written and place them open upon some boarded flore where they must so remain to dry about twenty days then take away the dead Fibres and loose outer skins and such off-sets or young roots as will easily part from the old which done it will be necessary to wrap up your best roots especially in fresh well dried papers and on the out sides to write the name of each flower which may be kept with their off-sets with them untill the middle of August at which time the off-sets must be Set in a good bed prepared for that purpose the old bearing roots left in the papers untill the time fore-mentioned for planting them After your roots are secured in Boxes it will be very necessary often to look them over lest any should be mouldy as it often hapneth which must be gently wiped off with a woollen cloath the root dried before the fire and so put up again into a fresh paper The roots thus carefully disposed it will be time to prepare a place to plant them which for the best bearing roots is a bed or beds according to your store a yard broad and in length according to your ground bordered with rails and filled two foot deep with the lightest freshest and finest sifted earth that can be gotten These beds will contain six roots in every row cross the bed which with a line may be exactly divided and the roots placed accordingly but before they are set the number of roots in each sort must be considered and the position of each particular designed in a paper according to this example North Dorothea Paragon Florison Agot Hanmer Emmentissime Proteus La Bella Diana Brabason Swalins Grand purpur de Murrey General Bole. Agot Picot Pass Zeablom de Paris Pompeza Agot San Deny Carolus Amidore General Bolson Paragon Jeron Agot Oriental Rich Parrot Proserpine Ariana Brabason Hugon Veluerte Astrea Agot Bizar Princess Turgiana The Eagle Carthago President Clitus whereby reckoning the numbers the flowers may be set and after known before and after their time of bearing and so by the same paper taken up and disposed as before is expressed In placing these roots some set the saddest colours towards the sides and the lightest in the middle but a hansome mixture is best not setting too many dark or light colours together though different from each other nor to mingle the Praecoces with the Medias but placing each sort in a particular bed when these noble Tulips begin to rise up to flower it is very necessary to cover the bed with a Canvas tilt supported with a frame and raised like a Herse that it touch not the flowers especially in the night to prevent Frosts which often curdle the buds and quite spoil the beauty of the flowers besides it defends them from hail and great rains as also from the scortching heat of the Sun and so cause them to continue long in flower This tilt or canvas covering may be taken off before the time of flowering in fair days and to refresh them with some gentle showers but kept covered in the night and when fully blown give them not above an hours Sun in the morning and as much in the evening if the season be hot otherwise they will endure more As for the more ordinary sorts of Tulips that are set in borders or spaces in knots and no account kept of them such if the ground be good when they are set may stand two years without taking up but not longer in respect the off-sets that rise from them will cause the flowers to be small and weak and all the nourishment proper to this Plant exhausted so that before they are set again in the same place the earth must be changed for that which is fresh After the flowers are faln break off the head or seed-vessel from the stalk of every flower unless of such you reserve for seed which will cause them to dry down the sooner and also fortifie the roots Although the roots of Tulips are for the most part hardy and of long continuance yet sometimes some of the best kinds will be infected with diseases notwithstanding our greatest diligence and care in their preservation which hapneth to the roots of some whilst out of ground and to others after they are set For the first in observing the root of any good flower if it appear rivelled or crumpled on the outside and feel soft and spungy it is a manifest sign of a consumption which to prevent wrap it up in Wooll dipped in
course is held with off-sets to cause them to alter from the original as many have done for the General Bole came from the brown Anvers the Cedanella from the Zeablom and many fine flowers from the Brabason Turloon and Widows As for the planting of the best Tulips a provision of manured fresh light sandy earth is necessary yearly to make new beds for them or by taking away that wherein they grew to supply the place for if Tulips as many good Florists conclude be set twice in the same earth they will languish and decay for want of agreeable nourishment yet if you have store of Neats dung mixed with sand that hath lain on a heap two or three years the same sifted and in August well mingled with the earth of your bed in any good air will be sufficient many about London complain of the earth when indeed the fault is in the air I have set my best Tulips twenty years successively in one bed where by the means prescribed they have prospered to my wish and often beyond my expectation CHAP. X. Narcissus THe Daffodill next the Tulips deserveth mention in respect of the great variety and excellence thereof we will begin with those called true Daffodils and so proceed to the bastard kinds of both which there are single and double some with broad some with narrow green leaves some bearing one and others many flowers on one stalk but in respect many of them are now common and of small esteem we will insert the best in every kinde and such onely as are fittest to be collected and entertained by all that delight in flowers begining first with that best known called Narcissus Nonparel THe incomparable Daffodill hath a great and something round root covered with brownish skins as the roots of all Daffodills are from whence riseth up three or four long broad leaves of a grayish green colour with a stalk more than two foot high at the top whereof out of a thin skinny husk as all others do cometh forth one large single flower hanging down the head and looking one way as all Daffodills do consisting of six pale yellow large leaves almost round pointed with a large and wide chalice or cup in the middle of a deeper yellow cut and indented about the edges this sometimes hath a flower with twelve or more leaves and a large cup which is occasioned by the sport of Nature joyning two flowers together Narcissus Nonparel flore sive chalice pleno THe incomparable Daffodill with a double flower or cup is in all the parts thereof like unto the former the flower onely excepted which in this hath the cup in the middle very large thick and double consisting of longer pale yellow leaves and divers broken parts of the deeper yellow cup mingled together one within another which besides the border of large leaves forms a reasonable fair double flower this is called Narcissus pas Citroniella by the Walloones that brought it lately out of Flanders by that name I have had it many years and have now great store thereof by the increase of one root which I received from Paris by the name of the double nonparel Daffodill as in truth it is Narcissus Gallicus major flore pleno THe great double French Daffodill hath narrower and shorter green leaves than the former the stalk riseth about a foot high bearing one fair double flower composed of many sharp-pointed leaves confusedly thrust together without order of a pale yellow colour almost white the leaves of this flower are thin and apt to stick together and never open at all if the season be wet yet in some years it will come very fair and well opened Narcissus Gallicus minor flore pleno THe lesser double French Daffodill is in all the parts thereof lesser than the other it beareth upon a weak stalk one fine double flower made of many sharp-pointed leaves lying one over the other and shorter by degrees to the middle thereof like a star with six points this is of something a yellower colour than the former and openeth well Narcissus albus flore pleno Virginianus THe double white Daffodill of Virginia cometh up with two small green leaves and betwixt them the stalk about six inches high bearing one fair double white flower in form like the last described but onely in the middle thereof cometh forth a small long white fork or horn which addeth much to the beauty of the flower this is tender and will scarcely endure our Winters yet more hardy than that little single upright Virginian Daffodill called Atto Musco which is not worth the care which is required in the keeping of it Narcissus Albus multiplex THe double white Daffodill is so common and well known unto all that have any judgement in flowers that it needeth no description yet for the beauty of the flower and the sweet scent may be admitted every other year in June or July it must be taken up the small roots and off-sets cast away the biggest onely retained which may be kept dry untill the middle of September and then set will in due season bring forth fair double flowers These are the best of the true Daffodills that bear one flower on a stalk I shall now give you the time of their flowering and then proceed to the next division which is of those true Daffodills that bear many flowers on one stalk leaving all other observations concerning the planting and ordering of them to the end of the Chapter where one general direction may serve for all The Non-parell single and double flower in the end of March or beginning of April the double French Daffodills sooner about the middle of March the white of Virginia in the end of April and the common white about the same time or a little after it Narcissus Africanus aureus major THe great yellow Daffodill of Africa is the most stately of all the single Daffodills that bear many flowers on one stalk whereof there are four or five sorts but none of them comparable to this so that those that are furnished with this will care but little for any of the other the leaves of this noble Daffodill are long and broad of a greener colour then others among which cometh forth a strong stalk not so long as the leaves bearing at the top thereof in an old and well-grown Plant ten or twelve large flowers of a fair shining yellow colour with round large boles or cups of a deeper yellow than the six outer leaves of an excessive sweet scent the root is great and in fashion like that of other Daffodills it is usually called Narcissus d' Algiers and Africanus Polyanthos Narcissus Sulphureus major THe great Brimston-coloured Daffodill hath narrower and greener leaves than the last yet full as long it hath commonly four or five flowers on one stalk which at first opening are of a bright Lemon-colour with a large round Saffron-coloured cup after it hath been blown some time the leaves turn to
a more sullen Brimston-colour and the cup also waxeth paler this is sweet like the former and worthy of esteem Narcissus Narbonensis sive medio luteus THe French Daffodill with the yellow cup hath long and something broad leaves but not so long as the two former it beareth sometimes eight or ten flowers on one stalk made of six small white leaves and a little round yellow cup in the middle of a soft sweet scent of this kinde there are five or six several sorts some flowering earlier some bigger and some bearing more flowers than others Narcissus totus albus Polianthos THe all-white Daffodill with many flowers is like the French Daffodill last described onely the flowers are all white as well the cup as the outer leaves of this there is a lesser and a greater but the greater is much the better Narcissus Cyprius flore pleno Polianthos THe double yellow Daffodill of Cyprus with many flowers hath leaves almost as broad and long as the former and a stalk above a foot high which beareth four or five small double pale yellow flowers of a strong heady scent it is tender and must be defended from frosts in the winter Narcissus medio luteus Corona duplici THe Turky Daffodill with a double Crown cometh up with three or four long broad leaves with a large tall stalk bearing four or five small milk-white flowers with a double yellow cup in the middle composed of many small short yellow leaves or parts of several cups one within another this is exceeding sweet and not so tender as the last Narcissus Chalcidonicus flore pleno Polianthos THe double Daffodill of Constantinople with many flowers is like the last described the leaves come up before other Daffodils and the stalk beareth four or five small double white flowers the leaves standing without order and many pieces of a yellow cup among them there is another of this kind that beareth fewer and lesser flowers the pieces of the yellow cup that is mixed with the white leaves are edged with purple they are both very sweet and fine flowers but the first is much the better and is more tender than the other The great African Daffodill flowreth about the middle of March the Brimstone-colour in the beginning of April the French Daffodils and the all white betimes in March the double yellow of Cyprus flowreth about the end of April and the other of Constantinople about the end of March but after some mild winter much sooner The next division of true Daffodills is of Juncifolias those with round rush-like leaves whereof there is some diversity the best of which are these that follow Narcissus Juncifolius albus THe white Junquilia or Rush Daffodill hath a small round blackish root from whence spring up three or four small long Rush-like green leaves with a stalk more than a foot high bearing three or four little flowers each containing six white leaves and a round cup in the middle of the same colour There is another of this kind that beareth white flowers with larger cups in nothing else differing Narcissus Juncifolius flore albo reflexo THe white turning Junquilia or Rush Daffodill hath green leaves like the former but somewhat shorter rounder and greener the leaves of the flowers are larger the cups much bigger and both of a white coleur the six leaves turning back even to the foot stalks Narcissus Juncifolius flore luteo reflexo THe yellow turning Junquilia differeth chiefly from the last in the colour of the flowers which in this are wholly of a gold yellow colour Narcissus Juncifolius chalice albo reflexis foliis luteis THe yellow turning Junquilia with a white cup differeth from the rest in that the outer leaves of the flowers are pale yellow and the cups milk white Narcissus Juncifolius chalice luteo reflexis foliis albidis THe white turding Junquilia with a yellow cup is only different from the other in that the flowers are contrary to them the turning leaves in this being white and the cup yellow Narcissus Juncifolius luteus magno chalice THe Junquilia or Rush Daffodil with a great cup is bigger in all the parts thereof than any of the former the flowers are seldom more than three on one stalk which are larger than in any other Rush Daffodil the outer leaves are yellow and do not turn towards the stalk but rather towards the cup which is big proportionally to the outer leaves and of a deeper yellow colour Narcissus Juncifolius luteus flore pleno THe double Junquilia or Rush Daffodill in all the parts thereof is like the common Junquilia only the flowers of this are thick and double consisting of several rows of leaves with the cups or pieces thereof betwixt every row of bigger leaves and wholly of a fair yellow colour there is another of this kind that beareth double flowers but lesser and much inferiour to this All these Junquilias or Rush Daffodils do flower in April some sooner than others and most of those that turn back their leaves are commonly in flower together Narcissus Marinus sive tertius Mathioli THe great Sea Daffodill or Mathiolus his third Daffodil hath a root far bigger than any other the forementioned Daffodills the leaves are commonly six in number of a whitish green colour twice as thick and broad as any of the former but not so long as many of them from the middle and sides whereof springeth up one two and sometimes three great stalks more than a foot high bearing at the tops thereof ten twelve or more flowers on each stalk consisting of six white leaves spread or layed open with a white short cup or crown in the middle lying flat upon the leaves cut or divided into six corners from whence standeth forth long white threads turning up the ends and some other white threads in the middle also tipt with yellow pendents This springeth late out of the ground seldome before the beginning of April and flowreth in the end of May and sometimes not untill the beginning of June Narcissus Indicus autumnalis latifolius rubellus instar Liliì polianthos THe Indian broad-leaved Autumn Daffodill with many Lily-like reddish flowers on one stalk Narcissus Indicus autumnalis rubello albicante colore polianthos THe Indian Autumn Daffodill with many blush flowers on one stalk Narcissus Indicus latifolia squamosa radice flore phoeniceo THe Indian broad-leaved Daffodill with a scaly root and scarlet flower Narcissus latifolius flore Phoeniceo instar Jacobei polianthos THe broad leaved Daffodil with scarlet flowers many on one stalk vulgarly called Jacobea this is the red Daffodil described by Mr. Parkinson the plant is tender unapt to live with us and the flower of small beauty Narcissus Virginianus latifolius flore purpurascente THe broad leaved Virginian Daffodil with a purplish flower This Daffodil beareth many flowers on one stalk like small Lillies of a sullen purplish colour never opening and seldome shewing the inner sides of the leaves in its natural country and
whence riseth up a thick short stalk bearing from the middle to the top thereof upon long foot-stalks very many blew star-like flowers with some blew threds tipt with yellow pendents standing about a middle head which is of a deeper blew colour than that of the six outer leaves Hyacinthus Stellatus major Peruanus flore albo THe great white starry Jacinth of Peru hath leaves of a lighter green colour and lesser than those of the former the flowers are not so many on the stalk and white with a little shew of blush towards the bottom in all other parts agreeing with the other Hyacinthus Stellatus major Peruanus flore carneo THe great blush starry Jacinth of Peru is in all things like the first the onely difference is in the colour of the flowers which in this are of a fine purplish blush-colour Hyacinthus stellatus Lilifolio radice caeruleo THe blew Lilly-leaved starry Jacinth hath a root composed of pale yellow scales like unto that of the white Lilly but smaller and longer from whence spring up many broad green leaves like unto those of a Lilly but shorter the stalk riseth about a foot high bearing many star-like flowers at the top thereof which are of a light blew colour with six short leaves in the middle standing round like a cup. Of this kind there are two other sorts differing onely in the colour of the flowers which in the one is white and in the other blush in all other respects agreeing with the former The Indian Hyacinth doth not flower in our Country untill August the Muscaries and the fair-haired Jacinths flower in April the starry Jacinths of Peru and those with Lilly leaves bring forth their flowers in May. The roots of all these Jacinths do hold their fibres therefore not to be kept long out of ground nor the fibres broken when removed they are to be transplanted in August except the Indian Jacinths which are yearly to be taken up in April the roots carefully parted without breaking the great fibres and thus re-planted put some rich earth in the bottom of a pot and place the root so that it may be covered on all sides with some natural fresh earth which done fill up the pot with the same rank earth to give the fibres nourishment make a hole in a hot bed something cooled and put the pot therein where let it remain without watering untill the roots spring then take it out and place it under a South wall in dry weather let it not want water and about the middle of September house it for this plant will not endure either wet or cold and if planted with rank earth next the root more apt to off-set than to bear flowers All the Muscaries except the Ash-colour must be planted in a warm place and defended in Winter the rest are hardy and require no attendance We have some other sorts of Hyacinths which yearly lose their fibres the chiefest of which are these that follow Hyacinthus Botroides caeraleus amoenus THe sky-coloured Grape-flower cometh up with three or four small guttered green leaves from a round white root with a stalk about six inches high bearing at the top thereof many flowers close set together like unto a small bunch of Grapes in form like those of the Muscari but lesser of a fine pale blew or sky colour and of a soft sweet scent Hyacinthus Botroides flore albo THe white Grape-flower is in all things like the former but that the leaves are green and the flowers white growing somewhat thicker on the stalk Hyacinthus Botroides flore rubente THe blush Grape-flower is like unto the last but bigger in all the parts thereof and the flowers of a pale bleak blush-colour Hyacinthus Botroides ramosus THe branched Grape-flower differeth from all the former in that the flowers grow along the stalk in branches being of a blew colour and bigger than any of the other as the roots leaves and stalks also are Hyacinthus Orientalis major dictus Zumbul Indi THe great Oriental Jacinth or Zumbul Indi is that great Jacinth that cometh up with a specled stalk and great broad long green leaves bearing on a strong stalk many fair long blewish purple flowers opening into six small leaves which turn back again as all the Oriental Jacinths do the root is big and round covered with a reddish purple coat of this kinde there is one that beareth fair double flowers and there are many sorts besides those whose descriptions follow the which differ chiefly in the colour of the flowers in some they are of a pale and some of a deeper blew colour with stripes down the backs of the leaves of the flowers some are wholly white and others of a fine blush-colour they are all sweet and their roots may be taken up and kept dry as well as those of Tulips which causeth them to be the more respected Hyacinthus Coelestis THe Celestial Hyacinth is bigger in all the parts thereof than the Zumbull Indi it commonly cometh up with two stalks each bearing many large flowers like those of the last but bigger and of a fine pale blew or sky colour of this kind there are two or three others that bear large flowers on big tall stalks some of a deeper and others of a lighter blew colour some white others blush and perhaps all these raised from the seeds of the Zumbull Indi as others may be from the seeds of them Hyacinthus Orientalis Brumalis sive praecox flore albo THe early white Oriental Jacinth from a short round big root sometimes before Winter rise up long green leaves like those of the last as the flowers are also but lesser and of a pure white colour this is commonly in flower in the end of January there is another of this kind that beareth purple flowers that come as early for which property they are chiefly respected Hyacinthus Orientalis flore pleno caeruleo THe fair double blew Oriental Jacinth is in all respects like the other blew Jacinths the chiefest difference is in the flowers those of this kind being fair and double of a good blew colour and consisting of two or three rows of leaves spread open there is another of this kind that beareth double blew flowers but not so fair and more apt to come deformed Hyacinthus Orientalis candidus flore pleno THe pure white double oriental Jacinth differeth from the single white in that the flowers of this are thick and double of a pure snow-white colour and opening much better than the best kind of the double blew for which it is much esteemed Hyacinthus stellaris flore cinereo THe Ash-coloured starry Jacinth hath a round white root and green leaves spreading on the ground like those of the common Harebell or English Hyacinth the stalk beareth very many small star-like flowers in a thick bush bigger below than above of a pale blew or Ash-colour and very sweet Hyacinthus stellatus vulgaris THe common blew starry Jacinth riseth out
Autumn bringeth forth the flowers before the leaves like those of the last but that they are longer and of a paler purplish colour the green leaves are longer also pointed at the ends with one or two corners at the sides and commonly very much spotted and marked on the upper side the seeds of this bring varieties like that of the Roman Cyclamen Hederae folio flore albo THe white Ivie-leaved Cyclamen differeth from the last in that the leaves are rounder and the flower white Cyclamen autumnale angustifolium THe narrow-leaved Cyclamen differeth from all the rest in that the leaves are long and narrow set on the stalk at the bottome with two points like an arrow head as in that of Arum the flowers are like the former in one purple and in another white Cyclamen Antiochenum flore duplici THe double-flowred Cyclamen of Antioch hath round leaves something like that of Somer with four corners and more spotted with white the flowers are much bigger than those of any of the former having each of them ten or twelve leaves of the same reddish purple colour that is in the first purple of the Spring or a little paler towards the points of the leaves and deeper at the bottom flowring in Autumn there is another Cyclamen of Antioch that brings forth double snow-white flowers and many others that bear single flowers both of the Spring and also of Autumn which are called of Antioch but rare to be found in our English Gardens especially those with double flowers Those that are mentioned to be of the Spring bring forth their flowers with the green leaves in April or the beginning of May that of Somer in June or the beginning of July those of Autumn come forth before the leaves some in the end of August many in September and the rest in the beginning of October The roots of Cyclamen do not lose their fibres and therefore are seldome to be removed the best time to transplant them is in June or July except that of Somer and the Roman which must be sooner before they begin to put forth buds for flowers they rarely increase by the root but are commonly raised out of seeds which must be sown as soon as they are ripe in some tubs or square boxes in good light earth and at first covered a finger thick afterwards when they are come up and the small green leaves dried down some more of the same earth may be put upon them the first Winter after the sowing they must be housed or covered to defend them from frost especially those of the Spring afterwards they will be strong enough to defend themselves two years after the sowing they may be transplanted and set about nine inches distant from each other where if the soil be good they will quickly come to bear flowers and perhaps some new varieties differing in size colour or marking of the green leaves from all those before observed CHAP. XXIII Anemone THe Wind-flower or Anemone by which name it is generally received and known for the delicacy of form richness of colour and excellency of variety next to the Tulips deserveth to be esteemed there are chiefly two kinds thereof both bringing forth many diversities of delicate flowers as well double as single the first by us is called Anemone latifolia the Anemone with broad leaves the other Anemone tenuifolia the Anemone with narrow leaves and by the Walloones about London that bring them over out of France and Flanders to sell Hard leaf and Soft leaf There are some wild kinds that have been ranked with these as the Pulsatillaes the wood Anemones and some others not worth the mentioning all which for their unworthiness are excluded out of this collection having so many varieties of the two nobler kinds to acquaint you with all we will therefore begin with the latifolias those with broad leaves and so proceed to the tenuifolias those of the other kind with narrow leaves and having given you a plentiful variety of double flowers we shall say something of those with single flowers from whose seeds many fine varieties are raised some with double though more with single flowers Anemone latifolia vulgaris maxima versicolor THe common great double variable broad-leaved Anemone cometh up before Winter with many something broad leaves cut in on the sides and folding the edges seldome lying smooth and plain of a fresher green colour than many of those that follow and a little hard in handling as all this kind are and therefore by some called Hard-leaf from among these leaves riseth up one two or more stalks for flowers according to the age and bigness of the roots having about the middle of them some jaged leaves as all the Anemones have at the top of the stalks the flowers come forth which are large and double consisting of many narrow long sharp-pointed leaves the out-most whereof are broadest and green with some stripes of Orenge-tawny the inner leaves are smaller less striped with green and the middle leaves being wholly Orenge-tawny turning inward cover the head or button which is usual in the middle of the flowers of most of this kind the root is tuberous large and thick of a blackish colour on the outside and yellowish within this common Anemone is by many Gentlewomen and others as ignorant called Robin Hood Scarlet and John and the Spanish Marigold there are two kinds thereof the flowers of the one being more double and less green than the other Anemone latifolia dictus Pavo major THe common broad-leaved double scarlet Anemone is in all things like the last except the flower that of this having but two or three rows of large round-pointed leaves which are wholly of a light scarlet or Orenge-tawny colour with a whitish circle at the bottom and a blackish hairy head or button in the middle this and the former are the most common and best known of all the sorts of double broad-leaved Anemones Anemone latifolia flore pleno coccineo THe broad-leaved Anemone with a double scarlet flower hath the leaves as green but smaller than those of the former the flower is thick and double consisting of many round-pointed narrow long leaves which are wholly of a rich scarlet colour there is another that beareth double scarlet flowers the leaves whereof are narrow sharp-pointed and of a lighter scarlet colour this is that sort which is commonly called super-rich and there is another that beareth double flowers almost as large as the first which are of the colour of red-lead Anemone latifolia flore pleno coccineo variegata THe broad-leaved double scarlet variegated Anemone hath small and something brown green leaves a tall stalk bearing a gallant large double flower of a rich scarlet colour and every leaf thereof finely striped and varigated with white this far surpasseth any of the former and was brought out of Flanders unto us by the name of bell de Paris Anemone latifolia flore pleno rubro THe double broad-leaved
Flowers are past grows big and long yielding store of small Flat brown seeds wraped in down the green leaves are larger grow ranker and are more in number than those of the double kinds the roots much bigger and apter to increase and besides the great varieties of reds scarlets purples whites Peach and Rose-colours both plain and marked with white there are some others raised from the seeds of these that bear gallant double flowers of several colours as red scarlet and purple these either plain or striped sorts I have seen more resembling the flowers of the double latifolias than those with narrow leaves for these consist of many something broad leaves having no plush or thrum of leaves but a small head or button in the middle some having but two rows of leaves others three and some so thick and double that the head in the middle is not to be seen untill the Flowers fall and yet these kinds especially the thinner sorts perfect their seeds from which many fine Flowers may be produced these are called Hermaphrodites for that they partake of both kinds as having the roots and leaves of the narrow and the flowers of the double broad-leaved Anemones All these Anemones both double and single bring forth their beautiful Flowers commonly in March April and May sooner or later according to the State of the Spring and time of setting their roots In the handling and ordering of the rarer sorts of these excellent Flowers some more than common care is to be taken for if the soil situation time and manner of planting and taking up be not exactly observed the Flowers will neither be fair nor will the roots prosper and increase but on the contrary rot and consume especially all the best double kinds with narrow leaves the ordinary and those with single Flowers are more hardy The first thing therefore to be considered is the soil wherein they are to be planted which must be fat and rich the earth not too light a rich sandy lome earth is the best wherein some Neats and Sheeps dung with a little lime hath been tempered and layen long on a heap often turned over so that the dung be fully rotted and well mixed with the earth which being first sifted through a Wyer Sive make a bed thereof half a yard deep at the least in some place that is not too hot in the Sun but something shadowed then about the end of September place the roots of those Anemones with broad leaves therein six or eight inches asunder and three fingers deep in the ground setting that side upward where you perceive small eminences to put forth leaves those with narrow leaves are to be handled in the same manner only differing in the time of their setting for these must be kept out of the ground in some dry place untill the end of October and the purples a moneth longer and then set in the same manner as the others those with broad leaves will come up before Winter and those with narrow leaves about the end of February or sooner if the Winter be mild in March and April if the season be dry they must be watered which will cause them to thrive much the better and to bear the fairer flowers If you find they like their entertainment grow strong bear fair flowers on tall stalks and prosper well you may forbear to take up their roots untill the end of June or July but on the contrary if the green leaves are few the flowers small and stalks short it is a manifest sign of their dislike and that the soil is either too cold and poor or else too hot and rank which is far more dangerous in this case they must be taken up as soon as the green leaves turn yellow the roots put into sand and so kept in some dry place for a moneth at the least and then taken out and kept in papers in some cool dry place until the time of planting for should the roots remain in the ground any time after they have lost their fibres the earth being over-hot they would all or most of them rot and consume away especially if any store of rain fall upon them in the taking up of their roots care must be had that they be not broken especially those with broad leaves which must not be divided nor broken until they part of themselves those of the other kind with narrow leaves may be broken or parted with less prejudice but the wholer they are kept the better they will thrive and although the times before mentioned be best for the planting and setting the roots of both kinds of these rare flowers yet the more ordinary kinds may be kept out of the ground until the end of February which some use to do to cause them to flower late after others are gone in this practise it will be necessary to steep the roots four and twenty hours before you set them in warm water and to plant them with some Willow earth under and over them and in a more shady place than ordinary else the heat of the Sun in the time of their flowring will much diminish their beauty so if you have two beds stored with choice varieties of Anemonies that set last more shaded than the first and the fore-mentioned rules observed you will be sure to enjoy the delight of their delicate flowers part of March all April and the greatest part of May unless your Garden stand in some smoky place where neither art nor industry will cause them to prosper unless set in a hot bed in January as some about London use to doe Now for the raising of new varieties of Anemones from seeds choice must be made of the Flowers as in Tulips some of the double latifolias bring seeds the richest scarlets palest purples pink white and sky-colours are the best but in the single Tenuifolias there is more choice as red and scarlets with deep white edges all that are variegated or striped with white and in these the deepest velvet purples are the best but above all others those that have two or three rowes of leaves and that excellent velvet single blew described and commended by Ferarius are chiefly to be preferred The seeds of these flowers will be ready to gather in May which must be done as the down riseth else they will be blown away and having gathered all your seeds stay not as some direct to sow them untill August but let it be done by the middle of July at the furthest and be sure the earth in which you sow them be good and finely sifted be it in beds or boxes which your best seeds will deserve To separate the seeds that hang in the down you must take earth that is very dry and fine in quantity according to the seeds you intend to sow put it in a Bowl Trey or Bason and mingle the seeds therewith then stir and divide them with your fingers untill none of the white down appear sow
months and in any place for they are hardy and will thrive more than better things Radix Cava HOllow-root is a Plant as low in growth as reputation the common and ordinary are cast out of every good Garden and these following chiefly retained Radix Cava major flore albo THe white Hollow-root cometh out of the ground about the end of March with green leaves like those of the Colombine from among which rise up two or three short stalks naked from the bottom to the middle where the flowers come forth one above another every flower having a short green leaf at the foot thereof which are long and hollow with a heel behind like uhto the flowers of the common Larks spur with bigger bellies and the mouthes not so open being wholly of a pure white colour the root is big and round of a yellowish brown colour on the outside but more yellow within and hollow underneath Radix Cava major flore carneo THe blush-coloured Hollow-root is in all things like the former but that the flowers of this are of a light red or deep blush-colour and sometimes the flowers of some Plants of this kind will be of a deep reddish purple colour These kinds of Hollow-root come up in the end of March flower in April and are under-ground again in May the roots lose the fibres and may be kept out of the ground two or three moneths they are apt to increase and will like in any soil but best in that which is inclining to sand so as they stand not too hot in the Sun CHAP. XXVI Hepatica Nobilis NOble Liver-wort is of two sorts the one bearing single and the other double flowers the first are now little esteemed and few of them entertained by the curious but the double kinds more respected and some of them accounted very rare we will begin with that best known Hepatica Nobilis flore pleno purpureo THe double purple Hepatica cometh up before the leaves with many small and something long naked stalks each of them bearing at the top thereof one small double flower of a violet purple colour at which time the leaves spring up foulded at the first but after opening themselves are divided at the edges in three parts standing on several long foot-stalks as high as the flowers which leaves will continue untill new come again so that commonly the flowers rise up among the old leaves the root is composed of many long black strings fastened to a head from whence the leaves and flowers spring Hepatica nobilis flore pleno caeruleo THe double blew Hepatica is in all things like the former but the colour of the flowers which in this are of light watchet blew colour Hepatica nobilis flore pleno albo THe double white Hepatica hath smaller and fresher green leaves than either of the former the flowers snow-white and as thick and double more rare to be found and therefore much more esteemed Hepatica nobilis flore pleno rubro THe double red Hepatica is in all things like the last but onely the colour of the flowers which are as thick and double as any of the former and of a fine pleasant pale red inclining to Peach-colour These are the most valuable diversities that hitherto have come to our knowledge there are others that bear single flowers of the same colours of the double ones but little esteemed by any good Florists yet by some are preserved chiefly for that they bear seeds from whence varieties are expected but I have not heard or seen any that have been so raised that are considerable It is reported that the double white and the double red have been raised from the seeds of the single kinds I confess I have not seen either of them and therefore can give no further assurance than the credit of a good Florist the reporter The double kinds flower about the middle of March and the single ones a fortnight sooner they must be planted like the Auricula in rich well-dunged ground where they will thrive and bear plentifully and may be increased by parting the roots after they are grown into several heads Geranium CRanes bill is of divers sorts but few of them of any esteem the chiefest of them are the knobbed Cranes-bill that hath a root like a small Cyclamen bearing many single pale purple flowers the blew Cranes-bill and the white differ only in the colour of the flowers the blew and white striped Cranes-bill is like the two last only the flowers are variably spotted striped and parted with white and blew the purple Crow-foot Cranes-bill hath a great head of flowers which open by degrees and die at night the variable Cranes-bill is common it hath small flowers varied with small reddish veins upon white the sweet Cranes-bill hath flowers of a dark blackish purple colour the red Rose Cranes-bill hath flowers like a red Rose Campion these simple flowers are all exactly described by Mr. Parkinson they flower in April May and June and increase too fast but we have now an other more rare called Geranium nocte olens FOr that it smelleth sweet only in the night it hath a great root like a Paeony with large jagged leaves the flowers come forth in July with small and round pointed leaves of a purple colour listed about with yellow so as the purple seemeth but as a spot in the middle of every leaf these flowers stand on smooth stalks eight or ten on a head which in the night are as sweet as beautiful in the day the plant is tender and therefore set in a pot and governed in Winter as the Cardinals flower or housed and kept dry in Winter for any moisture rots the root CHAP. XXVII Helleborus HEllebor is of two sorts or kinds that is black and white and there are some lesser sorts called Helleborine that for the beauty of their flowers deserve mention we will begin with the black Hellebor vulgarly called the Christmas Rose but more properly Helleborus niger verus THe true black Hellebor from a root composed of divers long brown strings running deep into the ground and fastened to a big head springeth up many green leaves standing on big stiff foot-stalks divided into eight or nine parts and nicked about the edges the flowers come forth in Winter upon such short fat foot-stalks in form like unto single white Roses at first white but by long standing turn to be of a blush-colour with a pale yellow thrum and a green head in the middle chiefly respected for the early flowring which is commonly about Christmas and therefore by many called the Winter or Christmas Rose there are some other sorts of black Hellebor but none of any beauty or esteem but this only Helleborus albus THe white Hellebor cometh up with a great round head of a whitish green colour opening it self into many beautiful large green leaves eminently plaited throughout and compassing each other at the bottome out of them the stalk riseth a yard
of this generation there are some whose flowers are of a Buff colour some yellower and some dunner than others these have been in good esteem and every Florist had his Leather-Coat many of which yet remain and retain the names of those that raised them as Tradescans Leather-Coat Lances Tuggies Turners Collins Lookers Humphries Meracows Mows Mullars Randolls and Rickets Beazar all several good kinds of Leather-Coats and I have raised a Leather-Coat my self from seeds that is not inferior to the best of those mentioned and there is one that on a short stalk beareth four or five double flowers with three rows of leaves in each flower Auriculo flore albo TThe white Auricula is of small variety and esteem the best is that called the Virgins milk this hath large mealy leaves a tall strong stalk with a great truss of milk-white flowers with snow-white eyes which placed among the purples sets off and adds to their glory there are some that are perfectly white and many milk-whites but few of them of any better esteem than the yellows We will now as others have done conclude this Chapter of Auricula with two other Plants that bear flowers something resembling them but neither are of that family or have any other relation thereunto yet fittest for this place as not deserving particular Chapters Auricula flore caeruleo folio Boraginis THe Burage-leaved blew Auricula hath rough hairy leaves spread on the ground like those of Burage but much lesser and rent in the sides in some places among which riseth up one two or more brown hairy-stalks five or six inches high each bearing at the top three or four flowers consisting of five leaves which are large sharp-pointed and of a fair rich blew colour with some small yellow threds in the middle the root is long and brownish with many small fibres annexed thereunto This Plant as it is rare so is it tender and impatient of our cold Winters and therefore requireth to be planted in a pot that it may be handled as the flos Cardinalis Cortusa Mathioli BEars-ears Sanicle as some call it springeth up with the leaves foulded which opening are fair and broad cut in divisions and nicked about the edges a little hairy and of a dark green colour on the uperside but whiter on the other from among the leaves riseth up one or two naked stalks five or six inches high bearing at the tops divers small flowers like in form to an Auricula but hanging down their heads and of a dark purple colour with a small white eye and some threds in the middle after the flowers are past the seeds succeed like that of the Auricula the root is composed of a thick tuft of small whitish strings fastened to a head which abideth in the ground all the Winter the leaves perishing and renewing at the Spring This Plant is commonly raised from seeds set in a pot and ordered as in the last in Winter both this and the former flower with the Auricula or a little after them All the several sorts of Auricula do flower in April or the beginning of May and sometimes they will flower again in the end of August or beginning of September but those flowers that come then are neither so fair nor so many on one stalk as those of the Spring The Bears-ears must be planted in some place that is a little shaded from the scorching heat of the Sun the soil made very rich if stiff with sand store of well rotted Neats-dung therein the roots set a foot asunder for they spread wide and will not thrive if they want room the best way to set them is to open a wide hole leaving or raising a little hill in the middest thereof then set the root thereupon and spread the fibres round about it lastly cover and water them After the middle of August every other year take them up and then mend the soil where they grew with sifted Neats-dung and having slipped and parted the roots and cut off those fibres that are too long set them in the same place again by this means you shall not fail to have them thrive and bear store of flowers but if you let them stand too long unremoved or in poor or stiff ground you must expect the contrary The best sorts of Auricula are set in pots which they will well deserve fill the pots almost half full with sifted Neats-dung the rest with good sandy earth well mixed with such sifted dung and about the end of August set the Plants therein but not too deep for the roots will be apt enough to draw downwards place these pots in the Sun all the Winter and with Glasses defend them from over much wet but do not house them for they will do better in the open Air. At the Spring when they rise to flower remove them into a place more shaded and after the flowers are past except those you leave to seed you may dispose in some shady place out of the way to make room for pots with Gilliflowers The raising varieties of them from seeds is a secret wherewith few are well acquainted and it is to be performed with something more than common diligence according to the rules following After the flowers are past and the stalks begin to grow yellow you may observe in the top of that little round seed-vessel a small hole and then you may be assured the seed is almost ripe and if you do not carefully look to it will be all shed before you are aware therefore as soon as you perceive it to be ready cut down the stalks keeping the tops upright for if you turn them downwards all the best seeds will fall out then binde them in bundles and place them upright to the Glass of some South Window where by some benefit they will receive from the Sun they will harden and be much the better towards the end of August or beginning of September prepare some square box or boxes according to your store of seeds that are nine or ten inches deep and of what breadth you please with some holes in the bottom to let out water which fill three parts full with fine sandy sifted earth one half thereof being well rotted Neats dung which mingled well together and laid smooth with your Trowel lay thereon a fingers thickness of fine sifted Willow earth or for want thereof dried Cow-dung beaten small mingled with a little good earth and sifted and sow your seeds thereon mingled with Wood-ashes which by their colour will direct you to sow them the more suitably they must not be sowed too thin for all will not come up if they do they may easily be removed to another place after the seeds are thus sowed cover them half a finger thick with the same you put next under them which press down lightly and let them remain in the Sun and Air untill they begin to come up which will be about April and then they
the seeds are sowed in good rich earth in April in the Flower-Nurcery and in September after removed into the Garden CHAP. VI. Carduus THistles as noysome Weeds are more usually cast out than as delightful flowers received into Gardens yet there are some sorts that may be accepted and the chiefest among these seedlings inserted Carduus Globosus major THe greater Globe-Thistle hath many large leaves lying on the ground cut in and gashed to the middle ribb full of sharp prickles the stalk riseth above a yard high divided into branches bearing great round hard heads thick set with sharp-bearded husks of a blewish green colour out of the husks come forth pale blew flowers spreading over the whole head a braver thistle never beautified a Scots Bonet after the flowers are past the seeds are contained in the husks which must be preserved for the old Plant dieth in Winter Carduus Globosus minor THe lesser Globe-Thistle hath leaves like the former but lesser and whiter the stalk and head of flowers not so bigg the root more durable commonly lasting three or four years bearing flowers These flower usually in August and sometimes later being sowed of seeds they will come to bear flowers the second year There are some other sorts of Thistles which in general collections are received into Gardens but none of them fit for our purpose CHAP. VII Scabiosa SCabious is a Plant well known especially those sorts thereof which carry blew flowers and grow wild in the fields but there are other kinds of Scabious which as well for the beauty of their flowers as being Foreiners find friendly entertainment from all that delight in seedlings but first take one of our own Country to usher in the other strangers Scabiosa flore albo WHite flowered Scabious hath many jagged green leaves like that of the field but lesser bearing stalks and flowers of the same fashion onely differing in colour the flowers of this being white this hath been found wild in the fields and thence for the rarity brought into Gardens Scabiosa rubra Austriaca REd Scabious of Austria in leaves resembleth the Devils bit but shorter and onely snipt about the edges the flowers are of the fashion of those of other kinds in one of a deep red colour and in another of a fine bright purplish red the seeds are a little long and round set with hairs at the ends Scabiosa rubra Indica REd Indian Scabious hath many jagged green leaves lying on the ground from whence rise up divers stalks divided into several branches bearing flowers like those of the former but of various colours some being deep crimson others murrey purple in both some deeper and others paler and some will have the outer leaves of a deeper or lighter murrey and the middle of the flower almost white we have some that bear their flowers like the Childling Daysie many smaller coming out on long foot-stalks of the sides of one larger flower and many other diversities are observed to proceed from the seeds of this kind which are yearly sowed for the Plant commonly dyeth after it hath given seeds yet if it stand in a warm place and the Winters prove milde some Plants will last and bear flowers two or three years The two first flower about July the other if they bear the first year they are sowed it will be late in September so that then from such Plants little good seed can be expected but the best way to be sure of good seeds is about the beginning of June to remove the young Plants to keep them back from running up to flower the first year which will cause them to bring their flowers sooner the next and so have time to ripen the seeds from which being sowed in April many more varieties may be raised than are before described especially from the flowers that are of the lightest and most mixed colours the which are chiefly to be reserved for that purpose CHAP. VIII Cyanus COrn-flower or Blew-bottles are common in every corn-field especially those with blew flowers of which kind many diversities are raised from seeds differing in colour for some of them will be blew like that of the field other white blush sadder or lighter purple brighter or darker red or else of these colours mixed as edges white the rest blew or purple or the flower white edged with blew or purple in some striped spotted or divided half the flower of one colour and the other of another and often the middle of the flower of a sadder and deeper colour than the rest After the flowers are past the scaly heads contain wrapped in downy matter small hard white shining seeds which must be preserved and sowed at the Spring for the roots yearly perish There is another sort more rare than any of the former called the Sultans flower the seeds are smaller and blacker than those of the former the plants bigger in all the parts thereof the flowers are larger and of a purplish blush-colour in one and in another Snow-white more beautiful than any of the former the roots yearly perish and the seeds not very apt to come up or the Plant to prosper but requireth to be often watered and to be nursed up in a hot bed We have another called the Spanish Corn-flower which rambles and takes up more ground than can well be spared for so poor a Plant the flowers are of a pale purplish blush-colour but not so fair nor beautiful as the last this seeds and yearly dies as the rest doe The first kind flower in June and July the two last not untill August the Sultans flower is of some esteem but the rest are little valued yet by such as want better things entertained We have another Plant which Mr. Parkinson in his florilege sets forth by the name of Jacea marina Baetica Spanish sea Knabweed then rare with him but now common in almost every Garden and is no other than that rambling lasting Plant vulgarly called the great Cyanus or Blew-bottle Carthamus Sativus bastard Saffron is an annual yearly raised from seeds it hath broad green leaves a round hard stalk branched at the top and each branch bearing one great scaly head out of which cometh a tuft of shining gold-coloured threds which keep that colour though gathered a long time the seed is round and long white and hard but seldome ripens with us and the root yearly dies the seeds come to us from Spain where much is planted for the use of the dyers of silk CHAP. IX Amaranthus FLower Gentle is chiefly of two sorts the greater and the lesser of the first there are some diversities but many more and better of the latter of which there hath lately been observed twenty five varieties all in flower together but first of that best known Amaranthus purpureus major THe great Floramour hath a thick and tall crested stalk with many reddish large green leaves the stalk divided into many branches bearing long spikes of round
paler underneath and sometimes there will come diversities from the seeds of one flower some being paler than others these fair great double flowers rise out of a large pod wherein after they are past long narrow black seeds are contained from which the several varieties are raised and some of them will bring large single flowers with a thrum in the middle although taken from double flowers Flos Africanus fistuloso flore multiplex THe hollow-leafed African or French Marigold is like the last but smaller the flowers are thick and double composed of many hollow leaves opening at the ends in some of a deep in others of a paller yellow colour and as the former so the seeds of this will sometimes bring single flowers Flos Africanus minor flore pleno THe lesser double French or African Marigold hath lesser leaves than any of the former the stalks not so strong and upright but leaning and turning divers ways the flowers are thick and double but much smaller than those of the other kinds sometimes wholly of a gold-yellow colour and sometimes the outer leaves being bigger than those within are of a deeper and sad colour the seeds of this do likewise bring some single flowers as well as double and diversities of both as bigger and lesser deeper and paler but none of them much esteemed in respect of their evil smell The two first kinds flower about the beginning of September and the last common sort sooner the roots perish with the first Frosts and are yearly renewed by seeds for which purpose the first flowers are to be preserved and the seeds sowed in the beginning of April in a hot bed especially those of the two first kinds and after they are come up and of some strength removed into a good rich soil that standeth in the Sun where being watered they will prosper and bear store of gallant double flowers the seed whereof are onely to be preserved CHAP. XV Convolvulus Caeruleus BLew Binde weed is of two sorts a bigger and a lesser the first riseth up with many long winding branches set with large and something round leaves pointed at the ends the flowers come forth at the joynts upon long foot-foot-stalks which being blown open are like bells with broad open mouths ending in five corners of a fair blew colour tending to purple these flowers open in the night and are to be seen in the morning before the Sun for as soon as it shines upon them they are all gone and never appear again after the flowers are past the husks contain round black seeds the roots perish in Winter There is of this kind another that hath cornered leaves like Ivy the flowers of a deeper blew more reddish in the five plaits and bottom in all other things like the former The lesser Bind-weed hath smaller and longer leaves than the first and a weak stalk rising about two foot high the flowers come forth at the joynts where the leaves stand like the other in fashion but lesser and far more beautiful being of a fair blew colour with a white Star in the bottom the seeds are like the former but smaller and the root dies with the first approach of Winter The greater kinds flower late in September the lesser in June and July they are yearly raised from seeds the first requiring a hot bed but the other is hardy and will come up and thrive without that trouble as for the red flowered Bind weed of America we must not expect to see it bear in England and the Lavender leafed Bind-weed is a weed indeed common in many fields in divers English Countries We have another sort of Bell-flowers raised from seeds called Viola Mariana MArians Violet or Canterbury Bells the first year after the seeds are sowen cometh up with many hairy leaves something broad and long spread on the ground the year after the stalk riseth a yard high divided into many branches set with smaller leaves and a multitude of flowers standing in green husks which are large round hollow Bells swelling in the middle with narrow necks and ending in five corners in some of a white or silver colour and in others of a pale or deep purple the seed is small contained in square husks and the whole Plant dies as soon as the seeds are ripe so that the kinds are continued by sowing the seeds in April with other annuals and after removed where the Plants may stand to bear flowers CHAP. XVI Stramonium THorn-Aple is of two sorts a greater and a lesser the first riseth up with a strong round stalk four or five foot high spreading at the joynts into many branches set with large dark green cornered leaves cut and jagged about the edges at the joynts come forth large Bell-fashioned white flowers which are succeeded by great round and somthing prickly Thorny green heads which being ripe open into three or four parts and discover a great quantity of blackish flat seeds within them the root dies in Winter and new Plants often come up of its own sowing There is another little differing from this but that the flowers are of a light purple colour The lesser Thorn-Aple differeth from the former in that it is lower and much lesser in all the parts thereof the leaves are smooth and rent at the edges and the stalks without branches the flowers come forth at the joynts like the other not so big but more beautiful white in colour and like a Bell in fashion the Aples or heads that contain the seeds are lesser rounder and harder than those of the greater kind the root dies at the first appearance of Winter We talk much of two other varieties of this lesser kind the one bearing flowers ingeminated or hose in hose one coming out of the other and another that is double consisting of two or more rows of leaves rising equally together I have seen the figures of both these well cut in Brass in two or three Books of Flowers Printed in Forein Countries and it is like that such there are in those parts but I am confident they were never seen in England otherwise than in picture For that with single flowers will hardly flower with us and if it do it is so late that it seldom yieldeth any good seeds the greater kind is common and will grow any where the fittest place is in an Orchard or Kitchen-Garden for it takes more room than the Plant deserves CHAP. XVII Mirabilia Peruviana THe Mervail of Peru hath a big stalk bunched at the joynts of a fair green colour in those that will bear white and red flowers red in those with red flowers dark green in those with yellow flowers and brown in those with red and yellow flowers these stalks spread into many branches set at the joynts with fair green leaves betwixt which and the stalk the flowers come forth on short foot-stalks in fashion like those of the lesser blew Bind-weed narrow at the bottom and wide open at the brims
them will be ready to graft in the bud the Plums with the best of their own kind and also with Apricocks and Peaches the Cherries are only fit to be budded with other good sorts of Cherries as for Suckers they must be set in the Nurcery after the same manner and after they are grown to an inch Diameter may conveniently be grafted in the cleft Gather your Grafts of Plums Cherries and Pears from the middle of January to the same time in February those of Apples may stay untill March choose such as are of two saps that the old wood to the knot may be placed in the stock those of one years shoot will serve in default of the other but such will be longer before they come to bear Make choice of such Grafts as are strongest and take them from such branches as are aptest to bear and then fullest of Fruit-buds such Trees as are ill bearers or not come to bear fruit are to be rejected the Grafts always partaking the quality of the Tree from whence they are taken Bind your Grafts in bundles each sort by it self and put them half way to the tops in earth untill you use them keeping an exact account of the kinds that you be not mistaken in your fruits as for the several ways of grafting them it is to be performed with much exactness in manner following Grafting as we are taught by common experience is the artificial placing the Cyen or Graft of one kind upon the stock of another so as the sap of the Stock may without impediment come to nourish the Graft it is therefore expedient in this operation the Saps passing betwixt the bark and the wood that they be exactly joyned which is effected four several ways The first and most known is grafting in the Cleft Plums and Cherries about the new Moon in February Pears in the beginning of March and Apples a fortnight or three weeks after First saw off the head of the stock in a smooth place for Wall-trees within four fingers of the ground in Standards much higher according to the growth of the stock pare away with your knife the roughness the saw hath left then cleave the head a little besides the pith and put therein a long wedge of hard wood to keep the cleft open which cut smooth with the point of your knife that the sides may be eaven then cut the Graft on both sides from a knot or bud in form of a wedge in length proportionable to the cleft with shoulderings which place therein so as the Saps may exactly joyn Lastly cover the Head with clay well tempered with Horse-dung and leave not the Grafts too long The second way is called Shoulder or Whip-grafting fit only for small stocks and to be performed something later than the former first cut off the Head of the stock and smooth it as in Cleft grafting then cut the Graft from a knot or bud on one side sloping about an inch and half long with a Shouldering that it may rest on the Head of the stock the Graft must be cut from the Shouldering smooth and eaven sloping by degrees that the lower end may be left thin place the Shouldering of the Graft upon the Head of the stock and with your knife cut away so much of the bark as the cut side of the Graft did cover place both together that their Saps may exactly joyn then bind them together with rushes flags or baste and clay the Head as in the former The third way is called grafting by Approach by some Ablactation and this is done in April sooner or later according to the state of the Spring the manner differs from the last in that the Cyen remains on its own stock and the Head also on the stock you would graft therefore both must be planted together or in Cases that they may be so posited the Branches of both being near of one size must be brought together that they may touch each other the length of three inches then cut the joyning sides of both untill you approach near the pith and fit them so together that the Saps may exactly meet in which position bind them and cover the place with such tempered clay as is used in Heading of Grafts as soon as you perceive the Cyen and stock to be well cimented and incorporated cut off the Head of the stock four inches above the binding and in March following the stub you left above as also the Cyen underneath close to the grafted place that it may subsist by the Stock only some use to cut off the Head of the Stock at first then joyn the Cyen thereunto after the manner of Shoulder-grafting differing only in not severing the Cyen from its own Stock both ways are good but I have found the first the more succesful This manner of Grafting is chiefly used in such nice and tender Plants as are not apt to take any other way as Orenges Limons Pomgranats Vines Gessamins Althea frutex and such like The fourth and most considerable way of Grafting of all other is called Inoculating or Budding the which is effected by taking off the Eye or small bud which grows betwixt the leaf and the new shoot or Lance and so placing it on a fit stock that it may from thence receive nutrition agreeable and this may seasonably be done from Midsomer to the middle of July at such time as the Sap is most in the stock and the bark easiest to be raised the Buds must not be too young or tender but taken from strong well-grown Shoots of the same year which being cut from the Tree take away the top and leaves leaving half their stalks by which you may hold the Buds when you put them into the stocks then having made choice of stocks according to the nature of your Buds in a smooth place make a cross cut thorough the bark of the stock then from the middle thereof gently slit the bark thorough not wounding the stock almost an inch long then nimbly prepare the Bud by cutting the bark on both sides the length of the slit as much above as below forming a Shield or Escocheon with the lower end a little sharp next take off the Bark on the other side and with a quill cut in the fashion of a scoop an inch long take off the Bark and bud dexterously that you leave not the root behind for if you see a hole under the bud on the inside cast it away and prepare another the Shield being thus made ready hold it in your mouth by the end of the stalk untill with the flat end of your knife you have raised the Bark of the stock on either side the slit sufficient to receive the Sheild which put in with care between the Bark and wood thrusting it down untill the top joyn to the cross cut then bind it close with Bast taken out of a Russia Mat or Woollen yarn so that the bud may sit close to the stock
downy Catlins which turn into Berries at first green after red and lastly black like unto Hedge Black-berries but bigger and longer something sweet in taste There is another sort of black Mulberry more rare it chiefly differs in the Berries which are much bigger and better tasted than those of the former common kind The white Mulberry groweth lesser spread than the black the leaves paler softer and thinner set on the branches the Berries smaller the grains thicker set white and sweet in taste The Virginian Mulberry soon groweth with us to a fair Tree with larger leaves than the last the Berries are longer and redder than any of the former and of a pleasant taste These Trees are easily raised either by Suckers Layers or Cuttings and the great black Mulberry may be grafted on the common kind CHAP. XVII Grossularia GOosberries are of divers sorts and colours as red blue yellow white and green some of them round others long some smooth and others prickly Of red Goosberries there are three sorts one small and round seldom bearing another bigger and a little flat but no very good bearer the third is called the Damson Goosberry this is a good bearer the Berries large round and red and when full ripe with a blue tincture over them like a Damson The blue Goosberry hath the Berries thinly set on the branches which are small a little long and of a dark red colour tinctured over with blue Yellow Goosberries are of several sorts one large round and smooth others lesser some long and prickly of which there are two sorts chiefly esteemed the first round smooth large and good of a bright yellow colour and called the Amber Goosberry the other is large long and prickly of a deep yellow colour and good taste and is called the great Hedge-hog Goosberry The white Holland Goosberry is the fairest biggest and best bearer of all others the Berries are large round smooth white transparent and well-tasted The green Goosberry is of two sorts one bigger and longer than the other both very green and good but the bigger is most esteemed Goosberries are propagated by Suckers Layers or Cuttings I have a Goosberry-bush that from one stem beareth four several-coloured Berries effected by Budding the Amber Damson and Green upon several branches of the White Those that desire the like curiosity must in Winter prune and prepare the Stock leaving thereon three branches onely and at the Spring rub off all buds that come forth in other places about Midsomer put in the Buds taken from the biggest Lances which after they are grown to some bigness one Bud of the natural Stock may be suffered to grow to make four sorts the Stock must be kept from Suckers the Lances in Somer stopped and pruned in Winter that one draw not more Sap than another CHAP. XVIII Ribes COrinthes or Currans as they are vulgarly called are Plants well known unto all of these there are five several sorts which differ chiefly as the Goosberries in the Berries The small black Curran is not worth the Planting The small red Curran is of no better esteem The great red Curran is a plentiful bearer the Berries twice as big as those of the former of a bright shining red colour and good though something sharp taste The greatest dark red Dutch Curran differs from the last in that the Berries are bigger of a more blackish colour and sweeter taste The white Curran is like the great red onely the Berries are something lesser white transparent and well-tasted They are as easily increased as Goosberries by Suckers parting the roots or laying the branches these may be budded one upon another and so several sorts grow from one Stock as is said of the Goosberries CHAP. XIX Oxyacantha THe Barberry is common with all that have Orchards or Gardens especially the common kind but there are two other sorts more rare the first hath many branches of Berries that are without stones and some on the same Bush with stones like the common kind The other Barberry chiefly differs from the common kind in that the Berries are twice as big and more excellent to preserve and if the roots be purged from Suckers and the branches spread upon a Wall the Berries will be fairer better coloured and indeed excellent for divers uses These Plants are too apt to abound with Suckers and to multiply too much CHAP. XX. HAving now given you an account of all the best Garden-Fruits Vines and Berries that hitherto have come to our knowledge we shall proceed to the rest of the Flower-bearing Trees Shrubs and Greens omitted in the first Book as being fitter for a Fruit than Flower-Garden and that I may perform what was promised in the Epistle and Proem with submission insert them in the end of this Book Castanea Equina THe Horse Chesnut was raised from the Nuts that came from Turky which grow well with us and in time to a fair large Tree full of Boughs and Branches set with gallant great green Leaves divided into six seaven or nine parts or several leaves standing together nicked about the edges much resembling those of Palma Christi at the ends of the Branches in May many Flowers come forth each having four white leaves with thrids in the middle which in their natural Countrey turn into Chesnuts but rarely with us It is respected for the beauty of the fair green Leaves and Flowers and with us increased in default of Nuts by Suckers The name was imposed from the property of the Nuts which in Turky are given to Horses in their Provender to cure such as have coughs or are broken winded Arbor Judae IUdas Tree seldome groweth with us above six foot high the young Shoots have a reddish bark and the Leaves round the Flowers break through the bark in the Spring before the Leaves three or four standing together on a small short stalk in fashion like Pease-blossoms of a fine purplish bright red colour which are suceeded by long flat cods containing small flat black seeds there is another of this kind whose bark leaves and cods are greener and the flowers white they are apt to put forth many Suckers by which as also by Layers they may be increased Laburnum BEan Trefoile is of two sorts a greater and a lesser the first riseth to a reasonable tall Tree with a whitish green bark full of Boughes and Branches set with Leaves three always standing together at the joynts of the branches in May many yellow Flowers come forth like those of Broom but lesser and of a paler yellow colour growing on long branched stalks succeeded by flat thin cods with small black seeds the other lesser kind chiefly differs in that it is smaller in all parts the branches weak and the whole Plant scarce able to support it self without help these are now both common for that every Cutting will grow and those of the greater kind soon rise to large Trees Cytisus secundus Clusii THis kind of Trefoile is much
the Spring grow to be large long and green three or four standing upon a short round weak green foot-foot-stalk in the middle of the leaves the seed-vessel appeareth containing round brown seeds the root is something like unto that of the Tulip but commonly bigger and having that eminence at the bottom standing out very long from whence many fibres shoot into the ground Colchicum variegatum THe varigated Meadow-Saffron differeth from the last in that the Flowers rise higher and are striped with a deeper purple upon a pale blush ground throughout every leaf thereof which are longer than those of the former and not so round-pointed in the roots and leaves there is no material difference Colchicum atropurpureum variegatum THe dark purple striped Meadow-Saffron differeth from the other in that the Flowers at their first appearing are of a pale blush-colour with small and sharped-pointed leaves which after a little time become striped and garded with a dark sad purple Colchicum variegatum dictum Agrippina THe variegated Meadow-Saffron commonly called Agripina is of later discovery and more rarity than any of the former the difference chiefly consisting in the colour and marking of the Flowers which in this are white and red penached like a Tulip Colchicum fritillaricum Ne apolitanum THe checkered Meadow-Saffron of Naples hath larger and deeper purplish red Flowers and more eminently checkered like Fritillary than any other of that sort except the next whereof there is some diversity but this is the best the root and green leaves differ very little from those of the former Colchicum fritillaricum Chiense THe checkered Meadow-Saffron of Chio bringeth forth late in Autum small but beautiful Flowers of a pale purple colour thick spotted and checkered with blewish purple the green leaves come up in the Spring which are much smaller than any of the other commonly three in number of a fresh green colour lying on the ground twining and folding the edges the root is like those of the other but smaller and more tender Colchicum flore pleno THe double Meadow-Saffron is like the common English kind that grows plentifully in divers moist Meadows onely the Flowers of this are double containing many leaves of the same pale purplish colour with some chives tipt with yellow pendents among them Colchicum flore pleno purpureo THe double purple Meadow-Saffron differeth from the former in that the Flowers are smaller the leaves of them sharper pointed and of deeper purplish red colour Colchicum variegatum flore pleno THe double varigated Meadow-Saffron is like the first double kind onely some of the leaves of the double Flower will be striped and garded with white upon the pale blush ground Colchicum maximum flore pleno THe greatest double Meadow-Saffron hath Flowers much bigger and doubler than any of the former containing very many round-pointed leaves of pale purplish blush-colour spreading open and forming a gallant double Flower far transcending any of the former double kinds The roots of the Colchicums being set about the end of August or beginning of September will suddainly put forth fibres and shortly after Flowers being the first blown from the time of the setting of the dry roots of all others although vulgarly accounted the last which are indeed the first that flower some of them in September others in October the first parti-coloured and that of Chio being commonly the last They are easily planted the roots losing their fibres which may be taken up as soon as the green leaves are dryed down and kept out of the ground untill the fore-mentioned time for their planting they affect a moist ground but being hardy will thrive and encrease in almost any soil onely that of Chio is tender and will not prosper unless it be planted in a warm place where it may have the comfort of the Sun and the benefit of shelter from Frosts wet and cold in Winter whereof it is very impatient I doubt not but other fine varieties may be raised by the sowing of the seeds of the best kinds the manner of handling them is the same with that of Tulips and other bulbous roots that lose their fibres CHAP. XVII Crocus SAffron is of divers sorts some flowering in the Spring and others in Autum whereof the true Saffron is a kind all the rest are onely entertained for the beauty of their Flowers which are of three principal colours white purple and yellow deeper and lighter bigger and smaller and some striped feathered or flamed as in the following descriptions is expressed and first of the white and the varieties thereof Crocus albus major THe great white Crocus riseth up with narrow long green leaves with a white line in the middest of them and as soon as these leaves appear out of the ground there cometh up in the middle of them covered with a thin white skin small low white Flowers composed of six leaves with some chives and a long Saffron pointell in the middle which never open but when the Sun shines warm upon them after the Flowers are past the green leaves grow longer and the seeds succeed which is small and round contained in a low three-square husk of a yellowish red colour the root is small round and flat covered with a russet coat there is a lesser of this kind that beareth very small white Flowers of little esteem Crocus Maesiacus THe white Crocus of Masia is like the last great white but bigger and bearing more Flowers from one root but not of so pure a white colour but rather inclining to yellow there is one of this kind with the bottom of the Flower and part of the stalk of a bright blew colour and there is another of a pure white colour with the bottom and stalk blew of the seeds whereof the next was raised Crocus plumatus pallidus THe pale feathered Crocus is something like the last white but larger and not so round pointed the stalk and bottom of the flower is blew like unto it the three outward leaves on the backs or outsides are all white or silver-colour and on the insides finely striped with bigger and smaller stripes of pale blewish purple the three inner leaves are striped with the same colour but smaller on both the sides thereof this is not so common as many of the other are and is indeed one of the best we have Crocus Episcopalis THe Bishops Crocus hath bigger roots and leaves than any of the former the flowers are longer and sharper-pointed than those of the last and variable in their colours sometimes they will be white finely striped with blew sometimes the three outer leaves will be blew and the other three silver-colour striped with blew and sometimes it will have three leaves white and the other three pale blew and all these diversities arising from one root and the increase thereof Crocus Imperialis THe Imperial Crocus hath many flowers rising from one root which are of a silver colour striped on the backs of the leaves with purple
which are divided into two parts and the other three leaves standing upright very small at the bottom and of the breadth of a six pence at the top the whole flower in this except the yellow spot is of a bleak heavy blew colour the seed is round and of a yellowish brown colour contained in three-square husks wherein if it be stirred when it is ripe it will rattle the root is big and long covered with a brown stringy coat this is the most common and the worst of all others the rest that follow are fine flowers and some of them very rare Iris bulbosa major flore caeruleo elegantior THe great bulbous Iris with a rich blew flower is in all things like the former except the colour of the flower which in this is a rich shining blew colour far excelling the other and having that spot which is in the lower leaves of all these Flower-de-luces of a deep yellow inclining to an Orenge Iris bulbosa major flore caeruleo variegata sive chamoletta THe blew striped Flower-de-luce is like the first the flowers of the same blew colour but diversly marked and striped throughout every leaf thereof with a dark violet purple colour resembling watered Chamolet Iris bulbosa major purpurea THe great purple bulbous Flower-de-luce hath larger flowers than the first common kind the whole flower except the yellow spot is of a reddish murry purple colour Iris bulbosa major flore purpureo versicolor THe great purple variable bulbous Flower-de-luce hath the flowers somewhat lesser than the former and of a rich murrey purple colour with a small yellow spot in the falling leaves marked with deeper brown purple almost black upon a lighter purple like watered Chamolet and therefore by some called brown purpur Chamolet and the former the blew Chamolet by which names the Walloons brought them over out of Flanders Iris bulbosa major flore cinereo THe great Ash-coloured bulbous Flower-de-luce hath one or two flowers on a stalk as big as the first blew which are of an Ash or Lavender colour with a yellow spot in the three falling leaves Iris bulbosa major flore cinereo striata THe great Ash-coloured striped bulbous Iris is like the last only the flowers of this being of the same colour are striped and veined all over with small lines of purple Iris bulbosa major versicolor THe great variable coloured bulbous Flower-de-luce hath the three falling leaves of the flower of a pale silver-colour with a circle of ash-colour about the yellow spot the arches are of the same silver-colour ridged with ash-colour and the top leaves also striped and veined with blew Iris bulbosa major flore rubente THe great pale red or Peach-coloured bulbous Flower-de-luce is more rare than any of the former the flowers are in fashion like those of the purple and of a pale red colour like unto the blossome of a Peach with a small yellow spot in each of the three falling leaves Iris bulbosa major flore albo THe great white bulbous Flower-de-luce is something bigger than the first common blew the flowers when they are full-blown are of a pure snow-white colour with a small yellow spot in the middle of the three falling leaves Iris bulbosa major flore albo maximo THe great white bulbous Iris with the biggest flower is like the last but something bigger the flowers are longer and larger of the same snow-white colour and sometimes the three top-leaves will be a little striped and spotted with a faint purple colour I have divers blews murrey and violet purples some deeper and others lighter all large flowers which I raised from the seeds of this great white and one deep blew with small stripes of white through every leaf of the flower and of more than an hundred I had but two whites the one more the other less striped than the original Iris bulbosa major alba variegata THe great white striped bulbous Flower-de-luce hath a smaller flower than the first white of the same pure white colour and finely striped and marked with veins stripes and drops of a shining watchet or blew colour throughout every leaf thereof this is by many called the Purcelan Iris from the colours and manner of marking resembling that of a China dish Iris bulbosa major flore albo purpureo variegata THe great white bulbous Iris striped with purple next to the peach colour is the rarest of all the great bulbous Flower-de luce the flowers are almost as large as the first white of the same pure white colour and excellently striped and marked through every leaf thereof with purple of the seeds of this I have raised several varieties whereof two are most considerable one of them hath a snow-white flower marked in the falls with dops of purple and the top-leaves with small stripes the other is of a deep velvet dark violet purple colour with small spots and stripes of ash-colour both in the three falling leaves and those that stand upright Iris bulbosa major flore luteo THe great yellow bulbous Flower-de-luce differeth only from the first white in that the flowers of this are of a fine bright gold-colour with the spot in the three falling leaves of a deeper yellow almost orenge These are the diversities of the greater bulbous Flower-de-luces as far forth as hitherto have come to our knowledge I doubt not but that there are many more in other Countreys and more may be raised in our own by sowing the seeds of those we have which in ordering is the same with Tulips they bring forth their flowers in June some sooner than others the blews being first in flower then the whites and the purples last The roots lose their fibres every year and must be taken up as soon as they are dry down or a little before for if they stay longer in the ground within a fortnight after flowring they will put forth new fibres and then it is too late to stir them the roots being taken up in a fit season may be kept dry untill the beginning of August and then it will be time to set them for it is not good to keep them too long out of ground if the earth wherein they are set be over rank and hot it will rot and consume them all therefore a bed must be made for them of good fresh sifted earth and not too poor neither for then they will not thrive nor placed too much in the Sun for that will scorch and spoyl them but the best place is on the East side the Garden for neither the South nor the West sides will agree with them as I have often found by experience Iris bulbosa minor THe lesser bulbous Flower-de-luce is next in order to be described whereof there are many more varieties than are to be found in the greater kinds but many of them very common and of small esteem we will therefore make choice of some few and chuse the best and most worthy to be collected and entertained Iris