Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	work_n	year_n	198	4	4.3724	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28337	The compleat gardeners practice, directing the exact way of gardening in three parts : the garden of pleasure, physical garden, kitchin garden : how they are to be ordered for their best situation and improvement, with variety of artificial knots for the by Stephen Blake, gardener.	Blake, Stephen, Gardener.	1664 (1664)	Wing B3139; ESTC R18838	125,718	224

THE Compleat Gardeners PRACTICE DIRECTING The Exact Way of GARDENING In three PARTS The GARDEN of PLEASURE PHYSICAL GARDEN KITCHIN GARDEN How they are to be ordered for their best Situation and Improvement with variety of Artificial Knots for the Beautifying of a GARDEN all engraven in Copper the choisest way for the Raising Governing and Maintaining of all Plants cultevated in GARDENS now in ENGLAND Being a plain Discourse how HERBS FLOWERS and TREES according to Art and Nature may be propagated by Sowing Setting Planting Replanting Pruning also Experience of Alteration of Sent Colour and Taste clearly reconciling as it treateth of each HERB and FLOWER in particular By STEPHEN BLAKE Gardener Search the World and there 's not to be found A Book so good as this for Garden ground London Printed for Thomas Pierrepoint and are to be sold at the Signe of the Sunne in St Paul's Church-yard M. DC LXIV To the Right Worshipfull WILLIAM OVGLANDER Esq one of the Honourable House of Parliament Son and Heir to the Late Sr JOHN OUGLANDER c. The Honourable Example of piety the worthy Pattern of good endeavours and great observer of the Works of Nature SIR LEt the heighth of your understanding and the greatness of your learning condescend so low as to take a view of the words and works which your Servant hath bound up in this Volume to give you a description thereof in metaphoricall expressions I have not Scholarship enough but I have confidence enough to speak and publish the truth of these Experiments which I have gathered with a diligent Eye and a painfull Hand from all such Plants as are cultivated in Gardens now in England the truth of the Discourse contained in this Treatise hath enboldened me to enrich it with your Noble Name now Sir I will be accountable of the Work I have from time to time took a due observation of that part of Gods vegetable Creatures which are placed within the compass of my Calling and with pains care and diligence I have writ down the knowledg of propagating of each Plant to help me the better in my Calling for in viewing of it I am put in mind of those Herbs and Flowers that the Winters cold breath hath bereaved of life or otherwise I might forget them though I might know them very well formerly they are so infinite in their number so various in their nature that my Head cannot carry in mind what Experiments my Eye and Hand hath seen and done without the help of my Pen upon this account I have set down these Observations which I know to be true and I doubt not but it is a laudable Piece now I think fit to publish it to the World for the advancement of Gods Creatures and for the good of my self and others that shall put it in practice that it may be a rule to guide the ignorant and confirm the judgement of those that have good experience The reason why I undertook this Work is this I have made diligent enquiry after such Books of such Authors as might help me in my Practice and I could find very few and for those that are they did not answer my desires because they only treated of the use and vertue of Herbs the beauty variety and preheminence of Flowers the goodness and profit of Fruit-Trees but they have written little or nothing as to the practicall part of the advancement of the nature and growth of Herbs Flowers and Trees and for that which is written seems to me and other Men which have experience as fancies dreams and conceits which might come into their heads as they were sitting in their Studies for I and others have found by wofull experience that their direction concerning the propagating of any Plant to be more hurtfull than usefull but this is not my intended Discourse for in the ensuing Treatise I have spoken little against Authors and took less from them for mine is the Gardeners practicall part which hath never been written by any and having good experience therein a talent God hath given me to improve I think it not fit to lay it up but to unfold my Napkin that it may contribute to a publick good I further humbly conceive that it was my duty to dedicate it to you before any other whatsoever because I was a Plant nourished up within the pale of your habitation and I hope not altogether unfruitfull yet considering I was nursed up with your bounty preserved with your love and care then the fruit is no more mine but yours worthy Sir and I know it is very usefull for all as have a desire of such a Work as tendeth to the propagating of Plants wherein is abundance of excellent things both for food medicable and physicall Arts for the use and comfort of mankind that God in all things may be glorified every sensible man knoweth this and he hath so much reason if he will but set his understanding awork whereby he can discern the wisdome of a Creator in forming such a harmony of Creatures and in giving of them such various operations in their severall natures and that all things are so ordained that it shall be no way usefull without knowledge and labour then let all degrees of men know whether they be high or low rich or poor they ought to labour either in body or mind that they may some way or other cooperate and contribute to the common good or else they are unworthy of the blessings of this life yet all men desire a good name with reputation and honour whether they are deserving yea or no. Now my counsell is to all such that they will look upon you worthy Sir as an example of all good endeavours to wit your great love care and diligent search after the knowledge of those Plants which are mentioned in this Book and that they will take notice of your more estimable vertues as constance in times of distraction such a setled devotion in times of faction such lowliness of mind in such heighth of Estate much more my eyes and ears have gathered from your eminent parts which my Pen cannot express And Sir let me intrude farther on your patience to acquaint you with this Treatise wherein I have faithfully declared the way of contriving modelizing and situation of a Garden of Pleasure with artificiall Knots to be amplified therein for the variety of delight pleasure and contentment of all noble and ingenious persons I have given rules and directions for the advancement of a physicall Garden and a Kitchin Garden and for each of these I have given a right information how each Herb Flower and Tree in particular is to be propagated in its own nature also Experiments of alteration ingemination in the fructition or by conviction with varieties properties and beauties appertaining to Plants either for food physick or pleasure and I suppose it cannot be altogether unwelcome to you and the rest of the Nobility of this Nation if they take into

evident that man with a bare knowledge of those things which necessity and custome hath taught him without a spiritual consideration and a temporal knowledge of the several workings of the course of nature under the Sun is no better than the Ox and the Ass that knoweth their owner and his crib Now let thee and me consider this it is unconsideratenesse that undoes worldly men for without consideration accompanied with reason and labour no man can understand the use of external things which are visible every moment to the sight how then shall a man understand eternal things which are invisible in the Heaven of Heavens where no mortal eye can approach but by an extraordinary means of reasoning and labouring betwixt the body and the spirit The generality of men are far from this spiritual understanding for they have no reason but what custome hath taught them no faith but what is builded on other mens foundations The discovery is this Let the custome be never so evil and hainous in the sight of God and good men yet if it be but a general one they will follow it and for a wise man to perswade them to the contrary he were as good to throw feathers against the wind or shoot arrows at the Moon And for their faith let it be never so contrary to natural reason never so false to spiritual understanding yet they will keep to it and lay it on the Clergy mans shoulders whether they are able to bear it yea or no they will venture all and learn nothing as simple passengers do that are going over the Seas for a far Countrey when they are aboard there they lie like the ballast not knowing whither they are going nor will they search out by reason how Mariners guide the Ship with Globe Map Crosse-staff Scoul Rudder and Compasse why then for all they know the Pilot may be a Devil to carry them to a burning Sodom as well as a Saint to convey them to a glorious Jerusalem Thus stands the case with ignorant and dull spirited men in their passage towards eternal life and it is plainly seen that they manage their affairs so in this life by imprisoning the spirit in the corrupt body of clay that will not let their inventions to work no farther than filthy lucre doth draw them truly the reason is this the flesh and the Devil warreth against the soul and bringeth the natural and spiritual understanding into this total ectipse of utter darkness Again my soul wondreth to see how laborious carnal men are in bodily labour and in the workings of the spirit they are so idle dull and stupid that they will not open an eye or an ear to give wisdome any entertainment can they give a reason for this Sure they cannot Now I wish all men would study even as I do how they may be able to give a reason for their words and actions the truth of it is the god of this world hath so blinded their eyes that they cannot see the reasons of the working of the course of nature nor how they labour for that which they do not enjoy They will part with their understandings before they will part with their money See what Solomon saith of them Prov. 1. 19. So are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gain which taketh away the life of the owners thereof These words are of efficacy enough to perswade me that those men that look no higher than their barns no farther than their fels and flocks no nigher than their chests and apparel are men without wisdome or spiritual understanding if so bruit then I think it is reason man should labour to obtain wisdome For wisdome is better than rubies and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Prov. 8. 11. So Reader let this wise Kings counsel and my weak argument serve to prove why man should labour for wisdome and reason which is to understand the working of the course of nature as God hath fitted created and ordained it Much more I have to say and I could have enlarged upon each of these principles but for passing the bounds of my Preface and being too troublesome to the Reader Now I shall conclude the introductory part with this advice to all sleepy headed ignorant and customary men that they will take the Wise mans counsel as he saith Eccles 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest Truly the weighty considerations of these words and the perswasions of reason was the grand cause of my studying this work and with truth and honesty I have finished it which told me I must publish it to the world and as my duty I have done it for the preventing of publick dangers not for the gaining of filthy lucre or purchasing of vain glory but for the gaining of a free conscience and purchasing of the society and love of just and wise men Let these few reasons serve to acquaint thee why I writ and published this work Now I will give you a brief account what it is and what the use and profit will be For asmuch as divers men have took in hand to set forth in order the perfect way of propagating of those excellent amiable desirable medicinable physical profitable and mysticall Arts which are derived from the hand and are placed within the compasse of a Gardeners Calling those Authours have written many large and methodical Volumes upon this subject and have greatly furnished our Students with such Books but little or nothing have they given unto the practical man that which is set down is too dark for their apprehension yet let me not judge hardly of these Authours meanings for I assure my self had they had so much of the practical part as I have that they would have delivered their Art in a great deal better method than I have done in expressing themselves in the quintessence of wit and refinings of Scholarship unto the learned which would have fitted their minds as well as the apparel fitteth the body so that they circumvent the apprehension with their learned style they make those helplesse rules which they set down for to passe blamelesse whereas if they did illustrate in their writings a weak capacity might comprehend what is incredulous or improbable also what is laudable and full of practice But whereas the vulgar sort of people have tired their apprehensions with the perusing of such Treatises as are so full of Oratory of words and so filled and varnished as it were with Quirks Quiblets and Paradoxes speaking little absolutely but imaginations very obscure and promiscuously written and composed together running far wide of the practice and for the major part suspitious and incredulous seeming to men of experience as an Emblem so that the Studies of them which study naturall work and deliver it in methodicall expressions prove

them from both and if they are made of a stately fashion they do beautifie the Garden And lastly you may have your flowers at such times in the year by removing of them from place to place as cannot be effected by those that grow out of Pots 3. Thirdly Cradles are necessary you must understand to keep the wind from breaking and beating of them to and fro and keeping of them in uniform manner these cradles are made of white rods six standing and two woven round about and the lower end sharp to put into the earth and these keep the flowers up 4. Fourthly If flowers be kanker-eaten it will destroy them for it is a worm that eateth the root this you shall discern by the branches when they look of a dead colour then search the root when you have found this kanker take tarr and the yelk of an egg and mans ordure and apply this to the kanker-eaten and that will cure it 5. Fifthly If your flowers stand too long unremoved or the ground stirred about them and fresh mould put to them the ground will be bound stiff about the root which must be remedied by opening the earth about them and putting in of fresh mould this must be done early in the Spring or otherwise you will hinder it more than farther it 6. Sixthly If you let too many flowers grow upon a stock they will be very small and in danger to kill the stock therefore you must when you see there is like to be great store of flowers cut the most of them away for the preservation of the stock and the enlarging of your flower and for the preserving of seed for if you would have good seed you must not suffer above five or six Flowers to be upon a stock these must be of the top Flowers at the first flowering the seed will come to perfection by the latter end of August and when you see the seed black in the cod then cut off the branch and hang it up in the house till it be thorow dry then you may rub it out this seed you must sow in your own Garden for two years and afterwards you must change it or else your Flowers will degenerate and grow single 7. Seventhly Housing of the Plants is necessary for preserving of them from frost and snow which would kill them and for getting of them to flower early observe that you are to give them sun and air on such dayes as it is to be had and to set them forth in rainy dayes for rain water is much better than conduit for them but if rain-water may not be had water them with standing water and be sure that they have it often for all vegetable creatures do partake more of the element water more than the element earth to prove this take any plant and burn it look how much ashes so much earth and all the rest which vapour'd away was a watery substance which vapoured up out of the earth then watering often is needfull 8. Eighthly To get Laires is very needfull and it is done thus you may buy small pots for the purpose which are like a tunnell with a hole at the bottom to let out the water if there should be too much it hath a slit of one side these pots we fill full of earth and set it by Cornation-Gilliflowers side and bring one of the choicest slips that we can see in at the slit so that the top of it shall be above the top of the small Laire-pot and the lower part of it is in the pot and in the earth so this putteth forth root this must be done in August and next March you shall cut off the slip that is so rooted and plant it in another pot that Laire-pot which the slip came out of will serve for the like use again Further queries and observations there are concerning producing of these Flowers contrary to nature and seasons 1. The first dispute is whether Cornation seed bringeth forth a single Pink I answer some do and the most do not for those that comes single were of the under-seed therefore if there were diligence and care in the saving the seed as I told you before there would be very few single Pinks but those that are by diligence replanted may be made double but if you will not bestow the pains you may plant them in some border or bank-side there to remain for strowing Flowers another curiosity is to have Cornations almost while Christmas and it is very probable this might be done if you will take these directions 2. In June and July till the latter end of August cut away all such buds or branches that you see are like to bring forth a Flower and afterward let such as will spring forth alone and by Michaelmas these will be budded forth this must be done by your pot-Flowers because they must be carried in in the cold nights they must be set into a room and set abroad again adayes by this means you shall have the buds open and keep this Flower even while Christmas 3. Other things I have been told that would cause this effect that was by enclosing the Flower in soft wax at the time they begin to open so let them stand enclosed while Christmas or any time of the winter that you have a desire to have a Cornation-Gilliflower then saith he take off your wax in a sun-shine day and the sun will open the Flower and by this means you may have them at any time you may believe this if you please but it were good for you to find it true by experience for my part I think it cannot be so for the stalk withereth before that time of the year and if the stalk be dead the Flower cannot be alive and that is a sufficient reason 4. Many other vain things I have been told concerning alterations which are very uncertain truths which I shall not bestow the pains to set down but shall proceed with laudable and creditable and profitable things for him that is employed therein I do not intend to please any man in writing of this Treatise unless he will be pleased with the bare truth and no more so I 'le speak a word or two of the continuance of this Flower If it may be carefully looked to it may continue five or six year or otherwise not half so long Some men are of opinion when they see this beautifull Flower as to think it is of an art of their own or others but they are mistaken all the art of man is to find out the art of nature it self for if any thing be not used in its own nature and season it will come to no effect therefore what I have discovered of the nature of this or any other Flower as far as my capacity can truly understand I give it to all men yet I know Reader that it may be contrary to your judgment for so many men as