THe worthie Plinie ( in his xix . booke ) reporteth , that a Garden plotte in the Auncient time at Rome , was none other , than a smal & simple inclosure of ground , whiche through the labour and diligence of the husbandman , yeelded a commoditie and yearely reuenew vnto him . But after yeares ( that man more esteemed of himselfe , & sought an easier life ) deuised and framed this ground plotte , for the minde , as for pleasure and delight : as may well appeare by that Epicure , of whome Cicero maketh mention , in his booke intituled De natura Deorum , who liuing at ease , and conceyuing a felicitie in the Garden , indeuoured first to place and frame the same within the walles of Athens , whiche before ( as it should seeme ) lay open , and vndefended in the wyde fielde , and the culture of it not had in so much estimation , as to place them nighe to theyr townes or houses : For whiche cause , doth Plinie ( by good reason ) rightly attribute , the inuention of the delectable Garden to him . The Garden plottes , whiche the Auncient Romaynes possessed ( as Plinie reporteth ) were onely set aboute with trees , hauing a dead inclosure , made onely of busshes , that needed repayring euery yeare : in whiche especially were sowen the red Onyons , Colewortes , great Leekes , Cresses , great Mallowes or holy Okes , Endiue , Rocket , and sundry sallate Herbes : In these they found such a commoditie , as maruelously pleased them ▪ seyng they by enioying the hearbes , needed no fire about the dressing & preparing of them , and spared a charge of fleshe , besides a dayly profite that they gotte , by the herbes and woodde brought to the Citie to be solde . The meaner sorte of that tyme so litle cared and esteemed the eating of fleshe , ( who in generall accompted it a kinde of reproche , to be knowen to haue eaten fleshe ) that they refusing this taunt , did ( as to a shambles or fleshe market ) haunt dayly to the Garden .

Columella reporteth lib. 10. that the Auncient husbandmen so slenderly looked vnto ( or rather forced of ) Gardens , that they in furthering the groweth and yeelde of theyr fruytes and hearbes , bestowed a small trauayle and diligence . And as they appeared negligent in their labours of the Garden , so were they well pleased with a meane liuing , in somuch that the common sorte fedde and liued willingly on grosse and simple herbes . But after the age and people were refourmed , and brought by the instruction of the Epicure , to a more delight of themselues , in coueting to feede on daintie herbes and Sallates , with meates delectable , and taking an earnester care for the pleasing of their mouthes , they laboured then to become skilfull , and to vse a greater care about the ordering and apt dressing of Garden plottes , by well fensing and comely furnishyng of their grounde , with sundry needefull and delectable trees , plantes , and herbes : in which trauayles and diligence of the husbandmen , so good successe and commoditie ensuing , procured not onely the willing carriage of herbes , fruytes , and other commodities farre off to be exercised vnto Cities and market Townes , by which these through the sale obtayned a dayly gayne and yearely reuenew , for the ayde of theyr housholde charges , but allured them also to place and frame gardens , aswell within Citties and Townes as faste by , that a coste bestowed , might after possesse the recreation and delight of mindes , besides the proper gayne made by the fruytes , floures , and herbes , gathered in them . The Garden plottes at length , grew so common among the meaner sorte , that the charge and the chiefest care of the same , was committed vnto the wyfe , in somuch that these accompted not the wife of the house , to be a husewife in deede , if shee bestowed not a payne and diligence as Cato reporteth in the weeding , trimming , and dressing of the Garden . But to be briefe , and leauing further to reporte of antiquitie , I thinke it high tyme to declare the effects and commoditie of this worke taken in hande , and first to intreate of the care , helpes , and secretes , to be learned and folowed in the Garden grounde : All whiche in a pleasant maner , shall after be vttered in destinct Chapiters , to the furtherance and commoditie of many Gardeners , and all suche hauing pleasure therein .

THe husbandman or Gardener , shal enioy a most commodiouse and delectable garden , whiche bothe knoweth , can , and will orderly dresse the same : yet not sufficient is it to a Gardener , that he knoweth , or would the furtherance of the garden , without a cost bestowed , which the workes and labours of the same require : nor the will againe of the workeman , in doing and bestowing of charges , shall smally auayle , without he haue both arte and skill in the same . For that cause , it is the chiefest poynt in euery facultie and busines , to vnderstand and know what to begin and follow : as the learned Columella out of Varronianus Tremellius aptly vttereth . The person whiche shall enioy or haue in a readinesse these three , and will purposedly or with diligence frame to him a well dressed Garden , shall after obtayne these two commodities , as vtilitie and delight : the vtilitie , yeeldeth the plentie of Herbes , floures , and fruytes right delectable : but the pleasure of the same procureth a delight , and ( as Varro writeth ) a iucunditie of minde . For that cause a Garden , shal workemanly be handled and dressed vnto the necessarie vse and commoditie of mans life , next for health , and the recouerie of strength by sicknesse feebled : as the singular Palladius Rutilius hath learnedly vttered , and the skilful Florentinus , that wrote cunningly , of husbandry in the Greeke tunge , certayne yeeres before him : Lastly by sight vnto delectation , and iucunditie through the fragrancie of smell : but most of all , that the same may furnishe the owners , and husbande mans table , with sundry seemely and dayntie dishes , to him of small coste . The Garden grounde ( if the same may be ) ought rather to be placed neere hande , whereby the owner or Gardener may with more ease be partaker of such commodities growing in the garden , and both oftner resorte , and vse his diligence in the same : So that this is the whole care and duetie requyred of euery owner and Gardener , in their plot of ground . Yet may I not be vnmindefull , that the garden doth also require a dunging , at the apt times : of whiche in the proper place we shall after intreate .

AS to the nature and goodnesse of a garden grounde , the especialler that ought to be eschewed , are a bitter , and salte earth of taste , if so be we meane to make a fertill , commodiouse , & well yeeldyng ground : for these two natures of earth , were very much mislyked in Auncient tyme , as may appeare by the skilfull Poete Virgill , who sayth that euery earth is not allowed or commended , for the yeelde of garden herbes . For which cause , the mynde of the auncient husebande men is , that the Gardener by taking vp a clodde of Earth , should artly trie the goodnesse of it after this maner : in considering whether the earth be nether whote and bare , nor leane by sande , lacking a mixture of perfite earth : nor the same founde to be wholly Chalke , nor naughtie sande : nor barrayne grauell , nor of the glittering pouder or duste of a leane stonie grounde , nor the earth continuall moyst , for all these be the speciall defaults of a good and perfite earth . The best grounde for a Garden , is the same iudged to be , whiche in the Sommer time , is neyther very drie , nor cleyie , nor sandie and roughe , nor endamaged with gapings , procured by heate of the Sommer , as the woorthie Didymus , in his Greeke instructions of husbandry writeth . Wherefore the earth whiche in the Sommer tyme is wonte to be dry , eyther perisheth or loseth al the seedes sowen , and plantes set in it , or yeeldeth those thinne , and weake prouing on the ground . For the Cleyie ground of it selfe , ouerfast holdeth : but the sandie and rough , in a contrarie maner : so that neyther is wonte to nourish plantes , nor retayne water . Therefore an apt earth for a Garden , shall you readily trie and finde out , if the same through wet and dissolued with water , you shall see to haue a muche clamminesse and fastnesse . In whiche grounde , if a waterinesse shall exceede , then shall you iudge the same disagreable and vnfruitefull : if dissoluing the earth with water , you shall finde the same very clammie or much cleauing to the hande and fingers , as it were waxe , this earth shall you accompte , as wholly vnprofitable . Plinie willeth , that a garden plotte before all other matters done to it , be very well clensed of stones , and to these , that the earth proue not full of chappes , or but few to be seene , least the Sunne beames entering betweene , may so scortch and burne the rootes of the plantes . For whiche cause , the best and gentle or worthiest earth shal be chosen , in whiche you minde to committe your seedes : or for the same , that the Nource as a mother , may often agree to the fruyte , or yeelde to be an ayder and furtherer to it .

THe Gardener minding to trie and know a fatte earth , for the vse of a garden , shall worke after this maner : in taking a litle clodde of earth , and the same to sprinckle with fayre water , kneading it well in the hande : which after appearing clammie , and cleauing or sticking to the fingers , doth vndoubtedly witnesse that earth to haue a fatnesse in it . An other triall of a battell earth , may thus be purchased , if you digge vp a rotten clodde in a maner blacke , and the same able inough to couer it selfe with the groweth of the owne grasse , and appearing also of a mixte colour , whiche earth , if it be found thinne and loose , may well be fastned and made clammie , through the adioyning and mixing of a fat earth to it . The garden grounde doth also require a sweetnesse to consist in it , whiche the Gardener shall easely finde and knowe , by taste of it : if so be he take vp a clodde of earth in any parte of the ground which most misliketh him , and moystening the clodde with fayre water in an earthen potsharde , doth after the dipping of the finger in this moyst earth and water , let a droppe softely fall on the tunge , he shall incontinent feele and perceyue ( by reason of the taste ) of what condition the same is . Further , euery fatte earth beyng reasonably loose , is euermore commended and chosen , whiche of it selfe requireth smal labour , and yeeldeth the most increase . But worste of all others is that grounde , whiche shal be bothe dry and grosse , leane and colde . In the kindes of grounde , the chalkie is to be refused : whiche properly the auncients name , the cleyishe , and reddish earth . The worthy Varro commendeth the same grounde , whiche of it selfe beyng gentle and pliable , yeeldeth properly walwurtes . The same earth doth Columella greatly allowe , which of the owne accorde yeeldeth or bringeth foorth wilding or Crabbe trees , yong Springs , the Slowe or Bullesse trees , Elme trees , and such like . So that a battell ground , is on suche wise founde and knowen : the rather of the crescent things , seene in it of the owne accorde : yet of necessitie may euery grounde well agree , to be mixed and turned in with dunge . Florentinus vttereth an other triall of a fruitefull grounde : if so be the Gardener diggeth vp a furrow , of a foote and a halfe deepe , and filleth the same againe with the owne earth , which in short time after gapeth or choppeth , this no doubt , is a weake and leane earth : But if the earth thus ordred , swelleth or retcheth out , then is it a sure note , that the same is a battell and fatte grounde . And this is noted to be a meane earth , whiche after the digging and raking euen , gapeth but a little . This I thought not good to be couered , nor willingly ouer passed : that a garden plotte situated or standing neare to a mote , or compassed by a mote , is not alwayes lawdable , in that the seedes bestowed in the same , and diuerse plantes set in it , do lightly and soone through the water vaporating foorth waxe olde : yea the fruytes ( whether those shal be of the hearbes or trees ) are for the more parte caused vnpleasant , and ouermoyst . Further conceyue , that a garden grounde , ought to be of a moderate increase , and easie dressing : whiche neyther is very moyst , nor ouer dry of it selfe . To these suche a earth is greatly commended as beyng new digged , byrdes couet to it : and that Crowes especially folow the new casting of the digger . If the earth shal be founde naughtie or vnfruitfull , as the Cleyie , Sandie , and Chalkie , then ought the same to be amended , after the minde of the skilfull , with mearle and dunge layed three foote deepe , and well turned in with the earth , if this be perceyued ouer thinne and leane , then to be mixed and holpen by a fat earth : or to a barreyne and ouer dry ground , may be mixed a moyst and very fatte earth . A waterie ground is made the better , if the same be mixed with a sandie or small grauelie earth , and deepe Alleys made , for the conueighyng and shifting of the water falling in the night . But to vse such a tediouse paynes in these , Plinie accompteth it a madnesse : for what fruyte or gayne may be hoped after , in bestowyng suche a trauayle and diligence in the like grounde plotte ? To conclude , euery reasonable earth , may very much be holpen thorough the well dunging , and laboring of the Gardener , of whiche matter ( in the proper place ) we meane fully to intreate .

IT is right necessary ( sayth Varro ) to place gardens neare to the Citie , aswell for the benefite of pothearbes and rootes , as all maner of sweete smelling floures , that the Citie greatly needeth . Where these placed in a soyle farre off that they can not so conueniently and in due time be brought to the market to be solde , in such places are altogither disalowed , and thought friuolous for the turne . Cato doth very much commende the garden plot placed neare to the Citie , in which both young trees to beare vp Uines , and Willow or Osier trees be planted nigh to water sides and in places waterie : and that through the garden grounde , water or springs be seene running . To these , the seedes of most hearbes committed into a very well dunged , dressed , and fayre or large open plot , in whiche besides all kindes of fruytes , for the vse of man , workemanly planted and set in apte times of the yeare . This skilfull Cato also willeth , that all kindes of garden groundes be placed and framed neare to the Citie , aswell for the Garlande or Posie floures , as all maner rounde and delectable rootes , with the sweete and pleasant smelling trees : as all the kindes of the Roses , the sweete Jacemine , the Eglantine bryar , the Myrtill tree , and all others of lyke sorte , sowed and planted in due seasons of the yeare . But a Garden plot , onely seruing for the vse of potherbes and the kitchin , ought especially to be a battell ground , sufficient moyst of it selfe , and well turned in or workemanly laboured with dung . Garden plottes ought to be placed , farre from Barnes , Hay loftes , and Stables , if the same possibly may be refused , or otherwise chosen for the turne : in that the chaffe or duste of strawes ( as enimie to them ) the plantes hardly brooke and suffer : in somuch that the very strawes blowen abroade with the winde , and falling on hearbes , do greatly annoy and harme them : as the singular Florentinus in his Greeke instructions of Husbandry skilfully vttereth . For these , sayth he , by cleauing to the plantes , in the fallyng , pearse the leaues , which once pearced , are incontinent burned by them . All Gardens aswell prosper by the dunging with rootes , as with the proper dunge allowable : yet dungyng the Garden earth , with the branches and leaues of trees , is of the skilfull Gardeners very much disalowed , as vnprofitable and noyouse to hearbes .

As to the well standing of a Garden behoueth : the aptest and moste laudable placing of a Garden plot shal be , if the playne grounde lying somewhat a slope , shal haue a course of spring water running through by seueral partes . But this course of water , running through the Garden plot , may in no wise be bigge . And the smalnesse of the labouring and dressing of a Garden grounde , is more of yeelde , than the largenesse of it , not labored in a maner at all .

It behoueth to haue a well in a Garden , onlesse some running water as eyther ditche or small ryuer be neere adioyning : for that a sweete water sprinckled on yong Plantes , and Hearbes , giueth a speciall nourishment . If a well bee lacking in the Garden , then digge a deepe pitte , in some conuenient place of the Garden : although it may be a painefull labour for the Gardener , to drawe water out of the same . For a Garden grounde needeth often to be watered , through whiche all Seedes committed to the earth , as Plinie reporteth , both sooner breake foorth , and speedier spread abroade . That a pit with water of long continuance , may be purchased , the same at that time Columella willeth to be digged , when as the Sunne shall obtayne or occupie the last degrees of virgo : which is in the moneth of September , before the Equinoctiall haruest . For the vertue then of Well springes , are throughly tried and founde out : at whiche time through the long drought of Summer , the earth lacketh the due moysture of rayne . If a well or pitte to purpose cannot be made in the Garden : then frame vp a squarepitte or Cesterne leaueled in the bottome with brycke and Lime to receyue the rayne water falling : with whiche in the hottest Summer dayes , you may water the beddes of the Garden . But if all these maner of healpes and wayes , shall fayle the Gardener , or can not wel be compassed in the Garden ground , then shal he digge the ground after the minde of Palladius Rutilius , three or foure foote the deeper or lower . For the beddes on such wise ordered , being workemāly laboured and sowen , may the better endure , through the lowe standing , the whole drought of the Summer dayes . In the Garden ground besides , this shall you obserue , that when the Alleys or pathes of the beddes be ouer cloyed with water , to digge deepe gutters here & there after your discretion , in suche order , that the water falling and runnyng along , may be guyded into a conuenient pitte , made at the lower side or ende of the Garden , for that onely purpose . Here further learne , that what Garden plot the nature of the moysture helpeth not , the same may you aptly deuide into partes , in conuerting the spaces , digged and dressed for the winter time to lie open to the South , and those prepared for the Summer time like , vnto the North quarter .

EUery ground plot lying neare to the Cittie , aswell the Garden as Orcharde , ought to be placed neere to the house , for the oftner recourse and diligence to be bestowed of the owner : and the Garden especially to be laboured and well turned in with dung : through whose iuyce and fatning , the earth may yeelde hearbes of the owne accorde . As touchyng the ayre commended for a Garden , the same being cleare and temperate is beste alowed , in that this not onely cherisheth and prospereth the hearbes growing in it , but procureth a delight and comfort to the walkers therein . An euill ayre in the contrarie maner , troubled with the vapours of standing pittes , ditches , and suche like mixed to it , dothe not onely annoy and corrupte the Plantes and Hearbes growing in that Garden faste by , but choke and dull the Spyrites of men by walkyng in the same . Besides ▪ the windes byting , and frostes mortifying , doe both harme and destroy Plantes . Auicen wryting of the ayre , doth in skilfull maner vtter , that the same ayre , whiche after the Sunne setting is soone colde , and after the Sunne rising speedily hote , is both subtill and healthfull to man . So that a contrarie ayre to this , worketh the contrary to man and Plantes . Yet that ayre is accompted worser , which seemeth as it were to wring or binde harde togither the Heart : yea making straight or letting the attraction of ayre . The learned Neapolitane Rutilius besides these reporteth , that the subtilnesse or healthfulnes of ayre , do declare those places free from low valleys , and stincking mistes or fogges in the night , that might annoy both men and the Plantes . Here is doth not much disagree from the matter , to write in generall , general of the qualities of the windes : and of these , in the briefest maner . First , the Easterly and Westerly windes , be in a maner temperate of qualitie , as betwene a hotenesse and coldnesse : yet of the two , the Easterly windes be knowen dryer . Further the Easterly windes , are for the more parte hoter , than the Westerly , & the Westerly by reporte of the Auncient somewhat more moyst , than the Easterly . Of all the windes , for the benefite of the Garden , is the Southwest winde especially commended : as the worthy Florentinus in his Greeke rules , and others of experience affirme .

Besides these , as vnto the clemencie or temperatenesse of ayre , and healthfulnesse of the place belongeth , a Garden plot in colde countries , ought in a contrary maner to be placed , as either to the East or South quarter : if the same be such a plot of ground , whiche bothe contayneth trees , & Plants or Herbes comming vp in it , least the Garden plot excluded from these two partes , by the obiect or standing against of some most great and high hill , be so nipped , frosen , and withered , with the extreame colde long continuyng , or the Garden plotte otherwise farre distant form the comforte of the Sunne on the North parte , or els the Sunne only shining low and weake , at the West quarter of the same . The singular Cato willeth , that the Garden , if a man can , be placed at the foote of an Hill : and the same beholding or lying open to the South , especially in a healthfull place . For a Garden plotte thus defended by an highe hill , on the North parte , and all the day comforted , by the open face of the South quarter : is procured to yeelde the sweeter and tymelier Fruytes , in the seasons of the yeare . But in hote Regions or Countries , let the open place of a Garden grounde , be rather situated towardes the North quarter : whiche may through the like standing auayle , aswell to health of bodie and quicknyng of the Spyrites , as to profite and pleasure .