116 



of Lincolnshire, and brought up to the trade of a Gardener, 

 of which we have his own authority that he was very careful to 

 improve. " I always took notes of what I did set or sow, the 

 time, and on what ground, &c, and when it proved well, I 

 noted it so ; but when ill, I did endeavour as much as I could 

 to know the reason, which when once found I noted it well : I 

 also always was very wary of taking things upon trust" — By 

 such attention he became a proficient. Evelyn in his Diary 

 mentions him as skilful in the mechanical parts of Gardening, 

 not ignorant of mathemactics, and somewhat of an adept in 

 Astrology. He was gardener to the Earl of Essex, at Cashio- 

 bury, from about 1660 to 1601, in which last named year, in 

 conjunction with Messrs. Lucre, London and Field, he founded 

 the Brompton Park Nursery. The time of his death, like that 

 of his birth, is unascertained. He was probably dead in 1694, 

 at which period none of the original firm remained in the 

 Brompton Nursery, but Mr. London. He wrote, 



1. The manner of raising, ordering and improving Forest and 

 Fruit Trees; also how to plant, make and keep Woods, 

 Walks, Avenues, Lawns, H<rdges, &c. with several figures 

 in Copper plates proper for the same. With Arithmetical 

 and Geometrical tables, for measuring and dividing Land, 

 Timber, &c. To which is now added, A discovery of 

 subterranean Treasure or how to discover and prepare 

 various minerals by Mr. GABRIEL PLATTES. Lon- 

 don. 1679. 4to. Plates. In 1700. 8vo. Again in 1717 

 and 1724. 



2. The art of making Cider. This was published in Evelyn's 

 Works. 



The first mentioned work, after due allowance for quaintncss, 

 is demonstrative of a thinking mind, and is upon most Points 

 a work of authority. 



