OK GARDENING IN 1685 



Whoever begins a garden, ought in the first Horace on 

 place, and above all, to consider the soil, upon 

 which the taste of not only his fruits, but his 

 legumes, and even herbs and salads, will wholly 

 depend ; and the default of soil is without re- 

 medy : for although all borders of fruit may be 

 made with what earth you please (if you will 

 be at the charge) yet it must be renewed in two 

 or three years, or it runs into the nature of the 

 ground where 'tis brought. Old trees spread 

 their roots further than anybody's care extends, 

 or the forms of the garden will allow; and after 

 all, where the soil about you is ill, the air is so 

 too in a degree, and has influence upon the 

 taste of fruit. What Horace says of the produc- 

 tions of kitchen-gardens under the name of 

 Caulis,v$> true of all the best sorts of fruits, and 

 may determine the choice of soil for all gardens. 



Caule suburbano qui siccus crevit in agris 

 Dulcior, irriguis nihil est elutius hortis. 



Plants from dry fields those of the town excel, 

 Nothing more tasteless is than watered grounds. 



Any man had better throw a way his care and 

 his money upon any thing else, than upon a gar- 

 den in wet or moist ground. Peaches and grapes 



