The Garden of pleajant Mowers. 329 





CHAP. LXXVI. 



Cnicus fine Cartliamtn fatn-iis. Baftard or Spanifh Saffron. 



THere are two or three forts of Cnicus or bartard Saffrons which I pafTc ouer, as 

 not fit for this Garden, and onely fet downe this kinde, whofe flowers are of 

 a fairer and more liuely colour in our Country, then any hath come ouer from 

 Spaine, where they manure it for the profit they make thereof, feruing for the dying 

 of Silke efpecially, and tranfporting great quantities to diuers Countries. It hath large 

 broad leaues, without any prickes at all vpon them in our Country, growing vpon the 

 Italke, which is Itrong, hard, and round, with fhorter leaues thereon vp to the toppe, 

 where they are a little fharpe pointed, and prickly about the edges fometimes, which 

 Ilalkc rifeth three or tbure foote high, and brancheth it felte toward the toppe, bearing 

 at the end ot euery branch one great open fcaly head, out of which thrufteth out many 

 gold yellow threads, of a mort orient mining colour, which being gathered in a dry 

 time, and kept dry, will abide in the fame delicate colour that it bare when it was frefh, 

 for a very long time after : when the flowers are pall, the feede when it is come to ma- 

 turity, which is very feldome with vs, is white and hard, fomewhat long, round, and 

 A little cornered : the roote is long, great, and wooddy, and perifheth quickly with 

 the rirlt frofts. 



The Place. 



It groweth in Spaine, and other hot Countries, but not wilde, for that it 

 is accounted of the old Writers, Theophraftus and Diofcorides, to be a ma- 

 nured plant. 



The Time. 



It flowreth with vs not vntill Auguft, or September fometimes, fo that 

 it hardly giueth ripe feede (as I faid) neither is it of that force to purge, 

 which groweth in thefe colder Countries, as that which comtneth from 

 Spaine, and other places. 



The Names. 



The name Cnicus is deriued from the Greekes, and Carthamus from the 

 Arabians, yet (till fati'vus is added vnto it, to mew it is no wilde, but a ma- 

 nured plant, and fowne euery where that wee know. Of fome it is called 

 Crocus /iorteri/is, and Sarafenicus, from the Italians which fo call it. We call 

 it in Englilh Bartard Saffron, Spanifh Saffron, and Catalonia Saffron. 



The Vertues. 



The flowers are vfed in colouring meates, where it groweth beyond Sea, 

 and alfo for the dying of Silkes : the kernels of the feede are onely vfed in 

 Phyficke with vs, and ferueth well to purge melancholicke humours. 



CHAP. LXXVI I. 

 Carduus. Thirties. 



YOu may fomewhat maruaile, to fee mee curious to plant Thirties in my Gar- 

 den, when as you might well fay, they are rather plagues then pleafures, and 

 more trouble to weede them out, then to cherifh them vp, if I made therein no 

 dirtinction or choife ; but when you haue viewed them well which I bring in, I will 



T 2 then 



