364 The Garden of p leaf ant Flowers. 



Hifpaniola, and almoft in euery Hand and Countrey of the continent there- 

 of: with vs they are cherifhed in gardens, as well for the medicinable qua- 

 lities, as for the beauty of the flowers. 



The Time. 



It flowreth in Auguft, feldome before, and the feede is ripe quickly after. 

 If it once fowe it felfe in a Garden, it will giue next year after young plants : 

 but for the moft part they will fpring vp late, and therefore they that would 

 haue them more early, haue fowen the feede vpon a bed of dung, and 

 tranfplanted them afterwards. 



The Names. 



This plant hath gotten many names. The Indians call it in fome places 

 Petum, in others, Picie/t, and Perebecenuc, as Ouiedus and others doe relate. 

 The Spaniards in the Indies firft called it Tobacco, of an Hand where plenty 

 of it grew. It hath in Chriftendome receiued diuers other names, as Nico- 

 tiana, of one Nicot a French man, who feeing it in Portugall, fent it to the 

 French Queene, from whom it receiued the name oiHerba Regina. Lobel 

 calleth it SanSla herba, & SanafanSta Indorum. Some haue adiudged it to be 

 an Hiofcyamus, and therefore call it Peruvianus. The moft vfuall name wher- 

 by we call it in Englifh, is Tabacco. 



The Vertues. 



The herbe is, out of queftion, an excellent helpe and remedy for diuers 

 difeafes, if it were rightly ordered and applyed, but the continuall abufe 

 thereof in fo many, doth almoft abolifh all good vfe in any. Notwithftan- 

 ding if men would apply their wits to the finding out of the vertues, I make 

 no doubt but many ftrange cures would bee performed by it, both inward 

 and outward. For outward application, a Salue made hereof (as is before re- 

 cited of the Thorne apple leaues) cureth vlcers, and wounds of hard cura- 

 tion : And for inward helpes, a Syrupe made of the iuice and fugar, or ho- 

 ney, procureth a gentle vomit (but the dryed leafe infufed in wine much 

 more) and is effeftuall in aftmaticall difeafes, if it bee carefully giuen. And 

 likewife cleanfeth cankers and fiftulaes admirably, as hath beene found by 

 late experience. The afhes of Tabacco is often vfed, and with good fuc- 

 cefle, for cuts in the hands, or other places, and for other fmall greene 

 wounds. 



CHAP. XC. 

 Mirabilia Peruviatia. The Meruaile of Peru. 



THis plant yeeldeth in our Gardens fiue or fixe feuerall varieties of beautifull 

 flowers, as pure white, pure yellow, pure red, white and red fpotted, and red 

 and yellow fpotted. But befides thefe, I haue had fome other forts, among 

 which was one, of a pale purple or peach colour : all which, comming vnto mee out 

 of Spaine with many other, feedes in an vnkindly yeare (an early winter following a 

 cold fummer) perifhed with mee ; yet I plainely might difcerne by their leaues, and 

 manner of growing, to be diuers from them that we now haue and keepe. I fhall need 

 therefore (becaufe the chiefeft difference confifteth almoft in the flowers) to giue only 

 one defcription of the plant, and therein fhew the varieties as is before declared. 



Admirabilis. The Meruaile of the World. 



n any mam 



bunched 



-*-*.l*/V**V W-IS * * * J I 1JV- ATAWl IMkUW * 



The ftalke of this meruellous plant is great and thick, bigger then any mans thumbe, 



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