

4.72 The ordering of the Kitchen Garden. 



led eyther by it felfe, or with other herbes in oyle or hogs fuel, doe make an excellent 

 falue for greene wounds, and alfo to clenfe old vlcers or fores ; the iuice of the greene 

 leaues drunke in ale, or a dryed leafe fteeped in wine or ale for a night, and the wine or 

 ale drunke in the morning, prouoketh to caft, but the dryed leafe much ftronger then 

 the greene : they are fowen of feede, but the Indian kinde is more tender, and will not 

 abide a winter with vs abroade. Spurge that vfually groweth in Gardens, is a violent 

 purger, and therefore it is needfull to be very carefull how it is vfed : the feede is more 

 ordinarily vfed then any other part of the plant, which purgeth by vomiting in fome, 

 and both vpwards and downwards in many ; the iuice of the herbe, but efpecially the 

 milke thereof, is vfed to kill wartes : it is fowen of feede, and when it doth once fhed 

 it felfe, it will ftill continue fpringing of the fallen feede. Bearefoote is fowen of feed, 

 and will hardly abide tranf planting vnlefTe it bee while it is young; yet abideth diuers 

 yeares, if it (land not in too cold a place. This I fpeake of the greater kinde ; for the 

 lower fmall wilde kinde (which is the moft ordinary in this land) will neuer decay : the 

 leaues are fometimes vfed greene, but moft vfually dryed and poudered, and giuen in 

 drinke to them that haue the wormes : it purgeth melancholy, but efpecially the roots. 

 In many Countries of this Land, and elfewhere, they vfe to thruft the ftalk of the great 

 kinde through the eare or dewlap of Kine and Cattell, to cure them of many difeafes. 

 Salomons Scale, or (as fome call it) Ladder to heauen, although it doth grow wilde in 

 many places of this Land, yet is planted in Gardens : it is accounted an excellent 

 wound herbe to confolidate, and binde, infomuch that many vfe it with good fuccefTe 

 to cure ruptures, and to ftay both the white and the red fluxe in women : it is planted 

 altogether of the rootes, for I could neuer finde it fpring from the feede, it is fo ftrong. 

 Comfry likewife is found growing wilde in many places by ditch fides, and in moid 

 places, and therefore requireth fome moift places of the garden : it is wholly vfed for 

 knitting, binding, and confolidating fluxes and wounds, to be applyed either inwardly 

 or outwardly : The rootes are ftronger for thofe purpofes then any other parts of the 

 plant. Licoris is much vfed now adaies to bee planted in great quantitie, euen to fill 

 many acres of ground, whereof rifeth a great deale of profit to thofe that know how 

 to order it, and haue fit grounds for it to thriue in ; for euery ground will not be aduan- 

 tagious : It will require a very rich, deepe and mellow ground, eyther naturall or arti- 

 ficiall ; but for a priuate houfe where a fmall quantitie will ferue, there needeth not fo 

 much curiofitie : it is vfually planted of the top heads, when the lower rootes (which 

 are the Licoris that is vfed) and the runners are cut from them. Some vfe to make an or- 

 dinary drinke or beuerage of Licoris, boyled in water as our vfuall ale or beere is with 

 malt, which fermented with barme in the fame manner, and tunned vp, ferueth in ftead 

 thereof, as I am credibly informed : It is otherwife in a manner wholly fpent for colds, 

 coughes and rheumes, to expectorate flegme, but vfed in diuers formes, as in iuice, in 

 decoclions, fyrrups, roules, trochifces, and the greene or dryed roote of it felfe. 



And thefe are the moft ordinary Phyficall herbes that are vfed to be planted in gar- 

 dens for the vfe of any Country familie, that is (as I faid before) farre remote from 

 Phyfitians or Chirurgions abidings, that they may vfe as occafion ferueth for them- 

 felues or their neighbours, and by a little care and paines in the applying may doe a 

 great deale of good, and fometimes to them that haue not wherewith to fpend on 

 themfelues, much leffe on Phyfitians or Chirurgions, or if they haue, may oftentimes 

 receiue lefTe good at their hands then at others that are taught by experience in their 

 owne families, to be the more able to giue helpe to others. 



The 





