92 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



. . . very thynne, and thycke-tothed," " a graffing-knyfe, an 

 inch brode with a thycke backe, to cleue the stock with all," 

 " a mallet to dryue the knyfe and thy wedge in-to the tree," 

 " a sharpe knyfe to pare the stockes heed, and an other sharpe 

 knyfe to cutte the graffe cleane." " Two wedges of harde wood 

 or elles of yren." 



While the husbandman was working in his garden, or making 

 his tools, the housewife busied herself with the preparation of 

 conserves of fruit, and distilling and making decoctions from 

 almost every herb that grew. This business was of such im- 

 portance that a room was in most houses set apart for the 

 purpose. The " still-room " of modern days is a survival of 

 this custom. One of Tusser's " five hundred pointes " is 

 " good huswifelie Physicke," of which these stanzas are a good 

 example : 



" Good aqua composita, vinegar tart, 

 Rose water and treakle to comfort the hart. 

 Cold herbs in hir garden for agues that burne 



that ouer strong heat to good temper may turne. 



Get water of Fumentorie, Liuer to coole 



and others the hke, or els lie like a foole 

 Conserue of the Barberie, Quinces and such 



with sirops that easeth the sickley so much." 



In 1527, a certain printer, " Laurens Andrewe," translated and 

 issued a work entitled. The Vertuose Boke of DistyUacyon of 

 the Waters of all Manner of Herbes, translated from the German 

 of "Jerome of Brynswicke " (Brunswick). It is illustrated 

 throughout with quaint woodcuts, and contains extraordinary 

 recipes, which, if followed by the housewife, must have added 

 horrors to illness, and perhaps have done her friends and relations 

 more harm than good. Among the plants she is recommended 

 to use are yellow lillies, floure de luce purpure, periwinkle, 

 house-leek, red and white roses, Solomon's seal, woodbine, 

 peony, marigold, besides herbs, such as dill, burnet, or dande- 

 lion and fruits, including cherries, quinces, peach-leaves, apples, 

 and nuts. 



The Household Books of the fifth Earl of Northumberland 

 (1502) contain the following list of " herbes to stylle ": " Borage, 

 columbine, buglos, sorrel, cowsloppes, scabious, wild tansey, 



