192 PLANTAGE. 
And elsewhere— 
“ So turtles pair that never mean to part.” 
Winter's Tale, Act iv. Sc. 3. 
Again— 
“ As true as steel, as plantage to the moon, 
As sun to day, as turtle to her mate.” 
Troilus and Cressida, Act iii. Sc. 2. 
An inquiry into the meaning of the word planitage 
leads to some curious information. Archdeacon Nares 
observes * that “ plantage” is probably for anything that 
is planted. Plants were supposed to improve as the 
moon increased, and from an old book entitled “The 
Profitable Art of Gardening,” by Thos. Hill, the third 
edition of which was printed in 1579, we learn that 
neither sowing, planting, nor grafting was ever under- 
taken without a scrupulous attention to the increase 
or waning of the moon. Dryden does not appear 
to have understood the above passage, and has accord- 
ingly altered it to “As true as flowing tides are to 
the moon.” But the meaning of the original words seem 
sufficiently clear, and may be fully illustrated by the 
following quotation from Scott’s “ Discoverie of Witch- 
craft” :—“ The poore husband man perceiveth that the 
increase of the moone maketh plants frutiful, so as in the 
full moone they are in the best strength ; decaieing in 
* “Glossary,” 4to. Lond. 1822. 
