Also 



86 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



to eate, and as ofte as nede shall requyre it must be weded, 

 for els wedes wyl ouergrowe the herbes." These herbs were 

 much the same as in the previous century, but a few are men- 

 tioned in writings of this date which have not appeared on 

 earlier lists, and some, such as asparagus, melons, taragon, 

 horse-radish, and artichokes, were first grown in the royal 

 gardens about this time. Tusser devotes several lines in his 

 poem to beans and peas. In January — 



" Good gardiner mine, 

 Make garden fine. 

 Set garden pease 



and beans, if ye please." 

 And again : 



" Dig garden, stroy 1 mallow, now may ye at ease, 

 And set (as a dainte) thy runciuall pease." 



" Sowe pease (good trull 2 ) 

 the moone past full ; 

 Stick bows a rowe 

 where runciuals growe." 



" Set plentie of bows among runciuall pease 



to climber thereon, and to branch at their ease." 



These quotations show that runcival peas were a favourite 

 dainty. They were a large kind of pea, and the name is 

 supposed to be derived from Roncesvalles, in the Pyrenees. 

 Tusser also gives directions for picking beans : 



" Not rent off, but cut off ripe beane with a knife, 

 For hindering stalke of hir vegetive life ; 

 So gather the lowest, and leauing the top 

 Shall teach thee a trick, for to double thy crop." 



In the ordinary course of things, little would have to be 

 bought for a garden, as seeds would be saved, and plants 

 divided and exchanged among friends, year by year. 



" Good huswifes in sommer will saue their owne seedes 

 against the next yeere, as occasion needes. 

 One seede for another, to make an exchange 

 With fellowlie neighbourhood seemeth not strange." 



1 Expression often used, probably for the sake of rhythm =weed, or 

 destroy, wild mallow, a common weed. 



2 =good girl, or lass. 



