The (garden of pleafant Flowers. djj 
weakneflcand decay oftheroote, and thatthis extraordinary beauty in the flower, is 
but as the brightnefle of a light ,vpon the very extinguifhing thereof, and doth plainly 
declare, that it can doe his Mafter no more feruice,and therefore with this iollity doth 
bid him good night. I know there is a common opinion among many (and very con- 
fidently maintained) that aTulipa with a white flower, hath changed to bearc a red or 
yello w, and fo of the red or yellow, and other colours, that they are likewifeincon- 
ftant, as though no flowers werecertaine : but I could neuer either fee or heare for 
certaineany fuch alteration, nor any other variation, but what is formerly exprefled. 
Let not therefore any iudicious be carried away with any fuch idle conceit,but rather 
fufpetftfome deceit in their Gardeners or others, by takingvp one, and putting inan- 
otber in the place, or elfe their owne miftaking. 
Nowforthefowing, plantings tranfplatiting , choife , and ordering of Tulipas, 
which is not the leaft of regard, concerning this fubieS in hand, but (as I think)would 
be willingly entertained ; What I haue by my bed endeauours learned, by mine owne 
paines in almoft forty ycares trauell, or from others informations, I am willing here 
tofetdowne 5 not doubting, but that fome may adde what hath not come to my 
knowledge. 
Firft, in the fowing offccdcs of Tulipas, I haue not obferued (whatfoeuer others 
haue written) nor could of certainty learne of others, that there doth arife from the 
feedes oiPrxcoces any Medus or Serotine T ulipas , (or but very fcldome) nor am cer- 
tainly afliired of any : but that the feedes of all Pracoces (fo they be not doubtfull , or 
of the laft flowring forts) will bring Pracocet : And I am out of doubt, that I neuer law, 
nor could learne, that eucr the feedeof the Mediat or Sir o tines haue giuen Pracoces ; 
but Mediat or Serotines, according to their naturali kinde. But if there (hould bee any 
degeneration, I rather incline to t hinke , that it fooncr commeth to paffe ( i meliore ad 
feint, for facilis e(l dtfccnfut, that is) that Prat tees may giue Mediat , then that Mediae or 
Scrofincs (hould giue Pracoces, 
For the choife ofyour feede tofowe. Firft, for the ?>■.«««, Clufius faith, that the 
Pracox T vlipa, that beareth a white flower, is the beft to giue the greateft variety of co- 
lours. Some among vs haue reported, that they haue found great variety rife from the 
feede of the red Pracox, which I can more hardly beleeuc.- but Clulius his experience 
hath the greater probability, but efpecially if it haue fame mixture of red or purple in 
it. The purple I haue found to be the beft, next thereunto is the purple with white 
edges, and fo likewife the red with yellow edges, each of them will bring moftof 
theirowne colours. Then the choife of the beft Mediat , is to take thofe colours that 
are light, rather white then yellow, and purple then red ; yea white, not yellow, pur- 
ple, not red: butthefeagainctobefpottedisthcbeft, and the more the better; but 
withall, or abouc all in thefe, refpcift the ground or bottome of the flower, (which in 
the Pracox Tulipa cannot, becaufc youfhall feldome fee any other ground in them but 
yellow) for if the flower be white, or whitifh , fpotted, or edged, and ftraked, and the 
bottome blew or purple (fuch as is found in the Holias, and in the Cloth of filuer, this 
is beyond all other the moft excellent, and out of queftion the choifeft of an hundred, 
to haue the greateft and moft pleafant variety and rarity. And fo in degree, the meaner 
in beauty you fowe, the lefferfhall your pleafure in rarities be. Beftowe not your time 
in fowing red or yello w Tulipa feede, or the diuers mixtures of them ; for they will (as 
I haue found by experience) feldome be worth your paines. The Serotina, or late flow- 
ring Tulipa, becaufc it is feldome feene,with any efpeciall beautifull variety, you may 
eafily your felues ghelfe that it can bring forth (euen as I haue alfo learned) no raritie, 
and little or no diuerfity at all. 
The time and manner to fowe thefe feedes isnexttobeconfidered. Youmay not 
fowe them in the fpring of the yeare, if you hope to haue any good of them ; but in the 
Autumne, or prefently after they be thorough ripe and dry : yet if you fowe them not 
vntill the end of O (Sober, they will come forward neuer the worfe, but rather the bet- 
ter; for it is often feene, that ouer early fowing caufeth them to fpring out of the 
ground ouer early, fo that if a (harpe fpring chance to follow, it may goe necret® 
fpoile all, or the moft ofyour feede. Wee vfually fowe the fame y ear cs feede, yetif 
you chance to keepe of your owne, or haue from others fuch feed, as is two years old, 
they will thriue and doe well enough, efpecially if they were ripe and well gathered : 
F a You 
