92 
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
. . . very thynne, and thycke-tothed,” “ a graffing-knyfe, an 
inch brode with a thy eke 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 like, 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 Distyllacyon 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, 
