Chap.IIII.
Of the sowing of certaine Hearbs, which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinall, yet euer in the Husbandmans Garden.
Of Arage.
Of Hearbes which are medicinall, I will begin withArageorOrache, which being colde and moyst is very excellent against the hot Gout: it is to be sowne in any moneth, from February till December: it loueth much moisture, and therefore must be oft watered: it must be sowne excéeding thinne, and quickly couered, for the ayre is offensiue.
Of Lumbardy Loueage.
Next it isLumbardy,Loueage, which being hot and dry, is very purgatiue, it desireth a very fruitfull ground, but if it be sowne where it may haue much shadow and some shelter accompanied with moysture, it will grow in any ground, the moneths for sowing thereof, is, from the midst of February till Haruest.
Of Fennell.
Fennellis also hot and dry, and it comforteth the stomacke, openeth the inward vessels, and helpeth disgestion; it may be sowne in any moneth, and vpon any indifferent ground, especially if it be a little stony, the séede would not be very old, though of all other it be the longest laster.
Of Anise.
Aniseis hot and dry, it dissolueth humors and obstructions, and is very comfortable to weake stomacks, it delighteth in a good and loose mould, and is to be sowne in the height of the Spring onely.
Of Comin.
Cominis of the nature ofAniseandFennell, and mixt with either, is very soueraine against all inward sicknesses procéeding from cold, it loueth a fruitfull rich earth & much warmth, and therfore the later it is sowne in the Spring, it is so much the better, and aboue all things it would be sowne in the hottest time of the day, & if it be mixed with other séeds, it is so much the better, and appeareth the sooner.
Of Coliander.
Colianderis of the nature of the earth, cold & dry, it helps disgestion, & suppresseth vapours which offend the braine, it may be sowne vpon any indifferent ground, & in any month except December and Ianuary, the elder the séedes are the better so they be sound, and they desire much watering.
Of Rue.
RueorHearb-graceis hot and dry, & is very soueraigne against all inward infection, putrifactions, and impostumations, it ioyeth in any reasonable ground so it grow warme and dry, the moneths fittest for the sowing thereof, is March, Aprill or May, and the mould would be firme and not subiect to ryuing, whence it procéedes that no meanure is so good for the encrease thereof as horse-dung and ashes mixt together: the beds would be made high & discending, that no moysture may stay thereon, they must be carefully wéeded, for in their first growth otherwise they are soone choaked.
Of Organie.
Organieis hot and dry, and excellent against any sicknesse of the liuer, the ground in which it most ioyeth would be a little stonie, and full of rubbish, yet by no meanes vndunged, the moneth fittest for the sowing thereof is March and September, the Moone being inLibraor any other moist signe, it must be continually watred till it appears aboue the earth, but after forborne, for being once well bred, it is euer certaine.
Of white Poppy.
WhitePoppyis cold and moyst, and much prouoketh sléepe: it delights to be sowne in a rich, warme, dry ground, in the moneths of March, September or Nouember.
Of Germander.
Germanderis hot and dry, and excellent against the Kings euill; obstructions of the Spléene and hardnesse of Vrine; it is a hard hearbe, and will prosper in any ground, it is to be sowne, either in the spring or fall of the leafe, and is most comly for the setting forth of knots in Gardens.
Of Cardus Benedictus.
Cardus Benedictus, or the blessed Thistell, is hot and dry, it is very soueraine against most inward sicknesses, stancheth blood, and is a great comforter of the braine, it delighteth in a rich ground and a loose well tempered mould, it must be sowne very shallow, and not couered aboue two inches déepe, the first quarter of the Moone is best to sowe it in, and in the moneths of March, May or September, if you sowe a little fine flaxen Wheat with it, no doubt but it will prosper the better.
Of Angellica.
Angellicais hot and dry, it openeth and dissolueth obstructions, is an excellent cordiall against poyson, and all infections, it helpeth the collicke, and cureth the biting of madde dogges or venemous beasts, it loueth a fruitfull dry mould, but may not indure the trouble of wéedes, it is to be sowne in March or Aprill, & it flourisheth in Iuly & August, it hath a swéet odour, and helpeth all euill & infected ayres.
Of Valerian.
Valerianis hot & dry and preuenteth infection, it helpeth stitches and other griefes procéeding from windy causes, it loueth to grow in moist and low places, the ground being well meanured, and till it be shot at least a handfull high,it must be kept with continuall watring, the moystest time of the yéere is the best to sowe it in.
Of Elecampana.
Elecampana, is hot and moyst, and good for offences in the lungs, or any outward ioynt, being troubled with paine procéeding from colde: it is better much to be set then sowne, yet notwithstanding it may safely enough be sowne at any time after mid-March, the ground being rich, soft, and loose, and the séede strowed very thinne, and at least two fingers distance one from another.
Of Pepperwort.
Pepperwortis hot and drye, yet of the two much more hot, it is good against all kinde of aches, and other paine in the ioynts, or sinewes: it delighteth in a rich blacke Soyle, fat and loose: it would be sowne in February, and remoued in September.
Of Philipendula.
Philipendulais very hot and dry, and is good against abortiue births, Stone, Strangury, or any griefe procéeding from colde causes: it may be sowne in any barraine, stony, or grauelly Soyle, in the months of May, Aprill, or September: it neither desireth much wéeding, nor much watering, but being once committed to the ground appeareth sodainely: and thus much of those Hearbes which are fit for Medicine, of which though there be many others, yet they differ not in their ordering from these already declared.