forme them into an hedge. And ſome againe take a lowe prickly ſhrubbe, that abideth alwayes greene, deſcribed in the end of this Booke, called in Latine Pyracantha, which in time will make an euer greene hedge or border, and when it beareth fruit, which are red berries like vnto Hawthorne berries, make a glorious ſhew among the greene leaues in the Winter time, when no other ſhrubbes haue fruit or leaues.
CHAP. IV.
The nature and names of diuers Out-landiſh flowers, that for their pride, beauty, and earlineſſe, are to be planted in Gardens of peaſure for delight.
Hauing thus formed out a Garden, and diuided it into his fit and due proportion, with all the gracefull knots, arbours, walkes, &c. likewiſe what is fit to keepe it in the ſame comely order, is appointed vnto it, both for the borders of the ſquares, and for the knots and beds themselues; let vs now come and furniſh the inward parts, and beds with thoſe fine flowers that (being ſtrangers vnto vs, and giuing the beauty and brauery of their colours ſo early before many of our owne bred flowers, the more to entice vs to their delight) are moſt beſeeming it; and namely, with Daffodils, Fritillarias, Iacinthes, Saffron-flowers, Lillies, Flowerdeluces, Tulipas, Anemones, French Cowſlips, or Beares eares, and a number of ſuch other flowers, very beautifull, delightfull, and pleaſant, hereafter deſcribed at full, whereof although many haue little ſweete ſcent to commend them, yet their earlineſſe and exceeding great beautie and varietie doth ſo farre counteruaile that defect (and yet I muſt tell you with all, that there is among the many ſorts of them ſome, and that not a few, that doe excell in ſweetneffe, being ſo ſtrong and heady, that they rather offend by too much than by too little ſent, and ſome againe are of ſo milde and moderate temper, that they ſcarce come ſhort of your moſt delicate and daintieſt flowers) that they are almoſt in all places with all perſons, eſpecially with the better ſort of the Gentry of the Land, as greatly deſired and accepted as any other the moſt choiſeſt, and the rather, for that the moſt part of theſe Out-landiſh flowers, do ſhew forth their beauty and colours ſo early in the yeare, that they ſeeme to make a Garden of delight euen in the Winter time, and doe ſo giue their flowers one after another, that all their brauery is not fully ſpent, vntil that Gilliflowers, the pride of our Engliſh Gardens, do ſhew themſelues: So that whoſoeuer would haue of euery ſort of theſe flowers, may haue for euery moneth ſeueral colours and varieties, euen from Chriſtmas vntill Midſommer, or after; and then, after ſome little reſpite, vntill Chriſtmas againe, and that in ſome plenty, with great content and without forcing; ſo that euery man may haue them in euery place, if they will take any care of them. And becauſe there bee many Gentlewomen and others, that would gladly haue ſome fine flowers to furniſh their Gardens, but know not what the names of thoſe things are that they deſire, nor what are the times of their flowring, nor the skill and knowledge of their right ordering, planting, diſplanting, tranſplanting, and replanting; I haue here for their ſakes ſet downe the nature, names, times, and manner of ordering in a briefe manner, referring the more ample declaration of them to the worke following. And firſt of their names and natures: Of Daffodils there are almoſt an hundred ſorts, as they are ſeuerally deſcribed hereafter, euery one to be diſtinguished from other, both in their times, formes, and colours, ſome being eyther white, or yellow, or mixt, or elſe being ſmall or great, ſingle or double, and ſome hauing but one flower vpon a ſtalke, others many, whereof many are ſo exceeding ſweete, that a very few are ſufficient to perfume a whole chamber, and beſides, many of them be ſo faire and double, eyther one vpon a ſtalke, or many vpon a ſtalke, that one or two ſtalkes of flowers are in ſtead of a whole noſe-gay, or bundell of flowers tyed together. This I doe affirme vpon good knowledge and certaine experience, and not as a great many others doe, tell of the wonders of another world, which themselues neuer ſaw nor euer heard of, except ſome ſuperficiall relation, which themselues haue augmented according to their owne fanſie and conceit. Againe, let me here alſo by the way tell you, that many idle and ignorant Gardiners and others, who get names by ſtealth, as they doe many other things, doe call
