deth the more care, labour, and coſt to bee beſtowed thereon, both to order it rightly, & ſo to preſerue it from time to time: for no artificiall or forc't ground can endure good any long time, but that within a few yeares it muſt be refreſhed more or leſſe, according as it doth require. Yet you ſhall likewiſe vnderſtand, that this Garden of pleaſure ſtored with theſe Out-landiſh flowers; that is, bulbous and tuberous rooted plants, and other fine flowers, that I haue hereafter deſcribed, and aſſigned vnto it, needeth not ſo much or ſo often manuring with ſoyle, &c. as another Garden planted with the other ſorts of Engliſh flowers, or a Garden of ordinary Kitchin herbes doth. Your ground likewiſe for this Garden had neede to bee well cleanſed from all annoyances (that may hinder the well doing or proſpering of the flowers therein) as ſtones, weedes, rootes of trees, buſhes, &c. and all other things cumberſome or hurtfull; and therefore the earth being not naturally fine enough of it ſelfe, is vſed to bee ſifted to make it the finer, and that either through a hurdle made of ſticks, or lathes, or through ſquare or round ſieues platted with fine and ſtrong thin ſtickes, or with wyers in the bottome. Or elſe the whole earth of the Garden being courſe, may be caſt in the ſame manner that men vſe to try or fine ſand from grauell, that is, againſt a wall; whereby the courſer and more ſtony, falling downe from the fine, is to be taken away from the foote of the heape, the finer ſand and ground remaining ſtill aboue, and on the heape. Or elſe in the want of a wall to caſt it againſt, I haue ſeene earth fined by it ſelfe in this manner: Hauing made the floore or vpper part of a large plat of ground cleane from ſtones, &c. let there a reaſonable round heape of fine earth be ſet in the midſt thereof, or in ſtead thereof a large Garden flowerpot, or other great pot, the bottome turned vpwards, and then poure your courſe earth on the top or head thereof, one ſhouell full after another ſomewhat gently, and thereby all the courſe ſtuffe and ſtones will fall downe to the bottome round about the heape, which muſt continually be carefully taken away, and thus you may make your earth as fine as if it were caſt againſt a wall, the heape being growne great, ſeruing in ſtead thereof. Thoſe that will not prepare their grounds in ſome of theſe manners aforeſaid, ſhall ſoone finde to their loſſe the neglect thereof: for the traſh and ſtones ſhall ſo hinder the encreaſe of their roots, that they will be halfe loſt in the earth among the ſtones, which elſe might be ſaued to ſerue to plant whereſoeuer they pleaſe.
Chap. II.
The frame or forme of a Garden of delight and pleaſure, with the ſeuerall
varieties thereof.
ALthough many men muſt be content with any plat of ground, of what forme or quantity ſoeuer it bee, more or leſſe, for their Garden, becauſe a more large or conuenient cannot bee had to their habitation: Yet I perſwade my ſelfe, that Gentlemen of the better ſort and quality, will prouide ſuch a parcell of ground to bee laid out for their Garden, and in ſuch conuenient manner, as may be fit and anſwerable to the degree they hold. To preſcribe one forme for euery man to follow, were too great preſumption and folly: for euery man will pleaſe his owne fancie, according to the extent he deſigneth out for that purpoſe, be it orbicular or round, triangular or three ſquare, quadrangular or foure ſquare, or more long than broad. I will onely ſhew you here the ſeuerall formes that many men haue taken and delighted in, let euery man chuſe which him liketh beſt, or may moſt fitly agree to that proportion of ground hee hath ſet out for that purpoſe. The orbicular or round forme is held in it owne proper exiſtence to be the moſt abſolute forme, containing within it all other formes whatſoeuer; but few I thinke will chuſe ſuch a proportion to be ioyned to their habitation, being not accepted any where I think, but for the generall Garden to the Vniuerſity at Padoa. The triangular or three ſquare is ſuch a forme alſo, as is ſeldome choſen by any that may make another choiſe, and as I thinke is onely had where another forme cannot be had, neceſſitie conſtraining them to be therewith content. The foure ſquare forme is the moſt vſually accepted with all, and doth beſt agree to any mans dwelling, being (as I ſaid before) behinde the houſe, all the backe windowes thereof opening into it. Yet if it bee longer than the breadth, or broader than the length, the proportion of walkes, ſquares, and knots may be ſoon brought to the ſquare forme, and be ſo caſt, as the beauty thereof may
