Part 7

JOHN WORLIDGE published his Systema Agriculturæ in folio, 1668; second edition in 1675, folio: fourth edition in 1687, folio. An octavo edition 1716, with its English title of "A compleat System of Husbandry and Gardening, or the Gentleman's Companion in the Business and Pleasures of a Country life." In the preface to this, and indeed throughout all his works, we may trace his fondness for gardens. The great variety of rural subjects treated on in this book, may be seen in its Index, or full Analysis. In his second section "Of the profits and pleasures of fruit-trees," he strongly enforces the planting of vineyards.

His Systema Horticulturæ, or the Art of Gardening, was published in 1677, 8vo.; a third edition 1688; a fourth edition 1719.

Vinetum Britannicum, or a Treatise on Cyder, and other Wines and Drinks, extracted from Fruits: to which is added, a Discourse on Bees; 8vo., second impression, much enlarged, 1678. He therein thus paints the pleasures of a garden:--"The exercises of planting, grafting, pruning, and walking in them, very much tendeth to salubrity, as also doth the wholesome airs found in them, which have been experienced not only to cure several distempers incident to our nature, but to tend towards the prolongation of life. For nothing can be more available to health and long life, than a sedate quiet mind, attended with these rural delights, a healthful air, and moderate exercise, which may here be found in all seasons of the year."

He also published, The Second Parts of Systema Agriculturæ, 8vo. 1689.

The Second Part of Vinetum Britannicum, 8vo. 1689. This is usually bound with the above.

His attachment to whatever concerns a rural life, shines through most of his pages. Take the few following for a specimen:--

In his description of the month of April, he says, "In this month your garden appears in its greatest beauty, the blossoms of the fruit-trees prognosticate the plenty of fruits for all the succeeding summer months, unless prevented by untimely frosts or blights. The bees now buz in every corner of your garden to seek for food; the birds sing in every bush, and the sweet nightingale tunes her warbling notes in your solitary walks, whilst the other birds are at their rest. The beasts of the woods look out into the plains, and the fishes of the deep sport themselves in the shallow waters. The air is wholesome, and the earth pleasant, beginning now to be cloathed in nature's best array, exceeding all art's glory. This is the time that whets the wits of several nations to prove their own country to have been the Garden of Eden, or the terrestrial paradise, however it appears all the year besides. In case unseasonable weather hinders not, the pleasantness and salubrity of the air now tempts the sound to the free enjoyment of it, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of Bacchus in a smoaky corner." In his month of May, he says, "He that delights not in physick, let him now exercise himself in the garden, and take the smell of the earth with the rising sun, than which to the virtuously inclined, there is nothing more pleasant; for now is nature herself full of mirth, and the senses stored with delights, and variety of pleasures." His month of July thus recommends itself: "Grotts and shady groves are more seasonable to recreate yourself in than the open air, unless it be late in the evening, or early in the morning, to such that can afford time to take a nap after noon."

In his Syst. Hort. he observes, that "A fair stream or current flowing through or near your garden, adds much to the glory and pleasure of it: on the banks of it you may plant several aquatick exoticks, and have your seats or places of repose under their umbrage, and there satiate yourself with the view of the curling streams, and its nimble inhabitants. These gliding streams refrigerate the air in a summer evening, and render their banks so pleasant, that they become resistless charms to your senses, by the murmuring noise, the undulation of the water, the verdant banks and shades over them, the sporting fish confined within your own limits, the beautiful swans; and by the pleasant notes of singing birds, that delight in groves, on the banks of such rivulets."

And in his preface to this last work, he says, "My principal design being not only to excite or animate such as have fair estates, and pleasant seats in the country, to adorn and beautifie them; but to encourage the honest and plain countryman in the improvement of his Ville, by enlarging the bounds and limits of his Gardens, as well as his Orchards, for the encrease of such esculent plants as may be useful and beneficial to himself and his neighbors."

FRANCIS DROPE, B. D., who died at Oxford, and whose father was Vicar of Cumner, in Berkshire. Wood, in his Athenæ, says, "he hath written on a subject which he much delighted in, and wherein he spent much time, but which was not published till his death: A short and sure guide to the practice of raising, and ordering of fruit trees, Oxford, 1672, 12mo., a large and laudable account of which you may see in the Phil. Trans. No. 86, p. 10, 49."

MOSES COOKE, Gardener to the Earl of Essex, at Cashiobury, afterwards a partner with Lucre, Field and London, in the Brompton Park Nursery. He wrote "The Art of making Cyder," published in Mr. Evelyn's works. The manner of raising Forest Trees, 4to. 1696. Other editions in 8vo. in 1717, 1724, and 1770. Mr. Evelyn (speaking of Cashiobury) says, "The gardens are very rare, and cannot be otherwise, having so skilful an artist to govern them as Cooke." Moses Cooke, in his preface, justly says, "Planting and Gardening add much to the health and content of man; and these two jewels no man that well understands himself, would willingly be without; for it is not only set down for a certain truth by many wise men, but confirmed by experience. The learned Lord Bacon commends the following of the plough in fresh ground, to be very healthful for man; but more, the digging in gardens." His pages, here and there, record some of "the fine stately trees that we have growing in the woods at Cashiobury." Cooke unfortunately fancied himself a poet; but gratitude to his noble master, and loyalty to his king, seem to have been the motives of his inspiration. "One night (methought) walking up one of my Lord's lime-walks, I heard the grateful trees thus paying the tribute of their thanks to his lordship:--

Like pyramids our stately tops we'll raise, To sing our noble benefactor's praise; Freshly we will to after-ages show What noble Essex did on us bestow: For we our very being owe to him, Or else we had long since intombed been In crop of bird, or in beast's belly found, Or met our death neglected on the ground. By him we cherish'd were with dung and spade, For which we'll recompense him with our shade. And since his kindness saw us prun'd so well, We will requite him with our fragrant smell; In winter (as in gratitude is meet) We'll strew our humble leaves beneath his feet. Nay, in each tree, root, trunk, branch, all will be Proud to serve him and his posterity."

And he thus invokes the stately oak, after enumerating many of the rich commodities which this tree bears through our Thames:--

Of silks and satins fine, to clothe the back; Of wines, Italian, French, and Spanish sack.

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'T was faithful oak preserved our king, that we Might thence learn lessons of true loyalty.

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When in salt seas Sir Francis Drake did steer, Sailing in oak he say'd one day i'th'year. His oak, which the terrestrial globe did measure, Through dangers led him t' honour, profit, pleasure. No wood like oak that grows upon the ground, To make our house and ships last long and sound; No oak like ours: by love to oak let's then Appear true subjects, and right Englishmen.

ANTHONY LAWRENCE published in 4to. 1677, Nurseries, Orchards, Profitable Gardens, and Vineyards Encouraged.

JOHN READ, "one of the earliest Scotch gardening writers." He wrote "The Scotch Gardener," 1683, 4to. An Edinburgh edition in 8vo. 1766; to which is added, a short Treatise of Forest Trees, by the Earl of Haddington.

J. GIBSON, who wrote A Short Account of several Gardens near London, as viewed in 1681, in vol. xii of the Archæologia.

T. LANGFORD wrote Plain and Full Instructions to raise all sorts of Fruit Trees that prosper in England; with Directions for making Liquors of all sorts of Fruits; 8vo. 1681. To the second edition, in 1696, is prefixed a very handsome epistle from Mr. Evelyn, in which he says, "As I know nothing extant that exceeds it, so nor do I of any thing which needs be added to it." Also,

The Practical Planter of Fruit Trees; 8vo. 1681. Also, Systemæ Agriculturæ, being the Mystery of Husbandry Discovered; folio, 1681.

LEONARD MEAGER'S Portrait perhaps we may not be very desirous to discover, when he tells his readers, neither to "sow, plant, nor graft, or meddle with any thing relating to gardening, when the sun or moon is eclipsed, or on that day, nor when the moon is afflicted by either of the unfortunate planets, viz. Mars or Saturn." His English Gardner, in 4to. with cuts, came out in 1683; the ninth edition came out in 1699, 4to.; it contains several clearly pointed plates of knots, or parterres.

Meager also published The New Art of Gardening, with the Gardener's Almanack; 8vo. 1697; and

The Mystery of Husbandry; 12mo. 1699.

The many editions that came out of Meager's English Gardner, sufficiently shews the estimation in which his book was held.

GEORGE LONDON and HENRY WISE, so eminent in their day, that, as a contemporary says, "If the stock of their nurseries at Brompton Park, were valued at one penny a plant, the amount would exceed £40,000. Mr. Evelyn declares, that we may place the above nursery above the greatest works of that kind ever seen or heard of, either in books or travels." Mr. Evelyn again calls it "that vast ample collection which I have lately seen, and well considered, at Brompton Park; the very sight of which alone, gives an idea of something that is greater than I can well express. One needs no more than to take a walk to Brompton Park, (on a fair morning) to behold and admire what a magazine these industrious men have provided." The Rev. John Laurence, in his Clergyman's Recreation, willingly attests their skill, integrity, and reputation, "so well established amongst the nobility and gentry."