"Now for the general proportion of gardens. They may at your pleasure
carry any of these four shapes: that is to say, either square, round,
oval, or diamond. This is but the outward proportion, or the verge
and girdle of your garden. As for the inward proportions and shapes
of the Quarters, Beds, Banks, Mounts and such-like, they are to be
divided by Alleys, Hedges, Borders, Rails, Pillars and such-like;
and by these you may draw your garden unto what form you please, not
respecting whatsoever shape the outward verge carrieth. For you may
make that garden which is square without to be round within, and that
which is round, either square, or oval; that which is oval, either
of the former, and that which is diamond any shape at all,--and yet
all exceedingly comely. You may also, if your ground be naturally so
situated, or if your industry please so to bring it to pass, make your
garden rise and mount by several degrees, one level ascending above
another, in such sort as if you had divers gardens one above another,
which is exceedingly beautiful to the eye and very beneficial to your
flowers and fruit-trees, especially if such ascents have the benefit
of the Sun rising upon them; and thus, if you please, you may have in
one level a square plot; in another, a round; in a third a diamond; and
in a fourth, an oval; then amongst the ascending banks, which are on
either side the stairs, you mount into your several gardens, you shall
make your physic garden or places to plant your physic herbs."
We also learn from "The Country Farm" that
"The Garden of Pleasure shall be set about and compassed with arbors
made of jessamin, rosemarie, box, juniper, cypress-trees, savin,
cedars, rose-trees and other dainties first planted and pruned
according as the nature of every one doth require, but after brought
into some form and order with willow or juniper poles, such as may
serve for the making of arbors. The ways and alleys must be covered
and sown with fine sand well beat, or with the powder of the sawing of
marble, or else paved handsomely with good pit stone.
"This garden, by means of a large path of the breadth of six feet,
shall be divided into two equal parts; the one shall contain the herbs
and flowers used to make nosegays and garlands of, as March violets,
Provence gilliflowers, purple gilliflowers, Indian gilliflowers, small
pansies, daisies, yellow and white gilliflowers, marigolds, lily
connally,[12] daffodils, Canterbury bells, purple velvet flowers,
anemones, corn-flag,[13] mugwort, lilies and other such-like; and it
may be indeed the Nosegay Garden.
[12] Lily-of-the-valley.
[13] Gladiolus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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