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I've just bought yet another gardening book, which, like many such, is in the form of a calendar of monthly tasks. Here's an extract, from the section for March:
Yet Stercoration is seasonable, and you may plant what Trees are left, though it be something of the latest, unless in very backward, or moist places.
Now is your chiefest and best time for raising on the Hot-bed Melons, Cucumbers, Gourds, &c. which about the sixth, eight or tenth day will be ready for the Seeds. And eight days after prick them forth at distances, according to the Method &c.
If you will have them later, begin again in ten or twelve days after the first, and so a third time to make Experiments. Remember to preserve the Hot-bed as much as possible from Rain; for cool him you may easily if too violent, but not give it a competent heat if it be spent, without new-making.
Oh - didn't I say? It was published in 1664, and is called 'Kalendarium Hortense', and was written by John Evelyn, of Diary fame. It's included, along with two other horticultural books of his, in 'Directions for the Gardener and other Horticultural Advice', edited by Maggie Campbell-Culver, and published by OUP.
Much of the advice is still valid; he knew about rotating crops, not using manure until it's well-rotted ("consumed"), successional sowing to avoid gluts (as in the extract above), and intercropping, as in the following extract, from 'Notes for the Kitchin-Garden', from 'Directions for the Gardiner', another of the three works included:
One may sow Reddish, and Carrots together on the same bed: so as the first may be drawn, whilst the other is ready: or sow lettuce, purselan, parsneps, carrots, Reddis on the same beds, & gather each kind in their season, leaving the parsneps to Winter:
On the other hand, like all 17th-Century gardeners, he thought earthworms were a pest, and recommended ruthlessness towards them.
You must admit that his literary style knocks Titchmarsh, Klein, Larkcom et al into a cocked hat (although Carol K. has quite a way with words)! Anyway, it's fascinating stuff, if you've got £14.99 to spare.
MARCH
To be done
In the Orchard, and Olitory-Garden
To be done
In the Orchard, and Olitory-Garden
Yet Stercoration is seasonable, and you may plant what Trees are left, though it be something of the latest, unless in very backward, or moist places.
Now is your chiefest and best time for raising on the Hot-bed Melons, Cucumbers, Gourds, &c. which about the sixth, eight or tenth day will be ready for the Seeds. And eight days after prick them forth at distances, according to the Method &c.
If you will have them later, begin again in ten or twelve days after the first, and so a third time to make Experiments. Remember to preserve the Hot-bed as much as possible from Rain; for cool him you may easily if too violent, but not give it a competent heat if it be spent, without new-making.
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Oh - didn't I say? It was published in 1664, and is called 'Kalendarium Hortense', and was written by John Evelyn, of Diary fame. It's included, along with two other horticultural books of his, in 'Directions for the Gardener and other Horticultural Advice', edited by Maggie Campbell-Culver, and published by OUP.
Much of the advice is still valid; he knew about rotating crops, not using manure until it's well-rotted ("consumed"), successional sowing to avoid gluts (as in the extract above), and intercropping, as in the following extract, from 'Notes for the Kitchin-Garden', from 'Directions for the Gardiner', another of the three works included:
One may sow Reddish, and Carrots together on the same bed: so as the first may be drawn, whilst the other is ready: or sow lettuce, purselan, parsneps, carrots, Reddis on the same beds, & gather each kind in their season, leaving the parsneps to Winter:
On the other hand, like all 17th-Century gardeners, he thought earthworms were a pest, and recommended ruthlessness towards them.
You must admit that his literary style knocks Titchmarsh, Klein, Larkcom et al into a cocked hat (although Carol K. has quite a way with words)! Anyway, it's fascinating stuff, if you've got £14.99 to spare.
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