The ſituation of a Garden of pleaſure, with the nature of ſoyles, and how to amend the defects that are in many ſorts of ſituations and grounds.

HE ſeuerall ſituations of mens dwellings, are for the moſt part vnauoideable and vnremoueable; for moſt men cannot appoint forth ſuch a manner of ſituation for their dwelling, as is moſt fit to auoide all the inconueniences of winde and weather, but muſt bee content with ſuch as the place will afford them; yet all men doe well know, that ſome ſituations are more excellent than others: according therfore to the ſeuerall ſituation of mens dwellings, ſo are the ſituations of their gardens alſo for the moſt part. And although diuers doe diuerſly preferre their owne ſeuerall places which they haue chofen, or wherein they dwell; As ſome thoſe places that are neare vnto a riuer or brooke to be beſt for the pleaſantneſſe of the water, the eaſe of tranſportation of themſelues, their friends and goods, as alſo for the fertility of the ſoyle, which is ſeldome bad neare vnto a riuers ſide; And others extoll the ſide or top of an hill, bee it ſmall or great, for the proſpects ſake; And againe, ſome the plaine or champian ground, for the euen leuell thereof: euery one of which, as they haue their commodities accompanying them, ſo haue they alſo their diſcommodities belonging vnto them, according to the Latine Prouerbe, Omne commodum fert ſuum incommodum. Yet to ſhew you for euerie of theſe ſituations which is the fitteſt place to plant your garden in, and how to defend it from the iniuries of the cold windes and froſts that may annoy it, will, I hope, be well accepted. And firſt, for the water ſide, I ſuppoſe the North ſide of the water to be the beſt ſide for your garden, that it may haue the comfort of the South Sunne to lye vpon it and face it, and the dwelling houſe to bee aboue it, to defend the cold windes and froſts both from your herbes, and flowers, and early fruits. And fſo likewiſe I iudge for the hill ſide, that it may lye full open to the South Sunne, and the houſe aboue it, both for the comfort the ground ſhall receiue of the water and raine deſcending into it, and of defence from winter and colds. Now for the plaine leuell ground, the buildings of the houſe ſhould be on the North ſide of the garden, that ſo they might bee a defence of much ſufficiency to ſafeguard it from many injurious cold nights and dayes, which elſe might ſpoyle the pride thereof in the bud. But becauſe euery one cannot ſo appoint his dwelling, as I here appoint the fitteſt place for it to be, euery ones pleaſure thereof ſhall be according to the ſite, coſt, and endeauours they beſtow, to cauſe it come neareſt to this proportion, by ſuch helpes of bricke or ſtone wals to defend it, or by the helpe of high growne and well ſpread trees, planted on the North ſide thereof, to keepe it the warmer. And euery of theſe three ſituations, hauing the faireſt buildings of the houſe facing the garden in this manner before ſpecified, beſides the benefit of ſhelter it ſhall haue from them, the buildings and roomes abutting thereon, ſhall haue reciprocally the beautifull proſpect into it, and haue both ſight and ſent of whatſoeuer is excellent, and worthy to giue content out from it, which is one of the greateſt pleaſures a garden can yeeld his Maſter. Now hauing ſhewed you the beſt place where this your