ment, sith there is no hope of
restraint to be looked for in this behalfe, because the corruption is
so generall."

The chapter "Of Gardens and Orchards" is interesting, not only as
containing the bit quoted above on Harrison's own garden, but for its note
of how vegetables, roots, and salad herbs, that had gone out of use since
Henry IV.'s time, had in Henry VIII.'s and Elizabeth's days come into
daily consumption, so that men even eat dangerous fruits like mushrooms.
Also, hops and madder were grown again, and rare medicinable herbs.
Gardens were beautified, plants imported; orchards supplied with apricot,
almond, peach, fig, and cornel trees; nay, capers, oranges, lemons, and
wild olives. Grafting was practist with great skill and success; even
dishwater was utilis'd for plants. And as to roses, there was one in
Antwerp in 1585 that had 180 leaves on one button or flower, and Harrison
could have had a slip of it for L10 (L60 now?) if he hadn't thought it
"but a tickle hazard."

The chapter "Of Woods and Marshes" is interesting, from Harrison's laments
in it over the destruction of English woods, which he saw yearly
disappearing around him,[49] one man, as he says, having turnd sixty
woods into one pair of breeches.[50] And then, mov'd by the thought of
what will become of England without its oaks, the unselfish old parson
utters the four dearest wishes of his heart:--

"I would wish that I might liue no longer than to see foure things in
this land reformed, that is: (1) the want of discipline in the
church: (2) the couetous dealing of most of our merchants in the
preferment of the commodities of other countries, and hinderance of
their owne: (3) the holding of faires and markets vpon the sundaie to
be abolished, and referred to the wednesdaies: (4) and that euerie
man, in whatsoeuer part of the champaine soile enioieth fortie acres
of land and vpwards, after that rate, either by free deed, copie
hold, or fee farme, might plant one acre of wood, or sowe the same
with oke mast, hasell, beech, and sufficient prouision be made that
it may be cherished and kept. But I feare me that I should then liue
too long, and so long, that I should either be wearie of the world,
or the world of me; and yet they are not such things but they may
easilie be brought to passe."

This same chapter contains the capital bit about the oaken men and willow