Of Toades and Frogges.
Next these are Toades and Frogges, which are very poysonous and great destroyers of young Plants, chiefly in their first appearing aboue the ground, and the auncient Gardners haue vsed to destroy them by burning the fat of a Stagge in some part of the Garden beds, from which earth all creatures that haue poyson in them, will flye with all violence: other Gardners will watch where the Kite pearcheth on nights, and gathering vp her dung, scatter it vpon the beds either simply, or mixt with the shauings of an olde Harts horne, and no venemous thing will come néere it.
Of the field Myce.
Next these are field Myce, which will roote séedes out of the earth, and deuoure them aboundantly, which to kill you shall take Henbane seede, and beate it to pouder, and then mixing it with swéete Oyle, fresh Butter, or Grease, make thereof a bayte; and when you finde where they scratch or roote, lay some part of the bayte in that place, and they will gréedily eate it, and it will kill them: there be other Gardners which will take a Wéesell, and burning it to ashes, scatter the ashes on the beds, and then no field Mouse will come néere them.
Of Flyes.
Next these are Flyes, as flesh-Flyes, Scarabs, Hornets, Dores, and such like, which are great destroyers of Séeds and Plants, when they appeare in their first leafe, and are soft and tender, which to destroy, you shall either take Orpment mixt with milke, or the pouder of Allome, or the ashes of any of these Flyes burnt, and with it sprinkle your beds and young plants all ouer, and it will kéepe Flyes that they will not dare to come néere them.
Of the greene Fly.
If the gréene Fly, which of all other Flyes is most gréedie to hurt Séedes and Plants, doe offend your Garden, you shall take Henbane leaues, Houseleeke, and Minte, and beat them in a Morter, then straine forth the iuyce, and then adde thereto as much Vinegar as was of all the rest, and there-with sprinkle your beds all ouer, and the gréene Fly will neuer come néere them. Some hold opinion, that if you plant the hearbe Rocket in your Garden, that it is a safe preseruatiue against these gréene Flyes, for it is most certaine that the very smell thereof will kill these, and most sorts of all other Flyes whatsoeuer, as hath béene found by approued experience, and the sylts of olde auncient Abby Gardens, which a man shall seldome finde without this hearbe planted in them.
Of Gnats.
Next these are Gnats, which although it be the smallest of all Flyes, yet it is the greatest, quickest, and sharpest deuourer of tender Plants of all other, for it biteth déeper and more venemously sharpe, then those which are of much bigger substance: the best way to destroy them is morning and euening, to smoake and perfume your beds either with wet Rosemary, or with mouldy Hay: some vse to burne Calamint, and some Oxe dung, and sure all are very good, for the smoakes are very sharpe, and styflle as soone as it is receiued.