Fumifugium: or, the Inconveniencie of the Aer and Smoake of London/Part 3
Part. III.
An offer at the Improvement, and Melioration
of the Aer of LONDON, by way of
Plantations, &c.
THere goes a pleasant Tale of a certain Sr Politick, that in the last great Plague projected, how by a Vessel fraight with peel'd Onions, which should passe along the Thames by the City, when the Wind sate in a favourable quarter, to attract the pollution of the Aer, and sail away with the Infection to the Sea: Transplantation of Diseases we sometimes read of amongst the Magneticall, or rather Magical Cures; but never before of this way of Transfretation: but, however this excellent conceit has often afforded good mirth on the Stage, and I now mention to prevent the application to what I hope propound; There is yet another expedient, which I have here to offer (were This of the poisonous and filthy smoak remov'd) by which the City and environs about it, might be rendred one of the most pleasant and agreeable places in the world. In order to this I propose.
That all low-grounds circumjacent to the City, especially East and South-west, be cast and contriv'd into square plots, or Fields of twenty, thirty, and forty Akers, or more, separated from each others by Fences of double Palisads, or Contr'spaliers, which should enclose a Plantation of an hundred and fifty, or more, feet deep, about each Field; not much unlike to what His Majesty has already begun by the wall from Old Spring-garden to St. James's in that Park; and is somewhat resembled in the new Spring-garden at Lambeth. That these Palisad's be elegantly planted, diligently kept and supply'd, with such Shrubs, as yield the most fragrant and odoriferous Flowers, and are aptest to tinge the Aer upon every gentle emission at a great distance: Such as are (for instance amongst many others) the Sweet-brier, all the Periclymena's and Woodbinds; the Common white and yellow Jessamine, both the Syringa's or Pipe trees; the Guelder-Rose, the Musk, and all other Roses; Genista Hispanica: To these may be added the Rubus odoratus, Bayes, Juniper, Lignum-vitæ, Laevander: but above all, Rosemary, the Flowers whereof are credibly reported to give their sent above thirty Leagues off at Sea, upon the coasts of Spain: and at some distance towards the Meadow side, Vines, yea, Hops.
Virgil.———Et Arbuta passim,
Et Glaucas Salices, Casiamque Crocumque rebentem,
Et pinguem Tiliam, & ferrugineos Hyacinthos, &c.
For, there is a very sweet smelling Sally, and the blossoms of the Tilia or Lime-tree, are incomparably fragrant; in brief, whatsoever is odoriferous and refreshing.
That the Spaces, or Area between these Palisads, and Fences, be employ'd in Beds and Bordures of Pinks, Carnations, Clove, Stock-gilly-flower, Primroses, Auriculds, Violets, not forgetting the White, which are in flower twice a year, April and August: Cowslips, Lillies, Narcissus, Strawberries, whose very leaves as well as fruit, emit a Cardiaque, and most refreshing Halitus: also Parietaria Lutea, Musk, Lemmon, and Mastick, Thyme: Spike, Cammomile, Balm, Mint, Marjoram, Pempernel, and Serpillum, &c. which upon the least pressure and cutting, breathe out and betray their ravishing odors.
That the Fields, and Crofts within these Closures, or Invironing Gardens, be, some of them, planted with wild Thyme, and others reserved for Plots of Beans, Pease (not Cabbages, whose rotten and perishing stalks have a very noisom and unhealthy smell, and therefore by Hyppocrates utterly condemned near great Cities) but such blossom-bearing Grain as send forth their virtue at farthest distance, and are all of them marketable at London; by which means, the Aer and Winds perpetually fann'd from so many circling and encompassing Hedges, fragrant Shrubs, Trees, and Flowers (the amputation and prunings of whose superfluities, may in Winter, on some occasions of weather, and winds, be burnt, to visit the City with a more benign smoak) not onely all that did approach the Region, which is properly design'd to be Flowery; but even the whole City, would be sensible of the sweet and ravishing varieties of the perfumes, as well as of the most delightful and pleasant objects, and places of Recreation for the Inhabitants; yielding also a Prospect of a noble and masculine Majesty, by reason of the frequent plantations of Trees, and Nurseries for Ornament, Profit, and Security: The remainder of the Fields included, yielding the same, and better Shelter, and Pasture for Sheep and Cattel then now; that they lie bleak, expos'd and abandon'd to the winds, which perpetually invade them.
That, to this end, the Gardiners (which now cultivate the upper, more drie and ungrateful soil) be encouraged to begin Plantations in such places onely: and the farther exorbitant encrease of Tenements, poor and nasty Cottages near the City, be prohibited, which disgrace and take off from the sweetness and amœnity of the Environs of London, and are already become a great Eye-sore in the grounds opposite to His Majesty's Palace of White-hall; which being converted to this use, might yield a diversion inferior to none that could be xxxxgin'd for Health, Profit, and Beauty, which are the three Transcendencies that render a place without all exception. And this is what (in short) I had to offer, for the Improvement and Melioration of the Aer about London, and with which I shall conclude this discourse.
FINIS.