The plant is a most noble one, a sort of shrub. When it is young, it is graye-green, and hath small leaves of an Oval shape, with smooth edges but much toothed on the surface, as a cow's tongue. If it abideth a year or more, the main Trunks become hard and gray, and are like wood. In the colder parts, it dropeth its leaves in winter-tide; but in these more seasonable climes, the branches oft bear some leaves green all winter. When the leafs are picked and dried hanging or on a screen, they are gray. Some like to grind them thus into powder, but it liketh me not. Let the sprigs be dried hanging and in a drie ayre, and then close them up in a bagge or box, and use them as occasion call.
Though the poor place sage and suchlike herbs in the worst ground in the garden, the wise gardiners of old and nowadays say that a well drest soil doeth best for Sage. I have known it to grow in shade, and in red-clay soil; but it liketh best a loose sweet soil, not often dunged, and a great Quantitie of Sunne. In the Italies it growth in the full strength of the sun, which at noonday will scorch the skin. Though it can be brought from seed, it is a paltry business, and 'tis better to set slippes of the branches, which boweth out to the ground as the limbs of an aged man. Husbandmen say Sage plants are best planted close, and together they will choke away the weeds; but thou must clean out dead leaves and rubbish from under the branches, lest noxious Toades and other Reptiles nest there. I have heard it said, and seen it is so, that you must set new slips from time to time, and cut the Branches back close on one side, for if the plant grow too Woodey they said it will strangle itself and lose vigor, as those long in appointment may grow careless in office.
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