The Gardener's Labyrinth

The Gardener's Labyrinth or The Gardeners Labyrinth was an early popular book about gardening. It was written by Thomas Hill, using the pseudonym Didymus Mountain, with Henry Dethick and published in 1577.

It was published three years after Thomas Hill's death and completed by Henry Dethick, who was a friend of Hill's. It was printed by Henry Bynneman.

It contains high quality woodcut illustrations which show gardeners working in modest sized gardens. They dig, rake, train climbers over arbours and plant flowers in raised beds. Tools such as mattocks, hedgehooks, shovels, water-tubs, waterspouts and brooms.

The book's instructions for growing cucumbers were reviewed by George William Johnson in 1817. Although the book receives praise for its advice that cucumbers should be grown on a trellis, 'that the fruites corrupt not by lying on the earth' Johnson writes that the book's directions are 'mingled with many absurdities borrowed from classic authorities'.

Reception
The book was popular. It was reprinted five or six times and its final edition appeared in 1651.

Thomas Hill
Thomas Hill (born approx 1528-1574) was a book complier and translator but also an astrologer. As well as writing books on gardening he also wrote on astrology, arithmetic, physiognomy and dreams.

Hill was responsible too for A most briefe and pleasant treatise, teaching how to dress, some, and set a garden in 1563. Described as the first gardening book to be printed in England.

Henry Dethick's Completion
The book includes a poem, addressed to the reader, where Dethicks explains his contribution after Thomas Hill's death. 'Considering (right honourable) my promise plighted unto my friend (lately entrered) I was informed to performe the perfecting of this English Treatise'.