little wyther that he may the better be receiued of the stocke You must appoynt your graffing tyme in the spring from Marche when as the buddes doo begin to burgen but not come out although you may graffe the Peare when his leaues be out vntyl May for gâ—affing in rayne is proâ—itable but not for imbranching The Olyue whose springes doo longest budde and haue muche sappe vnder the barke the abundance whereof dooth hurt the graffe must be graffed as Florentine sayth from May tyll Iune Columella would haue the Olyue graffed from the twelfth of March tyll the fyrst or sixth of April and the time of graffing to be the Moone encreasing in the after noone when there bloweth no South winde When ye haue founde a good graffe take your knife being very sharpe and pare it about a three fingers from the ioynt downeward so much as shall be meete to be sette in the stocke that part that is vnder the ioynt not perishing the pith you must cutte with your knife as yf you shoulde make a penne so as the wood with the wood and the barke with the barke may ioyne togeather as iust as may be Whiche beyng done yf you meane to graffe in the stocke you must fyrst sawe it smoothe and then cleaue it in the middest with a sharpe knife about three fyngers and to the ende you may handsomely put in your graffe you must haue a little wedge of wood or iron Plinie thinkes it better of bone whiche wedgâ— when you wil graffe betweene the rynde and the stocke must be made flatte on the one side and rounde on the other and the graffe must be pared also flatte on that side that must stande next the wood takyng alwayes good heede that the pith be not perished the other part must only haue the rynde pulled of whiche after you must set in the cleft or betwixt the barke tyll you see all partes agree togeather Some doo cut the poynt of theyr graffe three square so as two sides are bare and the other couered with his barke and in that sort they vse to graffe in a stocke one against another but it is thought best to graffe no more but one When you haue thus set in your graffe in the stocke plucke out the wedge but here is a great carefulnesse and heede to be vsed And therefore good grafters thinke it best to holde the graffe euen with both handes least in the binding and pulling out of the wedge the graffe be hurt or stande vneuen For auoydyng of whiche some vse for to binde the stocke about and after to put in the wedge the bandes keeping it from openyng to wide The harder they be set in the longer wyll they be eare they beare but wyll endure the better you must take heede therefore that the cleft be not to slacke nor to strayt When you haue thus graffed binde the stocke with a twigge and couer it with Loame wel tempered with Chaffe two fyngers thicknesse and putting Mosse round about it tye it vp so that there come no rayne at it nor be hurt with the Sunne or the Winde This is the order both in the olde tyme and at this day vsed though in Columellas tyme as it appeareth they were not woont to graffe but onely betwixt the barke and the wood for the olde peoâ—le as Plinie wryteth durst not as yet meddle with cleaâ—yng of the stocke at length they presumed to make holes and graffe in the pith and so at last waxed bolde to cleaue the stocke Cato would haue the stocke couered with Clay Chalke mingled with Sand and Oxedoung and so made in morter Sometâ—me they graffe with the toppe of the graft downewarde and they doo it to make a little tree spreade in breadth It is best graffing next the ground yf the knottes and the stocke wyl suffer and â—linie woulde haue the graffe growe foorth not aboue sixe fyngers If you wyll graffe a little tree cutte it neare the ground so as it be a foote and a halfe hye If you woulde carry your graftes farre they wyll longest keepe theyr sappe yf they be thrust into the roote of a Rape and that they wyll be preserued yf they lye betwixt two little guttes runnyng out of some Riuer or Fishpond and be wel couered with earth THRA I doo nowe greatly desyre to heare you say something of emplastâ—ing or inoculaâ—ion that is in graffing with the budde or the leafe whiche you call in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— which kinde of graffing I see those that are geuen to newe fashions delight much in MARIVS This is no newe maner of graffing but we finde that it was vsed both of the Latines and of the Greekes when takyng of a leafe or little budde with some part of y rynde with hym we graffe it into an other branche from whiche we haue taken as much barke This order Columella saith the husbandes in his dayes were woont to call emplastring or moculation and before Columellas dayes Theophrastus in his booke de causes plantarum dooth shewe the reason of inoculation Plinie dooth say it was fyrst learned of Dawes hydyng of seedes in caues and holes of trees This kinde of graffing as Columella dooth wryte and our Gardners them selues confesse is best to be vsed in sommer about the twelft of Iune yet Didymus sayth he hath graffed in this maner and hath hadde good encrease with it in the spring time And sith it is the dayntiest kinde of graffing it is not to be vsed in all trees but alonely in such as haue a strong a moyst and a sappy rinâ—e as the Olyue the Peache and the Figge which are full of Milke and haue a bigge barke Of that tree that you meane to graffe chouse the youngest and the fayrest branches you can and in them take the budde that is likeliest to growe and marke it rounde about two inches square so as the budde stand euen in the middest and then with a sharpe knife cutte it rounde about and flawe of the rynde takyng good heede you hurt not the budde and take out the peece Afterwards goe to the tree that you meane to graffe on and choose likewyse the fayrest branche and pare away the rynde a little space ioyne in your budde so iust as the ryndes may agree togeather so close as neyther water nor winde may enter in You must looke that you hurt not the wood and that the ryndes be of one thicknesse When you haue this donne binde it vp so as you hurt not the budde then claye it ouer all leauyng libertie yenough for the budde Cut of all the spring that growes about it that there be nothyng left to drawe away the sappe but that it may onely serue the graffe after one and twentie dayes vnlose it and take of your coueryng and you shal see your budde incorporated in the branche of a strange tree Columella speaketh of an other sort of graffing to bore a hole in
no kinde of mischeefe vndoone Amongst all which commonly there is not so ill a neighbour as the newe vpstart that takes vpon him the name of a gentleman who though you vse him neuer so well wyll at one time or other geue you to vnderstand from whence he comes and make you syng with Claudian ASPERIVS NIHIL EST HV MILI CVM SVRGIT IN ALTVM A leudar vvretche there lyues not vnder skye Then Clovvne that climes from base estate to hye As the Prouerbe in Englande is Set a Knaue on horsebacke and you shall see him shoulder a Knight for an Ape wyll be an Ape though you clothe him in Purple Surely M. Portius would haue a man shunne the neighbourhood of suche as the pestilence I for my part am happie in this point that I haue no neighbour that I neede to feare RIGO Perhaps they dare not for your aucthoritie doo as otherwyse they woulde CONO But since death and other casualties riddes a man of them the dwelling is not to be left yf it haue other good commodities except it be placed in the borders of sundry Countreys that be subiect to great sicknesses Some commend the dwelling that hath faire wayes about it is neare some Riuer or good market wherby a man may carrie his marchaÌ„dize with lesse charges The olde fellowes would neuer haue a man place him selfe neare the hie way for pilffering of such as passe by and troublesomenesse of ghestes as I saide before in speaking of the placing of an house In the letting of a Farme those thinges are to be obserued that I spake of before in describing of a Bayliffe of husbandry and his labour that you let it to suche whose trauayle and good behauiour you may be assured of and that you regard more their good ordering of the lande then the rent which is least hurtfull and most gaynefull For where as the grounde is well husbanded you shall commonly haue gayne and neuer losse except by vnreasonablenesse of the weather whiche the Ciuil Lawyer sayth shoulde not be any damage to the Tenaunt or the inuasion of the enimie where the Tenaunt can not helpe it Besides the Lorde must not deale with his Tenaunt so straightly in euery poynt as by lawe he might for his rent dayes bargaynes of wood quit rentes or suche the rigour wherein is more troublesome then beneficial neither ought we to take euery aduantage for lawe many times is right plaine wrong neither must ye be to slacke on the other side for too muche gentelnesse many times makes a man the woorst And therefore it is good yf the Farmer be slacke in his paimentes to make him to knowe it but in no wyse to be a rayser or enhaunser of rentes for that discomfortes and many times vndooeth the Tenaunt Moreouer you must not lightly change the olde Farmer both because of his desertes and that he is better acquainted with the grounde then a newe L. Volusius would alwayes say that he was in best case for his landes that had alwayes his Tenauntes borne and bread vp in them whereby the long familiaritie shoulde make them more louingly to vse them selues for sure it is an euill vse often to change Tenauntes and therefore I doo like well that order where the land is let for the liues of the Tenaunt his Wyfe and his Chylde paying a yeerely rent so that as long as he payes his rent and keepes the reparations it shall not be lawfull to deceiue him for hereby the Tenaunt shall be prouoked to order the grounde with more diligenâ—e to repayre the house to looke to it in al pointes as to his owne bestowyng many times as muche as he hath vppon it This way of letting lande mee seeâ—es is best where the ground is subiect to the Sea or the Riuer or other daunger that the Tenaunt be charged with the maintenaunce of it And here be sure that you let it rather to one of habilitie then to a an vnthriftie man that is not able to beare it whereby you may loose both your land your rent In suche place as lyes neare the lord he may occupie it by his Bayliffe or to hawues but where it is farre of it is better to let it out for a yeerely rent vpon the foresayd couenantes For yf you occupie it with your seruauntes they wyl eyther looke yll to your cattel or your ground or suffer thinges to be stolen or steale them selues or make you be at more charges then needeth be carelesse in euery thing In letting of ground commonly it is couenaunted that the Tenaunt shall not let nor sell without leaue of the lorde and that he shall not breake any Pasture or Medowe lande and what and howe muche he shall sowe of eueâ—y kinde of grayne howe much he shall haue for Pasture howe muche he shall let lye and howe muche he shal mend Here haue you almost as muche as I am able to say in husbandyng of the grounde RIGO I thanke you you haue greatly delighted me with the describing of your Pasture grounde and Earable ¶ The ende of the fyrst Booke The seconde Booke of Gardens Orchardes and Wooddes Thrasybulus Marius Iulia. BEcause of the Aliance betwixt Hearbes Trees and Corne and because their husbandry is almost one it is reason that next to the first booke written of earable grounde and tyllage shoulde folowe the description of Orchardes Gardens and their fruites Virgil in wryting of husbandry left this part vnwritten of howe be it diuers others both olde and newe wryters haue not without some diligence written of this part but yet by snatches as it were and not throughly whose opinions ioyned with myne owne experience it seemeth good to me in this booke to declare And since the vse of Orchardes and Gardens is great and auncient and that Homer wryteth howe Laertes the olde man was woont with his trauayle in his Orchardes to driue from his minde the sorowe he tooke for the absence of his sonne And Xenophon reporteth that king Cyrus as great a prince as he was woulde plant with his owne handes and sette Trees in his Orchardes in suche order as it seemed an earthly paradise Qu. Curtius writeth of Abdolominus that for his great vertue of a poore Gardner came to be king of the Sidonians And surely not vnwoorthyly is this part of husbandry esteemed seeing it doth not alonely bring great pleasure but also is greatly profitable for the maintenaunce of household and the sparing of charges ministring to the husband dayly foode and sufficient sustenaunce without cost For when as Columella sayth in the olde time the people liued more temperately and the poore at more libertie fedde of fleshe and milke and suche thinges as the ground and foldes yeelded but in the latter age when ryotte and daintinesse began to come in and the wealthyer sort to esteeme no fare but costly and farre fetched not content with meane dyet but coueting such thinges as were of greatest price the
very seeldome enterteyne any ghestes except they be of his maisters reâ—inewe let him not bestowe his maisters money about his owne marchandize for such kinde of bargainyng makes him the slacker in his duetie and maketh his accomptes seeldome fall out iust Aboue all thinges this is to be wisshed in the Bayliffe that he doo not thinke him selfe wyser then his maister or suppose him selfe to haue more skill then he hath and that he alwayes seeke to learne suche thinges as he is ignorant of For as it is very profitable to doo any thing skilfully so is it more hurtfull to doo it vntowardly Columella had rather haue a Bailiffe that could neither reade nor write so that his memorie be good for such a Bailiffe sayth he wyll oftner bring his maister money then a booke because not able to wryte he can not so easely frame a false accompt The Bailiffes wyfe must alwayes be with him that she may keepe him from running at rouers and may helpe him in his labours her age must be such also as we required in the Bailiffe before she must be painefull healthy carefull and honest she must not be to ylfauoured lest she be lothsome vnto him nor to beautifull least he doate to muche vppon her and keepe home when he shoulde be abrode She must in the meane time looke to the â—itchin and to other woorkes at home gouerne the maides and keepe them at their woorke looke to their necessaries and geue them their allowance RIGO You seeme to me here to make the Bailiffe a maister and the maister a Bailiffe CONO This age of ours quite corrupted with delicacie and deyntinesse litle regardeth the honest and profitable orders of our forefathers for in those dayes the maisters them selues plaide the husbandes and thought it not to goe well with that maister that must be taught by his Bailiffe as Cato witnesseth and Varro also complaineth that the husbandes in his dayes had forsaken the Plowe and the Sithe and gotten them selues within the walles and spent their time rather in Maygames and Midsommer sightes then with tylling the ground or planting of Uines Therefore Cato and the olde wryters doo attribute many thinges to the maister that we assigne to the Bailiffe And I though I seeme to put the charge of the household in the handes of my Bailiffe yet wyll I mee selfe be ouerseer and haue euery thing doone as I appoynt entreating gently as I taught the Bailiffe afore both the Bailiffe and my labourers regardyng more their labour then my gaynes But I carrie you about to long being fasting I pray you let vs goe to dinner you shall not dyne at the Court to day neither meant I to shew you as you see the pallace of Lucullus but the poore cottage of Cincinatus Abdolominus or Laertes Here you see the roomes for my husbandmen seuered from myne owne house but yet so as I may easely see whatsoeuer they doo Here I and my wyfe with our householde seruantes doo lye RIGO All very excellently well as may be there is nothing wanting that is to be wished for Maistresse METELLA you trouble your selfe to muche like Martha about the prouiding of your dinner METELLA Not a whit syr you must be contented with Countrey fare you shall neither haue redde Deere Marchpane nor Sturgian nor any Courtiers fare but an Egge and a Sallet a Pullet or a peece of Lambe RIGO This diete contenteth me aboue all other CONO Fal to it then tel me how you like our countrey wine RIGO Surely it passeth eyther wine of Orleans or Aniow I did not thinke to haue founde so good a cuppe of wine in these quarters CONO The husbandry and good season of the yere doth yeeld the same RIGO Well we sit to long at dinner The weather being so fayre and so pleasant abrode it is ashame to sitte any longer but to walke out and looke vpon your ground CONO The weather being faire you bring a Horse to the Feelde as they say when you speake to me of going abrode for I mee selfe yf the weather or businesse doo not let me am euery day according to Catoes counsell abrode in my ground and yf it please you I wyll carie you abrode and shewe you my grounde You must not looke to see the great Countreys of Metellus or Lucullus but the possessions of a poore Countrey man that contented with his state would be as he is and would not change liues with the Emperour RIGO I pray you let me here your opinion of the Feeld and the tilture thereof for I see you are a perfect husbande and nothing vnskilfull I haue a great desyre to heare some rules and such as serue our turne best CONO If it be a shame for an apprentice at the lawe and a pleadar of causes to be ignorant of the lawe wherein he dealeth a greater shame is it for a professor of husbandry to be vnskilful in the ground whereon his whole trade lyeth Howe is he able to iudge vprightly in husbandry that knoweth not whiche way to tyll his lande The professours of all other artes do commonly keepe to them selues suche thinges as be the chiefe mysteries of their knowledge Contrariwyâ—e the husband reioyceth to haue euery body made prime to his skill being demaunded in what sort he dooth this and that he gladly declareth his whole dealing in euery poynt suche good natured men dooth this knowledge make I haue ordered my ground here according to the diligence of the olde fathers rather then for the wantonnesse of these times Therefore I wyl fyrst shewe you their opinions and afterwards myne owne fancie First Cato appointeth niene degrees of the land in Italie The fyrst the Uineyard that yeeldeth muche and good wine the next the well watred Garden the thirde the Wyllowe Groue the fourth for Oliue trees the fifth for Meddowe the sixth Corne ground the seuenth for Coppie grounde the eyght for Timber trees the last for Mast. But these degrees as Varro saith are not generally allowed of neither haue we the vse of them all in these Countreys but make most accompt of such land as serueth for Garden or Orchard grounde Corne or Fishpondes Of Corne ground I wyll fyrst entreate and afterwardes of Pasture Meddowe Wood Lande and Wyllowe Groues RIGO I pray you then take the paines to shewe the nature of it and which way the best ground may be knowen CONO Cato counteth that the best grounde that lyeth at the foote of a mountayne being leuell and lying toward the Sunne as the whole Countrey of Italie lyeth In colde and Northerâ—ye Countreys it is good to haue the lande lying East and South least these two quarters being bard of by any hil the land be frozen with colde but in hotte Countreyes it is better to haue the ground lye North both for pleasure and health RIGO They say it is needeful to knowe the conditions of euery ground CONO It is so and sooner shall
in October or Nouember that the fyrst Ianuarie or Februarie when it hath taken roote it may be graffed vpon Martial would haue you graffe it in the stocke but in deede it prospereth better being graffed betwixt the barke and the wood It delighteth to be set in deepe trenches to haue roome yenough and to be often digged about It loueth to haue the wythered bowe continually cut away it groweth best in cold places and so hateth doung as yf it be layd about them they growe to be wyld it is also planted of the slippes and wyll beare his fruite without stone yf in the setting of the set you turne the vpper end downeward Others wyll that the tree being young and two foote hye be slitte downe to the roote and the pith taken out of both sides and ioyned togeather the seames close bound about couered with doung which within a yeere after when it is wel growen the young graffes which hitherto haue borne no fruite yf you graffe them wil beare Cherys without stones as Martial sayth There are sundry kinds of Cherys as Plinie reporteth or Apronianus that are redder then the rest Actianus as blacke as a cole whiche kinde in Germany yet at this day they call Acklische kirsen Celicians that are rounde Plinie in speaking of the sundry sortes preferreth the Duracins which in Campania they were woonted to call Plinians and a little after he sayth vpon the bankes of the Rhine there grow alsâ— Kersis of colour betwixt blacke redde and greene like the Iumper beries when they be almost ripe in whiche the common sort of bookes haue Tertius for Kirsis amongst the Germanes for Plinie whereas in many places he vsurpeth the Dutch woordes as in the .9.10.17 and .18 booke and in diuers other places which being not vnderstanded of the Latine came altogeather corrupted to the posteritie There are also Bay Cherys graffed at the fyrst in the Bay that haue a pretie pleasant bitternesse at this day the small Cherys are best esteemed growing vpon a lowe bushe with short stalkes round fruite and very red much meate soft and full of licour It is sayd they wyll beare very timely yf you lay Lime about them it is good to geather them often that theâ— which you leaue may waxe the greater for setting and plantyng of Cherys you may reade a great sort of rules in the geatheringes of Constantine There are also found a kinde of Cherys growyng wylde in the Woods and Heâ—gerowes with little beries some redde some altogeather blacke whiche the Farmers in the Countrey doo vse for to fatte theyr Hogges withall The Plome tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fruite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Prunus and Pruna in Italian Prune and Succiue in Spanish Ciruelâ— and Ciruela in French Prune in Dutch Proumen it is planted from the middle of Winter till the Ides of Februarie but yf you set the stones at the fall of the leafe let it be done in Nouember in a good and mellowe ground two handfuls deepe they may be likewyse set in Februarie but then they must be steeped in lye three dayes that they may sooner spring they are also planted of the young sets that growe from the body of the tree eyther in Ianuarie or in the beginnyng of Februarie the rootes being wel couered with doung they prosper best in a riche and a moyst ground and in a colde countrey they are graffed towarde the ende of March and better in the clouen stocke then in the barke or els in Ianuarie before the Gumme begin to droppe out it is graffed vpon his owne stocke the Peache and the Almond There are sundry sortes of Plomes wherof the Damson is the principal ioying in a dry grounde and in a hotte countrey and is graffed as the other Plomes are There are diuers coloured Plomes white blacke purple and redde wheate Plomes and horse Plomes wherewith they vse to fatte Hogges The fynger Plomes are most commended being of the length of a mans fynger which are brought vnto vs from Bohemia and Hungary and Iulians and Noberdians being blewe in colour but later The Damsons are dryed in the sunne vpon Lattyses Leades or in an Ouen some doo dippe them before eyther in sea water or in brine and after dry them The Peache tree called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Persica in Italian Perseo in Spanish Durasuo they are also called Rhodocina and Dorocina or Duracina whereof there are foure kindes but the cheefest are the Duracins and the Abrecocts in Nouember in hotte countreys and in others in Ianuarie the stones are to be set two foote a sunder in wel dressed ground that when the young trees are sprong vp they may be remoued but in the setting you must set the sharpe ende downeward and let them stand two or three fyngers in the ground wheresoeuer they grow they reioyce most in watry groundes which ground yf you want looke that you water them abundantly so shall you haue great store of fruite Some woulde haue them set in hotte countreys and sandy ground wherby they say their fruite wyl longer endure the better wyl also the fruite br yf as soone as you haue eaten them you set the stone with some part of the fruite cleauing to it it is graffed eyther on him selfe the Almond or the Plome tree The Apples of Armenia or Abricoct dooth farre excell the Peache vsed as a great dayntie among noble men and much desyred of the sicke they are best graffed in the Plome as the Peache in the Almond tree the fayrest graffes that grow next the body of the tree are to be chosen and graffed in Ianuarie or Februarie in colde countreys in Nouember in hotte for yf you take those that growe in the toppe they wyll eyther not growe or yf they growe not long endure You shall inoculate or imbudde them in May or April the stocke being cut aloft and many young buddes set in neither must you suffer them to stand very far one from the other that they may the better defend them selues from the heate of the sunne The Frenchmen and our Gardners also after the Italians order doo graffe the Abricoct taking a graft not full a fynger long or the budde that is well showte out with a little of the rynde cut of and slitting the rynde of a young Plome tree crosse wyse they set them in binding them well about with Hempe or Towe and that in the end of Iune or in Iuly and August Some thinke they wyl be redde yf they be eyther graffed in the Plane tree or haue Roses set vnderneath them they wyll also be figured or written in yf seuen dayes after that you haue set the stoâ—e when it beginneth to open you take out the kernell and with Uermillion or any other colour you may counterfaite what you wyll after the stone closed vp about it and couered with clay or
Mast bearing Oke there is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— in Latine Quercus siluestrum in Frenche Chesne a kinde whereof some thinke the Cerre tree to be called in Latine Cerrus growing in wilde and barrayne places Tâ—ere are some that doo number the Chestnutte tree amongst the Mast bearers but of this I haue spoken before The best Mast is the Oke Mast the next the Beech and the Chestnutte then the wylde Oke c. all very good and meete for the fatting of cattell specially Hogges The Oke Mast or Acorne maketh thicke Bacon sounde fleshe and long lasting yf it be well salted and dried on the other side Chestnuttes and Beeche Mast make sweete and delicate fleshe light of digestion but not so long lasting The next is the Cerre tree that maketh very sounde and good flesh the Mastholme maketh pleasant Bacon fayre and weyghty Plinie saith that it was ordayned by the lawe of the twelue tables that it should be lawfull for any man to geather his owne Mast falling vpon the ground of his neighbour which the Edict of the cheefe Iustice dooeth thus interprete that it shall be lawfull for him to doo three dayes togeather with this prouiso that he shall only geather the Acornes and doo no harme to his neighbour as Vlpianus witnesseth Glans Mast as Caius saith is taken for the fruite of all trees as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth with the Greekes though properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be those fruites that are shelde as Nuttes and suche other Upon these Mast bearers there groweth also the Gall in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Noixâ— de Galle in Italian and Dutch as in Latine in Spanish Agalla a little ball rugged and vneuen without whereof some be massie some hollow some blacke some white some bigge some lesser It groweth as Plinie saith the sunne rising in Gemini comming all out suddenly in one night in one day it waxeth white and yf the heate of the Sunne then take it it wythereth the blacke continueth the longer and groweth sometime to the bignesse of an Apple these serueth best to curry withall and the other to finishe the leather the woorst is of the Oke and thus of such trees as beare Mast. Nowe wyll I ioyne with all the principalest of the other trees to make vp your Wooddes amongst whiche are the Elme and the Wyllowe the Elme in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vlmus in Italian Spanish Olmo in French Orme in Dutch Vlmbaum and Yffenholiz the planting whereof because it is to great vse and easily growes we may not let passe fyrst because it groweth well with the Uine and ministreth good foode to cattell secondly as it is al hart it maketh good tymber Theophrastus and Plinie doo both affyrme the Elme to be barrayne peraduenture because the seede at the fyrst comming of the leafe seemeth to lye hyd among the leaues and therefore it is thought to be some of the leafe as Columella affyrmeth He that wyll plant a Groue of Elmes must geather the seede called Samara about the beginnyng of March when it beginneth to waxe yellowe and after that it hath dryed in the shadowe two dayes sowe it very thicke and cast fine sifted mould vpon it and yf there come not good store of rayne water it well after a yeere you may remoue it to your Elme Groue setting them certayne foote a sunder And to the end that they roote not too deepe but may be taken vp agayne there must be betwixt them certaine little trenches a foote and a halfe distance and on the roote you must knit a knotte or yf they be very long twyst them like a garland and being well noynted with Bollockes doung set them and treade in the earth rounde about them The female Elmes are better to be planted in Autum because they haue no seede at this day in many places cutting of settes from the fayrest Elmes they set them in trenches from whence when they are a little growen they geather like settes and by this dealing make a great gaine of them in the like sort are planted Groues of Ashes The Ashe in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Fraxino in Spanish Fresno in French Fraisne in Dutch Eschen the Ashe delighteth in riche and moyst grounde and in playne countryes though it growe well yenough also in dry groundes he spreadeth out his rootes very farre and therefore is not to be set about corne ground it may be felled euery third or fourth yeere for to make stayes for Uines The Ashe groweth very fast and such as are forwardes are set in February with such young plantes as come of them in good handsome order standing a rowe others set such Ashes as they meane shall make supporters for garden Uines in trenches of a yeere olde about the Calendes of March and before the thirty sixth moneth they touch them not with any knife for the preseruing of the branches after euery other yeere it is proyned and in the sixth yeere ioyned with the Uine if you vse to cutte away the branches they will growe to a very goodly heygth with a rounde body smothe playne and strong Plinie writeth of experience that the Serpent doth so abhorre the Ashe that if you enclose fyre him with the branches he wil rather run into the fire then goe through the bowes Byrch called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Betula as Theoprastus writeth in his fourth booke is a tree very meete for Woods it prospereth in colde countryes frosty snowie and grauely and in any barraine ground wherfore they vse in barraine grouÌ„des that serue for no other purpose to plant Byrches it is called in Italian Bedolla in Dutche Byrken in Frenche Beula Pine Woods Fyr Woods Pytch tree and Larsh are common in Italy about Trent The Pine tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pinus in Italian Spanish Pino in Dutch Hartzbaum is planted of his kernells from October to Ianuary in hotte and dry countryes and in colde and wette places in February or March the kernelles must be geathered in Iune before the clogges doo open and where you lyst to sowe them eyther vpon hilles or else where you must first plowe the grounde and cast in your seede as ye doo in sowyng of corne and couer them gently with a light Harrow or a Rake not couering them aboue a hand broade you shall doo well if you lay the kernells in water three dayes before The kernells of the Pine are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Spanish Pinones The Fyrre tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Abies in Italian Abete in Spanish Abeto in Dutch Deamen loueth not to haue any great adoo made about it if you be too curious in planting of it it wyl growe as they say the worse it growes of his owne kernel in wilde mountaines playnes or any
wylde Oke serueth also well in water woorkes so it be not neare the sea for there it endureth not by reason of the saltnesse it wyll not be pearced with any Augur except it be wette before neyther so wyll it suffer as Plinie sayth any Nayle driuen in it to be plucked out agayne The Mastholme in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tree well knowen in Italy the wood whereof is tough and strong and of colour like a darke redde meete as Hesiodus sayth to serue for Plow shares it may also be made in Waynscot and Payle boorde The Larsh tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Larice in Dutch Lerchenbaura was in the olde time greatly esteemed about the Riuer Poe and the Gulfe of Veniz not onely for the bitternesse of the sappe whereby as Vitruuius sayth it is free from corruption and woormes but also for that it wyll take no fyre which Mathiolus seemeth with his argumentes to confute It is good to susteyne great burdens and strong to resist any violence of weather howbeit they say it wyll rotte with salt water The Escle is a kinde of Oke called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Esclus is soone hurt with any moysture the Elme the Wyllowe and the Poplar whereof I haue spoken before wyll very soone rotte and corrupt they wyl serue wel yenough within doore and for making of Hedges The Elme continueth very hard and strong and therfore is meete for the cheekes and postes of Gates and for Gates for it wyll not bowe nor warpe but you must so dispose it that the top may stand downeward it is meete as Hesiodus sayth to make Plow handles of The Ashe as Theophrastus sayth is of two sortes the one tall strong white and without knottes the other more ful of sappe ruggedder and harder The Bay leafe as Plinie sayth is a poyson to all kinde of cattell but herein he is deceiued as it should appeare by the likenesse of the name for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the young tree whose leaues as is certainely tryed killeth all such beastes as chawe not the cudde Ashe besides his manifolde vse otherwayes maketh the best and fayrest horsemens staues whereof was made the staffe of Achilles whiche Homer so greatly commendeth it is also cutte out in thinne boordes The Beeche whereof I haue spoken before although it be brittle and tender and may so be cut in thinne boordes and bent as he seemeth to serue onely for Caskettes Boxes and Coffâ—â—s his colour being very fayre yet is he sure and trusty in â—earing of weyght as in â—xeltrees for Cartes or Waynes The barkâ— of the Beech was vsed in the olde time for vessels to geatâ—er Grapes in and other fruite and also for Cruettes and vessels to doo sacrifyce withall and therefore Cuâ—iâ—s sware that he brought nothing away of all the spoyle of his enimies but one poore Beechen Cruet wherein he might sacrifyce to his gods The Alder is a tree with a strayght body a soft reddish wood growing commonly in watry places it is cheefely esteemed for fundâ—tions and in water woorks because it neuer rotteth lying in the water and therefore it is greatly accounted of among the Uenetians for the fundations of their places and houses for being driuen thicke in pyles it endureth for euer and susteyneth a wonderful wâ—â—ght The rinde is plucked of in the Spring and serueth the Dyâ—r in his occuâ—ation it hath lyke knottes to the Cedar to be cut and wrought in The Plane tree is but a stranger and a newe come to Italy brought thyther onely for the commodiâ—ie of the shadowe keeping of the sunne in Sommer and letting it in in Winter There are some in Athens as Plinie sayth whose branches are .36 cubites in breadth in Lyciaâ— there is one for greatnesse like a house the shaddowe place vnderneâ—th conteyning â—1 â—oote in bignesse the tymber with his sâ—ftness â—atâ— his vse but in water as the Alder but dryer then 〈…〉 the Ashe the Muâ—bery and â—he Chery The Lynder in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in Italian in Spanish Laâ—era in Dutch Lyndon this tree â—hâ—ophrasâ—uâ— counteth best for the woorkeman by reason of his softnesse it breedeth no woornes and hath beâ—wixt the barke and the wood sundry little ryndes â—â—ereof they were woont in â—linieâ— time to make Ropes and Wythes The â—yrch is very beautiful and fayre the inner rinde of the tree called in Latine Liber was vsed in the olde time in steade of paper to wryte vpon and was bound vp in volumes whereof bookes had fyrst the name of Libri the twigges and bowes be small and bending vsed to be carried before the Magistrate among the Romanes at this day terrible to poore boyes in schooles The Elder tree called of Dioscoridus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Sambucus in Italian Sambuco in Spanish Sauco in French Suseau in Dutch Hollenter dooâ—h of all other trees soonest and easelist growe as experience besides Theophrastus dooth teache vs and though it be very full of pith yet the wood is strong and good it is hollowed to diuers vses and very light staues are made of it It is strong and tough when it is dry and being laide in water the rynde commeth of as soone as he is dry The Elder wood is very hard and strong and cheefely vsed for Bare speares the roote as Plinie sayth may be made in thinne boordes The Figge tree is a tree very wel knowen and fruitefull not very hye but somewhat thicke as Theophrastus sayth a cubite in compasse the tymber is strong and vsed for many purposes and sithe it is soft and holdeth fast what so euer stickes in it it is greatly vsed in Targettes Bore tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Boxo in Spanishe Box in Frenche Bouys in Dutch Busthaum an excellent tree and for his long lastyng to be preferred before others The Box that turned is sayth Virgil. Iuniper called both of Theophrastus and Dioscoâ—ides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it driueth away vermine for with his sauour Todes and Snayles and suche lyke are driuen away in Latine it is called Iuniperus in Italian Ginipro in Spanishe Euebro in French Geueure in Dutch Wachoiâ—er it is very like to the Cedar but that it is not so large nor so hye though in many places it groweth to a great heygth the tymber wherof wyll endure a hundred yeeres And therefore Hanibal commaunded that the temple of Diana should be built with rafters and beames of Iuniper to the ende it might continue It also keepeth fyre a long time insomuch as it is saide the coles of Iuniper kindled haue kept fyre a yeere togeather the gumme whereof our Painters vse The Cedar tree in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cedrus and almost like in other tongues the hardnesse of this tymber is onely praysed and that it wyll neither rotte nor
desartest places that may be neyther may a man at any time come neare them without greate danger They goe with young a tweluemonth and are meete for breede at three yeeres olde and after a yeere they conceaue againe they beare but one at once as Elephants and other great beastes doo they geue milke tyll they be greate Againe as Aristotle saith Didymus in his bookes of husbandry writeth that the Camell hath a regarde to his blood as the Horse hath and lieth neyther with mother nor sister And the female Camell of Bactria feeding vpon the mountaynes amongest the wylde Boares is often times breamed of the Boare and conceaueth Of the Boare and the shee Camell is ingendered the Camell with two iompes vpon the backe as the Moyle is of the Asse and the Mare and in diuers thinges resembleth his sire as in bristled heares strength and not fainting in the myre but going lustely through and in carrying double so much as other Cammelles as the same aucthour sayth The females of them are spayde to serue the better for the warres they liue as Aristotle sayth fyftie yeeres others say a hundred yeeres and are subiect to madnesse as Plinie sayth there are a kinde of them called Camelleopards that haue the resemblance of two diuers beastes the hoofes and hynder legges like an Oxe his forelegges his head like the Cammell the necke like a Horse being flecked white and redde Strabo sayth he is coloured lyke a fallowe Deare straight necked and hye like an Ostryge his head something higher then a Cammels EVPHOR I remember I haue seene the like beast for al the world in a peece of tapestry with blacke Moores with their wyues and baggage vpon their backes saue that they had there little hornes vppon their heades like as some sheepe haue I thinke Heliodorus in his Aethiopian story did first describe this beast but these outlandishe beastes we meddle not muche with HIPPO Goe to EVPHORBVS let vs nowe see you discharge your part according to your promise and tell vs some part of your cunnyng in keeping your cattell for next to the Horse in woorthynesse commeth the Oxe EVPHOR Since it is so appoynted I am contended to shewe you what I can say touching my poore skill and fyrst I may not suffer the Horse to chalenge the cheefe place when the old wryters and auncient people dyd alwayes geue the garland and cheefe prayse to the Oxe as to a good plowman faythfull seruant for Hesiodus a most auncient wryter the grauest aucthour of our profession affyrmeth that the famely dooth consyst of the husband the wyfe and the Oxe The selfe same by his aucthoritie dooth Aristotle seeme to alleage in his Pollytickes and in his Economickes which beast was alwayes of that honour and estimation that he was condemned in a great penaltie who so euer dyd kil him being a fellow and cheefe helper in our husbandry By the worthinesse of this beast many great things receiued their names of them for of the number beauty and fertilitie of Heyfars dyd Italy as they say fyrst take his name because Hercules pursued the noble Bull called Italus This is the cheefe companion of man in his labours and the trusty seruant of the Goddesse Ceres in many great thinges for the royaltie of the Oxe they deriued their names from the Oxe as in calling also the Grape Bumammam in fyne Iupiter him selfe thought good to conuert into this shape his sweete darling Europa Moreouer of a rotten Steere are engendred the sweete Bees the mothers of Hâ—ny wherefore they were called of the Greekes as Varro sayth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same Varro makes foure degrees in their age the fyrst of Calues the seconde two Yeerynges the third Steeres the fourth Oxen the Sexes in the first the Bulcalfe the Cowecalfe in the second the Heyfar and the Steere in the third and fourth the Bull and the Cowe the barraine Cowe he calleth Tauram the milch Cowâ— Hordam from whence came the feasts called Hordica festa because the milchkine were then sacrifised The goodnesse of this beast is diuers according to the diuersitie of the country the best were counted in the olde time to be of the breede of Albania Campania and Toscam at this day we take the best kinde to be in Hungary Burgundy Frisland Denmarke and in England Of Bullockes some are for the drawght some for the staull and some for the payle to what purpose so euer they serue whether it be for labour for milcking or for feeding it is best alwayes to chose such as are young of lusty age rather then those that are olde and barraine the woordes of couenant in the olde time as Varro saith in selling of Bullocks were these doo you warrant these Bullockes or Steeres that you sell to be sound of a sound heard and without fault The Butchers that bye for slaughter and such as by for sacryfises vse no worde of warrantise and though some Bullocks are chosen by their strength some by the greatnesse of their body yet the best commonly haue these properties large well knit and sounde lyms a long a large and deepe sided body blacke horned though in the colour there be no greate matter yet some mislike the white for their tendernesse which when Varro consenteth who woulde haue them broade forheaded great eyed and blacke his eares rough and heary his chawes to be large and wide his lippes blackish his necke well brawned and thicke his dewlappes large hanging downe from his necke to his knees his showlders broade his hyde not hard or stubborne in feeling his belly deape his legges wel sette full of synowes and straight rather short then long the better to sustaine the weight of his body his knees streight and great his feete one farre from the other not broade nor turning in but easely spreading the heare of all his body thicke and short his tayle long and bigge heared Palladius thincketh the best time for bying of drawght Oxen to be in March when being bare they can not easely hide their faultes by the fraude of the seller nor by reason of their weakenesse be to stubborne to be handled It is best to bye them of your neighbour least the change of ayre and soyle hurt them for the Bullocke that is brought vp nere home is better then the stranger because he is neyther troubled with change of ayre water nor pasture yf you can not haue them neare you bye them from some like country or rather from a harder and be well assured that you bye them euen matched lest in their labour the strongger spoyle the weaker Looke besides that they be gentell skillfull in their labour fearfull of the goade and the driuer not dreading any water or bridge great feeders but softly and not ouerhastyly for such doo best digest their meate In choosing of Bulle or Kine the very like signes are to be required that the Bull differeth from the Oxe in that he
king from the Hyues that haue most number of kinges I tolde you before howe you shoulde make them agree when you put to swarmes togeather least they should destroy one an other â—hat is to take away the kings of the newe swarmes CHENOBOSCVS What yf the whole stocke be decaied by taking the Hony or by sicknesse and diseases wyll they breede agayne or may they be repayred by art MELISSEVS By boâ—h though the breeding and ingendring of Bees is very doubtfull with Aristotle neither dare he after his long disputacions affirme any certaintie thereof sometime he resiteth the opinions of others some thinking that they are ingendred by coppulation the Drone being the male and the Bee the feemale Other saying that they bring foorth young but doo not ingender but that they geather their young ones but from whence they knowe not Some say from the flowres of Marioram some from the flowres of the Reede others from the Olyue flowres because when soeuer there is great plenty of Olyues there is also great swarmes of Bees There are againe that thinke the Drones to be so geathered and the Bees to be bredde only of the kinges and a little after he sayth The young are best bredde when the Hony is made they labour with theyr legges the Wax and with their mouth they cast out the Hony into the celles and hauing layd theyr young they sitte vpon them as byrdes doo The little Worme or Grubbe being thus hatched while he is small lyeth crumpled vp in the Coame afterward sprawleth abroade by his owne force and falleth to feeding cleauing so to the Coame as he seemeth to be tyed The broode of the Bee and the Drone is white of which commeth little Woormes that after growe to Bees and Drones thus much and more saith Aristotle In other places he would seeme to gather that the Bees are ingendred of the kinges saying that yf this were not there were no reason for such thinges as are committed in theyr gouernmâ—nt and that the kinges by good reason remaine still in the Hiue without any trauaile as onely borne for breeding Beside they be greater as though their bodies were purposely framed for generation and they punishe the Drones It is not very likely that the children shoulde punishe the parentes therefore the Bees are not ingendred of Drones Besides it is a great argument that Bees are ingendred without copulatioÌ„ that their broode lyeth very small at the first wrapped vp in the holes or celles of their Coames whereas al other Flies and Wormes that are bredde by copulation doo long ingender and quickly lay in greatnesse according to the kind of the Worme Pâ—inie folowing herein Aristotle affirmeth that Bees doo sitte as Hennes doo vpon their Egges and that which is hatched is at the first a small white worme lying crosse the hole and cleauing in such sort as it seemeth to feede The king is at the first of a yellowish colour as a chosen flowre framed of the finest substance neither is he bredde a worme but with winges at the very first The other common sort when they begin to haue fashion are called Nimphes as the Drones the Sireus and the Cepheus whose heads yf any man chaunce to pull of they serue as a delicate foode to the breeders After a little time they powre into them foode and sitte vppon them making a great noyse as it is thought to procure a heate necessarie for their hatching till breaking a sunder the filmes that encloseth euery one of them like an Egge the whole broode commeth foorth Plinie addeth that this was seene and obserued at Rome in a Hiue made of latterne hornes the whole broode is finished in fiue and fourtie dayes As soone as they are brought out they are taught to trauaile straightwayes with their dames the young people wayting presently vppon their young king There are sundry kinges bredde for failing and when they come to age by common consent the foulest and vntowardest of them are destroyed That there is two sortes and what fashion they be of I tolde you before CHENOBOSCVS Let vs nowe heare something of their age MELISSEVS Their age they say may thus be knowen Such as are not aboue a yeere olde doo shine and looke as they were newly oyled the olde ones be rooffe shagheard wrinckled lothsome and yllfauoured to looke vppon howbeit for making of Coames these are the best Aristotle in his booke before mencioned affirmeth that Bees liue sixe or seuen yeeres and that yf a stocke continue niene or tenne yeeres the keeper of them hath good lucke â—linie wryteth that one stocke was neuer seene to continue aboue ten yeeres not though you supplie the places of the dead euery yeere with newe for commonly in the tenth yâ—ere 〈◊〉 their first â—â—â—ng the whole stocke dyeth And therefore to auoide the mischiefe of being vtterly destitute it is good to encrease the number of your Hiues with newe swarmes euery yeere And if so be your Bees through sudden storme tempest or colde lye dead vpon the ground you must geather them togeather into a platter or a brode bason and lay them in your house toward the South specially yf the weather be good after cast amongst them ashes of Figge tree wood being something more hotte then warme shake them gently vp and downe so as you touche them not with your handes and so setting them into the Sunne they wyl as Varro sayth quicken againe To whom Columella subscribing addeth that suche Bees as you finde dead vnder your Hiues yf you lay them vp in a drye place all the Winter and bring them out into the Sunne in the Spring when the weather is fayre and sprinckle them with the foresaide asshes they wyll recouer within a fewe houres They that list may prooue it I haue not hitherto tryed it Marcus Varro holdeth opinion that Bees are ingendred sometime of other Bees and sometimes of the body of a young Bullocke putrified resiting this Epigrame of Archelaus Of Steere that strangled is are children strangely bred Of Horse ingendred is the Waspe and Bees of Bullocke ded The Horses breede the Waspes the Bullockes breede the Bees For a young Oxe or Steere being strangled corrupted and cast into some suche place where the putrified vapour can not breath out and store of hearbes and flowres agreeing with the nature of the Bees thrust into the body as Tyme Caslia and such like wherewith the vapour may be tempered you shall hereof quickly haue Bees euen as you may of the body of a Horse likewyse ordered haue Waspes and Hornettes Virgil hath described both the maners of ingendring of Bees and the fyrst sort in these woordes This vse you woonder would dooth please the Bee The chayne 's vnchaste of Venus they detest To fyle them selues with fylthy lecherie They iudge vnmeete nor wylbe so increast But from the plantes and pleasant flowres sweetâ— They fetche their tender broode and hence they get Both King and Court