Devonshiring or Burning those Lands grown over with Bushes Heath Furres Goss or such like Also the way of Improving all the said several sorts of Earths by Lime Marl Mame Dung and many other such like Improvements likewise by Plowing Delving Trenching or Plow-trenching the said Land and sowing seed for Corn or Grass and of several Observations and Directions therein NOw considering that his Majesties Timber and Woods standing and growing will not be a sufficient stock to mantain and keep in repaire the Royal Navy for any long continuance of time to come without a supply by new Planting those wast and vacant places that have no Trees or very few growing I shall humbly offer my Judgment and Experience in this thing and will lend my assistance to the utmost of the ability God hath given me for the Planting and thus improving them And because his Majesties forrests and other Wast Lands do much differ in goodness and largeness and also some of them are better replenished with Timber trees then others and not knowing his Majesties Pleasure Either what forrest or part of the forrest or what quantity of Ground shall be Planted I cannot set down the Proportion But will suppose a Thousand Acres A skilfull Arborist will make choyc of such a soil where he may provide a strong and sufficient fence before he will be at the Charges of Planting In the first place then is to be considered the making the fence about the Plott of Land before mentioned which was a Thousand Acres and although there be many Figures of Land I shall mention but one for it is not my intent to multiply Words We will suppose the thousand acres to be a square piece of Ground The square then of this Plot or parcel of Land is 400 Perch or Pole Land measure the Pole or Perch containing 16 foot and a half in length for although there are divers Opinions risen grounded upon long custom in many places of the length of a Perch yet there is but one true Pearch by Statute appoynted for the Measuring Land which is as before mentioned but for Wood Measure or hedging and diching there is 18 foot allowed to the Pole or Pearch the Reasons are because Under Woods which are thus Measured for sale have in many places sundry gals or void places wherein groweth little or no Wood and to supply these defects the Buyer Claimeth this supply by measure What to make this fence of is the next to be considered and because my great care and indeavours are for the preservation of his Majesties Timber therefore I would not have one tree cut down or felled for this purpose although the Paling thereof would be a sufficient fence but not of a very long continuance all fences therefore commonly are made of Wood Brick Stone or Earth as dry Wals or Ditches or Earth compounded there are other fences as Motes or ditches of Water where the ground is levell and springy or the Water brought from some Spring oâ— River but of all other according to my Iudgement the White thorn Hedg is the best for in 8 or 9 years it will make the best fence both for height to succour the young Timber trees or Plants for trees as also for strength to keep out all Enemies to the said Plants and although the Planting of this Thorn hedge is so well known to all Husbandmen that there will not seem to need many words to Demonstrate it yet because I intend to direct you hereafter to Plant Timber trees the same way I shall take a little the more paines in it I shall not use much curiosity in pleasing every mans fancy in the making this fence as how many Rows of Plants or setting them upright or slope ways or flatt or the distance more or less but shall give you my particular opinion of it Now to begin the work the Ground being viewed Proportioned and measured that is to be Planted We will suppose it as I said before to be a square piece of Land and to contain a Thousand acres the square then is 400 Perch the whole Plot or the 4 squares contain 1600 perch about which is the content of the fence but if the fence be measured by Wood Hedge or Ditch measure allowing 18 foot to the Perch then the one angle or square will contain but 366 Perch 12 foot and the content of the whole fence by the said Wood measure is 1466 Perch 12 foot the fence must be thus made First I would advise the Ditch to be 6 foot wide or broad at Top and 5 foot deep slopewise so that the breadth at the bottom or lower part of the Ditch be but 3 foot or there abouts according as the ground is stiff and binding or hollow light and looss for if it be a light ground the bank must be more sloping or else it will founder and fall into the Ditch again and the repairing thereof will be the increase of Charges In the next place care is to be had in providing Plants wherein you may please to take these observations following First that your Plants be not too great nor too small for there are severall opinions concerning both these sizes The best size according unto my opinion is to have them about the bigness of an ordinary Mans little finger Secondly that you have them drawn or taken out of the Earth but a day or two before the Planting if with convenience it may Be the same day is better for although it is usuall to have Plants gathered a Week or more before they are Planted yet it is a great Evil and not to be approved of Thirdly in drawing or taking your Plants out of the Earth let not the Bark or Roots be broken or bruised 4ly in trimming or preparing the Plants for Planting my advice is to cut off the top of the Plant above 6 inches from the stem of the Root and let it be cut slope ways with a sharpe Knife clean and handsome but cut not the Roots except there be a superfluous Root that was broken off from some other Root or that is brused broken or part of it dead in such cases you may see the Chack or body of the Plant be clean without shoots And although it hath been and is a custom to cut and trim the Roots yet it is not to be allowed of because every cut is a Wound and the more Wounds the greater danger The Plants being thus Proyned trimmed and fitted for Planting after the first Turf layd with the grassy side downwards and the upper part of the Turf or clod of Earth which was the lower pared plain near one third part of the thickness of the Turf then lay on the Plants in a rank or row containing in distance or the distance between the Plants would be one foot of ground and this Rank or row of Plants to extend to the end of the Angle or square and so of all the Squares In the laying of the Plants
distance is first to delve a Plot of land 4 foot square and let the 4 angle points or corners of the square lie North-east North-west South-east and South-west that the Plants which are to be parted in those Plots may have the benefit of the Sun all the day this performed then cast up a small trench or ditch a foot deep if there be so much good earth and 18 inches wide let all this earth be evenly laid on the Plot delved the Clods hackt or cut small and the grass and weeds gathered or weeded out this done set or plant one seed or plant about a foot from each point or corner of the square Plot and in the middle one then you will have 5 Seeds or Plants in this Quadrat Now at every 30 foot distance throughout the acre of Land delve or cast up such a Plot of ground so you will have 40 quadrats or square plots in the whole and leave a sufficient distance of land between the outmost Rows and the Fence The Seed or Sets planted in the whole ground are 200 which may all grow 3 or 4 years then leaving one of the best Plants of what kind of Timber-trees you please pull or craw up all the rest which you may either sell give away or plan in other grounds the remainder will be 40. By this way or manner of planting you may make as much benefit of the Acre of Land within a small matter as if there were not a Tree growing in it and these 40 Timber-trees being all Oaks within a hundred and fifty years may be worth 200 pounds which is a good improvement requiring no more charges than the first planting and not losing any benefit of the land And if this quadrat or square figure doth not like you there may be digged or delved so many Plots of ground as aforesaid round or circular and the ditch cast up as about the squares then plant or set the four Seeds or Plants equally about the Circle and one in the middle the four Seeds or Plants pointing to the four quarters of the Wind as hath been directed The reason of this way of planting is to increase the mould or earth for the Plants to put forth their shoots in also the being inclosed will preserve them from danger in time of Harvest you may set Beans in these plots of ground but not too near the Plants and if you sow seed of the Furrs-bush about the edges of the bank The Furres will keep the Plants warm in the Winter and preserve them from being hurt by Cattel and as the Plants or Trees increase the Furrs will decrease or after the Plants are grown up out of the reach of Cattel the Furrs may be cuâ— and so destroyed if the rightâ— season of the year be observed Now there is another way of planting not inferior to any of these formerly spoken of We shall consider of the Acre of Land in length and breadth to be 40 perch long and 4 perch broad the just content of an Acre at 16 foot and an half to the pole or perch The Plants to be provided for the planting this ground may be of all the sorts of Timber-trees formerly mentioned they should be about the size of the Thorn plants yet something greater but not bigger than an ordinary mans finger The Plants being provided you may begin to work thus on the North North-east or North-west side of this Acre of Land make a Ditch 3 foot wide and 18 inches deep the said Ditch to extend to the farther ends of the plot which is 40 Rod After the first Turf is laid with the swarth or grass side downwards the upper side pared chopped and made even and that the Plants are cut and trimmed lay them on as you were directed in planting the Thorne hedge only observing to leave the trunk or body of these plants one inch longer than those of the thorns Also the distance of ground between these plants must be 3 foot After the Plants are laid in an even rank or row with the slope or cut side downwards or sidewayes towards the South and the head of the Plants lying at least 7 or 8 inches higher than the roots then cast or throw up good store of the best earth on the roots afterwards all the earth which you cleanse out of the Ditch spreading it all over the Plants plain and even This bank is not to lye high as that of the Thorns but level as other grounds There is in this row or bank 220 Plants now allowing 4 foot of ground that the first Plants and earth cast up as aforesaid doth cover The second Ditch must be begun five foot distance from the head of the first bank which is 8 foot from the beginning of the first Ditch This second Ditch or Row of Plants will fall behind the first and must be made and planted every way as the first and after the second a third and so continue keeping the same distance till all the Plot be planted Then have you in the Acre of Ground 8 Rows and 1760 Plants The Trees that are thus planted will thrive and grow wonderfully between the Ditches and Banks you may delve and sow or set Beans Pease or any other grain or corn This Acre of ground may be improved by planting for Timber-trees and under-Woods for Hop-poles as you have been formerly directed So much may serve for the improvement of one single Acre which being too little a Plot to take up the whole industry of a Man or my designe I shall now take in a greater quantity of land and proceed to a thousand Acres which I at first intended The thousand Acres then doth contain by the Rod Pole or Pearch at 16 foot and a half to the Pole 160000 which is in yards 4840000 and doth amount unto in feet or by the foâ—t 43560000 Now according to every one of these three Numbers only considering the distance between the Fence and outmost row of Plants as before mentioned must the quantity of seed be provided because you shall not be put to the trouble in counting how many of these seeds a Bushel by measure may contain I shall give a particular account thereof which take as followeth The first number the distance being Perches will require 160000 acorns which amounts to by measure according to the former Rule in the one Acre given 25 Bushels The second number according to the distance of yards will require 4840000 acorns which comes to by measure 756 Bushels one Peck The third or last number being feet will require 43560000 acorns which will come to by measure 6806 Bushel one Peck As for the other seed which are Ashen keyes and Beechen Mast they may be also measured by the Bushel as the Acorns first counting how many of each will go or will be contained in one pint or gallon Having considered and computed what the charges both of seed and Plants will amount unto by knowing what quantity
rest being gathered together into a certain place usually in the tops or boughs of the Trees makes or becomes Seed Again The sap doth not pass upward only between the Barke and the Wood as some would have it but also into and through the very substance of the Tree both Bark and Wood and all And as for the Sap resting in the Roots more then in other parts of the Tree I cannot consent unto it for if the comparison of Blood with Sap will be allowed then as the blood in Mans body is alwayes in motion throughout the whole Body and rests not after it hath circulated once only but as it hath been said before in its motion is sometimes swift other times slow and very still and quiet but never at a stand except in great extremity and that for a very small time Even so must it be granted to be in Trees Now to conclude this point it is supposed by most men that a small time before the fall of the Leafe is the Stand so called or the turning of the Sap or rather that the Sap is cool and quiet for it makes no stay except by reason of extreame drought or cold at which time there is very small or little appearance of life therefore because we do not know when the Sap is quite turned or turning but by the fall of the Leafe It is the safest way to begin removing then as also to sowe or Plant and so you may continue all the Winter except in Frost and Snow but a Plant set about the fall of the Leafe shall be larger at three years growth then that which is set the spring after shall be at four years therefore the sooner you set or plant in Winter the better Now in transplanting it is but curiosity and trouble to mark every Tree and Plant to have the same side stand to the sun as was before for every plant that is right and well planted should stand free from shade the second row to stand over against the middle distance between the Trees of the first row and so throughout the ground and all of them so planted that they have the benefit of the sun on all partes as hath been formerly directed And planting at first thus you need not care or fear which de stands either to the North or south Now if you Plant your ground with sets let them be of seed if pose sible and not either of slips or succors to buy sets is chargeable also they may be broken or bruised in drawing out of th ground or carriage if you trust unto such as either have not care or skill in drawing them therefore let the sets be of your own if possible In choice of your sets let the Roots be sound and many for as they are in number and goodness so will the boughes be Lastly if the tops be tall or more spreading then the Roots you may proyn them and cut off the tops for every wound given when a plant is young will recover firmly in a short time as about six years yet there will be a hindrance in the growth of the Plant during that time therefore considering all these particulars it is good to have sets of seed of your own and at such a distance as not to remove at all for every remove is dangerous Although some of these observations have been formerly mentioned and also are generally known yet are they but little put in practice I am sure it would quit cost for all the pains and expences that should be undergone in order to it Now if you intend to Plant a Plot of Land for Under-Woods only or young woods for House-boot or Plow-boot c. and not let any of the Trees grow to be great Timber then as the Land is wet or dry rich or poor the crust deep or shallow you must sow or set such seed or Plants which will best thrive in those places and although Coppices Groves or Under-woods consist of all sorts of Wood as Oake Ashe Elme Beech Maple Chesnut Birch Asp Alder Withey Hornbeame Hasle Sicamore Willow and many others yet of all these we shall make choice but of six the rest being not considerable to answer the Charges this way in planting which are Oake Chesnut Ashe Withey Haslle and Alder Now to give you the reasons of my choice and why I look upon them as the best and most profitable are these First They are quicker of growth then any of the other that I have omitted for the Chesnut Alder Ash and Withey will be taller and greater at eight years growth then any of them will be at twelve Secondly They will thrive in such ground as many of the other will not as in much wet or moisture also in dry and shallow earth Thirdly They may be converted to such uses as will render them more vendible and yield greater prices then the other For now suppose you have an Acre of ground to plant and that there be in it all the sorts of Earth before mentioned then in the wettest part of the Land must you plant the Alder This Tree is not friendly to Pasture or Meddow because the Root thereof is of such a nature that it draweth to it self so much moisture for its Nourishment that the ground near it is good for no other use the next that doth require a moist ground although not so wet as the Alder is the Withey the Ashe and Hasle will grow in the dryest part and in the shallowest Earth the Oake and Chesnut will require a good earth and deeper Crust then the last two Thus have you the Nature Quality or Condition of the Plants and where they best like to grow But it is to be understood the Richer the Earth is and the deeper the Crust there they will best thrive Now because this Acre is but a small Plot we will therefore Plant it to the utmost bounds Thus the Land lying length and breadth sixteen Perch long and ten broad the plants to be planted four foot one inch and a half one from the other which is the one fourth of a Perch At this distance there should be a square plot of ground delved or digged two foot square about half a foot from the end or point of the four Angles set a Seed or Plant such seed or Plants as will best thrive according to former directions and where the Crust is shallow there should be made a trench about the several squares a foot wide and deep the Earth to be cast upon the square Plot to increase the Mould the whole ground being thus Planted you will have 2560 square plots wherein is planted 10240 seed or plants if they all thrive then about three years after at the season of the year for transplanting one of the best of these 4 Plants in each or every square plot which doth most thrive must be preserved and the other 3 drawn or puld up and disposed of at pleasure either to be planted
readily peruse all the foresaid totall accounts belonging to this first planting in digged or delved Land I shall here set them down by themselves and they are as followeth The total Accounts of all the seed set or sowed at one foot distance Seed sowed Acorns the Total amounts to 4226 17 10 Ashen-keys the Total amounts to 3268 13 05 ¾ Beech-mast the Total amounts to 3392 18 10 ¾ Chesnuts the Total amounts to 7662 17 04 All these seeds equally sowed the Total amounts to 4637 16 07 ¼ Seed set Acorns the Total amounts to 4210 04 06 Ashen-keys the Total amounts to 3427 00 01 ¾ Beech-mast the Total amounts to 3501 05 06 ¾ Chesnuts the Total amounts to 7721 04 00 ¾ All these seeds equally set the Total amounts to 4714 18 06 ¼ The total Accounts of Plants planted Oak Ash Beech or Elm the Total amounts to 42557 09 04 Chesnut Plants the Total amounts to 68484 13 04 ¾ All these Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 47742 18 01 ¾ The next Distance is 3 Foot AT this Distance if you do not sow the Land between the Plants with Corn then there may be delved 2 foot square of ground at the ends of every yard or 3 foot and therein set 3 seeds as hath been formerly declared This performed there will be delved 5764801 square Plots and they are worth delving 30 shillings the Acre The thousand Acres thus planted will take up 17294403 single seeds and the account will stand as followeth  li. s. d. For Delving the Land at 30 shillings the Acre 1500 00 00 For 2702 bushels 1 peck and 3 single seeds of Acorns at 2 shillings the bushel 0270 04 06 For setting or planting the Seed and the Land raked at 2 shillings 6 pence the Acre 0125 00 00 For weeding the Plants valued at 7 s. the Acre 0350 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 2245 04 06 An Account of Charges the Land planted with Ashen-keys For Delving the Land at 30 s. the Acre 1500 00 00 For setting the seed and raking the land at 2 s. 6 d. the acre 0125 00 00 For 180 bushel 1 gallon 1 pint and 153 single seeds of the Ash-tree at 1 s. the bushel 0009 00 01 ½ For weeding the Plants at 7 s. the Acre 0350 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1984 00 01 ½ An Account of Charges the Land planted with the Beech-tree seed For Delving the Land at 30 shillings the Acre 1500 00 00 For 225 bushel 6-quarts and 3 single seed of the Beech at 3 shillings the bushel 0033 15 06 ¾ For setting the seed and raking the land at 2 s. 6 d. the acre 0125 00 00 For weeding the Plants at 7 s. the Acre 0350 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 2008 15 06 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnuts  l. s. d. For Delving the Land 1500 00 00 For 172944 hundred and single Chesnuts at 2 d. the hund 1441 04 00 For Setting the Seed Raking the Land and Weeding the Plants 0475 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 3416 04 00 An Account of Charges equally to plant the 4 several sorts of Seeds For Delving the Land 1500 00 00 For 675 bushels a half and 2 quarts of Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 0067 11 01 ½ For 45 bushels 1 quart and 601 single seeds of Ashen-keys at 1 s. the bushel 0002 05 00 ¼ For 56 bushels 1 peck 3 pints and 1 seed of Beech-mast at 3 shillings the bushel 0007 08 10 ½ For 43236 hundred and 1 Chesnut at 2 d. the hundred 0360 06 00 For Setting the Seed Raking the Land and Weeding the Plants 0475 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 2412 11 00 ¼ Now if the Land be planted with Plants or Sets at this distance as the seed was planted and the same number then it will take up 17294403 Plants An Account of Charges the Land planted with Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm. For Delving the Land 1500 00 00 For 172944 hundred and 3 Plants either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm at 18 pence the hundred 12970 14 01 For setting or planting these Plants valued at 8 s. the acre 00400 00 00 For Weeding the Plants at 7 shillings the acre 00350 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 15220 14 01 An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnuts Sets  li. s. d. For Delving the Land 01500 00 00 For 172944 hundred and 3 Plants of Chesnut at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 21618 00 00 ¼ For setting and weeding the Plants 00750 00 00 The Total Charge amounts to 23868 00 00 ¼ But if all the foresaid 5 several sorts of Sets be equally planted in the said Land the Accounts will be made up as followeth An Account of Charges the 5 several sorts of Sets equally planted For Delving the Land at 30 s. the Acre 01500 00 00 For 138355 hundred and 22 Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm at 18 pence the hundred 10376 12 10 For 34588 hundred and 81 single Chesnut Sets at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 04273 12 00 For setting and weeding the Plants 00750 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 16900 04 10 The Totals of the several Accounts of Charges for Seed and Plants set or planted at 3 foot distance and is as followeth Acorns the Total amounts to 2245 04 06 Ashen-keys the Total amounts to 1984 00 01 ½ Beech-mast the Total amounts to 2008 15 06 ¾ Chesnuts the Total amounts to 3416 04 00 All the foresaid Seeds equally planted the Total amounts to 2412 11 00 ¼ The Totals of the several Accounts for Plants planted Oak Ash Beech and Elm Sets the Total amounts to 15220 14 01 Chesnut Sets the Total amounts to 23868 00 00 ¾ All the 5 several sorts of Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 16900 04 10 The Third Distance THis next or third Distance of ground between Plants or Seeds is 4 foot and an half which is the fourth part of a Pearch Woodland measure Now if the Thousand Aceâ—s of Land be planted the same way and order as was the last or 3 foot distance then at the ends of 4 foot 6 inches of Land in length must be delved a Plot of Land 2 foot square with a small Trench about the square Plot and therein set or plant 3 seeds To perform this the Land will take up 7689603 single seeds and the Plots be worth delving 14 shillings the Acre An Account of Charges the Land set with Acorns  l. s. d. For Delving 2563201 square Plots of Land each Plot containing 4 square foot of ground the whole Plot worth delving 14 shillings the acre 0700 00 00 For 1201 bushels a half and 3 acorns at 2 s. the bushel 0120 03 00 For setting the Seed and raking the Land 2 s. the acre and weeding the Plants 4 s. the acre 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1120 03 00 An Account of Charges the Land planted with the Ash-seed
Meadow after the 3 years Crops of Wheat is off the Land and there being 802 Acres and 36 Perch comes to 401 l. 2 s. 5 d. yearly then the 7 years Rent of the said Land which is about the time of the first Cutting of the Plants comes to 2807 l. 16 s. 11 d. This Sum is to be added to the account of Profit or Improvement and the total Improvement then amounts to 36809 l. 6 s. 3 d. 3 farthings The total Interest Money comes to 2769 l. 9 s. 10 d. ½ Now all these Sums of Charges before and last mentioned being added to the total Sum for the first years Charges then the Total of all Charges for the thousand Acres of Land planted as aforesaid amounts to 27748 l. 9 s. 6 d. ¾ And if you substract this last total Sum of Charges out of the total Sum of Profit or Improvement then the Product or Remainder of the Sum substracted comes to which Sum is so much gained out of the thousand Acres of Land in 10 or 11 years the Land planted as we have formerly declared I know not of any other Accounts of Profit or Charges worth the bringing or charging to an account in this place But you may please to take notice that this Account of Gain or Profit is for the first Cutting of the Plants they being single Shoots Poles or Rods produced from Seed The next Cutting or second Growth every Stock may put forth 4 or 5 Shoots and then the profit will be double Also this way of planting by Sets and delving the land is much more chargeable then plowing and planting Seed for the total charge in planting at this distance with the Ash and Chesnut Seed and Withey Sets the Land plowed and the Seed and Sets planted the way and manner as we have set down in Page 114 comes but to 1897 pound 9 s. ¼ But the total charge the Land being delved and single Setts and the Seed of Ash and Chesnuts with Withey Sets as was said before planted at the same distance Page 136 and 137 amounts to 5316 pound 7 s. 4 d. 1 farthing substract the Sum of Charges for plowing and planting out of the Sum for delving and planting the rest or remainde amounts to 3418 pound 18 shillings 4 pence and being so much charges saved by plowing and planting seed may be added to the Account of profit as so much gained Now it may be objected that planting by Sets every Stock will produce 2 or 3 Shoots and to plant with Seed there will be but one Shoot and so consequently one Pole or Rod and at the time or season of cutting the Sets will produce double the quantity of stuff more than the Seed For answer we grant the increase but say that the Sets which should be planted being small the many Shoots may by hindering the growth of the Roots and indanger the Stock and also hinder the growth of each other for the Root must have time to grow and inlarge it self within the earth therefore there will not be a sufficient supply of sap to maintain more shoots than one in so short a time as is allowed to the first Cutting Also for young Stocks to have many boughes will not only hinder the thriving of the root by spending much sap but as a poor Ewe which may bring forth 2 or 3 Lambs both sterves her self and those she brought forth We shall therefore advise to proyn or cut off all shoots but one from every Stock until after the first Felling or Cutting for one good streight shoot is worth 5 or 6 small stragged ones These particulars being premised you shall have the account in brief and it is as followeth An Account of Charges and Grain by a thousand Acres of Land equally planted with single Sets of Chesnut Ash and Withey and Wheat sowed between the Plants at 4 foot 6 inches distance An Account of Charges  l. s. d. Paid the first years Charges for planting 1000 Acres of Land with plants of Chesnut Ash and Withey also Wheat sowed between the plants 6607 18 08 ¼ For Delving at two several times 256711 pearch 28 foot of Land 4278 10 04 2 4 For 4000 Bushels of seed-Wheat also sowing raking weeding reaping and all charges about the Wheat for 2 years season in sowing 2583 06 08 For cutting the Plants and converting them to several uses 1509 04 00 For 10 years Rent for 1000 acres of Land at 20 s the acre yearly 10000 00 00 For Interest money 02769 09 10 ¾ The total Charge amounts to 27748 09 07 ¼ An Account of Profit or Improvement  li. s. d. Received for Hop-poles Hoops Fagots and other Necessaries for Husbandry 17651 09 04 ¾ Received 3 years Crops of Wheat containing 60000 Bushels at 5 s. the Bushel 15000 00 00 Received for 48000 Bushels of Wheat Chaff at 3 d. the Bushel 00600 00 00 Received for 3000 Load of Wheat Straw at 5 shillings the bushel 00750 00 00 Received 7 years Rent for 802 acres 36 pearch of land at 10 s. the acre yearly 02807 16 11 The total Improvement amounts to 36809 06 03 ¾ The total Charge amounts to 27748 09 07 ¼ Rest in Cash 09060 16 08 ½ This last Summ rest in Cash is so much gained by planting a thousand Acres of Land with Sets or Plants for Under-wood and Wheat sowed on the Land Thus to state and ballance all the Accounts in this Book will require more time than is allowed and the work is made so plain and easie that every mean Accountant may perform the same and save me the labour we shall therefore proceed to the next Distance and that is 18 foot in length The Fourth Distance or 18 Foot AT this Distance you have been advised to delve a Plot of ground 4 foot square and therein to set or plant 4 seed To perform this the Land will take up there being 16080 square Plots 643204 single seed and is worth delving 4 pence the pearch and there being 7940 ¾ and 13 foot comes to 132 l. 7 s. 1 d. An Account of Charges the Land set with Acorns  l. s. d. For Delving 7940 pearch ¼ and 13 foot of Land at 4 d. the pearch 132 07 01 For 100 bushels 2 pecks and 4 single seeds of Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 010 01 00 For planting the Seed raking the Land and weeding the Plants at 3 s. the acre 150 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 292 08 01 An Account of Charges the Land planted with the Ash-seed For Delving the Land at 4 d. the pearch 132 07 01 For 6 bushels ¾ of a pint and 279 single seeds of Ash at 1 s. the bushel 000 06 08 ¼ For setting the Seed raking the Land and weeding the Plants 150 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 282 13 09 ¼ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Beech-seed For Delving 7940 pearch ¾ and 13 foot of Land at 4 d. the pearch 132 07 01 For
amounts to 0914 15 1 ¾ Chesnut Set the Total amounts to 1216 07 2 ¼ All the 5 several sorts of Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 0979 00 7 ¾  li. s. d. One single Plant either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm planted in each Plot and the Land sowed with Wheat the Total amounts to 2408 11 10 One single Chesnut Plant planted in each Plot and the Land sowed with Wheat the Total amounts to 2488 19 10 ¼ All the 5 sorts of single Sets equally planted in each Plot one and the Land sowed with Wheat the Total amounts to 2424 13 05 ¼ You may please to take notice at the second season of Plowing That that part of Land that the Plow cannot reach or compass must be digged or delved The Fifth Distance THe next or last Distance of Land between the Plants we intend to treat of in this Book and at this time is two pearch or 36 foot Well grown and thriving Timber-trees planted in a thousand Acres of Land at this distance will not only be profitable as on every Acre of Land there growing 40 Timber-trees worth 10 pound a Tree and amount to four hundred thousand pound but make a gallant shew and Corn growing on the Land Cattel and Deer feeding thereon were very pleasant to behold We have formerly advised to delve a Plot of ground 4 foot square at the end of every 36 foot in length and therein to set or plant 4 Seed or Plants this performed there will be sufficient room for the Plow to turn between the square Plots making good and quick work not hurting either Plants or Trees And the Land planted according to former Directions the Accounts will stand as followeth An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnuts at this last Distance and sowed with Wheat  li. s. d. For Delving 40401 square plots of Land containing 646416 foot or 1995 pearch and 36 foot at 4 d. the pearch 033 05 0 ¼ For Plowing Hacking Sowing the Wheat and Harrowing 987 acres and 3 quarters of Land at 12 s. the acre 592 13 0 For 161604 Chesnut Seed or 1616 hundred and 4 Nuts at 2 d the hundred 013 09 4 For Seed-wheat allowing at this distance 3 bushels to be sowed on every acre at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Setting the Chesnuts and Weeding the Plants at 18 d. the acre 075 00 0 For Weeding the Wheat at 4 pence the acre 016 13 4 For Reaping Binding and Carrying the Corn into the Barn at 8 s. the acre 395 02 0 For Thrashing and Winnowing the Wheat at 10 s. the load or 40 bushels and reckoning the increase 30 bushels to grow on every acre 370 07 6 For Carriage of the said Wheat to Markets if within 7 miles of the Barn at 5 s. the load or 40 bushels 185 03 9 The total Charge amounts to 2422 10 2 ¼ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Acorns and sowed with Wheat For Delving 1995 pearch and 36 foot of Land at 4 d. the pearch 033 05 0 ¼ For Plowing 987 acres ¾ of Land and sowing the said Land with Wheat 592 13 0 For 25 bushels 1 peck and 4 Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 002 1 6 For Seed-Wheat the Land requiring 2963 bushels ¼ at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Setting the Acorns and Weeding the Plants 075 00 0 For Weeding the Wheat 016 13 4 For Reaping Gathering Binding and Carting the Corn into the Barn 395 02 0 For Thrashing and Winowing the Wheat at 10 s. the load 370 07 6 For Carriage of the said Wheat to Markets at 5 s. the load 185 03 9 The total Charge amounts to 2411 11 4 ¼ An Account of Charges the Land planted with the Beech-Seed and sowed with Wheat  l. s. d. For Delving and Plowing the Land 625 18 0 ¼ For 2 bushels 3 quarts and 804 single Seeds at 3 s. the bushel 000 06 3 ¾ For 2963 bushels ¼ of Seed-Wheat at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Setting the Beech Seed and Weeding the Plants 075 00 0 For Weeding the Wheat and all Charges of bringing it into the Barn 411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2409 07 2 ¼ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Ash-seed and sowed with Wheat For Delving and Plowing the Land 625 18 0 ¼ For one Bushel and a half 11 pints and 1104 single seeds of the Ash at 12 pence the bushel 000 01 8 For 2963 bushels ¼ of Seed-Wheat at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Setting the Ash-seed and Weeding the Plants 075 00 0 For Weeding the Wheat and all Charges of bringing it into the Barn 411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2409 02 6 An Account of Charges all the 4 sorts of Seed equally planted and the Land sowed with Wheat For Delving and Plowing the Land 625 18 0 ¼ For 404 hundred of Chesnuts 1 single Nut at 2 d. the hund 003 07 4 For 6 bushels 5 pottles and 1 seed of Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 000 12 7 ½ For 2 pecks 1 pint and 801 single seed of the Beech at 3 s. the bushel 000 01 7 For 3 gallons 1 quart and 1401 single seeds of the Ash at 12 d. the bushel 000 00 5 For Setting these Seeds and Weeding the Plants 075 00 0 For Seed-Wheat containing 2963 bushels ¼ at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Weeding the Wheat and all Charges of bringing it into the Barn 411 15 4 For thrashing the said Wheat and all charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2413 02 9 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Sets as it was with Seed and Wheat sowed between the Plants  li. s. d. For Delving and Plowing as by the particulars in former Accounts 625 18 0 ¼ For 161604 either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets at 18 d. the hundred 121 04 0 For Planting the Sets and Weeding them 100 00 0 For 2963 bushels ¼ of Seed-wheat at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Weeding the Wheat and all Charges into the Barn 411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2555 04 10 ¼ An Account of Charges the same quantity of Land planted with Chesnut Sets and Wheat sowed For Delving and Plowing the Land 625 18 0 ¼ For 1616 hundred of Chesnut Sets at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 202 00 1 For Planting the Sets and Weeding them 100 00 0 For 2963 bushels ¼ of Seed-Wheat at 5 s. the bushel 740 16 3 For Weeding the said Wheat and all Charges bringing it into the Barn 411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2636 00 11 ¼ An Account of Charges
set down how to plant 200 Acres of Land at well for Pleasure as Profit wherein there shall be pleasant Walks with Timber-trees and Groves of Vnder-woods and several Orchards and Gardens with Fruit Flowers and Herbs both for Food and Physick variety of Fowl Bees Silk-worms Bucks Does Hares and other Creatures of several kinds And a short account of the Charges and Profit of keeping a thousand Doe-Conies in Hutches the profit amounting to 450 pounds per annum Also Fish-ponds and Streams of water stored with many kinds of Fish and stocked with Decoy-Ducks And the Vse and Vertues of all the Plants growing in this Garden of Pleasure THe Figure of this Garden or profitable and delightfull Place is a Quadrat the 4 Angles or square sides lying South-east North-west South-west and North-east the length of one side or Angle containing 178 Perch 15 foot 11 inches The whole Plot is to be inclosed with a Ditch and Quick hedge of White-thorn as hath been directed to fence in the great Wood In the middle of this Garden containing 200 Acres Woodland Measure that is 18 foot to the Perch in length shall be erected a convenient Dwelling-house and other usefull Buildings for Corn and Cattel the Front of the said House to stand South-east and the Scite thereof to be inclosed for Yards Gardens and Orchards we allow to take up 20 Acres On the North-east side of this our Garden and 36 foot from the Fence or outmost bounds is to be planted to Row of Oaks extending to the ends of the said Angles or square Sides but observing to keep the same distance of 36 foot from the Fence of the other Angles or North-west and South-east Sides This first Row of Oak being set or planted allowing 21 foot of land between each Plant there is to be planted another or second Row of Oaks 36 foot distance from the first and keeping the distance of 21 foot between every Plant in the said Row This performed then 36 foot from the last Row of Oaks is to be planted 2 Rows of Chesnut Plants all of them keeping the same distance one from the other as the Oaks and 36 foot from the last Row of Chesnuts must be planted 2 Rows of Beech Plants also 36 foot from the last outmost Row of Beech may be planted 2 Rows of Walnut Plants the said Beech and Walnuts are to be planted at the same distance as was the Chesnuts 4 pearch or 72 foot from the last Row of Walnuts you may plant a Grove or Thicket of White Thorn the breadth to be one pearch and the length extending as far as the Walnuts From the Thorns the space of land between being 9 foot is to be planted a Coppice or Thicket of Ash and Withey Sets equally mixed the breadth of the said Plot of Ash and Withey Plants must be 4 pearch and the length 81 foot shorter at each end then the Thorn Thicket Half a pearch or 9 foot from the Ash Coppice shall be planted 4 pearch of Land in breadth with Hazel-nut Sets and the length to be the same as that of the Ash. Leaving 1 pearch or 18 foot space of ground from the Hazel Coppice there must be planted the breadth of 4 pearch in breadth with Rasberry Blackberry Barberry Goosberry and Currant Bushes All these are to be planted equally in several Beds and the edges of the said Beds planted with Strawberries The whole Plot being planted and equally mixed with all the several sorts and colours of Berries with convenient Walks between each Bed and containing the same length with the Nut-wood One pearch distant from the said Plot of Berries is to be planted the same length and breadth of land with Philberd Nut Sets Keeping the distance of 9 foot from the last Plot planted the next to be planted are Withey and Ash Sets the length and breadth of the said Plot to be the same as was last planted with Philberds Now as an Architect will lay a good foundation before he build we have advised first to plant and as the first Plot planted of this our Grove was a Thorn Thicket so likewise must the last or that opposite to the first and also both ends of this entire Inclosure observing to keep the distances with length and breadth of this last Thicket as that first planted and also the Thorns planted at the two ends of the Grove must be of the same breadth and joyn to the ends of the first and last Thorns planted About the middle of the last or South-west side of the Grove and opposite to the Dwelling-house must be left unplanted a space of Land or Ground on which to build or set up a fair Gate for entrance into the Wood or Grove aforesaid also there must be left unplanted 72 foot of Land in breadth beginning at the said Gate or middle of the Thorn Thicket and extending overthwart or cross dividing the Grove which will make a Pleasant Walk there being erected a Fountain in the middle of the said Walk whose streams dividing the Grove into 4 parts will be of great use for the refreshing all things as well Vegetatives and Sensitives as Rationals and at each end of the said Walk is to be planted a Mulberry-tree These Directions being observed and performed on the South-west side of the House is to be planted the same quantity of Land with all the several sorts of Plants aforementioned keeping the same distance of 36 foot from the Fence and likewise the same distance of Plants according to the manner and way of the first or North-east part of the Land planted These two Groves and Timber-trees in them are not planted only for Pleasant Walkes but Harbor and feeding places for wild Peacocks Turkies Pheasants Blackbirds Thrushes Felfares and all other useful Birds that live on such food as there grows The Land disposed of as to the scite of the House Groves and Woods planted for Timber-trees arises to 120 Acres and a half out of the remainder of Land which is 80 Acres on the North-east side of the Dwelling-House and flanking the North point of the Kitchin Garden and about the middle distance of Land between the said point and South-west side of the North-east Grove shall be inclosed a square Plot of Land containing 10 Acres with a Mote or Water-course 18 foot broad About the middle of the ground thus inclosed shall be built a Shed or low rooft House 4 square answering the Figure of the Land inclosed the walls or sides of the said Shed should be 7 foot high built with brick The length of every square side must be 80 foot and the breadth 10 foot between the walls within the House then the 4 square sides or whole House contains 320 foot round and the Plot of ground or Yard within the House allowing 18 inches for the thickness of the Wall will contain 54 foot square Within this House we shall place 240 Conie-Hutches or Boxes each of them containing 5 Rooms one
safely answer for my self and the main of my Discourse that it is wholly New and such as never before appeared in Print both as to the Manner Charges and Advantage of Planting either one or a thousand Acres in the way and at the Distances propounded I confess I am but a bad Writer and have been all my time more experienc'd in the Practice then the Theory of this kind of Husbandry yet having more consulted the Publick then my self I hope the Learned will indulge me and so I deliver things as they ought pardon the Rudeness of my words and expression A farther Advertisement to the Reader THough this Book came out tâ—us late yet it was finished at least the first and biggest part about three years since but I was not able to publish it by reason of my own great want and former Losses till I had obtained the Subscriptions of several Gentlemen in the Countrey who Reading it and approving both my Design and Method freely contributed to the Charges of this Publication ERRATA PAge 2 l. 25 r. within these few years p. 7 l. 4 for which in r. within ib. l. 29 r. dy-square p. 19 l. 32 after but 1. of p. 20 l. 9 r. that time ib. l. 18 for Masts 1. Mast. p. 22 l. 14 15 r. Incroachment p. 26 l. 12 for chalk r. shank p. 32 l. 33 so every r. very p. 33 l. 32 r. they will l. 34 r. of Trees p. 39 l. 14 for their r. the. p. 41 l. 22 after whole r. ground p. 49 l. 23 for parted r. planted p. 51. l. 5 for that r. after p. 63 l. 1. for de r. side p. 65 l. 20 after preserved r. in every Acre p. 66 l. 33 after small r. houses after p. 160 as far as 1691. for 141 142 c. 161 162 c. p. 161 l 32 dele the breadth cf. p. 177 l. 33 for whereby r. where p. 181 l. 13 for as r. when p. 182 l. 8 Anniseed r. Anniseseed p. 236 l. 19. for as in r. alike in p. 251. l. 17. for Rona r. Rova p. 253 l. 23 for Stars r. Scars Other Faultâ—less considerable and onely literal the Readers judgment will easily supply THE CONTENTS The First Book IN this Book is set down the great benefit that does apise from Trading which is the Strength and Riches of a People as also that the Kings of England are the Soveraign Lords of the British Seas and that the said Seas have by force of Arms been kept and protected from the Power of all other Nations or Kings in memory by undoubted Records ever since Edgar Etheldred Canutus the Dane Edward the Confessor William the Conqueror and all the Kings of England successively to this day You have in it also a Collection of certain Breviats of several Records now in the Tower of London proving the Soveraignty of the British Seas wholly to belong to the Kings of England demonstratedly the Examples of several other Kings and Princes how they keep by force of Arms all Seas within their Territories You have also here in passage shown the great use of Ships how they are the strength of a Kingdom or People and the chief Instruments of Trade And this part lastly is concluded with a short Declaration of the woful Wasts and Decay of all Woods and Timber in England especially in His Majesties Forests not only during the Troubles but to this very day together with some short Proposals for ppeserving these Trees that are now standing and growing planting wast Lands for a future supply and several wayes of improving Barren Lands The Second Book IS treated the Planting Forrest-Lands and other wast-Lands with Plants for Timber-trees also of all kinds of Earth Simple or Compound Rich or Barren and the manner and way of improving the same either by planting Seed or sets for Timber trees or Vnderwoods Likewise by draining or watering such Lands that require the same and Devonshiring or Burning thâ—se Lands grown over with Bushes Heath Furres Goss or such like Also the way of Improving all the said several sorts of Earths by Lime Marl Dung and many other such like Improvements likewise by Plowing Delving Trenching or Plow-trenching the said Land and sowing seed for Corn or Grass and of several Observations and Directions therein The Third Book YOu have set down the manner and way of planting one Acre of Land Statute-measure that is 16 foot and a half to the Pearch with seed or sets for Timber trees and Vnderwoods at several distances as from 1 foot to 4 Pearch Also the converting the said Woods to several uses with the Charges and Profit of performing the same and several Observations in planting the said Woods Also a Conjecture at the growth and Age of Timber-trees as Oaks that are now standing and grow which said Trees may be probably concluded to be the Production of the Earth at the Creation of the World together with Preparatory Directions by plowing and sowing with choice of Seed and Plants in order to the planting a thousand Acres The Fourth Book YOu have Directions to plant a thousand Acres of Land Woodland-measure 18 foot to the Pearch with Seed and Sets for Timber trees and Vnderwoods at the several distances before mentioned and that is from one foot to four Pearch Also here is set down the particular and total accounts of the Charges and Profit of planting of the said Land by Plowing or delving and sowing or setting the same with seed or sets As also converting the said Woods to several uses The Fifth Book IN this Book are Directions set down how to plant 200 Acres of Land as well for Pleasure as for Profit wherein there shall be pleasant Walks with Timber-trees and Groves of Vnderwoods and several Orchards and Gardens with Fruit Flowers and Herbs both for food and Physick variety of Fowl Bees Silk-worms Bucks Does Hares and other Creatures of several kinds And a short account of the Charges and Profit of keeping a thousand Doe-Cenies in Hutches the Profit amounting to 4500 l. per Annum Also Fish-ponds and Streams of Water stored with many kind of Fish and stocked with Decoy Ducks And the use and vertues of all the Plants growing in this Garden of Pleasure The Sixth Book YOu have a Description of the Islands of Orkney and Shotland with the manner and way of the Hollanders Fishing and Trading in those Seas and Islands Also a Diurnal or short account of Coasting from London to those Islands with a discovery of several Rocks and Harbours on that Coast Here is likewise set down that the Original of the Hollanders Trade which is now much increased and spread through a great part of the World was and is from the Fish they every year take on the Coast of England and Scotland And in this Book lastly is set down the great benefit that does arise from Trade with a short discourse that the Traffick of Europe hath been engrossed into the hands and carried
are propagated in the World Having now propounded it to my self as the end of my discourse by Planting Timber trees to supply the Wasts that have been committed in His Majesties Forrests and to shew how other parts of the Kingdom which now are but of little use and profit unto the owners may be improved I shall in the next place do something in order thereunto But because it would be tedious to run over all the several sorts of Trees known to us in England which upon occasion may be made use of for Timber where no other can be had I shall confine my self to four sorts only the Oake the Elme the Ash and the Beech And he that can well Plant these may likewise all other sorts of Trees whether of Pleasure or Profit and because Seed as I told you is the Original of Plants we shall begin with the sowing of that And to do it more effectually follow the course that it is to be supposed every careful Husbandman doth before he begineth to Plant his Ground viz. cleanse it of all incumbrances which may either hinder his Plow or choak the Seed as Bushes Stumps or Rootes of Trees which is performed by Grubbing but if Goss Whin Heath or such like then it will be needful for such ground to be Hackt or Devonsheared so called because in that Country this work or kind of Husbandry is much used And if any hard Gravel Quarry of Stone or Rock be within the reach of the Plow-share it will be loss to Plow and Sow or Plant such Grounds with Seed for Trees but having a true knowledge of the nature and condition of the ground it being thus cleansed of all Rubbish and prepared ready for the Plow we shall proceed in the choice of our Seed And as it argueth much weakness in any man to want Seed at the season his Land should be sowed so is it unnecessary expence to provide much more then will serve the turne for Seed is generally dearer then that Corne of the same kind which otherwise may be better spent in the House and although it ought to be of the cleanest and soundest Corn yet the smaller is rather to be chosen then that which is very large Now to bring this home to our purpose of the foresaid Timber-trees there are but three usually produced by Seed the Oake Ash and Beech for the Elme is renued from Age to Age by Slips Shoots or Suckers which sprout from the Rootes it being a general Rule that those Trees which bear little seed or seed of small use the Slips and Suckers will grow sooner and thrive better then those of Trees bearing Seed I can speak it of my own knowledge that the Chips of Elmes newly cut and falling among long ranck Grass have in few years taken root and grown up to a reasonable Coppice the reason thereof may be from the Oyley and glutinous substance or because the Spirit of a Plant or Tree is dispersed throughout the whole body and therefore however the matter may be vexed by Chipping yet the Spirit contains it self and will remain in that small portion of the matter that is cut off rather then forsake it quite or else Slips and Succors could not grow to so great Trees as usually they do yet it is my opinion that the Elme taken from Chips will not be long lasting or grow to any greatness because there is but a very small portion of the matter in comparison of that which is in Slips and Succors Now theâ—e ought to be great care taken in the choice of your Seed for Trees because the defect of them is not so visible as that of Corne. The Kernel of an Acorn may be Worm-eaten or half rotten and perished and yet the husk or shell whole and firm as we see in Nuts so likewise will the Seed of Beech very few of them prove sound and fit for our purpose The Acorns which I would advise for Seed should be of a middle size or something better and not of the largest but very full and hard and the husk or shell smooth and shining and in the water those that soonest sink are the best Seed The Beechen Mast and the Ashen Keyes would be of the largest size plump and full of Kernel We shall now consider the Quantity of Seed to be set or sowed which must be proportioned to the ground that is to be planted and the distance between the Plants The nearest distance that can be allowed to have good Plants and most profitable to be afterwards transplanted is 12 inches or one foot And to save every man a labour in counting the quantity of Seed and Plants to be Sowed and Planted I have thought my Paines well bestowed to do it here ENGLAND'S IMPROVEMENT REVIVED THE THIRD BOOK The Argument You have set down the manner and way of planting one Acre of land Statute measure that is 16 foot and a half to the Pearch with Seed or Sets for Timber-trees and Vnderwoods at several distances as from 1 foot to 4 Pearch Also the converting of the said Woods to several uses with the Charges and Profit in performing the same and several Observations in planting the said Woods Also a Conjecture at the Growth and Age of Timber-trees as Oaks that are now standing and grow which said Trees may be probably concluded to be the Production of the Earth at the Creation of the World together with Preparatory Directions by plowing and sowing with choice of Seed and Plants in order to the planting a thousand Acres WE shall proceed in an orderly way beginning with one Acre and then having given you the Distance for Sowing Setting or Planting Seed and Plants in this Acre will do the same in a Thousand An Acre of Land therefore containeth 160 square Perch Rod or Pole at 16 foot and a half to the Perch which is 4840 yards and at three foot to the yard is 43560 foot so that one Acre of Land will take up of Seed to Plant or Set at the distance aforesaid being one foot 43560 Acorns Ashen Keyes or Beechen-Mast or if planted with Plants the same number of Plants Now because Seeds are not bought by Tale but by Measure I shall give you also the number of them by the Bushel which containeth eight gallons and the gallon eight pints Winchester-Measure a Pint will hold or contain 100 of the greater sort of Acorns by this measure you will find 800 Acorns in one Gallon then in one Bushel will be contained 6400 so that one Acre of Land containing 43560 foot will require so many seed of Acorns as come to 6 Bushels 3 Pecks 3 pints half pint and 10 Acorns Alwayes observing what distance of Land is left between the outmost row of plants and the fence or bounds of the Land planted and for so many foot or every foot left in distance to deduct one seed or plant out of the Number given and the remainder will be your desire This first
although for Mans sins the Earth was cursed to bring briers and thorns yet we do not read that the lives of Vegetives were therefore shortned but that every Plant according to the spirit of the species by the good will and providence of God lives to the time first appointed at the Creation If Man had not sinned he had not been subject to mortality it is therefore resolved upon good reason that Trees may live during the world or untill the dissolution of all things here below not coming under Mans transgression for if Man whose body is nothing in a manner but tender rottenness hath lived above 900 years much more may the Oak live many thousand But secondly in all ancient History we read that the greatest part of England was much over-grown with Woods and it is well known that these Woods have been cut down and destroyed in all Ages and are wasting to this day But we do not read of planting any except in these latter dayes by Gentlemen for their private occasions His Majesties Forrests which are the ancient Woods and Woodland in England have not been planted nor ever were by Man neither do we find that the oldest trees die and young grow up in their room nor that decayed trees are cut down except some few for Firing but the best and soundest trees as hath been said before or that such old like decayed trees are the oldest trees and are so decayed by reason of age but chiefly by being often lopped shredded chipt and cut either boughs or roots or by other accidents as being overwhelmed and oppressed by bushes or other trees growing too near them or otherlike which may shorten the life of the soundest trees besides other incumbrances under ground as Land-springs Water-courses Rocks of Stone or Slate which they meet with in their subterranous passage Thirdly there are trees which are and have been ancient Boundary trees or Land-marks many hundred years which now are and have been by the memory of the oldest men living growing like trees Fourthly it hath been my observation in travelling abroad that great Woods or Woods of great Timber-trees have been so environed with Bogs or moorish ground that not any Engin Cart or Wagon could pass neither hath it been known that any of those great trees have been felled or cut down Other Woods I have seen containing many miles very rocky and they so high and rugged that not any Cart or Wagon could pass in many places and yet both these grounds abounding with trees of great bulk also other parts of the Country have been generally full of Wood and Timber-trees and not much peopled nor ever was Neither is there any Cart Wagon or other Engin thereabout in use to convey away Timber And the Wood and Timber generally used is young trees with which they build their Cabbins Booths or Houses being but of one story framed in the Woods and drawn to the places where they make use of them being made fast on both sides of a horse or else carried on mens backs I have travelled through a great part of these Woods and as I well remember the greatest part or quantity of the dead trees I then saw were such as the wind blew down many of them lying rotting on the ground for want of use the Country being full and others that were standing but dead I found were for the most part young trees which did either grow out of the roots of greater trees or from seed falling in long grass and so growing altogether hindred the growth of each other and shortned their lives I do not know any History that mentions either the planting felling or cutting any of these Woods nor the oldest man then living in those parts could inform me Fifthly of my own knowledge in Lancashire Shropshire and other parts there are many Firre-trees taken out of the ground some of them 2 or 3 yards within the ground and by all probability they have lien there ever since the Flood for no History nor any Lease Conveyance or Deed in writing doth mention any such trees growing in those parts also they are found near the sea in moorish places which is not a proper place for the Firr to grow in there have been many years since and of late several discoveries of the said trees being found whole Bodies and Roots and the Timber very sound Now if such trees have dured found so long after death much longer might they have lived if they had had the benefit of the earths moisture in their Roots only There may be several reasons for that which hath been said of the Firre-trees I shall but mention one At the Deluge the Waters continuing many Moneths on the earth did much soften and mellow the ground and at the time appointed by the Command of God the waters were returned into their Channels by a strong wind as in Gen. 8. verse 1. which said wind after the waters were something asswaged did blow down several trees The Firre being tall and the Roots running shallow within the earth were the sooner blown down and left floting on the water by reason of their porousness and lightness Now when the Waters were totally asswaged where the last winds left them there those trees sunk into the Mud and every Tyde from the Sea casting up earth or sand did cover them and the Sea in after time falling off or leaving those shores that earth became dry and produced grass moss weeds and such like which did grow over and hide those trees untill such time that this Kingdom became more peopled and then these trees were discovered as aforesaid Many more proofs there are which much strengthens my belief in that which hath been said concerning the age of an Oak But thus have we in a plain way and experimental given helps and directions for the planting Timber trees many more observations might have been added in the choice of seed and plants the several wayes of planting plowing delving sowing and setting the different wayes of dressing and proyning also the several sorts of Timber trees besides those before mentioned all sort of Underwoods with their names and characters But they being out of my Road at this time I shall keep to my business and in the next place give an account of the charges and profit in planting a thousand Acres of Land Now the best Figure for this Plot of Land for profit and pleasure is a Quadrat or four square of equal angle because it encloseth a greater quantity of Land with less charges then you can do in any other Figure also the Plants may be planted uniformly and in order To perform this there must be provided two Chains made of Wyer each of them containing 22 yards which is 4 pearch the breadth of an acre of Land as it is usually measured for 40 pearch long and 4 broad is an Acre but if Woodland measure then the Chains must be 24 yards in length one of the said Chains must
be divided into 16 parts by 15 brass Rings such as are used about Curtains the said Rings to hang loose in that part of the wyer that joyns the links together this performed the distance between the Rings will be one fourth of a pearch which is of Land measure 4 foot 1â— inch but of Wood measure 4 foot 6 inches At each end of this Chain would be an iron wyer Ring 2 or 3 times the compass of the brass Rings With this Chain all seed or plants which are to be set at one pearch two pearch three pearch four pearch half a pearch and one fourth part of a pearch distance may be orderly and speedily set or planted and that you may readily distinguish between the parts of the Chain at the one fourth part of a pearch must be a single Ring at the half of the pearch 2 Rings at one pearch distance 3 Rings and at the middle of the Chain which is a Pearch 4 Rings but to plant at these distances you may also make use of a streight Pole containing one pearch in length and divided into four parts The second Chain must be divided into yards and feet by brass Rings as in the first Chain it will require 65 Rings being the distance of feet and at every third foot beginning at one end of the Chain add one Ring more there will then be two Rings which is the distance of yards this being finished the single Rings distinguish the feet and the double the yards the Chain containing in length 66 foot and 22 yards but if wood measure then the length of the Chain will be 72 foot and 24 yards with these two Chains you may plant Seed and Sets at all the distances mentioned in the Book Now if you will not be at the charges to provide Chains then may you make use of small Cords or Lines and instead of Rings there may be knots with several coloured raggs at all the distances before mentioned and if these Chains or Lines be not of a sufficient length to dispatch much work then may you lengthen them according to your use or pleasure ENGLAND'S IMPROVEMENT REVIVED THE FOURTH BOOK The Argument You have Directions to plant a thousand Acres of Land Woodland measure 18 foot to the Pearch with Seed and Sets for Timber-trees and Vnderwoods at the several distances before mentioned and that is from one foot to four Pearch Also here is set down the particular and total accounts of the Charges and Profit of planting the said Land by plowing or delving and sowing or setting the same with Seed or Sets As also of converting the said Woods to several uses VVE have formerly discoursed of the knowledge of several sorts of Land by their Characters and Constitutions also of the Clime or Continent wherein they lie and how you shall make choice of Land for planting Trees the choice of seed and plants the seasons for plowing sowing and setting transplanting trees of great growth with the several Distances of ground between the Plants and the Improvement of one Acre of Land several wayes and to plant with Seed and Sets for Timber-trees and Under-woods therefore shall not trouble you with repetitions but proceed Suppose therefore the thousand Acres of Land before mentioned to be totally planted extending to the outmost bounds as it was measured without the Fence it contains 160000 pearch at 18 foot to the pearch In the planting this ground we shall mention only 5 several distances between the Plants I. Dist. The first and nearest shall be one foot at this distance you are only to plant seed for the procuring Plants to transplant other Lands we shall suppose this thousand Acres also to be a strong rich earth and every way qualified for the planting all sorts of Timber-trees This Plot of Land then contains 400 pearch square or 7200 foot but will require 7201 Rows of seed or plants and the whole ground will take up 51854401 single seed or plants Now if you will plant at this distance with seed for present use and profit my advice is to plant only these three sorts that is to say the Oak seed which is Acorns the Ash-tree seed called Ashen Keys the Chesnut-tree seed or Chesnuts There being an equal number or quantity of the three several sorts of Seed set or planted the Land will take up of Acorns 17284800 of Ashen-keyes 17284800 of Chesnuts 17284801. Now supposing that all these seeds grow and thrive about three years after the planting they will be of a sufficient growth to be transplanted The Oak and Ash Plants may yield 18 pence the hundred there being 345696 hundred allowing five score to the hundred which amounts to 25927 pound 4 shillings of Chesnut Plants there will be 172848 hundred and 1 Plant and they may be worth two shillings and six pence the hundred and will amount to 21606 pounds 1 farthing The total summ that all the Plants amount to is 47533 pound 4 shillings 1 farthing A good improvement if there were Markets or vent for so many II. Dist. But if at three foot distance you will reserve one of these Plants to grow for Under-woods and that you leave them equally mixed as they were planted then there will be for sale or to be sold of Oak and Ash 30726400 single Plants or 307164 hundred and at 18 pence the hundred amount to 23044 pound 16 shillings of Chesnut 153632 hundred of Plants at two shillings six pence the hundred come to 19204 pound The total summ for all these Plants amounts to 42248 pound 16 shillings the remainder or the Rods or Plants reserved are 5764801 which about eight or nine years after from the time they were planted you may fell or cut down and convert them to their several uses thus the number of Chesnut Plants is 1921601 the number of Oak Plants is 1921600 the number of Ash Plants is 1921601. From the Chesnut Plants may be chosen 214234 Rods of the size from 12 to 16 foot in length for smart hoops commonly used about wet and dry Cask of all sorts and each Rod being carefully slit will make two Hoops worth if delivered at London six shillings the hundred allowing six score to the hundred then there will be 428468 single hoops and being reckoned by the hundred they come to 3570 hundred 68 hoops and amounts at six shillings the hundred to 1079 pound 3 shillings 4 pence half-penny There may also from the Chesnut Plants be gathered 1400566 Rods of the size from 6 to 12 foot long which will make 2801132 single hoops and they arise to 23342 hundred and 92 hoops worth if delivered as aforesaid 4 shillings the hundred they amount to 4668 pound 11 shillings 3 farthings the total sum for the Chesnut hoops amount to 5739 pound 14 shillings 5 pence one farthing Out of the Oak and Ash containing 3843200 Plants may be chosen 403700 Rods of the longer size from 12 to 16 foot which may make being carefully slit as aforesaid
Out of this Timber may also be made Lathes of all sorts and many other useful Implements of Husbandry Now considering all these Improvements from the Oak we shall value them to be worth one with the other 15 shillings the Tree which amounts to 59700 pound the rest or remainder of trees which are in number 81201 may be worth at 150 years growth five pound the Tree which amounts to 406005 pound The Land may be sowed with Wheat at or after the first planting three years together and every Acre will take up the trees being thus planted at this distance 2 Bushel and a half which amounts to for the thousand Acres 7500 Bushels the product or increase of the said Wheat according to our former account which is 10 bushels for one comes to for the 3 years Crops 75000 bushels and at 5 shillings the bushel amounts to 18750 pound The Straw and Hulls or Chaff which will arise from the said Wheat allowing for every Load or 40 Bushels of Wheat 2 Load of Straw worth 5 shilling the Load and 32 bushel of Hulls worth 3 pence the bushel heap and thrust they both come to 1875 pound The total summ for the first Fall of Timber and the 3 years Crop of Wheat Straw and Hulls amounts to 80325 pound The total summ of the whole Improvement besides the 147 years Profit of the Land by Corn Pasture or Hay amounts to 486330 pounds An Oak well planted drest or proyned and the Land well soyled with good fat Dung will be greater and of more value at one hundred years than those planted with or among Underwoods will amount to at 300 years V. Dist. A fifth or the next Distance in planting the Oak is 2 Pearch which is 36 foot there will now be in the thousand Acres of Land at this distance 40401 trees and you may make as much benefit of the ground either by Corn Meadow or Pasture within a small matter as if there were not a tree there growing But at 150 years growth this Distance will be too near for the distance of ground between trees must be so far as two trees doth overspread Now a tree that does thrive will spread about the time aforesaid 12 or 13 yards which being added to 12 allotted to the opposite tree makes 24 yards therefore about that time you must grub up the middle trees as before directed they may be worth 5 pound the tree there being 19800 of the said trees amounts to 99000 pound the rest or remainder of trees being in number 20601 at 220 years growth may be worth 8 pound the tree which come to 164808 pound Now at this distance there may be sowed between the Plants 3000 Bushels of seed Wheat and that is 3 bushels allowed for every Acre the increase of the said Wheat according to our former reckoning amounts to 30000 Bushels and the 3 years Crops after the same rate comes to 90000 Bushels which at 5 shillings the Bushel is worth 22500 pound The Chaff and Straw that will arise from the 3 years Crop of Wheat counting 2 Load of Straw and 32 Bushels of Chaff from every Load of Wheat and at five shillings the Load for the Straw and three pence a Bushel the Chaff comes to 2025 pound The total summ for Wheat Chaff and Straw amounts to 24525 pound The Total of this Improvement besides the 217 years profit arising from Corn and Cattel amounts to 288333 pound Now trees thus planted which have indured cold and droughth in the tenderness of their age must of necessity grow and thrive the best or better than those growing thick so that such Oaks may grow in a short time compared with the years those trees do live to be worth 20 pound the Oak valued one with the other Then the 20601 Oaks last valued or prized if they grow to this price amount to 412020 pound And the Total Improvement of the thousand Acres besides the profit arising from Corn and Cattel amounts to 675833 pound Also at this last Distance there will be more room for the Plow likewise the Pasture for Meadow and feeding will be sweeter and more wholesome for Cattel the shade and dropping of trees being an Enemy to Corn and Grass And thus shall you have healthful and long lasting trees whose tops will be great the boal or body smooth clean and free from boyles great and well coloured Timber being well drest may grow 30 foot high free and clear without knob or bough bearing 2 foot diameter at the top or heigth aforesaid within or about 150 years after planted such Oaks will grow to an incredible price or value Now if there were in England 20000 Acres of Land thus planted they would be worth according to the last account of the thousand Acres 13516660 pound This would be a good improvement for so many Acres of Land which may well be spared without any damage either to the Gentry or Commons And the poorer sort of People which depend on his Majesties Forrests as Commoners should have much help thereby as hath been sufficiently declared Now although this quantity of Land make a great sound and seemeth to be too great for such a use and may in the opinions of some be better imployed for Corn and Cattel yet if we had no Wood in England which every day sensibly decays with us Corn and Cattel could neither protect nor warm us Also this quantity of Land is but a small proportion to the many Woods that have been and now are in England but utterly wasted and decayed being over-grown with Shrubs Dwarf-trees Bushes and such rubbish which will not well serve for good Firing and is of little worth or profit either to Rich or Poor as hath been said Therefore those Lands would be cleansed of all Incumbrances and new planted But if Woodlands cannot be spared because of the scarcity of Firing there are other Lands that may for by the General Maps of England it is found to contain 29568000 Acres of Land besides that which is allowed for the High-waies Out of this summ deduct 20 thousand Acres their remain 29548000 Acres Now that which is substracted is so small a Proportion to so great a Quantity that it may with much safety be allowed And to answer all Objections which may be made against this Plantation there are very sufficient Gentlemen who will undertake to carry on and finish the Work without putting either his Majesty or the Nation to any charge We have formerly made mention of a Statute of the 35 Hen. 8. for the Preservation of Timber-trees wherein it was provided That 12 Storers or Standils should be left upon an Acre at every Fall whereby we may undestand that in those daies they were sensible of the decay of Timber Now if at that time there had been the same care taken and provision made for planting Timber-trees according to the manner and way which we have now declared or for preserving the young then growing there would
have been a sufficient supply not only for present use but what might have continued for many hundred years to come whereby his Majesty might be readily furnished with Timber for building a far greater number of Ships than now he has and have for the annual profit of what might be sold a considerable summ paid into his Exchequer We have considered the Benefit and Profit which doth arise out of the whole thousand Acres of Land planted with Timber-trees I shall now give you an account what loss there will be of Ground and so consequently of Plants and Trees by reason of the fence for the generality of inclosed Land doth not hold or contain the exact measure as they are set down in ancient Deeds before they were inclosed as for example If you lay out or measure 100 Acres of Land to be divided or inclosed into 5 several parts or Inclosures with a Ditch or Hedge every Plot of ground will not contain 20 Acres within the Fence but the Fence must be likewise measured and included This being so easie to understand it doth not require farther demonstration Now in the account of loss of ground we shall mention but 2 Distances and they are 4 foot and a half and 18 foot or one Pearch The Fence appointed to enclose the thousand Acres of Land to be planted is a Ditch with a quick or White-thorn Hedge the Ditch to contain in breadth 6 foot and 5 foot in depth Now the Bank or earth that is thrown out of the Ditch must lye within the Inclosure which Bank although it be laid or cast round and handsome yet will it take up or cover about three foot of ground so that we must allow for Ditch and Bank at least 9 foot which is half a Pearch and so much less land we have to plant which amounts in the whole Inclosure to 799 square Pearch Also the ground within the Fence containing 399 Pearch square will now require or take up at 4 foot 6 inches distance but 2544025 Plants there being 19176 fewer Plants than the thousand Acres will require planted at the uttermost extent without a Fence therefore so much of the profit as the Plants deducted do amount to must be substracted out of monies received for Under-woods which I have formeâ—ly given an account of then will you have the full profit of the Land planted within such a Fence Now at the next or second Distance which is 18 foot the Land will tak up but 158404 Plants so that the loss by the Fence at this distance does arise to 2397 Plants and consequently so many Trees which must be deducted also out of the account of Profit for Timber-trees This last Distance is too near the Fence and will more hinder the Quick hedge from thriving than the former Distance although those Plants are much nearer because they were planted for under Woods and to be felled or cut down every ninth or tenth year so that the Thorn Plants will have the benefit of the Sun untill the other Plants be grown great and over-top them and by that time they will be ready to cut again But the Plants preserved to grow for Timber-trees after they are grown great will by much shading and often dropping on the Hedge decay the same and the older these trees grow the more ground they will require and therefore prove greater enemies unto the Fence By this which hath been spoken concerning the loss of ground by reason of the Fence may be understood my meaning in a former Section where it is said that what distance of ground is left between the uttermost Row of Plants and the Fence according to the distance of Plants there must be so many Seeds or Plants deducted from the number planted in the whole extent of land without the Fence But this may be sufficient to shew the loss of land by reason of the Fence and wherein by the way take notice that it is not profitable to make small Inclosures except for drayning of land or some other special occasion I have endeavoured to give a true account of the Profit or best way of Improvement of Land by planting Trees for Timber and Wood. Now if this little Address of mine towards the publick find a sutable success to that of the poor Widows it is the Product of a good heart and he that gives his all may hope for acceptance with all The want of fortune is a Remora to my will in the service of my King and Country therefore while I do what I may 't is agreeable to charity to accept the Will for the Deed and that you may the better know to what advantage the Land is improved we shall give an account of the Charges in planting the particulars of some part thereof have been formerly cast up and brought to account the generall summs are as followeth The Fence about this Great Wood containing 1600 Pearch Wood measure which is 18 foot to the Pearch for by that Rod Pole or Pearch are all the Hedges and Ditches measured will require 86466 Plants which at 4 pence the hundred amount to 14 pound 8 shillings 1 farthing The Workmanship in which is to be considered making the Ditch setting the Plants cutting and shripping the Stakes drawing the Bushes and making the dead Hedge amounts to 225 pound 11 shillings 11 pence 3 farthings The total Charge of the Fence besides or not counting for Bushes and Stakes amounts to 240 pound Now if you intend to plow this Plot of land or sow and set the same with seed for Timber-trees and under-Wood if the ground be Pasture or Meadow and not in Tillage it will require 3 times plowing and harrowing but in case the Land have been lately plowed and sowed as at the last Seed Season then twice plowing may be sufficient And because we treat of planting Forrests and Wast land they are supposed to be Pasture or feeding land also strong stiff Soils either Clayes Sands or Compounded then will it require twice plowing and harrowing and once hacking Having formerly spoken of the manner and way how to perform this part of Husbandry we shall now compute the Charges of the first years expence in the whole Plantation which is as followeth Twice plowing harrowing and sowing to have it well done will cost 10 shillings the Acre A lusty Labouring man will hack a quarter of an Acre of the said plowed Land in a day and deserve 12 pence for his dayes work which is 4 shillings the Acre hacking The total Charges for plowing sowing hacking and harrowing a thousand Acres comes to 700 pound The First Distance THe Seed which this Land will take up to be set or planted with Acorns at one foot distance the whole extent of the Land being planted and not counting the loss of ground by the Fence amounts to 51854401 single Acorns or 8102 Bushels 1 Peck and 1 Acorn according to my former account of 800 Acorns to every Gallon and at 2 shillings the
Bushel they come to 810 pound 4 shillings 6 pence Now if you sow the Land with the same seed then there must be 2 Bushels allowed for every Acre more than there was for setting and the quantity to be is 10102 Bushels 1 Peck and 1 Acorn they amount to 1010 pound 4 shillings 6 pence The Charges for setting the Acorns being formerly allowed at 4 shillings the Acre come to 200 pound The Charges for weeding the Plants being also allowed at 10 shillings the Acre come to 500 pound The total Charge for Seed also plowing hacking harrowing setting and weeding amounts to 2210 pound 4 shillings 6 pence The total Charge for seed also plowing hacking harrowing sowing and weeding amounts to 2210 pound 4 shillings 6 pence But if the Land be planted by setting Ashen Keys of this seed there go 96000 into one Bushel and will cost 12 pence the Bushel and the Land will take up 540 Bushel 1 Gallon 1 pint and a half and 151 single seeds amounting to 27 pound 7 farthings The Charges for plowing sowing setting and weeding is the same allowed for the Acorns The total Charge for seed also plowing hacking setting harrowing and weeding amounts to 1327 pound 7 farthings And if you sow the Land with Ashen Keys there must be half a Bushel allowed for every Acre more than was for setting the quantity to be provided comes to 1040 bushels 9 pints a half and 151 single seed and they come to 52 pound 7 farthings The total for seed also plowing hacking harrowing and weeding amounts to 1152 pound 7 farthings This Land to be planted with Chesnuts will take up 51854401 single Nuts and they will cost 2 pence the hundred there being 518544 hundred and 1 Nut come to 4321 pound 4 shillings But if the Land be sowed with the said Nuts then every Acre will require 1500 more than was allowed for setting The whole number will arise to 533544 and one single Nut and at 2 pence the hundred do amount to 4446 pound 4 shillings The total Charge for setting or planting a thousand Acres of Land at a foot distance with Chesnuts amounts to 5721 pound 4 shillings The total Charge of Land to be sowed with the said seed comes to 5646 pound 4 shillings To plant by setting a thousand Acres at a foot distance with Beech seed called Beech Mast there going 76800 single seed into one Bushel the Land will take up 675 bushels 6 quarts and 1 seed and at 3 shillings the bushel according to a former allowance they amount to 101 pound 5 shillings 6 pence 3 farthings If the Land be sowed with the said seed then there should be 2 pecks allowed for every Acre more than was for setting and the total number will arise to 1175 bushels 6 quarts and 1 seed which at 3 shillings the bushel comes to 176 pound 5 shillings 6 pence 3 farthings The total Charge of the Land to be set with Beech-mast amounts to 1501 pound 5 shillings 3 farthings The total Charge of the Beech seed to be sowed on the said Land amounts to 1376 pound 5 shillings 3 farthings All sorts or kind of trees the charges for planting them by seed may be computed according to the rules we have set down Now if any man will be so indiscreet as to plant at this distance with Sets the thousand Acres will then take up 51854401 single Sets or Plants I cannot give you an exact account what they may cost by the hundred because several Countries have different Prices according to the goodness plenty or scarcity of them for in some places good Plants of Oak Ash Beech and Elme are sold for 12 pence the hundred and in other Countries such Sets are worth 18 pence or 2 shillings the hundred to have them no greater than a mans little finger we shall estimate them at 18 pence the hundred and there being 518544 hundred that the Land will take up the same amount to 38890 pound 16 shillings The Setting these Plants is worth 10 shillings the Acre and comes to 500 pound The Weeding of them is worth 10 shillings the Acre which likewise comes to 500 pound The total Charge for Plants also Plowing Hacking Harrowing Setting and Weeding amounts to 40590 pound 16 shillings But if you will plant with Chesnut Sets these Plants may cost 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred there being 518544 hundred and 1 Plant and they come to 64768 pound 1 farthing The total Charge for Chesnut Plants also Plowing Hacking Harrowing and Weeding amounts to 66468 pound 1 farthing We shall not here set down Wages or Sallary allowed the Keeper or Dresser of this great Wood but shall leave the same to the will of the Owner thereof He that undertaketh this so great a Charge ought to be an honest laborious and industrious Person Thus have we considered and given a true Account of all the Charges needfull for plowing sowing and planting Seed or Sets at one foot distance By these total sums you may take notice that it is cheaper to plant with Seeds than Sets also the great charge to plant at so near a distance as one foot which is only in use for Nurseries and transplanting other grounds as hath been said The Second Distance IN the next place we shall consider of the Charges for plowing and planting at 3 foot distance for you are to take notice that we allow not of the sowing of any kind of seed above or more than one foot distance a thousand Acres of Land then allowing 18 foot to the Pearch Woodland measure contains 5760000 square yards and will take up there being 3 Seeds set or planted a foot wide from each other triangular and at the end of each or every yard distance as hath been directed if Acorns 17294403 or 2702 bushels one peck and 3 acorns and at the price formerly allowed which is 2 shillings the bushel they come to 270 pound 4 shillings 6 pence The setting the seed at this distance and the Land harrowed is worth 2 shillings 6 pence the Acre and come to 125 pound The weeding one foot round and between the Plants at 7 shillings the Acre comes to 350 pound The Total for seed also plowing and all other charges amounts to 1445 pound 4 shillings 6 pence If you set or plant Ashen-keys the Land will take up of that seed 180 bushels 9 pints a half and 153 single seed which at 12 pence the bushel come to 9 pound 3 half pence The Charges of setting and weeding is the same with the Acorns and do come to 475 pound The total Charge to plant with the seed of Ash amounts to 1184 pound 3 half pence And if you plant Beech-mast the Land will take up of that seed 225 bushels 6 quarts and 3 seed which amounts to 33 pound 15 shillings 6 pence 3 farthings The total Charge to plant with seed of Beech amounts to 1208 pound 15 shillings 6 pence 3 farthings To plant the said Land with Chesnuts
will take up 17294403 Nuts which come to 172944 hundred and 3 Nuts at 2 pence the hundred they amount to 1441 pound 4 shillings The total Charge to plant with Chesnuts amounts to 2616 pound 4 shillings Now if this Land be planted equally with all the 4 several sorts of seed before mentioned that is of each sort alike number then the Land will take up as followeth Of Acorns 675 bushels a half and 2 quarts at 2 shillings the bushel they come to 67 pound 11 shillings 3 half pence Of Ashen-keys 45 bushels 1 quart and 601 single seed at 12 pence the bushel comes to 2 pound 5 shillings 1 farthing Of Beech-mast 56 bushels 1 peck 3 pints and 1 seed at three shillings the bushel come to 7 pound 8 shillings 10 pence half-penny Of Chesnuts 4323601 single Nuts or reckoned by the hundred 43236 hundred and one Nut at 2 pence the hundred amount to 360 pound 6 shillings The total Charge of plowing hacking harrowing and planting the Land equally with all the aforesaid several sorts of seeds amounts to 1612 pound 11 shillings 1 farthing Now if the Land be planted at the same distance with Sets it will take up 17294403 single Sets arising in the whole to 172944 hundred and 3 Sets which being either Oak Ash Beech or Elme and rated at 18 pence the hundred come to 12970 pound 16 shillings 2 farthings The total Charge to plant with Oak Ash Beech and Elme Sets amounts to 14420 pound 16 shillings 2 farthings But if you plant Chesnut Sets they are rated to cost 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred and amounts to 21618 pound 3 farthings And if the Land be equally planted with all the 5 several sorts of Sets before mentioned that is of each sort a like number then the Land will take up as followeth Of Oak Ash Beech and Elme Sets 138355 hundred and 22 single Sets and at 18 pence the hundred they amount to 10376 pound 12 shillings 10 pence Of Chesnut Sets 34588 hundred and 18 single Sets at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 4273 pound 12 shillings The Charges for setting or planting the aforesaid Plants at this distance is worth 8 shillings the Acre which comes to 400 pound The Charges for weeding of them at 7 shillings the Acre comes to 350 pound The Total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 23068 pound 3 farthings The Total to plant the Land equally with all the 5 several sorts of Sets amounts to 16100 pound 4 shillings 10 pence The Third Distance THe next or third Distance is 4 foot 6 inches or the fourth part of a Pearch Woodland measure Now if the Land be planted as was the 3 foot Distance that is 3 seeds set triangular about 2 foot from each other then the Land will take up 7689603 single seeds And Of the Acorns they will arise to 1201 bushel 2 pecks and 3 Acorns which at 2 shillings the bushel are worth 120 pound 3 shillings Of the Ash seed or Ashen-keys the Land will take up 80 bushels 3 quarts and 603 single seeds which at 12 pence the bushel comes to 4 pound 5 farthings Of Beech-mast or seed of the Beech tree the Land will take up 100 Bushels one Gallon and 3 seeds which at 3 shillings the bushel amount to 15 pound 4 pence half penny Of Chesnuts the Land will require 76896 hundred and 3 Nuts which at 2 pence the hundred amount to 640 pound 16 shillings The Charges for setting these seeds at this Distance is worth 2 shillings the Acre and comes to 100 pound A Labouring man skilfull in such imployments may Hack or Hoe the Weeds or Grass a foot round the Plants also weed the ground clean near unto them and dispatch one acre in 4 dayes he will deserve for his labour 12 pence the day which amounts to 200 pound Of Sets or Plants the Land will take up there being but one single Set planted at this distance 25632 hundred and 1 Plant they are valued if of Oak Ash Beech or Elme at 18 pence the hundred and amount to 1922 pound 8 shillings But Chesnut Plants are rated at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred and amount to 3204 pound 1 farthing The Charges for setting or planting all the said Plants that were transplanted worth 4 shillings the acre comes to 200 pound The Weeding of them is worth 4 shillings the acre which amounts to 200 pound The total Charge to plant at this distance with the Oak seed also plowing hacking harrowing setting and weeding amounts to 1120 pound 3 shillings The total to plant with Ash seed amounts to 1004 pound 5 farthings The total to plant with the Beech seed amounts to 1015 pound 4 pence half penny The total to plant with Chesnuts amounts to 1640 pound 16 shillings The total to plant with Oak Ash Beech or Elme Sets amounts to 2922 pound 8 shillings The total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 4204 pound 1 farthing Now if this Land be equally planted with all the kinds of seed before mentioned then it will take up 7689603 single seeds as we have formerly declared Of Acorns 1922401 or 300 bushels 3 gallons 1 Acorn they come to 30 pound 9 pence at the rate of 2 shillings the Bushel Of Ashen-keys 20 Bushels 1 pint and 900 single seed which at 12 pence the Bushel come to 1 pound 1 farthing Of Beech-mast 25 Bushels 1 quart and 1 seed and at 3 shillings the Bushel they come to 3 pound 15 shillings 1 penny Of Chesnuts 192 24 hundred and 1 Nut and at 2 pence the hundred they come to 160 pound 4 shillings 1 farthing The total Charge thus to plant a thousand Acres of Land with the aforesaid 4 several sorts of seeds amounts to 1194 pound 19 shillings 10 pence half penny And if the Land be equally planted with all the several kinds or sorts of Plants before mentioned it will then take up to plant them single 2563201 single Plants Of the Oak Ash Beech and Elm of each of them 512640 single Sets or 5126 hundred and 40 single Sets and they arise in the whole to 20505 hundred and 60 single Sets and at 18 pence the hundred they amount to 1537 pound 18 shillings 4 pence 3 farthings Of Chesnut Plants 5126 hundred and 41 single Plants at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 639 pound 16 shillings 1 farthing The Charges for Setting and Weeding all these Plants amount to 400 pound Wheat We shall now in this next place give you an account of the charges that will arise by sowing Wheat at this distance between the Plants and is as followeth The Quantity of Wheat allowed to be sowed is 2 Bushels on every Acre then the thousand Acres will take up 2000 Bushels and at 5 shillings the Bushel as it hath formerly been valued amounts to 500 pound The Charges for Weeding the Wheat valued at 4 pence the Acre comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The
Charges for Reaping the Wheat Gathering Gripes Binding the Sheafs and carrying the Corn into the Barn is valued at 6 shillings the Acre and come to 300 pound The Charges for Thrashing and Winnowing the Wheat valued at 10 shillings the Load containing 40 Bushels and reckoning 20 bushels to grow on every Acre of Land comes to 250 pound The Charges in Transplanting the said Wheat to Markets valued at 5 shillings the Load and comes to 125 pound The total Charge for Sowing the Land between the Plants at this distance with Wheat amounts to 1191 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The total Charge equally to Plant a thousand Acres of Land with single Sets at 4 foot 6 inches distance also Plowing Hacing Harrowing and Sowing Wheat between the Plants with all other Charges about Plants and Corn amounts to 4469 pound 7 shillings 9 pence But if the Land be planted at this distance allowing the same number of Sets as you did Seeds then it will take up 7689603 single Sets Of the Oak Ash Beech or Elme 76896 hundred and 3 single Plants and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 5767 pound 4 shillings 2 farthings Of Chesnut Plants the Land will require the same number and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 9612 pound 3 farthings The Charges for Setting or Planting these Plants is worth 5 shillings 6 pence the Acre and comes to 275 pound The Charges for weeding them has been valued worth 4 shillings the Acre and comes to 200 pound The total Charge for Plowing Hacking Harrowing Setting and Weeding at this distance and this way of planting either Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets amounts to 6942 pound 4 shillings 2 farthings The Total this way to plant Chesnut Sets amounts to 10787 pound 3 farthings And if you equally plant all the 5 kinds of Sets in the same quantity of Land and the same number of Plants planted as was in the last Plantation then the Land will take up of Oak Ash Beech and Elm 6151682 single Plants and they arise to 61516 hundred and 82 single Plants and at 18 pence the hundred amount to 4613 pound 15 shillings 2 pence 2 farthings Of Chesnut Plants 15379 hundred and 21 single Plants and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 1922 pound 8 shillings 1 farthing The Charges for Planting and Weeding as they have been valued amounts to 475 pound The total Charge equally to Plant with the aforesaid Sets or Plants of Oak Ash Beech Elms and Chesnut amounts to 7661 pound 3 shillings 2 pence 3 farthings The Fourth Distance THe next or fourth Distance to plant by plowing the Land and there planting Seed and Plants is one Pearch containing 6 yards or 18 foot At this distance we have given directions to plant 4 Seeds and they to be set 4 foot distant making a square figure thus performed the Land will take up of single Seeds or Plants 643204. If you plant Acorns they will arise to 100 bushels 2 pecks and 4 single seeds and at 2 shillings the bushel they come to ten pound one shilling Of the Ash Seed the Land will take up 6 Bushels 5 Gallons 2 Quarts half a Pint and 454 single Seeds and they come at 12 pence the bushel to 6 shillings 8 pence Of the Beech-tree Seed there will be necessary 8 Bushels 3 Gallons half a Pint and 204 single Seeds and at 3 shillings the bushel they come to 1 pound 5 shillings 1 penny 2 farthings Of Chesnuts the Land will take up 6432 hundred and 4 Nuts and at 2 pence the hundred they come to 53 pound 12 shillings Now if the Land be planted with Sets as it was with Seed or to the number of Seed then it will take up Of Oak Ash Beech and Elm or either of them 6432 hundred and 4 Plants and at 18 pence the hundred they amount to 482 pound 8 s. 3 q. Of Chesnut Plants the same number and at a shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 804 pound 1 penny The Charges of setting or planting these Sets at this distance at 4 shillings the Acre come to 200 pound The Charges for planting the seed at 12 pence the Acre come to 50 pound The weeding of all the said Plants for Seed and Sets is worth 2 shillings the Acre and comes to 100 pound The total Charge of Plowing Hacking Harrowing and all other Charges in planting the Oak-seed amounts to 860 pound 1 shilling The Total to plant with the Ash-tree seed amounts to 850 pound 6 shillings 8 pence farthing The Total to plant with the Beech seed amounts to 851 pound 5 shillings 3 half pence The Total to plant with Chesnuts amounts to 903 pound 12 shillings The Total to plant with Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm amounts to 1482 pound 8 shillings 2 farthings The Total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 1804 pound 1 penny And if at this distance the Land be planted with single Sets then it will take up of Oak Ash Beech and Elm or any one of them but 160801 Plants and they being in the whole 1608 hundred and one Plant at 18 pence the hundred comes to 120 pound 12 shillings Of Chesnut Sets the Land will likewise take up 1608 hundred and one Plant and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 201 pound 1 farthing The Charges for setting these Plants at 18 pence the Acre come to 75 pound The weeding of them is worth 12 pence the Acre and comes to 50 pound The total Charge to plant at this distance with single Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm amounts to 845 pound 12 shillings The Total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 1026 pound 1 farthing Now if all these seeds before mentioned be equally planted at this distance the Land will then take up 643204 seeds Of Acorns 160801 and they arising to 25 Bushels 1 Gallon and 1 Acorn at 2 shillings the bushel come to 2 pound 10 shillings 3 pence Of Ashen-keys 1 bushel 5 gallons 3 pints and 301 single seeds and at 12 pence the bushel come to 1 shilling 8 pence Of Beech mast 2 bushels 3 quarts and 1 seed and at 3 shillings the bushel they come to 6 shillings 3 pence 3 farthings Of Chesnuts 160801 single seeds and arising in the tale to 1608 hundred and 1 Nut at 2 pence the hundred come to 13 pound 8 shillings The Charges of setting the Seed and weeding the Plants have been valued and do come to 150 pound The total Charge thus to plant with Seed amounts to 841 pound 6 shillings 2 pence 3 farthings And if the Land be equally planted with the several kind or sorts of Sets before mentioned according to the number of seed it will take up Of the Oak Ash Beech and Elm 514563 single Sets which arise to 5145 hundred and 63 Sets and at 18 pence the hundred come to 385 pound 18 shillings 5 pence farthing Of the Chesnut 128641 single Sets or 1286
hundred and 41 Sets and at 2 shilling 6 pence the hundred they come to 160 pound 16 shillings 1 farthing The Charges of Planting and Weeding the Sets as they have been valued before is 300 pound The total Charge to plant a thousand Acres of Land equally with Sets or Plants at a Pearch distance amounts to 1546 pound 14 shillings 5 pence half penny But if the said several sorts of Plants be equally planted allowing only one single Plant at this last distance before mentioned the Land then will take up Of Oak Ash Beech or Elm 32160 single Plants of each sort which amounts in the whole for the 4 several kinds to 128640 single Plants or 1286 hundred and 40 Plants and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 96 pound 9 shillings 7 pence farthing Of Chesnut Plants 32161 or 321 hundred and 61 Plants and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 40 pound 4 shillings 2 farthings The Charges for setting and weeding these single Plants have before been valued at 125 pound Wheat Now at this distance there may be 2 bushels and a half of Wheat sowed between the Plants on every Acre of Land then the thousand Acres will take up 2500 bushels and at 5 shillings the bushel come to 625 pound The Charges for Weeding the Wheat at 4 pence the Acre comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The Charges of Reaping the Wheat Gathering the Gripes Binding the Sheafs and Carrying the Corn into the Barn is valued because this Crop or Increase is more than that sowed in the last or third Distance at 7 shillings the Acre and come to 350 pound The Charges of Thrashing and Winnowing the Wheat valued at 10 shillings the Load containing 40 bushels and reckoning 25 bushels the Increase or to grow on every Acre of Land comes to 312 pound 10 shillings The Charges in Transporting the said Wheat to Markets at 5 shillings the Load comes to 156 pound 5 shillings The total Charge of sowing the Land with Wheat between the Plants at this distance amounts to 1460 pound 8 shillings 4 pence The total Charge equally to plant with single Sets of Oak Ash Beech Elm and Chesnut at 18 foot distance also plowing hacking harrowing and sowing the Land between the Plants with Wheat and all other charges about Plants and Corn amounts to 2422 pound 1 shilling 11 pence 3 farthings You are to take notice that where we speak of planting for Uunder-wood or sowing Corn the whole Inclosure of Land is to be plowed and the charges of plowing hacking sowing and harrowing is charged in every total account of planting Seed or Sets for Trees or Under-wood The Fifth Distance THe fifth and last distance which we intend to treat of concerning plowing and planting Seed and Plants is two Perch containing 12 yards or 36 foot Seed and Sets thus planted will not have only the benefit of air and sun and much earth for the sap to put forth their roots in but save labour and cost and prevent many casualties in transplanting A thousand Acres planted according to former directions that is in a Plot of ground 4 foot square at this distance you may set 4 Seed the Land will then take up Of Acorns 161604 or 25 bushel 1 peck and 4 acorns and at 2 shillings the bushel they come to 2 pound 10 shillings Of Ashen-keys 1 bushel 5 gallons 3 pints and a half and 354 single seeds and at 12 pence the bushel they come to 1 shilling 8 pence Of Beech-mast 2 bushels 3 quarts half a pint and 204 single seeds and at 3 shillings the bushel they come to 6 shillings 1 penny 3 farthings Of Chesnuts 1616 hundred and 4 Nuts and at 2 pence the hundred they come 13 pound 9 shillings 4 pence The Charges of setting the seed at this distance may reasonably amount to 6 pence the Acre and in the whole comes to 25 pound The Weeding of the Plants is worth 12 pence the Acre and comes to 50 pound The total Charge to plant with Acorns at this distance amounts to 777 pound 10 shillings The total Charge to plant with Ashen-keys amounts to 775 pound 1 shilling 8 pence The Total to plant with the Beech seed amounts to 775 pound 6 shillings 1 penny 3 farthings The Total to plant with Chesnuts amounts to 788 pound 9 shillings 4 pence And if all these several sorts of seed be equally planted the Land will take up of Acorns 40401 or 6 bushels 1 peck 2 quarts and 1 Acorn and at 2 shillings the bushel come to 12 shillings 7 pence half penny Of Beech-mast 5 gallons and 401 single seeds and at 3 shillings the bushel they come to 1 shilling 10 pence 2 farthings Of Ashen-keys 3 gallons 1 quart 3 quarters of a pint and 276 single seeds and at 12 pence the bushel they come to 5 pence Of Chesnuts 404 hundred and 1 Nut and at 2 pence the hundred they come to 3 pound 7 shillings 4 pence The total Charge to plant with the 4 several sorts of seed equally planted amounts to 779 pound 2 shillings 3 pence Now if this Land be planted with Sets according to the number of seeds then it will take up Of Oak Ash Beech and Elm Plants of each or either of them 161604 single Sets or 1616 hundred and 4 Sets and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 121 pound 4 shillings 2 farthings Of Chesnut Sets 1616 hundred and 4 Sets and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred come to 202 pound 1 penny The Planting all the said Sets at this distance is worth 12 pence the Acre and comes to 50 pound The Weeding these Plants is also worth 12 pence the Acre and comes to 50 pound The total to plant at this distance with Oak Ash Beech and Elm Sets amounts to 921 pound 4 shillings 2 farthings The Total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 1002 pound 1 penny And if all these several sorts of Plants be equally planted in the said quantity of Acres then the Land will take up Of Oak Ash Beech or Elm of each sort 32321 single Sets of them altogether 129284 single Sets or 1292 hundred and 84 Sets and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 96 pound 19 shillings 2 pence Of Chesnut Sets 32320 single sets or 323 hundred and 20 Sets and at a shillings 6 pence the hundred comes to 40 pound 8 shillings The Charges for Planting and Weeding as above comes to 100 pound The total Charge equally to Plant the 5 several sorts of plants amounts to 937 pound 7 shillings 2 pence But if at this distance you plant only 1 single set then the Land will take up either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm 40401 single Sets or 404 hundred and 1 Set and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 30 pound 6 shillings Of the Chesnut 40401 single Sets or 404 hundred and 1 Set and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 50
pound 10 shillings 1 farthing The Charges for planting these Sets at 6 pence the Acre come to 25 pound The Weeding of them is worth 4 pence the Acre and comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The total Charge to plant at this distance with one single Set of Oak Ash Beech or Elm amounts to 771 pound 19 shillings 4 pence The total to plant with Chesnut Sets amounts to 792 pound 3 shillings 4 pence farthing Now if these single Sets be equally planted the Land will then take up of Oak Ash Beech and Elm of each sort 8080 single Sets of them all together 32320 single Sets or 323 hundred and 20 Sets and at 18 pence the hundred they come to 24 pound 4 shillings 9 pence 2 farthings Of Chesnut Sets 8081 or reckoning them by the hundred they arise to 80 hundred and 81 single Sets and at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred they come to 10 pound 2 shillings 1 farthing The Charges for Planting and Weeding as afore 41 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The total equally to plant with single Sets amounts to 776 pound 1 penny 3 farthings And if you sow the Land between the Plants with Wheat at this distance there will be 3 bushels allowed to be sowed on each or every Acre in the whole 300 bushels and at 5 shillings the bushel it comes to 750 pound The Charges for Weeding the Wheat at 4 pence the Acre comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The Charges of Reaping the Wheat gathering Gripes binding the Sheafs and carrying the Corn into the Barn is valued at 8 shillings the Acre and comes to 400 pound The Charges of Thrashing and Winnowing the Wheat at 10 shillings the Load containing 40 bushels and reckoning 30 bushels the Increase or to grow on every Acre of Land comes to 375 pound The charges in transporting the said Wheat to Markets at 5 shillings the Load comes to 187 pound 5 shillings The total Charge of sowing the Land between the Plants with Wheat amounts to 1728 pound 18 shillings 4 pence The total Charge equally to plant with single Sets of Oak Ash Beech Elm and Chesnut at this distance which is 36 foot also Plowing Hacking Harrowing Sowing the Land between the Plants with Wheat and all other Charges belonging to Plants and Corn amounts to 2504 pound 18 shillings 5 pence 3 farthings We might give you an account of the charges for Seed-wheat in every total Sum and apportion the quantity of Corn to the quantity of Land between the Plants for where the greater number of Plants grow in that ground must the less quantity of Corn be sowed the difference is but small and I am unwilling to blot paper with more particulars than are needful therefore at 3 distances only you have a particular and total account of the Charges for sowing Wheat Thus have we endeavoured to give a sufficient account of the first years Charges by plowing sowing setting or planting seed or Plants in this Plot of good Land being a rich Clay and moist Earth But this must not be a Rule of Charges to plant all Lands by for several Countries have several Prices in all Materials belonging to Husbandry and as is the lightness and goodness stiffness and badness of the Earth so are the Prices more or less In rich moist Sands or mixed Earths which is likewise good ground to plant such plants in 2 Yoak of Oxen in such ground will plow more in one day than 4 Yoak in a stiffe heavy Clay or such kind of Earth There are many wealthy Husbandmen in Hartfordshire that plow the greater part of their Land with one Man and two Horses who both holds the Plow and drives the Cattel and in other places one Man and three Horses will plow an Acre and a half in a day when in the same Parish two Men and six Horses cannot plow so much It has been my observation that in Common Fields some Plows with 4 Horses make a better dayes work than others of a far greater strength when yet there has been only the breadth of a lay Bank between them and from no other reason but the several kinds of Earth Now as we have given an account of the Charges in Planting by Plowing Sowing and Setting Seed and Plants for Timber-trees and Under-woods I shall likewise give an account of the Charges in planting the same quantity of Land by Digging or Delving as the labour of Man and Cattel in Plowing is more or less according to the goodness or badness of the Earth so is it likewise in Delving a man will earn more by delving some Land for a penny the Rod than other at 3 pence yet both grounds alike plain and level and without incumbrances Also it is to be considered that to delve for sowing Corn or ordinary seed requires but one Spades grast in depth but extraordinarily where the upper part of the earth hath been worn out and that there is good earth deeper also to cleanse the ground from stones or strong weeds which have long roots and deep or such like annoyances then it will require two Spades depth There is no Plant that doth usually grow in England requires a deeper Mould than these we treat of but because we suppose the Land that is made choice of to be a well qualified earth we shall therefore adventure at one Spades depth to plant as aforesaid and because it hath not been plowed or delved for many years past or it may be never also Woodland measure being very large it is worth delving four pence the Square Rod Pole or Pearch allowing 18 foot to the Pearch and one Pearch square contains 324 foot of ground Having considered the charges in planting seed and plants by Plowing and also given an account of every particular charge as was thought needfull we shall therefore in this following Account of Charges in planting by digging or delving not trouble you with many particulars but as briefly as may be speak to all those several Distances mentioned in our last Accounts The First Distance THis Distance is one foot the Seed and Plants to be set at this thickness will require the whole Plot of Land to be delved and at 4 pence the Pearch it comes to 2666 pound 13 shillings 4 pence the Land containing 160000 square pearch or 5184000â— foot Now the same quant or number of Seeds or Plants this Parcel of delved ground will require as that Land which was plowed also the charges of setting and weeding will be the same and likewise all other charges except plowing and hacking The Charges for Sowing the seed valued at 4 pence the Acre comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence For Harrowing the Land valued at 8 pence the Acre comes to 33 pound 6 shillings 8 pence And to save the labour of looking back into the former accounts you shall have the particulars as followeth If the Land be sowed with Acorns the Account stands thus One foot distance
For Delving the Land at 14 s. the acre 0700 00 00 For 80 bushels 3 quarts and 603 single seeds of the Ash at 12 d. the bushel 0004 00 01 ¼ or setting the Seed and raking the Land at 2 s. the acre 0100 00 00 or weeding the plants at 4 s. the acre 0200 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1004 00 01 2 4 An Account of Charges the Land planted with Beech seed  li. s. d. For 100 bushel 1 gallon and 3 seeds of Beech-mast at 3 s. the bushel 0015 00 04 ½ For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For setting the Seed raking the Land and weeding the Plants 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1015 00 04 ½ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnuts For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 76896 hundred and 3 single Chesnuts at 2 d. the hund 0640 16 00 For setting the Seed raking the Land and weeding the Plants 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1640 16 00 An Account of Charges all the 4 sorts of seed equally planted For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 100 bushels 1 gallon of Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 0010 00 03 For 6 bushels 5 gallons 5 pints and 300 single Ashen-keys at 13 pence the bushel 0000 06 10 For 8 bushel 3 gallons and 800 Seeds of Beech-mast at 3 s. the bushel 0001 05 01 ½ For 6408 hundred and 1 Chesnut at 2 pence the hundred 0053 08 00 For setting the Seed raking the Land and weeding the Plants 0300 00 00 The Total Charge amounts to 1065 00 02 ½ And if the Land be planted with Sets at this distance as was the seed and to the number of seed then it will take up 7689603 single Sets or Plants and the account is as followeth An account of Charges the Land planted with Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets  li. s. d. For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 76896 hundred and 3 sets either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm at 18 pence the hundred 5767 04 00 ½ For planting and weeding the said Sets at 4 s. 6 d. the acre 0425 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 6892 04 00 ½ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnut Sets For Delving the Land at 14 shillings the Acre 0700 00 00 For 76896 hundred and 3 Sets of Chesnuts at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 9612 00 00 ¾ For setting and weeding the said Sets 0425 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 10737 00 00 ¾ An Account of Charges equally to plant the 5 sorts of Sets For Delving the Land 00700 00 00 For 61516 hundred and 82 single Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm at 18 d. the hundred 04613 15 01 ½ For 15379 hundred and 21 single Sets of Chesnuts at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 01922 08 00 ¼ For Planting and Weeding all the said Sets 00425 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 07661 03 01 ¾ An Account of Charges to plant only a single Set in every Plot of ground at this distance there being delved 2563201 square Plots For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 25632 hundred and 1 Plant either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm at 18 pence the hundred 1922 08 00 For Planting the Sets at 4 shillings the Acre 0200 00 00 For weeding the land a foot round the Sets at 2s the Acre 0100 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 2922 08 00 An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnut Sets  l. s. d. For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 25632 hundred and 1 Plant of Chesnut at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 3204 00 00 ¼ For planting and weeding the said Sets 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 4204 00 00 ¼ An Account of Charges the foresaid 5 sorts of Sets equally planted For Delving the Land 0700 00 00 For 20505 hundred and 60 Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm at 18 d. the hundred 1537 18 04 ½ For 5126 hundred and 41 Sets of Chesnut at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 0641 01 03 ¼ For setting and weeding the plants 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 3178 19 07 ¾ The reason why we allow a greater price by the perch for delving these square Plots mentioned in the last two Distances than was at first when the whole Inclosure of Land was delved is because these several parcels of Land require much more care and time than the other Now if you intend to sow or plant Corn among the Plants at this last Distance then the whole Inclosure of Land must be delved for the Plow will not have room to turn between the Plants In our former accounts of Charges for plowing the Land the seed we made choice of as the best Corn to grow among the Plants is Wheat the quantity to be sowed upon one Acre was 3 Bushel but because a great part of the Land is taken up for the Plants to grow in there is but 2 Bushels allowed for an Acre where the Plants are planted at this distance I shall give you only one Account of charges for Corn at this time and likewise in each of the other two Distances we are to speak of An Account of Charges the Land planted with one single Set in each Plot of Land delved either of Chesnut Ash or Withey they being equally planted that is as many of one sort as of the other and the Land sowed between the Plants with Wheat  l. s. d. For Delving the Land at 4 pence the pearch 2666 13 04 For 17088 hundred of Ash and Withey Sets at 18 pence the hundred 1281 12 00 For 8544 hundred and one Set of Chesnut at 2 shillings 6 pence the hundred 1068 00 00 ¼ For planting the Sets and weeding them 0300 00 00 For 2000 Bushels of seed-Wheat at 5 s. the bushel 0500 00 00 For sowing the Wheat and harrowing the Land at 2 shillings the acre 0100 00 00 For weeding the Wheat at 4 pence the acre 0016 13 04 For reaping gathering Gripes binding the Sheafs and carrying the Corn into the Barn at 6 s. the acre 0300 00 00 For thrashing and winowing the Wheat at 10 s. the load containing 40 bushels and reckoning 20 bushels the Increase to grow on every Acre of Land and counting the number of Acres in the Inclosure 0250 00 00 For transporting the said Wheat to Market if not above 7 miles from the Barn or place of lading 5 s. the load 0125 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 6607 18 08 ¼ Now because this Woodland measure is larger than the Statute Acre or Land in Tillage and the labour in sowing the Corn Harrowing Raking Weeding Reaping Gathering Binding and Loading will require much care and time by reason of the Plants growing so near together therefore to make good the time and answer the care in our accounts of Charges we reckon the whole Inclosure of Land by the Acre as if no Plants were growing therein And you may please to take
notice that this account of Charges by Corn is not a Rule for all Countries because the Wages of Men and Cattel and the prices of Corn do much differ as was said before yet we have gone as near the most usual rates as possibly could be and which may serve for most Shires and Counties in England Scotland Ireland and Wales being not within our List. Also the account of charges about Corn may be considered in or added to any other account of charges my meaning is That if the Land be planted with seed of Trees as Acorns Beech-mast or any other kind the account of charges for Wheat may be added in the Total thereby to know the charges of planting Wheat with the Seed of Trees Secondly where the Land is plowed and planted with Sets or Seed of Trees at any distance the account for Wheat may likewise be added to the Total and you will know the charges to plant Wheat when the Land is plowed as where the Land is delved This being easie to understand does not require farther demonstration I shall now according to my former method give you all the Totals by themselves for Sets Seed and Corn planted at this distance The Totals of several Accounts for 3 seed of one kind planted in each Plot of Land delved at 4 foot 6 inches distance  li. s. d. Acorns the Total amounts to 1120 03 00 Ash-seed the Total amounts to 1004 00 01 ¼ Beech-seed the Total amounts to 1015 00 04 ½ Chesnuts the Total amounts to 1640 16 00 All the 4 sorts of seed equally planted the Total amounts to 1065 00 02 ¼ The Totals of several Accounts for 3 Sets planted in each Plot. Oak Ash Beech or Elm the Total amounts to 6892 04 00 ½ Chesnut Sets the Total amounts to 10737 00 00 ¾ All the five sorts of Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 7661 03 01 ¾ The Totals of several Accounts for 1 Set planted at the same distance  li. s. d. Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets the Total amounts to 2922 08 00 Chesnut Sets the Total amounts to 4204 00 00 2 4 All the 5 sorts of single Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 3178 19 07 ¾ All the 4 sorts of seed equally planted and the land sowed between the Plants with Wheat the Total amounts to 7672 18 10 ¾ One single Set either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm in each Plot and the Land sowed with Wheat the Total amounts to 9530 06 08 2 4 One Set of Chesnut planted and the Land sowed with Wheat amounts to 10811 18 08 ¼ All the several sorts of Sets equally planted in each Plot one and the Land sowed with Wheat between the Plants the Total amounts to 9786 18 04 This Account of Charges by sowing Wheat among the Plants does rise to so great a summ that it may discourage a young Planter but if his patience would guide him to the account of profit or improvement there may be hopes of incouragement again And that no miscarriage may happen in so good a work I shall in this place state the Account of Charges and Profit by planting Sets and Wheat in a Thousand Acres of Land and the Plants planted 4 foot 6 inches distant one from the other In Page 89 and 90 the total summ of Improvement by Ash Withey and Chesnut Plants planted at this distance last mentioned and allowing 10 or 11 years growth amounts to the summ of 17651 pound 9 s. 4 d. 3 farthings Also the Land sowed with Wheat 3 years together and the yearly increase arising to 20 Bushels growing on every Acre and being sold for 5-shillings the Bushel does come to 15000 pound these two sums added together the Total amounts to 32651 pound 9 shillings 4 pence 3 farthings Now there will arise from every Load of Wheat which is five Quarters or 40 Bushels 32 Bushels of Chaffe or Hulls Then the 1500 Load of Wheat will yield 48000 Bushels of Chaff worth in the Barn or place of thrashing 3 pence the bushel heap and thrust which comes to 600 pound Also every Load of Wheat will yield 2 Load of Straw worth in the thrashing place 5 shillings the Load and comes to 750 pound Add all these sums together and they amount to 34001 pound 9 shillings 4 pence 3 farthings The first years charges in planting the single Sets of Ash Withey and Chesnuts also Wheat sowed as by the account in page 106 doth come to 6607 pound 18 shillings 8 pence farthing The land between the Plants must be twice delved and may be as often sowed with Wheat after the first years planting whereupon all the former charges about the wheat also will continue 2 years more and the land to be delved for the Wheat there being 128355 perch a half and 14 foot at 4 pence the perch comes to 2139 pound 5 shillings 2 pence and the next or third years delving amounts to the same summ they both come to 4278 pound 10 shillings 4 pence farthing The Remainder of land which is 31644 perch a quarter and 67 foot is the land allotted for the Plants to grow in The two years charge for seed-Wheat also sowing raking weeding reaping gathering binding and carting come to 2583 pound 6 shillings 8 pence Now at 10 or 11 years growth all the foresaid plants must be cut down the charges for cutting and converting them to their several uses as shreading the Hop-poles making the Fagots and such like the workmanship may be worth 10 shillings the Acre which comes to 500 pound We shall also allow for making the hoops and transportation of them 12 shillings the thousand and there being 1282 thousand and 2 hoops comes to 1009 pound 4 shillings We shall also allow for the Rent of the Land and Interest for the forbearance of the Rent 7 years there being no Interest allowed for the Rent during the 3 years time the land was sowed with Wheat because of the profit of the Increase Now the land is valued to be worth 20 shillings the Acre yearly rent then the 10 years Rent for the thousand Acres comes to 10000 pound the 7 years Interest for the said Land after the rate of 6 pound per Cent. comes to 503 pound 12 shillings 6 pence 2 farthings We shall also allow Interest for the moneys disbursed in planting and is as followeth The Charges for Delving the Land which the Plants grow in there being 31644 perch a quarter and 67 foot at 4 pence the perch comes to 527 pound 8 s. 1 d. ¾ The 10 years Interest for this last Sum of Charges after the rate of 6 pound per Cent. comes to 369 l. 15 s. 10 d. ½ The Moneys disbursed for Sets or Plants comes to 2649 l. 12 s. 1 farthing The 10 years Interest for the Moneys paid for the said Sets comes to 1896 l. 1 s. 5 d. ½ Now the Land between the Plants containing 128356 square perch is worth 10 shillings the Acre to ly for
8 bushels 3 gallons and 4 single seeds of the Beech at 3 s. the bushel 001 05 01 ½ For setting the Seed raking the Land and weeding at 3 s. the acre 150 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 283 12 02 ½ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnuts For Delvsng the Land 132 07 01 For 6432 hundred and 4 Nuts at 2 pence the hundred 053 12 01 For Setting the Seed Raking and Weeding 150 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 335 19 02 An Account of Charges the 4 sorts of seed equally planted  l. s. d. For Delving the Land 132 07 01 For 25 bushels a gallon and 1 Acorn at 2 s. the bushel 002 10 03 For 6 pecks 7 pints and 301 single seed of the Ash at 1 s. the bushel 000 01 08 For 2 bushels 3 quarts and 1 seed of Beech-mast at 3 s. the bushel 000 06 03 ¼ For 1608 hundred and 1 seed of Chesnut at 2 d. the hund 013 0â— 00 For Setting the seed Raking and Weeding at 3 s. the acre 150 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 298 13 03 ¼ But if the Land be planted with Sets as it was with Seed or to the number of Seed then it will take up at this distance 643204 single Sets and the accounts are as followeth An Account of Charges the Land planted with Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets For Delving the Land 0132 07 01 For 6432 hundred and 4 Sets either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm at 1 s. 6 d. the hundred 0482 08 00 ¾ For Planting and Weeding the Plants at 6 s. the acre 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 0914 15 01 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnut Sets For Delving the Land 0132 07 01 For 6432 hundred and 4 Chesnut Plants at 2 s 6 d the hundred 0784 00 01 ¼ For Planting and Weeding the Sets 0300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 1216 07 02 ¼ An Account of Charges the 5 sorts of Sets equally planted  li. s. d. For Delving 7940 pearch ¾ and 13 foot of land at 4 d. the pearch 132 07 01 For 5145 hundred and 64 of Oak Ash Beech and Elm Sets at 18 pence the hundred 385 17 06 ¾ For 1286 hundred and 40 Chesnut Sets at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 160 16 00 For Planting and Weeding the Sets 300 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 979 00 07 ¾ Now if at this distance in each Plot of ground you reserve to grow for Timber only one Plant and pluck or draw up the other three as has been directed or that you plant one single Set at this distance making use of the Plots by planting Corn therein then the Land between the Plants may be plowed and if sowed with Wheat the quantity allowed for every Acre counting as formerly will be two bushels and a half the Land then will take up there being 950 Acres 59 pearch and 68 foot 2375 bushels 2 pecks at 5 s. the bushel amounts to 593 pound 17 shillings 6 pence The Plowing of this Land according to our former accounts of Charges by plowing after the rate of 12 shillings the Acre comes to 570 pound 4 shillings 5 pence At this distance we shall allow the Increase of Wheat to be 25 bushels growing on every Acre of Land The Charges of Weeding the Wheat also Reaping Gathering Binding Housing Thrashing Winowing Transporting to Markets c. allowing the same we did in the Account stated comes to 835 pound 8 shillings 4 pence the particulars are as followeth An Account of Charges by a thousand Acres of Land planted with single Sets either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm and sowed with Wheat between the Plants  li. s. d. For Delving 7940 pearch ¾ and 13 foot of Land at 4 d. the pearch 0132 07 01 For Plowing Hacking Sowing and Harrowing 950 acres 1 quarter 19 pearch and 68 foot of Land with Wheat at 12 s. the Acre 0570 04 05 For 1608 hundred and 1 of Oak Ash Beech or Elm Sets at 18 pence the hundred 0120 12 00 For 2500 Bushels of Seed-wheat at 5 shillings the bushel 06â—5 00 00 For setting and weeding the Plants as they have been valued 0125 00 00 For Weeding the Wheat at 4 d. the acre 0016 13 04 For Reaping Gathering Binding the Sheafs and Carrying the Corn into the Barn there being more Corn than the last distance 7 s. the ace 0350 00 00 For Thrashing and Winowing the Wheat at 10 s. the Load containing 40 bushels and reckoning the Increase 25 bushels to grow on every Acre and counting the numbers of Acres that is sowed 0312 10 00 For Carrying the said Wheat to Market at 5 s. the Load or 40 bushels 0156 05 00 The total Charge amounts to 2408 11 10 An Account of Charges the Land planted with single Chesnut Sets and Wheat sowed between the Plants For Delving 7940 pearch ¾ and 13 foot of Land at 4 d. the pearch 0132 07 01 For Plowing Sowing Hacking and Harrowing 950 acres ¼ 19 pearch 68 foot 0570 04 05 For 1608 hundred and one of Chesnut Plants at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 0201 00 00 ¼ For planting weeding the said Plants at 2 s. 6 d. the acre 0125 00 00 For 2500 bushels of seed at 5 s. the bushel 0625 00 00 For Weeding the Wheat 0016 13 04 For Reâ—ping Binding and all Charges till brought into the Bâ—rn 0350 00 00 For Thrashing Winowing and all Charges to the Market as by the last account 0468 15 00 The total Charge amounts to 2488 19 10 ¼ An Account of Charges the foresaid 5 several sorts of single Plants equally planted and Wheat sowed between the Plants  li. s. d. For Delving the Land cont 7940 pearch ¾ and 13 foot 0132 07 01 For Plowing and Sowing with Wheat the other part of the Land 0570 04 05 For 1286 hundred and 40 single Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm 0096 09 07 For 3216 hundred and 1 Plant of Chesnut at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 0040 04 00 ¼ For Setting and Weeding the said Plants 0125 00 00 For 2500 bushels of Seed-wheat at 5 s. the bushel 0625 00 00 For Weeding the Wheat 0016 13 04 For Reaping Binding and all Charges till brought into the Barn 0350 00 00 For Thrashing and all Charges to the Markets 0468 15 00 The total Charge amounts to 2424 13 05 ¼ Using my accustomed Method all the Total Sums will appear to your present view and they are as followeth The Totals of the several Accounts for Seed set or planted at 18 foot distance Acorns the Total amounts to 0292 08 1 Ash-seed the Total amounts to 0282 13 9 ¼ Beech-seed the Total amounts to 0283 12 2 ½ Chesnuts the Total amounts to 0335 19 2 All the 4 several sorts of Seed equally planted the Total amounts to 0298 12 3 ¼ The Totals for 4 Plants planted in each Plot of Land delved Oak Ash Beech or Elm the Total
all the 5 sorts of Sets equally planted and Wheat sowed between them For Delving and Plowing the Land 625 18 0 ¼ For 129284 of Oak Ash Beech and Elm single Plants 096 19 2 For 32320 Chesnut Plants 040 08 0 For Planting and Weeding all the said Sets 100 00 0 For Seed-Wheat 740 16 3 For Weeding the said Wheat and all Charges into the Barn 411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2571 08 0 ¼ Now if you plant a thousand Acres of Land with single Sets at the last distance before mentioned that is to say 36 foot space of ground left between each single Plant and 2 foot square of land delved for each Plant to grow in The Accounts are as followeth An Account of Charges the Land planted with single Sets either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm and sowed with Wheat  li. s. d. For Delving 498 square pearch 3 quarters and 9 foot of Land 0008 06 03 For Plowing 996 Acres ¾ 21 pearch and 72 foot of Land 0598 02 06 For 40401 single Sets either of Oak Ash Beech or Elm 0020 04 00 For Planting and Weeding the said Plants at 10 d. the acre 0041 13 04 For Seed-Wheat and all Charges bringing it into the Barn 1152 11 07 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 0555 11 03 The total Charge amounts to 2376 08 11 An Account of Charges the Land planted with Chesnut Sets For Delving Plowing Sowing Hacking and Harrowing 0606 08 09 For 40401 single Plants of Chesnut at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 0050 10 00 ¼ For Planting and Weeding the said Sets 0041 13 04 For Seed-Wheat also Weeding the Wheat and all Charges into the Barn 1152 11 07 For Thrashing and all Charges to the Markets 0555 11 03 The total Charge amounts to 2406 14 11 ¼ An Account of Charges all the 5 sorts of Sets equally planted and Wheat sowed on the said Land  li. s. d. For Delving and Plowing the Land 0606 08 9 For 323 hundred and 20 single Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm 0024 04 9 ½ For 80 hundred and 81 single Sets of Chesnut 0010 02 0 ¼ For Planting and Weeding the said Sets at 10 d. the acre 0041 13 4 For Seed-Wheat 0740 16 3 For Weeding the said Wheat and all Charges bringing it into the Barn 0411 15 4 For Thrashing the said Wheat and all Charges to the Markets 0555 11 3 The total Charge amounts to 2390 11 8 ¾ It may be objected that on those Lands where there is planted the least number of Sets there ought to be a greater quantity of Corn sowed than where the Plants are set thicker and consequently a greater Crop or Increase of Wheat expected also an account given thereof which is not performed or mentioned in the accounts For answer we say That on those Lands where Corn is ordered to be sowed there is but one Plant allowed to grow for Timber and at the ends of each or every Distance of Land proportioned between the Plants All the rest are appointed for planting other Lands and to be pulled or drawn up at or about three years after the first planting Secondly in that short time or term of years the Plants will be but of small growth therefore not much prejudice or hinder the growth of Corn neither will the Corn hurt them if ordered as has been directed Thirdly the difference is so small that I shall not blot paper by taking notice thereof and to answer every Objection nice Scruple or Question is more fit for such that delight rather in Disputation than Improvement we shall therefore proceed and according to our former custome give you the Totals of the several Accounts mentioned by planting at this fifth or last Distance and they are as followeth The Totals of several Accounts for Seed of Trees planted and the said Land sowed with Wheat  l. s. d. Chesnuts the Total amounts to 2422 10 02 ¼ Acorns the Total amounts to 2411 11 04 ¼ Beech-seed the Total amounts to 2409 07 02 ½ Ash-seed the Total amounts to 2409 02 06 All the 4 sorts of Seed equally planted the Total amounts to 2413 02 09 ¾ The Totals of 4 Sets planted in each Plot of Land Oak Ash Beech or Elm the Total amounts to 2555 04 10 ¼ Chesnut Sets the Total amounts to 2636 00 11 ¼ All the 5 sorts of Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 2571 08 00 ¼ The Totals of one single Set planted in each Plot of Land and Wheat sowed between the Plants Oak Ash Beech or Elm the Total amounts to 2376 08 11 Chesnut Sets the Total amounts to 2406 14 11 ¼ All the 5 sorts of Sets equally planted the Total amounts to 2390 11 08 ¾ We have not set down in all the Distance every particular Account of Charges or Expence being unwilling to repeat the same thing over and over again but refer the Reader to the Account stated in the third Distance and Planting for Under-woods All that hath been spoken of Planting Also the Accounts of Charges and Profit are to be Understood as meant of the whole Land or Utmost of the Plot containing a thousand Acres the square whereof is 400 pearch We might also here give an account of the Charges and Profit that may arise by Planting the said Land inclosed with the Fence before mentioned the ground allowed for breadth of the Ditch and the Bank or earth cast out for the thorns to grow in was 9 foot which is half a pearch then the square of the Land within the Fence to be planted contains 399 pearch and ariseth in the whole Plot by the acre to 995 acres one perch The loss of land by reason of the Fence or the Land taken up by the Fence being 4 acres 3 quarters and 39 pearch Now the way and manner how this Plot or quantity of Land is to be planted we have already declared and by the computation of one single Acre and a thousand Acres which I have demonstrated at large may be known the Charges and Profit arising by planting 5 10 100 10000 or any number of Acres whatsoever I should here have concluded this most delightful Subject of Profit acceptable if not to all yet to the greatest part of the World notwithstanding to follow the advice of the Poet who is willing that Pleasure also have a share in all discourses of this Nature and to render my labour if possible agreable to such o're whom the first has no influence unless accompanied with the latter I shall endeavour by joyning both here to make the Desart you have already past only appear as a rugged Entrance into the Pleasant Land and by the Delights which I have reserved in my Garden of Pleasure hope to make you forget all the troubles and unevenness of your former passage ENGLAND'S IMPROVEMENT REVIVED THE FIFTH BOOK The Argument In this Book are Directions
Stopping Overflowing of the Gall which causeth Choler and produceth the Jaundice and such like Lung-sick Maggots Redwater Fever â—cab or Itch Wildfire which is a very infectious sickness and will indanger whole Flocks I might here set down or prescribe several Antidotes against all the former Diseases but it is not my Task at this time Now as Sheep are veâ—y profitable Cattel and yet incident to many Diseases and therefore subject to loss so are Conies yet by the prudent care of the Shepherd and Warrener all these losses in both may be prevented for in Conies there are but 3 adherent Diseases which are Fevers Madness and the Rot but they have many Enemies as Tumblers Lurchers Greyhounds Mungrels Foxes Polecats Stotes Weasels Wild-cats House-cats and such like also other Vermin as Hauks Buzards Ringtails Kites Oules Ravens Crows and many more yet a greater than any of these is Man with all his Engins as Guns Bows Snares Ferrets Hayes Pursnets and the like Now considering all these a Warrener may charge to his account of profit and loss at least the one third part of every years Breed of Rabbets and if he save two parts of three it will sufficiently pay the Rent of the Land and return good profit into his Purse We should here have set down the several Receipts to Cure and prevent the Diseases in Conies with the manner and way of keeping and feeding them but especially designing the Improvement of this little Plot by other ways as well as that I proceed On the South-west side of the Dwelling-house and flanking the South Point of the Kitchen Garden and about the middle Distance between the said Point and North-east side of the South-west Grove just opposite to the Warren shall be made the quantity of 10 Acres of Land or 40 Perch square of ground into a Fish-pond this Water shall be kept in the nature of a Decoy but not absolutely so because it is an improper place being among Woods or the Wood growing so near unto it for the best decoy Ponds are in Champion Fenn Countries In the middle of this our Decoy Pond shall be made an Oval or round Island containing one Acre of Land and in the middle of this Island shall be built a round house 30 foot over or 90 foot about This House shall be one intire-Room 20 foot high built with heart of Oak the Roof of the said House would be covered with the best sort of Slait The other part of the House being built thick with Timber then the space between the said Timber shall be made up or inclosed with strong Wyer in the manner of a Bird-cage and the use of the said Cage or Aviary is to keep all kinds of singing and whistling Birds Through the middle of the Floor of the said House shall run a small stream of Water which may pass in and out through a leaden Pipe This water is not only for the Birds to drink but also to wash and bath themselves in There must be made likewise in this Aviary several Tables and convenient places with troughs to put their several seeds and food in also Perches or places to roost or perch on and they must be under the roof of the said House In 4 equal parts round the out side of the Aviary shall be built 4 Seats in the form of an Arbor or half Arbor the length of the said Seats would be about 6 foot both ends of two of the Seats must be planted with Holly or Holme Plants and the other two Seats are to be planted with Ivy and those Plants are to grow up and cover the top of the Seats by closing together and so become an Arbor Round the Island and about 3 foot from the water side must be planted at every 9 foot distance of land 4 Holly or Holme Plants and they must be set 4 square and 18 inches one from the other These bushes must be kept as shrubs by often cutting of them and not suffered to grow above 4 foot high but the 4 Plants are to grow that they may joyn close together on the top also round the sides to the bottom or ground as one Bush leaving only one small hole that the Ducks may go in at to lay their Eggs. This performed the bushes will make a gallant show and are of good use to save the Decoys Eggs from Crows Magpies and such like Vermin Round the outside of the Pond and Island would be planted with Reed such as usually grow on the sides of great Rivers or in the Fenn Countries The Stock of decoy Ducks constantly kept in this Pond shall be about 60 pair the Eggs and Breed of them may be worth 20 pound yearly besides that which may be gained by other advantages they bring in Moreover this Pond shall be stored with 2000 young Fish or Fâ—y of Carp Bream Tench and Pearch but I shall advise to put in a greater number of Carps than of all the other 3 kinds if 100 Eels be cast in they will not much prejudice the other Fish There may be likewise cast in good store of Gudgeon Loch Dace and Roch which are good prey and food for the greater sort of Fish and will make good sport and be a profitable Recreation for such as delight in Angling And because we have not feeding for these Carps as for those about the Warren therefore all the bottom and banks of the Pond would be paved with flot grass which naturally grows under water for it is a great feeder of fish Now about five years after the Pond is stored the Fish may be taken and will yield to be sold if not above 30 miles from London 80 pound also there may be left or reserved a sufficient Stock against the next Fishing season which may be about 5 years after Next to be considered and presented to view is a Dove-house which would be built in the middle of the Barn yard this House is not to be stored or stocked with ordinary wild or house Pigeons but with those called Carriers for we shall have of our ordinary wild Pigeons breed in the Woods as Ring-doves Stock-doves Turtle Doves and such like but those called Carriers the original of them came first out of Asia although many hundred are now kept in and about London and because they are known but to few people we shall tell you why they are so called and declare the use and profit of them In several Towns and Harbours bordering on the Seas and now under the Command of the Turk to omit particulars we shall mention one for all In Aleppo several persons keep these Pigeons in Houses built for the same purpose and do make the same profit of them as is made by Post Horses of these Pigeons there is of several Colours as white black and blew as also all these colours mixed as black and white blew and white motley dunn and kite-colour Such Ships as trade in those parts when they set sail
or go to sea the Captain Merchant or any of the Company may hire of these Pigeons one two or three or as many as they may have occasion for according to their Voyage and in the Ship there is a Room built to keep them Now in the Voyage at sea if the Ship encounter an Enemy or that by ill weather they are forced ashore on rock or sand or spend a Mast or have split a sail or if any business be forgot that should or may be done and such like then they or either of them writing their will or mind in fine paper provided for the same purpose and making it up as a Letter do tye it about the body of the Pigeon under the Wings and turn her out of the Ship now by nature these Birds being very strong of flight immediately make homewards from whence they came and he that keeps them taking an account in his book what colour and the number are delivered to every Ship does often search his Dove-house and the Letters he finds about any of them are speedily sent or delivered according to directions Now the reasons why we stock our Dove house with these kind of Pigeons is first because they have a greater and more plum round body than our English Dove-house Pigeons Secondly they are stronger and quicker of flight therefore will get their food if to be had in England Thirdly they are more shy and subtle and will eschew and free themselves from Snares Nets and Guns But many men object against Pigeons and say they are great devourers of Corn Our Answer is that in Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire and many other Countries where is the greatest Flights of Pigeons there they have the greatest Crops of Corn Secondly Pigeons do not feed on Corn covered except part of it be visible And though it be the opinion of most Husbandmen for want of better Judgment that Corn lying on the ground will take root grow and thrive as that under ground which if so then why do most Corn Countries excepting Clays Marle or other stiff grounds sow their seed under furrow or before the Plow covering the seed by the Plow as aforesaid it is not only to prevent Vermin from devouring and carrying the Corn away which is very good husbandry but also they have experience that if the seedâ—ly above ground and not well covered although it may grow to blade stem and ear yet shall not kernel or produce seed for in great drought the Sun will not only scorch the Seed Stem and all above ground but also draw up the moistness of the earth deeper than such roots can extend themselves because the seed lying above or very shallow under the earth is subject to all weathers Much rain will be hurtful by washing the fatness and good of the earth deeper into the ground than the roots will reach unto and now by reason of the foresaid accidents the spirit of the seed is so much weakned that it cannot prosper as the other Seed The great enemies to new sown Corn are Field Rats and Mice and Rooks for they will not only devour and carry away all above ground in sight but scrape and dig after that which is covered and when the Corn appears in blade then both Rooks Stares Larks and such like will follow the blade to the root and so stock up and spoil many Acres therefore when these Vermin are destroyed we shall likewise destroy our Pigeons if before that time the Judgment of their Enemies be not convinced And whereas Rooks Crows and Pâ—geons may do much hurt when Corn is ripe at or before Harvest yet the Charges of one Man with a Gun charged only with powder may keep a thousand Acres untill out of danger I shall add one thing more in the behalf of Pigeons they are not only a necessary wholsome food but ready at all times to be served in at a Gentlemans Table And the Dung that comes from them is a very rich Soil which being sowed on Land before or immediately after the seed will pâ—oduce a greater quantity of Corn over and above what the Land would have brought forth without it beside what may have been devoured by the said Pigeons so that that Corn which lies loose on the ground as a prey unto all Fowl I do not count wasted if devoured by Pigeons We have now disposed of 140 Acres of Land there does remain 60 Acres Out of the said remaining Land 40 Acres shall be made choice of for Pasture which will make of Statute or Land measure 40 acres a quarter 16 perch and 196 foot This Pasture Land shall be made into 4 Inclosures each of them containing 10 Acres and the odd measure In these Grounds shall be kept 20 of the largest and best sort of Northern Milch Cows one of the least of which shall give 2 Gallons of Milk at one Meal or 4 Gallons every day and they shall be shifted or changed into fresh Pasture every week The Remainder of the 60 Acres which is 20 Acres 18 perch and 48 foot shall be made or inclosed into 2 severals and they shall be plowed and sowed with Corn Each of these Fields will contain about 10 Acres and the odd measure Statute measure and because the Land is a strong rich earth there shall be sowed only Wheat and Pease except some change of other seed for convenience which Corn may be continued or sowed 6 years together and not let the Land rest that is two years with Wheat the third year with Pease the fourth with Wheat again the fifth with Pease and the sixth with Wheat And because the greatness or rankness of the Stuble will hinder the Plow the second seed season you may burn it standing on the ground or clear the Land of it otherwise The seventh year being the year of Jubily according to the Command of the great Husbandman our Eternal God the Land must rest and in that time there may be a sufficient Stock of Soil or Dung provided to inrich the Land again And the Land being sowed again the eighth year may so continue from time to time many hundred years Now although our Rules and Directions are very sound and certain yet we doubt not but to meet with many enemies as some there are would quarrel with the Sun for his heat and brightness others with the Moon for being dark and cold I have not erected or drest out this little Theatre of Nature for Disputation but for Speculation and Contemplation and if for my sincere endeavours to satisfie curious expectation you will but lend me your acceptance I will take the confidence to lead you through this pleasant Land Garden or Paradise and give you a view of every part thereof At the first Entrance on the South-east side and opposite unto the Dwelling-house you may behold a convenient Gate-house wherein dwels the Woodward passing through this Gate you may walk between 2 Rowes of Service-trees through the first
10 Acre Close of Cow-pasture to the Orchard or Cherry-garden Gate from this last Gate you shall be directed by 2 Rowes of Mulberry-trees vnto the Garden Gate On both sides joyning unto the said Gate is to be built a brick Wall 9 foot high which wall shall extend to the breadth of the Cherry Orchard and so reach to the Court-yard Wall and inclose the Garden The Cherry Orchard is 20 Perch square but not any of the trees to grow nearer then 18 yards of the Mulberry-trees that there may be full view of the Dwelling House The Apple-Orchard flanks the Cherry-Orchard and Flower-Garden on both sides and reaches to the Court-Yard Wall This ground is planted with the best sort of Fruit as Apples and Pears also Syder-Apples as Red-streaks and others and inclosed with a White-thorn Hedge Round the said Fence on the out-side runs a small Brook or Water-stream 9 foot broad which encompasses the whole scite of the House and is stored with Trouts Gudgeons and others the best sort of small Fish On the 4 Corners of the Orchard are raised 4 Mounts each of them 15 foot high and the way which goes to the top is round the Mount ascending the outside of the Walks is planted with several sorts of Plum-trees which shall be kept by pruning to grow not above 6 foot high The Ladies gathering of these Plums may ascend to the top of the Mounts with ease and pleasure whereby they shall be received into green Arbors planted with White-thorn which by often cutting or clipping growes so close and thick that neither wind sun nor aire will be offensive to them Round these Arbors in the inside are Oken Seats and Tables of Marble in the middle Entering the Garden of Flowers which Garden also is 20 Perch square you may behold on the North-east side a Vine-yard or Plot of ground answering the length of that side of the Garden planted with Vine Sets of the best sort of Grapes that will thrive there and that they may the better grow and ripen not only the earth is made by soil very rich but a Frame made of the heart of Oak Checker-work the length of the said Frame is 20 perch which is the length of the North-east side of the Garden but in breadth not above 9 foot This Frame is to stand on feet the lower side or the outmost legs to be not above 12 inches high from the ground and the other or highest side about 8 foot The outmost or shortest legs must stand 5 foot from the Wall and the innermost or longest about one foot The whole Frame must stand sloping and the upper side lean on the Wall Now the Vine Sets are planted all along against and before the lower part of the Frame and do spread and grow equally all over the Frame and not farther On the South-west side of the Garden and round the other Quarters excepting where the Vines are planted and about 2 foot distant from the Wall is comely to behold several Trees growing with the best sorts of Wall-fruit which by dressing or proyning are made to grow broad and bear the same figure as if they were fastned to the wall but to support them from being shaken by winds they have Frames made round the body and so reach to the boles or first armes of the Tree and about the body and armes are made great wisps of Hay and so that resting on the Frames on all sides they are kept from any harm by winds as we have said before in transplanting Trees for Timber These Fruit-trees will receive the heat and reflection of the sun from the wall to ripen the fruit better than if they were nailed thereunto also such Trees will live ten times the age and bear laâ—ger and better fruit than those planted close and fastned to the wall for such Trees as are faâ—tned to any wall are subject to many annoyances as bark-bound bark-bruised or peeled Cankers and many other evils and besides these Diseases there is but one side of the Tree hath the benefit of Air and Sun therefore they cannot long live or thrive On the North-east and South-west corners or sides of the Garden ranging even with the Dwelling-house you may behold in each Place a hansome built House one of them is the Master of the Gardens Study and the other a private Retiring-place for his Lady Opposite and not far from the 4 Corners of the Garden will appear 4 Oval Grass-Plots handsomely kept in the middle of each Plot a Wainscote Seat 6 foot in length covered over with 4 several kinds of Plants as Ever-green and Privet Holly Ivy and Cypress growing on the back side and by proyning brought into the form of an open Arbor and each Arbor covered over with one kind of Plants Now between these comely green Plots there will appear to your view 4 several Knots wherein grow all sorts of the best Flowers and because there are as many sorts or figures of Knots as Gardners have Inventions the Knots here made choice of although old figures yet such as are comely in this Garden and they are thus placed the Trefoul opposite to the Crossbow and the Oval Knot to the Fret In the middle of the Garden is to be seen a comely Maze well framed and planted with a Hedge of several sorts of the best kind of Berries the said Hedge is not allowed to grow above 5 foot high â— and in the middle of this Maze doth appear a Fountain built with Marble whose Chrystal streams are very serviceable in several Rooms of the House being conveyed in Pipes under ground On the top of this Fountain you may behold an artificial Sun-Dyall made so plain that the time or hour of day may be discerned by good eyes without entering into the Maze Round the Garden-wall and the Oval green Plots the square Flower-Knots before the Wall-fruit and round without the Maze you may walk in very comely large Walks made of fine sifted Gravel and Sand well mixed from thence we shall lead you through the Dwelling-house into a comely Court Yard and through that into a Common Yard being very large and spacious in which Yard is built several usefull Houses with Barn and Stable This Yard is so curiously paved with large pible stones and kept so clean and neat that neither straw stick nor loose stone shall be seen to lie therein We shall not detain you longer here but direct you into the Garden of Herbs and Roots not only for Food but Physick This Plot of land lyeth behind the great Yard and is in length from the Garden Gate to the farther end of the whole Plot 30 perch and in breadth 20 The Fence is of VVhite-thorn and the VVater running round as was said before In the middle of this great Plot which contains two Gardens is a handsome Bowling-green 60 yards square and at each corner of the said Green is a Seat made of Oak in the form of an open
England's IMPROVEMENT REVIV'D Digested into SIX BOOKS BY Captain JOHN SMITH In the SAVOY Printed by Tho. Newcomb for the Author An. Dom. 1670. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM L rd VISCOVNT BROVNKER President of the ROYAL SOCIETY My Lord HAving at length finish'd that Discourse of Planting which about six Months since in the first rude Draught I presented to Your Lordship I now take the Confidence from the Incouragement I then had from Your Hand and that unexpected Approbation thereof given me afterward by a worthy and learned Member of Your Society to whom by Your Lordships Order it was Referr'd to make it more Publick under the Patronage of so great a Name I question not but I shall have many Readers who respecting more the Manner then true end of Writing Treatises of this Nature will Cavil at the barrenness of my Expression and Faulting a thing I pretend not to Condemn my Book before they have scarce Examin'd its Contents But as that was very little discouragement to me in the Writing when I sought only to please some few Friends and my Self so will it be less now when I can Retort on those who Carp at Me. This Dedication I beseech Your Lordship therefore to accept of these my Endeavours which I hope being pursu'd will conduce very much to the Publick Advantage and that Profession which therewith I make of being My Lord Your L ps Most Humble Obedient Servant John Smith The Report of Iohn Evelyn Esquire by Order of the Royal Society concerning the Following Discourse Mr. Smith I Have Perus'd your Accurate Treatise Intituled Englands Improvement Reviv'd and find it so Industriously perform'd and in so useful a Method that I cannot but chearfully give it my Approbation I have my self been engaged on the same Argument by Commands from the Royal Society which has now been sometime at the Printers towards a Second Edition and I shall therein not fail to Publish a due Encomium of your Work before it come abroad For though in some particulars we may happen to Treat of the same Subject yet it is without the least prejudice to each other and I am glad to find my own Concepâ—ions Fortified by a Person of so great a Talent and Experience beyond me Cedat ergo in bonum publicum Sayes-Court Feb. 10. 68 J. EVELYN A LETTER from one of the Royal Society to his Friend the Author Worthy Kinsman UPon a second Perusal of your Papers I am very glad to find the Opinion your Friends long since had of their worth and your great Abilities confirm'd by the Approbation of so Learned and Honourable a Person as Mr. Evelyn I knew they could be no longer alone in the Sentence they past than till your self would make your Experience in that main Piece of Husbandry whereof your Book Treates more Publick 'T is a design truely generous and an Improvement every way so advantagious if throughly pursu'd both to the Nation in general and all Gentlemen who have a desire to make their Estates more considerable that you would have done Posterity that I may not say this Age alone an Injury in suppressing your thoughts The next thing I wish to see is your Proposals put into Practice and then the many New Plantations which in every Shire of this Kingdom shall be propagated will be so many standing Monuments of your great Love you bore your Country I am Sir Yours Sam. Woodford Bensted Octob. 23 1669. TO THE READER ABout 5 years since being informed by several Gentlemen Commissioners of the Navy and others that His Majesty having taken into consideration the great Wasts and decay of all Woods and Timber in England especially in His own Forrests was resolved not only to Preserve those young Trees which were left standing but to Plant others for a future supply and being desired by some of the foresaid Gentlemen my Acquaintance to give them an Account what I might Judge would be the Charges to Plant a Thousand Acres of Land with Seed and Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elme at 5 distances as from one Foot to 4 Perches together with the Manner and Way of Planting I should most approve of in obedience to their Commands I set about the following Work my intent at the first writing was not to have exceeded half a score sheets of Paper and when I had communicated my Thoughts to the Persons who Imploy'd me to have laid them by for my own or the use of any of my Friends who should undertake such a Design but I know not how one sheet produc'd another and at length my Book has sweld to the Bulk you find it for besides that it is such a Piece of Husbandry that I have much delighted in and endevoured to know above 30 years and to effect the same have made many Experiments throughout this Kingdom and in other parts particularly in Ireland where I formerly kept three Ploughs of my own till the Rebellion about 26 years since forc't me thence When I was once enter'd beyond my Commission I took into Consideration all those sorts of Under-Woods that are most proper and most in use as to present advantage and I did it the rather because I had Experienc't they might conveniently be planted among the Timber-Trees till they grow to some considerable bigness what other Improvements thou shalt find take it as thrown into the Bargain I might have spoken here concerning the Firr-Tree useful for Masts Yards of Ships c. but I fear the Clime partly and partly the Soyle in England will not agree with it For although those kind of Trees will live where the Crust or good Earth is but shallow and of reasonable depth as the Beech does yet if they find a deeper Crust they will thrive much better Onely this in the General concerning the Firr if they like the Earth where they shall be Planted and grow as in the more Northern parts an acre planted with them at about 30 years end or growth may be worth 140 pounds but it was neither my business nor much in my mind to Treat of this kind of Timber and therefore as I omitted it in my Book I forbear any further mention of it in this place In the Fifth Book I have taken occasion to Treat of Planting 200 Acres of Land as well for pleasure as profit and though part of that Discourse may cause Merryment in some yet with the Pleasure I have intermingled many good Rules and Observations and I am so well satisfied with the Method I have Propounded in that and the other Books that if any Person of Honour should so imploy me being unable by reason of the great Losses I have sustained to put my own Rules in Practice for my self I doubt not but I should answer his utmost Expectation If it be Objected That this is a Subject which has been handled by several and that so it is impossible but I must if I do well tread in their Steps I can
by Cattle feeding thereon The richer the Land is the more Cattle it will keep and the greater number of Cattle the greater quantity of Soil or Dung comes from them also the often or much feeding and treading on the land will both sweeten the Grass and destroy the Moss which poor grounds are subject to and all manner of Weeds for in green paths that are often trodden nor Weeds nor Moss grow and Cattle will feed on such paths or places rather than on any other part of the field so that there is no better Husbandry to kill Weeds and Moss than to inrich the Land and keep the Grass short or low by Cattle constantly feeding thereon Thirdly that the Woodland be planted with the seed or Plants of the Ash-tree Chesnut Hasle-nut Alder or Withey because they are the quickest growing plants and will produce the greatest quantity of wood good for fireing and other necessary uses as Hoops Hop-poles c. But where the Land is wet or moorish and cannot be drayned or layed dry in those places Alder and Withey are the best thriving Plants or Wood and in the wettest parts of all Osiers or Alders Those Lands that are planted for Timber-trees as Oak Ash Beech Elme may be made use of by feeding Cattle so that they are kept from cropping and rubbing against the trees while they are young but if the Land be delved or plowed and sowed with Corn then it must be well soiled with good Dung for else the Plow will impoverish the Ground and starve the Trees Now for the carrying on so good and necessary a Work if the Rich will lend their Purses and the Poor their utmost labours and industry God will second all with such an increase that the monies may be returned again with interest and the Poor plentifully provided for And as it is my great request to God that there might not be one Family in England want bread so if it lay in my power every foot of land in England should be improved that is capable of improvement for one foot square of good land may produce a quarter of a pint of Wheat which comes to by the Acre there being 43560 square foot 170 Bushels 5 quarts yet he that is ingenious will not deny but that there may be a Liquor prepared wherein to steep or soke Corn that it being after set or sown may bring forth or produce above 100 for one so likewise Earth may be enriched to produce the like increase yea wonderful Crops beyond ordinary sence and reason therefore all hidden benefits must be sought for ignorance and idleness are alwayes enemies to thrist And those that are studious in natural causes know that by the exhalation of the earth the moistness richness and fatness of the earth and soil is drawn forth therefore the careful Husbandman will not spread his Dung in the heat or middle of the Summer except he cover it with earth by delving or plowing Now this richness of the earth or soyl is by the heat of the Sun drawn forth and rarified into air and by reason of the coldness of the air the same is condensed into water and becomes Clouds which said water so condensed is powred down again either into the Seas to refresh and feed the Creatures therein or on certain Lands and all this done by the wise Disposer who in exchange rains down cold thin and barren waters as a token of his displeasure or else withholds the Rain for earth is nothing else but thickned and hardned water water thickned air air subtilized water water liquified earth But now because these wast lands over-grown with Ling Heath Furres Bushes Shrubs and such like are for the most part poor Clays or Sands in some places mixed with Gravel therefore to all those who are resolved to be industrious and whom it hath pleased God to place upon such barren Earths my advice is that after the land is cleansed according to former directions and also well plowed and hacked If it be a simple Clay or mixt with other Earths and the Clay most predominant and the Sea be not too far that they thence fetch good store of the salt Sand and with it cover their ground allowing at least 200 Bushels for each or every Acre after the land is thus sanded then bestow about 70 Bushels of Lime or else 100 Cartload of the best and fattest Marle on every Acre so sanded and putting thereto 50 or 60 Cartload of good Dung likewise to every Acre then having well spread and mixed these several Manures that they plow over the land again and after it is well hackt with a pair of strong iron Harrows goe over the ground tearing that which was plowed and hackt into smaller pieces which will not only mix the several Manures with the clay but also raise and increase good store of mould If the land lie so far remote from the Sea that to fetch this salt sand will not equal the cost in such cases they may lay other earth or the best and richest fresh sand only adding a greater quantity for of this sand every Acre of land will require at least 100 Cartload and likewise they must add a greater quantity of Lime and Dung also 100 Cartload of Marle or Chalk Now the Wheat seed-time being at hand they must plow up their ground again and prepare the seed as followeth Make a strong Brine of Bay-salt and water put your Wheat therein the quantity you intend to sow the next day letting it so lye ten or twelve hours then drain the brine from it and having a Tub or Chest or such like put the said Wheat therein with good store of the best lime stir and mix them well together and then sow the Wheat thus limed Now as soon as the Land is sowed forthwith cover the seed very close by well harrowing it and no doubt with the blessing of God you will have a plentiful increase so that one years Crop of Wheat will pay all charges with interest But if the Land you would improve be a barren sand then being cleansed plowed and hacked as was the clay you shall lay or bestow 200 Cartload of the best slimy or fattest Marle or Mame on each or every Acre of Land and if you be near the Sea then lay 50 or 60 bushel of salt sand on each Acre for fresh sand availeth little on this kind of land but if you cannot come by salt sand then on every Acre of land you may lay 60 or 70 bushels of lime also 100 Cartload of good chalk All this being performed add a good quantity of dung you need not fear laying too much at the first dressing on poor Land but if you cannot get any perfect and rich Marle or Mame then may you lay a good quantity of rich Clay or instead of Clay a rich Lome or which is better the Earth called Fullers Earth then plow sow and harrow in the seed as you have been directed that
in other grounds else sold or bestowed on your Neighbours the Plant which is left must be removed and planted in the middle of the Plot this performed you will have remaining 2560 Plants And you are to take notice that the Alder and Withey is not planted by seed but Sets or Plants the Ash Chesnut Alder and Withey will serve for Hop-poles the Oak and Hasle is the slowest and smallest of growth and not useful for Poles but for Hoops and Hurdles for Sheep-pens and such like the Chesnut Ash and Withey are likewise very good to make Hoops for wet and dry Cask as Brewers Grocers Soap-boylers and many more Trades Now also all these will make many necessary Implements of Husbandry as Ladders Rails Plow-stuff and handles for many Tools besides Firing the Chesnut is special good Timber for Building and many other uses also the Oak and Ash therefore there may be 20 of these preserved to grow for great Trees To make the greatest profit of this Copice Grove or under-wood is to keep it clean from all Bushes Brambles and other Woods which it may be subject unto if any old roots of trees be in or near the ground also if any seed as Acorns Ashen keys Beech-mast Slows and such like be brought in and scattered by Rooks and Crows among the long Grass or Plants else by squirrels field-Rats or Mice and hid in the ground or under roots of Trees or Plants For if any of these seeds be suffered to grow they will be Incumbrances and much hinder those that were rightly planted These things being observed and that you keep the Plants clean by well weeding about ten years after the planting this Copice or Grove may be felled and every sort of Wood converted to their proper uses as Hop-poles Hoops and other necessaries of Husbandry which I shall have occasion more particularly hereafter to mention Now in felling this Wood be sure you cut it smooth and close to the ground and after the stuff is sold and disposed of be careful to cleanse the ground of all Chips Sprays and small sticks also see that you make the Fence firm and strong that no Cattel get in to tread on break or bruise the stocks of the Plants and when the sap puts forth new shoots that they be not cropt or bit which doth not only hurt and spoyl the Crop for the next season of cutting but is very hurtful unto the stocks if you be careful to prevent these evils about 8 years after the first cutting you may cut again and then will there be all sorts of stuff four or five for one that you had at first cutting about 8 years after this second felling it may be cut again and then the encrease will be 7 or 8 fold Thus will your Wood increase unto a hundred years although not in quantity yet in goodness and greatness so that this Acre of Land shall be worth 10 Acres of the best Wood land that is of its own growing or at a nearer distance planted and cumbred with Bushes or other Wood but little better Now if you will plant an Acre of Land with Oak Elme Beech and Ash at a pearch distance then may you have the benefit of the Land for other uses and preserving the Plants in growing about 40 years after planting you may fell or cut down the one half of the wood taking the middle Tree throughout the ground some of them may serve for small Buildings also for Laths others to make Axes for Carts also fellows and spokes for Wheels Tree-nails for building Ships The Elme stuff may be of use for Ships also for the Millwright and to make Naves for Wheels if not too small the Ash for broad hoops for Coopers set-work great Vessels and Fat 's for Brewers Oars for Boats useful pieces for Plow and Cart and many more necessary uses besides Fireing But if these Trees appointed to be cut down may grow 40 or 50 years longer than they may be converted to several uses besides the last mentioned as for the building small Ships Tree-nails of all sizes Planks Inch-boards Quarter-boards Quarters Bouls Trays Dishes Trenchers and such like Having discoursed of sowing setting and planting Seed and young Plants for Timber-trees and Under-woods in Copices Groves or Spring Grounds we shall now proceed and give our advice for the transplanting Trees of greater age and growth It is no certain rule to judge the age of a Timber-tree by its bulk or greatness of body for there are many hollow trees and others not hollow yet unsound all of them much greater in the girt or body than sound thriving trees which are twice the age of those great imperfect trees and worth five times the value Again there are young trees called suckers that grow out of the roots of older trees which both hinder their own and the others growth because the roots are not able to maintain both so that a Plant well planted and thriving will be a greater tree and of better use and profit at 30 years growth than those suckers will be at 50 but if such suckers were taken off in time and planted there would be a double profit for the tree from whence it was taken will the better thrive and also the plant may grow to be a great tree Thirdly there are trees that grow out of or from among the roots of trees that have been cut down many years the roots of these young trees being much twisted about and entangled among the other although dead yet as we have said formerly every touch either of bough or root is hurtful therefore such trees are much hindred in their growth and thriving Also all trees that grow in hedge-rows or thickets what ever the wood be as thorns or other wood such trees cannot thrive or be long lived Fourthly some trees there are that grow and thrive for thirty or 40 years and then are at a stand many years after which time they thrive again but generally decay and dye the reasons are from some stoppage or obstructions within the earth which the roots of those trees met with as either some great Land Springs or Current of water under ground or hard hungry Gravel Rocks of stone Quarreys of Slate Chalk and such like which the roots of those trees did not reach unto until such a time of growth Now if the Current of water alter its course and the Rocks or Quarreys be not great but that the roots grow beyond them or through some cleft then such trees may thrive again Although it hath been said that the age of a tree cannot be judged by its bulk or greatness yet of those trees that have not been lopped or removed you may know their age by reckoning from the root up to the top twig every years growth being distinguished from other by a knot if the tree be not above 20 years old yet this is not a certain Rule for all trees the knots of some of them being not
Hoops and Fagots amounts to 90104 pounds 17 shillings Now if we should proceed to another season of felling the increase would overcharge the Markets and bring the Prices for smart hoops down to so low a rate that there will be greater vent and more profit in converting the wood into Firing also by that time the Stocks will begin to decline or decay they being planted at too near a distance But omitting that we shall go on to consider of some other waies to improve the thousand Acres of Land to be planted as aforesaid III. Dist. The next or third Distance therefore formerly mentioned is at 4 foot 6 inches which is the one fourth part of Pearch This is the nearest Distance I would advize to plant Under-woods for the more liberty the roots have to extend themselves the greater nourishment they receive from the earth which doth not only add many years to their time of living but also much expediate and increase their growth whereby they will be enabled to produce a more plentiful Crop for quantity goodness and greatness at the time of cutting then if planted at a nearer distance And because the Oak is of a slower growth than the Chesnut Ash or Withey and is not useful for Hop-poles nor any sort of Hoops but those called smart hoops we shall therefore instead thereof plant the Withey and leave out the Oak This Plot of Land then will take up or require there being but one single seed or plant planted at the distance aforesaid of the Chesnut 854401 seed or plants Of the Ash 854400 seed or plants and of the Withey 854400 plants for this kind of wood is not planted by seed The Total of seed or plants to be set or planted amounts to 2563201. Now it is to be supposed as was said before that all these Plants grow and thrive and then about 11 or 12 years after their planting they may all be felled or cut down And in felling you must be carefull to cut off the Rod or Pole sloping smooth and close leaving the Stem or Body of the Plant about 3 inches above the earth and not more according to former directions Out of the Chesnut may be chosen 600000 Hop-poles of which allowing 5 score to the hundred arise 6000 hundred worth in the place where they are felled if they grow within 4 or 5 miles from any great quantity of ground where there are many hops planted 14 shillings the hundred and amount to 4200 pounds from the Ash and Withey may also be chosen 954000 Poles which arise to 9540 hundred worth where they are felled 12 shillings the hundred and amount to 5724 pound The totall summ for Hop-poles amounts to 9924 pound From the Remainder of the Chesnut which are 254401 Stocks may be chosen 63600 Rods for bark or ryne hoops of the size from 10 to 13 foot long they will make 127200 hoops and counting six score to the hundred arise to 1060 hundred worth to be delivered at London 15 shillings the hundred and amount to 795 pound There may likewise be chosen from the Chesnut 190801 Rods of the size from 6 to 10 foot which will make 381602 hoops worth at the place aforesaid 10 shillings the hundred there being 3180 hundred and 2 Hoops amount to 1590 pound 4 pence The totall summ for both sizes of Chesnut hoops amounts to 2385 pound 4 pence From the Ash and Withey may also be chosen 24800 Rods of the size from 10 to 13 foot which will make 49600 bark hoops which arise by tale to 413 hundred and 40 hoops worth 10 shillings the hundred they amount to 206 pound 13 shillings 4 pence From the Ash and Withy may also be chosen 730000 Rods of the shorter size from 6 to 10 foot they will make 1460000 hoops that is 12166 hundred and 80 hoops and being worth 8 shillings the hundred amount to 4866 pound 13 shillings 4 pence The total summ for Ash and Withey bark hoops-amounts to 5073 pound 6 shillings 8 pence The total summ for all the sorts and sizes of bark hoops amounts to 7458 pound 7 shillings The Shredding and Offal of Hop-poles and Hoops with the rest of the Stuff cut down will make 67280 shred Fagots and allowing five score to the hundred there will be of them 672 hundred and 80 Fagots worth in the Wood 8 shillings the hundred and amount to 269 pound 2 shillings 4 pence 3 farthings Now at this Distance the Land may be sowed with Corn between the Plants for the tearm of 3 or 4 years and not rest but you must be careful that after the 3 or 4 years Crops received the Land be made good again by laying on it great store of Soil or Dung for if you weaken the heart of the Land by often plowing or delving the Plants cannot thrive or grow to raise any profit Also by making the ground poor you will indanger the life of the Plants and thereby lose all your charges It is my opinion that Corn sowed among or between the Plants the first three or four years after planting will much help the thriving and growth of them so that neither Corn or Grass grow nearer the Plants than one foot for if you take a good and early Seed season the Corn will be grown to a great head or height before the coldest of Winter and by that means keep the ground mellow warm and moist and in the Summer will shelter and shade the young tender shoots which the Plants will put forth from the scorching Sun Now the most proper seed for the ground considering the season of the year when the Timber seeds are to be set or sowed is Wheat and because Woodland measure makes a large Acre which contains 920 square yards of Land more than the Statute Acre or Land measure therefore we cannot allow less than 3 Bushels of Wheat to be sowed on every Acre yet because at this Distance the Plants will take up a great part of the Land we shall therefore allow but 2 Bushels to an Acre which comes to 2000 Bushels the encrease thereof may arise to 20000 Bushels yearly during such time the Land is sowed as before mentioned And for that the price of Wheat is very uncertain differing more or less almost every Market day we shall therefore value it to be worth one year with another 5 shillings the Bushel which amounts for the 20000 Bushels to 5000 pound From the yearly Crop of Wheat there will arise 1000 Load of Straw worth 5 shillings the Load and 16000 Bushels of Chaff or Hulls worth 3 pence the Bushel heap and thrust the total summ for Straw and Hulls amounts to 450 pound The totall summ of the whole Improvement at this first felling and three years Crops of Wheat amounts to 34001 pound 9 shillings 4 pence 3 farthings About the same time or tearm of years the last stuff was allowed to grow this Wood may be cut again and every Stock then will yield you 3
from 9 to 13 or 14 foot long These hoops being of the best sort are to be made 5 6 7 inches broad one inch thick on the back or sap edge and about half an inch thick on the other or heart edge they are worth if delivered at London 9 pound the hundred One end or length of the said young trees may make 10 good hoops and 12 trees or ends will make one hundred allowing six score to the hundred Now the remainder of the said trees and the Offal of them which were felled for hoops may be converted to several uses The Chesnut is good Timber for building Houses also for Quarters much used by Joyners and Frame-makers about Stools and Chairs Chests Boxes Bedsteds and such like both the Chesnut and Ash are very good to make Wagons Carts and many other necessaries of Husbandry But it would spend much time in speaking to every particular we shall therefore value the Chesnut and Ash one with the other to be worth 10 shillings the Tree there being 241202 Trees they amount to 120601 pound The Elme and Beech being slow growers will not be in so short a time of a sufficient greatness for extraordinary uses Out of the Beech may be made Fellows Axes and Spokes for Cart-wheels Quarters for Joyners and Building used as the Chesnut also Bowls Trayes Dishes Trenchers and such like The Elme will not be of that greatness to serve about building Ships of any considerable burden but for small Vessels as Hyes Ketches and such like as also Pipes to lay under ground for the conveying of water much used in and about London they may likewise be serviceable to Mill-wrights for making and repairing Water-mills also to other necessary uses may both these sorts of wood be imployed so that they may be worth one with the other six shillings the Tree and there being 241201 Trees and being sold at the price they amount to 72360 pound 6 shillings The total summ for all the foresaid Trees amount to 192961 pound 6 shillings The Trees that were left standing are in number 160801 now if they be carefully proyned and lookt unto about 70 years growth the Ash and Chesnut may be worth 30 shillings the Tree one with the other and there being of them 80401 they amount to 120601 pound 10 shillings The Elm and Beech about that time may grow to be worth 20 shillings the Tree the Elme being of substance to be used about the Hulls and Keels of small Ships also for Naves for Wagons and Cart-wheels many other uses may likewise be made of them The number of both sorts is 80400 Trees and they amount to 80400 pound The total of all the 4 sorts of Trees amounts to 201001 pound 10 shillings The 3 years Crop of Wheat with the Hulls and Straw according to our former reckoning do come to 16350 pound The total of the whole Improvment by this way of planting at the fourth Distance amounts to 410312 pound sixteen shillings Now all men do not approve of planting Under-woods with or among Timber Trees nor that Trees should grow so near together as in this last planting neither is it convenient that all Woodland should be so planted for at so near a distance they do not only hinder the growth of each other but also take up much land which may otherwise be employed for the benefit of Corn and Cattel and therefore this Distance of one Pearch is too near for great Trees yet in planting Seed or Plants there must be care taken that the distance of them be such that every Tree be not a noyance but a help to his fellows as not to hurt one another by any touch either of bough or root and yet not so far asunder but that they may shroud each other from the cold and winds therefore at this distance you may set your Plants and when they are grown great or come so near as to hurt by any touch then may you cut fell or grubâ—up the middle Tree and you will have the greater profit of the Land either to plow mow or for pasture We shall now proceed and treat only of planting the Oak at one Rod distance Then may be digged or delved a Plot of ground 2 foot square in the middle of the said Plot you are to plant 3 Seed or young Plants a foot distance one from the other and about 2 years after the planting one of the best Plants is to be reserved as a Standil or Storer and the other 2 must be pulled or drawn up and disposed of either to plant other grounds or bestowed on your poor Neighbours if you have not sale for them In this Thousand Acres of Land there will be 160801 square Plots in each of the said Plots is reserved to grow for Timber 1 Oak Plant Now you may plow or delve the ground between the Plants and sow with such Grain as will produce the best Crop yet it must not be plowed above 3 or 4 years for fear of hurting the roots of the young Trees but may be kept for Pasture or Meadow and benefit made many years if that you help the Land by soyling it with good Dung These trees may all grow till the twigs of each tree touch their Neighbour then must you grub up every middle tree which will be the second fourth sixth and so reckoning throughout the whole Wood alwaies observing to leave standing the outmost Row of trees about the ground for several reasons but for brevity sake we shall mention but three First those Trees being accustomed to the cold will the better endure Secondly they generally are the best growing Trees because they have most room therefore receive more nourishment from the earth to encrease their sap and so consequently their growth Thirdly they shelter and succour the inmost Trees from droughth cold and winds and the inmost Trees will shelter them on three sides Now to proceed these middle Trees must not be cut down or felled as we taught before because after the Trees are gone or removed the Land may be plowed and sowed with Corn between the Trees remaining as at the first planting and for many more years therefore they must be very well grubbed or stockt up that the roots may not grow again The number of Trees that are to be stockt up is 79600 This Timber may serve for ordinary building and out of it may be chosen small Ship-Timber also Tree-nails of all lengths and sizes which are commonly used about all Ships There may likewise be made from these Trees Slip-boards which must be of the Butt ends cut off 8 foot long the said boards would be 8. or 9 inches broad and between 2 or 3 inches thick on the sap edge and one inch thick on the other or heart edge These boards are to make hoops by joyning 4 or 5 more or less they are commonly used about the greatest size of Brewing Vessels Such boards are worth delivered at London ten pound the hundred
The Land delved  li. s. d. For Digging or Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch amounts to 2666 13 04 For seed Acorns containing 10102 bushels 1 peck 1 Acorn at 2 shillings the bushel 1010 04 06 For Sowing and Harrowing at 12 pence the Acre 0050 00 00 For Weeding the whole Plot of Ground at 10 s. the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 4226 17 10 But if the Land be set with Acorns then the Account will be as followeth For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For seed Acorns 8102 bushels 1 peck 1 Acorn at 2 s. the the bushel 0810 04 06 For Harrowing the Land at 8 pence the Acre 0033 06 08 For Weeding the whole Plot of ground 0500 00 00 For Setting the seed at 4 shillings the Acre 0200 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 4210 04 06 By these two former Accounts of Acorns you may take notice that the Charges of sowing the Seed comes to 16 pound 13 shillings 4 pence more than the Account of Charges for setting Now those Plants that grow from the seed that was set will thrive and grow much better and more certain than those from the seed sowed therefore whether the Land be delved or plowed it will be greater profit to set the seeds than to sow them An Account of Charges if the Land be sowed with Ashen-keys For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For Ashen-keys 1040 bushels 1 gallon 1 pint and 901 single seed at 12 pence the bushel 0052 00 01 ¾  li. s. d. For Sowing the seed and Harrowing the land at 12 pence the Acre 0050 00 00 For Weeding the Land at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amountto 3268 13 05 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land to be set with Ashen-keys For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 540 bushels 1 gallon 1 pint and 901 single seeds of Ashen-keys 0027 00 01 ¾ For Setting the seed at 4 shillings the Acre 0200 00 00 For Harrowing the Land so covering the seed at 8 pence the Acre 0033 06 08 For Weeding the Land at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 3427 00 01 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land sowed with the seed of Beech. For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 1175 bushels 6 quarts and 1 seed of Beech-mast at 3 shillings the bushel 0176 05 06 ¾ For sowing the seed and harrowing the land at 12 pence the Acre 0050 00 00 For Weeding at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 3392 18 10 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land to be set with the seed of Beech. For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 675 bushels 6 quarts 1 seed at 3 shillings the bushel 0101 05 06 ¾ For Setting the seed at 4 shillings the Acre 0200 00 00 For Harrowing the Land at 8 pence the Acre 0033 06 08 For Weeding the Land or plants at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 3501 05 06 ¾ An Account of Charges the Land sowed with Chesnuts  li. s. d. For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 533544 hundred and 1 Nut at 2 pence the hundred 4446 04 00 For Sowing the seed and Harrowing the land at 12 pence the Acre 0050 00 00 For Weeding the Land or Plants at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 7662 17 04 An Account of Charges the Land set with Chesnuts For 518544 hundred and 1 Chesnut at 2 d. the hundred 4321 04 00 For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For Setting the seed and Harrowing the Land 0233 06 08 For Weeding the Plants at 10 shillings the Acre 0500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 7721 04 00 Now if this Land be planted equally with all the 4 several sorts of seed before mentioned that is of each sort a like number the Account will then stand as followeth An Account of Charges the Land to be equally set with the 4 several sorts of seed For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 2025 bushels and a half and 2 quarts of Acorns at 2 shillings the bushel 0202 11 01 ½ For 135 bushels 1 quart and 600 single seed of the Ash-tree at 12 pence the bushel 0006 15 00 ¼ For 168 bushel 3 pecks and 3 pints of Beech-mast at 3 s. the bushel 0025 06 04 ½ For 129636 hundred of Chesnuts and one Nut at 2 pence the hundred 1080 06 00 For setting the seed harrowing the land and weeding 0733 06 08 The total Charge amounts to 4714 18 06 ¼ An Account of Charges the Seed to be equally sowed on the said Land  l. s. d. For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 2525 bushels and a half and 2 quarts of Acorns at 2 s. the bushel 0252 11 01 ½ For 260 bushels 1 quart and 600 single seeds of Ashen-keys at 1 s. the bushel 0013 00 00 ¼ For 293 bushels 3 pecks and 3 pints of Beech-mast at 3 s. the bushel 0044 01 01 ½ For 1333386 hundred of Chesnuts and 1 single Nut at 2 d. the hundred 1111 11 00 For sowing the Seed harrowing the Land and weeding the Plants 0550 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 4637 16 07 ¼ And if the said Land be planted with Plants or Sets at the same distance it will take up 51854401 single Sets and the account is as followeth An Account of Charges the Land to be planted with Sets of Oak Ash Beech or Elm For Delving the Land at 4 pence the Perch 2666 13 04 For 518544 hundred and one Plant either of Oak Ash Beech or Elme at 18 pence the hundred 38890 16 00 For setting or planting the Sets at 10 s. the Acre 00500 00 00 For weeding the said Plants at 10 s. the Acre 00500 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 42557 09 04 An Account of Charges the said Land planted with Chesnut Sets For Delving the Land 02666 13 04 For 518544 hundred of Chesnut Sets and one single Set at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 64818 00 00 ¼ For setting and weeding all these said Plants 01000 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 68484 13 04 ¼ But if all the foresaid several Sets be equally planted then the Account stands thus An Account of Charges the said Land to be planted with all the Sets equally  l. s. d. For Delving the Land 02666 13 04 For 414835 hundred and 20 Sets of Oak Ash Beech and Elm at 18 d. the hundred 31112 12 09 ½ For 103708 hundred and 81 Chesnut Sets at 2 s. 6 d. the hundred 12963 12 00 ¼ For setting and weeding the said Plants 01000 00 00 The total Charge amounts to 47742 18 01 ¼ Now that you may the more
above the other or 5 stories high in which Rooms must be kept 1000 breeding Doe Conies and 100 Bucks every one of them in a several Room the remainder of Boxes are to be reserved to keep Weaned Rabbets These Hutches are so well known that I shall not describe them but in the way of placing these Hutches within the Shed must be observed that the back-sides stand close to the wall on the top or upper Room and the bottom lower part or foot to stand at least 6 inches from the said wall and thus standing sloping the urin that falls from the Conies will pass or run sooner and cleaner away Now these Hutches thus placed on both sides the House and set close one to the other will make 2 Rows round the House The Floor of the said Cony-house should be paved with Brick or Pible-stones and under every Hutch must stand an-earthen Pan to save the urin that cometh from them for if it be spilt on the Floor it will taint the Conies and do much hurt both to young and old There must likewise be provided 4 wooden Vessels of Firkin size each of them must stand on 4 wheels these Tubs being filled with Bran and Grains with a small strength may be driven or drawed throughout the 4 quarters of the House twice every day to feed the Conies and by the use of wheels the work may be dispatched in a short time with much ease In the middle of the Court or Yard within the Cony-house should be built a small House 3 stories high to lay in Provision for the Conies as Hay Grains Bran and Oats also a Lodging Room for the Warrener Now whereas Tame Conies will usually breed 7 or 8 and sometimes more Rabits at one Litter and 8 or 9 moneths or times in one year we shall breed but 6 moneths and shall preserve or keep but 5 Rabits of every Doe and if she bring above that number the overplus shall be destroyed within 3 dayes after she hath littered but they shall not be cast to the dunghil as of little worth for they will be a very good change of food for Musk or Civet Cats or else being thrown into the Mote will feed the Fish And if any of the Does bring not the number of 5 Rabbets at one litter then from those Does that bring above that number shall be taken so many as will make up the number of 5 for every Doe Now if these Conies be of a large kind and that you keep them sound and they breed their Rabbets fat also if you breed to kill in season before the Field Rabbets are or can be fit to serve the Markets then every one of these House Rabbets will yield 7 pence at 4 weeks old for they will be twice as large and much fatter than any field Rabbet Also the latter season when the field Rabbets are spent then every one of these house Rabbets will yield 9 or 10 pence to be sold at 3 months old And if you give the weaned Rabbets Oats Hay and Water likewise Chalk with their meat a better Rabbet cannot be bred either for colour taste or wholsomness But if any shall question the sale or vent of these Rabbets kill'd at the seasons beforementioned I can assure him it hath been my care both to treat with Warreners and Poulterers in London about the same and they all condescend to my Propositions and also say that London Markets will take off or vent five times more in one or both seasons than can be bred of a thousand Does We shall in the next place give an account of the yearly Charges and Profit by keeping a thousand breeding Doe Conies and a hundred Bucks also the breeding and maintaining fit for Market 5 Rabbets of every Doe and so to breed six times in one year the account is as followeth One Doe breeding and bringâ—ng up fit for the Market five Rabbets six times in one year that is 30 Rabbets in the whole at six pence the Rabbet it being an indifferent price as to both seasons of killing they come to 15 shillings yearly then the Profit of a thousand Does according to the same rate amounts to 750 pound the year There are other Profits arising from these Conies First the Excrement which cometh from them with the Offal of the Hay which being well husbanded will make special good Dung or Soil for Land and may be worth 40 shillings the year Secondly the Garbedge or Guts of the Rabbets sold every year there being killed from a thousand Does thirty thousand Rabbets the said Garbedge being cast into the Mote the water although little above the quantity of an Acre yet will keep and feed more Fish especially the Carp then 4 Acres of other water without the same helps Thirdly in this Mote may be kept a hundred Spruce Ducks with the Offal of Bran and Grains from the Conies I have kept of the said Ducks and they have laid each Duck 50 Eggs in 50 dayes every day an Egg and resting 2 or 3 weeks they have layd again so that one Duck will lay 200 Eggs in a year and they being better for the use of Confectioners than Hen-Eggs will yield at London 4 shillings the hundred then the profit of one Duck yearly is 8 shillings and the yearly profit of a hundred Ducks amounts to 40 pound Now for the yearly profit by Fish we shall stock the Mote with 400 Fry or young small Carp and at 5 years growth the said Carp will be worth 12 pence a piece then the 400 Carps come to 20 pound which is 4 pound yearly gains or profit from the Mote or Water-course containing 171 square pearch 8 foot ¼ or 36 inches Fourthly upon the Land inclosed by water as aforesaid may be fed a considerable number of Rabbets which shall not be kept there so long as to be of strength to dig or make holes or Burrows in the earth not living only on the Grass or Pasture but shall have several Racks for Hay and Troughs or Mangers for Bran and Oats made and set up in the Court Yard within the Cony-house where there must be several holes or passage wayes made through the walls for the Rabbets to go in and out at from their dry food to feed sport and air themselves in the Grass or Pasture And because we shall not keep a constant Stock of Rabbets on the Pasture therefore at those several times and seasons of the year when the Land is not stockt with Rabbets it may be stocked with Sheep to keep the Grass short and sweet for Conies will not thrive in long or sower Pasture The keeping of Sheep is worth 3 pound yearly This way of keeping and feeding Rabbets with Bran Hay and Oats will not only keep them sound but the Land will keep ten times more Conies than the Pasture would do of it self We shall now give you all the Accounts of Profit or Gain in one total summ and is as
Wormwood Yarrow There are many Plants Herbs and Seed brought out of other Kingdoms which are not here named because it is well known to such as are studious in the Art Herbary that those Plants and Herbs that grow in several Kingdoms are most wholsome and Medicinal to such as live in those Kingdoms therefore we have not any Plant or Herb in our Garden but such as naturally grow in England as best fitting with our English constitution Now all these Plants will not grow and thrive alike in one kind of earth as Parsnips Carrots and such like will require a light loose or rich sandy earth and Cabbage Turnips Beans and such like a rich clay or a moist rich earth Again some Plants or Roots having long shanks will require a deep crust of good earth as Licorish Parsnips c. Others a shallow crust of good earth as Onions Turnips and all sorts of round or short rooted Plants also some Plants best thrive in a very rich earth and to have the benefit of the Sun the whole day others in meaner or poorer ground and in the shade some in moist earth others in dry Therefore by the skill of the Gardner several kinds of earth are to be provided or such a composition of earth as will serve for all kinds of Plants and so comely and orderly placed in the Beds Borders and Squares and so intermingled that one looking thereon cannot but wonder to see what Nature corrected by Art can do And that every Country Housewife may improve her own private Garden I have here set down these few following Observations First in cold Countries or Earths Plants or Seed are not to be set or sowed so soon as in hot but alwayes observing to set moist and sow dry Secondly the roots of Slips set must be twined if they will abide it Thirdly all Herbs for Flowers should once in 5 or 6 years be renewed Fourthly all Herbs in Drought should be often watered with Puddle water Fifthly seeding spoils most Roots by drawing the heart or sap from them Sixthly gather all sort of Herbs for use when they are fullest of sap tender and green before they blow but when they are blown then the flowers are best and must be gathered in their prime If you keep the herbs and flowers all Winter then dry them a little in the Sun and sew them up in brown paper and hang them not far from the fire Seventhly thin setting and sowing so the Roots stand not above one foot distance is profitable greater herbs would have more distance Also set and sow herbs in their time of growth except at Mid-summer and lay no dung to the roots of herbs for dung not rotten or melted is too hot for trees I shall also add for our good Housewifes Observation a few more Rules of another nature First Angelica and Alexander are renewed with their seed whereof they bear plenty the second year and so dye Annis-seeds make their growth and bear seed the first year and dye Garlick the heads parted into Cloves and set the latter end of February Fetherfâ—w is renewed by seed Bugloss and Burrage renew themselves by seed yearly Carduus renews its self by Seed and so dyes Hysop young Roots are good Sets but Slips better Artichoaks are renewed by dividing the Roots into Sets in March every third or fourth year Ellycampany seeds yearly the Root may be divided and set Endive is renewed by seed and may be removed as Cabbage Coriander renews it self by seed the first year and dyeth Cabbage seed the second year sow them in October remove them when the Plants are about 8 inches long set deep and moist before the full of the Moon Carrets are sown after January till May they seed the first year the second year they dye Clary is sown it seeds the second year and dyes Chibals are set every 3 or 4 years having their Roots parted Fennel may be sown or set by dividing the Roots in the Spring or Fall it seeds the second year Clove-July flowers may be renewed by seed or roots any time except Frost Lettice yeelds seed the first year and dyes sow betime and remove them to make them cabbage Lavender would be removed about 6 years after planted by Slips twined Leeks seed the second year unremoved then dye Onions the seed is sown in February Marygolds commonly come of seed the Plants removed when they are about 3 inches long will make them grow double Pennyroyal divide the Roots and then set them Parsnips sow the seed in February in Drought tread the tops to make the roots bigger Parsly sowed several times in the Spring Pumpions set seed a finger deep late in March when they are grown up water them often and in frost cover them Rosemary to set Slips presently after Lammas is the surest way the seed sown in hot weather may prove well Raddish may be sown in the Spring and Summer steep the seed in milk 24 hours then set them Sage set Slips in May let it not seed it will last the longer Savory seeds the first year and dyes Strawberries set Roots in the Spring or at Michael tide Saffron it flowreth at Michael tide and groweth all Winter every third year the Roots would be removed at Midsummer for when all other herbs grow most that dyeth Skerots the Roots are first parted and then set about Michael tide Sweet Sicil is renewed either by seed or the roots parted and set severally Time both Seeds Slips and Roots are good if it seed not it will last 3 or 4 years Turnips are sown in April May or June in the second year they bear seed To speak to every Herb would make my work very tedious let these suffice We shall now give an account of the Land plotted out and allowed for the Scite of the House and is as followeth The Cherry and Flower Gardens are both of them 40 pearch long and 20 pearch broad and contain 5 Acres The Orchard which flanks or is planted on both sides of the said Gardens are each of them 40 pearch long and 20 broad they contain 10 Acres The Physick and Kitchen Gardens are 28 pearch long and 20 broad they both contain 3 Acres for the Yards and Ground the Houses are built on is allowed 2 Acres the Total of Acres being the Scite of the House as aforesaid is 20 Acres Yet there is one Plant very useful and profitable not mentioned among all the Plants and that is the Hop we shall therefore make choice of 2 Acres of Land in a convenient place that may ly sheltered from the North North by West and North-east winds and plant the same the manner and way as followeth The Hop will not thrive either in too rich a ground nor yet in too poor nor in too moist or very dry but in a middle sort of earth therefore if the ground be over moist then the hills must be made bigger and higher than ordinary about 2 foot high and of
or nearest distance of ground between the plants is only proper for the setting and sowing seed for Transplanting other Lands or plots of ground which must be performed by drawing the middle or inmost plants leaving the remainder thinner or at a greater distance And this work would be done at 2 or 3 years growth at the farthest before the Roots touch or are too much intangled The next distance in planting is three foot or one yard then have you in this Acre of ground containing 160 pearch 4840 square yards and the same number of seeds or plants must be provided as there are yards which if Acorns come to in measure three pecks 40 Acorns but thâ—s distance is too near by one foot however we shall improve the ground to best advantage thus suppose there be planted 4800 Ashen Keyes or plants and 40 Acorns or Oaken plants the Oaken plants to be planted at 33 â—oot distance and that they all grow and thrive The Ashe may be cut at ten years growth and sold for Hopâ—poles worth 10 or 12 shillings the hundred to be delivered in the Wood or place where they were cut then there will be 4800 poles which is 48 hundred and at 10 shillings the hundred they come to 24 pounds but if sould for 12 shillings the hundred it amounteth unto 28 pounds sixteen shillings which is a sufficient allowance for one Acre of Land before only worth 20 shillings yearly Rent and will sufficiently defray all the charges in fencing and planting The Oakes are to grow for Timber-trees which within a hundred years will pay double the Purchase of the Land The next or second growth of these Ashen stocks may be cut at 9 years and if they all thrive the Sap will put forth four or five shoots out of every stock and from each stock may be chosen two Hop-poles then there will be 9600 Poles in the Acre of ground besides the Offal Wood the Poles being sould at the lowest price aforesaid amount unto 48 pounds but if sould for 12 shillings the hundred then they will amount to 57 pounds 12 shillings A third felling or cutting of this Ashen-Wood may be at eight years end and then the shoots wâ—ll be so increased that you may cut three or four Poles from every stem or stock we shall reckon of the least number which is three then have you from the 4800 Ashen Plants 14400 Poles which cometh unto at 10 shillings the hundred 72 pounds but at twelve shillings the hundred 86 pounds eight shillings besides that which is made of the Offal Wood. This is a gallant improvement if there were vent for many Acres of Land to be thus Planted Now by the next time of felling or cutting the Oaken plants will be grown to handsome Trees But it is to be observed that as the Oakes grow in greatness they will hinder the thriving and growing of the Ash which is now become under-Wood and the Rootes of the Ashe wâ—nding and twisting about the Roots of the Oakes will much hinder their growth and this is the evil of Planting at two near a distance A third distance in Planting Timber-trees is one Perch at this distance there may be made use of the Ground that lies between either for Corn or Grass And if you intend to sow Corne after the Land is Plowed Sowed and Harrowed you may set the Seed or Plants for Trees thus At the distance before mentioned plant four Seed or Plants four foot distance from each other in a square then either about the square-piece of ground or about every seed or plant you must set up several sticks that the Mower or Reaper at the time of harvest do not cut off break or bruise the young Plants also that the plants may be weeded and the ground kept plain about them Now if you will not sow the ground but keep it for Hay then there must be digged at the distance aforesaid a Plot of ground four foot square and in that Plot set or plant four seed or Plants as aforesaid at each corner one you may let all these plants grow nine or ten yeares and about that time you may thus dispose of them at your pleasure first leave one of the best growing Plants in each Plot to be a Timber-tree then cut down the other three and preserve the stocks for under-wood as before mentioned or grub them up that the Timber-trees may the better thrive or if you approve not of their so long growing together you may draw or pull up three of the four plants at three years growth and plant them in other grounds At this distance and way of planting there will be planted in one Acre of ground 640 plants Now all these plants that you appoint for Hop-poles must be such as are most capable to produce those poles for Oake Elme and Beech are not of use for poles the reasons shall be given when we speak of planting Coppice or Groves for under-wood Now of these 640 plants we will suppose 600 of them to be Ash and 40 Oakes these Oakes to be planted at 33 foot distance and to grow for Timber-trees at 9 or 10 years growth the Ashes may be cut down then have you 600 poles worth 12 shillings the hundred and comes to 3 pounds 12 shillings but at fourteen shillings the hundred is four pounds four shillings The stocks of these Ashes will live longer and thrive better also produce larger and more poles then if planted at the last distance mentioned because they have more ground to feed them and the hindrance by touch of the Root will not be much prejudice for many years by which meanes at the second season for cutting you may have 1200 good Hop-poles worth in the Wood or place of cutting fourteen shillings the hundred which do come to 8 pounds 8 shillings but at the next or third season of cutting the said Ashen stocks may produce 3600 which being sold for 14 shillings the hundred amounts to 25 pounds 4 shillings Now although the profit of this Acre by Poles doth not amount unto so much as the last planted at three foot distance yet it is made up another way First we have in this last Acre the benefit of the ground for Corn and Grass Secondly the Trees and Under-wood will thrive better and grow greater in a shorter time than the other more might be said but this at present may suffice And if you do not esteem of or like the way of planting for Hop-poles or Under-wood thus amongst the Timber-trees but would have the benefit of the ground only for Corn and Grass then you cannot plant at a nearer distance than two Perch which is 11 yards and because all grounds have not depth of earth alike for the crust in some places will be 15 or 16 inches deep and in other places of the same ground but 5 or 6 inches and yet good earth a greater depth Therefore my advice in planting all Grounds at any great