may be known as well by their several Characters as by the Clime or situation of the Continent Some grounds naturally produce Weeds as Mallows Nettles Docks Hemlocks or such like which generally grow in every good and fruitful ground there is another sort of ground that hath a different face or character such as beareth Daisies Clover Charnock Mustardseed Rushes c. this also may be a very good ground to plant in but this is ever to be observed where weeds or grass doth naturally grow strong and big that earth is undoubtedly most rich and fruitful But although both these grounds may be good for Corn or Grasse yet the Planter may be deceived by these outward faces and characters if he search not deeper into the Bowels of the earth for it is well known that many a Tree of great bulk and worth is and hath been seen to grow in a barren earth for Corn or Grass and on the contrary there are and have been seen many small Trees of little worth growing in strong grounds as to the outward appearance and those small trees of the age or older than the other of greater bulk for that ground may be good for Corn and Grass or the planting of small Fruit-trees which hath but six or seven inches of good earth or the crust of the earth but six or seven inches deep Another character of barren earth is when you see instead of Grass which would be green rank and thick a pale thin small grass something blewish also much Moss or when the ground is covered with Heath Furrs Whins Gors and such like these are apparent signes of great barrenness especially if weeds or rubbish be small for as before is mentioned what ever it be that numbers the ground the greater and ranker it is it argues the richer ground Thirdly there are other barren grounds which may be so adjudged by the scite or clime wherein they lie as when the ground is far remote from the Sun or very near the borders of the sea for the storms and ill vapours arising from thence poison and starve the earth and are destructive to Plants and Trees also when the ground lies mountainous and high and very stony and rocky these are signes of barrenness yet the stony and rocky ground may have good earth underneath so that the Rock be not an intire stone but have clefts and passages unto the earth to plant the Seed or Plants and being once planted and thriving will in time open a widen passage and produce a Timber-tree of as great a bulk and worth as other grounds void of stones And this experience tells us also that Trees of small strength in comparison of the Oak being planted near a stone Wall the roots have so swelled or increased making their own way by reason of a hard Rock some depth under ground which the roots could not enter that they have lifted up the said wall in few years thrown it to the ground Fourthly there is another character or figne of barrenness which is to be adjudged by the constitution of the ground For it is well known to them that are not ignorant of the Constitution of the World that a Body is composed of all the Elements Earth Air Fire Water and although all these Elements are simple Bodies of themselves yet in all Bodies else are all the Elements for that Water doth evaporate into Air and that Water is made again of Vapour the Rain teacheth us and that earth and water also is rarified may be proved by many examples and that fire the spirit infused working by heat in all bodies is not to be denyed by this you see that the constitution of a Body participates of the four Elements which is to say qualities hot cold moist and dry But to return again from whence I digressed The constitution of that ground where one of the four Elements doth most predominate is an apparent signe of barrenness as when the grounds are either extremely cold and moist or else hot and dry Now these cold grounds are generally Clays except such as are subject to inundations of water or land Springs which are all cold and may be unfruitful These cold and barren Clays as by the outward face and character judgement may be given generally produce Broom Gorse Moss Shrub-bushes and such like and the reason of their unfruitfulness is first from their tough nature and bindingness in the Winter the Pores are so closed that the rain or snow falling and melting cannot soak into the earth farther or deeper than the pores are opened by the roots of Trees and Plants or Corn and Grass wherefore lying at the roots it doth benum and chill them and thereby hindereth the growth and indangers the stock through an extreme moistness and every extreme is death or dangerous Secondly these barren earths will require much more dung than better earths and yet not last half the time for by reason of the stiffness and bindingness of the Clay the soil cannot incorporate with it so that both Corn and Weeds will soon draw away or spend the substance thereof and that which remaineth good above will exhale or if the groundâ—ly steep then the rain will wash it away Thirdly if the Spring or Summer be very hot and dry the natural toughness of the Clay doth so fetter and lock the roots or grain within the mould that it will not give them liberty to sprout or if it doth yet the cold after much rain will presently starve the root and make the stem utterly unable to bring forth profitable fruit as I have formerly declared next unto the Clay is Marle and Chalk grounds they being derived from the Clay Marle is of several colours as are the Clayes and Sands Chalk is only a kind of white Marle for it was Marle before it was Chalk and both of them earth or clay at first only became hardned and coloured by accident as stones are coagulated with water and fire which we may well observe in Bricks and earthen Pots for here Art imitates Nature as also that they are subject to Calcination as Lime Stones Flints and the like but because Marle hath its original from the Clay I shall leave it to be adjudged by the outward appearance as the clay ground is excepting that there you will find no Broom and Gorse or such like weeds for Marle is a great enemy unto those kind of incumbrances As the barrennese of Clay grounds are known by the outward faces and characters so also are Sands This earth is of several colours as the clay those Sands that lye upon mountainous and rocky places are generally barren which may be perceived by the small pale mossy and yellowish grass which they bear other Sands that lye lower in wet morish Plains or bottoms are generally of colour blackish and produce a long sower unwholesome grass but where the ground lieth dryer the earth or sand will be very white or yellow and produces
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
away without cutting the Roots of the Tree or Plant which will both hurt the Tree and do little or no good unto the Plant such as are grown out of the Tawes may be taken away and inlarged as you please with the Tawes and not hurt the Tree these Suckers are the best and will soonest become great Trees Slips are in use for want of other Sets but are the worst of all that have been mentioned because they have but little Root and that which is Receiving a main wound will in short time destroy the Tree for although it may grow 60 or 80 years yet it cannot well thrive for the Roots will be so weak that the Sap will be unable to put forth new of any strength unless in a long time and every wind will indanger it by loosning the Roots or else it will be soon nipt with frost or drought these Slips are also Suckers growing out of the lower part of the Tree To apply all that hath been said of plants and sets There is not one point more to be regarded then the choice of those that are good the ground being well plowed hackt and harrowed according to former directions The best time to transplant or remove younger Trees is at or suddenly after the fall of the Leafe about the Change of the Moon supposing at that time the Sap to be most quiet The fall of the Leafe is a Rule in all Countreys though there be difference in its happening as to the time of the year as also in the time that is to be accounted before and after it In setting your sets or plants see that you have a special care not to go lower then the Crust of the earth you may not fear to set them as deep as that will well allow What is meant by Crust of the Earth hath been formerly declared where the Crust is shallow there it must be helped by adding good Earth otherwise such grounds or that part of the ground inclosed will not be fit to plant in for in the Crust or good Earth the Plants first shoot forth their Roots and thence draw their Sap which doth increase and strengthen them to enter and pierce farther into the Earth Again in setting let the mold be small and moist also shake the Plant easily too and fro that the earth may run among the Roots and Tawes then put it close a little treading it with your foot to keep out the Air which is very hurtful after the plants are set if no Rain falls they should be watered now and then which would make the Earth yeild sap and nourishment and cause the Roots to grow and spread abundantly puddle-Puddle-water would performe the Work excellently were it not chargeable All Parched and dry grounds that will not keep moisture are very hurtful for young Plants because every Plant hath a Body Pithy and porous that the nourishing faculty of the earth may enter and pass through and feed all the partes but dry earth cannot pass through the Tawes and pores of a plant therefore the moisture of the earth only nourisheth There are several Opinions about removing Trees and plants most of them argued from the Rising Descending and pride of sap some at the removing will mark the North-side and have the same set so again Others there are that yet do it as happily observing no such Rule at all There are some that are of opinion It is best to remove Trees and plants before the Fall of the Leafe and say That the Sap descending will make speedy Roots Again there are others that say It is good to remove in the begining of Summer And a last sort that strongly affirm It is not good to Remove till after the Fall Several Countries have several Customes and Fashions answerable to the place wherein they live we shall therefore leave every one to their own opinion Yet it is not wisdom for a man to bind himself more strictly to that or this Custom then Reason shall be his warrant Now we have good experience that it is dangerous to remove when the Sap is not quiet by Trees that are removed in the Summer for they seldome live long or if they do live they thrive not for the life of the youngest plant shall scarcely be saved if removed in the pride of Sap for every remove gives a main check to the stirring sap staying the course thereof in the Body of the plant For as the blood in a Man is alwayes in motion and circulating although there be several kinds of that motion as sometimes very slow coole and quiet other times much stirring and very hot by reason of its swiftness Now if the blood which is the life alters the usual course diseases follow And if it be stopt it soon grows cold and if universally cold Death follows So likewise Sap is the blood of the plant and every removing in the pride of sap is a great stay or stoppage unto it like blood-letting in the midst of summer which is very dangerous and never used but in extremity and often-times proves mortal As it hath been said That drought and cold are great enemies to Trees and plants by staying of the sap Therefore in those Countries that lie farthest from the sun and that are subject to cold Winds the sap doth not rise nor is in pride so soon as in other Countrys that lie more warme and moist Also in those Countries that lie nearest to the Sun the sap doth rise and is in pride sooner then in any of the former but doth not continue long because of the excessive heate by this you see that one Country Climate or Continent is not a rule for others to go by And as heate cold moist and dry alter in several Countreys so they do likewise in any one of them for as is the season of the year either hot cold dry or moist so also the sap riseth and is in pride earlier or later by that occasion in the same Country There are many Men of opinion That the sap lies still all the Winter in the Roots of Trees and that towards the Spring it begins to stir and after makes its appearance by Leaves and Fruit or seed all the summer Also that the sap riseth and passeth upwards only between the barke and Wood with several more Opinions But because it is not my design to Resolve Questions I forbear to mention any more at this time The Sap as it is the Blood and Life of the Tree hath the Spirit of Seed included therein and because every body being composed of vapours is moved towards a greater Company of its Conaturals that vapour coming forth when the Seed is warmed tends upwards But because the matter of the Seed is fat and glutinous the vapour being infolded therein carries it upwards with it and a part thereof being turned into the nourishment of the Plant or Tree as covering of Wounds putting forth of Buds and the growth of the Tree the