used such Water wherewith he watered his Trees and forced them thereby so strongly out that they blowed abundantly yet produced but little Wood and Fruit and the following Year the good Gentleman found that most of his Trees were spoiled and some quite dead We do then with Reason reject these Preparations which bring more Hurt then Profit to their Practitioners but deem it best to follow the ordinary Way leaving all artificial Preparation of Dung and Earth and use a Ground endowed with all good Properties which we may sufficiently distinguish by Feeling Smelling and Seeing from the mean and bad CHAP. XXXI Of the Sowing of Trees THE Sowing of Orange Kernels doth in these cold Countries require much time before they come to be Trees yet this is done by many Lovers with Advantage especially in Brabant where be divers Persons who by following this yearly have obtained great and fruitful Nurseries and hereby excited others to the same Inclination To do this Sowing well we must make Choice for it of the Seed of Oranges not of Limons much less of Citrons as being too tender according to the Testimony of Ferrarius the Limons Seeds are seldom sown in Italy because they cannot well resist the Hardships then is it much more Unimitable in these Climates He that will begin this must make Choice of the fullest best and ripest Seed of fair perfectly ripe Oranges as they come out of Italy Spain or Portugal wash the same with Rain-water and make them clean from all Corruption and Dirt and afterwards dry the same three or four Days in the Shade in the beginning of May and according to the saying of Ferrarius we must sow them two Days before the full of the Moon after this manner and fill to that end a Pot with good fat and sifted Earth put the Seed therein an Inch deep and two good Inches breadth asunder set the Pot to the South in an open airy Warm and to the Sun standing place and sprinkle this you have sown immediately with lukewarm rain-Rain-water and also every third Day yet this Earth must not be too wet but only moderately kept moist To further the springing out Glasses must be put upon the Pots which will exceedingly forward the Work In the springing up of the Seed it happens many times that the Shoots come forth double viz. two together these Twins must we part pull out the weakest that it may not hinder and take away the Nourishments of the other These young Seedlings are frequently troubled with Ear-wiggs Ants Snails Woodlice which eat the same off and hinder their Growth wherefore there must be Provision made against them At the third Year must every Seedling be transplanted particularly and singly by itself in a Pot in good Earth and put in a place as before where they may be free and safe from all bad Winds Without any Opposition or Hindrance they shall be at five Years old a Finger thick fit for Inoculation and in the twelfth Year or less also bring forth Fruit. This is the Ordinary and certainest Way of sowing whereby we may nurse up and raise these Trees and from their beginning use them to the enduring of Injuries and Hardships which may happen to them through the Inconstancy of the Climate By the art of Sowing in fresh Horse-dung may these Seeds be made speedily and strongly to sprout out When the Seed is first soaked in lukewarm Water wherein fresh Dung and a little Salt-peter hath lain asteep as we have seen at Nortwyok in Holland at Sieur Borels that he made Orange Trees grow in one Year from Seed to the height of two Feet and a Finger thick fit to Inoculate the next or second Year But assoon as the Sun did recide to the South and declared unto us the approaching Winter these tender Nurslings began to Mourn as unaccustomed to the usual Severity of our Harvest and Winter Showers which surprized them as being Unarmed and Unprovided against this Evil and withal spoiled them of all Health and Thriftiness whereupon Death at last followed This Forcing is good for all Forreign Seeds out of hot Countries to dry the Plants that come forth from them to an herbarium Vivum But is by no means advisable about the Sowing of Orange Trees in which we must keep to the Way and Manner above Mentioned CHAP. XXXII Of Ingrafting THE Propagation of Fruit is mostly done on a threefold way by Ingrafting Ablactation and Buding otherwise called Inoculating To do this well the Stock which is to be Grafted or Ingrafted must be strong and sufficient in Growth that the Cyon put in may not want Nourishment To which end a fit Bough or Branch is to be chosen to cut the Cyon from whether it be a Limon or Orange Tree which is neither too Old nor too Young for the Old is unfit and the Young too tender That we may not miss here we must chuse Wood of two years Growth because that of one year is too tender cut the Cyon in the Month of May to the length of two Buds part under the lowest Bud shall be cut with a sharpe Knife on both sides somewhat flat yet so that the most outward part of the Bark may not go off being it must again Unite with that of the Stock After the cutting of the Cyon the Stock must be sawed off at a convenient height and observe that the Bark be not bruised but be smooth and even Then make a Slit in the top of the Stock with a sharp Chissel and put therein a Box-Tree-wood-Wedg that the opening may not shut again put then the Cyon in from the Top downward to the lowest Bud so that the same sticks out a little above the Stock close the Work together so that the outmost Bark of the Cyon doth exactly answer to the outmost Bark of the Stock guard the Slit with good grafting Wax against the Inwatering and other Inconveniences On this manner may we Graft upon high Stocks and upon particular Boughs to make several sorts of Fruits as well Limons as Oranges to grow upon one Tree which may likewise be done by Inoculating Then at last Care is to be taken that the new grafted Cyon may have the full Nourishment and be not robbed by the wild Sprigs shooting forth By means of Grafting we have seen the wild Orange Tree bettered but it often fails But the Limon Tree grafted into the Orange Stock is more sure and will better Unite Grafting is seldom used in these Trees except out of Curiosity for it makes most unhandsom and ill-shapen Stocks and is therefore by the Practitioners but little used Besides the foregoing Grafting is Grafting by Approach or Ablactation or of Sucking so called because the young Shoot is sucked off from the Mother or principal Trees We have seen it with Hercules Patronus at Zutphen who was very experient in this Ordering and Managing and hath happily performed and executed both these Ways of
Tree as well for Delight as for necessary Use The Leaves are good for a broken or bruised Shin and heals it when they are laid on fresh twice a Day these Leaves chewed in the Mouth cause a sweet Breath There is a Water Distilled of Orange Blossoms which is of a pleasant Smell and is useful for many things in Physick chiefly to cause Sweating to strengthen the Heart and many Distempers more whereof the Writings of Physitians and Herbalists are full To make this Water the Orange Blossoms shall be gathered in the Morning before the Sun hath Shone on them and Distilled in a Pewter Still with a slow Fire that they may not in the least be Burnt for this Distilling must only be done by Steaming out whereby we shall get though but a little yet nevertheless a very Pleasant and strong Water Ye may likewise if ye desire a greater Quantity Distil them in a Limbeck but then the Water shall not smell so Sweet The Blossoms of Orange Trees are very good to be laid in a Chest of clean Linnen to give it a pleasant Smell But to draw Oyl out of the Blossoms by Distillation is not well possible here in these Countries because the abundance which is hereunto required is too great for six hundred Pounds do scarce yield two or three Ounces Yet that we may not be wholy deprived of this pleasant Smell here is afterward Taught how we shall Prepare this another way To make an Extraction with Brandy from the Orange Blossoms take to every Pint two Ounces of Blossoms set them in the Sun to Distil fourteen Days long and use thereof a spoonful together against many several cold Distempers and Aills and especially against the Cholick or shrinking of the Guts To Preserve these Blossoms in Sugar which is commonly called Confiting they shall be gathered just before they open and boiled in clean rain-Rain-Water till they be soft and have in part lost their Bitterness after boyl the Sugar to a convenient thickness of a Syrop and pour the same after it is well Purifyed with Whites of Eggs and thoroughly Clear warm upon the Blossoms and let them stand cooling together if the Syrop be too thin or becomes so afterwards ye must boil the same again to its convenient Thickness that the Blossoms may be kept and preserved the better This is a most excellent Remedy against bad Airs foul and stinking Vapours and also an excellent Dainty Furthermore of Orange Blossoms there are made Pastilli or little Balls after this following Fashion Take fifty Blossoms which are quite open pluck them off by the Stalk that ye may not touch the Leaves as little as is possible that the Sent may not be spoiled cut the Leaves with Scissers very small one by one To this take a pound of the best Loaf-Sugar-Candy that may be got beat the same fine and put them in a little brass Bason and add three Ounces distilled Water of Orange Blossoms thereunto stir it with a Spatula till it be mingled together which then set upon Coals thoroughly kindled and let it boil leisurly till when taken up between your Fingers it begins to stick to them as it were with fine small Threds then take it from the Fire and put the clean cut Orange Blossoms into the boyled Sugar stirring the same together with a Spatula till it be well mixed then take a Board of hard Wood which is full of little hollow Places and strow it thick with fine beaten Sugar then fill all the holes full with a silver Spoon of this mingled Syrop which when cold and then taken out the Sugar which hangs about them must be taken off with a Knife from these little Balls and then you have Pastilli which are very Good Pleasant and Useful for many things especially to strengthen the Heart and against all Faintings They are also a good Means against all bad unhealthful and pestilential Airs the same melted in rose-Rose-Water or Sorrel-Water are very usefully Taken and Used with Benefit in all malignant Agues and other Sicknesses which have their Original from Cold. There is yet an Oyl made of these Blossoms on this manner Take Nuts of Egypt Pistaches or for want of them sweet Almonds the newer the better press the Oyl out of them but without Fire that it may keep Sweet the longer then take white and purified Cotton which is free from all Spots foul or musty Sent otherwise it must be made Clean on this manner following viz. It must be soaked in a Pot of strong Brine till all bad Scents be drawn out of it and being washed again in fresh Water wet it again in the forementioned Oyl yet so that the Oyl doth not drop out of it of it self take then a new Earthen Pot and cover the Bottom with new gathered Orange Blossoms lay thereon a Laying of this oyled Cotton and then Blossoms again and so on a Laying of the one and a Laying of the other till the Pot be filled which then cover close with a Bladder and put it in a dry Place not Cold nor yet too Warm these Blossoms shall be changed every Day taking away the Old and putting in fresh ones instead thereof and that five or six Days one after another and then Squeese or Press the oiled Cotton which Oyl gives a most sweet and pleasant Smell fit to be used in many Perfumes As soon as this hath stood some time the Dirt and Waterishness being setled and the Oyl Clarified from it and become clear you may use it as your Occasion serves This kind of Oyl of Orange Blossoms is taken out of Ferrarius who had Learned it of one Franciscus Dagus and hath been made several times by others according to this Prescript and is found very Good The same Author Relates yet another much shorter Way after this manner Take a Pound of Oyl of Nuts of Egypt Pistaches or of sweet Almonds new pressed a Pound of Orange Blossoms pick off the Leaves of them which only must be used beat them in a stone Mortar put them in a glass-Bottle and pour the Oyl on them and having stood three or four Days strain the Oyl from the Blossoms through an hairy Strainer and part it from the watry Moisture which is mixt therewith throw the old Blossoms away and put in fresh ones and that to the third time then separate and draw off your Oyl and make it clear to Perfume Gloves and other things The same may be done with the Blossoms of Gessamines There is also a Salve made of Orange Blossoms Take white Wax Sperma-Caeti of each an Ounce melt them over a soft Fire and being taken off put to it of our above mentioned Oyl of Orange Blossoms as much as is convenient which shall be stirred together with a Spatula or little Ladle till it be well mixt together and cold It shall be cooled as soon as is possible that through too much Heat the Oyl
may not lose its Scent You may also take instead of Sperma Caeti or Parma Cetie white clear Barrow's-Fat this Salve is good against Heats in the Brest when you Anoint the same therewith and also against the hot Inflammations of the Gout and such like Distempers which arise from Heats Orange Apples are likewise for many Uses and have many Virtues the Pills are dryed preserved Wet or Dry and Oyl is also Distilled from them The small green Apples of the bigness of a Pease are put upon Strings and worn by Gentlewomen for Necklaces and about their Wrists because of their good and sweet Scent The Pills of Oranges are of great Use in the Art of Physick and are of a warm Property dried and powdered they are very Useful against the Collick and other cold Distempers taken in a little warm Wine cause Urine and Sweat you may use this Pouder from a Scruple to a Dram. To Confite Orange-Pills or to Preserve them with Sugar You shall take Pills of fresh ripe Oranges take out the inside White and let them ly a-Soak some Days in fair Rain-Water that the Bitterness may be most out of them then boyl them in other Rain-Water till they be soft the Syrop must be conveniently boyled and after the Pills are well drained put them into it and keep them for Use Will you Confite them dry take the Pills after they have layn some time in the Syrop out of it again and put them into a warm place or Stove to dry And to Candy them you must only boyl the Syrop higher then if you would preserve them wet These preserved Orange-Pills strengthen the Heart against all Faintings warm the cold Stomach and resist all bad and pestilential Airs To make an Oyl take of fresh Orange-Pills fifty Pounds and put them all in a Vessel stamp them close together and let them rot well put them in a Limbeck and pour a good quantity of Water upon them and being Distilled with a moderate Fire there comes over with the Water a clear and strong-scented Oyl which you must part from the Water and keep for Use against all cold Ails as well of the Stomach as of other parts of the Body The same is also outwardly Applied against Cold and stifned Sinews by Anointing them therewith The Juice of Oranges hath divers Virtues according as they are either Sowre or Sweet the last are Warmest and are fitly Used in the hot Distempers of the Lungs as cooling moderately They that are of a moderate Tast are very Pleasant but the Juice of the Sowre is more cooling and there is a Syrop made of them to mix among all other Medicines against all malignant Feavers The Juice used with Meat gives it a pleasant Relish the same is put into Meat by the Turks instead of Verjuice It is also very good against the Scurvy causeth a sweet Breath as our Seamen can sufficiently Testify wherewith we shall conclude this and touch a little upon the Use of the Limon Tree CHAP. XLIII Of the Use of the Limon Tree IT may perhaps seem Strange to some that we place the Use of the Orange Tree before the Limon Tree though the last be Described first it is because the Orange Tree is more Beloved with us and commoner and therefore we give the same the Precedency We come now to the Limon Tree whose Fruits are not only known in the Art of Physick but also in the Housekeeping and doth wholly agree in Virtues with the Citron Apple as its Tast sheweth being also divers in Operation for the Sweet excel the Sowre in Warmth The Pills of the Limons are Preserved or Confited with Sugar after the same Manner as is heretofore said of the Orange Apples to use them for Physick and Dainties The outside of the Limon Pills is a very good Remedy for those that have eaten bad Mushrooms or Fungi as Franciscus van Sterbeeck writes Being Distilled with Brandy it is called in the Shops limon-Limon-Water As they also do with Orange Pills is much drunk in the cold Northen Countries yet most out of Wantonness though it be not Unuseful against cold inward Ails And for this Drink are yearly many thousand of Pounds of Orange and Limon Pills used which are sent hither into these Countries out of Italy Out of these Pills is an Oyl made even as that out of the Orange Pills You may squeese a sweet smelling Oyl with your Hand out of the fresh Limon Pills which is exceeding good to strengthen the Heart and to amend the Sight The Seed is also used in many Medicines but the Juice is best known as well in the Cooks as the Apothecaries Shop and is experienced with great Benefit against the Scurvy and its Concomitants wherefore it is much used by Sea-faring Men against this Distemper Of the Juice is a good Syrop made with Sugar against hot burning Feavers The Water which is distilled out of the Juice of Limons through Balneum Mariae in a glazen Still is good to take away all Spots out of the Skin as also the Freckles of the Face and kills all Worms of the Body when it is Drunk which the Juice doth likewise when ye take an Ounce of it The Juice of Limons resists all Poison and venemous Creatures the Limons are kept in Pickle and stewed with Meat which is a pleasant Sawce The small Limon of Calabria is preserved and kept in its own Juice or Liquor to be eaten so And they are further on several ways Limonaded which affords a pleasant and cooling Drink for which Take Barley-Water one Quart Squeese therein the Juice of four or five Limons sweeten it with Sugar as much as is necessary This well stirred together is the most pleasant and cooling Drink which can be desired To make Pastilli of the Juice of Limons Take Of the Juice of small Calabrian Limons one Ounce Of clear white Sugar-Candy two Ounces Of Oyl of Cinnamon eight drops Let the Juice of the Limons drop through a close piece of Cloth or Strainer that it may be Clear and boyl it with the Sugar to a convenient Thickness that so it may be poured out for Pastilli putting the Oyl of Cinnamon last of all to it These Pastilli are a very pleasant Dainty and cause a sweet Breath Out of this Juice of Limons is a Syrop made on this manner Take of the Juice of Limons six Pounds Of white Sugar three Pounds Make hereof a Syrop by convenient Boyling This Syrop is much used in Physick in hot Distempers burning Feavers and Resists all pestilential Infections and is used with good Success and Benefit against the Worms in the Belly Further the Virtues of the Limons are altogether like those of the Citron and are without any Error Used promiscuously one for the other This is all what was in short to be said of this Matter leaving what may yet be brought to light by the
Trees are taken up at the said time with a good lump of Earth about the Root they must be provided with Turf or earth Moss that the Mass may continue whole and no Earth fall off Let them be packt with the whole Head eight or ten more or less according as they are in Bigness in a sugar Chest covered and set into the Ship in an airy place and so they may keep good six or eight Weeks but the shorter the Voyage is the better Here must we be Cautious that Care be taken there be no opening nor any Holes made in the Chests lest the Rats which often are many in Ships spoil the Stocks for we have had the Experience hereof to our Sorrow that the Barks have been eaten round about from off the Trees whereby our long Expectation was frustrated And this is what concerneth the Transportation out of Italy whereby our Hesperâ—â—â—s hath taken her first Rise and Beginning in Netherland CHAP. XXIX Of the Placing of the Limon and Orange Trees THey that will Order and Husband these Trees aright must first make a good Choice of a fit and convenient standing-place where they must be continued all the Summer To which end we must prepare in the Garden a Conveniency to the South or South East and if it be possible right before the winter Place or green House and in case the Sun be very hot as sometimes it is in May make choice of a Place which hath a little Skreen of shady Trees before it for generally about that time the Trees be a little Sickish which if they are they will not endure the full heat of the Sun by which sometimes several Plants have been lost for this there must remain a Space of 25 30 or more Feet wide according to the Measure or Largeness of the Ground or Garden It will be very Useful that this Place be fenced about foursquare with an Elder Hedg or other Fruit-Trees twisted together and raised high to prevent and take away all access of the Wind In this manner may an open airy Shelter or warm place be made which is very acceptable to these tender Strangers there to receive the Beams of the Sun which comes to recreate these Hesperial Virgins between the fruitful Fences and cause one with an other a Mixture Pleasant and Delightful to the Eye and Sight The Summer Placing must be taken if it be possible to the South-East and above all reject all the West South-West and all the Parts of the North because many great Storms filthy Vapours and hurtful Winds do frequently proceed thence which even our own country Fruit cannot endure much less these and therefore must they as much as is possible be shut out that no Distemper or loss of Leaves to the great Prejudice of the Growth may be caused for without such a fit standing Place we shall in vain expect to raise and to bring these Trees and their Fruit to Perfection We find by many unskilful Practitioners and Managers in this affair of Husbandry who take no care for the standing Place that they commonly are furnished with pining and unthrifty Trees Wherefore then the Warmth and keeping of the Wind from them is highly necessary as also the Choice of the said Situation which is observed even in Italy and must therefore much more in these our Countries If it be possible and the Conveniency permits that this placeing of the Trees may be before the winter or green House we shall find that these sweet Perle-Hills shall not only fill the Eyes of their Master with a glorious Sight in the time of Blowing but also replenish and fill his Parlour with a most fragrant and pleasant Smell through the opened Windows CHAP. XXX Of the Mold Earth and Dung DIvers sorts of Earth may be used in the Ordering of them as the daily Experience teacheth that every one may help himself according to the Condition of his Habitation In Italy about St. Remo is found a yellow fat and heavy clay-Ground the Brabanders have sandy and gravelly clay Ground and about Haerlem in Holland the Gardiners use a well dunged sandy Ground wherein these Trees do bring forth their Fruit in too luxuriant a manner In short we may at all times prepare a fit Mold with Sand Earth and Dung wherein these Hesperial Plants shall thrive most lustily and petulantly if old rotten Dung be not wanting therein It is certain that the purer the Dung is the better it is we use a well dunged Earth with white and soft Sand mixt together For the preparation and fitting of this Ground all Earth or Sand is not alike fit the toffe Clay because of its Coldness must be rejected and another Earth chosen which is brown soft lusty sweet fat and of a good sweet Smell which we may try by letting the Earth stand some hours in sweet Water now if the Water keep its sweet Tast and Smell it is a sign of good and fit Earth whereas otherwise it is contrary and Sand is necessary to it according to this Prescript White fine and soft Sand duly prepared Gives Fruits when laid on with Reason The forementioned Earth Sand and Dung divers times digged together must lye the whole Winter to be frozen thorough When the Frost is done it shall be wrought together divers times to use it which then will be serviceable and useful for the Work The Preparation of the Sieur Munting is unnecessary to Rehearse who makes his Mixture of sixteen Parts and Ingredients because it can be done of less The Dung that is here required must be of Cowes Horses or Sheep according as it can be got no Man needs to ty himself strictly to it one of the three is sufficient if it be but observed that the same be not too new and fresh but old the sharpness thereof being well spent and rotten I know that there are yet other things used for Dung as of Hens Doves Shavings of Horns Lupins and the like but to us the plainest way seemeth best and Caution every one against the costly Preparation which some make and use as one Species Kind of Dung to force the Orange Trees out which is described by Munting in his Ordering of Plants in these Words Take Pidgeons Dung or Sheeps Dung not too old as much as you will or of both a like Quantity put it into a Glass set it in the Sun and pour Rain-water upon it when the Strength thereof is drawn and gon into the same then pour off that Water and put a little fresh Rain-water to it wherein a little bit of Salt-peter hath been steeped or soaked four and twenty Hours Water therewith your Trees sometimes and you shall find a wonderful forceing Power in the same c. Hitherto Munting Certainly I can by no means judg such a forcing about this Work for good Whereof we have seen an Instance at Amsterdam in the Year 1662 with the Sieur Paulo de Rageau who also
that of standing Lakes and Ponds also that which is thick saltish brackish sulphureous and of gross Parts which must be rejected for this Use and that only be chosen which is here above Approved viz. that VVater which hath a good Smell sweet Tast without any Slyminess which in the VVinter is somewhat Luke-warm and in the Summer moderately Cool for this is judged wholesom and pleasant as well for Men as for Trees but River and rain-Rain-VVater excelleth all other when enough may be had we shall keep to it There be Persons that prepare several Mixtures with Dung Saltpeter and VVater to water therewith but being we rejected that in the thirtieth Chapter and have spoken of it before we shall say no more to it now VVe must order our selves according to the Difference of the Seasons to water Orange Trees In hot and dry VVeather it must be done every second or third Day in the Evening when the Sun is going down and Shines no more upon the Trees for if they be watered in the heat of the Day it will cause a great Sickness wherefore we stay till the Evening by reason that the heat of the Sun having layn upon the Roots all the Day they may thereby in some measure be Refreshed This watering must be done with Care so that the Earth be kept moderately moist and not too wet and reduced to a dirty Myriness we must also beware of the Stocks lest they chill by the Water which comes against them grow foul mossy and come to a pining Sickness We must especially observe that the Water we shall use in watering must be warmed in the Sun before it be used because cold-Water is very hurtful to the Trees therefore we use Casks and Tubs or wooden Troughs which stand all the Day long in the Sun and wherein the Water is put the Day before it is used The time when this watering begins and ends here in these Countries is commonly May to the latter end of August or somewhat longer according as the Days be Wet Hot or Cold. We must observe this general Rule in this Affair which is above in some measure touched upon viz. that we do not water these Trees too much for if they be kept too wet it cools and chills the Root and the Leaves grow Yellow too much driness is also hurtful so that Moderation must be observed here which we may sufficiently know by the Earth itself for these Trees must not be over-watered As long as the Trees stand in the Winter-Place or Green-House they are seldom watered except Necessity requires it which may be discerned by the shrinking in of the Leaves and the limberness of their Fruits and then the watering must be but little till the Faintness ceases and the Fruits and Leaves return to their former State When this watering is to be done we shall warm a Pot with Water over the Fire and so temper it with cold VVater that it is fitly lukewarm as if it had stood a Summers Day in the Sun for great Cold is very prejudicial to the Roots In the Spring from April to May we shall seek to cherish these Trees by a slowish Feeding or Refreshing with VVater which is set upon the Tubs in flat Pots or Pans wherein ly longish Pieces of woollen Selveges which by little and little suck it in and so thence distills again into the Earth which thus in time begins to moisten and give Nourishment to the Tree but if we do water much in the Spring the Fruit will Mourn and fall off which according to Ferrarius his Opinion comes to pass because the Trees have sufficient Moistness and Sap in them and ascends from the Root whereby the Fruits are as it were loosned and fall off Hitherto now what concerneth watering if it be well observed in the Blowing time and swelling of the Fruit we shall find that the Trees are Cheerly and Merry and shall richly Reward the Master's Labour and Pains with Blossoms Fruits and pleasant Leaves CHAP. XXXVIII Of Cutting or Pruning A Two-fold Cutting or Pruning is used about these Trees First That which is used yearly by taking away the dead VVood and superfluous Branches Secondly The taking or cutting of the whole Head First The Pruning which the Limon Tree requires is about the superfluous VVood which the Tree often makes and must needs be cut off as well in regard of the good Shape of her Head as of the common welfare of her Fruits for through want of this work the Limon Trees get irregular slender Heads which render them Ungraceful to the Eye Secondly VVe must also clear them of the dead VVood which discovers itself in the fore-part of the Year while they yet stand in the House and is caused through Moistness which falling down upon the Boughs and Leaves produces Stifling and Moldiness which by a sharp Property bites and eats out the Life of the tender VVood and Leaves and causes a pernicious Deadness and Infects the whole Bough in a short time if we be not careful about it to stop the Malady by cutting off therefore must this be taken away to the Quick and the VVounds covered up with grafting-VVax to prevent further Corruption The Orange Tree is likewise subject to the forementioned Evil wherefore he must be handled as the Limon Tree in this case But yet he hath this peculiar that he often produces at the fore-ends of the Boughs very Close Churlish and many small Shoots and they especially with curled and wrinkled Leaves which do the more strongly draw and suck away the Nourishment and hinder the farther shooting of young Branches and make the Trees to Blossom too much whereby at last a Consumption is caused To prevent which these superfluous Twiggs or little Shoots are in their beginning broken or taken off and but two or at most three left together or if you find that too many of these Shoots or Twiggs are left they are taken away at the ordinary time of Pruning to the end the next new coming may come forth the more strongly and lustily When we observe that the Limon and Orange Trees begin to leave Growing and fail to shoot new Branches which are Signs that the growing Virtue is decayed being caused by the abundant Blossoming and Fruit-bearing then shall ye cut the whole Head off within an Hands breadth and Transplant the Tree into fresh Earth as is taught before Cap. 8. after the Roots are well cleared Whereby the same obtains as it were a new Life and we get again likewise instead of Trees decayed young and flourishing ones This pruning Work must be taken in hand in the Spring viz. assoon as the Trees come out of the VVinter Place or Green House and according to Ferrarius his Lesson in the VVain of the Moon but for the cutting away of Sear or dead VVood no time is to be observed for the taking off of the whole Head we can prescribe