must be bored or made in the Bottoms of the Tubbs and Pots and Boxes to empty the superfluous Moistness and to free the Roots of the Trees from rotting The Pots must be made of good Earth glazed within and without or not so according as every one pleaseth and desires the Form and Fashion must be almost like the Tubbs wider at the Top then at the Bottom the Foot broad to prevent the falling down Concerning the spuare Boxes they are not in all particulars held so good and are more chargeable wherefore we thought it not necessary to say any thing touching the same nor of the other things necessary to the Planting as Spade Shovel Trowel and the like in regard they are sufficiently known to every one as to their Form and Fashion Only this must be added that wooden Tubbs are counted better then earthen Potts because the Roots shoot round against the Sides of the Pots and Tubbs also upon the Bottoms of the same and so it is that the Earth being much colder then the Wood doth consequently hinder the Trees more especially in the Winter In the beginning of this Chapter is spoken of a twofold Planting we shall now treat of the first viz. Of Trees which are new brought over out of Italy or other Countries When we have got them in convenient time presently after the Unpacking shall all the Earth which is about the Roots be clean taken off washed and cleared from all stifled and dead Fibres and Stumps and the whole Head sawed off too within an Hands-breadth above the Inoculation and the remaining Tops covered with grafting Wax Take then further a great Tub with Rain-Water made Luke-warm in the Sun and let the Trees ly therein one or two Days that they may by sucking of the fresh Moisture in some measure Revive again after the long continued Draught and Hardships they have suffered in the Voyage and afterward Plant them in this following Manner Chuse Potts or little Tubs according as the Bigness of every Tree shall require fill them with good Earth two or three Hands Breadth deep put the Tree in the middle of it add more fine sifted Earth to it pressing the same a little down and in the filling up shake the Stock up and down to the end the Earth may the better sink in between the Branches of the Root and the Tree stand fast and firm When now the Pot is conveniently filled put the same for some Days in a shady warm place on which the Sun doth not shine let the same stand so long there till the Bud begin to come out On this manner shall we accustom the Trees to our Climate which by degrees are to be set further and further in the open Air and Sun in the mean while the Earth is but moderately and not overmuch to be watered to reduce these sick ones to new Strength again As soon as we begin to see the first shooting out it may be furthered by putting Glasses over the Oculation and taking care that no Cobwebs come to it It must be further observed to the Nursing up and raising that the Vermin do not eat off the tender and first Shoots that sprout out for hereby is caused not only a backwardness and retardation in their Growth but also after a long pining Consumption the Death it self of the Trees but if this Work be managed after the foresaid manner the Trees shall be fit at the fifth Year to bring forth Blossoms and Fruits There be several Reasons which force us to Transplant the Limon and Orange Trees Either because the Pots grow too little the Tubs rott or they must of necessity have fresh Earth or some Defects about the Roots do require it For this make choice of the Months of April the beginning of May or October and according to Ferrarius's Doctrine in the Wain of the Moon after that the holes in the Tubs or Pots are secured from being stopt which is prevented by laying over them some round raised pieces of a broken Pot yet so that the Water may have sufficient way to run out lay then beneath upon the Bottom old rotten Cow-dung three Fingers thick and then as much fat good prepared Earth sifted fine as is necessary to set the Tree upon press the same a little down with the flat of your Hand to prevent the sinking down for it is uncomly when the Earth is too much below the edge of the Tub or Pot. After the Tree is loosned round about in the old Tub or Pot and taken out then cut the superfluous Fibres off with a sharp Knife and see whether there be yet any other Defect or Fault to be found about it which then may be removed You must keep the Roots from Bruises for thereby they are hurt and are very prejudicial to the Tree because they easily cause rotting whence many times a pining and lingring Sickness arises After this done put the Tree then again right in the middle of the new prepared Place fill the same up with the foresaid Earth and press it down a little that the Tree may get firmness which also must not be set too deep After that the Earth is brought to a convenient height three Fingers breadth above the Root then put and set the new planted Tree some Days in a shady warm Place and secure the same against all Moving Shaking Winds Thrusting or any otherwise Neither must ye water this Earth the same Day but two or three Days after and that but moderately because otherwise it becomes sluddy and Miry and cling'd too close together which doth no good And thus must we endeavour to reduce the Trees to fresh Strength and Vigour which we may discern by the coming forth of new Shoots The right time to Transplant is in the end of April or in the beginning of October for at both times may this Work be done though in my Judgment the Spring or forepart of the Year is most fit When this Transplanting is done in Autumn ye must let the Tree stand still till the Spring and water the Earth but moderately till the time it is brought into the House and then water no more except Necessity requires it When a Pot or Tub becomes too little or is broken ye must take the Tree out with the Earth that cleaves to it in one Lump is the Tub perished or decayed cut off the Hoopes or Staves round about and after the impoverished Earth is taken away an Hands breadth next to the knitted Net of Fibres at the Root which are commonly at the Bottom then order your Business further as is said above CHAP. XXXV Of Removing of Trees TO Remove tender Trees which are in these Climates and maintained in narrow Tubs and Pots from one City to another or places farther remote it must be done in the Months of March or April If it be done by Water that is the fittest time First Because the heat of
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
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-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
of Amsterdam and a great Lover of this Husbandry Further others have set their Trees upon little Benches or Frames of half a Foot above Ground whose Feet being made of little thick short pieces of Wood stand in little Troughs which are kept full of Water and keep these Pernicious Creatures from the Trees The Earwiggs which devour and spoil these young tender Shoots may be catcht with pieces of coarse Linnen laid in the Trees and so kept in and Curbed Spiders hurt the Limon and Orange Trees by Spinning the Leaves together and by pulling the young Shoots together whereby the Leaves become Black Foul and are hindred much in their Growth The only Remedy against this Evil is to catch the same and so chasing away these Tyrants to make these Plants free from such a filthy Crew Concerning other Mischances of Winds bad Airs thereof is taught before how they may be hindered and kept off When the Trees in the Winter are Housed they are often troubled with Mice and Rats because they cannot come by Water wherefore it is not amiss to provide the winter Place or green House with Traps and Pans of Water that this Vermine may either be catcht or their Thirst quencht to compel them to excuse and leave the Trees as we have seen that very much happened to Sieur William Vanden-Heuvell What concerneth Snails and Caterpillers it is not found in this Country that they bring any Harm to these Plants and therefore Unnecessary upon this Occasion to Admonish or Mention of them If they be found on them the best Means against them is to catch them CHAP. XL. Of the winter Place or green House and its Use BEcause it is impossible to Order these Outlandish Plants well in these Countries except we know how conveniently to defend them in the winter Season against the Frost and Cold which cannot be done if there be not a good winter Place provided We see that in Brabant and Flanders they use arched Cellars to avoid the inconveniency of making Fire But thereby they also commonly lose their fruit which through or by reason of the little air and moist Vapours which the Trees receive decay and fall off except they be again carried out of the Cellar into a lightsom room as soon as the frost is over which is not well to be done for any one that hath a great number of Trees by reason the labour would be too great and chargeable because of the multitude besides with the frequent removing we run the hazard to spoil the heads by hitting them against some thing or other To this Work is at least a lightsom Room required which is free from all Cold piercing Winds and hath Glass-Windows to the South that the Sun Shining in the Winter may refresh these tender Strangers with her pleasant and grateful Beam What manner of Winter-place or Green-house soever we prepare Care must be had that it stand with the open part as much as is possible to the South Here I might give the description and the dimention of several Green houses set down by the Author but think it needless because as the Author saith every one may and doth make them as he thinketh good and Convenient Yet the Use is one and the same Viz. for the preservation of tender plants which cannot endure and stand out against our Cold Winter storms and Tempests From the time that the Trees are set into the Green house or Winter place we must begin to take Care to watch against all Incident inconveniencies and unchanches for through carelessness more harm may be done in one night then we can again overcome and repair in an whole year but on what time such must be done cannot be well prescribed in regard of the Months because the Condition of the Weather must shew it For it happeneth many times here in this Country in some mild Winter that the Glass-Windows are whole days open and therefore it serves for a general rule that as long as it is fair Weather and doth not freeze the Wooden Shutters shall be left open day and night to the middle of November and then shall they be shut before the Sun goes down But when it is misty misly and frosty Weather they shall be kept close and it must not be tedious to a practitioner to open and shut the Windows though often in one day for the more the Trees are aired the better it is to prevent all stifling and moulding Now when it begins to freeze tho not so hard as that it freezeth within the house then open only the Wooden Shutters to the end that the Sun shining into the winter place or green house may refresh the Trees and the Fruits and against the evening before the Sun is set the same must be shut again that in the night they may not suddenly be surprized by the Cold. Now when the Frost begins to increase the Green house shall be wholly kepr shut and we must take Care there be no holes or chinks for the Wind to come in or through for where the same doth light it doth great harm and causeth Frost the sooner within doors Nevertheless when it is a fair Sun shine at noon day the same may be let in through the Glass-Windows and being gone Shut them again Close Now when it Freezeth so hard that there is no longer keeping within Doors without making Fire which we may observe by putting some Pans or Pots with Water here and there in the Green-House and when we see that Freeze then is it time to make Fire in the Stoves which is commonly done early in the Morning and at Night about nine of the Clock But if it comes to pass that these two Fires are not enough in the Day then also a Fire must be made at Noon-Day and in making this Fire keep also this common Rule As long as the Water doth not Freeze in the Pans we need not to make a Fire and when the Water doth Freeze we must make no greater Fire then that we see the Ice to grow loose and that the Frost can lay no hold thereon for if we make too hot a Fire it shall do more Hurt then if it came to Freeze once in the Green-House It once happened to me that the Frost took the Trees by Night and the Leaves and Fruits were stiff as if they had been white with the same which was caused by the Carelesness of the Gardiner To repair this Mischance there was a slow Fire made in the Stove and not an hot or great one at first through which Sweet pleasantly increasing VVarmth the frozen Leaves and Fruits began by Degrees to Thaw and to come to their former Condition yea I had never more ripe Fruits then in that same Year 1668. It comes also sometimes to pass that in the Green-House or VVinter-Place there hang many Drops of VVater at the Ceiling when many Days together a