Eden to Till the ground We see likewise the Scripture calls it Husbandry Noah is called an Husbandman when he Planted a Vineyard Gen. 9.20 God blessed for ever is called an Husbandman for that he Pruneth Purgeth and ordereth his Mystical Vine-tree the Church Joh. 15.1 So that I shall keep the phrase throughout the Work I have seen I suppose the best Works both of antient and late Writers upon this Subject and have learned from them what I could for the accomplishing of this Art and have observed the practise and experiments of many from time to time concerning it and have improved them to my own advantage And likewise I have set my self to the Practise of this work about Thirty and seven years endeavouring to find out things of use and profit by Practice and Experience that I might speak upon better and surer grounds than some others who have written upon this Subject for Experience guides and informs Reason in many things in which without Experience it would often erre Some who have taught this Art of Planting Fruit-trees have been in it only Contemplative men having little or no Experience in it so that in many things they have erred and that grosly as shall appear in due place See pag. 165 166 c. A Learned Author sayes The writings of speculative men upon active matter for the most part seems to men of Experience to be but as dreams and dotage Study and Practise by degrees frame new Arts and add to the old Per varies usus Meditando extunderet Artes paulatim Experience is called the Perfecter of Arts and the most sure and best teacher in any Art Contemplation and Action are the two legs whereon Arts run steedily and strongly and the one without the other can but hop or go â—amely They are the two Eyes wherewith men see Natures secrets clearly but the one alone discerns but dimly And hence it follows that some who were only Contemplators of nature without experience and would needs adventure to write and give instructions touching the Practique part of Planting Fruit-trees have in many things as the aforesaid Author sayes presented us with smoak instead of the lucide flames of light They have indeed shewed us a comly and beautiful body Painted according to Art but yet lifeless and without a spirit and have offered us shells and husks instead of kernels But now speculation and action are as Soul and Body united which labouring together work out both Profit and Pleasure many advantages to our selves and others Experience as a Philosopher says is the Root of Art and it may well be so called from which springs a numerous multitude of new Experiments for from one Root or single Experiment though perhaps a poor and mean one in it self if throughly weighed with reason and judgment may arise many rich and rare inventions And it s most true which the Lord Bacon sayes to this purpose As through a small hole or cranny a man may see great Objects so through small and contemptible instances men may see great Axioms singular secrets of nature Men will labour hard and a long time in some labours full of hazard and danger and perhaps unjust too and all for a little profit but here in this employment men may with a little labour in a short time without hazard or danger and that justly obtain great and many profits and those with pleasures superadded Works and labours which have in them but a vain and unprofitable pleasure are approved but onely of some sensual persons and such labours as have but onely Profit and do not ease the Pains with some pleasantness in them are yet harsh and disliked of many but such as yield both Profit and Pleasure are universally liked and allowed of all according to the Poet Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. Either of these is the better because of the other joyned with it when they run along hand in hand the Profit is the more because of the Pleasure and the Pleasure is more because of the Profit Now therefore That men may obtain yearly a plentiful Harvest of Profits and Pleasures I have endeavoured to remove whatsoever might hinder and have laid down some Arguments of Encouragement to set upon and prosecute the means to obtain them discovering the best way I can find out how they may be gotten with most speed and kept with most security If any man think the Divine and Humane Arguments preceeding the work to be needless because generally men know that Planting fruit-Fruit-trees is a very profitable work none doubt it I Answer Some know it by Experience many others do not And although men are convinced of the profitableness of the work yet there is need of some quickning Motives to it as to some persons And I know none more prevalent than those taken from Profits and Pleasures considered in so great and so many respects Accept of what is made ready at present which as it may be profitable to some in respect of Encouragements and Directions in the practise of the Work so also I desire it may be a means to stir up others to do something in the like kind for Publique profit There are many good Wits exercised about Toys and Trifles some men bestow excessive Time Cost and Labour about meer shadows empty speculations and well deserve Martials Motto Turpe est difficiles habere nugas Et stultus labor est ineptiarum While they might in the mean time by the Study and Practise of this Art in searching out many hidden secrets of nature and experiments much advantage themselves and many others both in respect of Temporals and Spirituals An Antient Authour sayes Not he that knoweth many things but he that knoweth things Fruitful is Wise. This Art is a full Store house out of which may be brought both Meat Drink and Money It is a Rich Mine without bounds or bottome out of which we may dig profits and pleasures great and many and worthy the study and labour of the most Wise and Learned and may be called the Philosophers-stone virtually and effectually though not properly for it turns by the help of nature though not Metals yet Trees and Fruits yea Earth and Water into Gold and Silver in a short time The good of this Imployment both in the Theorique and Practique part spreads it self over all places in the world to all persons in the world from the Cradle to the Grave from the beginning of the world to the end of it so that no work can be more universally good than this Now therefore seeing there is so much profit and advantage to be received from this imployment of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees both in Temporal and Spiritual respects Let us set about it and labour in it either with body or mind or both That thereby the Glory of God and publique profit together with our own advantages may be promoted The blessing of God go along with us and give the increase in all
our labours and prosper the works of our hands This is my advice to men and Prayer to God Who am Thine in the best Services RA AVSTEN THE ANALYSIS PRofits of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees in Corne and Pasture grounds the best way of Improvement of Lands p. 1. Objections concerning Planting Answered 1. Coldnesse of the Country p. 6. 2. Robbing of Fruit-trees p. 7. 3. Long expectation of Fruits p. 9. The praises of Fruit-trees and Art of Planting 1. From Ancient Authors p. 11 12 c. 2. From Moderne Authors p. 11 12 c. Eight Divine Arguments of the dignity value of Fruit-trees and Art of Planting pag. 21. 1. Argument Adams Imploymen in Innocency pag. 22. 2. Argument Fruits were the first Food given to Man p. 23. 3. Argument from Examples pag. 23 24 c. 1. God blessed for ever 2. Noah 3. Abraham 4. King Uzziah 5. King Solomon 6. Susanna 7. The Jewes 8. Our Saviour Christ. 4. Argument from similitudes pag. 26. 27 c. 1. Esayâ— 1 2. My beloved had a Vineyard in a fruitfull hill 2. Psal. 1.2 Like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Waters c. 3. Ioh. 15.1 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman 4. Rom. 11.17 If some of the branches were broken off c. 5. Cant. 4.12 13. A garden inclosed is my Sister my Spouse 6. Rev. 22.2 There was the tree of Life 5. Divine Argument from Gods withholding them in displeasure p. 29. Instances 1. Exod. 9.25 Haile brake every Tree of the Field c. 2. Amos 4.9 I have smitten your fruit trees c. 3. Ioel 1.12 The Vine is dried up the Fig-tree languisheth c. 4. Deut. 28.39 Thou shalt Plant but shalt neither drink of the Wine nor gather the Grapes 6. Divine Argument from Gods promising and giving them in Mercy p. 31. Instances 1. Ier. 29.5 Plant Gardens and eat the fruits of them 2. Amos 9.4 They shall Plant Gardens and eat the Fruits of them 3. Neh. 9.25 They took strong Cities Vineyards and Olive-yards and Fruit-trees in abundance 4. Ezek. 34.27 And the Tree of the Field shall yield her Fruit c. 7. Divine Argument from two Commands 1. Tit. 3.4 Let ours also learn to maintain good Works for necessary uses p. 33. 2. Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are lovely of good Report c. pag. 33. 8. Divine Argument from Gods special Charge to preserve fruit trees above all other Trees Deut. 20.19 Thou shalt not destroy the Trees being Trees for Meat for the Tree of the Field is mans life p. 35. 4. Humane Arguments of the dignity of Fruit trees and Planting from the 1. Presidents of the greatest Persons pag. 36. Cyrus King of Persia Philometrus Heronius Archelaus Attalus Kings of Asia Evax Avicen Kings of Arabia Telaphanus Antonius Pius Elizeus Numa Spâ—rtanus Alcinous Mithridates the great Alexander the Great Solomon King of Israel And many others 2. Praises of all people p. 39. See Instances of many pag. 6 7 8 c. The Third Humane Argument from Profits 1. To the Estate 1. In respect of House-keeping 1. In Meats pag. 40. 2. In drinks pag. 40. 2. In respect of Sale 1. Fruits in their kinds p. 40. 2. Wins made of them p. 40. 2. To the body 1. In respect of health pag. 40. 1. By Moderate Exercises p. 41. 2. Fresh Aires p. 41. 3. Pleasant odors p. 42. 4. Wholesome Meats p. 44. 2. In respect of long life pag. 44. 1. By operation upon the spirits through the Organs of the body Eare pag 61 62 63 c. Touch pag 61 62 63 c. Smell pag 61 62 63 c. Sight pag 61 62 63 c. Taste pag 61 62 63 c. 2. Through the affections of the Mind Hope p. 44. Joy p. 48. Admiration p. 49 c. 3. To the Mind 1. In respect of knowledge Natural p. 50. Moral p. 50. Spiritual p. 50. 2. In respect of Meditations pag. 57. 4. To the Name 1. In this Life by Gifts and Benefits 2. After Death by Fruit-trees as living Monuments pag. 56. 5. To others 1. To the Poor Friends or Enemies p. 60. 2. To the Rich. Friends or Enemies p. 60. The Fourth Humane Argument from Pleasures 1. To the Eare. 1. By sweet tunes of Singing Birds p. 60. 2. By gentle Motion of boughs and leaves p. 60. 2. To the Touch. 1. By cool Fruits boughs and leaves pag. 61. 2. By cool fresh Airs p. 61. 3. To the Eye 1. By decent forms of Trees Allies Walks Seats and Arbours pag. 64. 2. By curious colours of blossoms leaves and fruits p. 65. 4. To the Smell 1. By fresh Earth digged up pag. 66. 2. From blossoms and leaves pag. 67. 5. To the Taste 1. From Ripe and Raw Fruits pag. 69. 2. From Dishes and Drinks made of them p. 70. A Cauton in the use of Earthly blessings No Earthly thing to be enjoyed properly but used only pag. 74. Difference between using and enjoying of a thing pag. 75. The Nursery in it consider 1. Sowing 1. Seeds of Fruits 1. The time pag. 79. 2. The manner p. 80. 2. Stones of Fruits 1. The time pag. 79. 2. The manner p. 80. 2. Weeding and Watering the young Plants pag. 81. 3. Transplanting them in Autumne pag. 83. 4. Inoculating or Ingrafting them pag. 45. In Grafting observe 1. Time of Grafting 1. General time the Spring p. 45. 2. More special in respect of different kinds p. 45. 2. Instruments for the Work 46 3. Manner of the Works 3. ways 1. Of small Stocks p. 46.47 2. Of great Stocks p. 46.47 3. A midle sort of Stocks p. 46.47 4. Choice of Grafts 1. As they fit several stocks p. 92. 2. In respect of good bearing kinds p. 93. In Inoculating observe 1. The time pag. 96. 2. The Buds 1. In respect of growth p. 51. 2. In respect of kinds p. 97. 3. The Stocks 1. The small and young p. 97. 2. Those full of sap p. 98. 4. Unbinding the Buds some sooner some later 99. In Transplanting observe 1. The time Early removing best pag. 117. 2. Pruning 1. The Roots of Plants pag. 120. 2. The Branches of Plants pag. 120. 3. Manner of setting 1. Standards In respect of 1. Deepness p. 120 2. Distance p. 122. 3. Order p. 128. 2. Wall trees In respect of 1. Deepness p. 120 2. Distance p. 122. 3. Order p. 128. In Pruning cut 1. Wall-trees 1. In Sommer pag. 131. 2. In Winter pag. 132. 2. Standards 1. All dead boughs p. 133. 2. All superfluous living boughs pag. 133. Order the Roots 1. In opening them p. 134. 2. In laying fit soyls to them pag. 134 c. Diseases incident to fruit trees 1. Mossiness 1. Causes pag. 137.138 2. Curâ—â— pag. 137.138 2. Bark-bound 1. Causes pag. 137.138 2. Curâ—â— pag. 137.138 3. Canker 1. Causes pag. 137.138 2. Curâ—â— pag. 137.138 4. Worms 1. Causes pag. 137.138 2. Curâ—â— pag. 137.138 Mischiefs incident to fruits 1. Caterpillers
to this work of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees for improvement of their Lands and Estates Not only that they plant good Orchards and Gardens but also that they Plant round about their fields and in thâ—â—â—elds and in their Corne Pasture hay grounds as in Kent the fruit-fruit-trees at a large distance one from another 20 or 30 yards asunder and that they suffer no branches to spread within two yards from the ground that so they may be out of the reach of Cattle may not be troublesome to workmen in plowing sowing reaping and other works If the Plants are faire straight ones of two yards high or thereabouts senced about to preserve them from Cattle at the first with some stakes or the like they will in a few years preserve themselves and will need but little labour about them afterwards as long as they live And hereby men may reape every yeare two harvests from one and the same piece of land the one of Corne the other of fruits of trees and the latter when trees are growne large probably will be the greater And in this respect this way of improvement of Lands is much better then other wayes of profit because in getting Corne or raising profits by any other wayes of improvement men must of necessity bestow much money time and paines about them every yeare which eats up a great part of their profits but in Planting fruit-trees the worst is at first after a few yeares they yield great profits with little cost and labour So that as was said fruit-trees in a few years with small cost and labour will double and treble the value of Lands and after many years the advance of Profit will be manyfold But it may be Objected That if all should plant then such great profits could not be made every man would have of his own I answer that if all should plant fruit-trees that may conveniently plant yet would there be multitudes every where to buy for all that For consider in a great Citty or Town what a number of people there are who have no Lands at all not so much as a piece of ground belonging to their house and many others but very small quantities these will be buyers of the husbandmans fruits and the Cider and Wines that he makes of them And let us say what we will or can ther 's many that have Lands which they might Plant and improve to an exceeding great value who will yet be idle and sloathfull and object with Solomons sluggard ther 's a Lyon in the may something or other that hinders yet these men when they see fruits will be as eager for them as any others and therefore will be very good Chapmen to buy the Fruits of the diligent husbandman Objections and Discouragements Concerning Planting answered BEfore I enter upon the work it selfe it will be convenient in the first place to Answer some maine Objections to remove discouragements about this work of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees that have kept off many from this profitable imployment and may still hinder them unlesse remov'd And then I will give some encouragements to it from Diuine and Humane Arguments and Testimonies This is an Objection amongst many in the North parts they say the Northern Countries are so cold that Fruit-trees will not prosper nor beare fruits there To this I Answer That although it be true that the Northern Countries lye in a more cold Climate then Worcestershire Herefordshire and those Fruit Countries yet I doubt not but that if they were as diligent in planting Fruit-trees in the North parts as men are in these they might have store of good fruits so that some Cautions be observed in the nature of Trees It s true Cold Countries are not so fit for choice and tender fruits as warmer Climates but there are diverse kinds of hardy fruits both Apples Pears Cherries which yearely experience shewes endure cold and come to perfection in cold springs when many other kinds are spoyled Procure Grafts or Young trees ready grafted of the best bearing kinds such as are found by experience to beare well even in cold springs See pag. 53 54 c. Let such kinds therefore be sought for and Planted Those good husbands in those parts who are diligent in Planting Fruit-trees have Fruits answerable Others say that if they should plant Fruit-trees and bestow much labour and cost about them when they come to perfection and bearing fruits they should be robd of all or most and the Trees would be spoiled and who would Plant to be so serv'd To this I Answer That if there were no remedy against this mischeife it might indeed be a just discouragement but this feare may be removed diverse waies And First I advise that having made a good fence about the Orchard you keep therein a lusty Mastiffe or two that will not be charmed in the night time and the terrour of them will keep men from adventuring upon such an Occasion Secondly some that have good Orchards watch their fruits If a man keep 2 or 3 or more servants they may watch in their turns it s no great matter if you consider for what time only it is necessary which is but from the time that fruits come to be worth getting till they be ripe and that 's not long And consider it is in a pleasant season of the yeare the paines and charge would be but little to the profit we see men are vigilant diligent much more then this would require upon far lesse advantages 3. But there is a third means to keep Orchards from being rob'd which I esteeme best of any other it is this I would have every man that hath land to plant some Fruit-trees for himselfe that so they may not be theeves to their neighbours and let those that have much fruit spare a part to theâ— that have but little or none of their own and be no niggards but liberall to their neighbours And this bounty will bring a double blessing first from God to increase the fruits secondly from men not to diminish them But I heartily wish that such as make but a sport of robbing an Orchard would but consider the affliction and terrors of conscience that seised upon good St. Austen for this very sin of robbing an Orchard which he was guilty of before his Conversion he confesseth it with much greife and aggravates it with no lesse then ten circumstances crying earnestly for mercy and pardon Ecce Cor meum Deus meus ecce Cor meum quod miseratus es in imo abyssi c. When God le ts loose the least sin to fight against a man and but to shew it selfe in its proper shape it will terrifie the stoutest heart A wounded spirit who can beare But there is another Objection greater then the former Men usually say should we plant Fruit-trees it would be so long ere they come to perfection and bearing fruits that out hopes would faint before
we could see profit of our labours perhaps they would not beare fruits of Sixteen or Twenty yeares growth I Answer first that though the Objection on were true that trees Planted would be long ere they come to bearing fruits perhaps 20 yeares or more yet this should not discourage us especially such as may have good hopes to enjoy the profits and pleasures of them many yeares after and then leave them to their Children and to posterity after them But secondly men are generally mistaken upon this Accompt Fruit-trees rightly ordered will not be so long ere they beare fruits as they suppose I shall shew a way that by Planting Fruit trees and ordering of them as I give directions by the blessing of a divine hand that still attends honest labours we may receive Profits from them in halfe Twenty years yea in halfe that halfe yea in lesse then in five yeares sometimes the third sometimeâ— the second yeare of many kinds of fruit-trees after Grafting Experience proveâ— it though we must know the fruit cannot be much while the trees are so small oâ— particulars yet a multitude of such tree will afford a multitude of fruits A Cisternâ— of water is but a multitude of drops So then that Fruit-trees may be planted and come to bearing fruits in 5 4 or 3 years or sooner the meanes is shew'd a large in the ensuing worke So that I hope â—his grand discouragement which hath â—o long and so generally kept men from his profitable work will be remov'd Now as I promis'd I will lay down â—ome Excitements and Encouragements to â—he worke of Planting fruit-fruit-trees Many large workes have been composed by Ancient Authors for the Instruâ—tion of the husbandman in this his princiâ—all worke And they have given this imployment many and great commendations and praises and it is accounted by them the cheifest of all earthly imployments because of the many Profits and Pleasures that come by it And because it shall appeare what â—pinion and esteeme they have had of this course of life and with what Praises they have set it forth I will give you the particular expressions of some of them in their owne words And then give the â—mme of what they have said to the plain husbandman and others that else could not understand them Agricultura quid sit MIHI videtur nihil aliud esse Agriculturam quam inspectâ Plantae naâ—urâ Coeli terrae ei idoneum cultum ribuere ut ita dicam coelum cum â—erra maritare vel societatem perquirere Coeli terrae ad Arbores Sed quum Coeluâ— nullo modo queat flecti oportet ut seduâ—â— Agricola situs varietate utatur ut Câ—â— facilè Planta associetur Agricoloe ad dusmetas intendere debent ad utilitatem â—â— lâ—ptatem Agricultura est Ars quae doâ— usuram cum terra facere Inter omnia enâ—â— quae utilitatem simul jucunditatem parunt ut ambiguum sit utilitatisue an amaentatis plus habeat Variis fructibus delecteâ— non tempore uno sed diversis alio renascenâ— alio decidente ut unusquisque ex industriây cunditate te afficere sataget Rami fructibâ— onerati pondere incurvantur ac se iuâ—â— decumbenti offerunt Aspice curvatos Pomorum pondere ramoâ— Ut sua quod peperit vix ferat Arbor onuâ— O quam dulcissimum est fructus ex Arborâ— bus quas sevisti inseruisti coluisti prâ— priis manibus colligere Amicis agâ—atiâ— que jactabundus largiri Est alia Arboribus delectatio Avium scilicet modilatio ac ex variorum multitudine dulcissin us efficitur concentus Auresque cantibâ—â— demulcent suis Aves canoros garrulae fundunt sonos Et semper Aures cantibus mulcent suis. Theophrastus Hortum juxta aedes collocâ— vit quem moriens testamento Philosophantâ— bus reliquit Democritus Abderites proâ— hortum Cellam habuit Palemon Atheniensis â—n hortis docebat Laidis Cyrenei in hortis chola fuit quos Attalus Rex aedificavit Quid enim hoc opere innocentius vacantibus quid plenius magnâ consideratione pruâ—entibus quid majus mirabilâ—ùsque spectacuâ—um est quam câ—m positis seminibus Plan â—atis surculis translatis Arbusculis insitis â—alleolis tanquam interrogatur quaeque vis â—adicis germinis quid possit quidve non â—ossit unde possit unde non possit cum rerum â—atura humana ratio quodammodo loqui â—otest quid in ea valeat numerorum inviâ—bilis interiorque potentia quid extrinsecus â—dhibita diligentia in ipsa consideratione perspicere quia neque qui plantat est aliquid neque qui rigat sed Deus qui dat in rementum Mira est inexplicabilis horti â—ommoditas nam si necessitatem considero Agricutura tanto est humano generi emoluâ—ento ut eâ carere nullo modo possis si â—tilitatem inter primas non postrema aut â—uaenam illi poterit comparari si voluptatem â—ignitati commistam ea est excellentia c. Much more they speake in praise of â—his worke which here for brevity sake shall omit Now that the husbandman and every â—ue may understand what has been said â—y these Authors and others I will give more plainly the summe of all They define husbandry to be an Arâ— teaching men lawfull usury with the earthâ— And that it seemes cheifly to be the searching and finding out the nature Plants and Trees and of the Heavens anâ— the Earth and then to give unto Planâ—â— fit place and ordering according to the nature of the Soyle and Climate And aâ— they say to marry and match together Heaven and Earth or to procure a society and neere fellowship between heaven and earth for the increase and benefit oâ— Trees and Plants But seeing that the heavens can by no meanes be bowed oâ— brought neerer to us therefore it muâ—â— be the skill and diligence of the huâ—â—bandman to place and set his Trees in such sort that the heavens may give their influence and warmth for encrease and refreshing of them Husbandmen oughâ— to make Accompt of two harvests yearly the one of Profit the other of Pleasure for when a man hath done what is necessary for his life and thence proceeds profit besides all that great Pleasure springs from the Profit and what greater pleasure can there be then that which is Accompanieâ— with Profit Now of all estates of life the husbandman may chiefly challenge this tâ— himselfe yea it is questionable whether the Profit or Pleasure of his life be the greater God when he would make the life of man Pleasant unto him he put him into an Orchard or Garden of delights that he might labour therein with pleasure of mind There a man is delighted with variety of Fruits of Trees not in one sea son only but in diverse seasons of the yeare some young and springing forth while diverse other kinds are ready to fall with ripenesse So that a man doth even busy
his people Another Divine Argument of the Dignitie and value of Fruit-trees and the art of planting is from two generall commands given by the Apostle Pavl which though they mention not these things in explicite and plaine tearmes yet they are commended to us by plaine and cleare implication and deduction for as out of generall promises we may draw and deduct perticulars make applications from them so also from generall commands and directions The first Command is that of Paul in his Epistle to Titus Chap. 3. v. 14. Let ours also learne to maintaine good works for necessary uses that they be not unfruitfull here 's a generall Command out of which one particular may be derived for the present purpose The Apostle here by Good workes meaneâ— good works as they are towards the maintenance of the Commonwealth or a particular Family with necessary commodities and usefull things as Honest Trades and Imployments as the Margint renders it Now it is clear this work imployment of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees is a good worke for necessary uses seeing the life of man may by it be maintained with so many necessaâ—ies belonging to it See Profits of an Orchard â— This being so the Apostle theâ— bids us learne to do it as if he should say get some skill in it and be doing then uphold and maintaine it The second generall Command is that which the Apostle writes to the Philippians Chap. 4.8 Whatsoever things are True whatsoever things are Honest whatsoever things are Iust whatsoever things are Pure whatsoever things are Lovely whatsoever things are of Good Report if there be any Virtue if there be any Praise thinke on these things Now it is easy for a man to speake of many particular Imployments which have upon them the Characters and Marks here mentioned but of them all I know not one except Divine Imployments that hath these Marks so clearely stampt upon it as this Imployment of the husbandman in Planting Fruit-trees This Imployment answers exactly to the Apostles Rule as it were face answering face in the glasse for what particular labour is more honest more just more pure more lovely of better report what hâ—th moâ—e Virtue what hath more Praise then it â—ee what hath been said in the Praise and good report of it and the rest of the â—râ—perties at large already mentioned pag. 11 12 13 14 c. Now this being so then we ought to follow the Apostles Command If there be any Virtue if theâ—e be any Praise saith he think on these things The words are very Emâ—haâ—icall whatsoever and if there be any praise His meaning is whatsoever the work be though mean in the eye of the world yet if there be but any one of these Characters and Marks upon it it is worthy to be followed then how much more when it has them All and that so eminently as that every eye sees them Thinke on these things saith he first to search out what works and imployments are markt with these Characters and then think on such to like chuse them to set about them to follow them make such things our professions for the praise of God and profit of men And so much for the seaventh Divine Argument Another Divine Argument is from Gods command for the preservation of fruit-trees He layes a speciall charge upon men for their safety and preservation as we see Deut. 20.19.20 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time in making war against it to take it thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an Axe against them for thou mayest eat of them and thou shalt not cut them downe to further thee in the siege for the tree of the field is mans life Vers 20. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be â—ot trees for meat thou shalt destroy and cut â—hem downe and thou shalt build Bulwarks â—gainst the city that maketh war with thee untill it be subdued Although this Scripture may be taken in an Allegoricall sence as signifying to us Gods care of Mysticall Fruit-trees his people being Trees of righteousnesse of the Lords planting yet the same may also be taken in a litterall sence as some Godly men conceive is a positive binding Law even at this day We see God ingeminates and repeats his charge to preserve the Fruit-trees being trees for food and nourishment of mans life they must not be destroyed though it were on so great an occasion as to further the siege against their enemies He leaves other trees such as are not trees for meat such as beare no fruits to be cut down and destroyed as they have use for them in the war but they must not spoyle nor meddle with the Fruit trees I have discovered these Divine Arguments of the dignity and value of Fruit-trees and the art of Planting to stir up and encourage men to so good a work to â— work of so great and many advantages to the Commonweale And because Humane Arguments arâ— likewise prevalent which men observâ— them also for further encouragement The first Humane Argument of the dignâ—â—ty and value of Fruittrees and the arâ—â— Planting is from Presidents or Examples of wise and learned men of great and good men in former ages who have practised this Art Examples either in Vâ—rtue or Vice are powerfull with men especially Examples of great ones Brevius iter per exempla quà m per praecepta Its much easier to prevaile with people by Examples then by Precepts or Rules And if Examples of great ones even in things evill are so powerfull as they are with most men how much more then should they be prevalent in honest and vertuous things so that herein is a double inducement the Example and the Vertue here is a twofold Argument concurrent and met in this imployment of planting fruit-trees Presidents and those of the highest Philosophers Kings Emperours Secondly Vertue and that of the chiefest Nature that secular Imployments have in them So then observe some Examples recorded by antient Aâ—thors in this imployment of planting Fruit-trees Plures excellentis doctrine viri Philosophandi studio c. Many famous and learned men saith he studious in Philosophy have delighted in this course of life and found therein abundance of pleasure and contentment Si dignitas Agriculturae accedit ex iis qui eam tractaverint Regalis Ars dignissima erit If the dignity and esteeme of this Art may be drawne from those who have beene conversant in it then it is a Kingly Art and chiefest of all others Reges Imperatores summosque Magistratus c. Cyrus King of Persia. Philometrus King of Asia Heronus King of Asia Archelaus King of Asia Attalus King of Asia Evax and Avicen Kings of Arabia Solomon King of Israel Telaphanus Antonius Pius Elizeus Numa Sportanus Alcinous Mithridates the great Alexander the great Dioclesian Emperour of Rome And many others Kings Princes Roman Emperours and the highest powers on
kinds of Mulberry-trees with us in England the Black and the White As for the White I never saw any of its fruit they very seldome bear well with us But the Black Mulberry-tree never failes of fruit after it is grown up These trees are not increased by Grafting or Inoculating but by Cuttings from the Branches or sides of the trees Cut a bow off as big as a mans arme and after cut it in small Truncheons or pieces a yard long or less lay these small and great in the ground a foot deep only the one end out of the ground a hands bredth or two or there abouts in good fat ground somewhat moist and after a year or two didivers young springs may be drawn from the Roots and Planted at a fit distance and the old Roots will yearly send out more also the branches may be bowed down and layd in the earth on one or several sides which will take root and multiply abudantly and be fit to be transplanted Medlers may be grafted and they take well upon a White thorne but I much rather approve the Grafting or Inoculating of them upon Pear-stocks and the fruit will be much better and the trees much larger then upon White-thorne Walnut-trees are propagated from the Nuts which may be set from the time of ripeness until the spring an inch deep or little more and afterwards transplanted and set at a very great distance 24. or 30. yards asunder for they are very large spreading trees But if they are planted on the North or East-sides for shelter then set them nearer Be sure to chuse of the best Nuts to set the fairest Nuts and thinnest shells and good bearers Thus much briefly concerning the best bearing Trees and how they are propagated As for those Fruit-trees which bear but little or no fruits by reason that Grafts and Buds were not chosen from good bearing kinds wherewith they were engrafted I advise by all means to Graft or Inoculate such again though great and old Trees such whose boughs are as big as a mans hand wrist or smaller may be cut off and grafted in the Cleft with a couple of good Grafts of good bearing kinds but such Branches as are very great I should rather cut off a convenient height from the ground slope-wise that no wet may rest on the top and then after a year or two to graft the small shoots or branches that are put forth or some of them this is a better course then to graft such great Branches for that moisture will get into the top and rot the Branches and perhaps the Body too ere the grafts can cover such great heads As concerning Arbors Seats c. in Orchards and Gardens I advise men to make them of Fruit-trees rather then of Privet or other rambling stuffe which yields no profit but onely for shade If you make them of Cherry-trees Plum-trees or the like there will be the same advantage for shade and all the Fruits superadded All that can be objected is that Fruit-trees are longer in growing up then Privet Virgin-Bower or the like whereof Arbors are commonly made It is answered Though Fruit trees are something longer in covering an Arbor then some other things yet they make sufficient amends in their lasting and bearing fruits And besides such Cherry-trees and other kinds may be set about the Arbors as will reach and cover even the first year I Shall now give some Rules concerning Transplanting young plants after a years growth or more whether Inoculated or Grafted The time for this work in general is in Autumne when Trees have done growing and that is divers weeks before the Leaves fall Stay not as the custome is till November or after before you Transplant for the best time is about the latter end of September to begin and so on all the Winter It 's a great advantage to remove plants betime for such grow a while after in their Roots before Winter and thereby not only preserve themselves in Winter but also make some preparation against the Spring which those removed in Winter cannot do Stay not therefore till the Leaves fall ere you remove although they may be remov'd then with good success but it is not so good at that time as before The ancient proverb is If a growing Tree would have Let him carry his green Leaves to his grave Yet notwithstanding those that have many to Transplant and cannot finish or have no leasure in this season which is best they may go on and be doing even all Winter until the very Spring unless Frost shut up the ground And notwithstanding Frost or Snow all the while if we can get into the ground and find the mould mellow so as that it will fall well between and about the Roots it 's then good removing Trees although the best time is to be prefer'd The time of removing being come and the place prepared for setting them again then be careful in taking up the Plants dig round about them and take off the mould from their Roots if it be a small plant it may be drawn up easily the mould being taken away if it be great and the Roots spread much then they may be cut about half a yard from the body of the Plant and the greater it is the further off cut the Roots and so draw it up and break off all the leaves the first thing you do if they be not then fallen off for the Sun and Aire by means of them extract the sap of the branches And here observe That the Great Plants are not alwayes best to transplant out of Nurseries into Orchards though most men are for the greatest when they may chuse and they think the bigger they are the sooner they will make an Orchard but herein they are much mistaken for in removing great trees there is great hazard and many of them fail and die and others grow very poorly putting out only leaves the first year or little more though some few in special good soyle may do well I account young grafted Trees fit to remove when they are about two inches in compass in the body and about a yard and half or two yards high those about this bigness I judge to be better then such as are five or six inches or more in compass with a proportionable height because these cannot possibly be transplanted but their Roots must be cut very much in the taking up and then how can those Roots so much cut be able to nourish so great a body with so many branches whereas young trees of a smaller size as before is mentioned these may be removed even with all their Roots which are young and small and may be spread in the earth every way when set again save onely the ends of the roots must be a little cut and these young and tender roots will sooner shoot forth in the earth then the greater sort especially also because
moist Aire towards Winter comes on they will begin to mould and â—ot I have kept some in Glass as close stopt with cork and wax as I could supposing the exclusion of Air had been best but though they were good certain week yet afterwards they began to perish I account it better to hang the bunches in a Kitchin or some warm Room where fire is much kept that so some of their superfluous moisture may be a little dried up I have kept them thus many weeks For though the Aire be much shut out from them in any Vessel yet that Aire that is shut in with them and their own natural moisture will cause putrefaction therefore there is need of some degree of warmth with dryness Cut off some of the wood with the bunches and cover them with paper from dust and hang them up in the Kitchin or where fire is kept Also a Vine branch full of ripe Grapes may be drawn in at a window and nailed up upon the wall or seeling letting the branch grow still to the Vine thus they will keep long The juices of Fruits are either watry or oylie I reckon amongst the watry all the fruits out of which drink is expressed as the Grape the Apple the Pear the Cherry the Pomegranate c. And there are some others which though they be not in use for drink yet they appear to be of the same nature as Plums Mulberries Services Rasps c. And for those juices that are so fleshie as they cannot make drink by expression yet perhaps they may make drink by mixture of water And some of the watry juices after they have gathered spirit will burn and inflame as Wine Concerning the juices of Apples Pears and Cherries these are well known and much in use and esteem the two former with us in England and all of them in other parts And we might have Wine of Cherries as plentifully in England as it is beyond Sea if men would but plant store of Cherry-trees of the best kinds such as are fittest for this purpose as the Morello Cherry the Charoon the Black hart and other kinds which have a pleasant taste the juice of which is of a deep red colour These would make a delicate Wine especially for Sommer time and which will last also all the year as I have heard it credibly spoken by a worthy Gentleman who drank good Cherry Wine of a Twelve month old As for Cider and Perry these Liquors especially Cider begin to be better known to us in some parts where they have scarce been heretofore And doubtless when men are better acquainted with them and know their good properties and virtues in reference to health and long-life they will be more diligent in planting Fruit-trees such as are best and fittest for this purpose as the Pearmain Pippin Gennet-moyle Redstreak and such like which make Cider better then French-wine Concerning the manner of making Cider and Perry with the keeping and ordering of it I have spoken at large in my Treatise of Fruit-trees See the use of Fruits pag. 144 145 c. As for Plums it is affirmed that there may be made an excellent Wine out of them and also Aquavitae of those that are sweet fat Plums as Musle-plums Damsons c. And though the juice be too thick of it self for that purpose yet Water Cider or some other liquor may be mixed therewith which being put up into the Vessel some Hony Yest or the like must be mixed to cause it to work It hath been noted that most Trees and specially those that bear Mast are fruitful but once in two years The cause no doubt is the expence of sap for many Orchard Trees well cultured will bear divers years together Some Fruit-trees bear store of fruits but once in two years and I conceive it to be as natural for some kinds so to do as to bear such or such a kind of fruit And others are observed to bear store of Fruits every year constantly unless perhaps in some extream blasting spring which spoils in a manner all But for many years together every year some are known to bear Fruits exceeding full in the same ground and with the same culture as those that bear but each other year so that we see the expence of sap in the bearing year is not the only cause that Trees bear not the next year after for some that expend as much sap do yet bear the next year after as full as before So then let care be taken to chuse grafts from those Trees that we see by Experience are the best and most constant bearers and best fruits The greater part of Treâ—s bear most and best on the lower boughs but some bear best on the top boughs Those that bear best below are such as shade doth more good to then hurt for generally all fruits bear best lowest because the sap tireth not having but a short way and therefore in fruits spread upon walls the lowest are the greatest To my observation Apple-trees Pear-trees Cherry-trees c. that are good bearers they bear all over alike And geneâ—ally all Fruit-trees in these parts have need enough of the Sun and bear better in the Sun then in the shade but indeed as to Wall trees most commonly we see most fruit upon the lower boughs and side branches and the Reason I apprehend to be this Not the â—iring of the sap in its going to the top branches for the sap is too vigorous and too plentiful in the top boughs and thence it is we always see the fairest and greatest shoots towards the top of all Wall-trees and commonly of all other Trees But the cause why the lower boughs and side branches have usually more fruit then the top branches I conceive to be for that the sap naturally presseth upwards in greatest plenty and runeth forth into shoots and branches Now nature being so intent and vigorously active in one work viz. the increase of the Tree in those branches it doth not put forth it self at the same time in that other effect of bearing fruit upon the same branches But now as to the lower boughs and side branches there nature is at work but in a remiss and weaker degree as to the increase of the branches such grow but little because the sap is somewhat obstructed and curbed by bowing the branches downwards and so does attend to the other work also viz. the bearing of Fruits And the truth of this is made more evident if we consider the same thing in all young Trees We know young Apple-trees Pear-trees and the like when and while they grow and increase exceedingly in all the parts shooting forth great large strong shoots and branches they bear but little fruit or none at all But after certain years when they grow not so much when they shoot less then they fall to bearing fruits more abundantly There be Trees that bear best when they begin
to be old as Almonds Pears Vines and all Trees that give Mast. The Cause is for that all Trees that bear Mast have an oyly fruit and young Trees have a more watry juice and less concocted But the most part of Trees amongst which are Apples Plums c. bear best when they are young Pear trees Apple trees Plum and Cherry-trees if they be good bearing kinds naturally after they are three or four years growth and some sooner do all bear store of fruits until they be extream old and in a decaying dying condition And therefore in planting of Fruit-trees be sure to procure those kinds that are known by experience to be good bearers and good fruits and such will bear well both when they are young and when they are old until extream age Were I to Plant an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees and might have Trees at hand freely for nothing of indifferent common kinds and but indifferent bearers I would rather chuse to fetch those that are choice kinds and special bearers one hundred or two hundred Miles if they could not be had nearer and there pay dear for them too besides all other charges then take those at hand for when men plant Fruit-trees it is not for a â—ew years but for several Generations therefore take special care to have the best kinds for bearing and for relish or taste that is the foundation of the work the principal thing in planting Now when fruit-Fruit-trees are grown to extream old age and therefore bear but little this may be done which will make them as it were young again for certain years and to bear exceeding much fruit yearly That is Cut off their heads or big boughs not strait over but a slope that so rain and moisture may not rest upon the top to rot it These great boughs will the next Sommer put forth many young shoots which may be inoculated the same Sommer or grafted the Spring after with special bearing kinds And these old bodies having young heads which draw sap vigorously will be much refreshed thereby and such Trees will beaâ— store of fruits many years after The Roots of Trees do some of them put downwards deep into the ground as the Oak 〈◊〉 Firre c. some spread more towards the surface of the earth as the Ash Cyprels tree Olive c. The cause of this later may be for that such Trees as love the Sun do not willingly descend farre into the Earth It is true The Roots of Oak-trees and some other kinds shoot down deeper into the earth then Ash-trees and some other Trees May not the Reason be why some put their Roots deeper then others because those Trees have greater and larger bodies then others and Nature lays the foundation answerable to what is to be set upon it Now Oakes being the greatest Trees Nature is wise enough according to a Law God hath put into into it to make the Root or Foundation answerable Otherwise I conceive the Roots of all Trees would be as near the top of the ground as may be as loving the Sun as having an absolute need of it in order to their growth And I am perswaded that the appetite of the spirit in all Trees whatsoever one as well as another is upwards and not downwards and never exerts it self downwards but upon necessity and in order or in subordination to the growth of the body of the Tree above ground It hath been observed that a branch of a Tree being unbarked some space at the bottom and so set into the ground even of such Trees as if the bark were set on they would not grow yet contrariwise we see that a Tree pared round in the body above ground will die The cause may be for that the unbarke part draweth the nourishment best but the bark continueth it only It is true some branches that are unbarkt at the bottome and set in the ground will grow of some kinds of Apples as the Quodling Nursgarden Moyle and some otheâ— kinds that have soft barks Not because not the sooner for that the branch is unbarkt for such will grow of cuttings of slips though they be not at all unbarkt And those that be unbarkt and grow it is not the unbarkt part that draweth nourishment best nor that draweth it at all but the Roots put forth from the bark even at the very adge of the cut part and also some break out of the bark where it is not cut As we see in those branches of Trees from which we get Roots while they grow upon the Tree by disbarking of them an inch round and tying mould about See how at large Treatise of Fruit-trees pag. 136. The grafting of Vines upon Vines as I take it is not now in use the Antients had it and that three ways The first was insition which is the ordinary manner of grafting The second was Terebration through the middle of the stock and putting in the Cions there And the third was paring of two Vines that grow together to the marrow and binding them close I have tryed several ways to graft Vines by cleving or insition as the Author calls it and also by paring two Vines the stock and graft on two sides which is my usual and best way of grafting other fruit-trees but neither took effect so that I am perswaded those Fruit-trees that are so easily propagated by other means as by laying down the branches into the earth and by cuttings that these will not take with grafting or inoculating as Vines Mulberries c. I have tried many exreriments about Mulberries both for grafting and inoculating upon several kinds of stocks and yet none succeeded but Mulberries are increased by laying down the branches and by cuttings as Vines are so that I conceive this grafting mentioned by some Ancient Authors is but a conceit of theirs a grafting in the brain instead of a real Experiment like multitudes of other things recorded by some who its probable by what they say had no Experimental knowledg in the things they spake As for Maturation of fruits it is effected by heat motion attraction and by a rudiment of putrefaction for the inception of putrefaction hath in it a maturation Concerning the maturation or speedy ripening or concocting of Fruits all kinds of heat â—as the Author sayes hastneth it faster or slower according to the degree of heat as we see by experience Apples or Pears laid upon a heap together being newly gathered they mellow and ripen faster then if they lay single at distance one from another Also Apples covered in Lime Hay Straw c. will be mellow in a short time But the most speedy way to ripen hard fruits and to abate the grosse tartness of them is the common Experiment by a gentle heat before the fire or in an Oven after bread is drawn So we see as the Authour observes if fruits are eat with Wasps
A TREATISE OF FRUIT-TREES SHEWING The manner of Planting Grafting Pruning and ordering of them in all respects according to Rules of Experience Gathered in the space of Thirty seven Years Whereunto is Annexed Observations upon Sr. Fran. Bacons Natural History as it concerns Fruit-trees Fruits and Flowers ALSO Directions for Planting of Wood for Building Fuel and other uses whereby the Value of Lands may be much Improved in a short time with small Cost and little Labour The Third Impression Revised with Additions By R A. AVSTEN Practiser in the Art of Planting Deut. 20.10 Thou shalt not destroy the Trees being Trees for meat for the Tree of the Field is mans life Amos 4.4 They shall Plant Gardens and eat the fruits of them OXFORD Printed by William Hall for Amos Curteyne 1665. IMPRIMATUR ISTE LIBER ROBER SAY VICE-CANCEL OXON Iune the 9th 1665. TO THE HONOURABLE ROBERT BOYLE Esq The Worthy PATRON and EXAMPLE Of all VERTUE Honoured Sir AMong other of your many Learned and Profitable Labours which have much Inlightned the World You have been pleased together with the Honourable and Royal Society whereof You are a Worthy Member to take into Consideration the Work of Planting and Preserving all sorts of Trees not onely of Forrest-trees for Building Fuel and other uses but also of Fruit-trees especially in Relation to the most wholsome Drink Cider which hath together with many other of Your undeserved Favours towards me imboldned me to make this humble Address unto You intreating Your Favour and further Help in this good and profitable Work And conceiving that I have so much Interest in Your Honours Favour as to have liberty to make such Proposals unto You as concern the Profit of the Publique not doubting of Your good acceptance of them I do humbly submit these following particulars to Consideration which I judge to be material if not necessary as to many persons 1. First That there be a Law made to enjoyne the Work as we have in other Cases of far less concernment then this and according to the Example of other Nations in the same thing For although many that are Ingenious Persons will not need such an Excitement yet the Common vulgar People which are the greatest part of the Nation will do but little without it 2. Secondly That there be Overseers or Officers appointed to look after the Work from year to year without which some Laws will have but a feeble Execution and these Overseers to have due Encouragement one way or other This is no more then what is done in other Cases of far smaller advantage then this would be 3. Thirdly That there be Books Printed and Published for instruction in this business which may have these Characters 1. First That they be of small Bulk and Price Because great Volumns as many are upon this Subject are of too great a Price for mean Husbandmen to buy as also take up more time to peruse then they can spare from other Labours 2. Secondly That the Stile and Expressions be plaine and suited to the Vulgar even to the Capacities of the meanest for these Generally must be the Workmen and Labourers thereabout Now we know that many Pieces upon this Subject are in Latine French and other Tongues yea and some that are in English being the Works of some Learned and Eminent Persons whose Faculties are raised by Study and Education far above the reach of common Capacities their Expressions are answerable and therefore not so profitable to the Vulgar though Excellent in themselves and very useful unto those that understand them But when Men are spoken to and taught in any Art in their own Language in their common familiar stile things are more easily received and take the deeper Impression in their minds and are better remembred 3. Thirdly That these Books for Instruction be Experimental according to what is tried and practised from year to year Many that have Written upon this Subject especially some Antient Authours have been meerly Contemplative men and have presented us with little else but their Notions and Apprehensions And though some things may be rational and useful yet many are not so which when they come to be tryed by the Touchstone of Experience fall off and deceive men to their loss of Time Cost and Labour with discouragement and discover themselves as Sir Francis Bacon observes in his Advancement of Learning to be but meer Putative things And hereunto he adds That it were to be wished as that which would make Learning indeed solid and fruitfull that Active or Experimental men would or could become Writers And the oftner Experience in things is renewed and repeated from year to year the more it is Confirmed and so fittest to be Communicated and Practised Now how that which is here done in the ensuing work answers to these things I leave to others to Iudge not doubting but that You Honoured Sir will continue your Endeavours for the carrying on this good and profitable Work of Planting A Work wherein not onely the most Learned Philosopher and Exquisite Indagatour into the Mysteries of Nature may exercise his Judgment and please his Mind but also a work Pregnant with Profits Real and Substantial to all people all their life long from the Cradle to the Grave A Work that instead of empty and fruitless speculations will fill the Belly and cloath the Back A Work that will enrich the Poor and adorn the Rich A Work that will Encrease the Kings Revenues and the Substance of all his Subjects A Work Praised and Practised by the Greatest and most Eminent Persons in all Ages In a word It is a Royal Work and worthy the most serious Considerations and Endeavours of the Royal Society whereby those Worthies may raise to themselves perpetual Honour as being Instrumental to promote and carry on the same to a greater and more general profit Wherefore Worthy Sir You being a principal Wheel in this great and famous Engin framed on purpose for great and profitable Works are able to move it strongly and effectually to that end which that you would be pleased to do is earnestly desired whereby you may engage not onely the present Age but also many Generations to come to be acknowledged by many but especially SIR By Your already greatly obliged Servant RA AVSTEN TO THE READER THe Art of Planting fruit-trees is among Antient Authors called Husbandry being it is one part of the Husbandmans work though in many parts of this Nation Husbandmen have little skill in it their labour being chiefly Tillage of the ground for Corn. But this is a part of the Husbandmans work as well as that yea and the chiefest and worthyest part Adam in time of his Innocency was imployed in this part of Husbandry about fruit-Fruit-trees as is shewed pag. 22. But when he had sinned he was put away from this work to Till the ground a lower and inferior labour Gen. 3.23 The Lord God sent him from the Garden of
them prosper better p. 11 Keep Trees stedy at first setting p. 1â— Cut away suckers and side branches at need is p. 13 How to take off the boughs of some Trees with Roots p. 14 No descention of sap in Trees divers Arguments against it p 14 15 How to make barren Trees fruitful p. 15 Trees against a South-wall bear fruits ripe soonest p. 16 Pull not off leaves too soon p. 17 Fruits on low boughs ripe soonest p. 17 Graft Trees that bear not or bear not good fruits with grafts of good bearing kinds p 19 Digging about the Roots of Trees profitable to some p. 19 Opening the Roots of old Trees and putting in good mould is necessary in barren ground p. 20 Transplant Trees from bad ground to better p. 21 Cutting or scoring the bark of Trees sometimes profitable p 21 Shade good for some Trees p. 22 Pull off blossomes in some cases p 22 Grafting helpeth not Trees except the Grafts are of good kinds p. 23 Grafts do govern yet partake somewhat of the stock p. 24 Fruit-trees of some kernels bear good fruits p. 26 Remove flowers into fresh earth p. 26 Regrafting the same graft makes not fruits greater p. 27 Cut not off the tops of young fig-trees p. 28 Black Mulberry-trees great bearers p. 28 Lees of Wine Blood c. good especially to old Yrees p 29 Terebration of Trees good for some Trees p. 29 Pricking or scoring of Trees profitable p 29 Swines dung good for trees if moderately used p. 30 Simply grafting doth not meliorate fruits p. 30 Chuse the best Grafts and Stocks p. 30 Rouen dung best for Trees p. 31 Fruit growing in Pots p. 32 Set not any Trees below the soyle p. 33 Fruits upon warm walls ripen soonest p. 33 Graft upon the best stocks p. 34 The Causes of Barrenness of Trees p. 35 Of Compounding fruits making of several kinds one new kind p. 37 Sympathy and Antipathy of Plants p. 40 Several kinds drawing the same juice or sap convert it into their own Natures p. 42 Of making herbs and fruits Medicinable p. 42 Curiosities about Fruits and Plants p. 44 Fruits of several shapes p. 45 Fruits and Trees with Inscriptions or Ingravings upon them p. 45 Set Letters on Fruit trees to know the kinds p. 46 Trees apparelled with flowers p. 4â— Remove flowers into fresh mold p. 47 Lay flowers to multiply them see how p 48 Clâ—ve gilly flowers the most useful p 49 White colours more inodorate p. 50 White fruits commonly best p 51 Different colours from one kind of seed p. 52 Gather seed from the best flowers p. 54 How to have flowers fair and double p. 54 Roses multiplied by Inoculating p. 55 Fruits without core or stone p. 55 Grafts upon the sweetest stocks bear the sweetest fruits p. 57 Degenerating of Plants p. 57 Some flowers degerate change through barrenness of the soyl p. 58 Seed of some fruits degenerate see the Cause p. 59 Peaches come not better of stones then grafting p. 60 Dwarf trees bear great fruits and many p. 61 Help barren soyls and such as are too moist laâ— them dryer p. 63 Some trees bear twice a year p. 6â— Cutting fruit-trees conduceth to their lasting in some cases p. 65 How to keep fruits long p. 66 Wine of Cherries and other fruits p 68 An excellent drink made of Plâ—ms p. 70 Plant the best bearing Trees p. 70 Most fruits commonly on the lowest boughs the Cause p. 71 Good bearing kinds bear betime and last long p. 73 Get the best kinds upon any rates p. 73 Graft again old Trees if bad fruits or bad bearerâ— p. 74 Some Trees grow deeper then others the cause p. 75 Some Trees take Root of slips p. 76 Vines take not with grafting lay the branches in the earth p. 77 Heat hastneth Maturation of Fruits p. 78 How to keep Cider and other Liquors long p. 79 Bottles of Liquor in Sand Earth c. p. 80 Fruits cannot be made without cores or stones p. 81 Artificial heat may help to ripen fruits sooner p. 82 Planting of Fruit-Trees The best way of improvement of Lands THE Profits of Orchards and Gardens and also of planting Fruit-trees in the Fields and Hedges especially by Cider and Pery are very well know to many in this Nation so that the things I here speak of to men are not doubtfull and questionable whether advantages will arise or no when they have bestowed their time labours about them but Profits are as certaine by the blessing of God as a harvest of Corne in Autumne when the husbandman hath plowed and sowed in the spring or other season Worcestershire Herefordshire Glocestershire Kent and many other parts in this Nation can sufficiently evidence the Profits of Orchards and fruit-trees in the fields and hedges And those good Common-wealths-men who have written of the Improvement of lands have all agreed that this is the highest way of improvement of any other Mr. Blith in his Book intituled The Improver improved hath asserted That Planting Fruit trees at such a distance as they cannot reach when they have attained largest growth they do advantage the Land even in respect of Grasse although the common prejudice against Fruit-trees in fields is that they spoyle Grasse so that some Land not being worth above 10s s or 13s s 4d. an Acre the Grasse by planting Fruit-trees regularly upon it was afterwards worth 30s s on 40s s or 50s s an Acre And the Fruits upon the Trees may yeild some 3l l some 5l l Or some 6 or 8l l an Acre See Pag. 262 of his Book And that in Kent Essex Surrey Middlesex and those parts some Land that was not worth above 6 or 8s s the Acre was by Nurseries of young Trees planting and ordering of them in certaine years brought to be worth 20l an Acre and some 40 or more And further he affirmeth that some Orchards in those parts aâ—â— worth to grase Forty or fifty shillings 〈◊〉 an Acre and are so let to Tenants And the fruits of those Trees seldome yeild so little as Double or treble the worth of the Grasse many times five or sixfold or more see Pag. 263. of his Book It may perhaps be objected That Fruit-trees so planted make grasse under and about them sower that it is not so pleasant and good for Cattle as some other where no Trees are It is Answered Although it be not so pleasant altogether as that where ther 's no shade of trees yet other advantages doe more then make amends It 's observ'd that such Grasse is earlier in the spring then upon other grounds â—and that such grounds beare more when it is cut for hay or if pastured it keeps more Cattle then Lands of like quantity not so planted And besides in a hot and dry summer ther 's grasse under and about Trees when it s burnt up in other grounds My advice is therefore all these Profits and advantages considered that men set themselves diligently
himselfe with the choice of such varieties The Boughs burthened with the weight of Fruits do bow to thee and in a lowly manner offer their Fruits as the Poet notes Behold the bending Boughs with store of Fruits they teare And what they have brought forth for weight they scarce can beare Oh how sweet and pleasant is the fruit of those Trees which a man hath Planted and ordered with his owne hand to gather it and largly and freely to bestow and distribute it among his kindred and friends Yea it is a delight to heare the pleasant tunes and singing of Birds which with their variety of notes make a sweet harmony and concent and much please and allure the sence So the Poet Melodious Ditties chirping Birds indite whose pleasant songs our ravisht eares invite Theophrastus planted an Orchard close to his dwelling house which when he died he left to students and lovers of Philosophy and wisdome Democritus had his Chamber neer to a garden Many Philosophers have taught their schollers in Orchards and Gardens What worke is more innocent then Planting of fruit-Fruit-trees and what more full of high speculations to wise men then it is What is more wonderfull to behold then in sowing seeds in planting sprigs in removing young Trees in grafâ—ing new shoots or grafts as it were to aske and demand with a mans selfe what by the nature and virtue of the Roots and Branches may be done or what may not be done for what reason it may be done or not done seeing the nature of things may after a sort be declared by reason what of many things is of force and effect by an invisible and inward power and nature what diligence is outwardly to be used c. In which consideration and search we may see and understand these things Yet for all that neither he that Plants is any thing nor he that waters but God that gives the encrease They accompt this course of life free from many mischeifes and vexations that necesâ—arily aâ—tend other affaires great and many cares and troubles are found in honours and high places but this course of life about Orchards and Gardens is full of sweet rest honest businesse and modest pleasures which many famous learned men have had recourse unto for refreshment after study and other labours It is full of honest profit and gaine and brings and administers all necessaries here a man enjoyes pleasant quietnesse and tranquillity of mind which is seldome attained by those that follow State Imployments This is worthy the exercise of wise men of good men of learned men of Kings and Emperours they have taken great delight in the study and practice of these things This course of life is far off from covetousnesse even tied and married to all Offices of love and friendship This is a quiet pleasant life worthy to be preferred before all honours dignities This culture of the ground and planting and ordering of Fruit-trees Occasions search and enquiry into many secrets profitable to men which bring unto them ample satisfaction yea the excellency and worthinesse of Husbandry is surpassing it excells all other Arts and appeares as the Lady or Mistris they as Servants attending her Many of the Ancients have largely declared unto us the nature and use of Plants and Trees before all other living creatures The profit of a Garden of Fruit-trees is wonderfull and cannot well be declared And if Antiquity can adde any noblenesse and worth to a thing what imployment then before this what more ancient then the labour of the Husbandman Husbandmen are called Honest and good men because of their innocent and just life Cicero esteemde it best of all other labours nothing more rich and profitable nothing more delightfull nothing more worthy a generous spirit then it In former times those that were honoured carried in triumph they were not honoured with Gold Pearles and other such pretious things but with the Boughs and Branches of Trees And in their Games and exercises who so got the Prize were crowned with thâ— branches of certaine Trees as the Olivâ— Palme c. Such as got the Conquest and Victory of their enemies were crowned with the Lawrell which was to them a signe of Victory And in their feasts they gave Crowns and Garlands of Leaves and Branches of Trees in token of mirth and pleasure Besides if this labour receive honour from the persons that have beene conversant in it then it is a Kingly Art and chiefest of all other Cyrus King of Persia who had all the Kindomes of the earth given to him was diligent and most exact in the handling of it He planted Orchards and Gardens of Fruit-tree with his owne hand which when Lysander saw he admired to see the excellenâ— and singular order disposition of them saying O Cyrus right blessed shall all men call thee because to thy dignity and Crowne thou hast joyned this care and course of life Telephanes tilled the ground and planted Trees among his subjects Elizeus Spartanus planted spacious and large Orchards and used therein to Feast and Banquet with his children and friends Kings Emperours highest powers were not ashamed to perform the workes belonging to an Orchard with their own hands Divers Emperours of Rome had Gardens of fruit-Fruit-trees and performed the workes therein with delight Dioclesian Emperour of Rome after he had reigned twenty years betooke himselfe to a private life and Planted Orchards and Gardens with his owne hand wherein he took such delight that he could not be intreated to take upon him again the Government of the Empire Solomon the wisest of all Kings had Orchards and Gardens of Fruit-trees took pleasure in them and spake of all Trees from the Cedar even to the Shrub Mascali sets out this Art with admirable praises he saies among all sciences and goodly exercises for men there is none do more refresh the spirits nor cause more admiration in the effects of Nature or is more profitable for mans life then is the skill of Planting and Grafting Many great Lords and Noble Personages have left their Theaters and goodly exercises and have given themselves to Planâ—ing and Grafting and such like imployments and have commended nothing more then this imployment The Senators Dictators and Consuls of the Romans have commended Planting and Grafting to be one of the flourishing labours in the world for the Commonwealth Yea they did so much esteeme it that they did hang Tables there of in divers places never thinking the time more aptly spent then in Planting and Grafting Many worthy learned men both ancient and of late daies have written for their Country and Common-wealth of the fruitfull Art of Grafting and Planting M. Bolton saies Vineyards Orchards Gardens and such inclosed Plats are as it were the Flowers Starres Paradises of the Earth And the Lord Bacon in his Essaies pag. 266. saies Gardens are the purest of humane pleasures the greatest refreshments of the
spirits of man without which Buildings and Pallaces are but grosse handy works THus have I shewed briefly what some of the Ancients and some late Writers have said and esteemed of fruit-Fruit-trees and of the Husbandmâ—ns course of life and imployments about them I will now say something more of the dignity and value of Fruit-trees and of the Art of Planting from Divine Humane Arguments and Testimonies and after that I shall enter upon the work it selfe Though it be absurd for a man to commend himselfe yet he may commend his Calling and profession Paul would not boast of himselfe ' yet faith he Rom. 11.13 I magnifie mine Office Suffer me therefore for Encouragement to all in the work to say something in praise of fruit-Fruit-trees and of the employment about them it being a worke so full of Profit and Pleasure in the life of man The workes of God are laudable and have a dignity upon them and ought to be taken notice of praised and admired not for themselves but for the Author that he through by them may have the more praise Psalm 111.3 His worke is worthy to be praised and had in honour Arguments of the dignity of fruit-Fruit-trees and Art of Planting ONE Divine Argument of the dignity and value of Plants Fruit-trees and the Art of Planting may be this It was Adams imployment in his innocency to keepe and order the Garden of Fruit-trees Gen. 2.15 And the Lord God put him into the Garden of Eden to dresse it and to keep it God who is wisdome it selfe saw that a Garden of Fruit-trees was the meetest place upon all the Earth for Adam to dwell in even in his state of perfection And therein assigned him an imployment for his greater delight and pleasure so that this imployment as it is ancient so it is honourable Augustin is of opinion that this dressing of the Garden was as well an exercise of the hand as of the mind not with toyle-somenesse trouble but with delight and pleasure Non erat laboris afflictio sed exhileratio voluntatis quum ea quae Deus creaverat humani operis adjutorio laetius feraciusque provenirent Creator ipse uberius laudaretur That things created in the Garden by his labour might be made more fruitfull and God thereby have the more glory The second Divine Argument is this Plants were the first animate bodies that God created And fruits of Trees was the first food that was given to man his food appointed by God even in his perfect Condition And God said behold I have given you every hearb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the Earth every Tree in which is the fruit of a Tree yeelding seed to you it shall be for meat Gen. 1.29 Another Divine Argument is from examples in Scripture of Planting Fruit-trees of the use of Orchards and Gardens First God blessed for ever planted an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees Gen. 2.8 And the Lord God planted a Garden Eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed God planted a Fruit-garden That is He caused a parcell of ground to bring forth Plants and Trees most exquisite and usefull for man and enriched that place with more fruit-fulnesse and beauty then any other part of the Earth and called it EDEN that is a place of Pleasures And at this day this Region of Eden afterwards called Mesopotamia is exceeding fruitfull being in the best Climate 35 degrees from the Equinoctiall and 55. from the North-pole in which Climate the most excellent fruits Oyles Graines c. are found Secondly we have for our example herein that good holy man who found grace in the sight of God when all the world save a few with him perishâ— Gen. 9.20 And Noah began to bee an husbandman and he planted a Vineyard Or as some conceive he began to prune and dresse the plants that were set before the Flood and to order them that they might yeeld their fruits Thirdly We have for our example herein the friend of God faithful Abraham Gen. 21.33 And Abraham planted a Grove in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord the everlasting God Of the fitnesse of these shades by Arbours Seats and close walks in Orchards for contemplation and private exercises I shall speak hereafter Fourthly King Vzziah delighted in this imployment 2 Chro. 26.10 Vzziah had husbandmen and dressers of Vines in the Mountaines and in Carmell for he loved husbandry This King raigned a long time in Ierusalem over Iuda fifty and two yeares Fiftly King Solomon a great and wise King Eccl 2.4 tooke pleasure herein and though we may not follow him in any immoderation and excesse yet theâ—e â—s a lawfull and warrantable use of these delights Vers. 4.5 I made me great workes I builded me houses I planted me Vineyards I made me gardens and Orchards and I planted in them Trees of all kind of fruits Sixtly For the use of an Orchard and Garden we have the example of the Mirror of Chastity Virtuous Susanna It was her custome to walke in a garden as we see in the History vers 7 8. Susanna went into her husbands garden to walke the â—wo Elders saw her going in every day and walking Seventhly The people of Israel by a â—peciall command from God made use of Arbours and shady places in their great Feasts Nehem. 8.14.15 It was publisheâ— and proclaimed in all their cities and iâ— Ierusalem saying Goe forth unto the Mounâ— and fetch Olive Branches Pine Branches and Mirtle Branches and Branches of thick Trees to make Boothes So they madâ— these Boothes upon the Roofs of their houses and in their Courts and in the court of thâ— house of God and in the streets and theâ— sate under these Boothes and there was verâ— great gladnesse Eightly For the use of an Orchard â— Garden we have the example of our blesâ—sed Saviour whose custome it was to waâ—â— in a Garden Ioâ— 18.1 when Iesus haâ— spoken these words he went over the Brooâ— Cedron where was a Garden into which â—â— entred with his Disciples We see he often came to this Garden for Iudas observed iâ— was his custome to goe to it v. 2. Iudas knew the place for Iesus often times resorted thiâ—ther with his Disciples Another Divine Argument of the Digâ—nity and value of Fruit-trees and art 〈◊〉 Planting is from the frequent use of Simâ—litudes betweene the Church of God anâ— Fruit-trees and betweene our Saviour and Fruit-trees Fruit-trees beare the figure and resemblance of many high and great Mysteries held forth to us in Parables Tropes and Allegories which represent Morall and Spirituall things under the shape and figure of these Corporeall things One Similitude is betweene the Church and a Vineyard Esay 5.1 2 My beloved had a Vineyard in a very fruitfull Hill vers 2. And he fenced it and gathered
Garden of Fruit-tree â— profitable to the body in respect of Long life How much have men valued long life in all ages of the world what strange courses have some taken to extend their life to a great length some have liv'd is Caves and Rocks and sequestred themselves from society with men and beâ—â—ken themselves to a strict Monasticall course that they might stretch out their life and be said to live Yea amongst Christians who though they desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Yet in some respects long life is to be accounted a blessing and is set before us as an encouragement to obedience as we see Deut. 32.47 The feare of the Lord is your life through this ye shall prolong your daies And Prov. 3.1 2. My sonne keep my Commandments for length of daies and long life shall they add to thee the like in many other places Now I say An Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees is profitable to the body for Long life and that in severall respects All these four last mentioned means for Health the same likewise conduâ—e and are profitable to long life wherein lies another part of their excellency and worth for as the Lord Bacon observes some things are profitable for an healthfull but are not good for long life but all these conduce as well to long life as to health so that Moderate exercise 2. Fresh Ayres 3. Pleasant Odours 4. Wholsome meats and drinks which are all had in an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees are also all profitable to long life The foresaid Author saies The spirit are the master workmen of all the effects in the body and therefore in the intention of long life ought to be first placed So then whatsoever worketh upon the spirits for their refreshing and vigour Is profitable to long life The operation upon the spirits and their waxing fresh and vigorous is the most ready and compendious way to Long life Now an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees and imployments therein work upon the spirits for their refreshing two waies First by the Organs of the Body Secondly by the Affections of the mind Touching the first viz. The operation upon the spirits through the Organs of the body see at large in the pleasure of the five senses pag. 48 49 c. Concerning the operation upon the spirits by the Affections of the mind I shall here speak and mention only three Affections of the mind which work powerfully upon the spirits conducing to long life One Affection of the Mind which works effectually upon the spirits for Long life is Hope The Lord Bacon saies Hope is most beneficiall of all the Affections and doth much to the prolongation of life if it be not too often frustrated but entertaineth the fancy with an expectation of good therefore saith he they whiâ—h fix and propound to themselves something as the marke and scope of their life and continually and by degrees goe forward in the same are for the most part long liv'd Hope is as a Leaf-joy which may be beaten out to a great extension like gold Now the diligent Husbandman in this art of Planting Fruit-trees has good and sure grounds for Hope not only from many Promises in the word but likewise subordinate grounds from Reason and Experience This Hope is sown with the seeds of his fruits and springs up with them and so from yeare to yeare his Hope grows and increaseth with his Fruit-trees He laies before him and considers what great Profits and Pleasures are comming towards him he sees by experience what a plentifull harvest of Profits and pleasures others receive from Orchards or Gardens of Fruit-trees which are as fuel or food to nourish and feed Hope and hold it in strength and vigour and when he begins to receive Profits and Pleasures from his Fruit-trees these refresh Hope and make it grow from strength to strength with his Fruit-trees and thus from yeare to yeare Hope is continued and increased and all this while the spirits are refreshed and Hope is refreshed and are keâ—t thereby vigorous and strong and in a pleased temper and condition and being the Master-workmen in the body or first wheele aâ— the Author saies they work upon all the parts of the body for Prolongation of life And so much concerning the operation upon the spirits by Hope Another Affection of the mind which in this imployment works upon the spirits for long-life is joy The foresaid Author saies That this Affection of Ioy works so powerfully on the spirits that some great Ioyes comming suddenly and unexpectedly do overmuch attenuate and diffuse the spirits But now there 's no danger of the suddenness of Ioy in these things whereby to raise and over much diffuse the spirits for such things at cause Ioy in the imployment of planting Fruit-trees are expected and waited for and Hope prepares the way for Ioy. Ioy is a cleare shining beautifull affection and rises some degrees higher then Hope Ioy in the use of earthly things is lawfull in its season there 's a time to rejoyce as well as a time to mourne And there is a lawfull joy in harvest in gathering in the fruits of the Earth Esay 9.3 It is commanded and allowed of God Deut. 12.16 Thou shalt rejoyce before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hand unto And againe Deut. 16.15 Because the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in all thy increase and in all the works of thine hands therefore thou shalt surely rejoyce A Christian may rejoyce in the Lord in the use of earthly blessings And in this imployment of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees there are many grounds and occasions of rejoycing The joy of the Husbandman is not a flash and so away but it is a setled and habituall joy and is renewed from time to time which is the very thing the aforesaid Author speaks of in giving instructions concerning Long life This life saies he as much as may be is so to be ordered that it may have many renovations and the spirit by continuall conversing in the same actions may not wax dull And againe One thing above all is gratefull to the spirits that there be a continuall progress to the more benigne and no doubt saith he it furthereth Long life to have all things from our youth to our elder age mend and grow to the better Now this imployment of Planting Fruit-trees is above all humane arts most suitable to these Rules whereby this Affection of joy is kept fresh and vigorous which also keeps the spirits cheerfull and lively for herein are many renovations and a continual progresse to the more benigne and things mending and growing to the better Ioy is continually renewed from year to year yea in divers seasons of the yeare there are fresh and new joyes In the spring of the year joy springs a fresh in beholding the seeds and young grafts and plants spring forth vigorously and
strongly And the buds and blossomes breathing forth pretious and pleasant Odours rejoyce and delight the inward and outward senses promising a plentifull Harvest of fruits in Autume and all the Sommer long joy is cherished with cool fresh ayres singing of Birds sight of abundance of Fruits burd'ning all the the Trees delighting the Eye with their beautifull formes and colours and in Autumne joy is renewed againe with a rich and plentifull Harvest of Fruits and all the Winter long joy is nourished and fed with a free use of all the Fruits and Wines and Delicates made of them So here 's a succession of joys one following on the neck of another whereby the spirits are still kept in a cheerfull temper and condition and work powerfully on the grosser parts of the body conducing to Long-life Concerning the lawfulness of rejoycing in earthly blessings with a Caution See afterwards Another Affection of the Mind which in this imployment works powerfully upon the spirits for Long life is Admiration The Lord Bacon saies Admiration and light Contemplation are very powerfull to the Prolongation of lefe This affection ascends a step higher then the other two for as joy rises higher then Hope so Admiration higher then Ioy. It is our duty to Admire God in his works which is a step higher then simply to praise him When we look upon the works of a skilfull Artificer and commend it it is for his credit but when we admire and wonder at it this is a higher commendation The Holy Prophet would have us search out and wonder at the the works of God Ps. 111 2. The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Vers. 3. His work is honourable and glorious and he calls us to this duty of Admiration O come hither and behold the works of God how wonderful he is in his doings Ps. 111.4 He hath so done his Marveilous works that they ought to be had in remembrance Now in this Imployment of planting fruit-Fruit-trees are many things to be seen and understood to cause admiration which works effectually upon the spirits for long-life Baptist Port speaking of the wonderful effects of Grafting says it is an ádmirable Art and the chiefest part of the husbandman work Artem insitionis admirabilem esse ac totius Agriculturae nobilissimam partem volupâ—tuosam utilem c. When he considers thaâ— strange effects of Grafting he falls a wondering O mira insitionis potestas c. And Mizaldus speaking of grafting says Insitionis ope artificiosâ multa ad stuporem usquâ— miranda fiâ—ri many things may be done even to admiration Austin wonders at these things Qui majus mirabiliusque spectaculum est quà m cuâ— positis seminibus plantatis surculis c 〈◊〉 exiguo grano mirabilior praestantior que viâ— est c. What more strange things are to 〈◊〉 seen in Nature then to be sowing seeds setting and grafting young plants and suâ— like works In a small seed there is a woâ—â—derful and admirable power and vertue Many strange things may be found in this imployment Will it not cause Admiration to consider that a huge and mighty body the biggest of all bodies whatsoever that have life doth arise of a small kernel or seed that that seed should contain in it vertually or potentially a great Tree with all the properties of it and retain its nature exactly in every particular Will it not cause Admiration to see goodly wholesome and beautiful fruits come forth of rough and crooked Trees especially to observe the manner of their coming forth the care that Nature takes to secure and preserve the seed of the Fruit by covering it with the Buds Blossomes Skin and Substance of the Fruits with the Core Stones or Shells and also with the leaves of the Trees Will it not cause Admiration to consider that the nature and properties of a great Tree are inclosed and lye in every small twig yea in every bud of the Tree even in the least Bud yea in the Root of that least Bud in some no bigger then a pins point which Bud being set on a small plant according to Art will grow to a Tree in all respects like to that whence it was taken Will it not cause Admiration to consider how many severall substances are made of one simple substance for of the Sap of Trees is made the Bark Wood Pith Leaves Buds Blossomes Stalks Fruit and Seed Will it not cause Admiration to consider that Grafts and Buds set upon Wild stocks such as naturally bring forth sower harsh and noughty fruits that though the Grafts and Buds be nourished by that harsh and different sap and receive all their substance and growth from it that yet these Grafts and Buds should retaine their own natures and not be altered into the nature of the Stock whereon they grow but have power to digest change and assimilate this harsh and sower sap into their own sweet and pleasant natures and bring forth fruits accordingly Will it not cause Admiration to see little small Plants of but two years old and some but of one year if grafted to hang full of fruits and to be able to beare them forth to their naturall bignesse and goodnesse and notwithstanding to make a large and sufficient growth the same yeare Will it not cause Admiration to see the busie and industrious bees to gather Hâ—ny evenfrom the flowers or blossomes of bitter Almond-trees and other flowerâ— and Plants that to our sense are bitter and unpleasant Will it not cause Admiration to see very many and very great fruits hang upon onely one small and slender twig A great Author notes it for a strange thing that all the nourishment which produceth somtime such great fruits should be forced to pass through so narrow necks as the stalk of the Fruit. But may it not be accounted a more strange thing to see five or six or more fair and large fruits to hang upon a slender twig little bigger then the stalke of each particular fruit growing on it Will it not cause Admiration to see one Tree hang full of different and several kinds of fruits as an Apple-tree with all or maâ—y kinds of Apples or a Cherry-tree with â—ll or many kinds of Cherries So of other kinds of trees to see one tree hang full of fruits different in their Forms Colours Leaves and â—lossomes which may be done by Grafting or Inoculating so many several kinds of Buds or Grafts upon one tree Will it not cause Admiration to stand upon a Mount in the midst of a fair large Orchard in the spring time and to behold round about a multitude of several sorts of Fruit-trees full of beautiful Blossomes different in their shapes and colours ravishing the sense with their sweet Odours and within a while turned into faire and goodly fruits of divers Colours and Kinds the Fruit-trees gorgeously arrayed with green leaves and various colour'd fruits as with so many
precious Iewels Pearls And thus much touching the operation upon the spirits in order to Long-life by these three affections Hope Ioy Admiration Thirdly This imployment of planting Fruit-trees is profitable to the mind First in respect of Knowledge Secondly in respect of Meditations This work is profitable to the Mind by storing it with variety of objects and profitable notions both natural moral and spiritual How variously does Nature discover it self in Planting Grafting Budding Blossoming and bearing Fruits So that such as are studious in the search of the secrets of Nature may observe the process and course thereof in manifold respects about these things And multitudes of Experiments may be drawn out for use and profit If men will but joyn Contemplation and Action Study and Practise together they shall find even in this one Volumn or Book of the Orchard many useful and fruitful Lessons for temporal and spiritual advantage And as the imployment is profitable to the mind in respect of knowledge so also in respect of Meditation by occasion whereof the affections of the soul may with the help of the spirit be raised and turned into a spiritual temper How fitly does the Garden of Fruit-trees offer unto us that most profitable and fruitful Meditation of our first fall and original sin whereof we were all guilty in such a Place even in an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees in which Meditation our affections should work to lay our selves low in our own eyes to abhor ourselves and to exalt God and abundantly to joy in the infinite and boundless mercy of God in Christ in that he took pity on poor Man when he was fallen and passed by the Angels when they were fallen Creatures by creation more exce'lent then Man and left them in an irrecoverable state of misery But in the same place even as soon as we had sinned promised us a Saviour and when the fulness of time was come sent him into the world In consideration of these things our Affection of Love to joy in and Admiration of God should be inlarged and boundless O the height and depth of the Mercy and Justice of God towards the Angels Justice but towards us Mercy What can we render unto the Lord for this his infinite mercy Now seeing he looks for nothing but Love and Praise let us begin it here that we may hold on to all eternity Fourthly Planting Fruit-trees is profitable to the name of the Planter Fruit-trees are living lasting monuments and bear up and perpetuate the Name of him that Planted and Laboured about them both while he lives and in generations after A late Author says that Apple-trees and Pear-trees and some other kinds of Fruit-trees on good Land and duly ordered will last 800 or 900 years What earthly thing is better then a good Name Solomon tells us Eccl. 7.1 A good name is better then precious oyntment And again Prov. 22.1 A good name is to be chosen before great riches and loving favour is above silver and above gold One says The best temper of minds desire a good name and the lighter popularity and applause A good name is not onely to be desired but to be highly prized and to be reckoned the chief of earthly blessings not only for the beauty of it but for the permanency of it it abides when friends riches life and all is lost Now one way to gain and keep a good name is by gifts and benefits The worst temper of minds are won and held by gifts and good turns it 's natural to all creatures to love those that do them good and who can so easily give so great so many and so acceptable gifts as the husbandman that yearly nurseth up multitudes of fruit-trees and hath store of pleasant fruits wines and delicates made of them While he lives he bestows young fruit-trees fruits and many acceptable gifts out of his Orchard and being dead his Orchards Gardens and Fruit-trees live flourish and occasion a remembrance of his Name for many ages after him And secondly as gifts and good turnes gaine a good name so also to be conversant and imployed about works for the Publick and general profit of a Commonweal such works produce the same effect We know all labours and imployments that bring both Profit and Pleasure are approved praised of all though the advantage be but to a private family how much more when they are for a Commonweal And besides this Moral consideration God hath promised the great blessing of a good name to them that are conversant in good imployments Rom. 13.3 Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same Rom 2.10 Glory honour and peace to every one that worketh good upon the Jew first and also on the Gentile So then the work of Planting fruit-fruit-trees is profitable to the name of the Husbandman both while he lives and in Generations after him Fifthly An Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees and the employment about them inprofitable to others First in the present times Secondly in the time to come This profit to others is by bestowing our fruits on friends and neighbours and such as want For though God require not to himself as formerly the first of all the fruit of all trees year by year Nehem. 10.35 Yet God requires year by year when he bestowes all upon us that we should giveâ— part to himself again that is to his poor members that want them This is the way to obtain a blessing upon all our labours Deut. 15.10 Thou shalt surely give unto him that is unto thy poor Brother thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in alâ— thy works and in all thou puttest thy hand unto A Gift to the Poor is a gainful gift for by it a man becomes Creditor to his Creator Prov. 19.17 He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord and the Lord will recompence him Eccles. 35.11 The Lord recompenceth will give thee seven times as much Likewise the fruits of an Orchard are profitable to others that buy them the Buyer having good and profitable Commodities for his money has profit thereby as well as the Seller Yea this labour is profitable to others in time to come Qui serunt Arbores alteri seculo prosunt After ages receive much profit also When our selves and others have received our full portion of profit then Fruit-trees are left to children and posterity to receive Profit many Generations after And thus much touching the Third humane Argument from the Profits that are received from a Garden of Fruit-trees The fourth humane Argument of the dignity and value of Fruit-trees and the Art of Planting is Argumentum a voluptate from the Pleasures that are receiv'd thereby Pleasure is called sal condimentum vitae The salt that seasons all things to us In all that a man
rejoyce before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hand unto And again Deut. 16.15 Because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy increase and in all the works of thy hands therefore thou shalt surely rejoyce And when our ways please God he sayes Go eat thy bread with joy and drink thy winâ— with a merry heart Eccles. 9.7 Solomon says Eccles. 5.18 Behold that which I have seen it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink and to enjoy the good of all his labour he takes under the sun all the dayes of his life which God giveth him for it is his portion And Chap. 2.24 This I saw That it was from the hand of God No doubt we may use these and other earthly blessings with Rejoycing but all the danger is lest we take too much liberty herein and break beyond our bounds These Profits and Pleasures being multiplied in the Garden of Fruit-trees we had best beware of reaching after them too earnestly Latet Anguis in Herba A subtle Serpent lies hid among these pleasant flowers and seeks to bite us by his temptations who has as much or more malice and policy now as formerly against our first Parents whom he deceived in a Garden of Fruit-trees Men may become Idolaters ere they be aware and so are many even among Christians in worshipping profit and pleasure letting up these two for their house-hold Gods The Prophet tells us Ezek. 14.3 Men set up their Idols in their hearts and give that to them which is due onely to God We may easily mistake between the use of earthly blessings and the enjoyment oâ— them Austin tells us no earthly blessings are properly to be Enjoy'd but used onely Res aliae sunt quibus fruendum est aliae quibus utendum illae quibus fruendum est beatâ—nos faciunt istis quibus utendum est tendentes ad be atitudinem adjuvamur quasi adminiculamur ut ad illas quae nos beatos faciunt proveniamus There are some thing saith he which are to be enjoyed others tâ— bâ— used those which we ought to enjoy make us happy such as we ought to use onely are those whereby we are furthered and are 〈◊〉 succors aids and helps to bring us to those things which may be enjoyed make us hapy He tells us whom and what we may enjoy Fruendum est Patre Filio Spiritu Sancto Beatum est ad tale bonum provenisse quo amplius non potest The Father the Son and blessed Spirit are to be enjoyed And its true blessedness to attain to that good which is the highest So then God only is to be enjoyed and the good things of this life only to be used as helps and furtherances unto God We had need therefore take heed of falling in love with earthly things The foresaid Author tells us the danger of it Si eis quibus utendum est frui voluerimus impeditur cursunoster aliquando etiam defiecâ—itur ut ab his rebus quibus fruendum est obtinendis vel retardemur vel etiam revocemur inferiore amore praepedirâ— Et si amoenitutes itineris ipsa gestatio vehiculorum nos delectarent conversiâ— ad fruendum his quibus uti debuimus nollemus citò viam finire perversâ suavitate implicati alienâ—remur à Pâ—tria cujus suavitas faceret beatos That is if we fall to enjoying of such things as we ought but onely to use we are thereby hindered in our course and many times even turn'd out of it And as to the obtaining of those things which we ought to enjoy by the love of earthly things we are call'd back from them and much retarded and stopt in our way to them And if the Pleasures and Contentments of the journey and the carriage by which we are conveyed over-much please and delight us then we turn to enjoying of those things which we ought but only to use and therefore are unwilling to come to our journys end and are intangled in corrupt delights and brought thereby to be estranged from the Country the sweetness and pleasure whereof maketh blessed We see then when God gives us blessings largely and gives us leave to use them freely we are in danger to forget him We had need therefore to set a watch oâ— guard upon our hearts lest profit and pleasure steal it and keep it to themselves But what a shame is it we should have fewesâ— thoughts of God when he is most mindful of us And that we should fall so much in love with the Token that we forget him that sent it And now having answered the doubts and discouragements that have hindered some from entring upon this part of the Husbandmans work The Art of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees and shew'd the great esteem that all men have of it and the value and dignity thereof from Divine and Humane Arguments what a rich confluence of profits and pleasures are from time to time brought unto us by it with a Caution in the use of these things What remains but that I also discover how we may obtain our desires herein by what means the work may be done with most speed and best effect Which I shall now endeavour to do I shall first speak of a Nursery of young Plants and shew the manner of sowing of Kernels or Seeds of Fruits and their preparation and ordering by Grafting and Inoculating for transplanting into Orchards Gardens or Fields although some may plant an Orchard a more speedy way to buy young trees ready grafted or to plant stocks of divers years growth and after they have grown a year or two to graft them I shall set down all these things as briefly as I can so that withal I make them plain to the intelligent Reader laying down the most material and essential things concerning this Art For long and tedious discourses about things that may be comprehended in few words as many use they do often mislead men so as it is not easie to see the most material things concerning their subject or what they drive at whereas a brief and plain discovery of them may better be comprehended and remembred 1. First then Let there be a plot of ground more or less digged up about the time when Fruits are ripe and let all the Grass Weeds Roots Stones c. be clean picked out and the ground cast into Beds about a yard broad and spaces between about a foot in breadth to pass between them to Sow Set Weed c. And then procure Kernels of Apples Pears Crabs Cherry stones Plum-stones and the seeds of divers kinds of Fruits and these may be set and sowed from the time that the Fruits are ripe until the spring except in frost in this manner Having made the Beds level with a Rake sprinkle the seeds upon them all over each kind by themselves and set or sow the stones by themselves then take a spade and turne in the
thin at the bottome Let the outside of the Graft be somewhat thicker then the inner-side unless the stock be very big if it be so great to pinch the Graft much then make the inner-side of the Graft thicker a very little that so it may preserve the outside from being pinched too much And in setting in all Grafts into the cleft observe this for a most special Rule to joyne the inner-side of the bark of the Graft to the inner-side of the bark of the stock that the sap may more easily come out of the Stock into the Graft to feed it for the main current of the sap is between the bark and the wood Some take care to set the out-sides even and smooth but that is an error in practice for we know the Bark of a big stock is much thicker then the Bark of a slender graft and if the outsides be smooth and even the insides must needs be uneven But I say to joyn the inner sides of both barks together all along the cleft is the principal thing in grafting of such big stocks The Grafts being thus placed in the Stocks and the wedg pulled out then Clay them close on every side an inch above the top of the stock to the bottome of the Cleft In chusing Grafts chuse not those that are very small and slender they commonly fail but take the fairest upon the tree and especially those that are fullest of Buds The tops of long Grafts are to be cut that they may spread the better and of such as are but short if there be blossom buds on the top as it 's commonly seen in Pearmains and many other good bearing kinds Graft every Cyence into its own kind as all kind of Apples together and also on Crabstocks which is the wild Apple Pear-grafts on wild Pear-stocks and the like of other kinds joyn not contrary or different kinds they never come to perfection as Cherry-grafts or Plum-grafts or the like Experience makes it manifest to be but lost labour they 'l grow it may be a year or two and then die And in choice of Grafts be sure to consider what Trees of all kinds are the best bearers some kinds seldom miss and some other kinds though good fruits seldom hit and therefore take information from those persons that know by experience the nature of the trees in this regard and accordingly choose or refuse grafts from them Observe the like in choice of Vines Such Grafts as are bound as is said of the two first wayes of Grafting must be unbound after a certain time when they have well closed with the Stock about Midsommer they will be fast enough upon the Stock so that they may without danger be unbound but if they be not unbound the band sometimes girds and dints in too much unless of some where the band rots or breaks and besides the winds when the grafts are grown big and bushy will indanger the breaking of divers of them unless they be unbound and also by some means supported and strengthened in the grafted place which may be done by tying a small stick to them a little above and as much below the place where it is engrafted but before you thus bind the stick to strengthen the Graft put a little clay round about the engrafted place being unbound it will cause the sap sooner to cover the head of the stock But if the Grafts be Grafted near unto the ground or not above half a yard high they will not be so much in danger of breaking by the winds especially such whose growth is most into one single shoot or two and such as grow but upon small or weak stocks as to such this labour in tying the Graft to strengthen it in the grafted place may be spared Those that are high stocks and of strong growth and shoot forth their Grafts vigorously and into a great head of many branches are most indanger of winds especially the West-winds which are commonly strongest for the first year and more a week or fortnight before and after Midsommer being they are yet tender and not well closed with the stock so that these especially must be taken care of in this regard only for the first year after there 's no danger at all of breaking by the winds Some kinds of Flags wherewith we bind Grafts are so tough and strong that they will not yield a jot nor break with the growth and swelling of the Stock and Graft as some other Bands do and therefore there is the more need to look to such to cut them or unbind them as before is said else they cause dints or circles in the place where they bind the barke swelling on both sides of the binding and this makes the Graft more in danger of breaking unless unbound and strengthened in that part as before After Grafts have had their full growth the first year they must be Pruned such as need Pruning as for wall Plants it 's no matter of how many Branches they spread more the better but for those that are Grafted low and yet must be made standards leave only one shoot the strongest and biggest shoot and cut off all the rest and let not that straight shoot begin to spread till it be an Ell long at least rather more and then let the Branches spread and enlarge themselves But herein observe that unless these young Grafts put forth a strong and lusty shoot do not prune off the side Branches left the body of the plant be too small and limber to bear his head as is often seen in a Nursery where plants grow close and neer together if the body be very slender then suffer some of the side twigs to grow until the body be of a sufficient strength to bear the top And from year to year prune off those shoots and branches as are superfluous and grow too near one another and preserve onely such as are fit to make the Tree of a comely form And if any spice up and shoot too strongly upwards in the middle of the Tree onely and spread not sufficiently as is often seen in Peare trees and some other trees cut off from time to time those strong shoots in the middle and still preserve the outmost branches for all Fruit-trees ought to spread as much as may be so that the branches hang not too near the ground And so much concerning Grafting and also pruning while they are young Plants I shall now speak of the other work whereby fruit-Fruit-trees are increased Inoculating or putting a small Bud into a Stock which as to the effects of it is the same with Grafting but differs much in the season and in the manner of the work The time for Inoculating Buds is about Midsommer a fortnight before and a fortnight after is the chief season though some Plants full of Sap may be done afterwards with good success upon young frim stocks even so long as the bark
other As concerning the distance of Wal trees they may be planted 2 3 4 6 or more yards asunder More or less according to the nature of the Trees and soyle For Aprecots and some other kinds of Plums grow much larger then some other Trees some Aprecot-trees in good soyle will spread 7 or 8 yards wide or more whereas the May Cherry-tree is but small at biggest it may be 2 yards wide or scarce above 3. It is the custome of late to make Cherry-hedges in Gardens and Orchards and hedges of Quodlings Nurs-gardens Plums Vines and such like Trees that may be kept by cutting and plaishing one branch within another from growing very large These are usually made along the side of walks or round about a Garden-plot and such a hedg is a very great Ornament to a Garden being ordered and kept handsomely Now Trees set to this purpose need the least distance of any other a yard asunder or an Ell or more or less according to the bigness and spreading of the young trees for these should meet or near it the first year which should be ordered thus Stretch a line from one end to the other where the hedge is to be made and set the Trees straight at the distance aforesaid Afterwards knock down a stake between each Tree then having straight long Rods or Poles of Ash or the like tye a row of them along from one end to the other about a foot from the ground fast to the stakes with Osiers or such like or else naile them which is better and another row of Rods a foot above them and so a third if need be according to the height of the young Plants having thus done spread and tye the branches and twigs of the Trees in order to the Poles but not too hard and draw and fasten some of them down close to the ground that so there may be blossomes and fruit from the bottome to the top which will be a most beautiful sight to behold in Spring and Sommer then after a few years the Stakes and Poles may be taken away and the branches platted and woven one within another from year to year and the superfluous ones cut off Yet notwithstanding what hath been said for a more then ordinary distance between Apple-trees and Pear-trees this may be said for neerness of setting That it is best for present profit for if Apple-trees Pear-trees c. be set 4 or 5 yards asunder there will be room enough for them for divers years perhaps it may be a dozen 16 or 20 yeaâ—s ere they meet and all that time a man have the fruits of them and then when they meet he may and it will be best to cut down each other or if they be not too great to remove them to some other place These Trees are the best to be set at large in Pastures and other Field lands taken up with large Roots and disbranched and set with 3 or 4 stakes about them that Cattle rub not upon them And although they be for nothing but the fire yet for that they will be more worth then they cost at first and all the fruits they have born to that time are superadded as for standard Cherry-trees 4 or 5 yards distance is convenient As for those who have but small quantities of ground to plant it will be most profitable to plant near together as may conveniently be not onely for the advantage of the quantity of fruit of each other tree which may afterwards be taken away but also that they may have variety of fruits even in a small compass of ground But those that have room enough I say as before let the Trees be Planted at a large distance one from another for the Reasons alledged pag. 65. Concerning Order in setting Trees though it be not essential to a good Orchard yet if men stand upon it they may measure out a square plot of ground more or less by a line and then measure the distance that must be between every tree according to the kinds that are to be planted and according to the goodness or nature of the soyle as hath been said And having measured exactly the square plot and the distance of the Trees set a stake or pole in the place where every tree must stand and dig the soile round about it a foot deep and three foot broad then set the four corners first then fill up the square plot on all the four sides with plants ordered as before and so go on to fill up all the other places in the Plot exactly by the line or by the eye if there be four or five persons to assist in the work And by this means the Trees will stand in Rowes every way This square once planted though but small at first may be enlarged every way as the ground permits or else the Orchard may be drawn out in length and yet the Trees stand in a right line every way by this means and if the Trees are set at a great distance one may be planted in the midst at equal distance from each one in the Qnincunx In setting all sorts of Trees consider what soyle they come out of whether a fat and forced soyle as divers of the Nurseries about London or some ordinary natural soyle If they come out of very good ground then procure as good or better if it may be had though but a little to lay next to their roots when they are set again Weeds Dung and such like laid on a heap will become good mould in a short time but such heaps lying together divers years are then special mould for the roots of young Trees at their first setting This should alwayes be observed To plant Trees in as good or better soyle being removed as that out of which they were taken For every thing in nature advanced to the better it is grateful and beneficial to it but if it be carried to the worse it is a check and repulse to nature and such a one as that if it be in any great degree it either much weakens it or quite destroys it Therefore chuse Trees out of poor soiles but if they must be had out of rich soiles then be sure to procure some more or less of as good or better then that out of which they are removed to lay to their Roots when set again For want of observing this course many hundreds of good plants have been lost from time to time The ordering of young Plants the first and second year of planting has an influence upon them many years which if neglected then the labour and diligence of many years after cannot countervaile it the ordering of Cattle while they are young either makes or marrs them so of Trees and other things in some proportion but after they have well taken Root the first and second year they will then grow in ordinary soiles the great danger is at first planting
turn it into its own nature in certain years But if the ground be but somewhat stony with a mixture of Mould between and among the stones the fruit-trees will root indifferent well in such grounds all that can well be done is to dig up and loosen the stones as much as may be and to pick out some of the biggest and cast in some good soyles in their sted Low bottome grounds Land that lies below towards the bottome of the Hill or near a River which sometimes over-flowes This generally is exceeding good for fruit-trees it hath many advantages of some other grounds for it not only keeps and retains what rain and moisture falls upon it from the Clouds but also moisture descends from the higher grounds to these and withal if the River overflow it adds much to the fatness of the ground But yet this is to be considered That land may have overmuch moisture as before is observed That is when it stands and rests all the year long in and upon the ground as some wall springs and boggy low grounds where the superfluity of water cannot descend from it to any other place but where much water comes and rests for a certaine time only and then the superfluity runnes off and leaves onely the strength fatness of the water behind there the land is good and fertil and fruit-trees will grow large there and the fruit great And so much for the ground fit for fruit-trees Concerning shelters or defences for Orchards and Gardens ALthough it be not absolutely necessary that fruit-trees be sheltred or defended from the cold North East and West winds yet it will be very convenient and profitable so to do as much as may be for we know and see by yearly experience how dangerous the East or Northâ—east winds especially are in the spring time as in blighting and spoyling of blossomes fruits and sometimes the very boughs branches and the Trees themselves And the West winds are commonly strong towards Autumne and throw down abundance of Fruits when ripe or near ripe wherein is losse so that if the Orchard be planted where it may have Hills Houses or such like to burrow or shelter it from the North East and West-winds it will be a special advantage to it Walnut-trees good shelters for Orchards But if there be no such shelters it will be very profitable to Plant Walnut-trees or some other kinds of Trees that naturally grow great and high upon these three sides of the Orchard The Walnut-tree is profitable very many ways not only as to shade and shelter but also the wood is of manifold use and much dearer then Oak Ash Elm or such like the Fruit is useful and profitable both green and ripe so the leaves bark juice c. in many Physical respects Mr. Parkinson sayes the profit of Walnut-trees is infinite It is a good encouragement to Plant these trees also because as they are so many wayes proprofitable so also they endure exceeding long and will prosper well almost in any kind of soyle or in any Country this was observed long since Bap. Port. says in former times it was accounted an excellent and singular Fruit-tree Iuglandes egregiam existimarent And Cressentius gives a good encouragement to Plant this tree Hâ—c arbor nullum recusat aerem neque genus terrâ—â— he says This Tree refuseth no kind of aire nor earth Now seeing it prospers well in all places and is so many ways profitable above many other kinds of Trees and so fit and proper for the sheltring of the Orchard in regard of the exceeding great height and bigness that these Trees attain and the long time that they last let there be therefore many of them planted without the Orchard to shelter it as before is said so many as may be convenient for that purpose Set many of the best thin-sheld Nuts in the Nursery when they are fully ripe and preserve them there three or four years until they be a competent bigness to remove for this purpose if they be set with the green husk on it is so much the better to preserve them from worms c. Quantity of grounds for an Orchard Having considered of and found out fit place for an Orchard in respect of thâ— lying of the ground soyle and shelters for it the next thing is to designe the Quantity And herein let not men be niggards to themselves their posterity and the Commonâ— weal in allotting a small quantity Wheâ— they may take much For the Fruit trees will yield after certain years many timeâ— more profit then the Corne or Grass of so much land Especially if converted into Cider and Perry Of the Profits of Fruit-trees see Mr. Blith his Improver Improved pag. 262 263 c. Where he shews Land may be improved by Planting 8 or 10 times the value and more Such as begin soonest will have most profit And they that begin and first set on this work of planting large Orchards and fruit-fruit-trees in the fields and hedges will have not onely the speediest but the greatest profit because now as yet there are but few or no great Orchards in some Countries and while so great a commodity is in the hands of a few men it will be exceeding advantagious 〈◊〉 them but when it is more common â—e advantage will be less Therefore if â—â—en be but willing to make 20 l. worth â—0 l. or 50 l or to make 100 l. a year â—orth 2 or 3 or more this is the way â—ith little labour and charge Great Profits with little Cost or Pains What work is of so much profit with so â—â—tle cost and pains Corn and Cattle must have renewed charges and labours every â—ear But as for planting fruit-Fruit-trees there â—he charge is at the first and little or noâ—hing ever after and the profit still increasâ—ng more and more for many years Fruit-trees have an advantage and excellency above other Commodities which for the most part are best at first and worse and worse till nothing worth As Meat Drink Apparel c. but Fruit trees increase in worth and goodness are least and worst at first and of the mending and increasing hand for many Years or Ages Orchard and Garden on the South-side In Planting the Orchard let it be on the South-side the house rather then on any other side the house will be a shelter to it from the North and beside into the South is the sweetest and most pleasanâ— prospect and much the better for the Orâ—chard And if it may be as in some places it may plant Fruit-trees round abouâ— the house Build the House in the midst of the Orchard Men that are to build the house as welâ— as to plant the Orchard were best to build the house in the midst of the Orchard and so they may live in a sweet perfumed wholsome Aire all their days which will not be a little conducing to health and long life besides all the pleasure and delight superadded
Cider drinkers is somewhat to the purpose he concluded such were like to live too long so was not willing to meddle with them upon such terms Mason Rust. says that a famous Physitian in his time was not content to equal Cider and Perry with Wine of Grapes but preferred them before it in every things In Normandy there is abundance of Cider and Perry where they esteem of it equal to Wine Windiness of Cider only at first As to the windiness that some finde in drinking this Liquor that is found to be only at first until the body be used to it after a time that ceaseth An Authour of good credit sayes that Beer and Ale have the like operation to those who have not been accustomed to them which afterwards ceaseth we know Tobacco will make a man dizze and somewhat distempered at the first taking to one who hath not been used to it but afterwards no such thing so also in respect of Cider Cider of some Apples is Cordial But especially it will be less windy and much more pleasant healthful and cordial if it be made of the best kinds of Fruits Physitians ascribe some degree of heat to some Apples as Pearmains and some kinds of Pippins Matth. says they are Cordial to persons in hot diseases Calidis cordis affectibus succurrunt Pearmains Pippins Moyles Redstreaks best for Cider Therefore let the greatest number of Fruit-trees not only in the Orchards but also in the Fields be of Pearmains Pippins Gennet-moyles Redstreaks and such kinds as are known by much experience to be sâ—ecial good for Cider and then the hedges and outmost bounds may be of some courser and harder kinds which also will make good Cider Cider of the best Fruits is not only healthful but very cordial is found to refresh the heart and exhilerate and chear the spirits is special good against Melancholly distempers against the stone and straight passage of the water carrying down gravel and clearing obstructions in the body it cleanses the stomack and procures a good appetite to meat and makes a good digestion which is fundamental to health and long-life Apprehensions of Good makes men seek after it Were men but acquainted with the benefits and advantages of this Liquor they would labour more for it But we know bonum non desideratur nisi cognitum Men can never desire a thing unless first they know it or have some apprehensions of the good of it Health and long-life Health and long-life are two of the greatest earthly blessings that all the world looks after and what will they not do or give for the attaining of them As Naamanâ— servant said to his Master so it may be said here if they should be required to do some great matter for the attainment of health and long-life would they not do it Yea certainly me thinks then they should not neglect such easie tearms as are here proposed when once they know them Now it is concluded That exercise in the work of planting fruit-fruit-trees with moderate use of Cider and Perry are the most effectual Natural means for these ends See at large pag. 40 41 c. Riches and Profits But besides many other profits and advantages come by this labour in Planting fruit-tree in sale of the fruit-â—rees cider Perry and other commodities in the Orchard all the year long so that why may not this Art be called the Philosophers-stone which though it turn not common Mettals into Gold yet it turns Trees and Fruits yea earth and dung into gold and silver in a certaine time Many men have laboured many years and spent much gold and silver in seeking the Philosophers-stone that so they might have gold enough but all to little purpose I think they were best to make use of this till they find out a better this will help to bear charges in the seeking of it But though this Art be not the Philosophers-stone yet it hath the properties of it or some like it if not above it for is it not more to turn wood earth and the like into gold than to turn Brass Tin and such mettals into gold which have some likeness to it already Let Landlords and Tennants agree to Plant. So then Let men that have Lands or any considerable Estate in them be perswaded to improve them for their own and others advantage and herein Landlords might greatly benefit themselves their heirs and successors if they would encourage their Tenants to plant fruit Trees and other Trees upon their Lands by assuring them that so doing they should enjoy the same so long or have such other recompence as might be a sufficient encouragement to them to labour there about but when Tenants fear and suspect that the more they labour herein and improve their Livings by such means the sooner they shall remove out of it they have little reason to stirre a foot towards such a work An increase manifold Hereby mens Estates might be increased manifold by many and great profits to them and theirs for many Generations Sir Rich. Weston in his Legacy sayes It is a thing much celebrated by Antiquity and thought the noblest way to gather wealth for to imploy ones wit and mony upon his Land and by that means to Augment his Estate Husbandry the end of mens other endeavours One sayes If you observe the common course of things you will find that Husbandry is the end which men of all estates in the world do point at for to what end do Souldiers Schollars Lawyers Merchants and Men of all Occupations and Trades toyl and labour with great affection but to get mony and with that mony to purchase Land and to what end do they buy Land but to receivâ— the fruits to live upon Now this being the most profitable and pleasant piece of Husbandry doth especially challenge our labours in it not only that we may live but as a means that we may live in health and live long to the praise of God and service of our generation Nations subsist by Husbandry Though Husbandry in all the parts of it is but a mean imployment in the account of many yet we know by Husbandry a Land or Country is maintained even the greatest and highest persons in a Nation generally Lesser and smaller matters facilitate and help forward the greatest so that if the higher powers would please to enjoyne or encourage the people to Planting Fruit-trees and all sorts of wood they would be better able to bear all burthens and taxes whatsoever that are imposed from time to time by Authority and the greatest and most important affairs of the Nation will be much furthered thereby Cider and Perry are of great use in long voyages at Sea and store of Timber might in certain years be raised for building of Ships of the best kinds of Oak Beach Chesnut-tree and other kinds of Trees whereby there might be a continual supply thereof to this and succeeding generations Plant Oak Ash Elme
better c. Graft a tree low and maintain only the lower boughs Low Trees and the lower boughs of high Trees have their fruit ripe somewhat sooner then the higher because they have some benefit by the reflection of the Sun from the earth as well as from the wall if they grow against a wall but that the fruits are greater on lower then on higher boughs I perceive not I am sure I have seen sometimes fair fruit on the higher boughs and bâ—t small on the lower in case the branches of a wall tree have been permitted to grow stright upwards without bowing down along the wall as most commonly they be and the reason is plain because the most and greatest quantity of Sap presseâ—h upwards leaveth the side branches indigent of Sap whereby they grow poorly and some die for want of Sap now according to the quantity of Sap in branches so are the fruits smaller or greater It is true indeed many little and low Trees if they be vigorous and shoot well bear very large fruits it may be larger then high Trees of the same kinds but this is not because low but because they are more lively and vigorous then the other And if we should graft a Tree low and maintain only the lower branches by continually cutting off the higher this would much enseeble the Tree by degrees by obstracting of the Sap and the fruit would be accordingly But the best way to order a Wall tree that shoots upwards strongly is to bow those strong branches along the wall both ways and then there will be as large fruits on the lower as on the higher boughs and sooner ripe To have Fruit in greater plenty the way is to graft not onely upon young stocks but upon divers boughs of an old Tree c. It is an excellent Experiment to graft the boughs of an old Tree that is a bad bearer or bears bad fruits with Grafts of some special good bearing kinds for this will have large branches and bear fruits even in a year or two so that it is a very unwise course of many who when some of their Trees bear not as they would have them cut them down and set young ones in their Room which cannot possibly attain the bigness of the former in many years Digging yearly about the Roots of Trees is a great means both to the acceleration and melioration of fruits c. Old Trees that grow in stiff cold clay grounds have most need to be dug about yearly that thereby the ground may be more open and mellow but for young Trees of few years standing especiall if in sandy mellow grounds these have little or no need at all of digging about To dig about Roses and such like which grow near the top of the ground I conceive it is needless for this work is chiefly to open the earth about old fruit-Fruit-trees whose Roots are grown great and deep that the Rain Snow and Sun in Winter may reach the bottome Roots A Fruit-tree almost blown up by the roots and set up again the next year bore exceedingly loosening the earth comforteth any Tree Trees blown down and raised up again and well moulded may root again if they be not very old and though digging about the Roots sometimes be good yet overmuch digging and loosening the earth about the Roots of Trees will cause many to be blown down by great winds which will not fasten again to abide a strong Wind in many years if ever To revive an old Tree the digging of it about the Roots and applying new mould to the Roots is the way and change of mould to the better is profitable Digging as hath been said with caution is very good and change of mould if to the better is also very advantagious to Fruit-trees in case the soyl be barren but if it be very fat as some is especially some particular places by accident then mould that is more steril and hungry will do better for overmuch repletion and fertility may hinder fruitfulness and cause the sap to run most into long shoots and broad leaves The shifting of ground is a means to better the Tree and Fruit and all things do prosper best when they are advanced to the better And a Nursery ought to be in a more barren ground then the places whither they are Transplanted It is true change of soyls sometimes is very good if to the better but is true also that if Trees grow in over ranâ— soyle then worse will be better that is will help more towards fruitfulness as a coâ—rse and mean fare is better for a â—at man thâ—n the more delicious Without controâ—versie young Trees out of barren Nurseries come on faster when Transplanted then out of fat soyls but in case the Nursery be fat soyle then some other as good must be laid to their Roots when set again Hacking of Trees doth great good to Trees After eight or ten years growth cutting or scoring or hacking the bark of Trees with a knife is profitable but while they are young the Barke is but thin and tender and enlargeth well enough without this cutting unless some that through barrenness of soyl or other cause are bark-bound and to such hacking and scoring is profitable Shade to some Plants conduceth to make them large and prosperous more then Sun as in Strawberries and Bays c. It is true Iays and Lawrel prospereth better in the Shade then in the Sun being hot Plants but Strawberries do better partly in the Sâ—ade and partly in the Sun then in Shade â—nly as among Bushes and other Plants I have observed those in the Shade to beaâ— little or nothing when others of the same kind and growth somewhat in the sun bore very much â—ulling off many blossomes from a Fruit-tree doth make the Fruit fairer and if some blossoms be not pulled off the first time a Tree bloometh it will blossome it self to death Commonly the fewer blossoms upon a tree the fairer will the fruit be because as the Author says of the plenty of sap And indeed in case a Tree newly planted blossome very much and the Root be but weak which may be perceived by the weakness of the buds then its best to pull off most if not all the blossoms but many I have known the first years planting take Root so strongly being in good mould as that they blossome and shoot forth and bear fair fruits the same year It were good to try what would be the effect if all the blossomes were pulled from a Fruit-tree for two years together Fruit-trees that beaâ— but every other year they for the most part bear that year very plentifully and tâ—e excessive expence of Sap that year its lâ—â—e makes the Tree the more feeble the nexâ— but if blossomes be pulled off a year or twâ— together I suppose the Sap would go
degree of heat to what those upon a plain Wall have the heat being pent in by the Elbowes or Butteresses of the wall and so reflects the stronger upon the Fruits and Trees there is a double reflection of heat upon such Grafting Elms or other unfruitful trees will make their leaves larger as in Fruit-trees the Graft maketh the greater fruit Grafting barely considered as grafting will not do this it will neither make leaves nor fruits fairer but as stocks are chosen for the purpose for though it be true as hath been elsewhere said that Grafts govern and overrule the stocks bringing forth the same leaves and fruits when grafted as before according to their own Natures yet it is true also that the stocks have some small influence upon them in making the fruits better or worse in taste and bigness and so of the leaves in fairness according to the goodness or badness of the stocks yet notwithstanding Grafts and Buds inoculated may be said to Rule and â—ring forth the same fruits else it were in vain to graft Barrenness of Trees cometh of their overgrowing with Moss or their being Hide-bound or planting too deep or by issuing of the sap too much into the leaves There are several causes of the barrenness of Trees I conceive Mossiness as Mossiness is not the cause of barrenness but the causes of Mossiness are the causes of barrenness which are coldness overmoistness and barrenness of the soyle where the Trees grow Therefore such soyles must be amended See how Treatise of Fruit trees pag. 213 214 c. Also barrenness is often by reason of the excessive sap and moisture of Trees which is manifest by their strong and vigorous shoots branches and broad green leaves as in many young full-fed Trees for while nature is vigorous and active spending it self that way in the excessive growth of the Trees it is then weak and feeble in bearing of fruits Now as to some kinds of Trees it is not best for some time to go about to remove the Cause that is as to standard Apple-trees Pear-trees and other kinds which grow in the Orchards and Fields but let them alone let them go on in their large and vigorous growths for certaine years though they bear but little provided that we know they are naturally of good bearing kinds otherwise it is in vain to wait for store of fruits from such Trees After that such Trees have grown exceedingly some years and attained a fair large growth they will then by degrees grow less in the branches and fall to bearing of fruits But in case the Trees are Wall-trees and shoot excessively and bear not then it will be best to take away the cause as much as we can that is First abate their overful rank nourishment by putting in Sand Gravel Buck-ashes or any thing that is barren instead of the fat soyle Secondly Also cut off and part one or two of the biggest Roots from the body that so it may have less nourishment and that left will turn to fruits Thirdly Bend downwards the branches and fasten them to the wall with their tops as low as may be this obstructs and restrains the excessive rising of sap which rising moderately turns to fruits But if the Trees are naturally bad bearers if barren upon that account then there is no remedy for such but grafting them again with grafts taken from some good bearing kinds which are known by yearly experience to bear fruits well It hath been set down by one of the Ancients that two twigs of several Fruit-trees flatted on the sides and bound together and set they will come up in one stock And that Vines of red and white Grapes flatted and bound together will bear Grapes of several colours upon one branch Also the shoots of divers seeds will incorporate And that young Trees of several kinds set contiguous will incorporate These and such like are prescribed in order to the compounding of Fruits Concerning compounding or mixing of divers kinds of fruits whereof to make one new kind these things before mentioned and many such like have been prescribed by Antient Authors which are of the number of those things Sir Francis Bacon accounts meer imaginations and conceits without any ground or light from Experience He says elsewhere That many things have been rashly and with little choice or judgment received and registred as appears in the writings of divers Authors which are every where fraught and forged with fabulous reports and those not only uncertain and untried but notoriously untrue to the great derogation of Natural Philosophy with grave and sober men As for those things before mentioned they can never effect what is promised to produce compound fruits For we see by continual experience that grafts and buds though never so small set upon stocks of different kinds do hold their own and keep their kinds and so it would be if two long shoots were united or three or many if it were possible to make them incorporate and become one body yet they would retain every one their own nature and bring forth each its own kind of fruit without commixture If any man desire to be set on work about these things he may have prescriptions enough out of a certain Book Entituled The Country Farme pag. 360 361 362 363 364 365 c. For more full satisfaction about which and all of that nature see my Treatise of fruit-Fruit-trees p. 174 176 c. where these things are spoken to largly But if the thing be possible in nature to mix and compound fruits the likeliest way that I apprehend is this which I have upon tryal but is not yet come to an issue viz. To graft one fruit upon another many times over every year a different kind so that we keep still to those kinds that will grow together As first to graft a Crab-tree near the ground with some good kind of Apple-graft and the next year to graft that again a handful or two above where the first was grafted and the next year to graft that second graft and the fourth year to graft that third graft a handful or two above where it was grafted and thus every year to set graft upon graft for divers years together this probably may make some alteration and commixture in the top branch and its fruit although it be true that every graft keeps its own nature yet so as that it receives some small alteration from the stock as hath been said Now the Sap arising and passing through so many kinds of stocks as before up into the top branches this if any thing I conceive will have an influence into the fruit of the last graft to cause some commixture more or less in the fruit the sap passing through so many kinds of stocks Thus as of many kinds of Apples together so also of Pears among themselves and of Cherries and Plums among themselves but as for mixing contrary