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 and that such grounds beare more when it s 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 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 feilds and in their Corne Pasture and hay grounds the fruit-fruit-trees at a large distance one from another 20 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 and 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 fenced 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 peece of land the one of Corne the other of fruits of trees and the latter when trees are growne larg 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 mony 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 years they yeild 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 Ob. 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 Ans 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 peece of ground belonging to their house and many others but very small quantities these will be buyers of the husbandmans fruits and the 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 slothfull and object with Solomons sluggard ther 's a Lyon in the way 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 to Answere some maine Objections to remove discouragements about this work of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees that have kept off many from this profitable imployment may stil hinder them unlesse remov'd And then I will give some encouragements to it from Divine and Humane Arguments and Testimonies Ob. 1 This is an Objection amongst many in the Northern parts they say the Northerne Countries are so cold that Fruit-trees will not prosper nor beare fruits there Ans To this I Answere That although it be true that the Northern Countries lye in a more cold Clymate 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 the Trees It s true Cold Countries are not so fitt for choice and tender fruits as warmer Clymates 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 Let such kinds therefore be sought for and Planted And besides those good husbands in those parts who are diligent in Planting fruit-trees have fruits answerable Ob. 2 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 rob'd of all or most and the Trees would be spoyled who would Plant to be so serv'd Ans To this I Answere That if there were no remedy against this mischeife it might indeed be a just discouragement but this fear may be removed diverse wayes And I advise having made a good fence about the Orchard keep therein a lusty Mastiffe or two that will not be charmed in the night time and the terror of them would keep most 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 and diligent much more then this would require upon farr 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 them 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 deminish them But I hartily 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 Austen See the second Book of his Confessions Chap 4. 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 noe lesse then tenne circumstances crying earnestly for mercy and pardon Ecce Cor meum Deus meus ecce Cor meum quod miseratus es in
Profits Pleasures A Treatise of FRVIT-TREES Shewing the manner of Grafting Setting Pruning and Ordering of them in all respects According to divers new and easy Rules of experience gathered in the space of Twenty yeares Whereby the value of Lands may be much improued in a short time by small cost and little labour Also discovering some dangerous Errors both in the Theory and Practise of the Art of Planting Fruit-trees With the Alimentall and Physicall vse of fruits Togeather with The Spirituall vse of an Orchard Held forth in divers Similitudes betweene Naturall Spirituall Fruit-trees according to Scripture Experiēce By RA AUSTEN Practiser in the Art of Planting A Garden inclosed is my sister my Spouse Thy Plants are an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant fruits Cant 4 12 13 I Goddard sculp Oxford printed for Tho Robinson 1653. To the Worshipfull SAMVEL HARTLIB Esquire My much Honoured Friend I Am not unmindfull worthy Sir under what engagement you stand upon mine accompt to the Publique In the late Treatise of improvement of Lands by our deceased friend Mr Blith which you were pleased so freely to undertake for mee And which was renewed againe in the Designe for Plenty According to my duty therefore I have endeavoured to answer your and others expectation in this my ensuing Discourse of Fruit-trees It is agreed on all hands That this worke of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees through the blessing of God is of vast Profit where it is diligently and skilfully undertaken Mr Blith in his Book discovers the great Improvement of Lands some to a Five fold some to a Tenne and some to a Twenty fold value And the highest way there mentioned is by Planting Fruit trees As may be seene at large Pag. 262 263. c. of his Worke. And in your Legacy of Husbandry it is accompted a great deficiency in England that we have no more Fruit-trees Planted which would be a chiefe meanes to enrich this Common-wealth in many respects And in particular with such a Commodity as that we should not need to bestow our monies for French Wines or the like having Liquors Cyder Perry Cherry-wines c. as good or better made of our own fruits As it is there observed If men would Plant Fruit-trees not only in Gardens but also in many of their Fields and Hedges This course after some years might save the expence of many Thousand Quarters of Mault yearely in the Nation And many Thousand Loades of Wood and other Fuell in making Mault and as much it may be in Brewing Beere And many thousand Acres sowed yearely with Barly might be sowed with Bread-corne or turned into Pasture-grounds by reason of the abundance of those most healthfull Liquors Cyder and Perry that might be yearely made Besides great store of Wood would be got for Fuell by the Prunings of the Fruit-trees and Old Trees past bearing with spetiall Wood for Joyners and many other purposes This likewise might be one chiefe way among others for imploying and setting on worke very many Poore People The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousnesse Prov. 21.5 in Inclosing and preparing Grounds for Planting and many other Workes according to the late consultations of the Parliament whereby they might maintaine themselves and profit others in stead of burthening of them Yea hereby would accrue to the Poore and the whole Nation many great advantages in severall respects First a Freedome and deliverance of multitudes from Idlenesse Beggery Shame and consequently Theft Murther and at last the Gallowes Secondly Positive advantages Meate Drinke Clothing Riches and Profits to themselves and others If the higher powers whom God hath set up to designe and labour for the welfare and prosperity of his People would please to make a Law there being Lawes of a thousand times lesse consequence for the Inclosure and Plantation of some of the Wast and Common Grounds Whereof there are many Thousand Acres in this Nation such as are most fit for Improvement according as is largely and with wisdome and judgement set forth in the late Treatise entituled Bread for the Poore And in another Treatise entituled A Designe for Plenty there would by the blessing of God on our Labours be Bread indeed for the Poore and Wine too Yea Riches and Lands of Inheritance to those who are not now worth a Groat For in divisions and inclosures of Wast and Common Grounds by Persons appoynted for that purpose why should not the Poore have their share and proportion as well as their rich Neighbours and that to them and their heires for ever yea let the Poore be first provided for Are not these the times of the Gospell prophesied of Esay 49.19 20. When the Wast and desolate places shall be inhabited The people of God being multiplied as in these our daies they are more then in former times they now say to Authority as vers 20. The place is too straite for us give place to us that we may dwell Many of the Wast and Common Grounds being inclosed might be improved unto farre greater advantages then now they are both as to the Lords of the Wasts and others claiming interest in them for the encrease of Cattell both in Number and greatnesse our breed of Horses might then be fit for Warre whereas now the Commons starve and spoyle them as to such service And all sorts of Corne Fruits of Trees Timber Fuell Hempe Flaxe and many other Profits might be multiplied whereby the Nation would abound with all outward necessaries for it selfe and the overplus to transport to other parts for the enriching strengthning of this Nation still more and more in stead of sending out our Monies and Commodities for supplies from them And hereby this Nation might become able under the hand of God to support it selfe and helpe to uphold others also who are friends to us and be a terror to all those that contend with us An eminent person once said of this Nation that it is a very Garden of delights and a Well that cannot be exhausted What then would it be did it abound with goodly Fruit-trees and other Profits where now are barren Wasts Might it not then be called another Canaan flowing with Milke and hony of which it is recorded that there were Fruit-trees in abundance Nehem. 9.25 The more obstructions we have from Forraine parts the more need we have to labour diligently for all necessary and usefull things within our own Nation that we may be able to subsist without the help of others so that this work of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees for improvement of Lands is fit to be carried on as well if not much rather in these times of Warre as in times of Peace Upon all which Accompts it is my humble desire That you Sir who have laboured and done so much already for the Publique would still be pleased to be assistant and instrumentall for the promoting and setting on foot the Work of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees in this Nation more then in former
yet there is need of some quickning Motives to it And I know none more pervalent then those taken from Profites and Pleasures considered in so great and so many respects espetially if we take in the Spiritual part unto which the Arguments may be as properly referred as to the Naturall Or if any accompt the Arguments too large conceiving the Porch to be too big for the House It is Answered such a Judgment arises from a mistake for the whole Worke following the Arguments considered together both the Naturall and Spirituall part is but one entire Treatise as in the Title-Page is exprest And besides the worke as yet is not finished There is it may be as much behind which in time I hope will be perfited Accept of what is made ready at present which as it may be profitable to some in respect of Encouragments and Directions in the practise of the Worke so also I desire it may be a meanes to stir up others to doe some thing in the like kind for Publique Profit There are many good wits exercised about Toyes and Trifles some men bestow excessive Time cost and Labour about meere shadowes and well deserve Marshalls Motto Turpis est difficiles habere nugas Et stultus labor est ineptiarum L. 2. Epig. 86. 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 Temporalls and Spiritualls An ancient Author saies Not he that knoweth many things but he that knoweth things Fruitfull is Wise This Art is a full store-House out of which may be brought both Meat Drink and Mony it is a rich Myne without bounds or bottom out of which we may digg Profits and Pleasures great and many and worthy the study and labour of the most wise and Learned The good of this Imployment both in the Theorique and Practique part spreads it selfe 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 worke 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 Temporall and Spirituall 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 owne advantages may be promoted The blessing of God goe a long with us and give the increase in all our labours and prosper the workes of our hands This is my Advice to men and Prayer to God Who am Thine in the best Services RA AUSTEN 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. 4. 2. Robbing Fruit-trees p. 4. 3. Long expectation of Fruits p. 5. The praises of Fruit-trees and Art of Planting 1. From Ancient Authors p. 6 7. c. 2. From Moderne Authors p. 6 7. c. Eight divine Arguments of the dignity and value of Fruit-trees and Art of Planting 1. Argument Adams imployment in Innocency pag. 12. 2. Argument Fruits were the first foode given to man p. 12 3. Argument from examples p. 12 13. 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 p. 14 15. c. 1. Esay 5.1 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 Fifth Divine Argument from Gods withholding them in displeasure p. 16. 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 dryed up the fig-tree languisheth c. 4. Deut. 28.39 Thou shalt plant but shalt neither drink of the Wine nor gather the Grapes Sixt Divine Argument from Gods promising and giving thē in Mercy p. 16 17. Instances 1. Ier. 29.5 Plant Gardens and eat the Fruit of them 2. Amos 9.4 They shall plant Gardens and eat the fruits of them 3. Neh. 9.25 They took strong Citties Vineyards Olive-yards Fruit-trees in abundance 4. Ezek. 34.27 And the Tree of the field shall yeild her fruit c. Seaventh Divine Argum. from two commands 1. Tit. 3.4 Let ours also learne to maintaine good workes for necessary uses p. 17. 2. Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are lovely of good report c. pag. 18. Eight Divine Argument from Gods speciall Charge to preserve fruit-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 pag 19. Foure Humane Arguments of the dignity of Fruit-trees and Planting from the 1. Presidents of the greatest Persons pag. 20. Cyrus King of Persia Philometrus Kings of Asia Heronius Kings of Asia Archelaus King of Asia Attalus King of Asia Evax King of Arabia Avicen King of Arabia Telaphanus Antonius Pius Elizeus Numa Sportanus Alcinous Mithridates the Great Alexander the Great Solomon King of Israel And many others 2. Praises of All People pag. 21. See Instances of many p. 6 7 8. c. The Third humane Argument from Profits 1. To the Estate 1. In respect of House-keeping 1. In Meats pag. 21. 2. In Drinks pag. 21. 2. In respect of Sale 1 Fruits in their kinds 22 2. Wines made of thē 22 2. To the Body 1. In respect of health 1. By moderate exercises p. 22. 2. Fresh Aires p. 23. 3. Pleasant Odors p. 23. 4. Wholsome meats p 24. 2. In respect of long life 1. By operation upon the spirits through the Organs of the Body Eare p. 35. 36 27 c. Touch p. 35. 36 27 c. Smell p. 35. 36 27 c. Sight p. 35. 36 27 c. Tast p. 35. 36 27 c. 2. Through the Affections of the Mind Hope pag. 25. Joy p. 26. Admiration p. 27 28. c. 3. To the Mind 1. In respect of knowledge Naturall p. 32. Morall p. 32. Spirituall p. 32. 2. In respect of Affections 32. 4. To the Name 1. In this life by Gifts and Benefits p. 33. 2. After death by Fruit-trees as living Monuments 5. To others 1. To the Poore Friends or Enemies 34. 2. To the Rich Friends or Enemies 34. The Fourth Humane Argument from pleasures 1. To the Eare 1. By sweet tunes of singing Birds p. 35. 2. By gentle motion of boughes leaves 35 2.
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 Ob. 3 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 our hopes would faint before we could see profit of our labours perhaps they would not beare fruits of Sixteene or Twenty yeares growth Ans I Answere that though the Objection 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 years after and then leave them to their Children and to posterity after them But 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 Profit and Pleasure from them in halfe Twenty years yea in halfe that halfe yea in lesse then in five years sometimes the third sometimes the second yeare of many kinds of fruit-trees after Grafting Experience proves it though we must know the fruit cannot be much while the trees are so small of particulars yet a multitude of such trees will afford a multitude of fruits A Cisterne 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 yeares or sooner the meanes is shew'd at large in the ensuing worke So that I hope this grand discouragement which hath so long and so generally kept men from this profitable work will be remov'd Now as I promis'd I will lay down some Excitements and Encouragements to the work of Planting fruit-fruit-trees Many large workes have been composed by Ancient Authors for the Instruction of the husbandman in this his principall work 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 Opinion 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 own words And then give the summe of what they have said to the plain husbandman and others that else could not understand them The Prayses of the Ancients concerning the Husbandmans course of life in Planting Fruit-trees Agricultura quid sit MIHI videtur nihil aliud esse Agriculturam quam inspectâ Plantae naturâ Coeli terrae eiidoneum cultum tribuere ut ita dicam coelum cum terra maritare vel societatem perquirere Coeli terrae ad Arbores Sed quum Coelum nullo modo queat flecti oportet ut sedulus Agricola sitûs varietate utatur ut Coelo facilè Planta associetur Agricolae ad duas metas intendere debent ad utilitatem voluptatem Agricultura est Ars quae docet usuram cum terra facere Inter omnia enim quae utilitatem simul jucunditatem pariunt ut ambiguum sit utilitatisne an amaenitatis plus habeat Variis fructibus delecteris non tēpore uno sed diversis alio renascente alio decidente ut unusquisque ex industriâ jucunditate te afficere sataget Rami fructibus onerati pondere incurvantur ac se infra decumbenti offerunt Asspice curvatos Pomorum pondere ramos Vt sua quod peperit vix ferat Arbor onus O quam dulcissimum est fructus ex Arboribus quas sevisti inseruisti coluisti propriis manibus colligere Amicis agnatisque jactabundus largiri Est alia in Arboribus delectatio Avium scilicet modulatio ac ex variorum multitudine dulcissimus efficitur concentus Auresque cantibus demulcent suis Aves canoros garrulae fundunt sonos Et semper Aures cantibus mulcent suis Theophrastus Hortum juxta aedes collocavit quem moriens testamento Philosophantibus reliquit Democritus Abderites prope hortum Cellam habuit Palemon Atheniensis in hortis docebat Laidis Cyrenei in hortis schola fuit August quos Attalus Rex aedificavit Quid enim hoc opere innocentibus vacantibus quid plenius magna consideratione prudentibus quid majus mirabiliusque spectaculum est quam cum positis seminibus Reges Imperatores summosque Magistratus non puduit Hortensia colere propriis manibus Plantatis surculis translatis Arbusculis insitis malleolis tanquam interrogatur quaeque vis radicis germinis quid possit quidve non possit unde possit unde non possit cum rerum natura humana ratio quodammodo lòqui potest quid in ea valeat numerorum invisibilis interiorque potentia quid extrinsecùs adhibita diligentia in ipsa consideratione perspicere quia neque qui plātat est aliquid neque qui rigat sed Deus qui dat incrementum Mira est inexplicabilis horti commoditas nam si necessitatem considero Agriculturae tanto est humano generi emolumento ut eá carere nullo modo possis si utilitatem inter primas non postrema aut quaenam illi poterit comparari si voluptatem dignitati commistam ea est excellentia c. Much more they speake in praise of this worke which here for brevitie sake I shall omit Now that the husbandman and every one may understand what has been said by these Authors and others I will give more plainly the summe of all They define husbandry to be an Art teaching men lawfull usury with the earth And that it seemes cheifly to be the searching and finding out the nature of Plants and Trees and of the Heavens and the Earth and then to give unto Plants fit place and ordering according to the nature of the Soyle and Climate And as they say to marrie and match together Heaven and earth or to procure a society and neere fellowship between heaven and earth for the increase and benefit of Trees and Plants But seeing that the heavens can by no means be bowed or brought neerer to us therefore it must be the skill and diligence of the husbandman 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 ought 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 that Profit and what greater pleasure can there be then that which is Accompanied with
houses and dwell in them and plant gardens and eat the fruits of them 2 And in the promise of their returne this was one of the blessings God would bestow on them Amos 9.14 And I will bring againe the captivity of my people Israell and they shall build the wast citties and inhabite them and they shall plant Vineyards and drinke the wine thereof they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them 3 Thirdly When they came into Canaan that pleasant land this is mentioned as one of the blessings Neh 9.25 They possessed houses full of all goods wells digged Vineyards and Oliveyards and fruit-trees in abundance 4 And among the showers of blessings as the Prophet calls them this is one Ezek 34.27 The tree of the field shall yeeld her fruit And Ezek 36.29 I will multiply the fruit of the Tree The like of many other places Mal 3.10.11 Joel 2.21.22 Levit 26.3.4 Esay 65.21.22 Levit. 19.23 c. And thus much of the sixt Divine Argument from the promises of God and performance of them in these things to his people Argument 7 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 Paul 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 particulars and make applications from them So also from generall commands and directions The first Command is that of Paul in his Epistle to Titus Ch. 3.14 Let ours also learne to maintaine good workes 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 meanes 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 imploiments as the Margent renders it Now it is cleare this worke and 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 necessaries belonging to it See Profits of an Orchard This being so the Apostle then bids us learne to doe it as if he should say get some skill in it and be doing then uphold 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 Just 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 easily for a man to speake of many particular Imployments which have upon them the Characters and Marks here mentioned but of all of them 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 iust more pure more lovely of better Report what hath more Vertue vvhat hath more Praise then it See vvhat hath been said in the Praise and good report of it and the rest of the Properties at large already mentioned Novv this being so then we ought to follow the Apostles Command If there be any Vertue if there be any Praise saith he thinke on these things The words are very Emphaticall whatsoever and if there be any praise His meaning is whatsoever the vvork be though mean in the eye of the vvorld yet if there be but any one of these Characters and Marks upon it it is vvorthy to be follovved then hovv much more vvhen it has them All that so eminently as that every eye sees them Think on these things saith he first to search out vvhat works and imployments are markt vvith these Characters and then think on such to like and chuse them to set about them to follovv them and make such things our professions for the praise of God and profit of men And so much for the seaventh Divine Argument Argument 8 Another divine Argument is from Gods command for the preservation of fruit-trees He layes a speciall charge upon men for their safty and preservation as vve see Deut 20.19 20. When thou shalt besiege a citty 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 maist eat of them and thou shalt not cut them downe to further thee in the siege for the tree of the fielde is mans life Vers 20. Onely the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat thou shalt destroy and cut them downe and thou shalt build Bulwarks against the citty 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 bee taken in a litterall sence and as som godly men conceive is a positive binding Law even at this day We see God ingeminates 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 enimies 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 encourage men to so good a work to a work of so great and many advantages to the Commonwealth And because Humane Arguments are likewise prevalent with men observe them also for further encouragement The first Humane Argument 1. Humane Argument of the dignity and value of fruit-Fruit-trees and the art of 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 Virtue or Vice are powerfull with men especially Examples of great ones Brevius iter per exempla quà m per praecepta It s 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 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 and Emperours Secondly
smallnesse of the fruit but the Newington Peach is a very large and gallant fruit These require choice Plum-stocks to be inoculated upon as the White Peare plum stock or else stocks comming of Peach stones I know but one kind of Figs 7 Of Figs. that come to ripenesse with us in England The great Blew-fig as large as a Catherine Peare The trees grow in divers Gardens in Oxford and beare their fruits to perfect ripenesse it ordered as they should be The trees must be set against a South wall and be spread up with nayles and Leathers These trees are increased from the Root of the old tree draw up the small suckers and plant them or the cuttings of it will grow as of a Vine tree These need neither inoculating nor Grafting Some Authors affirme that there have been Vine-yards in England in former times though they be all destroyed long since 8 Of Grapes Divers places retaine the name of Vine-yards still At Bromwell Abby in Norfolke and at Elie in Cambridg-shiere what else is the meaning of these old Rimes Quatuor sunt Eliae Lanterna Capella Mariae Et Molendinum nec non dans Vinea vinum Englished thus Foure things of Elie Towne much spoken are The Leaden Lanthorn Maries Chappell rare The mighty Milhill in the Minster field And fruitfull Vineyards which sweet wine doe yeeld And doubtlesse men might Plant Vines with good successe to make good wine even with us There are many kinds of Vines but I know none so good and fit for our Climate as the Parsley Vine we see by experience yearely it beares abundance of fruits unto perfection And whosoever would plant Vines in England I think he cannot meet with a better kind then the Parsley Vine both for bearing and goodnesse The Fox Grape is a faire large Fruit and a very great bearer though not of so much esteem as divers others The Red and White Muskadine Grape is an excellent fruit and if the Vines grow upon a South wall and be well ordered they beare store of good fruits I know but two sorts of Quinces 9 Of Quinces the English and Portingall Quince The Portingall Quince I esteem as the better both for bearing and use These are increased from the Roots of old trees Suckers must be drawn up and set in the Nursery or in other convenient places which being grown up must be Grafted with some grafts from old bearing trees but the custome is for the most part to nursse them up without grafting and so ordered they are long ere they come to beare fruit Therefore I advise to Graft or Inoculate them with Grafts or Buds from old bearing Trees There are two kinds of Mulberrie-trees 10 Of Mulberries with us in England the Blacke and the White As for the White I never saw any of its fruit they very seldōe beare any 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 Bough off as big as a mans arme and after cut it in small Truncheons or peeces a yard long or more lay these in the ground a foot deep only the one end out of the ground a hand breadth or two or thereabouts and keep the earth moist with some good fat water from a standing Pool or Dunghill and clean from weeds and the first or second yeare usually these peeces spring up with severall shoots all which may be cut off with some small Roots and Planted at a fit distance and the old Root will yearly send out more which may either be cut off as before or else bowed down and laid in the earth on one or severall sides which will take root and multiply abundantly and in a few yeares be fit to be transplanted These kinds of Fruits are of least esteem with us 11. Of Medlers yet some like them well being ripe and almost rotten The Trees are increased by Suckers from the Roots and need not Grafting nor Inoculating but if the Fruit be small then get some Buds or Grafts from those Trees which beare large Fruits and Inoculate or Graft upon small Plants or upon the small Boughs of great Trees According to directions given Walnut-trees are propagated from the Nuts 12. Of Walnuts which may be set from the time of ripenesse untill 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 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 beare but little or no fruits Graft old Trees if bad bearers 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 againe 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 cupple 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 a slope-wise that no wet may rest upon the top and then after a yeare 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 Make Arbors of fruit-trees rather then of Privet or other rambling stuffe which yeelds no profit but only 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 Of Transplanting Trees I shall now give some Rules concerning Transplanting young plants after a yeares grouth or more whether Inoculated or Grafted The time for this work in generall 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 later end of September but because some trees are ready for Transplanting sooner then others observe this Rule Immediatly after Plants have done growing its best to transplant them And when they have done growing may be seen by
times According as is set forth in your Legacy of Husbandry The Designe for Plenty and other of your Published Treatises tending to generall Profit and the great encouragements in this worke which I have from time to time received from you for all which I shall be still ready thankfully to acknowledge my selfe Your very much engaged Servant RA AVSTEN To the Reader THere are extant many Treatises and Histories of Trees and Plants shewing us the Kinds Formes Natures and Vertues of them some likewise teach us the manner of Propagation of Fruit-trees their Sowing Grafting Setting Preservation and Ordering But most of these Authors speake in an unknown Tongue to the plaine English Husbandman whose encouragement and direction I shall herein much endeavour Only some few small peeces have beene offered to him which he may understand but very much defective in many necessary and principall parts of the Art of Planting Fruit-trees And not only so but likewise some of them are full of dangerous and hurtfull instructions and things notoriously untrue as shall particularly appeare in the ensuing discourse See pag. 78. So that a plaine sound Experimentall worke upon this subject hath been much wanting in this Nation The Art of Planting fruit-Fruit-trees is among Ancient Authors called Husbandry being it is one part of the Husbandmans work Quid sit Agricultura vid. pag. 6 though in many parts of this Nation Husbandmen have little skill in it their labour being chiefely Tillage of the ground for Corne. But this is a part of the Husbandmans worke as well as that yea and the chiefest and worthiest part Adam in time of his Innocency was imployed in this part of Husbandry about fruit-Fruit-trees as is shewed pag. 12. But when he had sinned he was put away from this worke to till the ground a lower and inferior labour Gen 3.23 The Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of 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 Mysticall Vine-tree the Church Ioh. 15.1 So that I shall keep the phrase throughout the Worke. I have seene I suppose the best Workes both of Ancient and Late Writers upon this Subject and have learned from them what I could for accomplishment of this Art and have observed the practise experiments of many from time to time concerning it and have improved them to my own advantage And likewise I have set my selfe to the Practice of this worke for the space of Twenty yeares and more endeavouring to find out things of use and profit by Practise and Experience that I might speake upon better and surer grounds then some others who have written upon this Subject for Experience guides and informes Reason in many things in which without Experience it would often erre Some who have taught this Art of Planting Fruit-trees have beene in it I conceive only Contemplative men having little or no Experience in it so that in many things they have erred and that grossely as shall appeare in due place L. Ba. Advanc Lear. A Learned Author saies The writings of speculative men upon active matter for the most part seemes to men of experience to be but as dreames and dotage And that it were to be wished as that which would make Learning indeed solid and fruitfull that Active men would or could become Writers Study and Practise by degrees frame new Arts and adde to the old Virg. Geor. Per varios 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 Leggs whereon Arts runne stedily and strongly and the one without the other can but hop or goe lamely They are the two Eyes wherewith men see natures secrets clearely but the one alone discernes but dimly And hence it followes that some who were only contemplators of nature without experience and would needs adventure to write give instructions touching the Practique part of this Art of Planting Fruit-trees have in many things as the aforesaid Author saies presented us with smoake insteed of the lucide flames of light They have indeed shewed us a comely and beautifull body painted according to Art but yet livelesse and without a spirit And have offered us shells and huskes instead of kernells But now speculation and Action are as Soule and Body united which labouring togeather worke out both Profit and Pleasure many advantages to our selves and others When Speculation and practise Art and Nature are matched together they are pregnant and fruitfull but the one alone wanting a meete helper what fruits can it bring forth Experience as a Philosopher saies is the Root of Art and it may well be so called from whence springs a numerous multitude of new Experiments for from one Root or single Experiment though perhaps a poore and meane one in it selfe if throughly weighed with Reason and judgement may arise many rich and rare inventions And it 's most true which the Lord Bacon saies 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 obtaine great and many profits and those with Pleasures superadded Workes and labours which have in them but a vaine and unprofitable pleasure are approved but only of some sensuall persons And such labours as have but only Profit and doe not ease the paines with some Pleasantnesse in them are yet harsh and disliked of many but such as yeeld both Profit and Pleasure are universally liked 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 runne 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 obtaine yearely a plentifull harvest of Profits and Pleasures I have endeavoured to remove whatsoever might hinder and have laid downe some Arguments of encouragement to set upon and prosecute the means to obtaine them discovering the best way I can find out how they may be gotten with most speede and kept with most security If any man think the Divine and Humane Arguments preceding the worke to be needlesse because generally men know that Planting friut-Friut-trees is a very profitable worke none doubt it I Answer Some know it by experience many others doe not And although men are convinced of the profitablenes of the worke
Clarret wine p. 55. The dryest Plumms as the Mussle Damazeene c. are the best p. 56. The white Peare-Plum stock a speciall kind to graft or Inoculate upon p. 56. Mix not Plums with Cherries in grafting they hold not long p. 56. Aprecot-Trees are propagated by the bud only not by grafting p. 56. Inoculate buds from the best bearing Trees and upon stocks full of Sap. p. 57. Nutmeg peach one of the best especially in respect of bearing p. 57. The great Blew Figg comes to perfect ripenes with us if set against a South wall p. 57. Vineyards formerly in England p. 58. The Parsley Vine and White Mukadine beare store of good fruits with us p. 58. Portingall Quince the best kind p. 59. Black Mulberry Trees beare abundanly p. 59. Chuse the fairest Walnuts of thinnest shells and good bearers to set p. 59. Graft old Trees if bad bearers or bad fruits p 59 Arbors of Fruit-trees better then of Privet c. p. 60. Begin to Transplant betime divers advantages by it p. 60. Breake off the leaves of Plants when taken up p. 61. Cut the ends of all the Roots smooth before setting p. 61. Set not below the soyle yet deeper on dry ground then on moist p. 51. In setting Trees observe a fit distance see the advantages thereby p. 52. Put some good mould next the Roots of Plants in setting 63. Ordering Plants the first yeare of setting is of speciall concernment p. 63. Suffer not the maine branches of wal-trees to rise upwards but spread them on the sides of the wall p. 64. Wall-trees must be Pruned and Ordered both in Summer and in Winter p. 94. Error in pruning Waltrees Cutting off too many shoots 65. Prune oldtrees about October or November p. 65. Bare old trees at the roots about October and lay some good soyles to them p. 66. Piggions dung Henns dung Blood of Cattle or the like is speciall good to cause Trees to beare well p. 66. Mowing of Orchards is exceeding hurtfull to fruit-trees but suffering Cattell to lye among them is very profitable p. 66. Mosse on Fruit-trees caused by coldnesse and barrennesse of the ground p. 67. Cut off the Branches of Trees Barkbound p. 67. Cut out the Canker of Fruit-trees p. 68. Destroy Catterpillers in breeding p. 68. Preserue the Fruits from Ants Erewiggs Snayles Wasps Birds and winds as much as may be 69. Cyder made of Fruits newly gathered and also when they are mellow how to make it p. 70. Preserve Cyder from Ayre p. 70. Cyder boyled with Spices is very Cordiall p. 70. Colour Cyder with the Juyce of Mulberries great bearing Cherry c. p. 70. Cyder in Bottles sunck into a well will keep good many years p. 71. How to keepe Apples p. 71. Apples helpe concoction p. 71. They are profitable in hot diseases and against melancholy the plurisie c. p. 72. Apples are singular good to cure the Strangury and other diseases proceeding of the difficulty of making water see how ordered p. 72. Peares are more nourishing then Apples p. 72. A wine of peares not inferior to French wines p. 72. Cyder and Perry Cordiall Liquors profitable for health and long life p. 73. Quinces Cordiall fruits and of manifold uses p. 73. How to keepe Quinces a yeare or two p. 73. Cherries breed good bloud in the body The sharp are best p. 73. A pleasant refreshing wine made of Cherries more fit for Summer then hot wines p. 74. Cherries boyld in brothes and drinks good for hot and feuerish bodies p. 74. Kernels of Cherry stones breake the bladder-stone p. 74. Cherries strengthen and stir up appetite to meat p. 74. Plummes cast out chollericke humors and are good in hot diseases p. 74. The infusion of dryed Aprecots is profitable in sharp feavors p. 75. Peaches coole and keepe the belly soluble eat them as all other fruits moderatly and drinke a Cup of wine after p. 75. Wine of Mulberies a small Quantity of Juyce will colour White-wine Cyder Perry c and makes a pleasant sawce p. 74. Juyce of Mulberies good against a sore mouth or throat they styre up a languishing appetite p. 76. Figgs nourish much and breed store of bloud are accompted restorative they help an old Cough boyled with Isop many other purposes p. 76. Medlers fortify digestion stay vomiting and loosnesse of the belly kernells with parslely roots c. mightly drive out stones and gravell from the kidnyes p. 77. Walnuts help digestion with other things they resist poyson greene Walnuts distilled preserve against the Pestilence p. 77. Errors discovered concerning the Art of Planting first in the writings of some secondly in the practice of others see the particulars p. 79 80 81 82. c. Planting of Fruit-Trees The best way of Improvement of Lands THE Profits of Orchards and Gardens are very well known to many in this Nation so that the things I hold forth to men are not doubtfull and questionable whether advantages will arise or noe when they have bestowed their time and labours about them but Profits are as certaine by the blessing of God if men labour in them as a harvest of Corne in Autumme when the husbandman hath plowed and sowed in the spring or other season Worcestershire Herefordshire Gloustershire Kent and many other parts in this Nation can sufficiently evidence the Profits of Orchards and fruit-trees in the fieilds 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 a work doubtlesse of singular use hath asserted That Planting fruit-Fruit-trees at such a distance as they cannot reach when they have attained largest growth they doe advantage the Land even in respect of Grasse although the common prejudice against Fruit-trees in feilds is that they spoyle Grasse as that some Land not being worth above 10s or 13s 4d. an Acre the Grasse by planting Fruit trees regularly upon it was afterwards worth 30s or 40s or 50s an Acre And the Fruits upon the Trees may yeild some 3l some 5l Or some 6 or 8l 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 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 are worth to grase Forty or fifty shillings or 3l 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 six fold 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
Profit Now of all estates of life the husbandman may cheifly challenge this to 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 season 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 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 Boughes 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 own hand to gather it and largly and freely to bestow and distribute it among his kindred and freinds 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 neere to a garden Many Philosophers have taught their schollers in Orchards and Gardens What worke is more innocent then Planting of fruit-Fruit-trees Augustine 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 grafting 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 and vexations that necessarily attend 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 and 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 tranquility of minde 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 practise of these things This course of life is farre off from covetousnesse and even tyed and married to all Offices of love and friendship This is a quiet and pleasant life worthy to be preferred before all honours and dignities This culture of the ground and planting and ordering of Fruit-trees Occasions search and inquiry into many secrets profitable to men which brings 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 to 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 esteemed it best of all other labours nothing more rich and profitable nothing more delightfull nothing more worthie a generous spirit then it In former times those that were honoured and carried in triumph they were not honoured with Gold Pearles or 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 Branches of certaine Trees as the Olive Palme c. Such as got the Conquest and victory of their enemies were crowned with the Lawrell which was to them a signe of Victorie And in their feasts they gave Crownes 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 been conversant in it then it is a kingly Art See the worthie Acts of Cyrus King of Persia Ezra 1.1.2.3 c. and chiefest of all other Cyrus King of Persia who had all the Kingdomes of the earth given to him was diligent and most exact in the handling of it He planted Orchards Gardens of Fruitt-rees with his owne hand which when Lysander saw he admired to see the excellent and singular order and 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 and 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 works therein with delight Of this See Sir Rich Barkley of the felicity of man pag. 162. Dioclesian Emperour of Rome after he had reigned Twenty yeares betooke himselfe to a private life and Planted Orchards and Gardens with his own hand wherein he tooke such delight that he could not be intreated to take upon him againe the Goverment of the Empire Solomon the wisest of all Kings had Orchards and Gardens of Fruit-trees and tooke pleasure in them and spake of all Trees from the Cedar even to the Shrub Mascall sets out this Art with admirable praises he saies among all sciences and goodly exercises for men there is none doe 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 Planting 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 most florishing labours in the world for the Common wealth Yea they did so much esteeme it that they did hang Tables thereof in divers places never thinking the time more aptly spent then in Planting and Grafting Many worthy and 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 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 handiworks Thus have I shewed briefly what some of the Ancients and some late writers have said and esteemed of Fruit-trees and of the Husbandmans 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 and humane Arguments and Testimonies and after that I shall enter upon the worke 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 saith he Rom 11.13 I magnifie myne Office Suffer me therefore for Encouragment to all in the worke to say something in praise of fruit-Fruit-trees and of the imployment about them it being a worke so full of Profits and Pleasures in the life of man The works of God are laudable have a Dignity upon them ought to be taken notice of praised admired not for themselves but for the Author that he through by them may have the more praise Psal 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 Argument 1 ONE Divine Argument of the dignitie 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 De Gen. ad Lit Li. 8. Augustin is of opinion that this dressing of the Garden was as well an exercise of the hand as of the mind not with toylesomenesse trouble but with delight pleasure Non erat laboris afflictio sed exhileratio voluntatis quum ea quae Deus creaverat humani operis adjutorio Laetius feraciusque provenirent unde 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 Argument 2 Plants were the first animate bodies that God created And fruits of Trees were the first food that was given to man and for ought we read the only food he then had And God said behold I have given you every hearb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the Earth and every Tree in which is the fruit of a Tree yeelding seed to you it shall be for meat Gen. 1.29 Argument 3 Another Divine Argument is from examples in Scripture of Planting Fruit-trees and of the use of Orchards and Gardens Example Diodat exp Sir W. Rawley hist part 1 Ch 3 Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 13. c. 24 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 as good Authors agree Hecaused a parcell of ground to bring forth Plants and Trees most exquisite and usefull for man and enriched that place with more fruitfulnesse and beauty then any other part of the Earth and called it EDEN that is a place of Pleasures And at this day Sir W. Rawley 1. Book 1. part Ch. 9. 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 Example 2 Secondly we have for our Example herein that good and holy man who found grace in the sight of God when all the world save a few with him perisht 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 Example 3 Thirdly We have for our example herein the friend of God faithfull Abraham Gen. 21.33 And Abraham planted a Grave in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord the everlasting God Of the fitnesse of these shades by Arbours Seats close walks in Orchards for contemplation and private exercises I shall speak hereafter Example 4 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 Example 5 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 there is 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 Example 6 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 work in a garden as we see in the History vers 7.8 Susanna went into her husbands garden to walke the two Elders saw her going in every day and walking Example 7 Seaventhly The people of Israel by a speciall command from God made use of Arbours and shady places in their great Feasts Nehem. 8 14.15 It was published and proclaimed in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying Goe forth unto the Mount and fetch Olive Branches and Pine Branches and Mirtle branches and Branches of thick-Trees to make Boothes So they made these Boothes upon the Rooffes of their houses and in their Courts and in the Court of the house of God and in the streets and they sate under these Boothes and there was very great gladnesse Example 8 Eightly For the use of an Orchard or Garden we have the example
puttest thine hand unto And againe Deut. 16.15 Because the Lord thy God shall blesse thee in all thy encrease and in all the workes 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 renued 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 Hist L.D. pag. 228. and the spirit by continuall conversing in the same actions may not waxe dull Pag. 232 And againe One thing above all is gratefull to the spirits that there be a continuall progresse to the more benigne and no doubt saith he it furthereth Long life Pag. 164. 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 sutable to these Rules whereby this Affection of joy is kept fresh and vigorous which also keepes the spirits cheerefull and lively for herein are many renovations and a continuall progresse to the more benigne and things mending and growing to the better Ioy is continually renued from yeare to yeare yea in divers seasons of the yeare there are fresh and new joyes In the spring of the yeare joy springs afresh in beholding the seeds and young Grafts and Plants spring forth vigorously and strongly And the buds and blossomes breathing forth pretious pleasant Odors rejoyce and delight the inward and outward sences promising a plentifull Harvest of Fruits in Autumne and all the Sommer long joy is cherished with coole fresh ayres singing of Birds sight of abundance of Fruits burd'ning all the Trees delighting the Eye with their beautifull formes colours in Autumne joy is renued 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 Wines Delicates made of them So here 's a succession of joyes one following on the neck of another whereby the spirits are still kept in a cheerfull temper and condition and so work powerfully on the grosser parts of the body conducing to Long-life Concerning the lawfulnesse of rejoycing in earthly blessings with a Caution See afterwards Another Affection of the Minde which in this imployment works powerfully upon the spirits for Long life is admiration 3. Affection Admiration Hist L. D. pag. 225. The Lord Bacon saies Admiration and light Contemplation are very powerfull to the Prolongation of life This affection ascends a step higher then the other two for as joy rises higher then Hope so Admiration higher then joy It is our duty to Admire God in his works which is a steppe higher them 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 wonder at the works of God Ps 111.2 The works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Ver 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 wonderfull he is in his doings Ps 111.4 He hath so done his Marveilous workes 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 wonderfull effects of Grafting saies Lib. de Cult Insitione Ch. 17 it is an admirable Art and the chiefest part of the husbandmans worke Artem infitionis admirabilem esse ac totius Agriculturae nobilissimam partem voluptuosam utilem c. When he considers the strange effects of Grafting he falls a wondring O mira insitionis potestas c. And Mizaldus speaking of grafting saies Insitionis ope artificiosa multa ad stuporem usque miranda fieri many things may be done even to admiration Austin wonders at these things Quid majus mirabiliúsque spectaculum est quam cum positis seminibus plantatis surculis c. In exiguo grano mirabilior praestantiorque vis est c. What more strange things are to be seene in Nature then in sowing seeds setting grafting young plants and such like works In a small seed there is a wonderfull 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 does arise of a small kernell or seed that that seed should containe in it virtually or potentially a great Tree with all the properties of it and retaine its nature exactly in every particular Will it not cause Admiration to see goodly wholsome and beautifull fruits come forth of rough and crooked Trees especially to observe the manner of their comming forth the care that nature takes to secure and preserve the seed of the Fruit with the Buds Blossomes Skin 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 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 Barke Wood Pith Leaves Buds Blossomes Stalke Fruit and Seed Will it not cause Admiration to consider that Grafts or Buds set upon Wild stocks such as naturally bring forth sower harsh and naughty fruits And though the Grafts and Buds be nourished by that harsh and different sap and receive all their substance and grouth 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 pleasant natures and bring forth fruits accordingly Will it not cause Admiration to see little small Plants of but two yeares old and some but of one yeare if grafted to hang full of fruits and to be able to beare them forth to their natural bignesse and goodnesse and notwithstanding make a large and sufficient grouth the same
yeare Will it not cause Admiration to see the busie and industrious Bees to gather Hony even from the flowers or blossomes of bitter Almond-trees and other flowers and Plants that to our sence are bitter and unpleasant Will it not cause Admiration to see very many and very great fruits hang upon only one small and slender twig L.B. Hist L.D. pag. 85. A great Author notes it for a strange thing that all the nourishment which produceth sometimes such great fruits should be forced to passe 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 faire 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 severall kinds of fruits as an Apple-tree withall or many kinds of Apples or a Cherry tree with all or many kinds of Cherries so of other kinds of trees To see one tree hang full of fruits different in their Formes Colours leaves Blossomes which may be done by Grafting or Inoculating so many severall kinds of Buds or Grafts upon one tree VVill it not cause Admiration to stand upon a Mount in the midst of a faire large Orchard in the spring time and to behold round about a multitude of severall sorts of Fruit-trees full of beautifull Blossomes different in their shapes and colours ravishing the sence with their sweet Odors and within a while turned into faire and goodly fruits of divers Colours and Kinds the fruit-trees gorgeously array'd with green leaves and various colour'd fruits and with so many pretious Jewels and Pearles 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 minde 3. Profitable to the mind First in respect of Knowledge Secondly in respect of Affections 1. In knowledge This worke is profitable to the Minde by storing it with variety of Objects and profitable Notions both Naturall Morall and Spirituall How variously does Nature discover it selfe 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 processe 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 joyne Contemplation and Action Study and Practise together they shall finde even in this one Volume or book of the Orchard many usefull and fruitfull Lessons for temporall and spirituall advantage See the observations 2. In affections And as the imployment is profitable to the minde in respect of Knowledge so also in respect of Affections by offering many fold Divine Meditations by occasion whereof the affections of the soule may with the help of the spirit be raised and turned into a spirituall temper How fitly does the Garden of Fruit-trees offer unto us that most profitable and fruitfull Meditation of our first fall and originall sinne 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 our selves and to exalt God and abundantly to joy in the infinite and boundlesse mercy of God in Christ in that he tooke pitty on poore Man when he was fallen but passed by the Angels when they were falne Creatures by creation more excellent then Man and left them in an irrecoverable state of misery But in the same place even so soon as we had sinned promised us a Saviour and when the fulnesse of time was come sent him into the world In consideration of these things our Affections of Love to joy in and Admiration of God should be inlarged and boundlesse O the height depth of the Mercy and Justice of God towards the Angells Iustice but towards us Mercy What can we render unto the Lord for this his infinite mercy Now seeing he looks for nothing but Love Praise let us begin it here that we may hold on to all eternity Fourthly Planting fruit-trees is profitable to the Name 4. Profitable to the name of the Planter Fruit-trees are living lasting monuments beare up perpetuate the Name of him that planted labored about them both while he lives and in generations after A late Author saies that Apple trees and Peare-trees and some other kinds of Fruit-trees on good land and duly ordered will last 800 or 900 yeares What earthly thing is better then a good Name Solomon tels us Eccl 7.1 A good name is better then pretious oyntment and againe Prov 22.1 A good name is to be chosen before great riches and loveing favour is above silver and above gold One saies L. B Nat. Hist pag 258. The best temper of mindes desire a good name and the lighter popularitie and applause A good name is not only to be desired but to be highly prised and to be reckoned the chiefe of earthly blessings not only for the beauty of it but also for the permanency of it it abides when friends riches life and all is lost One way to gaine and keep a good name is by Gifts and Benefits the worst temper of minds are wonne and held by Gifts and good turnes it 's naturall to all creatures to love those that doe them good Now who can so easily give so great so many and so acceptable gifts as the husbandman that yearely nurseth up multitudes of Fruit-trees and hath store of pleasant fruits wines and delicates made of them While he lives he bestowes young fruit-trees fruits and many acceptable gifts out of his Orchard and being dead his Orchards Gardens and Fruit-trees live and 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 Publique and generall profit of a Commonwealth such works produce the same effect We know all labours and imployments that bring both Profit and Pleasure are approved and praised of all though the advantage be but to a private family how much more when they are for a Commonwealth And besides this Morall Consideration God hath promised the great blessing of a good name to them that are conversant in good imployments Rom 13.3 Doe 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 Fiftly An Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees the imployment about them is profitable to others 5 Profitable to others First in the present times Secondly
when he is most mindfull 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 hindred 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 remaines but that I also discover how we may obtaine our desires herein by what meanes the work may be done with most speed and best effect I shall first speak of a Nursery of young Plants Of the Nursery and shew the manner of sowing of Kernells 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 yong trees ready grafted or to plant stocks of divers yeares grouth and after they have grown a year or two to graft them I shall set downe all these things as briefly as I can so that withall I make them plaine to the intelligent Reader laying down the most materiall and essentiall things concerning this Art For long and tedious discourses about things that may be comprehended in few words as many use they doe often mislead men so as it is not easie to see the most materiall things concerning their subject or what they drive at whereas a breife and plaine discovery of them may better be comprehended and remembred 1. First then Let there be a Plot of ground more or lesse digged up about the time when Fruits are ripe and let all the Grasse Weeds Roots Stones c. be clean picked out the ground cast into Beds about a yard broad and spaces between about a foot in breadth to passe between them to sow set weed c. And then procure Kernells of Apples Peares 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 untill the spring except in frost in this manner How to sow and set seeds stones kernels c. Having made the Beds levell 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 seeds stones about a handfull deep and after rake them all over and that none may be left uncovered sift some small mould with a Sive all over them and so let them rest all winter And carefully observe that Mice devoure not the seeds in Winter if you perceive it set Traps and lay Rats bane to destroy them In the Spring or Sommer let them be weeded from time to time cleane and if the weather be dry let them be watred now and then they will make a growth the same yeare according to the strength goodnesse of the ground wherein they grow Plants comming of seeds or stones are far better then Suckers from Roots of Trees although such are good and usefull for stocks also Draw Plants of Seeds In Autumne when they have done growing let the biggest of them be transplanted into other Beds of ground prepared for that purpose thus Let the ground be digged and cast into square Plots or long Plots as you will and said levell with a Rake then set the young seed Plants therein in this manner Having cast up the Borders handsomely on each side stretch a Line from one side to the other then take a Setting-sticke that is a hard peece of wood about a yard long with a handle at the top and made sharp at the end or pointed with iron and thrust it into the ground halfe a foot or a foot deep according to the length of the Roots close to the line and make holes all along from one end of the line to the other about halfe a foot or more as you will And having prepared the seed Plants by cutting off all the side Twiggs and the ends or bottome of the Roots set them in order in the holes to the top of their Roots and close the mould about them Draw the biggest first and set them by themselves the least by themselves Then take up the line and stretch it againe about a foot from the other Plants and make holes and prune more seed Plants and set them as before Then take up the line and stretch it againe a foot and halfe from the Plants last set that there may be a convenient space of ground to passe between to weed the Plants and to Graft and Inoculate them being growen fit And having made holes and pruned the Plants set them as before And thus set the Nursery throughout and many of these will be ready after one yeare to Inoculate and after two yeares or three to Graft Now for those that were left upon the Beds where the Seeds were sowne the largest being drawne as before Rmove all seed Plants they may grow there a yeare longer and then be transplanted or else may be removed at the same time be sure to transplant all young seed-Plants for by that meanes they get good Roots which of themselves thrust down one single Root for the most part And being growne a yeare or two after Inoculating or Grafting they are fit to transplant to make Orchards or into Fields Hedges at a competent distance as shall be shewed when I speak of setting Trees Thus men may in a few yeares prepare multitudes of Young Trees for themselves and others to give or sel as they please It is good likewise to procure Crab-stocks from the woods and wast grounds which being growne a year or two may be grafted and either grow where they were first set being fit places or transplanted elsewhere The smaller these or any other Plants are when they are removed the better they grow Small Plants grow surest so that it is a great Errour in men to chuse the greatest yong-trees to transplant into their Gardens It s true the greater they be the better were they to grow still in the place without removing but the removing of great Plants is more dangerous to them then to small Plants Experience proves this sufficiently to the losse of many a good Plant. Now for the manner of Inoculating and Grafting these Plants being thus prepared The time of Grafting and grown fit First concerning Grafting wherein we must consider the time February and March usually with most are the too cheife Monthes for Grafting but we may begin sooner and its best so to do especially with Cherry and Plum-Grafts If the weather be open without frost in the beginning of January or in December Yea I have grafted some with good successe in November and sooner
of the stocke 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 betweene the bark and the wood And regard not the custome of many Grafters in setting the outsides even and smooth not considering the insides their successe is according to their skill for the most part We know the Bark of a big stock is much thicker then the bark of a slender graft if the outsides be smooth and even the insides must needs be uneven But I say to joyne the inner sides of both barks together all along the cleft is the Principall 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 Choice of Grafts and slender they commonly fayle but take the fairest upon the tree and especially those that are fullest of Buds 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 the like of other kinds joyn not contrary or different kinds they never come to perfection as Cherry grafts on Plum-stocks or the like Experience makes it manifest to be but lost labour they 'l grow it may be a yeare or two and then dy And in choice of Grafts Observe the best bearing-trees be sure to consider what Trees of all kinds are the best bearers some kinds seldome misse and some other kinds though good fruits seldome hit and therefore take information from those persons that know by experience the nature of the Trees in this regard and accordingly chose or refuse Grafts from them Observe the like in choyce of Vines The Parsley Vine of all other is best for these parts Such Grafts as are bound as is said of the two first waies of Grafting must be unbound after a certain time Vnbind Grafts when they have well closed with the Stock about Midsommer or before they will be fast enough upon the Stock so that they may without danger be unbound but if they be not unbound the band hinders their grouth and besides the winds when the grafts are growne big bushie will break divers of them unlesse they be unbound and also by some means supported and strengthned 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 After Grafts have had their full growth the first yeare Prune young Grafts they must be Pruned such as neede Pruning As for wall Plants its noe 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 inlarge themselves And from yeare to yeare prune off those shoots and branches as are superfluous and grow too neer one another and preserve only such as are fit to make the Tree of a comely forme And if any spire up and shoot too strongly upwards in the middle of the Tree only and spread not sufficiently as is often seene 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 neere 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 Inoculating Buds is about Midsommer a fortnight before a fortnight after is the chiefe season though Some Plants full of sap may be done afterwards with good successe That this businesse may be done to good purpose it must be considered whether the Buds which we meane to get are sufficiently grown or not they must not be too young and tender and we shall finde that some kinds of Trees have Buds ready sooner then others As the Aprecott especially and those that shoot strongly Let then the biggest and strongest shoots be cut from the Tree that have grown since the spring to that time and cut off the top of the shoot all these Buds that are too small and tender and also cut off the Leaves of the other about a quarter of an inch from the Bud and by that part left we hold the Bud being taken off the Branch but leave not on the whole leafe and stalke as some doe for the aire by meanes of the leafe extracts and drawes out the sap of the Bud in a short time and so spoiles it Observe the kindes Then goe to the Plants you intend to Inoculate which must be like as to the generall kinds with the Buds that you intend to set on as Aprecot Buds and other Plum-Buds on Plumstocks that are wild stocks the White Peare plum stock is accounted the best to inoculate Aprecot buds on or other choice Plums it being a Plant full of sap and in chusing Buds or Grafts be sure alwaies to cut them from those kinds that experience shewes are good bearing Trees Now in setting on the Bud first make a crosse cut upon some smooth place of the stock if it be for a wall-tree then halfe a foot or thereabouts from the ground from the middle of the crosse cut make another straight down about an Inch long or something lesse only through the Bark and with the end of a Pen-knife raise up the bark on both sides as much as to let in the small Bud then make hast to prepare the bud for a man must be quick at this work else the Aire by sudden drying the Bud and the cut part of the stock will much hurt Cut the bark on both sides the Bud and about a quarter of an inch above and as much below the bud and let that end which is to be downwards be a little sharp that it may more easily goe downe betweene the Barke and wood of the stocke and throw away the bark on the opposite side then with a Quill the one halfe cut away or a Pen of steele made thin for the purpose take off the Bud and bark and be sure there be the root of
assist in the work And by this meanes 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 meanes A speciall rule in transplanting In setting all sorts of Trees consider what soile they came out of whether a fat and forc'd soile as divers of the Nurseries about London or some ordinary naturall soile If they came 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 againe This should alwaies be observed To Plant Trees in as good or better soile being remov'd as that out of which they were taken For every thing in nature advanced to the better it is gratefull and beneficiall 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 destroies it Therefore chuse Trees out of naturall soyles and the worse the better for the Trees but if they must be had out of rich soyles then be sure to procure some more or lesse of as good or better then that out of which they are remov'd to lay to their Roots when set againe For want of observing this course many hundred of good plants have been lost from time to time The well ordering of young Plants the first and second yeare of planting has an influence upon them many yeares which if neglected then the labour and diligence of many yeares after cannot countervaile it the ordering of Cattell while they are young either makes or marrs them so of Trees and other things in some proportion after they have well taken Roote the first and Second yeare they will then grow in ordinary soyles the great danger is at first planting Concerning Wall-trees Wall-trees the Aprecot Peach Nectarine Vine-tree c. these and such choice fruit-trees must be planted upon a South-wall if it may be The best next that I accompt the East-wall and the West not so good the North-wall is nothing worth as having no advantage by the sunne as the other These trees being set as before is said they must be plaisht or spread upon the Wall being young and so from yeare to yeare as they grow greater with Nailes and Lethers And as they grow larger cut only some of the superfluous Branches and twiggs in the middle part but cut not the utmost sides or top Branches untill they be spread as large as they should spread and be sure to leade the maine and biggest Branches along the sides of the wall both wayes and suffer them not to rise straight up as naturally they will but correct nature by art Prune Wall-trees Wall-trees being growen as large as they may be permitted must be Pruned from yeare to yeare first in Sommer secondly in Winter About the end of June or middle of July the Aprecot-trees especially will have put out many large shoots 1 in Sommer some of which must be cut off and others spread up to the wall where there is roome for them Tye up as many as you can conveniently with Lethers and Nayles and cut the rest off that will not so well spread to the Wall then with a paire of sheeres or hook or sharp pruning knife cut all the forepart of the Trees even and smooth as may be and so cut and spread the branches as that the fruits which by that time will be growen towards their bignesse may have the sunne to refresh and ripen them 2 In Winter Secondly towards the begining of October or so soone as the Leaves are fallen off the branches that crosse one another or are not well placed may be rectified or any of the great boughes which are growen old and have but few small branches upon them may be cut off which must not be cut off in Sommer time lest that too great and sudden obstruction of sap kill the whole tree But the cutting of the small Branches in Sommer is some small check and stop to the sap and hinders the excessive rising of it at that time which else would spend it selfe in large superfluous branches and so rob the fruits And besides as that cutting conduceth to the fairnesse and early ripening of the fruits so also it causeth multitudes of Branches and Buds for blossomes the next Spring but this winter Pruning is chiefly for the well ordering of the branches that could not be well placed by reason of the Fruits Leaves in Sommer-time and for the cutting off of greater Branches when need is It is a great errour amongst some who suffer all the young Errour in Pruning large Shoots to grow as much as they will all Summer without cutting and then in Winter they usually cut all or most of them quite off from the trees and preserve only the old stumps or biggest Branches of the trees and by this meanes in the middle part of the Tree and neere the Root there are few or no young Branches to be seene Whereas they should preserve the young Branches to spread up against the wall untill it be full of small Boughs And then some young Shoots every yeare may be cut off in Sommer as before And in cutting away Branches be sure to take those away that grow the straightest out and will not so easily be bowed to the Wall as the other And preserve branches as low and as neere the ground as may be and cause them to bend and grow straight along the sides of the Wall both wayes and suffer not the biggest Branches to rise straight upward as commonly most doe but naile them downwards As for great Trees in the Orchards Fields Hedges Pruning old standard-trees c. they must be Pruned from yeare to yeare as need is in October November or thereabouts observe to cut off the superfluous Branches such as crosse one another and such as grow too close so as the Sunne cannot well come about the bearing Branches Leave no dead Twigges or Branches and scrape off the Mosse that is upon the Body and great Branches Opening the Roots is profitable to some Trees Ordering the Roots of old Trees especially such as grow upon dry and barren grounds In October or there abouts take away the Earth round about the Roots a yard broad or more and so leave the Roots bare and open all Winter that the Raine Snow beames of the Sunne c. may refresh the bottome Roots and make the ground better At Spring fill up the holes againe Also to lay Pigeons dung Hens dung Sheeps dung to the roots or the like stuffe that is very hot and fertill will much help the Trees and make them beare store of fruits Vines or other