not to be come by but out of some farre Countrey For though the feeding be good and singular for Oxen as in Flanders and elsewhere yet it falleth out so that if they can haue Horse to doe their worke they doe like better thereof than of the Oxe Euen as in Prouence Languedoe and Auuergnac men doe vse the labour of their Mules and their young Colts rather than of Oxen and Kine because they effect not or dispatch their worke 〈◊〉 well or yet so speedily howsoeuer yet the labour of the Oxe is maruellous good auaileable and profitable in strong grounds for they draw the Ploughes deepe into the earth and turne ouer great furrowes as may be seene in Italie where there are great Oxen long and broad breasted in Gascoigne Bourbon Poitou Aniou and Mayne Againe men of ancient time vsed no other beast but Oxen because that Oxen are more sparing for the profit of the Farmer for they are contented to feed vpon pasture without anie other food or prouender besides the great profit and good prouision comming of them for being either shoulder-shot or bruised in aniâ— part or growne impotent and vnable to worke by reason of old age they are 〈◊〉 either for to sell or to kill and salt for his vse profits and commodities which the other kind of Cattell I meane the Horse doe not affoord The Oxe-house must be built of stone paued with grauell or sandie ground somewhat descending and sloping that so the moisture may not stand It must also stand vpon the South that so it may be the more drie and lesse subiect vnto cold and frostie winds it shall be nine foot wide and onely of such height as that the Oxe may stand vpright and the Oxe-keeper may haue space ynough to goe round about them to see and serue them with fodder as also to the end that seeing Oxen will be striking one another with their hornes the weaker may haue space to withdraw himselfe The Rackes must be so high as that the Oxen cannot easily reach them The charge of him that is to keepe the Oxen is to be gentle and louing vnto the Oxen dressing and giuing them their meat prouiding them good litter either of straw or some other thing to rub them euerie euening before they lye downe and in the morning to eurrie them and wipe them cleane gently washing their tayles oft with warme water To keepe their house cleane and not to let Hennes or Swine come therein for feathers will kill Oxen and the dung of a diseased Swine engendreth the Murraine or Plague To giue fresh straw vnto these Cattell and to cast to them in Summer the greene sprouts and tender â—hoots of the arbors of Vines or others and in Winter of Beane stalkes and grasse euening and morning Let him be skilfull to discerne when Plough Oxen haue labored much or little that he may accordingly giue them a proportionable quantitie of meat and also such as shall be necessarie he may not let them take paine or labour in verie hot or verie cold weather neither yet when it is verie moist he may not let them drinke quickly after their trauell but if they 〈◊〉 heated so soone as they be come home hee shall cast a little wine into their throaâ— and shall not tie them to their Manger vntill such time as their wearinesse be ouerpast When there commeth together anie companie of Festiuall daies and rest 〈◊〉 shall grease their hornes and vnder the pasterne together with the hoofe or else â—e shall put vnder an Onion rosted verie soft betwixt two coales tying it thereto with a cloth Let him oftentimes make cleane and refresh their pasternes and not suffer them to cleaue or rend and to that end let him euerie yeare cause to be repaired the pauement of his Oxe-house which will serue also to keepe away beasts and 〈◊〉 which are wont to annoy Oxen. Let him remoue them one farre ynough from another least they should strike one another When they labour not let him water then twice a day in Summer and once in Winter and that in cleare cleane and coole water For as hath beene said heretofore the Oxe seeketh after the water that is clear and most bright as the Horse after that which is troubled Let him carefully looke vpon their comming from field whether anie of them haue got anie thorne in his foot if they be sweatie if the Collar or the Yoke haue caused them anie hurt abouâ— their head or if they be chafed about the neck if they haue beene much prickt with the Goad or with the Gadâ—â—ie or Horneâ— and let him accordingly apply something for the healing of them The gelded Oxe is better meat better marchandise and better for labour than thâ— Bull whose flesh is more hard and tough like a Hide and more troublesome to driue wherefore of a hundred Calues that the Oxe-keeper may haue he shall not â—eepe aboue two to bull the Kine the rest he shall geld all of them about when they â—re two yeares old for after this time he cannot doe it commodiously It would be â—one in Autumne and in the later end of the Moone and the ashes of Vine branâ—hes mixt with Lytharge must be applied to the wound and three daies after pitch â—elted and mixt with the said ashes you must not let him drinke the day wherein â—e is gelded and he must for the same day also eat but a little meat The manner to geld him is to take with two streight rules of wood as it were with quitches or pinâ—ers the strings of his stones then afterward to open the purse and cut out his stones â—n such sort as that he leaue the vpper end thereof whereto the said strings are fastned for by this meanes the calfe is not so much subject to effusion of bloud neither yet will it be altogether spoyled of courage not hauing all his pride taken away but some little left behind and reserued which may still expresse his first and naturall forme Hauing gelded him you must feed him well that he may be fit for labour and feed him according to the seasons and times cheering and cherishing him by sometimes giuing him a little salt sometime robbing his head with your whole hand strâ—aking his backe and rubbing the rest with louing and gentle speeches notwithstanding so long as he is in the house let his hornes be tied and he close made fast to the cratch Couple him with another of the same greatnesse grosenesse age and strength tie them the one by the other lead them into the fields tied together to the end they may one of them loue another let them oftentimes see the Oxen that draw the plow or which till the ground or doe any other manner of worke and to the end they may loose their naturall wildnesse lead them to heare the noise of mills of men of forges and other things which make great rumbling neere vnto the time when
must steepe Sal-ammoniack and Wheat together 〈◊〉 sow them neere the place where the Weazles haunt for by this they will 〈…〉 killed or caused to run away if they eat it Some say that if you catch a 〈◊〉 cut off her taile and cods and let her goe againe aliue that afterward there will be 〈◊〉 moe 〈◊〉 in that place Ants will she away if you burne those which you take or if you annoint the 〈◊〉 of the tree which they vse with oxe-gall or with the deâ—â—ction of Lupines or 〈◊〉 if you burne in the garden wild cucumber or if one clay ouer with white or red 〈◊〉 the tree where they are or if there be put at the mouth of their hole some 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 stone together You shall kill wormes if you perfume their holes with the smoake of oxt 〈◊〉 if you water them with pure lee You shall make them come out of the ground if 〈◊〉 water the place with the decoction of the leaues and seed of hempe or if you 〈◊〉 in the ground where you see great store of wormes it is true also that you shall rid your ground of them if you â—are your ground during the time of great heat 〈◊〉 then you shall â—ind them in great numbers vpon the face and vppermost part of 〈◊〉 earth and so you may gather them into bowles to giue them to your 〈◊〉 which thereby will become fat and lay great store of egges You shall kill snailes if you sprinkle them with the new lâ—â—s of oyle or with the foot of the chimney Grashoppers will doe no great hurt vnto hearbes if they be vvatered with 〈◊〉 vvherein Worâ—ewood or Leâ—kes or Centaurie hath beene stamped 〈◊〉 kill them you must boyle bitter lupines or wild cucumbers in salt brine and 〈…〉 therewith or else burne a great sort of Grashoppers in the place from 〈◊〉 would driue them for the smell of the smoke doth kill them but and if you 〈…〉 them altogether out of your gardens you must hang vp some Bats vpon yoâ—â— highest trees You shall driue away field-Rats if you cast in the canicular or dogge 〈…〉 of hemlocke into their holes together with hellebor and barly meale or 〈◊〉 you shut the mouthes of their holes with Bay-tree-leaues to the end that when they would come forth they may be forced to take those leaues in their teeth and so by the onely touching of them they are killed Or if you mingle amongst their meat such as you know them to be delighted in quicke siluer tinne or burnt lead blacke hellebor or the 〈◊〉 of yron or if you make a perfume of the bodies of their kinds or if you boyle beanes in any poysoned water so lay the said beanes at the mouthes of their holes which vpon the smell thereof will quickly run vnto them You shall also kill Rats and Mice with paste made of honie coperas and stamped glasse mixt together and layed in places where they haunt most Moules will neuer cast in those gardens where the hearbe called Palma Christi doth grow either of it owne accord or purposely sowne likewise you shall either kill them or driue them away if you lay at their holes mouthes a Walnut filled with chaffe brimstone and perrosin and there set it on fire for by the smoake that will come of this nut the Moules will be killed or else run away or if you lay in diuers furrows about the garden a small ball of hemp-seed it will be a let to keepe that there come not any into those grounds out of other and withall will driue away those which are there alreadie There are three waies to take them the first is to stand as it were vpon your watch about Sunne rise neere vnto the place where they haue lately cast vp the earth for this is ordinarily the verie houre that they cast in according to their custome and thus may you throw them verie easily out of their holes with a picâ—axe or spade The second way is by causing water to run into the hole where they haue newly digged for when as they once feele the water they will not stay to 〈◊〉 forth and saue themselues vpon some greene turffe or other and there you may â—â—ther take them aliue or kill them The third way Take a liue one in March when they are a bucking and put the same into a verie deepe and hollow bason at night afâ—â—er Sunne set burie the said bason in the earth vp to the brims that so the Moules 〈◊〉 easily tumble into it when they heare the captiue crie in the night time for all such as shall heare her and this kind of cattell is of a verie light hearing comming â—â—eere to their food they will into the bason one after another and by how many moe goe in by so much will they make the greater noyse not being able to get out againe â—â—ecause the bason within is smooth â—leeke and slipperie Some lay garleeke about â—heir holes or onions or leekes and these make such a smell as that they either driue â—hem away or kill them All maner of Serpents are driuen away with the perfume of Galbanum or of hartsâ—â—rne or of the root of lillies or of the horne of a goats claw or of hyssope or brimâ—â—â—â— or pellitorie or an old shooe-sole It is good also to plant in some part of the â—ardens an Elder-tree or an Ash-tree for the flowres of the Elder-trees by their â—â—inking smell doe driue away Serpents and the shade of the ashe doth kill them 〈◊〉 like sort it fareth with the pomegranat-tree whose shade as we haue said before â—â—riueth away Serpents It is good likewise to plant some one or other bough of ferne 〈◊〉 the garden because the onely smell thereof doth driue them away You shall driue away scorpions if you burne some of them in the place whence 〈◊〉 would banish them or if you make a perfume of verjuice mixt with Galbanum 〈◊〉 the fat of a goat or if you plant in your garden some little Nut-tree The perfume of Iuie will cause the Reremouse to abstaine flying in your garden Frogges will hold their peace and not crie any more if you set a lanterne with a 〈◊〉 light vpon the side of the water or riuer which compasseth the garden If you 〈◊〉 in any corner of your garden the gall of a goat all the frogges will gather 〈◊〉 and so you may easily kill them CHAP. LXI Of the Honie-Bee the profit rising thereof and of chusing a place to set them in BVt if the greatest part of the profit of a farme depend and hang of 〈◊〉 keeping of cattell I dare be bold to affirme that the 〈◊〉 thing that can be kept about a Countrie-house is Bees Indeed 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 paâ—tâ—es and care to be taken in chusing gathering together holding 〈◊〉 watching and keeping of them cleane in their hiues but withall 〈…〉 great rare and singular a
that it may take the Easterne Equinoctiall and not lose the rising of the Sunne in March and October or rather in September If there be euer a Hill build vpon the edge thereof making choise to haue your lights towards the East but if you be in a cold Countrey open your lights also on the South side and little or nothing towards the North if it be not in your Barnes where you put your Corne or such other things as are subiect to the Weasell and other vermine Ouer-against the North you shall procure some row or tuft of Trees for to be a marke vnto you of your place and defence also for the same against the Northerne windes in the Winter time But if you be in a hote countrey you must set your said tuft of Trees on the South side against such windes and heat of Sunne as come from thence and boldly open your lights especially in the said Barnes which lie on the North side Make good choice of the best parts of your Grounds to be most fit for Fruits Corne and Medowes and plant your Vineyard to haue the South open vpon it You shall make also certaine crosse Barnes with their counter-windowes in the place towards the South to open them in the time of a Northerne wind Such places are found in Countries full of Mountaines which doe greatly desire the East and yet notwithstanding would therewithall take part of the South which is so needfull for them In this and such like places Wells are in greater request and much more necessarie than in valleyes and plaine grounds and that wee may find out the place where it is best to make them wee must chuse the Easterne side at the beginning of the descent somewhat therewithall bending towards the North but wee may not haue any thing to doe with the Westerne side and yet somewhat better toward the South where hauing ouer night digged the earth in diuers places the quantitie of three feet ouer and fiue in depth and after returning in the morning at the Sunne-rise you must make triall how it soundeth being strucken with the end of a Holly staffe armed at the said end with some round peece of Iron or Latten after the manner of the end of a Shepheards staffe without the Crooke and there by the iudgement of the eare to obserue and marke how it soundeth vnderneath as whether it sound like a Mortar or like fat Earth Potters clay or some other that is very hard or like a Glasse halfe broken or else like a very deepe Pit that toucheth the Quarrie or Veine lying vnderneath and this is the best way to iudge and make triall Or otherwise in the moneth of August or September at such time as the Earth is verie drie a little before the Sunne rise you must lye downe flat vpon the ground hauing your face toward the East and chuse out that place where you shall espie a vapour to rise vp out of the Earth after the manner of little Clouds for this is a token of a proud or plentifull store of water Or else to make a shorter triall to make deepe trenches of foure foot within the ground and therein to put sponges or fleeces of Wooll verie drie and cleane couering them with boughs of Trees or leaues of Hearbes then after some time to take them out of the Earth and they being wet and moist doe argue abundance of water according to the qualitie of moisture which they haue within them whereas if on the contrarie they be drie when they be taken vp it argueth that there is no water to be come by Diuers there be that gather figures of the springing vp of water in place where by their seeing of small clouds and vapours rising from thence into the ayre in drie faire and calme seasons But howsoever it is not conuenient to content ones selfe with the bare viewing of the hearbes which grow thereupon without hauing first made some triall for vnder Crowfoot Folefoot Plantaine Dogtooth Cinquefoile Milfoile and three-leaued Grasse Water is not farre to seeke but it is naught worth if one digge not verie deepe as is to be seene at Bagnolet Belle-Ville vpon the Sand and other places of Liury Vnder Veruaine is oftentimes found good Water and deepe according to the nature of the ground and withall if the head doe spring from grounds apt to boyle as red Sand or gray Rocke and not from those sides which by and by are dried vp Aboue all to the end we may have Wells containing water of a good rellish and such as will neuer drie vp we must make choice of a sâ—â—die blacke grauelly or clayish ground or such a one as is full of pebbles and especially that which is mixed of pebbles and sand together but neuer of that water which floweth from Fullers clay mire mudde or springeth from the grounds where Sallowes Roses Reeds and other such Plants which are engendred of a watrie humour doe grow for although that such places doe yeeld great store of water notwithstanding that water is naught worth and will easily be dried vp Wherefore as much as lyeth in you procure that your Wells be farre off from such ditches as wherein they lay the dung of Stables Cattell or Swine-coats to rot or any other place which may annoy in regard of the pissing of beasts if they be not well digged and made verie deepe True it is that Wells will be a great dealâ— the better if they consist of a high rising water and not such a one as lyeth deepe in the earth For howsoeuer that such Wells be lesse hot in Winter and in Summer lesse cold yet notwithstanding it shall be infinitely better because it hath more helpe of the Sunne and Aire which are the two things which doe greatly amend and make better the water and if necessitie force the water to lye so deepe and low wee must seeke to helpe the inconuenience by drawing but a little and oft for the iumbling and stirring of the water will rectifie it and amongst other things you must haue speciall care not to keepe it couered Fountaines in like manner rising from such places of Mountaines are had in request as well for the profit of the water which is a great deale better and more pleasant than that drawne out of Wells as also for the beautifying of the Country Farme And for to find their Head or Spring wee must vse the like meanes as wee haue layd downe for the finding of Wells excepted that wee must make chiefe choice of such as breake forth vpon the North at the bottome of high and great Mountains hauing hollow places and compassed about with plaines for in such plaine grounds the water gathereth it selfe together and distilleth through the earth Now this kind of prouision of water is when you desire it in great aboundance but if you stand vpon and desire the best and most excellent water you must make choice of
Grasâ—e doe â—lose vp in selfe and gather together his leaues if the Swine doe play a long time and runne to and fro shaking and â—earing what they haue taken in running if the wormes come out of the Earth if the Cat after that she hath a long time licked the sole of her foot and trimming â—he haire of her head doe reach the said sole of her foot oftentimes ouer her â—are Likewise he shall foretell great aboundance of Raine if the Clouds be darke deepe and thicke if the drops of water falling from the Skies be somewhat whitish and make great bubbles and great falls here below if the Raine fall mildly and begin to fall with small drops if the Water fallen vpon the Earth in great aboundance without any wind be incontinently drunke vp of the Earth if the Waters of the Fennes and standing Pooles grow warme without the heat of the Sunne more than ordiâ—arie if Hennes with their Chickens by and by in the beginning of the Raine doe flye vnto their houses or if in the morning they come forth late and as it were not vnconstrained to their feeding if the heauenly Bow called in Latine Iris doe stretch it selfe towards the South or if it appeare double triple or foure-fold in the Heauens and if it appeare after it hath rained the feare of future Raine is not quite abandoned He shall foresee times of Snow in Winter if he perceiue that the clouds of darke ones become as it were whitish chiefely when the North wind bloweth if round about the Sunne or the Moone there come diuers pale circles or halfe red ones if in the time of great Cold the ayre grow thicke and somewhat rebated of his sharpenesse if it make a drie Cold without any Frost if together with many signeâ— of Raine there appeare many also of Cold approaching He shall iudge in like sort of Haile if in the Spring or Autumne he see that the clouds of blacke and darke ones become whitish or if about the moneth of Aprill together with many signes of Raine there be mixt darke and whitish clouds Hee shall giue good heed to the tokens fore-shewing future Winds and they are these if the Sunne at his setting be red if the Sunne set amongst reddish clouds if the Sunne all the day long or a great while before his setting haue carried a Purple colour and setting seemeth greater than ordinarie if the Moone haue a red face if the Clouds in a faire Season and beautifull Skie be carried on high if the Clouds appeare in the Heauens gathered together as they were flockes of Sheepe if Forestâ— and the high tops of Mountaines doe make a noyse if the starres of Heauen runne euerie way if they seeme more grosâ—e and of greater light than vsuall if it thunder in the Morning or in Winter if in the Spring time it thunder more mightily and ofter than it lighteneth if the sound of Bells be sometimes heard very easily and by and by not to be heard if the Sparrowes doe sing and chirpe beyond measure if the Dogs tumble themselues vpon the ground if the webs and small threads of the Spiders doe flye in the Ayre if the Duckes doe spread and flicker with their wings often and a long time together if the Heron crie toward night as he is flying if the â—lame of the fire cast forth many small sparkles if the Wood doe crackle and breath out wind more than ordiâ—arie Hee shall fore-tell the happening of any Thunder Brightnesse Lightening and Tempest when hee shall see that in the morning and euening in Summer or in the beginning of Autumne the Sunne yeeldeth a greater heat than ordinarie and when there appeareth in the ayre a verie thicke and deepe cloud if the Wind called Typhon causing Whirle-winds doe blow ragingly and that the ayre be full of many thicke and darke clouds if the dayes in Summer or Autumne be more feruent and hot than the season of the yeare can naturally beare and that sometimes at the Sunne-set there appeare a Raine-bow toward the West if there flye in the ayre many ajriâ— impressions and burning flames He shall be assured of faire Weather when he shall perceiue that the Sunne sheweth it selfe cleane at his rising or cleare and shining at his setting hauing about it manie small clouds apart one from another and withall somewhat red and pleasant when the Sunne in the time of raine setteth haâ—ing his face red and fierie and when the Day-breake which men call the Morning shall appeare of the naturall colour of white and indeed the Prouerbe A red euening and a white morning setteth the Pilgrime a walking teacheth as much if when the Moone is three or foure dayâ—â— old it shew it selfe pleasant and cleane without spots or clouds if when it is in the full it be seene cleare and that that part of the Heauens called S. Iames his way appeare cleare and bright if at euening there appeare many Lightnings not accompanied with Thunders or Clouds if at euening or morning at what time of the yeare soever it be the deaw fall in great abundance if the Northerne wind blow strongly if the Owle after Sâ—â—ne-set doe come forth and whoop all the night without ceasing if the little Fâ—ies before Sunne-set doe swarme together and sport themselues in the Sunne-beameâ— iâ— the Crowes flocke together in great companies and call with a â—ull voice it the Crow call early in the morning if the Bats doe â—omâ— forth of their â—oles at 〈◊〉 set and â—lye vp downe in the open ayre if the Craneâ—â—lye high and doe not betake themselues verie quickly to a lower pitch if Watâ—r-Fowles doe haunt somewhat â—arre off fâ—om the side of the Water And although that the parts of the yeare ordinarily haue their beginning and ending at a certaine time as the Spring beginneth about the seuenteenth of Februarie and endeth about the seuenteenth of May and so consequently of the other notwithstanding for as much as these parts and seasons doe square and fall out of order sometimes sooner sometimes later the good Husbandman shall haue ouer and aboue the common certaine signes and tokens to fore-see the beginnings and endings of the times of the yere as they may fall out extraordinarily As if hee know that Water-Fowles foâ—sake the Water or that the house-Nightingale especially the Male doâ— sing more than any of all the rest if the Cranes flocke together and returne vnto the place from whence they are come if the Geese fight together for their feeding place being in great leanenesâ—e or if the Sparrow more than ordinarie call betimes in the morning he shall say that Winter is at hand In like maner if he see that the Westernâ— wind begin to blow and that the cold rebateth if the Swallows do returne in flocks 〈◊〉 the Ducks haue their breast-bone white at the end of Winter he shall iudge that 〈◊〉 Spring will be verie quickly for such creatures doe
layed in a well 〈◊〉 soyle the leaues downeward into the ground and the root vpward toward the 〈◊〉 of the earth and aboue it there must be made something to couer it in manner of 〈◊〉 vnder vvhich there must straw be cast to keepe it from frost and bad winds 〈◊〉 like is done with Endiue and it is found white when it is pulled vp againe and 〈◊〉 verie delicate in eating Some for the same end vvhen Succorie hath put forth 〈◊〉 leaues tye them all together with a verie small threed and after couer them with 〈◊〉 of earth to the end that it may continually draw by his root nourishment out 〈◊〉 the earth and by this meanes it becommeth white and tender and looseth a great 〈◊〉 of his bitternesse Euerie man knoweth that the decoction of Succorie drunke in manner of an 〈◊〉 is good for them which haue the jaundise or heat of the liuer The juice of 〈◊〉 drunke euerie second day fasting stayeth the spitting of bloud Succorie 〈◊〉 and put vnder the lest dugge doth heale the heart-ache Some say that the 〈◊〉 of vvild Succorie often drunke maketh the visages and countenances of 〈◊〉 more cleare and pleasant CHAP. XIIII Of Artichokes THe Artichoke plant is a diuers thing from Endâ—ue and Succorie for 〈◊〉 for Artichokes to plant them in Autumnâ— which is about the moneth of October they are so fruitfull and forward to thriue as that you need not to take any more but the great leaues with their branches of 〈◊〉 as bring forth the fairest and greatest fruit and in like manner of the thicke 〈◊〉 in the middest seruing for no manner of vse after that the heads of them be 〈◊〉 and to plant them againe Also some haue otherwise vsed to cast downe 〈◊〉 said stalkes and burie them a foot deepe in good manured ground the leaues at 〈◊〉 top bound at the end with a little straw and the stalke layed downe and well 〈◊〉 and they keepe them thus watering them now and then if the time be not 〈◊〉 ynough of it selfe for to make shootes and young sets of in Winter or at other 〈◊〉 and some there be that pricke the heads in a well manured earth and being 〈◊〉 planted doe couer them in Winter with the chaffe or dust of Line or Hempe 〈◊〉 keepe them from the frost and that in the yeare following they may bring forth 〈◊〉 fruit Moreouer the Artichoke is sowen in the increase of the Moone of March 〈◊〉 beds well dunged and fatted but you must not looke to haue any whole and 〈◊〉 fruit of them vntill the next yeare after And if you would haue the seed to 〈◊〉 make little small pits vpon your bed a good foot one from another and halfe 〈◊〉 foot deepe and as much broad and these fill with old dung that is verie small and â—lacke earth that is verie fine mixt together and aboue the same placâ— prick or thrust in the seed of your Artichoke two inches within the earth the small end 〈◊〉 and putting fiue or sixe seeds in one pit together and making many pits neere 〈◊〉 in a round compasse that so they may make a faire knot and plant and 〈◊〉 you may couer it againe easily without much stamping or treading for it And 〈◊〉 soone as the Artichoke hath leaues bigge ynough it must be watered and 〈…〉 continued in such places as are verie drie that so it may bring forth a 〈◊〉 and great fruit Aboue all things care must be had that the small end be not 〈◊〉 contrarie put downeward for then it would bring forth writhen weake small 〈◊〉 hard Artichokes You must also make choice of the fairest and greatest â—eed 〈◊〉 may be found and that the small pits be made a good fathome the one from the 〈◊〉 that so one plant may not hinder another It is true that it is better to 〈…〉 slips and branches than the seed because there commeth fruit the sooner of the 〈◊〉 than of the other and because that in so planting of them you may be occupied 〈◊〉 well imployed euerie moneth and so reape your fruit in diuers seasons of the 〈◊〉 according as the earth is fat or leane hot or cold moist or drie or as the 〈◊〉 hardly agreeing with and vnfit for this plant And in anie case plant of those 〈◊〉 beare the fairest fruit according as there are diuers sorts in respect of their 〈◊〉 length roundnesse diuers colours and tast some also being prickly and 〈◊〉 without pricks For of Artichokes there be diuers kinds as the round and the 〈◊〉 the red and the greene the round which is greene is a good Artichoke so 〈…〉 red although it be long yet the soale is but thinne neither is the leafe verie 〈◊〉 onely it is exceeding pleasant in tast the greene which is long is of 〈◊〉 sorts the worst for it neither beareth good soale nor good leafe but is a loose 〈◊〉 leaued Artichoke euer wallowish and vnpleasant but the round large 〈◊〉 whose tops of leaues are red being hard firme and as it were all of one piece is of 〈◊〉 other the best Artichoke hath the deepest soale the thickest leafe and is the 〈◊〉 to grow in anie soyle whatsoeuer And therefore I would with euerie man as 〈◊〉 as he can to make choice of these before anie other kind If you would that the Artichoke should grow without prickes you must 〈◊〉 against a stone and breake the end of the seed which is sharpe or else put the 〈◊〉 after the manner of a graft in the â—oot of a Lettuce which hath no rinde and 〈…〉 small pieces in such sort as that euerie piece may be grafted with a seed and so 〈◊〉 You shall haue Artichokes of good tast if you let the seed steepe three 〈◊〉 before you plant it in the iuice of Roses or Lillies or oyle of Bay or of 〈◊〉 or some other sweet and fragrant iuice and then afterward drie it â—nd so plant 〈◊〉 it Although that as concerning the former oyles there be some which are of a 〈◊〉 opinion and doe thinke that the oyle doth spoyle the seed You shall 〈◊〉 Artichoke of the smell of the Bay tree if you cleaâ—e or make a hole in a Bay 〈◊〉 and putting therein the seed of an Artichoke doe set it so Artichokes will be 〈◊〉 in tast if before you set the seed you steepe them in milke which must be 〈◊〉 and changed twice or thrice before that it sowre or in honey and then 〈◊〉 drie and set them Two sorts of beasts doe annoy the roots of Artichokes Mice and Moâ—les 〈◊〉 dung of Swine or the ashes of the Fig-tree spread about the roots of the 〈◊〉 doe chase away Mice and the like will fall out if you wrap their roots aboâ—◠〈◊〉 wooll Some to driue away Rats that destroy the roots of Artichokes vnder the 〈◊〉 pricke downe halfe a foot deepe in the earth certaine stickes of Elder tree 〈◊〉 some foure ynches
that they be not sowne in a 〈◊〉 ground for the shade is altogether contrarie vnto them though the earth be good and fertile They are gathered in Nouember kept in Winter vpon sand 〈…〉 vnder the earth for to eat in Winter and Lent time I report my selfe vnto them of Meason and Vau-Girard neere vnto Paris which gather great store of thâ—m 〈◊〉 yeâ—re to sell at Paris This fruit is windie and begetteth wormes in young children by their 〈◊〉 but they must be eaten with Mustard It is true that their seed doth resist 〈◊〉 and there it is put into Treacle it likewise killeth the Wormes being mingled 〈◊〉 the iuice of Oranges or Limons and it driueth forth the small Pocks and 〈◊〉 with the decoction of Maidâ—n-haire or of Lentils It prouoketh vrine mixt in eqâ—â—ll quantitie with Linseed and giuen to drinke in wine it bringeth vp the crudities of the stomacke by vomit being taken with honied vineger and warme water The Aegyptians make a verie good Oyle of it CHAP. XXXIII Of Turneps TVrneps called in Latine Raepa are of two sorts the round and the long and they differ not much from Napes and Nauets saue onely in greâ—â—nesse and tast For Turneps are a great deale bigger and of a 〈◊〉 pleasant taste than the Napes for the truth whereof I report my selfe to the inhabitants of Limosin in Aquitaine and the people of Sauoy who hâ—uing no store of Corne haue no more excellent a meat than Turneps and for the same cause they are so industrious in sowing and dressing of them as being that commoditie and encrease of the earth vnto them which is as well yea better beloued and more necessarie than anie Corne or Graine for they feed themselues and their Cattell with the leaues great and small stalkes tops and roots of Turneps insomuch as that they complaine of a Famine when in their Countrey their Turneps are frozen in the ground or haue receiued some ouerthrow by the iniurie of the heauens The manner of ordering and dressing of them to make them grow is as it were like vnto that of the Napes It is true that they would be sowne verie thicke and not thinne for else they will proue but verie small and little and it would be râ—â—her in September than at 〈◊〉 other time in a moist ground well manured and diligently corrected of such faults as it may haue because they reioyce and 〈◊〉 great deale the fairer and of a better tast in cold snowie and foggie weather 〈◊〉 they doe in faire which is the onely cause that in the Countrey of Sauoy and 〈◊〉 they doe grow more sweet tender faire and great because of the Fogs Snoweâ— and cold Seasons that they suffer much in those places If they be sowne in the Spring time there must care be had that their leaues be not â—aten with wormes and such other vermine and the better to free them from this plâ—gue it will be good to mingle of the dust that is to be found vpon floores with the seed 〈◊〉 they before it be sowen or else of the foot of the furnace or 〈◊〉 or else to steepe it in the juice of houslâ—â—ke and afterward to sprinkle it oâ—er well with water 〈◊〉 it may receiue some moisture and then to â—ow it the day after it hath beene so steeped It is one of the wonders of nature that of so small a â—eed there should grow so greaâ— a fruit as should sometime weigh thirtie or fortie pounâ— There must spâ—ciall carâ— be had that the seed be not aboue three yeares old for if it be it will bring forth colâ—worts in steed of turneps To haue them faire and great after they become 〈◊〉 great as a finger they must be remoued a good distance one from another afterward they must be couered with earth and troden downe veriâ— hard for by this 〈◊〉 the juice which should haue beene spent in putting forth of leaues and stalke will turne to the making of the root great They must be gathered in Nouember and for to keepe them all the Winter they must be buried in holes or couered with leaues or seed of Mustard The vse of turneps is not verie good for health notwithstanding their decoctioâ— is verie excellent good for to wash the feet of such as haue the gout withall The Cutlers and Armorers doe constantly affirme that kniues daggers and swords quenched three or foure times when they are in forging in the juice of turneps mixt with equall quantitie of the water or juice pressed out of earth wormes bruised doth make their edge so hard as that therewith you may cut yron as easily as any Lead CHAP. XXXIIII Of Radishes RAdishes are properly the same which is called in Latine Raphanus in Italie Raâ—anels and at Paris Raues they are vsed in manner of a saladâ— with meat for to stirre vp the appetite They grow better when they are planted than when they are sowen and there are two seasons to set or sow them in â—hat is to say in Februarie in the waine of the Moone if we intend to haue the benefit of them in the Spring and in August or September if we would vse them sooner and this season without doubt iâ— the better because the Radish in a cold and moist time groweth in the root and is more tender but in a hot and drie time it groweth in stalkes and leaues So soone as they are sowne they take root the leaues whereof you must tread and trample downe that so the root may grow the greater which otherwise would runne vp all into leaues likewise they must be gatherâ—d within two or three moneths otherwise they will quickly go to seed and put them in the ground vnder sand or grauell after you haue cut off their leaues The manner of ordring of them is to set them good and deepe in earth which is well husbanded stirred vp even from the bottome and dunged and after they be pretty great ones to coâ—er them againe with earth and to take off their leaues from them for so they will become more sweet and pleasant You must not plant or sow them aboâ—â— vines or arbours for they are great enemies vnto vines as making them to run out their juice when they are neighbours to it by reason of their acrimonie and 〈◊〉 Some likewise say that radishes doe keepe away drunkennesse because they greatly weaken the force of Wine To haue sweet radishes their seed must be watered oftentimes with salt water to haue them the more tender and not so sharpe for the salt water doth greatly diminish their bitternesse likewise we ordinarily 〈◊〉 that they are eaten with salt and vinegar Their goodnesse is knowne by their leaues which by how much they are the gentler in handling by so much is the root the tenderer and more pleasant to eat The rinde doth likewise shew the saâ—e for the thinner it is so much the more delightsome are the
his old root but will be sowen euerie yeare in September in hot and drie countries and in other placâ—â— from Ianuarie vntill March and it is sowen commonly with coleworâ—s It prospâ—etâ— best when it is sowen in places where the crops of vines haue beene burned I haâ—â— seene at Vandeuer a small village in Burgundie young children and other folke to eat the seed of white poppie for lickorishnes without being any thing moued to heauinesse of sleepe but made more stirring and liuely which hath made me to 〈◊〉 that the seed of Poppie is not so much to be feared as some would beare in hand CHAP. XXXVII Of Cucumbers CVcumbers are sowen vpon a bed in the moneth of March and for feare of srost they are couered with straw vntill mid-May which is the time when they would be remoued vnto such ground as is well manured and thicke layed with dung fat and soft to the end they may be suffered to creepe and ripen vpon the ground or else vpon beds filled with fat and well 〈◊〉 earth being a foot high For to sow them there must be planted foure or five seeds the one from the other some two foot they must not be weeded at all because they thriue the better when they be ouer-growne with weeds Notwithstanding 〈◊〉 Spaine they vse to weed them as carefully as they can as also lighten and raise theâ—â— earth and there grow verie faire Cucumbers thereupon It is good to water theâ—â— oft vntill they put forth their buds and bring forth fruit yea and after also if the time fall out somewhat drie for the Cucumber of his owne nature doth loue moisture insomuch as if there be set a vessell full of water vnder a Cucumber it will be found the next day to be shrunke three fingers and it must be prouided that the water goe directly downe vnto the root of the Cucumber without touching the fruit because otherwise it would make it worse It is true that when it beginneth to ripen the raine and â—uerie other manner of watering is enemie vnto it for thereby it becommeth but more withered without any tast and altogether discontenting It feareth the thunder and lightning and for that cause you must not plaâ—â— them in any such time neither yet hope for any great increase thereof in such yeares as wherein such stormes and tempests fall out for thereupon they wither and fall quite away to nothing If a man desire to haue them faire ones he must gather them in the full of the Moone for at this time they grow bigge and at other times they fade and grow lesse Furthermore there may not come neere vnto their bed any vessell full of oyle because the cucumber of all other things hateth oile and cannot thriue if he which doth till them haue handled oyle The vse of Cucumbers is altogether hurtfull because the nourishment and juice comming of them is easily corrupted in the veines whereupon there grow in 〈◊〉 bodies Burning-Agues and such as are verie hard to câ—re wherefore it is better to appoint them for meat for Mules and Asses to which kind of beasts this fruit is verie pleasant and profitable than to ordaine them for mens food and sustenance It is verie true that their seed boyled with Barley-water doth prouoke vrine asswage the heat of the reines and also diminish the heat and thirst that is in Agues A decoction made with the seed of Cucumbers Winter-Cherries Mallowes and the seeds of vvhite Poppie adding thereto the juice of Licorice a little Mummia Gum-arabecke and Tragacanth is a singular remedie for them which are in consumptions which cough continually and haue their vrine burning them Soâ—â— likewise say that a Cucumber placed long-wise neere vnto a child which hath an Ague being of the same greatnesse that the child is doth deliuer it altogether from the Ague CHAP. XXXVIII Of Gourdes GOurdes doe craue the like earth and ordering or tillage that Cucumbers doe foreseene that they haue the Sunne at commaund it is true that they must be sowne with greater distances and in such sort as they may climbe stakes heapes of stone and arbours thereby to giue some pleasure in the beholding of the fruit hanging rather than the lying vpon beds for they delight not so much in creeping vpon the earth as the Cucumber doth but rather to climbe on high Before you set them you must steepe their seeds one night in water that so you may learne to make the better choice of them and to know which are good And in that respect it will be good to take those which sinke downe to the bottome and let alone those which shall swim vpon the top of the water as being vnprofitable and worth nothing to sow The seeds shall be put into the earth two together the sharpe end vpward in holes wide and deepe to the quantitie of two foot and three or foure foot euerie one from another filled with old dung that is verie small or else to make them spring out of the earth the sooner with horse dung as it commeth all hot from the stable for other matters they craue no great attendance prouided that they be serued with water to their contentment and yet those which are least waâ—ered will haue the most pleasant sauour and tast wherefore if they be sowne in a drie ground you must set hard by them pots of water with lists of cloth or straw hanging at them which will be continually dropping of water vpon them which thing will be great aduantage to them during the great heat It is certaine that the goodnesse and fairenesse of Gourds doth consist altogether in the good choice and well setting of the seed for the seeds which are next to the necke of the gourd doe bring forth long ones those which are in the middest round ones and those which are by the sides short and thicke ones in which consideration if you would haue grosse and thicke gourds which may serue to make vessells and bottles of when they shall be drie you must take the seed that is in the middest of the gourd and set it with the head downward but when you desire to haue them to sell and to eat you must take of the seed next vnto the necke and set them after the right and common manner for so the fruit will grow long and more tender and of a greater price The gourds intended to gather seed of for to sow must not be gathered before Winter and when they are gathered they must be put in the Sun to drie or else hung vp in the smoake or else hung as the manner is in France vnder some chamber-floore or else set them in rows voon boards for otherwise the seeds would rot or else to put them in heaps of corne which will not onely keepe them from rotting but will also ripen them if they be gathered being yet vnripe but those which are intended to be eaten must be gathered at their
vlcer grown in her brests which was turned to a Noli me tangere for which neuer â—nie bodie could find anie remedie and likewise that the Countesse of Ruffe had sought for all the famous Physitians of the Realme to cure her of a Ringwoâ—â—â— which she had in her face and that they could not all heale it he resolued with himselfe to send of it into France and thereupon accordingly sent it vnto king 〈◊〉 the second and vnto Queene mother and many other Lords of the Court together with the manner to order it and applie it to the abouenamed diseases as he himselfâ— had â—â—und by experience as also vnto the Lord of Iarnac gouernour of Rocheâ—â— with whom the said Embassadour had intercourse of letters by reason of the king his affaires which Lord Iarnac also told him one day sitting at table with the Queenâ— mother that he had caused of the said Nicotiana to be distilled and had caused 〈◊〉 water thereof to be drunke being mixt with the water of eye-bright by one that 〈◊〉 stuffeâ— in his lungs and that he was cured thereby This hearbe resembleth in figure fashion and qualities the great Comfrey in such sort as that a man would deeme it to be a kind of great Comfrey rather than a yellow Henbane as some haue thought It hath an vpright stalke not bending anie way thicke bearded or hairie and slimie The leaues are broad and long greene drawing somewhat toward a yellow not bearded or hoarie but smooth and slimie hauing as it were tallons but not either notched or cut in the edges a great deale bigger downeward toward the root than aboue as you see the smooth Docke leafe is which beareth small red seedes and not burres and the finer and clearer that such leaues are the better the Tabacco is esteemed Whiles it is young it is leaued and as it were lying vpon the ground but rising to a stalke and growing further it ceaseth to haue such a number of leaues below and putteth forth branches from halfe foot to halfe and storeth it selfe by that meanes with leaues and still riseth higher from the height of foure or fiue foot vnto three or foure or fiue cubits according as it is sowne in a hot and fat ground and carefully tilled The boughes and branches thereof put out at ioints and diuide the stalke by distances of halfe a foot the highest of which branches are bigger than an arme At the tops and ends of his branches and boughs it putteth forth flowers almost like vnto those of Nigella of a whitish and incarnate colour hauing the fashion of a little bell comming out of a swad or huske being of the fashion of a small goblet which hâ—ske becommeth round hauing the fashion of a little apple or swords pummell assoone as the flower is gone and vanished away it is filled with verie small seeds like vnto those of yellow Henbane and they are blacke when they be ripe or greene whiles they are not yet ripe In a hot countrie it beareth leaues flowers and seeds at the same time in the ninth 〈◊〉 tenth moneth of the yere it putteth forth young sciences at the root and reneweth it selfe by this store and number of sciences and great quantitie of sprouts and yet not withstanding the roots are little small fine threddie strings or if otherwise they grow a little thicke yet remaine they still verie short in respect of the height of the plant The roots and leaues do yeeld a glewish and rosinish kind of juice somewhat yellow of a rosinlike smel not vnpleasant and of a sharpe eager and biting tast which sheweth that it is by nature hot more than in the second degree and drie in the first wherupon we must gather that it is no kind of yellow Henbane as some haue thought Nicotiana câ—aueth a fat ground well stirred and well manured also in this cold countrie that is to say an earth wherein the manure is so well mingled and incâ—rporated as that it becommeth earthie that is to say all turned into earth and not making any shew any more of dung which is likewise moist and shadowie wide and roomie for in a narrow and strait place it would not grow high streight great and well branched It desireth the South Sunne before it and a wall behind it which may stand â—â—stead of a broad paire of shoulders to keepe away the Northerne wind and to beat backe againe the heat of the Sunne it would also be defended from the tossing and force of the wind by reason of his weakenesse and height it is true that it will be out of the daunger of the wind if the root be deepâ—ly taken in the ground It groweth the better if it be oft watered and maketh it selfe spoâ—t and jolly good cheere with water when the time becommeth a little drie It hateth the cold and therfore to keepe it from dying in Winter it must either be kept in cellars when it may haue free benefit of aire or else in some caue made of purpose within thesame garden or else to couer it as with a cloake verie well with a double mat making a penthouse of wicker worke from the wall to couer the head thereof with straw layed thereupon and when the Southerne Sunne shineth to open the doore of the couâ—â— made for the said hearbe right vpon the said Soutâ—â—Sunne For to sow it you must make a hole in the earth with your finger and that as deepe as your finger is long then you must cast into the same hole ten or twelue seeds of the sayd Nicotiana together and fill vp the hole againe for it is so small 〈◊〉 that if you should put in but foure or fiue seeds the earth would choake it and 〈◊〉 the time be drie you must water the place easily some fiue daies after it may be sowen also after the manner of Lettuses and such other hearbes mingling the mould verie well with the seed and afterward couering it most carefully Some mixe with the said earth verie cleane ashes being well siâ—ted and made small but in a 〈◊〉 quantitie It is a long time in springing and putting forth and after that it is 〈◊〉 forth you must keepe it both from the cold and frost couering it in the night time euen whiles it is young and small and so it will be preserued and kept continually greene and beautifull And when the hearbe is growen out of the earth in as much as euerie seed will haue put vp his sprout and stalke and that the small threddiâ— roots and intangled the one within the other you must with a great knife make 〈◊〉 great circle or compasse within the earth in the places about this plot where they grow and take vp the earth and all together and cast them into a bucketfull of water to the end that the earth may be seperated and the small and tender impes
euill aire It is vvith good successe vsed in the decoctions prescribed against the pockes take seuen Iuniper-berries and as many Bay-beâ—ries halfe a dram of Zylocassia and a dram of Cinamome put all this whole in the bellie of a Turtle-doâ—e roast the said Turtle thus stuffed and baâ—t her with Capons grease giue euerie second day one of these at supper to a woman that is readie to be deliuered and she shall haue an easie deliuerie boyle twelue pound of Iuniper wood cut small or raspt in a great cauldron and in a sufficient quantitie of water to the consumption of the third part of the water put this wood and water inâ—â— a bathing tub and let the partie troubled with the gout â—it in this water vp vnto the middle he shall feele incredible reliefe hereby Elder tree is fitter to plant in the garden hedge than to make at bouâ—s in 〈◊〉 notwithstanding where other sorts of small trees are wanting there may vse be made of the Elder-tree It would be set in the moneth of Nouember vpon sciences and shoots in a moist and shadowed place neere to some little riuer or brooke To cause it to grow well you must take this diligent course to cast the earth as it vvere into furrows of a good halfe foot broad and a whole foot deepe with a spade and not with a pickaxe for there must no earth be taken away then presently after the 〈◊〉 of Saint Martin in Winter plant your Elder-trees the great end thereof which shaâ— be put into the earth shall be cut bias like the foot of a Hind and thrust downe 〈◊〉 the ground thus prepared a foot or nine inches deepe and let it stand vp aboue the ground at the least a foot and a halfe or two foot so as that in all your plant mâ—st be two good foot and a halfe or three foot long before you put them into the groâ—nd open it vvith a dibble either of yron or vvood so that the rind of the plant may 〈◊〉 be torne in putting of it into the earth If you plant it in the furrows there must be at the least three foot betwixt euerie furrow and a foot betwixt euerie plant Hauing once thus planted them you shall neuer need to take any further paines 〈◊〉 them if you vvill not your selfe but to cut it two joynts at the least euerie yeare 〈◊〉 the space of the two or three first yeares to the end the root may grow the 〈◊〉 and the first two or three yeares being past you may cut it from two yeares 〈…〉 yeares to make props for vines in any case you must â—op it euerie yere and cut away all the euill sciences and shoots vvhich it ill fauouredly putteth forth Some distill the vvater of the flowers as singular to appease the head-ach comming of heat if the brows or hinder part of the head be rubbed therewith Some likewise doe make verie good vinegar vvith the â—lowers and juice of the beâ—â—ies The juice pressed from the rind of the root moueth vomit and draweth forth the 〈◊〉 that is in thoâ—e that haue the dropsie the juice pressed from the leaues and takeâ— vvith some pottage doth loosen the bellie the dried seed is good against the dropsie and for â—at folke to make them leane taking of it the quantitie of a dram in 〈◊〉 vvine and continuing it a certaine time and mixing therewith a little 〈◊〉 because it is a procurer of vomit and a disquieter of the stomach Rose-marie and Iesamin are likewise fit for the adorning of arbours in 〈◊〉 of the ordering vvhereof vve vvill say nothing in this place because vve haue before spoken thereof verie largely Iuie as vvell the great as the small doth delight to be planted in moist and vvaterie places from the moneth of Nouember vntill March and it flowreth not but in Autumne neither doth the berâ—ie thereof become ripe but in Winter it groweâ—â— not high if it be not neere vnto some tree or old ruine vnto both vvhich in the end 〈◊〉 vvorketh ruine and ouerthrow It vvill bring forth a goodly fruit if you 〈…〉 vvith powdred Allome or ashes made of burnt Oyster-shells Blacke Iuie vvill become vvhite if you vvater the root thereof vvith vvhite earth tempered vvith vvâ—ter eight daies together continually If you take three Iuie berries and tying them vp in a cleane linnen cloth 〈…〉 thread giue them to some one that is troubled vvith paine and stifnesse of his 〈◊〉 to vveare about his necke the said partie so vvearing them three daies together 〈◊〉 be vvhole and cured of his disease The leaues brayed and applyed doe heale â—â—nings and â—â—â—ldings made vvith hot vvater boyled in vinegar and applied 〈◊〉 cure the hardnesse of the spleene the gum thereof killeth lice and niâ—s and 〈◊〉 annointed in any hairie place causeth the haire to fall away The vessells 〈◊〉 the wood of Iuie are singular to know if there be any vvater in the vvine for the 〈◊〉 vvill abide in the vessell and the vvine vvill run out Seuen Iuie berâ—ies 〈…〉 many peach kernels the skinâ— taken off boyled in oyle and afterward stamp◠〈◊〉 applied vnto the temples and brows doe assuage the head-ach comming from the braine the juice of the leaues of Iuie drunke with red vvine doth heale the swelling of the spleene a cap made in forme of a head-piece or skull of the leaues of Iuie sowed together and applied vnto the head of a little child which hath the falling of the haire called Tinea doth heale it throughly the water or gum which droppeth out of the stocke of an Iuie tree the rind being cut killeth nits and lice Priuet groweth more than a man would wish amongst brambles and bushes from which places it may be transplanted into the garden for the benefit of arbours The water of the flowers thereof may be distilled and it is most singular against all manner of â—luxes vvhether of the bellie matrix spitting of bloud and of the eyes as also for all sorts of cankers the same vertue hath the juice pressed out of the leaues especially for the canker growing in the mouth There is an oyle made of the flowers thereof infused in oyle in the Sun which is singular good for the head-ach comming of a hot cause and also for inflammations CHAP. LIII Of Hearbes for the Arbours of the Garden FOr want of trees of low growth such as haue beene spoken of here before you may helpe your selfe in the making of your Arbours for your Garden of Pleasure with certaine hearbes which are plyant and with their leaues apt to make shadow still prouided that they be borne vp by poles of Willow or Iuniper dressed and ordered in forme and after the manner of Arbours They are such as follow the wild Vine Hoppes Gourds Cucumbers the maruellous Pease Winter Cherries the maruellous Apples and other such like And as concerning the wild Vine it groweth more plentifully than a man would
them so much of the earth from which they 〈…〉 as may defend them from being hurt either by the Wind or Sunne and hauing thus done to fit them further with Barrels or Sere-clothes the better to keepe 〈◊〉 from all the iniuries of the ayre as also from the raine and to cause them to be â—â—â—ueyed vpon Horses Carts or Waggons so soone euen the same night that they shall come to the place where you would set them you must well aduise and 〈◊〉 they be altered which will be knowne by the change of the leaues and barke 〈◊〉 then to prouide for that accordingly for in such case you must take away the earth and temper it soft anew water them cut them and take away the blasted or 〈◊〉 vntill such time as the pits where you intend to set them be seasoned in such sort 〈◊〉 manner as shall be said hereafter You shall in the day time view well your ground and see that it be a good substantiall blacke open tender sweet light fat and cleane earth without anie 〈◊〉 stone whatsoeuer neere vnto the Sea coast if it be possible where moisture 〈◊〉 and furthermore that it be easie to be stirred to the end it may drinks in 〈◊〉 water in aboundance where you meane to set these Trees For these Trees 〈◊〉 much watering if the water should stand aboue the earth and not sinke 〈◊〉 the roots would become sicke discoloured and by little and little would looke the 〈◊〉 colour of pale blacke or blew If the earth be not easie to be stirred you 〈◊〉 couer it with Horse dung verie well rotted or else with Oxe or Sheepes dung 〈◊〉 by this meanes it will become easie to be pierced or stirred The place where 〈◊〉 are to be planted must be open vpon the Sunne a high place and sheltred 〈…〉 the quarters from whence froâ—tie winds doe blow but principally the 〈◊〉 wind which is alwaies most contrarie vnto those Plants It must be also open vpon the South because contrarie to the nature of all Trees they feed vpon this 〈◊〉 and starue through that of the North and a little vpon the West in such sort as that they may be guarded on the back part and both sides but specially the Citron-tree which is the most tender of all the other For which considerations it will not be amisse to set them neere vnto some wall of a conuenient height to the end they may haue a rampart against the Northerne parts and for the more certainetie to make them a hood and flankers of Bay trees for the encrease both of the beautifulnesse as also of the profit of the same for some hold that the companie of the Bay tree doth keepe the Orange tree from frost These Bay trees shall be planted in double chesse that so the thinnest places of the first may be amended by the thickest places of the second but and if you haue not Bay trees to doe it withall then you may take Cypresse trees And here you must learne that Orange-trees loue not the companie of anie other tree but of the fore-named and of the Myrtle-tree The best of all and most assured for profit were to plant the said Orange-trees Citron-trees and other such like Trees in halfe Barrels or Vessels of earth made for the purpose they being the chiefe pleasures of Princes and great Lords or else in Cases that are wide below and narrow aboue builded of clouen boords verie well ioyned and fitted together in such sort as that no shoots may grow through them for the earth by reason of the oft watering of it doth not cease continually to cause them to put forth and breake out one way or other But that such watering may be conueyed in best sort for their growth it must be prouided and brought by some low conduit and passage and the surplusage carried away by some such cocke as is vsed in Lee tubs and such or the like Vessels must be made to carrie into anie place whatsoeuer a man will for seeing that these Plants doe die if they be touched neuer so little with frost as being most tender and daintie of their naturall inclination it must be looked vnto in Winter after that they are well couered and compassed about with straw or the stalkes of Gourds for by a naturall contrarietie they are giuen to let and hinder the frost from hurting them that they be conueyed vpon small Wheele-barrowes into vaulted Caues and when Summer is come to returne and bring them backe againe into the full and open Sunne to be nourished and refreshed by the heat thereof Then hauing found out such a place in the Garden as wee haue spoken of there shall Pits be cast with distances betwixt and whereas the Orange-tree doth shoot out his roots deepe into the earth you must cast the said Pits a good fadome deepe and a fadome and a halfe in compasse which shall be well broken and made soft that so the root may rest and spread it selfe at pleasure which Pits shall grow narrower by little and little towards their top and where they are to embrace and close in the foot of the tree These Pits to doe well should be kept open a yeare or thereabout if it were possible for the well seasoning of them which by manie Sunne-shines and manie Raines would be effected but there may more speed be made with them either by couering the places of the said Pits with well rotted dung and new ashes which neuer were wet and watering it with a little water if the time and season be not rainie or by filling vp the said Pits with Wheat straw or with small Vine branches burning it all and afterward watering the ashes which shall remaine if the season be drie and without raine for within eight or tenne daies after this preparing of it the said Pits will be well seasoned About the end of the same time you must againe breake and soften the earth of the seat of the said Trees and the sides thereof and lay into them a finger thicknesse of dung and againe vpon this dung the like thicknesse of good mould and then vpon it to set the Tree in the verie same aspect of the Sunne if it be possible that it stood in before the taking vp that is to say that euerie part of the tree stand vpon the same quarters of the Heauens that it did before for otherwise it would not serue if the â—ide beholding the North before should now behold and stand vpon the East or West And this obseruation is of great moment for as much as they which faile in this doe oftentimes see their Trees dead or else notwithstanding whatsoeuer other meanes vsed bringing foorth verie late and vntimely fruit with like vntimely growth and blossoming which they would not haue fallen into if they had beene see againe after the manner they stood before they put forth 〈◊〉 budde 〈…〉 of the earth And this diâ—aduantage likewise happeneth vnto them
to be planted against a wall are peâ—ches abricoâ—s nectaryas all â—orts of sweet plumbs â—herries oliues almonds and such like for the reflection of the Sunne cannot beat or play vpon them too much they are so infinitely in loue with the same And in as much as the Orchard is altogether dedicated and appointed for the matter of planting grafting and transplanting of trees in it we will assigne out certeine places wherein the â—urceriâ— of seeds and the other of stockes may conueniently be appointed which nurcerie of seeds shall be as a well furnished shop to afford new store of plants to furnish the orchard at all assaies and times of need We will first sow our nurceriâ— of seeds on that side by which we go into the Orchard and close vnto it the nurcerie of stockes where shall be planted wild ones reâ—â—oued from out of the seed nurcerie to be afterward grafted vpon in their time and season On the other side we will plant fruits vpon nut kernells and transplant and graâ—â— them after diuers waies In those parts of the two great void places where they are sundred the one from the other with a great path we will according to their kinds â—ute out and set out great trees and at the end of them we will pricke out oziâ—â—â— so as they may for their better growth receiue refreshment from some small brook or waâ—er course CHAP. II. Of the seed Nurcerie that is to say of the planting of Trees on Pippins or Seeds CErtaine it is that Trees grow and spring out of the earth either vvithout the vvorke and industrie of man or else by his â—oyle and skill painâ—ully imployed of such as grow by the skill and industrie of man some grow of seeds that is to say of kernells commonly called Pippins or of other seeds as of Nuâ— kernells cherrie stones plumme stones c. being thrust into the ground othersome of shoots and small twigges branching from the root at the 〈◊〉 of the Tree hauing their nourishing roots and drawing fibres from the full growne roots of the Tree or else of themselues Some grow of buds and bloâ—â—omes as â—â—â—â—ces or of young braunches or of boughes some of the multiplying of branches if especially the Tree be yet young and pliant others are graâ—ted one vpon another We will first intreat of the making of them grow in the seed Nurâ—â—rie of their seeds and so in order afterward vve vvill intreat of other meanes of making Treâ—â— to grow For the ordering therefore of your â—eed Nuâ—ceriâ— and furnishing of it vvith Pearâ—-Trees Apple-trees Quince-trees and others growing of seeds you shall cause to be digged good and deepe a great quarter in a good earth and cherishing â—ould and that if it be possible a Winter before you sow them to the end it may thereby become well seasoned and you shall almost mixe amongst it halfe as much dung as the earth comes to that you turne vp that so it may ripen and rot vvith the 〈◊〉 and so be kept in great ridges vnto Cyder time vvhich is in September and October At vvhich time take the droâ—â—e of the said fruits as it commeth out of the presse or a little after so that it be before the seeds be rotted or corrupted and chase and vvipe them verie vvell betwixt your hands then lay flat and square your plot or quarter and 〈◊〉 good and close and make it out into borders of the bredth of foure sector theâ—â—â—bout and making paths by casting vp the â—ould betwixt â—uerie two to the end thâ—â— they may be vved vpon the one side and the other vvithout treading vpon them This being done sow your drosse there in such sort as that the earth may therewith be lightly couered and then afterward couer it againe vvith the earth vvhich you haue cast vp in making of the paths or hollowed furrows betwixt the said bordâ—â— and rake them ouer afterward that so the drosse of the Apples may be vvell broken and spred not lying together on heapes This is an excellent vvay for the sowing of much ground and a great deale of seed because if one pippin come vp of a 〈◊〉 yet the husbandmans labour is saued and his profit sufficient but in case where such plentie is not but that a man must â—rom an Apple or two get all the seed â—e must â—ow or that by chaunce lighting of some few especiall pippins vvhose like â—â—ockes â—e is desirous to be maister of in this case you shall by no meanes bestow them into the earth thus rude and carelesly because it is to be vnderstood that the kernell of the Apple is a pleasanter and more sweet seed than any other vvhatsoeuer and thereby intiâ—â—th vvormes and such like creeping things sooner to deuoure and eat them 〈◊〉 any other therefore to keepe them from that miscarriage and to make them take soone you shall take a common garden pot such as you vse to plant Gillo-flowers in and filling it vvith fine mould vvithin three fingers of the brim lay in your seed and then 〈◊〉 vpon them other fine mould till the pot be full and so let them stand where they may receiue both Sunne and Raine till they sprout and be growne at least halfe a foot aboue the earth then hauing drest a piece of earth and manured it vvell for the purpose you shall take those young plants together vvith the earth and all vvhich is about them and place them orderly in the new drest ground at least 〈◊〉 foot distance one from another and these also you shall place in comely rowes so 〈◊〉 euerie eye may distinguish the seuerall alleys that passeth betweene them Other waies there be also of sowing of pippins as on the bankes of ditches new cast vp or else amongst the quick-set or in smal â—urrows digged and turned vp for the purpose and such like but yet none is so certaine as this alreadie rehearsed Otherwise driâ— the forâ—said pippins and keepe them to the Winter following and afterward about the later end of Nouember or the beginning of the Spring â—â—ow them in manner as hath beene â—aid without casting vp any earth out of the passage â—urrowes betwixt the borders when you shall measure them out but rake them in a little vvith your rake and thrâ—w thereupon good store of thornes and boughes verie shortly after you haue thus sowne them that the hennes or hogges may not doâ— them any injurie When the pippins are put forth of the earth and growne for the space of a yeare take away the thornes and weed away all the weeds from amongst them as oft as you can and suffer not any one to grow vp in height with them for feare that when you shall come to pull vp a stiffe and strong growne weed you pull not vp therewithall the little pippin and seed of the Tree Water them if the Sommer shall fall out drie and begin to vveed and lop them to acquaint them with the hedgebill and to
Almond and vvith a brasse pen or otherwise vvrite vpon the rinde of the Almond vvhat you please but doe it not too deepe afterward put the Almond againe into his stone vvrapping the said stone about vvith paper or parchment and so plant it and the fruit growing thereupon vvill be vvritten and ingrauen To make Peaches redd seuen dayes after you haue set the Peach stone take it out of the earth againe and vvithin the opening of the shell put some Vermillion or Cinnabrium and then set it again It will fall out likewise after the same manner if you graft the great Peach vpon the red Rose-tree or vpon the Almond-tree 〈◊〉 vpon the red damaske Plum-tree you may also make the Peach of such other colour as you will if according to the manner aforesaid you put such colour as you would haue it of within the shell of the kernell To preuene that Peaches doe not become withered and rotten you must take away the barke of the stocke of the Peach-tree that so there may issue out from 〈◊〉 some small quantitie of moisture after you must draw the place ouer with mâ—tter mixt with straw Pearce the bodie of the Peach-tree below and take away the pith and fasten within it a stopple of Willow or Corneile-tree and then you shall haue Peaches without any stone Pomegranat-trees will proue verie fruitfull if you annoint the stocke of the Tree with purcelaine and spurge stamped together Of an Almond-tree that is hard and bitter you shall make a soft and sweet if you bare the stocke euen vnto the roots which lie shallowest in the ground and water them oft during certaine daies with warme water before that it bloslome and thus the Almonds that before were bitter will become sweet To make good Muscadell Take an yron wyre and put it in the plant of a stocke which is cut with three eyes vsing the meanes to haue all the pith forth after which fill vp the said stocke with Nurmegs stopping it so therewithall that the water may not get in and the rootes that these three eyes shall beare will bee Muscadell rootes That nut will haue a ve ie tender shell and a verie thicke kernell in whose foote stocke and rootes there are put ashes To cause a Nut-tree that beareth no leaues before Midsommer vpon Midsommers euen to put forth both leaues and fruit together and withall to haue his fruit ripe and readie to care as soone as any other fill a pot with greene Nuts gathered the said Midsommer euen and make a hole in the bottome of the pot that the water may runne out putting it after that vpon the said Midsommers euen into the earth Plant the shootes that come of these and you shall find the thing before spoken of The grafting which is performed to a graft vpon a tree correspondent and 〈◊〉 to the nature of the graft proueth of most beautifull growth and most fruitfull and his fruit most durable which falleth not out when this correspondencie synpadne and fellowship is wanting and this is the cause why the Peach-tree though better being grafted in the plum-tree than elsewhere and the Peare-plum-tree in the Almond-tree and there continue a longer time If the eyelet of the Peare-plum-tree and of the Almond-tree be grafted together the kernell of the fruit which commeth thereof will be an Almond The Plum-tree grafted vpon the Almond-tree beareth a fruit like vnto the Almond and if it be grafted in the Nut-tree the rind or huske will be like vnto the nut huske or rind but within it will be a plum Againe if it be grafted vpon a quince-tree it will bring forth a fruit of a diuers fashion according to the nature thereof Graft a Plum-tree graft or any other fruit trees graft vpon the figge-tree and you shall haue your fruit to grow without blossoming Graft the grafts of an apple-tree vpon a â—owre peare and vpon the Richardine apple-tree and you shall haue apples of a yelâ—â—â— or straw colour and of the chesur-tree to haue such as will last vnto Nouember you must graft them vpon a quincâ—-tree and other late trees and so they will be for to keepe two yeares Take two grafts of apple-trees the one sowre and the other sweet and joyne them close together when you shall graft them the apple will raste both of the one and other fauour as we haue said before If any tree bring forth his fruit late or if it be altogether barren and without fruit and yet full of both leafe and vvood set in the middest of his maine roots 〈◊〉 else in the middest of his stocke about Winter a wedge of greene-wood 〈…〉 yere following it will beare fruit The reason is because by the meanes of 〈…〉 the sap and substance which wandred abroad and imployed it selfe about the bearing of leaues and increase of wood will draw in it selfe and goe a closer and neerer way to worke conuerting his seruice to the making of fruit You shall haue Cherries on many Trees which will be good to eat vnto Nouember if you graft the Cherrie-tree vpon a reclaymed Mulberrie-tree and vpon a wild one If you desire that the fruit of your grafts should increase in goodnesse and furpasse the tast of the common grafts as they are when they are grafted you must first before you graft them steepe them in honie tempered with Rose-water so long as till they be throughly moistened and then grafting them draw them oâ—er afterward in steed of morter with Virgins-wax and other things fit to lute withall if after this manner you graft Medlar-trees on Goose-berrie-bushes and vpon naturalized mulberrie-trees and withall in the grafting wet your graft in honie you shall haue a hastier or earlier and better fruit Graft Chesnur and Calioâ—-peare-trees vpon a Goose-berrie-bush if you would haue them to beare their fruit earely and vpon the white thorne for to beare it late or else vpon the sowre peare-tree To make apples red you must water the tree with vrine or else plant Rose-trees neere vnto the Apple-trees Peares will haue no stones if at the first you picke away the stones and all other grauell from vnder them verie carefully making the ground where the Tree shall stand free thereof and withall lay vpon it at the roots being planted good store of â—iâ—ted earth watering it afterward verie diligently but and if the peare-tree be alreadie growne vp and become a perfect Tree you must lay it open to the lowest roots taking away all the stones and grauell that is vnderneath and about it and casting in the earth againe which you cast forth abroad but after that it hath beene â—iâ—ted and some dung put vnto it seeing that it be watered after you haue so cast in your earth The pomegranat will become verie red if you water the pomegranat-tree with water and lee mingled together The
the Apple-tree will not hold and beare his fruit 〈◊〉 it be ripe compasse the stocke of the Apple-tree a good foot from the roots vpâ—ard about with a ring of a lead before it begin to blossome and when the apples shall begin to grow great then take it away Apples must be gathered when the moone is at the full in faire weather and about the fifteenth of September and that by hand without any pole or pealing downe because otherwise the fruit would be much martred and the young siences broken or bruised and so the Apple-tree by that meanes should be spoyled of his young vvood which would cause the losse of the Tree See more of the manner of gathering of them in the Chapter next following of the Peare-tree and as for the 〈◊〉 of keeping of them it must be in such sort as is deliuered hereafter You shall 〈◊〉 frozen Apples if you dip them in cold water and so restore them to their naturall goodnesse There is a kind of wild Apple called a Choake-apple because they are verie harsh in eating and these will serue well for hogges to eat Of these apples likewise you may make verjuice if you presse them in a Cyder-presse or if you squeese them vnder a verjuice milstone Vinegar is also made after this manner You must cut these Apples into gobbâ—â—â— and leaue them in their peeces for the space of three dayes then afterward cast them into a barrell with sufficient quantitie of raine water or fountaine water and after that stop the vessell and so let it stand thirtie daies without touching of it And then at the terme of those daies you shall draw out vinegar and put into them againe as much water as you haue drawne out vinegar There is likewise made with this sort of Apples a kind of drinke called of the Picardines Piquette and this they vse in steed of Wine Of others sorts of Apples there is likewise drinke made which is called Cyder as we shall declare hereafter An Apple cast into a hogshead full of Wine if it swim it sheweth that the Wine is neat but and if it sinke to the bottome it shewes that there is Water mixt with the Wine Infinit are the sorts and so the names of Apples comming as well of natures owne accord without the helpe of man as of the skill of man not being of the race of the former in euerie one of which there is found some speciall qualitie which others haue not but the best of all the rest is the short shanked apple which is marked with spottings as tasting and smelling more excellently than any of all the other sorts And the smell of it is so excellent as that in the time of the plague there is nothing better to cast vpon the coales and to make sweet perfumes of than the rinde thereof The short stalked Apple hath yet further more one notable qualitie for the kernells being taken out of it and the place filled vp with Frankincense and the hole joyned and fast closed together and so rosâ—ed vnder hot embers as that it burne not bringeth an after medicine or remedie to serue when all other fayle to such as are sicke of a pleurisie they hauing it giuen to eat sweet apples doe much good against melancholicke affects and diseases but especially against the 〈◊〉 for if you roast a sweet apple vnder the ashes and season it with the juice of licoâ—ice starch and sugar and after giue it to eat euening and morning two houres before meat vnto one sicke of the pleurisie you shall helpe him exceedingly CHAP. XXIX Of the Peare-tree BVt the Peare-tree being the most in request and precious next vnto the Apple-tree amongst all the fruit-trees that are is ordered for the most part after the manner of the Apple-tree although the vvood and fruit of the one be more firme than that of the other and that the Peare-tree bring forth his fruit late as not before the end of Autumne vvhen as all the great heat is alreadie past notwithstanding you shall set it in the same ground with the Apple-tree and in the first foure or fiue yeares of his grouth you shall lay it open at the foot a litte before the end of December vncouering it euen vnto the rootâ—â— which you shall shaue and trim with a knife bowed againe and in the end of Iaâ—â—arie you shall couer it againe with his owne earth mingled with good made mould keeping from thence forward his place well weeded the foot verie neat and cleane and the stocke verie well freed from intanglements of boughes so farre as the hand can doe it and throughout verie carefully cleansed from mosse snailes and caterpillers husbanding and ordering the earth at the foot of it euerie two yeares at the beginning of Winter for the fruit which the Peare-tree thus husbanded shall beare will be both more faire and better relished and keepe longer The Peare-tree that is planted in a leane drie chalkie or grauelly ground is but of a starued growth bearing a sharpe small and ordinarily a stonie fruit The kernels are sowne in the Nurcerie as those of the Appletree but the hoped fruit is long in comming and scarce attained throughout the whole life of a man for it is farre longer time in comming to perfection than the Apple-tree It groweth also of a branch well chosen and he that will haue it so grow must plant it in September and October in hot Countries but in cold Countries in Februarie and March and in temperate Countries it may be done in either of the two times as it shall best please him But the Peare-tree that is most sure and likeliest to bring contentment of it selfe is that which is grafted vpon the young plant in the Nurcerie and in such curious sort maintained and ordered as hath beene said as also if it be remoued some three yeares after affoording it a large and deepe roome in a good mouldring earth It may also be grafted in a Peach-tree Quince-tree and Almond-tree but yet better vpon it selfe than vpon anie of these for so it becommeth of a better nature It is knowne by proofe that the Peare-tree grafted vpon a Mulberrie-tree bringeth forth red Peares and if it happen that your Peare-tree bring forth a stonie Peare you must remoue the earth from the foot and powre in vpon the rootes euerie day for the space of fifteene daies the lees of good old wine Peares must not be gathered before the later end of Autumne when the great heat of the yeare is past because their moisture being weake and in small quantitie the Sunne suffereth not that it should come vnto anie good consistence before such time as the ayre begin to turne and change into coldnesse and therefore saith Theophraâ—â—us this is the onely fruit-tree that ripeneth his fruit best and soonest in the shadow Such gathering of Peares also must not be taken in hand but after that the Autumnall blasting and dew
and March in cold countries and in temperate countries in which of the two seasons you vvill But such as would haue it to grow of the nut in Nouember and all December must obserue and see that the nut which they would burie in the earth for this purpose be but a yeare old of a fairâ— shell sound and drie and if it be in the moneth of Februarie or any part of March the nut must be steeped as some are of opinion for foure or fiue daies aforehand in some childs vrine or else as I gesse in cows milke for the tree that shall grow therof will beare his nuts as little displeasing either in eating or in the oyle thereof as if it were the fruit or oyle of sweet almonds If you would haue this tree to grow faire and full of nuts of a good tast you must remoue it but let it be possessed of the earth where it grew either of a graft or otherwise and in remouing of it some find it not good that the small rootes should be cut away as it is vsed in other Trees both because the Maister-rootes doe gather footing and strength thereby as also for that being as it vvere relieued by such shootes vvould become more strong and more able to pierce the earth and to sucke and suppe vp greater quantitie of the moisture of the same I could be of mind that when it is remoued which must not be but when it is two or three yeares old there should be taken from it at that time whatsoeuer surplusage and surcharge of roots euen so manie as may be tearmed bastard or by-roots and not of the master or maine ones for as for the cutting off of the ends of the great roots that is done but for the opening of their mouth that so they may the better sucke in the moisture and iuice of the earth if one may so speake of the new nurse which you haue appointed and assigned it In respect of his pits and holes whereinto you remoue it they must be digged of a great depth and widenesse and be well stirred round about and set distant thirtie or fortie foot one from another that so it may the better spread forth his branches which are wont to couer and occupie a great deale of roome round about it and if they should be anie neerer one vnto another their boughes would grow one into another whereas they craue to haue their sides free and open And this is the reason why they should be planted vpon the borders of grounds lying vpon high wayes for by this meanes the great compasse which their branches take doe not hurt seed grounds or not aboue halfe and by this meanes the looking-glasse wherein the husbandman may behold such hinderance and disaduantage as might come by scarcitie that yeare shall not be farre off from him or his hinds vvho hold it for certaine that great store of Walnuts doth prefage great spoyle of corne To set a Tree of some other kind amongst them is no more profitable than to lay the inheritance of some base and meane fellow betwixt the demaines of two great noble men for the Walnut-trees which are naturally great spreaders in the earth vvith their great roots vvill robbe it and eat it out of food and sustenance euen home to his owne doores and couering it aboue vvill take from it both the Sunne and the libertie of the ayre But in as much as the things of this vvorld are so framed as that there is nothing vvhich hath not his enemie you must beware of placing the Walnut-tree either vpon seed or plant neere to the oake as also not to set it in the place where any oake hath stood at any time before because that these two Trees haue a naturall hatred one vnto another and cannot couple or sure together The Walnut-tree is grafted in Februarie vpon it selfe and vpon the Plum-tree in a clouen hole howbeit the Walnut-tree doth not profit much or thriue when it is grafted vpon anie other tree than vpon it selfe because it abhorreth the companie of all other trees It must be digged about that so it may not grow hollow by reason of the grasse It must be remoued in hot and drie places in October when the leaues are fallen and yet better in Nouember but in cold places in February and in March and at either time in temperate places This is a maruellous thing of this tree that the more it is beaten yearely the more fruit it beareth the yeare after following although the boughes be brused and broken for which cause good farmers are carefull to geld and weed out some of the boughes of such a Tree and withall doe make great and diâ—ers incisions with some edge-toole in the stocke of the tree If you cast and spread ashes sundrie times and oft at the root and vpon the stocke of the tree the nut will haue a more tender shell and a more brittle kernell It vvill grow fairer and beare fruit sooner if you strike a copper naile into it euen to the middest or else a wedge of vvood It will not let drop any vnripe fruit if you hang at some of the branches or tie vpon his roots white mullem or some rent and 〈◊〉 fustian taken out of a dunghill Walnuts will grow without shells if you breake the shell vvithout brusing the kernell and afterward wrap the sayd kernell in vvooll or in the fresh leaues of the vine and so put it into the earth If the Walnut-tree displease you in respect of the harme it may doe vnto his neighbour trees you may cause it to die and presently drie away if you strike into the root thereof a verie hot naile or a wedge of Myrtle-tree-wood or if you put beanes to his roots or a cloth dipped in the 〈◊〉 of women Walnuts must be gathered when they begin to cast their rind and when they are gathered they may not by and by be layed vp but first dried in the Sunne The profits that the Walnut-tree yeeldeth vnto his maister are infinite for of it he may gather to make excellent preserues taking his nuts about Midsommer it yeeldeth wood for the kitchin by being lopt of dead boughes wherewith it is oftentimes troubled but in cutting off this dead vvood care must be had not to cut it off round because it would be a meanes for to make way for the raine to enter in and the vvet of the night would settle therein and in tract of time rot it to the heart but it must be cut biace and with a ridge that so neither raine nor the vvet of the night may get in or rest vpon it It giueth a rind which is good for the things spoken of hereafter it affordeth shells which make good ashes it affordeth a kernell to be serued at the table seruiceable in the kitchin and in lampes and furthermore of the drosse of the kernell some
it is better to dung it oft than much at once for as a field starueth if it be not dunged at all so it burneth if it be ouer-dunged in consideration whereof the ground must be well weighed for a good ground hath no such need to be dunged as a leane ground The moist field would be much more dunged for seeing it is frosen continually by reason of his moisture it commeth to passe that the dung by his heat doth resolue and thaw thesame againe The drie ground requireth lesse because it is hot ynough of it selfe by reason of his drinesse and if you should bestow great store of dung vpon it it might be a cause to make it burnt Againe your exceeding rich and stiffe clayes desire little or no manure at all because it is so rich and fat of it selfe that hauing anie more addition it presently mildeweth the corne and makes the kernell thereof as blacke as soot and therefore the good Husbandman sayth That the manure which is best for these rich soyles is good plowing in due time and ripening the mould There must likewise consideration be had of the goodnesse of the dung for good dung would lye fast and close together for a season and rest it selfe a yeare if it be elder it is so much the worse The Pigeons dung is the best of all and next thereto is mans dung especially if it be mixt with the other filth and sweepings of the house for of it owne nature it is verie hot Next vnto this is Asses dung which is the best of all beasts dung because this beast doth chew and eat his meat with great leysure and digesteth it best and thereupon also maketh a dung most prepared and fitted to be put presently into the earth Next vnto this is the dung of Sheepe then that of Goats and alike of all others as Horses Mares Oxen and Kine The worst of all is Swines dung by reason of his great heat for therewith it presently burneth the earth For want of dung the stalkes of Lupines cut downe haue the force and efficacie of very good dung or else to sow Lupines on Corne-ground which is leane and after that they be come vp to put them into the earth againe turning it ouer them There are manie Farmes of which one can keepe neither bird nor beast to make dung of and yet the painefull Farmer in this scarcitie of manure may make some of the leaues of Trees and Thornes and dyrt or parings of the earth gathered out of the streetes hee may also take Ferne and mingle them with the filth and myre of the vtter court or make a deepe pit and gather into it ashes stubble and stumps of hay or straw the dyrt hanging about spouts and all other manner of filth that may be scraped and raked together in paring or sweeping the house or else howsoeuer And in the midst of this ditch you must set a piece of wood of Oake to keepe away Adders and Snakes that they come not to breed or abide there If you haue no other but arable grounds they will not need that you should diuide your dung into diuers sorts but and if you haue Vineyards Medowes and Corne-ground you must lay euerie sort of dung by it selfe as that which is of Goats and birds must be stirred euerie summer as if you would digge it with Pick-axes or Spades to the end it may not the sooner and be better for the ground The cleansing of Ponds Ditches or standing Lakes is a compasse or manure not inferior to anie before spoken of and Marle may haue preheminence before all in as much as the best before named doth not last aboue foure yeares at the most and some but two and some but one yet Marle will keepe the ground rich twentie yeares and better All sorts of ashes either of Wood or Coale is a good manure chiefely for ground that is apt to chap or riue So is also Lyme or Chalke especially for cold soyles yet your Lyme would be scattered verie thinne vpon the same and your Chalke layd in greater aboundance Also Sea-sand is a verie good kind of manure and both fasteneth a loose mould and also maketh it a great deale more fertile CHAP. IX That the ground must be plowed ouer according to his three earings before that it be sowne IN tilling and husbanding the earth as it should be there are three things chiefely required first a Husbandman furnished with a good vnderstanding and ripe iudgement secondly Cattell fitted for the worke and thirdly a Plough well appointed and made But of all other things it is verie requisite that the Husbandman doe know the nature and condition of the earth which he vndertaketh to till thereof to reape fruit and commoditie that so accordingly he may stirre it and giue it as manie earings as the nature thereof doth require For in fields which are of a good ground vnderneath he must set his culter and plough so deepe therein as that the better and fatter earth which is vnderneath may be turned aboue whereas to take the same course in a ground that is barren and leane vnderneath were altogether vnprofitable In like manner there are manie fields which the more that they are eared and plowed they become so much the more leaner and barrenner and such are those which haue a â—light mould which the oftener they are plowed in the time of heat so much the more they are pierced of the Sunne and so become the weaker and lesse able to 〈◊〉 Corne. It is true indeed that there are not manie sorts of grounds but by oft earing â—hey become more fruitfull than and if they were seldomer eared but howsoeuer Wheat or Mesling especially doe desire to haue three earings before they bee â—owne one which is called the first earing and it must be when as the dung is newly spread otherwise the dung would loose his force being wasted and consuâ—ed by the heat of the Sunne and this first earing is for to stirre the earth and 〈◊〉 make it soft for after-plowing not turning vp much earth with the plough nor piercing deepe into the earth this first time but cutting it in such sort as that the â—urrowes may be so neere together one vnto the other as that a man shall hardly â—erceiue the path or passage of the plough for by this meanes all the rootes of â—he hearbes will be broken and die The second earing is in the Spring at such â—ime as the earth beginneth to open of it selfe and then you may cast your 〈◊〉 good and high and great withall that so the seed may be the better receiued into â—he ground But you must vnderstand that according to the situation of the grounds that are good for Corne or Pulse as also according to the Countrey mould and heartinesse â—hereof it is vsed to varie and alter the plowing and tilling of the ground for the â—urther benefit of the inhabitants for at Brie where
be it neuer so good doth become worse and degenerate easily when it is sowne in a bad plot And for as much as I speake onely of Wheat in this place being the graine of most vse in Fraunce you shall vnderstand that there be diuers kinds thereof as shall be shewed hereafter which sith their names are not familiar in other Countries I will here repeat those which are most in vse amongst our neighbours especially in England of which the first is called whole-straw Wheat because the straw is whole and entire not hauing anie hollownesse within it and this is of all Wheat the largest and goodliest and yeeldeth the greatest store of flowre yet not of the most pure and most white colour it prospereth onely on the rich stiffe clay-grounds and must necessarily haue three earings before it be sowne Next vnto it is the great Pollard Wheat which hath no aues vpon the eares it is a large Wheat also and prospereth likewise vpon stiffe clay-grounds yet will aske but one earing because it loues to be sowne vpon Pease-ground from whence Pease was reaped the same yeare The next is small Pollard which loues an indifferent earth as that which is grauelly or of barren mixture and it must haue euer full three earings Then Ograue Wheat which loueth anie well-mixt soyle and will grow either after three earings or but one so it besowne where Pease is reaped Then â—laxen Wheat which will ioy in anie soyle except the stiffe clay or burning sand prouided that it haue fully three earings and be well manured And lastly Chylter Wheat which is like vnto flaxen Wheat It will be good before you sowe your seed to lay it in steepe in water some certaine houres and afterward to spread and lay it abroad somewhere in the shadow to drie that so it may be readie to rowle or runne at such time as it is to be cast into the earth by this meanes you shall chuse the fairest cornes that shall stay behind in the boâ—tome of the water to sowe them which will grow within three or foure daies but as for those which swimme aloft aboue the water they shall be taken away because they are not worth any thing to sow for the best vse for such is either to seed Hennes or else to grind that so you may get out euen that sâ—all quantitie of meale and flowre that is within them Some before the sowing of their corne doe sprinkle it ouer a little with water wherein haue beene infused Houseleeke or the stamped seedes and roots of wild Cucumbers to the end that the corne may not be eaten of Moules field-Mice or other such like vermine Yet howsoeuer this may be a practise in France it is not receiued generally amongst Husbandmen to steepe the corne in water before they sowe it because so much moisture cooleth and drowneth the kernell of it too much Nay they are so farre from the practise thereof that a well-reputed Husbandman will not suffer his corne to be so much as washed before it be sowne The quantitie of corne which must be sowne shall be measured and rated according to the peece of ground for an arpent of fat ground will for the most part take foure bushels of Wheat a reasonable fat ground will take fiue and a leane will take more It is true that there must respect be had vnto the Countrey and place where it is sowne for in cold Countries and places that are waterie being also alwaies subiect to Snowes it is needfull to sowe a great deale more than in hot Countries or in temperate and drie places in as much as the cold and Snow doe corrupt the greatâ—st part of the seed Besides the time is well to be obserued and the disposition of the ayre for in Autumne you must sowe lesse thicke and in Winter or the times approaching and comming neere to Winter a great deale more againe in rainie weather you must sowe thicker than in drie weather Yet in England and other Countries which are much colder than France two bushels of Wheat or Pease will fully sowe an acre and foure bushels of Barly or Oates and three bushels of Beanes which proportion no man need to alter vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer CHAP. XIII Of harrowing and weeding of Corne. PResently after that the seed is bestowed in the ground you must for your last worke harrow it along and crosse ouerthwart and after that â—ake it from furrow to furrow but ouerthwart onely This would be done with Harrowes hauing yron teeth rather than woodden ones because they make the corne settle deeper into the earth which they doe breake and make fmall a great deale better and so by that meanes doe couer the corne with earth as it requireth at the least the thicknesse of foure fingers that so it may be the faster rooted and the safer from birds and thus it must be let alone the whole Winter vpon the Spring True it is that during Winter you must not neglect to make draynes and draughts thereby to carrie away the water that falleth in too great aboundance by raine Now this manner of harrowing is but for such entire grounds as lye together leuell plaine and vndistinguished by lands for were they cast vp with ridges as the lands of many Countries are then could they by no means be harrowed ouerthwart Therefore wheresoeuer your ground lyes in lands or in common mixt amongst your neighbours there you shall euer harrow your lands directly vp and downe the full length of the lands beginning at the furrowes first and so ascending vp to the ridges As for the Harrowes as before I said the woodden Harrow is best for the loose moulds and the yron Harrowes for the tough and binding moulds As for the Oxe-harrow which is as bigge as two Horse-harrowes and hath euer yron teeth it is best for the roughest earths especially new broken vp swarths the Horse-harrowes going before and the Oxe-harrow following after When the Spring time is come and the Wheat hath taken good root you must weed your ground of such store of weedes as Winter raine and the ranknesse of the earth it selfe haue caused to abound and ouer-grow the corne newly put vp as Feâ—ches tame and wild Poppie Cockle and such like and after once hauing weeded it it will be good to doe it the second time as when the eare beginneth to shoot for iâ— so doing the corne will proue faire and cleane But in the meane time you must so weed it at the first as that the rootes be not hurt but that they may remaine couered and laden with the earth that so they may stand faster in the earth and grow the more vpward At the second time of weeding you must not bare it much for and if the Wheat should not shoot vp still more and more it would rot vpon the earth and bring forth nothing Againe at the second weeding you shall stirre and make euen the ground a
indifferently serued with vvater not such a one as hath any fresh springs or fountaines either breaking out euen with the vppermost face of the earth neither yet carried along within in the depth of the earth below but only in such sort as that neere vnto them there may be water to moisten their rootes withall and the same moisture must not be either bitter or salt to the end that the tast and â—auor of the wine may not be spoiled So that by this it appeareth that it is not meet to plant Vines in deepe and low valleyes albeit they might and would bring forth grapes in great abundance and that because they would not ripen in due time and so there would be made of them no better than a green vvine of small value adde hereunto that Vines seated in low valleyes are very much endangered by the Frosts of the Winter and Spring time and are also subiect to haue their grapes to burst and to runne out their iuice and to rot vvhich vvould cause a musâ—ie and foughtie taste in the vvine and therewithall vvhen the yeare is rainie the kernels cleaue and burst out through the abundance of moisture by reason vvhereof the grape being in this sort too much moistened and nothing at all dried the vvine becommeth vnsauorie and apt to grow sowre and fall into many other faults And if you happen to light on such a place then chuse to plant there such plants and yong shootes as may beare clusters not too thicke set but growing somewhat thin that so the Sunne may pierce through them much lesse may you plant those Vines vvhich haue their pith taken out and bring forth a firme and solid grape in cold and moist grounds as neither yet in a hote and drie ground such Vines as haue substance enough in them and beare a grape somevvhat soft But chiefly if your place be so well appointed by nature as that it consist of and containe grounds that are fit and meet vpon the tops of great hills together vvith some low and small hills then make choice of them to plant your Vines thereupon It is true that it vvill hardly grow there at the first but hauing once taken roote it vvill yeeld a verie pleasant and noble vvine such as the vvines of Ay Hadre Argentueil Meudon and Seurre be In generall if you vvould plant a Vine vvhich may profite you in bringing forth abundant store of good fruit you must see that the ground be gentle easie fine and indifferent light to be stirred not as though such a ground onely vvere good for Vines but for that it is most kind naturall and best agreeing for Vines to be planted in sandie stonie grauelly and flintie ground as also such as consisteth of a Potters clay in the bottome and couered ouer with earth is good prouided that they be intermingled with some fat earth and that they be often refreshed by being digged euen to the veine of stones or rocke In a sandie clayie and churlish stubborne ground the first digging and casting of it must be good deepe and such grounds also would be thrise digged or cast at the least Such grounds bring forth strong and delicate vvines but such grounds as haue of stones or flints great store vpon the vppermost face of the earth are not fit for Vines because in Summer they stand at a stay by reason of the great heat of the Sunne being beat back vpon them by the said stones and they doe no better in Winter because of the excessiue cold which in like manner then troubleth them True it is that if a Vine be planted in a grauelly rockie and stonie ground that then it will not be needfull to cast so deepe because the roote is not so farre downe into the earth as is the new planted Vineyard which is made in a sandie â—oile and it is contented with twise digging for the most part A soile standing vpon Walkers clay or marle as loegâ—y vpon Yonne is verie good for Vines but the ground standing vpon a Potters clay is not good In like sort the grauelly ground is not altogether fit for though it yeeld a daintie good wine yet it yeeldeth but a veâ—ie little and there also the new planted Vineyard is very subiect vnto the hauing of his grapes washed away The drie and burning earth doth yeeld leane Vines if it be not helped by the dunghill As concerning the power of the Sunne and disposition of the ayre the Vine delighteth not to be planted vpon the tops of mountains and much lesse in places lying open vnto the Northeast winde but it delighteth in an ayre that is rather hote than colde and faire rather than rainie it cannot abide tempests and stormes it reioiceeth in a small gentle and friendly winde and would bee turned toward the East or South It is true that generally in cold places vines must stand vpon the South and in hot places vpon the North or East prouided that they be sheltred at such time from the winds as well of the South as of the East if the place be subiect to Winds it will be better that it should be to the Northerne or Westerne Windes than otherwise in temperate places either vpon the East or West but the best is towards the East Furthermore in as much as it is a very difficult thing to find all these commodities and good properties of ground and aire in euery countrie the good workeman shall fit the plants of his vines vnto the nature of the places and countries wherefore in a fat and â—ertile ground he shall set the young plant of a small vine and such a one as beareth but little as the Morillion the Melier and the Aubeine and in a leane ground the plant that is very fruitfull as that of Samoureau Tresseau Lombard Ouch Muscadet Beauuois and Pulceau in a thicke and close ground the plant that is strong and putteth forth great store of wood and leaues as that of Morillion Morlou Tresseau and Pulceau in a small mould and reasonable fat ground the plant which putteth forth but a little wood as that of Samoureau Lombard and Beaulnois and by this meanes the defect and want or the excesse and superfluitie of any qualitie in the young plant of the vine shall be supplied or corrected by the nature of the ground and that in such sort and manner as that of two excesses shall spring one meane and well tempered thing which is a point to be wished and requisite in the growing of all sorts of plants Furthermore he may not plant in moist places the young plant which is giuen to beare tender and grosse grapes as that of Samoureau Gouet Mourlous Pulceau Cinquaine and Tresseau In places â—ossed with winds and stormes he must prouide to plant such a kind of vine as is woont to bring forth hard grapes and sticking fast and close vnto the stalke but on the contrarie that which shall haue accustomed to beare tender
hunt the hare shall bee brought to course the hart hee will not make any more account of the hare because he hath found and tasted the flesh of the hart to be far better than that of the hare CHAP. XXXIIII What profit commeth by the killing of the Hare LIke commoditie as is to be found in the killing of the hart and wild bore may be found also in the hare and to speake first of the food rising therof we see not any food more common nor more in request in our countrie of France than the hare It is true in deed that Physitians do iudge the flesh of the hare to be melancholike hard to digest in the stomake and begetting a grosse iuice but this is to bee vnderstood of old hares as such as are aboue a yeare old and such as are kept tame in boroughes and other inclosed places but the young leuerets haue a very pleasant and daintie flesh to eate yea in those which are growne great there are some parts which are in request as the loines the shoulders and hanches There may be marked in this little beast a marueilous fruitfulnesse in nature for that monethly she bringeth forth a great number of yong ones I know that some thinke that the male and female are of both sexes and that both of them do conceiue and ingender as if they were hermophrodites but it is a false conceiued opinion and a thing altogether strange and vnaccustomed to be in the workes and generation that is according to nature And it is furthermore most true that the female being bâ—gd ceaseth to ingender againe for the time that is to say to admit the companie of the male thereby to haue a second conception but by and by after she hath kindled she taketh the buck againe and that is the cause of their so great fruitfulnesse as much may be said of conies which are a kind of hare As concerning the medicinall vertues of the hare the flesh of the haire well rosted is a great helpe against bloudie and humorall fluxes of the bellie that liueâ— dried in the ouen and made into pouder is singular good for them which haue a weake liuer The braines being throughly boiled and rubd vpon the gums of young children helpeth them of the paines they haue of their teeth and helpeth forward their growth Take a whole hare both skinne and haire saue that you must take away her intailes close them vp in an earthen pot very well stopped and luted alterward put the pot into a hot ouen and there leaue it so long as till the whole bodie may be made easily into pouder in such sort as that there bee left no manner of moisture for else you should bee constrained to put the pot againe into the ouen vntill euery part and parcell were brought into pouder The weight of a French crowne of his pouder taken with white wine euerie morning two houres before meaâ—e doth take away the difficultie of making water and breaketh the stone both of the reâ—â—es and bladder but yet before the vse of this pouder the bodie must bee purged and during the time of the vse thereof there must bee applied vpon the reines two plates of lead of the breadth of foure fingers sewed together betwixt two linnen clothes The gall of the hare mingled with sugar cleanseth the eies and taketh away the pearle or spots of the eies The dung of the hare being carried about women hindreth their conception but one thing of a certâ—â—netie if it bee put vp into the secret parts of a woman in forme of a pestarie it stayeth the termes following excessiuely and drieth the mother that is too moist The bloud of the hare dried or fried and applied vnto a scab or ringworme drieth and healeth it incontinently The hare hath a little bone in the ioint of her legs which is soueraigne against the cholicke The hunting of the Brocke and Foxe CHAP. XXXV The profit comming of the hunting of the Fox and Brocke THe killing of Foxes and Brockes neither bring pleasure nor profit to the hunters taking profit in this place for meate and nourishment for the Foxe his flesh and much lesse the Brockes is nothing pleasant to eat in as much as it hath an vnsauourie strong and wild kind of taste Howbeit Galen in a certaine place letteth not to say that the flesh of the Foxe hath the like facultie and vertue with that of the Hare and yet in another place as restracting his former assertion he saieth that the Foxe is of the same temperature with the dog It is certaine that some countrie people hauing not the benefit of any other victuall liue not vpon any other than Foxe â—lesh but it is in the time of Autumne onely because that at such time the Foxe feedeth of nothing but of grapes by which meanes it may bee that his flesh may proue somewhat good Howsoeuer it bee if any profit grow vpon the killing of the Foxe and Brocke it is only because they deuour fowle and annoy the conies and warrâ—n Adde hereunto that the Physitians do make great account of the lungs of the fox for the disease of the lungs and shortnesse of the breath and of his grease for the paine of the sinewes of his bloud for the stone oâ— the oyle wherein the whole bodie of the Foxe hath beene boyled either quicke or dead whereof we haue spoken in the third booke for all manner of ioint-ach and of the priuie members of the Foxe against the stone CHAP. XXXVI Of the two sorts of Foxes and Brocks BEfore we goe any further there are two sorts of Foxes and two sorts of Brockes that is say great Foxes and little ones accustomed to lie and lurke in their dens and Brockes some like swine and some like dogges The two sorts of Foxes are sufficiently knowne The hog-like Brocks are whitish and haue the haire aboue their noses and vnder their throats a great deale more white than the dog-like haue their bodie of a greater bulke their head and snowt also more grosse The hog-like in going out of their dens do freely dung but euermore they make a little hole with the end of their snowt before or else scrape one with their feet and then dung therein the dog-like make their dung a farre off from their earths The hog-like commonly make their dens in sandie or other ground that is easie to dig and open places to haue the heate of the Sunne and being giuen to sleepe continually they are fatter than the dog-like The dog-like make their aboad in tougher earth or else in rockes making their holes and dens deeper and narrower than the hog-like because they cannot dig the stiffe and tough earth or rockes as the other do the sand and light ground The dog-like haue their nose throat and eares yellowish after the manner of the throat of a maâ—ten and they are a great deale blacker and longer
Maison Rustique Or THE COVNTREY FARME Compyled in the French Tongue by CHARLES STEVENS and IOHN LIEBAVLT Doctors of Physicke And translated into English by RICHARD SVRFLET Practitioner in Physicke Now newly Reuiewed Corrected and Augmented with diuers large Additions 〈…〉 Works of FRENCH SERRES his Agriculture VINET his Maison Champestre ALBYTERIO in Spanish GRILLI in Italian and other Authors And the Husbandrie of France Italie and Spaine reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England By GERVASE MARKHAM The whole Contents are in the Page following יהוה LONDON Printed by Adam Islip for Iohn Bill 1616. The Contents THere is contained in this last Edition whatsoeuer can be required for the building or good ordering of a Husbandmans House or Countrey Farme as namely to foresee the changes and alterations of Times to know the motions and powers of the Sunne and Moone vpon the things about which Husbandry is occupied as to cure the sicke labouring Man to cure Beasts and flying Fowles of all soâ—ts to dresse plant or make Gardens as well for the Kitchin and Physicke vse as also in Quarters with manie faire and cunning portraitures to make compartments of diuers fashions in euerie quarter with a large description of the hearbe Nicotiana or Peâ—um as also of the root Mechoacan to plant graft and order Orange-trees Citron-trees and such other strange Trees to order Bees to make Conserues to preserue Fruits Flowers Rootes and Rindes to make Honey and Wax to plant and graft all sorts of Fruit-trees to make Cyder 〈…〉 and Oyles to distill Waters and Oyles or Quintessences of whatsoeuer the Husbandmans store and encrease with manie patternes of Limbeckes for the distilling of them to feed and preserue Silkewormes to make and maintaine Medow-grounds Fish-ponds of running and standing waters to take Fishes to measure and tyll Corne-ground to bake Bread to dresse baked Meats to brew Beere to trimme Vines to make medicinable Wines with a very large and excellent discourse touching the nature and qualitie of Wine in generall and after that another speciall and particular one of all such Wines as grow in Gasconie Languedoâ— Touraine Orleans Paris and other countries of France to plant Woods of Timber-trees and Vnder-growth to make a Warren to breed Herons and to imparke wild Beasts As also a large discourse of hunting the Hart wild Bore Hare Foxe Gray Conie and such like with the ordering of Hawkes and all sorts of Birds And lastly in the end thereof is briefely shewed the nature manner of taking and feeding of the Nightingale Linnet Goldâ—â—nch Siskin Larke and other such singing and melodious birds TO THE MOST NOBLE AND MOST WORTHIE LORD ROBERT Lord Willoughbie Baron of Willoughbie and Eresbie HOw euer the greatnesse of your place or the necessitie of the times may challenge your vertue most Noble Lord to bee wholy taken vp in the contemplation of high and serious affaires as ambitious or couetous to enjoy a full and absolute man and making euery thing that is not equall with your worth too much too inferiour for your eye yet this excellent glorie of Nobilitie well tempered Curtesie in which you are flowing rich persuadâ— me that the arguments handled in this Booke shall not appeare so triuiall in your Iudgement but that as to the tale of an honest Husbandman you will bend your Noble eare And though not for the bettering of your owne knowledge yet for the benefit which may spring vnto your neighbours grant it your most Noble patronage and defence from the stormes and frosts of Enuie and Detraction It first belonged to your most Noble and Heroical Father as the gift of a learned and well experienced Gentleman who in the translation tooke a long and well-meriting labour it must needs then now be yours both by order and inheritance And though when it came to kisse his hand it was all French except the language so that many wanted skill to make vse and some were fearefull how to vse a knowledge so differing from their practise yet now it is put into other garments and how homely soeuer the stuffe be yet it is cut with that art and iudgement that without doubt it will both endure the wearing and become any Husbandman of this Kingdome or the other who were first breeders of the same to whose particular profit I leaue it and my sâ—lfe euer to bee disposed as your Lordships seruant G. M. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR PEREGRINE BARTIE Knight Lord Willoughbie Baron of Willoughbie and Eresbie Lord Gouernor of her Maiesties Towne of Barwicke and Lord Warden of the East Marches AS Darius in his deepe affecting desire made choice of many such subiects and Captaines as Zopyrus and Eacus after that the Pestilence had vnpeopled Thessalia did wish that the swarmes of Pismires whereupon as it is said the Myrmidons tooke their names might be turned into men So I am vndoubtedly persuaded right honourable that you hauing made your chiefe and speciall choce of the things which are from aboue and striuing therein to set vp your rest of contentation would with like delight haue welcomed some such thing as had concerned the dressing and adorning of the soule rather than any course countrie and domesticall discourse such as I am here to offer vnto your Honour being commonly esteemed but as a tale of a turfe or matter for a mattocke And indeed I could haue wished that the Heauens had stoupt as low to haue reuealed vnto you some of her sacred mysteries as the earth hath aduanced it selfe herein and opened her mouth to shew vnto you her cabinet of rich prouision and casket of pretious iewels Or else that according to your place and calling some Caesar had affoorded you some learned Commentarie of Martiall Stratagems or some Lycurgus such treatise of Policie as wherein you might haue had pointed out and delineated as with Polycletus his golden rule the exquisit rules of vpright iustice and lawes of Common-weales safe gouernment But seeing this is that mite which my store will allow me at this time to offer vnto your Honour accepting the same may it please you to looke a little thereupon and consider that varietie and store of rarities their power magnificence and renowâ—â—e Furthermore of or from the earth is ministred matter to defend or offend â—eed or famish cherish or starue make blind or restore sight to ouerturne or build vp great towers to giue or take away light to procure health or fickenesâ—e foes or friends peace or warre pleasure or paine sorrow or mirth taste or distaste sleepe or watchfulnesse sores or soundnesse barrennesse or fruitfulnesse life or death and what not Yea if you should desire to looke vpon the counterfeit of beautie or to know Diuine Pandora her manifold other graces you need not farre to search seeing herein irreprehensible shape surpassing fairenesse infinite riches rare attire robes ornaments issue abilitie vtilitie wisdome and gouernment seeing it also as the center of the world attended
mistaken and thought to forget that woman was made for a helper hee hath called her to her taske and that neither little nor consisting of a few or base things hauing committed vnto her besides many other matters the cure and charge of families health But leauing to speake any more of her charge in particular I could wish all such of that sexe as are religious to looke before they leape and to bee wise according to sobrietie and grauitie Sobrietie not medling aboue their place and reach in matters of Physicke and Grauitie as not hauing any thing to doe in the matter of Fukes either for vsing or preparing of them seeing they argue if not plainely proue a light a loose and very sinfull life And finally seeing that the whole earth was once a Tempe an Eden that is a place of all pleasures and delights and the assigned possession and naturall inheritance of man and woman to labour and liue in with exceeding great ioy and felicitie and that through their sinne it was cursed and they were cast out of the most pleasant commodious and beneficiall part thereof I could wish them iointly to record such their former felicitie and the losse thereof to the end that they may applie their hearts vnto wisedome and learne that although they doe continually labour yet if they wallow in sinnes they doe but throw downe twice as much as they build vp destroy and marre mare they make driue farre away the creatures of meate and maintenance which they labour so greedily to scrape and pull vnto them and euen bereaue the earth if it were possible of all manner of fruits and increase that so it might not any more either feede or cloth them For knowledge skill toyle paine rising early lying downe late with euery other helpe doth loose his vertue and come short of his end if delight of sinne bee ioyned as a companion therewithall it being the heauie load and burthen vnder which all creatures doe grone the burning ague that drieth all sappe and moisture and that cursed seede which causeth them as a vaporous brood not onely to fret out their mothers bowels and bring a curse vpon her bodie but thereby also to curse and crosse themselues in all that wherein they would most gladly thriue and prosper You must sowe in March the Moone being New Garlicke Borage Buglosse Cheruile Coriander Gourds Marierome White Poppie Purslane Radish Sorrell Double Marigolds Tyme Violets Full Musked Annise Blites Skirwoorts Succorie Fennell Apples of loue Maruellous Apples Old Artichokes Basill Thistles Blessed Thistle Cole Cabbage White Cole Greene Cole Citrons Cucumbers Harts-home Sampier Dyers graine Spinage Gilliflowers Hyssope Cabbage-Lettuce Melons Muguets Onions Flower Gentile Burnet Leekes Sauorie You must sowe in Aprill the Moone being New Marâ—erome Flower gentle Thyme Violets Full Apples of loue Maruellous Apples Old Artichokes Thistles Cabbage Cole Citrons Harts-horne Sampire Gilliflowers Muguets Parsneps In May in the old of the Moone Blessed thistle In Iune the Moone being New Gourds Radishes Old Cucumbers Melons Parsneps In Iuly the Moone being Full White Succorie Old Cabbage-Lettuce In August the Moone being Full White Succorie Hearbes growing of â—eedes that are sowne may bee transplanted at all times except Cheruile Arrage Spinage and Parsley which are nothing worth when they are transplanted euer obserued That such transplantation bee in a moist or rainie weather for otherwise you must looke to them to water them Vnderstand and know that the choice and age of seedes is double for after you haue chosen them ripe full heauie corpulent grosse of a good colour and that they fall not into powder eyther through rottennesse or bruisednesse Some doe grow better of new seeds as Leekes and Cucumbers Othersome doe grow better of old seedes as Coriander Parsley Sauorie Beets Origanum Crosses Spinach Poppie Know further that you must preserue from the cold Lettuces Artichokes Basill Thistles Cabage Cole Dyers graine Melons fifteene dayes after they put foorth of the earth Know that seedes doe thriue and prosper a great deale better when they are sowne vpon such daies as are but warme and not verie hot or cold than in hot cold or drie daies Note that seedes must be Gathered in Faire weather The wane of the Moone Kept Some in Boxes of wood Bags of Leather Vessels of earth And after to be well cleansed and dried in the Sun or shadow Othersome as Onions Chibbols Leekes in their huskes Note that it doth well to Plant in the last Gather grifts in the last but one Grift two daies after the change of the Moone Note that they which are growne vp to the knowledge of the Planets and Signes may exactly obserue the aspects of the Moone vnto the rest of the Planets how long it abideth in anie of them for shee aspecting â™ by a â–³ or âš¹ in the signe ♉ ♋ ♠♎ ♑ â™’ it is good to Plant Vines Sow all things generally Sow the fields generally Sow Gardens Sow euery where and all things generally Plant Trees and Vines ♂ or ♃ by a â–³ or â–¡ in the signe â™’ maketh it good to plant and set Trâ—es and Vines being in the 7 1 28 7 15 28 11 24 7 28 11 7 degree 15 57 40 15 49 40 31 3 14 40 2 15 minuts of ♈ ♉ ♉ ♋ ♌ ♌ ♠♠♎ ♠♠♑ Astrologians commaund vs to sowe and plant because of a well tempered state and condition in them THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE FARME CHAP. I. What manner of Husbandrie is entreated of in the Discourse following EVen as the manner of building vsed at this day for the couering and rest of men is nor like vnto that of old time so we see the manner of the labouring of the earth for the nourishment and sustenance of the same to differ greatly according to the Countries Soyle Grounds and Situation of the Places wherein they are seated yea there is not so much as their language apparrell or household-stuffe and working tooles but they change after the fashions of Countries which notwithstanding doe not hinder but that in euerie thing wee may be as well fitted as they which went before vs. By this we may see our late kinde of Husbandrie to attaine and bring with it the like issue and effects which that of the Auncients did which is nothing else but to liue of the encrease of the Earth well husbanded and tilled by vs. Wherefore I haue thought it impertinent and vnseemely to tie my self to the seuerall sorts of labour vsed of men in times past and that because that Countries inhabited by diuers sorts of people haue according to the seuerall varietie of them euerie one affoorded many particular and seuerall sorts of liuing as also for that it hath alwaies beene the custome of men to the end they might the more easily fit and apply themselues to the good liking of others to compose and frame themselues according to the manners of the Countrey without affecting either by the
high places and such as are not ouer-shadowed the fall whereof doth enioy the Sunne-rising for water out of such Fountaines is a great deale more light and pleasant in tast and by how much it runneth the swifter and longer way in the Aire and Sunne before it come to the bottome so much it groweth the better as when it falleth from high Rocks it is as it were beaten and broken in falling through the downe-right places of stones and craggednesâ—e of the Rocks We must also see that such Mountaines be full of Dogs-tooth Plantaine Fox-taile wild Penny-ryall transmarine Sage which is called Adianthum Milfoile Chameleon and generally all other hearbes and plants which grow without being planted and are by nature greene well branched good and thicke and well flowred The time most apt in all the yeare and affoording greatest perseuerance for the finding out of the heads of Wells and Fountaines are the moneths of August or September for then it is easie to know the greatnesse of the head when the earth by the great heat of Summer hath no moisture of raine left remaining in it and then also we may gather assurance of such as will neuer drie vp altogether If it happen that the head Fountaine be somewhat too farre from the Farme you may force the water to come thither by little Riuers or rather more conueniently by chaâ—els and conduits made of Lead Wood or Pot-earth the best are made of Aller tree Fâ—rre tree or Pine tree out of which distilleth Perroâ—en because that such Trees haue an oylie humour and hot which easily resisteth the hurtes which water might cause Next to them are those which are made of Pot-earth if that the water carried along in them were not the cause of breeding obstruction These must be two fingers thicke and sharpe at one end the length of halfe a foot to goe the one of them into the other the worst sort is those made of Lead because the water carried along by them purchaseth from the Lead an euill qualitie and that because of the Ceruse thereof so that it oftentimes causeth bloudie fluxes and other such like diseases if we beleeue Galen and them which for this cause call the inhabitants of Paris Squitters because they vse Fountaine-water which runneth through Leaden pipes which point notwithstanding seemeth not to be without all doubt seeing that Ceruse cannot breed nor be made of Lead without vineger and for that we see also diuers Countries doe drinke of such waters without being troubled with bloudie fluxes whatsoeuer it is wee must set well together and soulder the pipes with a compound made of vnquenched lime and the greaâ—e of a hogge or of Perrosen and the whites of egges or of lyme whites of egges oyle and the filings of yron because that all these things doe hinder corruptions and rottennesse which the water might cause If any Mountaine doe hinder the laying or bringing along of these Pipes wee must make them way if any Valley we must reare arches such as are to be seene in a Village neere vnto Paris called Arâ—ueil and that because of those said arches or rayse pillars and other matter to support those water-passages But it is not sufficient to haue found out those Heads of Wells and Fountaines but we must further consider of the goodnesse and wholesomenesse of the Water as Aristotle teacheth vs For seeing the greatest part of our life dependeth vpon the vse of this element it is requisite that the Master of the Household should haue care to procure good Water in as much as Water must be the most of his seruants drinke and that the Bread which he and his familie doe eat is kneaded therewith and the greatest part of his victuals boyled therein The best and most wholesome Water of all others is Raine Water falling in Summer when it thundereth and lightneth verie much and yet notwithstanding Raine Water causeth costiuenesâ—e and obstructions especially that which is kept in Cesternes newly made and that by reason of their Mortar wherewith they are ouer-layd It doth also corrupt very quickly that onely excepted which falleth in May and being so corrupted it maâ—reth the voice bringing Hoarsenesse and a little Coâ—gh Next to this in goodnesse is 〈◊〉 Fountaine Water which falleth from the Mountaines and runneth along amoâ—gst Stones and Rocks Next to this in goodnesse is Well Water or that which issueth at the hanging parts of the Mountaines or that which springeth in the bottome of a Valley The fourth different sort of Waters is that of the Riuer The worst of all the rest is that of the Poole and Marish Grounds and yet that which runneth not is worse than all the rest and more apt to inâ—ect The Water of Snow and Ice is the most vnwholesome of all because it is the coldest and most earthie as not hauing beene prepared by the heat and vertue of the Sunne And as conceâ—ning the Water of Wells and Fountaines seeing it is not found good alwaies and in all places we shall know them to be good if it haue neither tast sâ—â—ell nor any colour whatsoeuer being notwithstanding verie cleere and of the nature of the Ayre taking quickly the colour of anie thing that one shall cast into it being also cleane warme in Winter and cold in Summer easie to make hot and as soone becomming cold againe in which Peason Beanes and other such like things doe boyle easily and which being put for some space in a Brasen Copper or Siluer Vessell well scoured leaueth no discoloured parts or spots in the same and which when it hath beene boyled in a Caâ—ldron made verie faire and cleane doth not make any â—etling or shew of filth in the bottome if such as vse to drinke it haue a cleere voice a sound breast and the die or colour of the face be neat and liuely finally that which together with the rest of the markes is verie light and by consequent as principall of all the rest shall that be iudged which excelleth in the foresaid markes and qualities and for to know which is the lightest weigh as much with as much of euerie sort of Water or else take two three or â—oure Clothes of one and the same webbe length and breadth according to the quantitie and sorts of Water which you would compare together and in euerie one wet a Cloth distill the Clothes or let the Water drop out of them and then weigh them for the Cloth which was moistened in the â—ightest Water will then weigh lesâ—e than the rest It is true that the lightnesse of Water is not so truely tryed by weight as by drinking not causing at such time anie burthenous weight in the places about the short Ribbes and passeth through the bodie speedily as also in being quickly hot and quickly cold Drie Places and Countries abounding with Mountaines doe commonly bring forth Stones which is easily perceiued by the rough and boisterous handling of the Earth
and also by the Stones lying vpon the vpper part thereof which otherwise might haue fallen and beene cast there in manner as sometimes it falleth out that men find vpon vntilled grounds the liuely shapes of Fruits and Corne gathered together and growne vnto the Stone which is to bee seene neere to Mommirall in Brie where Wood is growne vnto the Stone besides that the Hearth will make quicke and speedie triall hereof This will doe you seruice in the enclosing either of your Parke or of your Vineyards and other such like commodities besides the profit you may make of it by the selling of Milstones and Stones to build withall But looke well to your selfe and take good heed of Quarries and casting of Stone-pits and of their deceits which oftentimes rewards vs with our paines for our labour And as for the Earth taken and vnderstood generally it beareth all manner of Corne Fruits Hearbes Timber-trees Mettals Stones and other things and this hath beene giuen vnto it euen since it was first made and hereupon old Writers haue iustly giuen vnto it the due name of Mother But although in respect of the cold and drie substance and nature whereof it consisteth it may be called all of one temperature yet it purchaseth and getteth contrarie qualities according to the seuerall situations it hath in diuers places as also vpon occasion of affinitie intercourse and participation it hath with things of repugnant qualitie and hence doe rise the diuers sorts of the same and so diuers as that euerie ground will not beare euerie thing but one or two at the most For this cause to auoid both cost and labour see aboue all things that you proue either by your owne triall and experience or else by such enquirie as you can make of your neighbors what kind of Fruits what kind of Corne and what sorts of Trees doe prosper best thereon Some places in Trance and the free Countrey of Beaux beareth no other graine than Rye which is contrarie to the nature of the ground new broken vp another loueth nothing but Wheat Solonge loueth March corne and sometime Mesling Touraine worthily called the Garden of France is found most plentifull in Gardens and Fruit-trees as that part called Brie or Braye because it is situate betwixt the Riuers of Marne and Seine doth bring forth Fruits and Corne for sustenance and that quarter which lyeth betwixt Marne and the Riuer of Aube bringeth forth an infinite deale of Hay Notwithstanding the diligence of the Farmer may by his industrie ouercome the weaknesse of a ground euen as well as all sorts of wild Beasts may be tamed by the painefulnesse of man In watrie and marish places it will stand vs vpon to make our profit of the water which you shall oftentimes by sluces turne from his naturall courses into your pasture grounds and ponds of running and standing water for the profiting and helping of the same About the brinkes and edges of the most commodious ones you shall set rankes of such Trees and profitable Plants as you know to like and prosper in the water And you must especially obserue and marke the diuersitie of the bottome and vndermost part of the ground which in watrie places is often found to differ much and to be somewhat strange and according to the nature thereof to set such Trees as may best agree therewith Your House being â—eated in such places will be most strong and pleasant in Summer but of greatest maintenance preseruation and safetie if you enuiron it round about with water after the manner of an Islet as it is practised in manie places of Flanders who make the vse thereof familiar among them to reape thereby the benefit of Fish in his season the flesh of wild Fowle Trees as well for Fruit as for Fire and Building besides the helpes of their excellent pasture grounds but indeed your owne health as also the health of those of your familie is impaired hereby especially in Winter Wherefore it will be better to build vpon high ground as the auncient Romans did and to leaue the waters below for the comforting of your â—ight if so be you haue not the meanes of closing in all the same round about for your breed of young Colts and other Cattell all which will like verie well vpon such grounds except it be your Cattell seruing to furnish you with Wooll If your Farme doe for the most part consist of wild Grounds and Desarts you shall make them arable by labour and paines and recouer them deluing them diligently and raking them often for the Bull-rush Bâ—akes and such other hearbes will soone be killed when the earth is often turned But and if you desire with more hast and certainetie to destroy them you shall burne the ground 〈◊〉 two first yeares and sow therein Lupines or Beanes to the end that together with the curing of the disease of your fields you may reape some profit and comâ—oditie Stonie grounds are mended by taking away the stones and if the quantitie be â—reat it will be best to cast them together in manner of some small hillock in certaine places of the ground and so by that meanes the rest will be cleansed and freed or â—â—ther when the daies of handie-workes shall be got good cheape it will be best to digge the earth verie deepe and there burying the stones before-hand afterward to â—uer them with the earth If the Farme consist most of Forrests and Woods you shall make thereof arable ground by plucking vp the Trees altogether as also their rootes but and if there be but small store it will be ynough to cut them downe and burne them and then to till the ground And such grounds are wont the first yeare to bring forth much because that the moisture and substance which before was spent in the bringing forth and nourishing of Trees Bushes and Heaâ—bes doth prepare it selfe wholly for the good of the Corne that is sowne vpon it or for that it hauing beene fatted and growne better by the leaues and hearbes of manie yeares which of it owne accord it brought forth before it was tilled becommeth afterward sufficient to nourish and bring forth great abundance of fruits and so it commeth to passe also that being robbed of her former nourishment in time it groweth leane loosing the freshnesse and moisture which was maintained by the couert and therefore continueth not so fruitfull as it was at the beginning Sandie places may be made better by Dung and Marle which yet notwithstanding euen without such Husbanding by meanes of some currant of water running vâ—der the Earth in some Countries ceaseth not to yeeld good profit to their owners but these craue rest which is the principall remedie to helpe their weake and feeble estate and also to be sowne with varietie of graine as after Rye some kind of pulse The way to know such grounds is common when the
great Sand is fast and yellowish it is then found to be good for Corne and when it is white and drie it is good for Wood and wild fruits But it behoueth the Farmer to apply himselfe vnto the nature and temper of his field and according vnto it to sow and plant in euery place such things as are best agreeing with them as Pulse Millet Panicke Ryce Lentils Fetches and other things which doe not require great store of fatnesse But in our English Soyles we find that our sandie and hard grounds doe beare best Barley at their first breaking or when they are fattest after Rye Oats Fetches or Tare The strong heartie and fat Soyle is good for Vineyards and is apt to beare great store of Wheat-Corne foreseene that the yeare be drie especially in the moneth of May but small store of any other encrease yea and if the times be much giuen to raine they will beare but a little Corne and great store of chaffe Yet if the Seeds-man haue a carefull hand in the bestowing of his seed and doe not as it were cloy or choake his ground therewith these fat Soyles will beare very well and sufficiently the first yeare either whole Straw-Wheat Pollard-Wheat or Barley and the second yeare Beanes Pease or both mixed together and the third yeare Wheat or Rye or both mixed together which is called Maslyne or blend Corne. A raw rough and tough Soyle is hard to till and will neither bring forth Corne nor any other thing without great labour howsoeuer the seasons be temperate in moisture and drinesse To helpe the same you must labour it most exquisitely harrow it and manure it verie oft with great store of dung so you shall make it better and lesse subiect to the iniuries of the Sunne Winds and Frost but especially desire that they may not be watered with raine for water is as good as a poyson to them The Clay and strong ground as that in Bresse and other plaâ—es of Partois craueth great and deepe furrowes when it is eared and euerie where else as euen in the verie places where stones lye deepe and ouer-couered againe with good earth and this to the end that the water may the better be conueyed away which is naturally mixt therewith and cannot so easily depart by reason of the clammâ—e sliminesse of the earth This plot is not so fit either for Trees or Vines except it be for some fruit Trees and those well husbanded and nourished If you build there then doe it vpon some high ground and neere ynough vnto the Riuer and cause the Easterne and Northerne quarter because such places are subiect verie much to putrifaction and verie vnwholesome The territories of Croye and Ardose are more sound and wholesome though they be more barren but it must be made better and much mended and employed onely to that which it delighteth in for the Baylife of the Husbandrie ought to know the nature of the ground and not to force it to beare that which is contrarie vnto it notwithstanding whatsoeuer you doe vnto it for the bettering of it for of forced grounds there comes as much profit as there doth of beasts by violence vsed towards them For suppose you may compell them yet it shall be to your great cost and charges by reason of their hurts maladies and otherwise for such cattell commonly stand not in good plight and state The old Prouerbe also saith That a Householder should giue greater heed vnto his profit and the holding out or continuing of that which he hath vnder his hand than to his pleasure and rare commoditie Euerie Countrie fit for good Vineyards is stonie and grauellie or full of pebbles and is found to be better on the South quarters or on the descent of the Hill lying on the side toward the Riuer This place is not so good for Corne in the plaine or â—lat places thereof you must make it better and dung it Make your buildings there on the sloping side which looketh into the Southeast where you may not remoue your selfe farre from the Riuer for the reason afore giuen The best Soyle is that which is blacke crumbling and easily turned ouer that is to say which easily falleth into small pieces in ones hand and feeleth light sweet and fat in handling like to that which is found in the countrey of Tourraine Maine and Anjou which are fertile in all manner of fruitfulnesse and aboundance of goods rich in Hills Vallies Pasture-grounds Vale-grounds Vineyards and all sorts of fruits but vpon good cause they giue place to Prouence part of Languedoc and Guienne and the better places of Aquitaine all which by reason of the heat of the South Sunne bring forth not onely in greater aboundance but their fruits of all sorts of better qualities and more forcible This is the land of Promise in our France and hath no discommoditie saue that of the Southerne wind which they call Austrault which except it be tempered by the Northerne winds doth almost euerie yeare engender vnhappie calamities both in men and beasts Wherefore in this Countrie the dwelling places and buildings must be set vpon a Hill and the South wind shut out and denâ—ed all entrance by lights except when it shall be needfull in the depth of Winter But to speake generally the Soyle may be knowne to be good and to beare great store of fruits by these means as if it be somewhat blacke or somewhat yellow if it 〈◊〉 not when it is ill tilled if it become not myrie when great store and abundance of raine shall fall vpon it but drinketh vp all the water that shall fall and therewithall keepe this moisture and refreshment a long time if in Winter time it become not hard in the vpper part thereof if without being husbanded or mended by great labour or fatnesse of dung it bring forth flourishing hearbes timber-trees straight thicke hauing great aâ—â—es and abounding with store of their seuerall fruits and those good and well-rellished in their kinds and if it yeeld great fruitfulnesse of Corne if by being watered or rained vpon it become blowne vp and as it were stretched out and blacke and not hard bound or turned white if the water springing forth of it be sweet or if the greene soddes thereof being broken in pieces and steept two or three houres in water that is sweet and of a good tast doe not marre or make worse the tast of such water which must be tried by tasting of it after that it hath beene strained and clarified For naturally water issuing out from a spring or wrung from something that hath beene steept in it retaineth and carrieth with it the tast of the Earth and on the other side if the Earth steept in Water the same Water doe after such steeping yeeld a sweet and pleasant rellish if cast vp and two or three dayes after throwne into the said ditch againe it
the Hills shall not threaten much lâ—sse doe harme vnto the foundation of his dwelling place as also he shall not be too much subiect to the Winds and Raines of the whole yeare hee shall procâ—re hâ—s principaâ—l Lights to stand vpon the Sunne-rising in the moneths of March and September for the Winds blowing 〈◊〉 those quarters are drie more hot than cold but verie wholeâ—ome as well for the bodie as for the spirit of Man and the Sunne which commeth to enter betimes in the morning into the House doth diminish and wast the darknesse and grosâ—enesâ—e of the Aire adde further that looke by how â—uch his Houâ—e shall be set more vpon the said Easterne point by so much the more easily it will be able to receiue that Wind in Summer and be lesâ—e beaten in Winter with Frosts The Barnes shall be open towards the Sunne-set in respect of their greatest lights and withâ—ll shall haue one light seruing toward the North for the cause aboue named but all Houses for Beasts shall haue their Windowes towards the South and borrowing somewhat of the East for that the Winds blowing from thence will keepe thâ—m sound at all seasons and times It is true that as for Stâ—bâ—es for Horses it is necesâ—arie to make them a light seruing towards the North to open â—n the hot time of Summer during the vehement heat thereof and that at the houre of their ease and rest which is Noone-tide for at this time and houre if you giue them not some breath of aire to coole them withall the heat of the Noone Sunne which would strike in and their owne which is alwaies in the Stable as also their breathing and presse of the whole companie of Horses being there together would set them in such a sweat faintnesse of bodie and loathing of their meaâ— as that the verie Stable would wearie weare and spend them as much as the Plough it selfe And as for the rest of the Buildings or the base Courts it maketh no great matter vpon what Coasts or Quarters you dispose them howbeit if you so contriue them as that they may marke vpon the North they cannot but be to good purpose These instructions for Lights and Windowes are not so strictly enioyned as that the differing qualities and conditions of Countries where such building must be made may not moue you to dispose them otherwise for seeing there are found in some Countries such Winds as are almost ordinarie and may be said to haue gotten as it were â— habit and those blowing from such Quarters as lye vpon the Sea or Marishes or such other and therefore bring with them some noysome qualitie or at least little profitable it must needs be permitted in such places to alter and change the former directions And to speake the truth seeing that by the meanes of Windowes and counter-Windowes you may cut off the entrance both of Sunne and whatsoeuer Winds it shall be left in your free choice to make such Lights as may seeme most necessarie in your owne iudgements being euermore directed against such annoyance as the Ayre might bring from that place whatsoeuer from whence it commeth And although that euerie one build after his owne humor yet the cause should so stand as that reason should rule euermore and surely such a man should be esteeâ—ed but of a slender iudgement which hauing a place and commodities belonging â—hereto did not fit things in such sort as that on the one side of his chamber he haue â— light open vpon the Court and forepart of his Farme by which they must enter that â—ome to it and another open vpon his Gardens and principall Grounds Wherefore that he may know the more easily to prepare his Buildings as it were anew or else repaire it after his owne fansie it will be meet and conuenient for him to doe in manner as followeth Draw a great Court and wide and that verie square euerie way in the middest thereof cause to be cast two Fish-ponds at the least one for Geese Ducks and other Cattell the other to water steepe or soften Lupines Osiers Roddes and such other things as also for the rotting of your dung and somewhat more to the further side a Well with two or three troughs of hewen stone to water your Cattell and Poultrie â—t if you haue not the benefit of a running Water or some neere Riuer either great or small Make also two Dunghils the one to conâ—aine and rot all your new dung â—nd to keepe it till the yeare following the other that from it you may take the old and rotten dung and carrie it out into the fields These two Dunghils must bee farre from them and on a ground falling from the fore-named Fish-ponds and Well if so be that the place will affoord it or else at the least cast deepe within the Earth and paued in the bottome before hand least that the Earth should drinke vp the moisture for Dunghils must of necessitie be kept in continuall moisture to the end that if peraduenture amongst the Straw Litter Stubble or Chaffe which is brought thitheâ— there be the seeds of any Hearbes or Thornes mixt among they may rot and not bad or bring forth any Weeds when the dung shall be spread vpon the ground And therefore expert and skilfull seruants doe couer with Clay the dung which they cast out of the Stables to the end the Wind may not drie it vp or that the Sunne or Wind should cause it to spend all the moisture and turne it into dust This Court containing two acres square shall be compassed in with a Wall of â—ighteene ynches thicke and tenne foot high from the ground for the resting of yâ—ur Buildings vpon that are within and to meet with the danger threatned by Theeues and ruinâ—s procured by Raine it shall be strengthened with chaynes on those sides which lye next vnto Wayes as also with good Rafters according to the greatnesse of the commoditie of your placâ— and other stuffe In the middest of the Wall and in the fore-part which is the part lying vpon thâ— Sunne-set you shall make your Gates and their Porch and in like manner a couer ouer head to keepe the said Gates from the Sunne and Raine which otherwise would beat full vpon them and ouerthrow them as also for the speciall vse of your selfe and your familie as to giue them place and shelter in the time of Raine or when they please And the Gates must be so high and wide as that a Cart laden with Hay or Corne may goe in with ease You shall raise it halfe a foot aboue the ground and defend it on the outside or vpper ground with a threshold well and fitly layd and in such sort as that vpon the running downe of water it may not rot which they would doe if they should come close to the ground and that theeues may not cast them off their hookes with Leaâ—ers or Crowes of yron
senâ—ibly feele and obseru◠〈◊〉 bounds and approaches of Seasons howsoeuer out of course and extraordinariâ—â—hat they be If in Winter in the beginning of Frosts hee perceiue that the Birds haunting â—â—â—nding Waters doe betake themselues to Flouds and Riuers which are not so apt 〈◊〉 freese or that the Snow falling from the Skies is but in small and thin flakes if at 〈◊〉 beginning of Frost there fall some small round and white Haile if the littlâ—â—irds doe hide themselues in the Bushes and seeke for their lâ—uing neere to Townes â—nd Villages if the Fire giue a more shining flame and make a â—oter coale if that â—oollen or Linnen dipt in Water doe by and by freese if the vtmost parts of thâ—â—â—die become suddenly cold if in Winter the things which were wont to be moist â—nd wet are espied to become drie if the drops of Water comming from the rooâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Houses doe fall one a good while after another he shall hold it for firme that cold 〈◊〉 neere at hand or else that that which is alreadie will be verie violent and of long â—â—â—ntinuance He shall prognosticate the length of Winter when he shall see that the Oakes will 〈◊〉 full of Acornes or when the Ducke at the end of Winter shall haue a red breastâ—one or that the Hornets doe appeare before the end of October or that Caâ—â—â—ll â—hich goe together in Heards doe trample the Earth to myre Hee shall iudge great Summer heat to ensue if hee see that the Rammes and old â—eepe doe couple together oftentimes in the Spring for so indeed of the 〈◊〉 and temper of one part of the yeare a man may easily iudge what will be the 〈◊〉 of another for ordinarily if one part or quarter of the yeare be cleare fairâ—â—â—ather and drie it must needs fall out that the other should be rainie As for examâ—â—â— a rainie Winter doth commonly follow a drie Autumne in like manner a drie â—pring commeth after a rainie Winter and so consequently the other parts of the 〈◊〉 doe carrie themselues in Heat Cold Moisture and Drynesse Generally he â—â—all be able to prognosticate of the state of the whole yeare following the Progâ—ostications of auncient Fathers as concerning the day whereupon the first day of â—he Feast of the Natiuitie or New yeares day doth fall For if it fall vpon the Lords â—ay the Winter will be mild and cleare the Spring delightsome windie and moist â—ere shall be peace Cattell shall be at a good price all manner of good things shall â—bound old things shall die If it fall vpon a Munday the Winter shall be indiffeâ—â—nt the Spring in like manner the Summer windie and thundering in diuers plaâ—â—s the time of Haruest temperate Wine shall abound but not Honey diuers disâ—â—ses shall raigne some great Princes and Nobles shall die If it fall vpon a Tuesâ—ay Winter will be windie darke and snowie the Spring cold drie and moist the â—ummer windie and moist Autumne verie inconstant Women shall die there â—ill be great danger to such as are vpon the Sea vprores will happen betweene â—he people and their Superiors some Fruits will be deare If it fall vpon a Wedâ—esday Winter will be verie sharpe the Spring verie bad a good Summer and a â—old and moist Haruest Wine Corne and Fruits will abound if they be not spoyled 〈◊〉 men of Warre young folke and children shall die and Cattell likewise If it fall 〈◊〉 a Thursday the Winter will be good windie and rainie the Spring windie â—ummer good and Rainie Autumne moist Wine Corne and Fruits will abound â—reat Princes will die there shall be peace betwixt Cities and their Princes If it â—all on Friday Winter will be constant the Spring good Summer inconstant and Haruest time indifferent the good things of the Earth will abound Sheepe will diâ—â—n some Countries there will raigne paines in the eyes and there will some tumultâ—â—nd vprores be made If it fall vpon a Saturday the Winter will be darke cloudie â—nd sharpe the Spring somewhat windie the Summer moderate and Haruest time â—rie the fruits of the Earth will not be plentifull Fishes will be in great plenâ—ie â—here will fall out perils vpon the Waters great spoyles by wilfull 〈◊〉 will be comâ—itted and Warres will raigne In like manner according â—o the disposition of the Sunne and the twelue dayâ—◠〈◊〉 the Feast of the Natiuitie he shall be able to fore-tell the inclinations of yeares 〈◊〉 if the Sunne be altogether beautifull and cleare vpon Christs day the yeare will 〈◊〉 good and peaceable if vpon the second day Gold and Wheat will fall of their former value and price if vpon the third day Churchmen will fall at variancâ—â— if vpon the fourth day young folke will haue troubles if vpon the fifth day all goods will encrease if vpon the sixt day Gardens will proue fruitfull if vpon the seuenth day there will be great Dearth and Famine if vpon the eight abundance of Fish if vpon the ninth a good season for Cattell if vpon the tenth great heauinesse of 〈◊〉 if vpon the eleuenth great foggie Mists and Mortalitie if vpon the twelfth Vprorâ—â— and Warfare Wherefore if the Sunne shine in those twelue dayes and that conâ—inually all these things will come to pasâ—e He shall likewise prognosticate and fore-know the disposition of the whole 〈◊〉 by the disposition of S. Paules day which is the twentie fifth of Ianuarie for if thiâ— day be faire cleare and smiling it promiseth great aboundance of the fruits of thâ— Earth if vpon this day there be any Mists there will ensue great death of Cattell iâ— it Raine or Snow we are to feare a great dearth if it be windie there will be Warres and Seditions among the people He shall know how euerie moneth in the yeare will be enclined by obseruing the inclination of the day of the Natiuitie and of the Festiuall dayes following in such sort as looke what Weather it is vpon the day of the Natiuitie such Weather will follow in the moneth of Ianuarie and so consequently the other monethâ— will carrie themselues and answere sutably to the other of the twelue Festiuaâ—â— dayes He shall be carefull to foresee whether the yeare will fall out forward or backward if after Vintage there fall Raine especially before the end of the moneth of October the yeare will proue forward if it raine about the end of October it will proue indifferent but if it begin to raine shortly aâ—ter in Nouember the yeare will proue backward and then it will behoue the good Farmer to sow in greater quantitie for that before the mid time much of the Corne doth rot and spoyle in the Earth He shall not be ignorant of the tokens fore-shewing whether it will be a good or a bad yeare and proportionably to this he shall learne to vnderstand how Haruest hath beene gathered round about him and in neere adioyning Countries whither their Countrie Corne hath beene accustomed
to be carried as also in such Counâ—riâ—â— as from whence they haue been wont to haue some brought to the end that by buying before hand or euer that scarcitie pinch he may either by keeping of his store oâ— else by husbanding of it sparingly and thriâ—tily reserue such Corne as he shall know to be likely to proue deere and that not onely for the maintenance of his Familiâ— and his Seed but also to the end he may take his best time and place to sell his ownâ— for his most profit He shall know a fruitfull and ferâ—ile yeare if he see in the Oke apples commonly called Gals a Flie engendred and bred if the Haruest time be beautifull and fâ—ire weather the Spring reasonably hot if there fall good store of Snow in his due timâ— and season if Trees beare but small store of Fruits if Riuers and Flouds doe nourish but small store of Fish if the Broome be fruitfull and abundant in bringing forth of flowers if the Walnâ—t-tree from his beginning to flourish be more laden with flowers for the bearing of fruits than with leaues if the Masticke tree doe bring forth hiâ— frâ—â—t well liking and fed if the wild Onion or Sea-Onion called Squilla cast forth a faire and great flower which withereth not so speedily On the contrarie he shall feare a barren yeare when he shall see that the Nut of the Gall shall bring forth a Spider if any Comet appeare in the Firmament if the Spring and Summer be too moist if the Earth and Aire be full of Spiders Wormeâ— Woodâ—eere and other such like Vermine if the Walnut tree haue moe leaues than Nuts if the Deaw and Frost come in vnseasonable times if Birds in great flockâ—â— doe leaue and forsake the Islands and Woods and betake themselues to the plaine Fields Townes and Villages if the Crow continue not to abide in the Woods â—f there fall out great store of Beanes and likewise of Fruits and Fishes if there happen any great eclipse of the Sunne at such time as the Corne is in flower for the eares thereof will haue no Corne in them Which also falleth 〈◊〉 in like manner when the Seed which is sowne is either a leane a light or a halfe rotâ—n Corne. He shall know whether Corne will be deare or cheape for the present yeare and â—n which of the moneths thereof Let him chuse out at aduenture twelâ—e graines of Corne the first day of Ianuarie let him make cleane the fire-Harth and kindle a fire â—hereupon afterward let him call some boy or girle of his neighbours or of his owne house let him command the partie to put one of these graines of Corne vpoâ—â—he Harth made verie cleane and hot then hee shall marke if the said Graine doe â—eape or lye still if it leape a little then Corne shall be reasonably cheape but if it â—eape verie much it shall be verie cheape if it leape toward the Fire more or lesse Corne shall be more or lesse deare if it lye still and leape not then Corne shall â—tand at one price for this first moneth He shall doe in like manner with the second Graine for the moneth of Februarie and so in order with the rest of the Graines for â—he rest of the moneths as they follow Furthermore for thâ— better preseruation of â—imselfe and his familie from diseases as well contagious as others caused of distemâ—erature and ill disposition of the Aire it will be good that he should haue some foreâ—â—ght to discerne what diseases in likelyhood may ensue But the most certaine and â—â—re token is if at the end of the Spring or during the Summer it raine ordinarily â—nd that in great aboundâ—nce and accompanied with great and vehement heat withâ—â—t any Wind at all or if the Southerne Wind blow or that as yet there haue not â—â—llen any Raine at all if the Aire be full of Fogges and Mists if the Sunne endure â—ny Eclipse or if there be seene in the Aire any Comets or fierie flames if the Trees doe seeme to flame and burne if that the time of Haruest and Winter be verie foggie and yet notwithstanding rainie if Bread set abroad in the open Aire doe in the night time draw moisture vnto it and become mouldie if Dogs run mad if that it be found that Wolues run into some Townes being mad if Birds forsake their nestâ— egges and young ones if there be a great death of Sheepe if that Fennes be full of Frogs if Walls be full of Sowes and such other like Vermine if vpon the way a man cannot but meet with Wormes Lisards Serpents and Moules crept out of their holes and lurking places if Birds fall dead out of the Aire if in the Nut of a Gall be found a Spider if young and old folke be troubled with the Pocks and Measels if Women with child be brought in bed before their time if in Summer after raine there be to be seene in the Fennes great store of Frogs hauing pale or ash-coloured backes and yellow bellies if Grounds planted with Roses or with Violets do bring forth and yeeld flowers in the beginning of Autumne He shall prognosticate great death of Cattell if he see that the leaues of the Elme tree and Peach tree doe fall before their time And I would that all men vnderstood that I haue set downe these things without any mind to derogate from the good and Almightie prouidence of God who bindeth not himselfe to the Orders and Lawes whereunto he hath bound and tied Nature but altereth the same euen according to his owne good will and pleasure as being Creator of all things and as vnto whom all honour appertaineth CHAP. IX That the Farmer must haue the knowledge of the Motions as well of the Moone as of the Sunne and of the power and operâ—tions of them both in matters of Husbandrie NOtwithstanding that the consideration and obseruation of the Motions Faâ—ulties and Effects of the Starres and chiefely of the two great and admirable Fires of the whole World called of God by the mouth oâ— Moyses Lights that is to say the Sunne and the Moone doth appâ—rtaâ—â—â— râ—ther vnto some excellent Astrologian than to a simple Husbandman notwithstanding for as much as thâ— greatest part of matters of Husbandrie as Beasts Plants Trees and Hearbes doe take their generation noâ—rishment growth and perfect consummation by the liuely inspiration action casting forth of Beames and wonderfull mouings of these two Organes and principall Instruments of all the World it is very expedient that the Farmeâ— and Gouernor of a Husbandrie should haue that knowledge gotten by long experience which teacheth their vertues and powers in matters of Husbandrie to the end he may handle manage and order the same according to the motions of those two great Gouerners So then to speake of the Moone in the first place which by reason of being neerest vnto vs of all the rest of the Planets and coelestiall
tenne dayes the child borne thereon shall not be subiect to women In the sixteenth day Iacob was borne For this cause it maketh good to buy and â—ame Horses Oxen and other Cattell the sicke shall be in great danger of death if he change not his Ayre or House dreames shall come to passe the child shall not liue long In the seuenteenth day Sodome and Gomorrha was destroyed It is ill to attempt and doe any thing Physicke taken will doe no good vnto the Patient the dreames will be verified within thâ—ee dayes the child will not be prosperous in all things In the eighteenth day Isaac was borne It is good to be at leisure and to goe about businesse the sicke shall be in danger of death the dreame shall be true the child shall not trauaile farre but he shall get greaâ— goods In the nineteenth day King Pharoah was borne This day is dangerous wherefore it will be good to auoid companie and drunkards and to liue peaceably without doing any thing the diseased will soonâ— recouer the dreame will proue truâ— the child will not be malicious or a mocker In the twentieth day the Prophet Ionas was borne This is a good day for the doing of all things the disease will continue long the dreame true and apparent the child which shall be borne will be malicious and a mocker In the one and twentieth day was borne King Saul It is good to reioyce and cheare vp ones selfe in faire and honest Apparrell good to buy prouision for sustenance the theft committed will be found out the taken sicke in great danger of his disease the dreame vaine and vnprofitable the child borne subiect to endure great â—rauaile In the two and twentieth Iob was borne It is not good to goe about Merchandise not to enterprise or vndertake any charge That sicke shall be in danger to die of the sicknesse that hee shall take this day the dreame shall be true the child borne shall be good and honest In the three and twentieth day was Beniamin borne Whatsoeuer a man doth vpon that day it shall turne to his honour the disease shall be long but not mortall the dreames false the child borne a dissembling wretch and ill fauoured In the foure and twentieth day Iaphet was borne It is an indifferent day that is to say neither good nor bad the sicknesse will hold long but the patient will recouer the dreame will be of no effect the child that is borne will be mild and courteous and will loue to make great cheare In the fiue and twentieth Mortalitie entred into Egypt The sicke will be in danger of death the sixt day after the beginning of the sicknesse the child that is borne therein shall be subiect vnto many dangers perils and aduersities In the six and twentieth Moises diuided the Sea the same day died Saul and Ionathan for which cause the day is verie dangerous and not good to doe any thing in He that falleth sicke vpon that day will neuer escape the dreames will proue true the child borne will not be any man of great prosperitie or pleasure that is to say neither poore nor rich In the seuen and twentieth it is good to take paines in all manner of businesses the sicknesse will be variable the dreames will be doubtfull the child borne will be mild and louely In the eight and twentieth all good things will be good to be done the sick shall be recouered of his sicknesse the child borne shall be slouthfull and negligent In the nine and twentieth day Herod caused the children to be slaine This is a dismall and vnhappie day wherefore there must nothing be done that day nor yet vndertaken the dreames will be verie certaine the sicke will turne found the child borne will liue and keepe societie in peaceable manner among men The thirtieth and last day is good to doe all things in The sicke shall be in great danger euen vnto death but if he be well and carefully looked vnto he will recouer the dreames will be turned into ioy within the fift day the child borne will be subtill and deceitfull As concerning the Sunne which is the other Instrument of the whole World performing the greatest part of his actions really and in deed during the day whereof it is the author as the Moone doth hers during the night as being then when she is in her force and vigour it by his naturall heat influence actions and casting forth of his coelestiall beames giueth vnto earthly bodies their forme and vegetatiue life accompanied with certaine powers and vertues so farre forth as euerie naturall bodie is capable and deserueth or requireth it Which operations of the Sunne in these Earthly matters are wrought and effected by certaine his motions accomplished in the foure quarters of the yeare which is that time wherein the Sunne dispatcheth his whole course Wherefore the wise and prudent Husbandman shall giue heed to the foure quarters of the yeare which are the Spring Summer Autumne and Winter to the end that according to the motion and power of the Sunne in these foure quarters hee handle manage and gouerne all his affaires of Husbandrie And this is the thing that wee will more particularly handle at large in the Chapter following by the workes that the Husbandman must doe in euerie seuerall moneth of the yeare CHAP. X. The particular Workes that a Husbandman must be carefull to doe euerie Moneth in the yeare FVrthermore to the end that his people may not liue idle and that they may not loose one small minute of time which being imployed about some one or other worke he shall dispose of his workes so as that they may euerie one haue his certaine time and he shall know at his fingers ends what things is to be done euerie moneth and time of the yeare Yet thus euer to gouerne his memorie that these labours following being more naturall to the Kingdome of France than to any of her neighbours they shall for their satisfaction because the Booke is now intended generall returne to the sixt Chapter and there behold the conuenient labours fit for colder Countries as is the Island of great Britaine Ireland and the Low Countries In the moneth of Ianuarie chiefely toward the end hee shall cut downe his Wood which hee appointeth for Building or other Worke when the Moone is vnder the Earth for the brightnesse of the Moone maketh the Wood more tender and the Wood which shall be cut at such time will endure a long time without rotting He shall dung the Fruit-trees not letting the dung touch their roots He shall graft all such great and little Trees which bud betimes as Rose-trees Damaske Plum-trees Apricock-trees Almond-trees and Cherry-trees He shall digge the Earth for the casting in of Nuts Almonds and the kernels of Apricockes Peaches and Plums and such others in grounds that are cold and moist in the two first quarters of the Moone Hee shall cut his Vine in
built aside from the Farme-place farre off from the lodging of the chiefe Lord because that such birds are loathsome doe foule euerie thing and spoyle whatsoeuer household furniture turned toward the East from the Winter and Northerne quarter neere vnto the Ouen of the Kitchin if it be possible to the end that the heat thereof which helpeth them to lay and the smoake which is verie wholesome for the Pullen may reach euen vnto it It shall haue a little window right vpon the East by which the Pullen may come forth into the Court in the morning and goe in againe at euening it shall be shut at night to the end they may nestle themselues more safely from the danger of such beasts as are apt to offer them wrong without and on the side next the Court they shall haue pretie ladders by which the Pullen may flye vp into the window and into their house to roust and rest themselues for the night time This Henne-house must be well layd with Lome and smoothed both within and without to the end that Cats Fulmers and Snakes and other dangerous beasts may not come neere vnto the Pultrie and that neere vnto this Henne-house in the middest of the Court there be certaine Trees or Arbors for sowre Grapes to the end that Pullen may haue shadow vnder it in Summer and that Chickens may haue couer and defence against the Kite the Owles and other such rauenous birds It is not good that they should sleepe vpon the plaine floore that so their ordure and dung may not hang vnto their feet for thus they would grow to haue paine in their feet and to become gowâ—ie For this cause you must set all along the Henne-house a foot higher than the floore and two feet one from another â—quare Pearches not round because that if they should be round the Pullen could not sit fast vpon them Right ouer-against the Henne-house and a little way off from it you shall prepare a dunghill for the benefit of the Pullen after this sort and manner Cast a great deale of earth into a great hole of purpose made for such an end which you shall besprinkle with the bloud of Oxen and other beasts killed onely for the Hide afterward you shall cast a reasonable quantitie of Oates vpon the same and you shall turne the said earth the vppermost lowermost in a small time there will be engendred such a great quantitie of wormes as that the Pullen shall haue picking worke there for a long time and the grasâ—e which shall sticke there will correct the fat which they shall get by the wormes which they haue picked And when you shall see the prouision of wormes to faile you may begin againe your watering of the earth with bloud and sowing of Oates thereupon as at the first Some to haue faâ— Capons and of a pleasant flesh when the Mulberries are in season doe plant Mulberrie trees in their Courts for Capons and all other manner of Fowles which feede vpon Mulberries become maruellous fat and of an excellent taste and verdure To euerie dozen of Hennes one good Cocke is sufficient howsoeuer those of former daies doe allow one to euerie fiue and he must not be of colour white nor yet gray but red tawnie or black his body wel compact his crest or combe very vpright red thicke not notched toothed or gasht with cuts a well raised necke and high 〈◊〉 pinions and flight of his wings great his eares great and verie white his bill 〈◊〉 thicke and crooked his eye blacke in a circle that is red yellow or azure his 〈◊〉 of a rose colour standing of a white and red mixture the feathers of his necke long golden and changeable his legges verie scalie thick and short his clawes short and fast his spurs stiffe and sharpe his tayle vpright grosâ—e thicke and crooking backward ouer his head The tawâ—e or reddish Henne in like manner is the best and that which hath the feathers of her wings blacke though shee her selfe be not altogether blacke for the gray or blacke colour is but little worth because they be hard to bring vp and sparingly giuen to lay egges and yet moreouer they be small alwayes leane vnhealthfull and their flesh of small rellâ—sh The stature of the Henne must be indifferent her head great her combe vpright and verie red her bodie great and square her necke thicke and breast large The dwarfe or little Hennes doe lay oftener than the other but they are not so fit to be set on egges to bring forth Chickens The greater Hennes are not so giuen to lay wherefore Hennes of middle size are to be preferred before the other foreseene that they haue large wings and their bodies thick set with feathers and if they haue fiue clawes as the Cockes they are more wild and not so tame as others The Henne that hath spurs spoyleth her egges hatcheth not so ordinarily and sometimes eateth the egges shee sitteth on The Henne which is giuen daintily to affect and feed vpon the grapes being the thing that keepeth her from laying will be kept from seeking after and eating of them by giuing her the 〈◊〉 of the wild Vine for this doth cause such a roughnesâ—e or edge in her as in those that haue eaten sowre fruits The Henne that is too fat or which hath the flux of the belly layeth wind egges The young Henne is nothing skilfull either to fit or to lead Chickens wherefore you must fat the Henne with spurres and the Chauntresâ—e or crowing Henne and her that scratcheth and allureth the other Hennes by clocking aâ— the Cocke is wont to doe and that by plucking first the greatest feathers of her wings and giuing for to eat great store of Milleâ— Barly and Paste cut in gobbets bruiâ—ed Acornes Bran mixt with pottage the huskes of Rice Pannickle and Oates or the crums of Wheat bread steept in the water of Barly flower and to keepe her in a close place where she cannot stirre and to pull the feathers of her head thighs and râ—mpe Such Hennes thus fatted by the hands of a man may be recouered at any time of the yeare but the fleâ—h is not of â—o good rellish as when they grow fat going abroad at their libertie which thing happeneth and falleth out more commonly at one time of the yeare than at another the verie right and naturall season of their chiefe fatting being in the moneths of Ianuarie and Februarie for indeed in these moneths Hennes are nothing inferior vnto Capons The Henne that is too fat shall be made leane by mixing of Fullers earth with her water and of the powder of a softened Bricke in her meat And if she haue a loose belly you must giue her for her first meat the white of an egge roasted and beaten in a Mortar with the double quantitie of Bulleis And for the mad Henne which breaketh her egges and eateth them you must cast Alablaster vpon the yolke
this sort of cattell is the more subiect vnto it than any other as is also the Swine in respect of the filthinesse thereof and stinking of the dung But for the better preuenting thereof it hath beene deuised and thought good oftentimes to perfume their cratches vvith such sweet hearbes as hath beene spoken of before as Penniroyall wild Balme Rue and Iuniper-berries and oftentimes to make them eat amongst their meat common Melilot in steed of free and mountaine Melilot commonly called Cytisus and of wild Penniroyall moreouer Organie as also wild Balme is good as well for this disease as for the cough If the sheepe become lame through tendernesse of his clawes too much softened by hauing stood ouer long vpon his owne dung and that in such sort as that hecaâ— not goe your must cut off the tip of his so decayed claw or clawes and put thereupon quicke lime tying it on with some linnen cloth and this is to be continued onely 〈◊〉 the space of a day and then vpon the day following to applie vnto it some veâ—â—igrease and thus to vse these two things in the like courses so long as vntill the hooâ—e be whole and sound If the sheepe haue swallowed a Horse-leach then you must put downe into his throte strong Vinegar vvhich is vvarme or else Oyle If the sheepe haue any Impostume in the vpper part of her flesh then it must be opened and Salt pouned small and burned and mixed with melted pitch must be put into the wound When the Ewe is with Lambe if she haue a blacke tongue it is a signe that she will haue a blacke Lambe and contrariwise and so a Lambe partie coloured if her tongue haue spots of diuers colours The Wolfe will doe no hurt vnto the sheepe if you tie wild Garleeke vnto the necke of him that goeth formost It is good also to succour Lambes if they need as whether they haue an ague or some other disease if they be sicke they must be taken from their dammes but giue them notwithstanding their milke to drinke mixt with as much raine water if they haue an ague Oftentimes they haue the scabbe and itch vpon their chin after they haue eaten grasse couered ouer with deaw The remedie is to take Hyssope and as much bruised Salt together and therewith to rubbe the pallate of the mouth the tongue and all the muzzle and afterward to wash the vlcers with Vinegar and so to annoint them with tarre and swines-grease Beware of eating any sheepes feet whereout you haue not taken a worme that lyeth betwixt their clawes for this worme swallowed downe doth prouoke vomit loathing and great paine of the stomach As for the rest the runnet of a Lambe drunken is good against all sorts of poysons The bowels or lungs of a Weather newly killed applied vnto the head is soueraigne against frensies for such as are deadly grieued with head-ach The lungs of a sheepe dried and made into powder doth heale the kibes of the heeles The fell of a sheepe newly kild applied to the broken beaten or blew parts of the bodie so made by rodds of twiggs by treading vpon or such like is a speedie and singular remedie for the same prouided that they haue not beene caused by the biting of a Wolfe The wooll of a sheepe doth appeale the aches and swellings of such places as it is applied vnto so that they haue not been caused of the touch of any Wolues tooth for so in steed of taking away the paine it would aggrauate and increase it And which is more as Plutarch maketh mention in his small workes the wooll of a Weather or Ewe touched with the teeth of a Wolfe doth make it apt to ingender rottennesse but contrariwise in the flesh as making it more tender and delicate by the biting of it for as much as the breath of the Wolfe is so hot and burning as that it melteth and digesteth the verie bones in his stomach Candles made of the sewet of a Weather or Ramme of it selfe and without any thing mixt with it put in a chest among clothes or linnen doth keepe them from the Mise The dung of Ewes with vinegar doth cure all hanging warts as hard swellings whether they be called cat-haires or cornes Now hauing spoken thus generally of Sheepe their profits natures qualities keepings and preseruations we will a little according to the opinion of Serres made further into their vse and properties you shall then vnderstand that sheepe are two waies two fold first they are either pasture sheepe or field sheepe sheepe bred either of a fruitfull ground and rich leare or vpon barren ground and poore leare your pasture Sheepe are those vvhich are kept in seuerall and inclosed grounds being either fertile or hard and haue their preseruation either for breed or the shambles and the field sheepe are those which are kept on the tylth or sallow fields or else vpon open and wast commons and are preserued either for breed or the manuring of arable ground and those sheepe which are to walke vpon the fallow fields you shall put to the Ramme rather before than after Michaelmas that their Lambes may haue strength before May day to follow their dammes ouer the clots and rough grounds and your pasture sheepe you shall put to the Rammes not before S. Lukes day that the dammes may haue full bit and strength of grasse to feed vp and fatten their Lambes quickly for the choyce of your sheepe for any of these soiles you shall take such as agree with the leare and colour of your earth rather bringing them from a worse soyle to a better than from a good soyle to a bad knowing withall that your fat earth though it beare a great sheepe and much burthen of vvooll yet it is but course and your barren earths though it beare but a small sheepe and smaller burthen of wooll yet if the leare be right the vvooll will be finest and deerest except the soyle be verie much cold or verie much moist and then the staple will be but hairie as may be seene in the Northerne and lesse fruitfull Countries Now for the leares of sheepe you shall vnderstand that the browne hazell leare is of all other the best the redd leare next to it the yellow leare next to the redd and the dunne dyrtie leare of all other the worst and least profitable all manner of sand grounds yeeld good leares so doe most of your mixt earths your clays if not too wet are reasonable but your flyntie grauelly peeble soiles yeeld neuer any goodnesse at all your doded vvhite fast sheepe that is rough and well woolled about the eyes is euer profitable both to the sheares and the shambles being commonly of good bone are good burthen but the bare or blacke fast sheepe though he may haue a good coat yet it is so light that he cannot be held much
made as also counterfeit Shamois drie leather or Spanish â—â—ather and all the baggs wherein Oyles are wont to be carried in to and fro the 〈◊〉 of the male goat whereof are made the best drie and Spanish leather so much 〈◊〉 request for pumpes and pantofles the sewet of the male Bucke whereof the phyâ—â—tions doe make such vse and find so singular in the curing of bloudie fluxes the â—kins of Kids whereof are made handsome daintie and soft gloues good girdles â—â—urses and needle-cases and Cheese which shall be made after the fashion of Cow-milke-cheese It is most true that some doe make them after the fashion of little thin Angelots and those are the excellent cheeses which haue beene wont to be made at Nismes heretofore as Plinie recordeth howsoeuer now at this present Baus doth carrie away the name And now somewhat as concerning the baggs made of Goats-skins for to carrie Oyle in as we haue daily experience out of the countries of Prouence and Langueâ—oc you must first cut from the dead Goat the head onely close by the necke and â—he feet at the second joynt of the leggs afterward fleying the rest of the leggs vnto the priuie parts of the beast to turne the rest ouer all the bodie and keeping the haiâ—ie side outward to salt it three or foure times and to rubbe ouer all the skin euerie where with salt verie well afterward to sew it and make it into a bagge for Oyle as it may best serue you must notwithstanding keepe it alwaies full blown vp and tied somewhere vp on high that it may not touch the earth for otherwise it would be gnawed in pieces of vermine She shall not make account to make Butter of their milke in any great quantitie for the milke of goats hath no such store of fat or oilie substance in it seeing there is alwaies much adoe to get forth euen some small portion and yet which is more when it is out it looketh whitish hard and tasteth like tallow and thirdly because in Languedoe and Prouence they gather not any Butter at all being giuen to make Cheese namely those Cheeses which are called small Cheeses As concerning the diseases of a Goat she is neuer without an ague in this Countrie and that in such sort as that if they be free from it but a little they die besides the diseases of sheepe whereunto Goats are subject there are three other whereunto the Goat is subject that is to say the dropsie swelling after she hath brought forth her young and the drie disease The dropsie happeneth vnto her by drinking too much vvater and then you must make incision vnder the shoulder and draw forth all the gathered superfluous moisture and after heale the wound vvith tarre After she hath brought forth her young if her matrix be swolne or if she be not vvell purged of her after-birth you must cause her to drinke a great glasse ful of verie good wine The drie disease commeth vpon her in the time of hot seasons as wherein her teats are so dried vp as that they are like vnto wood for drinesse and in such case you must rubbe her teats with creame and as for other her diseases you must cure them with those remedies vvhich are set downe for the diseases of ewes The good huswife that setteth by the health of her folke shall not giue any goats flesh vnto her people to eat except it be in time of great dearth and scarcitie because the eating of this flesh doth breed the falling sicknesse Likewise our predecessours had the flesh in such a loathed detestation as that they would not deine to touch it no not name it notwithstanding if necessitie doe force vs to feed vpon it as many poore peasants dwelling in villages doe hauing good store of goats and which onely are the store of their powdring tubs as also being persuaded thereto through couetousnesse then they must boyle them in a pot not couered and in great quantitie of vvater with good store of spices and cloues and yet after all this not to eat it before it be cold she may gather some profitable thing both of the male and female goat for the health of her familie For the milke of the female is verie singular for the hardnesse of the spleene if so be that she haue beene fed any space of time with Iuie The reddish and bloudlike liquor which distilleth from her liuer vvhen it is roasted is good for the vveake eyes The bloud of the male or 〈◊〉 Goat fried stayeth the flux of the bellie The bloud of the male hardeneâ—◠〈◊〉 dried vp in lumps is â—ingular against the stone The poulder of the Goats 〈◊〉 burned cleanseth and maketh vvhite the teeth drunke with Rose or 〈◊〉 vvater it stayeth the bloudie flux The fume or smoake comming of the burning of Goats horne doth driue away Serpents in vvhat place soeuer that they be The dung of Goats applyed in forme of a cataplasme doth resolue swellings vnder the eares in the flankes the Sciatica and other Apostumes especially if it be 〈◊〉 vvith the floure of Barley and vvater and vinegar or with fresh Butter or the 〈◊〉 of the Oyle of Nuts vvhich is more if you giue but fiue trottles of Goats dung witâ— a small draught of vvhite Wine the space of eight dayes euerie morning it 〈◊〉 heale the Iaundise CHAP. XXVII Of the Dogges Kenell VNto the Shepheard seruing also in steed of the Goatheard doth belong the charge of the Dog-house in the ordering of this our Countrie gouernment as vvell because necessitie commaundeth that he should 〈◊〉 Bloud-hounds to fight and chase away the Wolues Hounds and vvater Spaniels for the purpose of such things as now and then he may meet withall iâ— the fields or vvhich escapeth vnawares out of the riuers or standing vvaters as also Mastiues vvhich are giuen him in charge by the farmer as being for the guard and keeping of his house and of these there shall be one or two vvhich shall be kept faâ—â— all the day chained to some post reared in the Court on the left hand as you goe iâ— for to giue aduertisement of the comming in or going out of strangers and to make such afraid as might come to doe mischiefe but on the night such dogges shall be let loose and put amongst the rest which come from the field to bolden them 〈◊〉 their charge as in ranging and keeping the Court as well to defend it from theeues as to free it from the rauen of vvild beasts vvhich giue themselues wholly to the purchase in the night time This then is his charge to feed them to make theâ— cleane to brush them and wipe off the dust from them to correct them reclaimâ— them teach and fit them for that which it is needfull that they should doe and to this end the farmer must not withhold from him the great of the siftings which may be
a liniment of the gall of an Oxe or of 〈◊〉 and tartar beaten together with strong vinegar And as concerning a drinke you must take of Oyle two pound of old wine a pottle amongst all this you shall mix nine fat figges with nine leekes heads temper them all well together and afterward make a decoction in the end whereof but before it be strained you shall adde of Salt and Nitre well pouned so much as you shall see necessarie of all well strained you shall make a drinke which you shall cause him to take with a horne twice a day that is morning and euening a quarter of a pint at a time For his meat cause him to eat greene Barley or Fetchets or the meale of Barley amongst which you shall mingle Nitre The Strangles of a Horse or Glandules vvhich happen vnder his throat and fall downe from the braine much cooled are oftentimes cured by pricking him vnder the throat in the morning afterward couer his head vvith some kind of Linnen cloth and rubbe his throat oftentimes with fresh Butter but especially the place of his disease The Barbes hindering the Horse from eating by reason of 〈…〉 swolne are healed by making him eat Pease Beanes or the stalkes of Pease or 〈◊〉 because that the bruising and breaking of them causeth this swelling to go 〈…〉 if the Barbes doe grow there againe you must cut them out with a verie 〈…〉 being likewise verie hot for thus are they taken out of the hollow of the 〈…〉 mouth and for the rest taken away by burning you must cut them away 〈…〉 of sheares euen to the quicke For the excrescence of flesh growing vnder the Horses bodie you must 〈…〉 place and make incision with some knife fit for the purpose and then afterwards â—â—noint it morning and euening with the ointment called Dialthoea Flies are kept away from Horses â—ores with pitch and oyle or grease mingled 〈◊〉 powred vpon them and then by strawing Fetch flowers vpon them againe The disease of the gums and teeth happeneth oftentimes vnto colts when they 〈◊〉 growing their teeth temper of fullers earth the best you can come by 〈…〉 Remes in verie strong vinegar and therewith rubbe their jawes on the outside 〈◊〉 more a great deale in the place where the paine or swelled gums be The short winded Horse or he which cannot easily draw his breath and 〈◊〉 hath his flankes beating incessantly and which notwithstanding that he be 〈◊〉 haled and whipped will not stirre but pant verie much and blow exceedingly 〈◊〉 and which eating of his meat cannot abstaine coughing this same Horse wil 〈◊〉 euer be cured It is true that this disease being new and caused of dust 〈◊〉 windes foâ—stie hay or of hauing eaten some kind of dung in his prouender 〈◊〉 â—â—medie for it may be to draw bloud vpon him with a greene withie and to 〈◊〉 hot vpon his breast and backe the said bloud mingled with wine and Oyle 〈◊〉 and hauing done this for the space of fiue daies then the next fiue daies following 〈◊〉 make him take downe Lee at his nosthrils wherein there is mixt a portion of Oyle to giue him this drinke after Mustard-seed well fried quicke Brimstone graines 〈◊〉 Paradise of each alike much make them in powder and make thereof a decoctiâ—â— in honie and water or else in some composition that is good and thicke whereof you shall giue him euerie morning the bignesse of a bigge Wall-nut with sage and with thicke red wine but such as is good and noble or else make him a drinke 〈◊〉 cloues ginger cummine fennell-seed and the roots Galanga as much of the one 〈…〉 the other all these being powdred mingle therewith some egges and a little 〈◊〉 make the Horse to take it downe vvith Wine holding his head high to the end 〈◊〉 may swallow the more easily and not suffering him to hold it downe at the 〈…〉 a good halfe houre to the end that the drinke may passe through his bowells 〈◊〉 this drinke you shall giue him fresh grasse or the leaues of Roses or vvillow 〈…〉 temper the heat of the said drinke but the horse must not haue eaten any thing 〈◊〉 the space of one halfe day before the taking of this neither yet must he eat any thing for the like space after the taking of it Let him vvalke and lead him gently by the head-stall or else getting vpon him let him pace him verie softly that so he may not cast it vp againe and thus much for the cure of the 〈◊〉 â—vinded horse if the disease be not growne too old Which notwithstanding that it should be yet 〈◊〉 may relieue it for some time if you feare him a little vpon both the sides of the 〈◊〉 to the end that this heat may cause to cease this great panting vvhich doth paine 〈◊〉 in his flankes and if vvithall you slit his nosthrils that so he may attract and 〈◊〉 in the aire and his breath and as easily let it goe besides these vvaies I vvould 〈◊〉 you also to giue him to eat some grapes oftentimes and to drinke some sweet 〈◊〉 Another singular remedie there is which consisteth in giuing him a drinke 〈◊〉 vvith Agaricke and Fenugreeke tempered vvith red Wine or else to cause him 〈◊〉 swallow the bloud of a little dogge vvhich yet is not aboue ten daies old or to take the roots of Gentian of vvild cucumers and bitter Almonds and to poune theâ—â—vvith Honie and Water and to make a drinke thereof or else to giue oftentimes 〈◊〉 eat of siluer grasse The Cough hath many causes notwithstanding that vvhich commeth from the 〈◊〉 as from the lungs and parts adjoyning or else from some other of the inward 〈◊〉 which are noble and principall and haue accordingly some notable office in 〈◊〉 bodie hath not a more soueraigne remedie than the slitting of the beasts noâ—â—hrils and if after this the beast doe not amend then to cause him to take downe a â—ood pinte of the drinke following with a horne Take Fenugreeke and Linseed of â—â—ch a quarter of a pecke Gum-tragacanth Olibanum Myrrhe of each an ounce â—ugar the oatmeale of great vvild Tare of each an ounce all these being vvell pouâ—ed and let run through a bagge you shall cause it to be infused all a whole night in hot vvater and the day following you shall giue it to the beast as hath beene sayd â—nd this shall be continued adding thereto a bowle of oyle of Roses euen to the end of the cure Some cause fiue egges to be layed to steepe one whole night in strong Vinegar and the next morning when they see that the shell is become verie tenâ—er and soft they giue them to the horse to take downe Furthermore you must neâ—er draw bloud from the horse in what palce soeuer that it be but it shall be good to â—iue it vnto him and to continue the Gum-tragacanth with sweet Oyle The ague of a horse
haue trauelled into Polonia say that the Ellend doth resemble the Asse iâ— nothing but in her eares as otherwise in all points almost being like 〈◊〉 the Hart hauing a clouen foot but that he is a great deale bigger and in hoâ—â—es like vnto a Fallow-Deere Although the Asse be mocked of the most because of his long eares yet notwithstanding those eares how great soeuer they be doe serue him to shew his vertue and to make to appeare his vnderstanding and certaine knowledge which he hath of the change of the weather seeing that if it will turne to raine he then laieth them so 〈◊〉 vpon his necke that one would say they were glued to it CHAP. XXX Of the Mule-keeper A Good House-holder must not be vnfurnished of things necessarie for his House whether they serue for food and sustenance or for ease Wherefore although in respect of some manner of worke he may be content to want Mules hauing the benefit of Horse to carrie him to the Market and other â—laces whither his businesse shall call him yet notwithstanding the Mule is necessaâ—ie for his â—asement whether it be that he would rather ride vpon Mules than vpon Horses because of their easier pacing or that by reason of age or want of health of â—odie he cannot endure the trauell of a Horse but is constrained to prouide a Horse-litter to carrie him in I will further say that in some places as in Auernia â—hat for the scarcitie and small number of Horse and Oxen the Mules are esteemed of great value and are vsed to toile the earth to trauaile and doe other necessarie â—hings tending to the commoditie and maintenance of the House to say nothing â—hat Mules are proper Beasts strong and able to carrie great and heauie burthens as Trunkes sackes of Corne and Meale and such other burthens which Horses could â—ot beare The ordering and charge of Mules is like vnto that of Horses as well in respect of their meat pasture feeding and furniture as in the curing of their diseases whereunto they are subiect and therefore wee will knit vp in â—ewer words what may be said of them both for the causes rehearsed as also for that I willingly leaue the whole knowledge of their feeding and handling to those of Auernia amongst whom they are in such high request Notwithstanding to speake summarily the Mule-keeper must not onely be carefull of the well-feeding of his Mules but also of making of the most profit of them The profit that may be raised of them consisteth in the verie same commodities that may be raised of the Asse and that is principally of goodly Herds and Flocks Hence he shall chuse a good and goodly beautifull male Mule Asse or Horse and likewise a female Mare or she Asse for the saddle for if both of them happen not to fit the turne and be well conditioned yet that which doth cannot be but valiant and couragious And although that male and female Mules be engendred either of the male Asse and the Mare or of the Horse and female Asse yet those are the best which come of the Asse and the Mare for those which come of the Horse and the Asse though their name be according to their fire yet they resemble in conditions their dammes altogether Wherefore it is best to the end you may haue goodly and beautifull she Mules to make a Stalion of an Asse which is faire and beautifull of a good race and that hath beene well tried You must chuse one that is three yeares old and vpward great and corpulent of a strong neck strong and large ribbes of an open and musculous or fleshie breast fleshie thighes well-trusâ—ed legges of a blacke colour or â—lea-bitten with red tending to a bright or of a gray siluer colour or of a darke murrey colour for commonly Asses are of a Mouse colour but they which are of this haire are not so liuely and stirring as the other and if there come forth either male or female Mule wearing this liuerie they are not so good and sutable The Mare must be lesse than tenne yeares old great and faire and of good limbes to the end she may take and keepe the nature of the Asse disagreeing with her bodie and being of another kind than she her selfe and that she bestow vpon her fruit not onely the gifts of the bodie but also of spirit and liuelinesse The young stayeth in the dammes bodie twelue moneths wherefore the Mare would be couered from mid March vnto mid Iune to the end she may foale when grasse is in full force thereby to be sure to get good store of Milke She hauing brought forth her young one it must be vsed after the manner of young Colts excepted onely that after it hath sucked sixe moneths the damme can giue it sucke no longer by reason of the ach of her teats but it must be made to sucke some Mare that so it may grow more lusâ—ie or you must let it goe with the damme that it may learne to eat so that still it be prouided of milke to sucke The Horse-mule well chosen must be of a grosse and round bodie hauing small feet and thinne legges and drie a full and large crupper a broad and soft breast a long and compasâ—ed necke a drie and small head On the contrarie the Mare-Mule must haue her legges somewhat grosse and round a straight and solide bodie and a crupper hanging towards the taile The Mare-Mules are stronger mightier nimbler and longer liuers than the Horse-Mules but the Horse-Mules are more tractable and more easie to guide and learne than the Mare-Mules be Both of them are subiect to lunacie but to take this fault away you must make them drinke some wine oftentimes If they be froward and vnwilling to be sadled you may tie vp one of their fore-legges euen vnto their thighes to the end that in the meane time they may not fall backward If they be hard to shooe on the right foot behind you must 〈◊〉 vp the left before The Mare-Mule is subiect to the same diseases that the Horse as hath beene said notwithstanding there is something peculiar in them for which the remedies doe follow When she hath an Ague you must giue her raw Coleworts when she bloweth and sigheth much and hath a short wind you must let her bloud and afterward giue her to drinke three quarters of a pint of Wine with halfe an ounce of Oyle and as much Frankincense and two pints of the iuice of Horehound If shee haue the moules and scabs about her pasternes called the Grapes you must put vpon them Barly meale and open the impostume if anie thing be in it Their leanenesse and languishing is taken away by giuing them oftentimes drinkes made with halfe an ounce of Brimstone beaten a raw egge and a dramme of Myrrâ—e with Wine The same remedie is good for the paine of the Bellie and the
planted and furnished with the Plants before spoken of in the moneth 〈◊〉 Nouember and in the beginning of October planting there also at the end of euerie eight feet some Elmes wild Plumme trees and Cherrie trees by the suppoâ—â— whereof as of faithfull props and staies it will wind and bind it selfe more firmely This Hedge shall be verie well digged and helped with dung for a foot depth 〈◊〉 neere vnto the root some two yeares after and pruned euerie yeare to keepe it rounâ— and euen as also to make it grow thicke and you must suffer to grow in height and thicknesse such Trees as shall be planted therein to serue for Stakes and as Poles for your Arbors and the moe Elmes you can put in this your Hedge and the rest which shall part your Garden of Huswiferie and Pulse the better it will be either for the making of Faggots euerie yeare and that so they may themselues spread more iâ— thicknesse as also for Timber-wood for your Ploughes and other Implements 〈◊〉 also that they may ouer-grow such Arbors as you shal plant at their feet and wheâ—â—with they doe in that place mutually and naturally beare and suffer If furthermore you would know the ordering of such great and small Trees 〈◊〉 whereof the Hedge is to consist you shall find it in the third and fixt Booke CHAP. II. Of the Arbors of the Kitchin Garden EVen as the Garden of Pleasure is to be set about with Arbors 〈◊〉 with Iesamin Maries seale Muske Roses Mirtle trees Bay trees Woodâ—bind Vines Gourds Cucumbers Muske Melons Prympe sweet â—ryeâ— and other rare things euen so shall the Kitchin Garden be set with Turrets of Lattice fashion couered ouer with Burdeaux Vines or with the best 〈◊〉 of Vines that are to be got in the Countrey for to make Veriuice on for 〈◊〉 and commoditie of the Household The fashion of the Arbor shall be in manner of a shadowie place for Arbors 〈◊〉 costly to maintaine to the end you may draw certaine Beds vnderneath or 〈◊〉 â—oore of hearbes which craue no great cherishing and refreshing leauing notwithâ—â—anding an alley of three foot breadth both on the one side and on the other for the â—spatching of such worke as is to be bestowed vpon the Arbor And you must â—ant the best and greatest sets of Vines vpon the South side not cutting them so â—â—ng as the wood may grow thicker for it is nothing but a good foot and a thicke â—at maketh a faire and a beautifull fruit The Lattice-worke may not be too thicke 〈◊〉 or wrought and it must rise and grow higher for the space of fiue whole yeares 〈◊〉 be renewed and new tied euerie yeare about the end of the moneth of Ianuarie 〈◊〉 the twigges of your Willowes and Osiers or of the Broome of your Warren â—hough if you make your poles of Iuniper wood you shall not need to trouble â—ur hand with them for tenne or twelue yeares especially if you strengthen your 〈◊〉 with piles of Oake halfe burnt Also if your poles be of dead wood and of 〈◊〉 stocks growing or encreasing if then you bind them with strong wyre it shall be 〈◊〉 of all for that shall last the longest and keepe your poles by their fastnesse of â—â—itting longer found than anie other binding whatsoeuer Tie not the poles of your â—atticâ—-worke strait nor the stocks against the trees of your hedge which shall serue â—r stakes for so in time the band would eat it selfe into the rinde as they should â—ow thicker and doe them great harme And I would not haue you to forget to â—ung and vncouer the roots of your stocks in Winter and to marke the young wood â—r to make sets to sell or to store your selfe withall euerie day more and more Gaâ—â—er not their Grapes verie ripe or verie greene nor yet when it rameth Finally â—e ordering of the Arbor is like the ordering of the Vine and would be but a suâ—erfluous thing to stand anie longer vpon in this place Wherefore you must haue â—ecourse to the place setting downe the manner of the ordering of the Vine as it â—hall be hereafter declared CHAP. III. Of the digging and casting of the Kitchin Garden AS concerning the dressing of the Kitchin or Household Garden in as much as there are two seasons in the yeare for to sow hearbes so there are two times for to bring into order and dresse Gardens that is to say Autumne and the Spâ—ing there must such consideration be had as that â—he first workmanship and tilth be bestowed about the beginning of Nouember vpon that ground which we intend to sow in the Spring and to digge in the moneth of May such other grounds as we intend to sow in Autumne to the intent that by the cold of Winter or by the heat of Summer the clods may be apt to turne to dust becomming short and brittle and all vnprofitable weeds may be killed But in the meane time before this first tilth and workmanship it will be good that the ground for one whole or halfe yeare be manured with old manure and made good and fat for the best liking earth that is in time becommeth leane and wasted by long and continuall occupation Wherefore it behoueth that the vnimployed or fallow ground which you shall appoint for your Gardens be first well cleansed from stones and afterward cast vp and digged into new and fresh earth and the bad weedes rooted out euen by the end of the rootes whereof the good huswife shall make good ashes and afterward amended with some small quantitie of Cowâ—â— dung and Horse dung well mixt together and well rotted and hauing laid a long time or else of Asses dung which is the best of all for Gardens because the Asse doth chew his meat with leisure and breaketh his meat throughly and so by that meanes doth make his dung better digested and better ground than other beasts doe and which also for that cause doth beget almost no weeds In stead of dung the chaffe and troden straw of Corne hauing rotted in the high waies for the space of a yeare may serue which being by nature verie hot doth so greatly fat the earth as that 〈◊〉 Hearbes Trees Citrons Limons Oranges Cucumbers Citruls and all other 〈◊〉 planted in that ground or sowne doe come vp verie faire and beare fruit 〈◊〉 quickly and in great aboundance For the second tilth it shall be wrought and laboured as a man would worke Morrar from the one end to the other and in thus labouring it you shall mix the dung or marle verie well with the earth For the 〈◊〉 tilth it shall be clotted layd close and raked into a flat forme and with the 〈◊〉 of the Rake in going ouer it you shall marke out your Beds and Floores and the Pathes running along betwixt them and those so long and so broad as you can 〈◊〉 them according to the contents and largenesse of the place And you must
notwithstanding the flowers of Roses and Capers must be gathered to be kept while they be 〈◊〉 likewise the leaues and whole hearbes are gathered when they are growne to the full fruits as Melons Cucumbers Citruls and Gourds when they turne yellow and are growne to their perfection If they be purposed to be made serue for seed then they must be let alone longer and afterward kept in conuenient place 〈◊〉 be time to sow them and they must be gathered in a bright weather and in the â—â—crease of the Moone Seeds are gathered when the hearbe is all layd and drie 〈◊〉 it must generally be obserued in all manner of gathering as well of hearbes 〈◊〉 roots as of fruits and seeds that it be done in a faire and cleare weather and in the â—â—crase of the Moone Such hearbes as are to be kept must first be made verie cleane and dried 〈◊〉 shadow which is the best meanes to keepe them the strongest in their vertues 〈◊〉 qualities or else in the Sunne and after to put them vp in bagges of Leather vvollen stuffe nor in vvoodden boxes that so they may not loose their 〈…〉 see it put in practise by sine hearbes which are kept to be vsed in Winter 〈◊〉 me thinkes that the Apothecaries faile much in their doings which hang their phâ—sicke hearbes in the roofe of their house for by this meanes they doe not onely 〈◊〉 their force but become laden with dust cobwebs the dung of flies and a thousand â—â—ther filthie things Flowers must not be dried in the Sunne not in the shadow that is made by 〈◊〉 South-Sunne nor yet in any high roome because of their tendernesse and 〈◊〉 which would cause their force to vanish away either in the burning heat of 〈◊〉 Sunne or in the more moderne heat of the verie ayre If it be not the Prouenâ—e 〈◊〉 which that it may be kept long requireth to be dried in an high place open to 〈◊〉 South-Sunne where the beames of the Sunne doe enter but touch not the 〈◊〉 The best way to drie flowers will be in a temperate place and to turne them 〈…〉 the end that they may not corrupt hauing also this continuall care that they 〈◊〉 neither loose their colour nor their smell And when they are dried they must 〈◊〉 put into an earthen vessell Seeds must be kept in bagges or vessells of earth which haue narrow moutheâ— or in boxes or else in bottles of the rindes of gouâ—ds well stopt and set in 〈◊〉 drie places and where there is no water shed for seeds doe mightily spoyle 〈◊〉 moisture The seeds of Chibols Onions and Leekes as also of Poppie are kept 〈◊〉 their rindes or heads For to keepe Roots you must obserue two waies for either they are to be 〈◊〉 new and as they are yet greene as Nauets Turneps Carets and such like or 〈◊〉 they are to be kept drie For to keepe them new you must lay them vpon sand 〈◊〉 grauell verie thin in some place vnder the earth and a little couered or else to 〈◊〉 them vnder the earth in the garden as we see it done in Turneps and Nauets to 〈◊〉 them the greatest part of Winter To keepe roots drie after they be gathered 〈◊〉 must wash them diligently with cleare water and after take from them all the 〈◊〉 â—ibres or hairie threeds that hang about them and then to drie them either in 〈◊〉 shadow of the Sunne-rising if they be but small and thin as are the roots of 〈◊〉 Succorie Parsley Sperage and such like or in the South-Sunne if they be 〈◊〉 and thicke at those of Daffodils Gentian Sowbread Water-lilly Brionie and such like After that they are dried and thus prepared you must hang them in some 〈◊〉 and vpper roome open vpon the Sun when it is in the South or else vpon the 〈◊〉 quarter and in which notwithstanding neither the smoake nor dust nor 〈◊〉 beames may any thing hurt them notwithstanding that the counsell of 〈◊〉 the prince of Physitians is that hearbes flowers and roots as well greene as 〈◊〉 should not be put to keepe in any place where the wind should come but rather 〈◊〉 vp in vessells or some other such like meanes of keeping of them to the end that they should not loose their force which indeed they might most easily loose being 〈◊〉 open and subiect to the wind CHAP. XI Pâ—t-hearbes and particularly of Coleworts FIrst of all we are to speake of Coleworts both because they are most common and also most aboundant of all other sorts of hearbs all kinds of Coleworts doe loue a cleane ground fat and well tilled not consisting of clay or sand And although they grow indifferently in any ayre but â—pecially in a temperate yet they become greater and more massie sound and safe 〈◊〉 vermine in cold places as are those in Germanie than in hot places and for 〈◊〉 cause they delight a great deale more in the tops of hills than in plaine grounds 〈◊〉 yet in those plaine grounds more in the raised parts of borders than in the flat 〈◊〉 middle parts thereof and they be more pleasant more wholesome for the 〈◊〉 and better in Autumne Spring-time and during great frosts than they be in â—ommer They craue much dung and that especially which is of Asses as being the 〈◊〉 of all for other men and to be raked in couered ouer with good earth not to 〈◊〉 watered in any case notwithstanding that water doth make them looke faire and â—â—ourishing but then not so sweet to the tast nor so wholesome for the stomach When they haue got sixe leaues vpon their stalkes you must remoue them but let it 〈◊〉 in a mild and calme time whether Winter or Sommer And to speake particuâ—arly the common Coleworts called long or greene Coleworts must be sowen in 〈◊〉 August or September if you desire to haue the leaues in Lent and in Winter Some plant them in October and remoue them in December to haue the leaues in Winter and the seed in Iune and Iulie and that to make them the more tuffed â—hough there may be as much accomplished that way at other times of the yeare â—ut not so commodiously And looke well to it that your seed be not too old for if it be three yeares old it will bring forth Radishes And that is the cause why some say Sow Coleworts and â—here will grow vp Radishes or Nauets notwithstanding it continueth sixe yeares 〈◊〉 his nature if it be well kept Cabage-colewort which are called white or apple Coleworts are sowen vpon 〈◊〉 and remoued to stand a foot one from another well couered at the root with a 〈◊〉 and enriched earth when they begin to rise vp into a great stemme and loue â—â—e cold ayre for in a hot aire they cannot liue and you must couer them with straw 〈◊〉 make them cabage the better and become the whiter The curled and Romane Coleworts being more tender
Sunne If you desire that it should haue great leaues when as 〈◊〉 beginneth to put forth a stalke cut off the same in the halfe then put vpon it a clod 〈◊〉 earth or some small tyle If you couet to haue it faire and vvhite bind together the 〈◊〉 of it two daies before you take it from the first bed and set it in another place 〈◊〉 sprinkle it ouer with sand The cabbaged Lettuce being leaued and curled and not growing higher than a 〈◊〉 for the most part is made by being troden downe After that it is planted 〈◊〉 second time put vnto the root some cowes dung that is verie new afterward tread 〈◊〉 downe againe and vvater it and vvhen it beginneth to gather strength and grow 〈◊〉 the branch vvhich it putteth forth and couer it with a new earthen pot in such 〈◊〉 as that the top thereof by it may be beaten and kept downe and by this meanes 〈◊〉 vvill become tufted cabbaged and vvhite or else if you vvould haue beautifull 〈◊〉 faire lettuces two daies before you take them vp by the roots you must tie togeâ—â—er the tops of them and then couer them with eaâ—th vp to the very â—aid tops so tied 〈◊〉 so they will become white and faire In like manner sand cast vpon them maâ—â—th them to become white If you feare that it will not grow hard ynough by reaâ—â—â— of some fault in the place or in the time or seed take it vp and set it in some 〈◊〉 place To cause Lettuces to haue a sweet smell more than ordinarie sow them with the 〈◊〉 of Citrons or else steepe the seeds in Damaske or other sweet water three 〈◊〉 daies together To mingle Lettuce with other Salad hearbes as Rocket Sorrell and such like and 〈◊〉 in such sort as that they may all grow vp together from one and the same root 〈◊〉 all your sorts of Seeds into a Sheepes trottle made good and hollow for the 〈◊〉 afterward set it verie deepe as namely about the depth of eighteene ynches in 〈◊〉 ground and water it oft and by little and little and haue great care and regard 〈◊〉 it when it putteth forth of the earth Others do crumble breake three or foure â—â—ottles of a Goat or Sheepe and put their seeds in the middest thereof and then 〈◊〉 them with a linnen cloth fast bound in manner of a knot and doe plant them 〈…〉 were in the vppermost part of the earth verie diligently regarding and looking 〈◊〉 them when they come vp Some plucke away the leaues of the Lettuse which 〈◊〉 next vnto the roots and in stead of the leaues so pluckt away they put one 〈◊〉 seed of rocket cresses or sorrell and other such like by which meanes there grow 〈◊〉 and diuers sorts of branches The Lettuce is not without good physicke helpes for it cooleth the 〈…〉 the bellie causeth aboundance of good bloud The juice thereof mixt 〈…〉 Roses asâ—wageth the paine of the head and causeth the sickâ— of agues 〈…〉 rubbed vpon the brows and temples it serueth for a Gargarisme with 〈…〉 of Pomegranats for the Inflammation of the throat being rubbed vpon 〈…〉 it staieth the night pollutions or Gonorrhaea especially if thereunto be added 〈…〉 Camphire the seed thereof beaten with the seed of white Poppie in forme of 〈…〉 or extract doth effect the same and also cureth the scalding and burning of the 〈◊〉 the seed thereof steept in water wherein hath beene quenched steele with 〈…〉 quantitie of Iourie powdred is verie soueraigne against the white flowres of 〈◊〉 The leaues of Lettuce boyled and moystned in broth or salades of them in like 〈◊〉 after supper doth prouoke sleepe the seed thereof powdred and mixt 〈…〉 milke of a woman that hath brought forth a daughter and the white of an 〈…〉 to make frontale for the verie same purpose The decoction of the 〈…〉 boyled in Barley water and drunke causeth great quantitie of milke in 〈◊〉 if afterwards the dugges be well rubbed with the hand such as haue a short 〈◊〉 spit bloud or haue weake lungs as also such as desire to haue children must 〈…〉 Lettuces CHAP. XIII Of Endiue Sowthistle and Succorie ENdiue hauing narrow leaues otherwise called Scariole or 〈…〉 wild Lettuce and of the Latines Intybus or Seris is more 〈…〉 Physicke than any other wayes and is not planted in Garden◠〈◊〉 it is alwaies bitter notwithstanding that it be of the sorts of 〈…〉 rather of Succorie It is true that in often planting and transplanting of it and 〈…〉 mouing it from one place to another and by binding and couering it with 〈…〉 ring the Winter time the nature thereof may be changed and become tender 〈◊〉 white and without any great paines to the Gardiner may be kept all 〈…〉 thing our Gardiners haue practised seeing by experience that wild 〈…〉 commeth faire and flourishing after it hath beene ouerflowen with water and 〈◊〉 with sand or earth Sowthistle called in Latine Sonchus or Ciâ—erbita was of old time in 〈…〉 salades but now there is no such account made thereof saue onely that it is vsed 〈…〉 to teed Conies and Hares in like sort it is not planted in gardens because it 〈◊〉 plentifully amongst the vines notwithstanding the Italians doe vse the 〈…〉 it in Salades in Winter finding them sweet and of a pleasant tast his stalke is 〈◊〉 milke sometimes drawing neere vnto a yellow this milke taken in drinke is 〈◊〉 for them which haue a short breath and are stopt in their lungs 〈…〉 paines of the eares if you drop certaine drops thereof into them especially if 〈◊〉 cause it to boyle with some Oyle in the riâ—d of a Pomegranat it healeth 〈◊〉 the strangurie and paines in making water if it be drunke to the quantitie of 〈…〉 The leaues of Sowthistle chewed doe take away the stinking of the mouth Succorie is of the nature of Endiue hauing large leaues and without 〈◊〉 and good handling doth alwaies continue bitter It loueth a moist place and 〈◊〉 laboured ground When it hath put forth foure leaues you must translate it to â—ell dunged soyle And to the end it may haue faire large and well-spread leaues 〈◊〉 it beginneth once to come to any growth in the middest of his leaues you must 〈◊〉 some prettie little tyle for by this meanes it will spread forth his leaues and 〈◊〉 haue them a great deale thicker standing and tufted By this good husbanding 〈◊〉 his bitternesse and then there is vse to be had of it in sallades in Winter 〈◊〉 it is called white Succorie and to this end it is wont to be planted againe in the 〈◊〉 of August after that in the beginning of September to the end that the leaues 〈◊〉 may be the greater it must be taken vp without the breaking of any thing 〈◊〉 with a smal blade of a straw haue the leaues tied together very easily and gently 〈◊〉 wringing or brusing of them afterward it must be
well fed 〈◊〉 for then for some yeares following they will grow without being sowne againe 〈◊〉 though the seed of the second yeare will be somewhat weake for to keepe 〈…〉 the fâ—ost you must couer them with Walnut-tree-leaues and that before 〈◊〉 or â—ogges doe fall in any manner of sort The inhabitants of Paris know well ynough how profitable Spinage is 〈…〉 make meat oâ— it Lent which vse to make diuers sorts of dishes thereof for their 〈◊〉 as sometimes they â—rie them with butter in pots of earth sometimes they 〈◊〉 them at a small fire with butter in pot of earth sometimes they make 〈◊〉 of them as also diuers other fashions especially they make a most excellent 〈◊〉 sallade thereof by taking the greene leaues thereof and boyling it in â—aire 〈…〉 iâ— be soft as pap then take it from the fire and straine it and vvith the backes of 〈◊〉 chopping-kniues chop it so small as possibly you can then put it into a verie 〈◊〉 sweet pipkin or skelleâ— with a good quantitie of sweet butter and currants verie 〈◊〉 vvâ—sht and so boâ—le it ouer againe a good space then with vinegar and sugar 〈◊〉 iâ— according to the tast vvhich pleaseth you best and so serue it vp vpon 〈…〉 hard egges or otherwise as you please for it is of all sallads the best The vse of 〈◊〉 is good for them vvhich haue some impediment in breathing or speaking 〈◊〉 vvhich are much troubled vvith the cough especially if such a one in the morning 〈◊〉 the broth of Spinage boyled vvith fresh butter or oyle of sweet Almonds 〈◊〉 loosen the bellie their juice is good against the stinging of Scorpions and 〈◊〉 whether you drinke it or 〈◊〉 it to outwardly CHAP. XX. Of Borage and Buglosse BOrage and Buglosse being hearbes much differing in leaues and flowers are alike notwithstanding in their roots seeds and vertues seruing to put in the pottage whiles their leaues are tender and the flowers are vsed in Salades They are sowne in August or September for Winter vse and 〈◊〉 Apâ—â—ll for Summer they may be remoued at anie time And as for the seed it 〈◊〉 be gathered halfe ripe that so it may not leape out of his coat And of this 〈◊〉 and Buglosse you shall sow but a verie small quantitie for it is â—o apt and 〈◊〉 of growth the seed so soone ripe and so apt to shed that albeit your vigilance 〈◊〉 verie great yet you shall find it will in short space soone spread and ouer-runne 〈◊〉 ground neither where it is once sowne can it but with great difficultie euer 〈◊〉 be rooted out Buglosse but especially the flower doth minister pleasantnesse vnto men that vse 〈◊〉 times because it cheareth vp the heart purgeth the bloud and comforteth the 〈◊〉 spirits The broth wherein Buglosse shall haue beene boyled doth loose the 〈◊〉 The root that beareth three stalkes stamped with the seed and boyled in 〈◊〉 doth serue to be taken against tertian Agues The wine wherein the leaues of 〈◊〉 shall haue beene steept taketh away all sadnesse The iuice of Buglosse 〈◊〉 and Parsley mixt with Wine or oyle of sweet Almonds is a soueraigne 〈◊〉 to cause the after-birth of women to fall away The iuice of Borage and 〈◊〉 drunken is a preseruatiue against poyson if a man haue drunke it as also 〈◊〉 the biting of venimous beasts Buglosse hauing three leaues being stamped 〈◊〉 his seed and root and drunke doth helpe to put away the shakings of a 〈◊〉 Ague and that which hath foure against the shiâ—ering colds of quartaines 〈◊〉 water distilled is singular against the doâ—ages happening in Feauers as also 〈◊〉 the inflamation of the eyes CHAP. XXI Of Leekes both great and small LEekes as well those that are long headed as those that are round doe not require so rich and fat a ground as the hearbes going before and they may be sowne at all times if it were not for the gathering of the seed for which cause they must be sowne in December Ianuarie and 〈◊〉 and there it will be ripe after March and mid August and that if from the 〈◊〉 that they are sowne you goe and tread vpon the Beds and water them not but 〈◊〉 daies after They are wont to be remoued when they grow of seed and that either into 〈◊〉 euerie one being set foure ynches from another and then there is nothing 〈◊〉 from them but the ends and tops of the leaues or into a hole made with a sticke 〈◊〉 then the roots must be made cleane and cropped off as also manie of the leaues 〈◊〉 sand with the earth or you shall plant them to make them great if you 〈◊〉 a bricke vpon the head of them after you haue planted them This must be in â—prill May or all Iune to haue for Summer vse and in August September and â—ctober for the Winter vse in anie case you must weed water and dung them 〈◊〉 times especially the round headed ones Furthermore to make them verie â—â—icke put the seed of a Cucumber and of Nauets in a Reed or in Boxe boared through and graft this reed into the head of the Leeke when you plant it the second time or else if you will haue great and grosse Leekes you must put so much of their seed as you can hold in three fingers in an old Linnen Cloth that is foule and put it into the earth couering it with dung and watering it by and by for all this little heape of Seed thus put together will make one great and thicke Leeke Nerâ— vsed euerie morning the leaues of Leekes with oyle to haue a good voiceâ— although that Leekes be noysome to the stomacke as being verie windie except they be boyled in a second water If you eat Cummin before you eat Leekes your breath will not smell afterward of Leekes The leaues of Leekes boiled and applyed vnto the swolâ—e Hemorrhoids doth verie much good both against the swelling and paine of them The leaues of Leekes stamped with Honey and applyed informe of a Cataplasme vnto the stingings of Spiders or vpon the biting of venimouâ— Beasts are soueraigne remedies for the same The iuice of Leekes mixt with vineger and rubbed vpon the browes stayeth bleeding at the nose The seed of Leekes stamped and drunke with white or sweet Wine doth heale the difficultie of making Water The iuice of Leekes drunke with white Wine helpeth to bring Women a bed which trauell in child-birth The seed of Leekes stampt with Myrrhe and the iuice of Plantaine it good to stay the spitting of bloud and bleeding at the nose The seed of Leekes cast in a vessell of Wine doth keepe the Wine from sowring and if it should be sowre alreadie it reneweth it and returneth it to his former goodnesse The iuice of Leekes or Leekes themselues boyled in oyle take away the paine and wormes in the eares Leekes roasted vnder embers and eaten is singular good against the poyson of
Toâ—d-stooles and to preserue from drunkennesse or else to driâ—e 〈◊〉 away being alreadie possessed If you boyle Leekes with Earth-wormes in Oyle vnto the consumption of the third part and afterward straine out this Oyle it will be singular good for the vlcers and noise in the eares Small Leekes must be sowne in the Spring at such time as other hearbs are sowneâ— they make a faire shew because of their thinne and little leaues and because also they keepe greene all the yeare long they may seeme to be the same with Chibols and Cyues which are wont to be vsed in Salads to helpe to temper the coolenesse of other hearbes vsed in Salads because the Chibols and Cyues haue no head but onely a long stalke like vnto Leekes CHAP. XXII Of Purcelane PVrcelane loueth to be sowne in Februarie March Aprill May and Iune but not at anie other time for it cannot abide the cold It commeth in great aboundance vpon Beds mixt well with old dung or in a ground that is verie fat of it selfe especially if it be sowne amongst Colewoâ—â— Onions and Leekes and after it hath once taken with the ground it will not faile anie yeare afterward though you take no paines with the sowing of it notwithstanding it craueth to be oft watered that it rise not vpright like the stocke of a tree It must be placed in the shadowes of trees and amongst clods full of hearbes but not thicke for then it could not well spread it selfe abroad Purcelane eaten doth cure the roughnesse and astonishment of the teeth stayeth spitting of bloud and quencheth the heat of the reines notwithstanding that this hearbe is hard to digest and nourisheth but a little being applyed vnto the browes is appeaseth the head-ach and being layd vpon the nauell it killeth the wormes 〈◊〉 children The decoction of the leaues thereof or the seed or the water distilled is â— soueraigne remedie against the Bloudie flux and the Wormes in children A leaâ—e of Purcelane put vpon the tongue assuageth thirst A Cataplasme made of Purcelane and Barly mâ—ale applyed vnto the liuer and â—lanke worketh a maruellous effect against burning Agues A Liniment made with Honey and the powder of the root of Purcelane dried healeth the chaps of the lips and hands This Purcelane is an excellent Salad and by a cooling operation which it hath keepeth the bloud in a most excellent temper You preserue it all the yeare by boyling it first in faire water then drayning the water from it spread it vpon a faire table and cast good store of salt amongst it then when it is throughly cold pot it vp in cleane sweet pots of Earth and poure vpon it either a good strong Brine or Vineger and Salt mixt together till the Purcelane be cleane couered or if you feare the ouer-saltnesse of it then you need but onely make a well-tasted pickle such as you put to Oliues and with it couer the Purcelane then close the pot vp close till you haue cause to vse it And if at anie time you find the pickle or brine to 〈◊〉 away from the hearbes and leaue them drie you must immediately renew it and couer it all ouer againe for it is apt to putrifie and nothing bringeth it more sooner thereunto than the want of moisture Therefore you must haue care euer once in three of foure dayes to open your pots and to mend what you shall find amisse in them and if you find anie hoâ—rinesse cleauing vnto the pots sides you must cleanse that away also CHAP. XXIII Of Onions Chibols and Chyâ—es FOr the most part Onions so called of the French because they haue but onely one white root like to a pearle which the Latines call Vnio whether they be white red or round would be sowne in Ianuarie Februarie and March in a fat ground well dunged blacke well turned as also well cleansed from stones and enriched or else in a red earth which is short and murlie for in it they grow excellently They would be remoued in Aprill all along well weeded and often laboured to cause them to grow great and thicke and they must be kept from cold and freezing winds In them we must obserue a nature contrarie vnto that of other Hearbes and Plants being of greatâ—â— force and vertue in the encrease of the Moone than in the decrease quite conrarie to that of Onions which in the wane of the Moone is more effectuall and in the growth of the Moone more drie and weake Such as are intended to be kept for seed when they begin to put forth their stalke and to rise aloft must haue small sâ—ickes or poles to set by them and keepe them vpright that the wind doe not bow or breake them downe They must be gathered in the old of the Moone in faire and drie weather when the leaues begin to drie and the seed to grow blacke 〈◊〉 then you must pull vp the whole stalkes and drie them in the Sunne And it is said that if they be sowne and planted when the Moone is vnder the earth they tast the stronger but are smaller and lesse Furthermore they must be ordered as Leekes But iâ— must be obserued that they loue and delight in a red earth and to be sowne in faire weather in the decrease of the Moone to be taken vp againe and by and by watered and for to make them grow great they must haue their top taken away when they are planted and their heads vncouered and their earth must be digged twentie daies before they be remoued againe that so it may drie and not haue anie moisture in it And to keepe Onions from rotting you must cast them into warme water and drie them in the Sunne and after that they are drie to lay them vpon Barly straw so as they may not touch one another Who so would make choice of Onions must know that the round and white ones are a great deale better than those of a rusâ—etish or reddish colour and not to be so hot and sharpe as the other The best in France are those which grow at Fertlonion a small village neere vnâ—â— Estamps for it hath his name vpon that occasion The Onion though it be the Countrey mans meat is better to vse than to 〈◊〉 for he that eateth euerie day tender Onions with Honey to his breakfast shall liue the more healthfull so that they be not too new for the drie are more healthfull 〈◊〉 the greene the boyled than the raws the preserued than the drie wherefore the drie must be chosen to vse in Salads fried Meats Gallymawfries baked Meats Sawces Beane pottage and other vses The iuice of Onions causeth haire to grow againe cleanseth filthie â—ares and such as runne with mattar taketh away white spots as well out of the face as from the rest of the bodie It cureth the Dropsie with the iuice of Fennell if it be but beginning it purgeth the braine through
the tooth-ach 〈◊〉 the paine being drie and thrust into the teeth it rooteth them out put 〈◊〉 decoction and drunke oftentimes it breaketh the stone it maketh a good colour 〈◊〉 the face and a sweet smell in all the bodie excepted onely that it maketh the vrine strong and stinking CHAP. XXX Of Garden and Water-Cresses GArden-Cresses so called because they grow at all times and are of great nourishment as also Water-Cresses doe loue moist places and the little Brookes rising from Springs and other little Riuers whereforâ— they aske no other labour in Gardens but to be planted neere to 〈◊〉 that they may grow well and to be watered euerie day hauing water 〈◊〉 at their foot Both of them are verie good in Salads of Lettuce and haue great force against the Stone and difficultie of Vrine And furthermore Cresses of the Garden made in a Cataplasme doth resolue Carbuncles the Sciatica Cat-haires and all other sorts of Impostumes especially if it be mixed with Leauen it killeth the Wormes The iuice thereof drunke with the iuice of Mints and Wine doth the like The iuice of Water-Cresses dropped into the eare doth heale the paiâ—â— of the teeth comming of a cold cause The seed of Cresses chewed and held 〈◊〉 the mouth is good against the palsie of the Tongue In the palsies of othâ— parts there must be applyed vnto the said parts bagges full of the seed of the said Cresses hauing boyled 〈◊〉 first in Wine The same remedie is good also for the Colicke Water-Cresses in a fomentation comfort a cold stomacke prouoke the termes mundifie and cleanse the mother and prepare it to conceiue They dissolue the colicke of the mother if you frie them with Mugwort vpon a hot fire 〈◊〉 sprinkling them with red wine and applying them vnto the bellie They are verie singular against the paines of the mother after Child-birth if with the flowers of Camomill and the leaues of Mugwort all chopped small and incorporated with foure yolkes of egges you frie them all in a frying-panne with the oyle of Lillies and applie it hot vnto the bellie and nauell The iuice thereof rubbed aboâ—â— the cods stayeth the flux of the seed in the night time A Cataplasme made of the leaues of Water-Cresses of the leaues and rootes of Turneps and of the rootes of Parsley all chopped small and fried with pure wine and butter and applyed 〈◊〉 the stomacke and the groine causeth the vrine that hath beene long kept to 〈◊〉 away and auoid CHAP. XXXI Of Saffron AS concerning Saffron as shall be said hereafter it loueth an indiffereâ—â— soyle not strong not dunged but yet well eared lying vpon the Sunne and well digged and it commeth verie well in the place where Onions haue growne It loueth not water and standeth in awe of the Moule and Mice It groweth better the head being set than the seed being sowne for indeed it is not vsed to be sowne but the heads of it onely to be set as the heads of Lillies Leekes or Sea Onions are They are planted and set by ridges in Aprill and May. The heads are let ripen on heapes in the shadow of the Sunne some eight daies before they be set and this must be in such a place as is not moist They are set in a well-digged earth with their roots and a good distance one from another as namely about halfe a spanne and three ynches deepe It groweth the better if it be a little footed vpon It flowreth euerie yeare in Autumne for one whole moneth together and then letteth the flower fall but it keepeth his leaues greene all Winter long vnto the Spring and then it beginneth to wither and maketh no shew at all in Summer It may continue good being set and plantâ—d for nine yeares and then if it be remoued into some other place it will be able to doe further good It is true that it springeth forth manie cloues and kernels which must be taken away euerie three yeare or else the root would be choaked and smothered Some doe set it as being the best time from after mid August vnto mid September and cast at the roots of it the drosse of Grapes as it commeth from the Presse and leaue it in the earth two or three yeares and euerie yeare in Aprill and May the dried part of the hearbe is tyed vp and troden into the earth some two ynches deepe without hurting of the root and after you haue cleansed the grassie part and leaues thereof and that the flower shall be ripe as in August and toward Autumne it shall be gathered in the morning at Sunne-rise and reserued in a close and drie place Furthermore the Saffron is knowne to be good if it be fat if being holden in your hand it make a noyse and if being put into anie liquor it dissolue if being handled and held vp to the face it procure a certaine kind of biting or pricking vnto the eyes if it be of a golden colour if it dye the hand with his colour and haue somewhat a â—harpe smell and pricking and if it be not brittle and verie readiâ— to breake Saffron taken in a verie small quantitie is good for the weakenesse of the stomacke and fainting of the heart it keepeth from being drunke and healeth the bitings of Serpents and Spiders if it be taken inwardly or applyed outwardly in great quantitie it procureth swimming and paine in the head and bringeth a â—oggie mist ouer the eyes CHAP. XXXII Of Nauets great and small NApes and Nauets called of the Latines Napi are two diuers sorts of one kind but notwithstanding differing in taste colour and greatnesse for the Napes are greater and drawing toward a yellow colour lessâ— pleasing the taste Nauets are lesse white and a great deale more sauorie both of them are sowne after one fashion in a well-digged ground and withall well enriched and made verie good that so they may goe downe a good way and worke themselues deepe into the ground or else in a ground which is intended to be made fertâ—e or vpon Stubbles which haue beene newly plowed or betwixt Millâ— and Pannicke The seed is vsed to be mingled with earth broken into small powder that so it may sow the more clearely not falling manie together it must not be aboâ—â— three yeares old for if it be elder it bringeth forth Coleworts And if the seed 〈◊〉 beene steeped and moistened in milke or sweet wine or honied water two or three daies before it be sowne it will be verie much the better And if they come 〈…〉 thicke there is some part of them to be taken vp and set in other places They 〈◊〉 be well wed and digged and the fairest and greatest kept to haue the sâ—â—d of 〈◊〉 They are sowne in August When you goe about to sow them you must looke thâ—â— the earth haue beene newly watered with raine for so they will grow betteâ— And aboue all things it must be looked vnto
due time when as they be ripe The vse of Gourds is not so dangerous as those of Cucumbers so that their waterishnesâ—e be tempered with things meet and sit for the same as with saffron pepper and other such aromaticall powders and for the dish those which are long and white are better and to be preferred before either of the other two sorts Physitians are of opinion that there is nothing better to asswage the heat of hot burning agues to take away the thirst and to loosen the bellie then to vse oftentimes the strayned juice of Gourds stewed without liquor in a new earthen pot set in an ouen There is nothing better for the drinesse of the tongue for sharpe and burning humours and for leaâ—e agueish persons than the vse of the pulpe of Gourds or the Syrope made of their juice CHAP. XXXIX Of Melons and Pompions MElons and Pompions doe not so easily grow in this Countrey because they delight in a Countrey and Ayre that is hot but by force of labour and cunning skill they are drawne vnto it by ordering their beds and remouing of them where they may be shielded from the Cold and receâ—â—e the benefit of the South Sunne and reflexe of the heat of the same from some wall And againe it is a speciall furtherance and helping of them forward to fore-cast that they may grow in such seasons as are verie hot for now and then Summer falleth out 〈◊〉 variable and mixt with cold or drought or moisture as that thereupon they be 〈◊〉 ripe till Autumne and towards the time of Vintage Wherefore it standeth you vpon to hasten them and helpe them forward with dung and with the heat of their beds though this course in the meane time stand not so well with the health of the parties that shall eat them or with the goodnesse and pleasant smell of the Pempions and thereupon it commeth that there are moe grounds planted with Cresses than with Melons amongst vs. Wherefore it were better to reserue for such vse quarter of ground or thereabouts in some place of your Garden where the South Sunne lyeth and is beaten backe by some wall the same also keeping away the North wind hauing no shadow either of Trees or of anie other thing to keepâ— backe the Sunne from it but being withall a good fat and substantiall ground well weeded well tilled and the greene swarth well broken and withall made verie leâ—ell and euen And this your quarter would be againe diuided into foure small quarters and to set your Melon seeds which you intend to plant that yeare but in one of thâ— said little quarters letting the other three râ—st and so succâ—ssiuely in succeeding yeares to low the said little quarters one after another for then the Melons wiâ— grow in their naturall goodnesse and perfection it being their nature to craue a new rested and well manured ground And if it be requisite to helpe such ground wiâ—â— some sweetnesse you must burne vpon it in Winter some Straw or drie Dung 〈◊〉 some Elder tree amongst other wood and mixe the ashes with the earth to the end that during the time of Winter it may grow in season And if the said ground 〈◊〉 need of more helpe it must be dunged with Sheepes dung or else with Goats dung well rotted and this to be done a long time before you intend to sow your Meloâ— seed for as for Horse or Cow dung it must not be vsed except it be when no other thing can be gotten and when it is vsed it must be spread and mixt with the earth long before Seed-time as hath beene said whereby wee may iudge how vnfâ—â— the beds now adaâ—es vsed are for to yeeld good Melons and they that would haâ—e them grow vpon beds as lesle damnifying must make their beds in the said place of the Garden compassed about and hemmed in with a Mat and vpon the bed must be cast a layer of the best and fattest earth that you can find or of earth the thicknesse of three fingers and in this earth to set your seeds for the Melon will not be so much spotted with the dung when there is a mixture of the one and the other You must take the seed of the Melon which hath a thicke and hard huske and looking verie greene within which is of the first growne and of those which grow neerest vnto the root which you shall haue reserued in your Melon plot vntill the full â—ipenesse thereof that so you might haue others grow of it for the seed is better when it is now taken out of the Melon hauing beene all that while from the gathering time kept in the bodie and substance thereof And if you would haue it to grow verie quickly sleepe it in warme water sixe or seuen houres afterward aboâ—â— the tenth day of March make your pits vpon your beds some three or foure foot one from another and two foot in depth and widenesse and if you may make yoâ—â— choice of dung then fill them vp with Sheepe or Goats dung that is old well rotted and crumbly and with verie fine blacke earth together and herewith to fill them vp within two â—ingers Some put therein the dung of horses comming hot from the stable to make thâ—m put forth the sooner but the sauour and goodnesse of the Melon is greatly hindered thereby and thereupon pricke six or ten seeds of your pompions the sharpe end downeward although some put not in aboue foure or fiue and couer them againe gently without much beating or treading of the earth downe vpon them Afterward for to auoid daunger of frosts couer them with straw or mats borne vp with stickes prickt vp one way or if you haue the benefit of great boards or tables of boards borne vp with stones or rubbish by the way that so they may not presle vpon them and that so you may take them vp when the Sunne shineth hot and lay them downe againe when the cold wind bloweth and when frosts come And as soone as the Melons shall haue put forth leaues bigge ynough you must water them with a shred of cloth hanging continually in a pot of water without wetting of the Melon any whit at all and this watering must be continued in a verie drie ground though you haue remoued your Melons till the fruit become of the bignesse of Oranges and if you vse beds you shall remoue them after mid-May in this countrie out of the danger of frosts about fiue or sixe foot one from another vpon a border well tilled and manured And from that time forward you shall weed out diligenetly all the weeds from about them and shall lighten their earth at the trunk of the root without doing any hurt to it and when the flower shall peepe out you must cut off the ends of the armes of the heaâ— be to the end that the flower and the fruit may come forth in greater store aboundance And for
damaske or sweet water by such meanes you may giue them such tast and smell as you please if you steepe their seed before you sow it in any such liquor as in Honied-vvater in Rose-vvater or in some other kind of water sweetned with Sugar or Muske notwithstanding watering of them doth take from them a great deale of that smell as also of their sauour and taste To make Cucumbers or Pompions sugred you must steepe the seed in water that is well sweetned with Sugar or Honie and to make them sweet in Sheepes milke or Honied water and so sow them and when they be growne you must sprinkle them ouer with the dust of some drie earth and water them a little To make Pompions to keepe long and not to be spoyled or rotted you must sprinkle them with the juice of Housleeke A woman hauing her termes and walking by the borders of Pompions Gourds and Cucumbers causeth them to drie and die but and if any of the fruit eâ—cape it wil be bitter Cucumbers indure fresh a long time if they be put in the sweet lees of wine or else in brine or if they hang in a vessell wherein there is a little vinegar Pompions will haue the smell of Roses if their seed be mingled with drie Roses and afterward sowne together and then also they are excellent good to quench the thirst in burning agues CHAP. XLI Of Strawberries STrawberries haue no need of great toyle or tilling so that they be planted in some good ground not manured notwithstanding but well shaded howsoeuer because they delight greatly in the shadow of other hearbes so also they are found growing amongst great tall trees without any manner of husbanding or tillage It is true that they grow well in the open Sun so that they be watered once or twice a weeke especially when they begin to looke red they must be remoued euerie three yeares to make them beare faire berries and their earth raised about them once euerie yeare and that about Christ-tide and to weed them by hand when as weeds doe ouergrow them in the ground whither you remoue them you must first put horse-dung well rotted or cowes dung a scuttle full to euerie border that is three foot broad dresse this ground in a drie time and let it lye afterward and in a moist time but not rainie you shall set the Strawberries halfe a foot euerie way thrusting the earth close to the root with a dibble In these you may obserue a certaine kind of wonderfull harmelesnesse and innocencie which although they creepe vpon the earth and be continually troden vpon by Adders Lizards Snakes and other venimous beasts are notwithstanding neuer infected with them neither get they any venimous sauour which sheweth that they haue no â—ffinitie with venâ—me or poyson Amongst other pleasures or commodities that they afford the juice or wine that 〈◊〉 strained from strawberries is good to take away the red pimples itching knobs which grow in the face by the heat of the liuer as also to take away the rednesâ—e of the eyes and to wipe out the spots and knobs of the Leprosie Likewise the decoction of the roots and leaues of Strawberries made with wine is singular good for the 〈◊〉 if it be drunke for some time in the morning as also to prouoke the termes in women and this neuerthelesse doth stay the white termes and bloudie 〈…〉 vsed in forme of a Gargariâ—â—e it comforteth the gums and teeth and 〈…〉 rheumes Of Physicke Hearbes CHAP. XLII Of Mallowes WE haue heretofore dedicated and appointed certaine borders downeâ—â—low the Kitchin garden neere vnto the wall of the orchard for Physick hearbes whereof we desire and wish that the huswife may haue 〈◊〉 knowledge thereby to helpe the necâ—ssities of her people And in 〈◊〉 respect it shall not be â—hought strange if we touch in a word the dressing and 〈◊〉 of some few such as are most vsuall and familiar amongst women leauing 〈…〉 and exact description of thâ—m vnto such as make profession thereof for 〈◊〉 drift of my purpose is to instruct the Farmer and his wife or her that is the 〈◊〉 and Dairie-woman so much as is needfull for the maintenance of their house and fâ—milie But we will begin with Mallowes as those that are most in vse Mallowes notwithstanding that they grow euerie where yet if you be disposed 〈◊〉 sow them you may doe it most commodiously in Autumne rather than at any other time to the end their growth on height may be represâ—ed by the comming of Wiâ—ter for by how much the Mallow is the lesse by so much it is the better They loâ— a fat and moist earth and craue to be remoued after they haue put forth foure or 〈◊〉 leaues though indeed it would be much the better not to remoue them at all 〈◊〉 they will keepe a better rellish but to the end they should not grow vp into high and great stalkes alter that they be come forth of the earth you must put some 〈◊〉 bricke in the midâ—est of their leaues They would be oft wed and when they 〈…〉 if their leaues be tâ—ed together at the end they will bring forth a well 〈◊〉 and thicke set root The root of Mallowes steâ—pt in Wine a whole day and afterward wrapt in a 〈◊〉 and roasted vnder the ashes and dried is a fine medicine to rub the teeth withâ—â— and to cleanse and scowre off from them the filth gathered thicke about them 〈◊〉 juice drunke to the quantitie of halfe a pound oâ— the decoction of the 〈…〉 leaues comming to a certaine thick conâ—â—stence is exceeding good for wâ—men 〈◊〉 are in trauell of child birth It is singular also for many other things and therefore is called of some Omnimorbia Hollihocks craue the like husbanding and tillage that the Mallowes doe 〈◊〉 they are of the same kind and in both of them especially in the Mallowes we 〈◊〉 obserue as a miraculous thing that their leaues and flower doe open at the approâ—d and comming of the Sunne and shut vp themselues to goe to bed when it 〈…〉 doe the Marigolds Both these haue verie great power and vertue to mollifie they serue also to 〈◊〉 the bellie especially the young and tender crops of Mallowes haue vertue to 〈◊〉 swage the paine of the reines and doe cause a man to make water The juice 〈◊〉 with oyle doe healâ— the stinging of Waspes The juice mingled with 〈◊〉 doth helpe women trauailing of child birth Their leaâ—es stamped with the 〈◊〉 of willows doe stay inflammations A cataplasme made of their leanes doth 〈◊〉 way the hardnesâ—e of the mother and other parts especially if it be made of 〈◊〉 with oyle of Roses Gentian grows in high places open to the ayre being notwithstanding 〈◊〉 and somwhat ouershadowed This hearb through his bitternesse draweth downe the termes and the stayed vrine The water thereof especially of the root being distilled
called of the Latines Acanthus groweth in stonie and moist places although it loue to be diligently tended or otherwise not to yeeld anie profit The root and leaues are verie mollifying taken in drinke they prouoke vrine and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme they are good against conâ—ulsions wrenches and contractions of the ligaments They are to good effect vsed in the Clysters of them which haue the Dropsie Diuels-bit so called because it sheweth as though the middle or the heart of the root were gnawed or bitten by some Diuell so soone as it is planted or hath put vp in anie place as though the Diuell did enuie the good which it bringeth vnto men by the incredible vertues that are therein craueth no great husbandrie neither yet anie fat earth or verie moist for as we see it groweth vpon mountaines in bushes and places altogether barren It is true that it groweth also in medowes but yet such as are not verie moist It is found in great aboundance in the medowes of Verriere a borough neere vnto Paris The root and greene leaues being stamped together and applyed vnto Carbuncles and pestilent Buboes doe heale them The Wine wherein they haue boyled is drunke with good successe against the Plague and against the griefes and suffocation of the Mother The powder of the root thereof is verie good against Wormes Cinquefoile so called because of the fiue leaues which it beareth craueth a low waterish and shadowed ground it groweth also in drie and grauellie places The decoction of the root vsed for a Gargle doth assuage the tooth-ach and heale the vlcers of the mouth in a Clyster it slayeth all manner of flux of the bellie as well the bloudie flux as others taken as a drinke it is singular against the Iaundise the stopping of the Liuer and against a pestilent ayre and poyson Tormentill like in stalke vnto Cinquefoile but vnlike in number of leaues 〈◊〉 much as it hath seuen delighteth in the same ground that Cinquefoile doth 〈…〉 not altogether so waterish and called Tormentill because the powder or 〈◊〉 of the root doth appease the rage and torment of the teeth is ouer and aboue 〈◊〉 â—ther remedies most singular against the Plague and against the furie of all 〈◊〉 and Venimes it stayeth likewise all fluxes of bloud whether it be spitting 〈…〉 struous or of the bellie all vomiting and vntimely birth whether it be taken 〈◊〉 by the mouth or applyed outwardly or whether it be taken in substance 〈◊〉 the distilled water onely Perwincle delighteth in a shadowed and moist place we see it grow likewise 〈◊〉 Willow grounds Hedge-rowes and out-sides of Woods The leaues as well in decoction as otherwise doe stay all manner of flux of the bellie or spitting of bloud or otherwise as the monethly termes and whites 〈◊〉 purging hauing gone before and bleeding at the nose if you bruiâ—e the 〈◊〉 and put them in the nose or if you make a collar thereof to put about your 〈…〉 a garland for your head or if you put them vnder and about the tongue After the same manner you shall stay the monethly termes as also preuent vntimely birth 〈◊〉 you apply them vpon the groines Bistort as well the great as the small doth delight in a moist waterish and shâ—dowie place it groweth also in high Mountaines The root thereof doth stay all manner of fluxes as the termes and vnwilling 〈◊〉 away of the vrine if it be drunke with the iuice or distilled water of 〈◊〉 it stayeth the flux of bloud comming of a wound if the powder of it be cast 〈◊〉 the bleeding wound it suppresseth cholericke vomits if is befried with the 〈◊〉 of egges vpon a red hot tyle and be eaten by and by It is singular good as well 〈◊〉 the decoction and substance as in the distilled water against all Venime as also against the Plague against Wormes in little children against the Measels Purpleâ— and small Pocks in young children against the bloudie flux and all manner of falls against the paine and rheumes of the teeth if you put it into the hollow tooth 〈◊〉 little Allome and Pellitorie of Spaine Pionie as well the male as the female craueth to be planted or set in drie ground where the Sunne hath his full force The seed or root gathered in the wane of the Moone and hanged about the neck or applyed vnto the wrists alone or with the Missâ—ltoe of the Oake is a verie singâ—lar preseruatiue against the Falling sicknesse Whereunto notwithstanding I would not haue thee so much to trust as that thou shouldest not looke after some other â—â—medie assure thy selfe rather that it is singular in bitings and stingings that are â—â—nimous as well taken inward as applyed outward Thirtie seeds of Pionie 〈◊〉 and brayed and the verie kernell made into powder and drunke with wine doth fetch againe the speech when it is lost Paules Betonie both male and female would be either sowne or planted in thâ— verie same ground with Pionie This hearbe especially the female is verie much commended for his vertues 〈◊〉 the iuice that is pressed out of his leaues and the water that is distilled thereof 〈◊〉 heale all sorts of wounds as well new as old all sorts of vlcers whether maligne 〈◊〉 cancrous swellings and hot tumors itch and all the diseases of the skin and which is more the often vse as well of the iuice as of the distilled water of Paules 〈◊〉 doth perfectly cure the Leprosie whereof we haue a notable and famous testimoâ—â—â— of a French King who thereby was throughly cured thereof And this is the 〈◊〉 why this hearbe is called the Leapers hearbe Some doe make a balme thereof 〈◊〉 we will further speake in the Chapter of Balmes in the third Booke which is singâ—lar aboue all others for all sorts of wounds and maligne vlcers as also for the Leprosie and that it is so good is proued for that a certaine person well knowne vnto 〈◊〉 hauing a virulent vlcer in manner of a Polypus in his nosthrils of the cure 〈◊〉 manie as well Physitioâ—s as Surgions being excellent men and dwelling in 〈◊〉 Towne did altogether despaire was notwithstanding wonderfully cured by the application of this Balme and often vse of potions made of the decoction of the leaues of the female Paules Betonie This hearbe is singular also in Clysters for bloudie Fluxes and in drinkes for pestilent Feauers vlcers of the Lungs and obstructions of the Liuer and Spleene Gromell is the same which we call in Latine Milium solis and it groweth better being sowne than pianted it delighteth in a drie and vntilled ground being withall stonie and hauing a good ayre The iuice of the leaues and powder of the seed being drunke with Wine hath a singular vertue against the Grauell and Stone and procuring of the Vrine to passe away There is nothing more singular for the burning of the Vrine than to drinke manie mornings
principally in that which is moist Neither the one nor yet the other doth beare any seed as Writers record notwithstanding it hath beene tried that the male beareth seed and that it cleaueth to the hindermost part of the leaues but yet so little that hardly can a man see it and which cannot be acknowledged or gathered but in the end of Iulie which is the time when it is ripe for to gather it you must cut the leafe neere vnto the root and then hang them vp in your house spreading a linnen cloth vnder them or else some faire cleane white paper I know well that the common sort doe verily thinke and auerre that this seed cannot be gathered but on the night of the wakes of S. Iohn in Sommer and that more is not without great ceremonies and mumbling and muttering of many words betweene the teeth which haue power to driue away Deuills which haue the custodie of the same seed but all this is nothing but fables The decoction thereof is good to prouoke womens termes to cast out the dead child to kill wormes and some doe vse it to heale the frettings or hurts that may be in the fundament fallen downe but especially the female Hearbe Two-pence so called because the leaues resemble small peeces of siluer requireth no great peece of husbandrie about it saue onely that it would haue a moist ground The whole hearbe either in decoction or powder but especially the water thereof distilled in a limbecke is verie singular good for the falling downe of the fundament Fleawort being called of the Latines Psyllium craueth a verie fat well manured and batled ground for else there will no good come of it The seed prepared in forme of a Mucilage and applied in vinegar doth kill the wild fire and teâ—â—er applied vnto the head or brows it taketh away the paine thereof it taketh away also the rednesse of the eyes being applyed thereunto The distilled water is of infinite goodnesse seruing in the paynes of the eyes two or three drops thereof onely being dropt into them This hearbe requireth a verie fat place well manured and tilled likewise we see it grow aboundantly in vineyards and grounds for Wheat and Barlie The leaues are verie singular good for the opening of the liuer and cleansing away of adust humours and this also is the cause why physitians prescribe it with whay in scuruie scabbie and itchie cases and where the leprosie is The juice thereof is good to cleere bleared eyes Ground-swell groweth in euerie ground and without any great care we see if grow likewise neere vnto walls and vpon the townes walls it is greene all the yere and flourisheth as it were in euerie moneth and this is the cause why the Italians call it euerie moneths flower Some thinke that Ground-swell distilled is verie singular good for the Whites in women but beleeue it not before you find it true by proofe for I haue obserued by often vse that this hearbe whether in decoction or otherwise prouoketh the termes that are stayed Birt-wort as well the long as the round must be planted in a fat and fertile soyle such as that where Wheat is sowne and Oliue trees planted Their roots amongst other alâ—â—ost inâ—inite vertues cause womens courses purge the lungs cause spitting cure the cough and prouoke vrine which more is if either of them be taken in drinke especially the round one made in powder with Pepper and Myrrhe it driueth forth the after-birth the dead conception and all other superfluities gathered in the Matrix it doth the like being applied in forme of a Mother suppositorie It purgeth all obstructions of the liuer and easeth all manner of colicke or other griefes which proceed from windie causes it is soueraigne against all manner of poyson or any other infection it cleanseth the bloud and by rubbing the gummes therewith it preserueth the teeth from rotting Centaurie or the gall of the earth aswel the great as the smal desireth a fat ground that is fruitfull and well tilled and yet in such a ground they thriue not well without the great care and industrie of the Gardener Their root in decoction juice or powder moueth womens termes and prouoketh vrine expelleth the dead child purgeth â—legmaticke humors which cause the sciatica openeth the obstructions of the liuer and spleene killeth the wormes profiteth and helpeth palsies convulsions and diseases of the sinews it cleareth the sight and taketh away all mistinesse from them especially the juice dropt into the eyes doth heale their fresh and new wounds and siccatriceth old and maligne vlcers Woodbind craueth no great tilling or husbanding for it groweth euerie where and in what place soeuer it listeth It is true that it desireth greatly to be neere broome hedges and also the borders of fields The fruit of Woodbind drunke with Wine the space of fortie daies taketh away the obstructions of a hard and indurat spleene it purgeth out vrine with such force as that the tenth day the vrine becommeth all bloudie it helpeth women in their child-birth the leaues in decoction or distilled doe heale wounds and filthie vlcers wipe away the spots and scarres of the bodie and of the face Pimpernel hath red and blew flowers and craueth a moist and shadowed ground so likewise we see it grow in the shadows of hedges and bushes Pimpernell with the red flowers stampe and applied vnto the eyes or the juice thereof dropt within them taketh away the inflammations dimnesâ—e and vlcers of the eyes and healâ—th the inflammations of the secret parts Pimpernell with the blew flower boyled with salt and water is a verie good and proper medicine to cure the itch or scurfe and the lice or wormes in the hands if you wash them oâ—t therewith Buckwheat is a verie common hearbe and yet but little knowne by his name it is verie ordinarie in corne and tilled grounds about haruest time The Peasants of Champaigne doe commonly call it Veluote because in my judgement the leaues are hairie which name I mind not to change but rather to keepe for the easier knowing of the hearbe They make vse of it by applying it if at any time in shearing they happen to cut themselues with their sickles For to know it better therefore than onely by the name it putteth forth from the root fiue sixe seuen or eight small branches for the most part layed along vpon the earth of the length of a hand and sometime of a foot bearing leaues somewhat like vnto the little bindweed but indeed they be lesse and more round verie hairie and a little fattie The flower is small and of diuers colours drawing verie neere vnto a pale yellow but in greatnesse it commeth neâ—re vnto the flower of eyeâ— bright but in shape and fashion vnto the nettle slower The water of the leaues and branches distilled whiles it is in force in a Limbeck in Maries-bath is singular
and true Tertians especially if the sicke partie 〈◊〉 of youthfull and flourishing yeares of a hot and drie temperature in Summer 〈◊〉 hot Region and when the present constitution of the ayre is hot and being suchâ— one as hath a leane and thinne bodie and then in this case I could with such a partie not to vse this powder without the deuise of a learned and wise Physician for 〈◊〉 of running into a greater mischiefe I confesâ—e further that it leaueth a contiueneâ—â— behind it in such sort as that some are six daies before they can goe to stoole 〈◊〉 but herein it deserueth no more blame than other like purging medicines and especially Rhubarbe Notwithstanding to meet with this you must take a 〈◊〉 the day following or eat some Broth or Plumme pottage which may 〈◊〉 the bellie Loe here friendly Reader what thou art to iudge of the root of Mechoâ—â—â—â— and what opinion thou art to haue of the properties thereof and how thou canst 〈◊〉 faile therein if first thou knowing the good by his tokens and markes doest 〈◊〉 thy selfe for thy vse accordingly as namely if thou buy that which is new sliced 〈◊〉 to round pieces white dustie and which quantitie for quantitie doth ouer 〈◊〉 other roots And if thou findest anie one to be somewhat blacke and worme 〈◊〉 by that thou mayest know that it is old and that therefore thou oughtest not to 〈◊〉 it It is somewhat hard and quickly rotteth for it will hard and scant endure 〈◊〉 yeares if it be not hidden in Millet or wrapt in a Linnen Sere-cloth or 〈◊〉 ouer with Pitch or Rosin Diuers and sundrie other hearbes there are of rare and soueraigne qualitie for the vse of man in medicines but their order sowing nourishing and planting differeth nothing from them alreadie rehearsed onely according vnto the opinion of Sâ—rres there is another speciall regard to be taken to these medicinall hearbes which is to plant them in those coasts and corners of your Garden which is most proper to their natures giuing them that Sunne that Shade and that Wind which is most proper and behoofefull for them for some take deligâ—â— in the Easterly quarters some in the West some in the North and some in the South as was most curiously obserued by Master Richard de Beleuall Physitian to the last King of France who at his Maiesties commandement planting a Physick-Garden in Montpelier gaue vnto euerie hearbe his due place so rarely and artificially that neuer anie was seene to flourish or encrease in more rare and aboundant manner neither to haue greater strength or operation in their working to the great admiration of the learned and his high renowme in the workmanship To proceed then to the naturall Clymats in which manie of these Physicke hearbes naturally delight you shall vnderstand that those hearbes which delight in the East and loue to behold the Sunne at his first arising is first Angelica of which there are two kinds the one called Garden Angelica the other Wild Angelica both may be sowne either before or immediately after Winter It is soueraigne against all Infection and therefore much sought after in the time of Pestilence and Mortalitie it also healeth the biting of Serpents or mad Dogges and dryeth vp those naughtie humours which offend the stomacke Then Valerian of which wee haue written before and also Argentine Then Dogges-tooth which must be sowne on good earth almost in anie moneth the decoction whereof taken with great reason helpeth Feauers and kill the Wormes in children Then Sophya otherwise called Talietrum which may be either sowne or planted in the Spring or in Autumne The seeds of it being beaten to powder and drunke in Wine is excellent for all euacuations and clearings of the bloud also it helpeth women in Child-bearing Then Oxe-eye which would be sowne at the Spring vnder the eauings of houses for it loues shelter The hearbe is good to be drunke for the Iaundise and being made into a Cataplasme it dissolueth all manner of hardnesse and the decoction thereof will occasion Vrine Then Centaurie which first tooke his name from Chiron the Centaure when he was wounded with a poysoned shaft It requireth a well-laboured earth and verie fruitfull according to some opinions yet it is oftest found in Wood-land Countreyes and barren places whence it seemeth that a reasonable earth will beare it and it may be sowne or planted either in the Spring or in Autumne it is a great purifier of the Bloud and verie soueraigne against Wormes it healeth old Vlcers especially the powder thereof and the decoction thereof is excellent against Rheumes and Fluxes Then Millefoile which desireth rather a moist than a drie earth and must be planted thinne for it spreadeth much it is soueraigne against the Dissenterra and against all excessiue euacuation of bloud in what part soeuer it be Then Brassula Maior or Minor which is an hearbe of quicke and easie growth especially if it be planted against a wall or house side and may be sowne in the Spring or planted in Autumne it is good for the stanching of Bloud and it cureth most inward Vlcers Then Bedegaris or white Thorne which desireth a good earth and may be sowne in the Spring the decoction of it is excellent for the Tooth-ach or for a weake Stomacke for the Collicke or Flux of the bellie Then Crespinet or Poligonon which euer groweth best in a moist ground It is good for the Stone the Gout Flux of the bellie or paine in the Eares Then Ebulus which may be sowne in the Spring or in Autumne it purgeth Choler and Flegme being eaten in pottage and the decoction thereof taketh away the paine of the Gout and helpeth the French sicknesse Mercurie is of two sorts male and female it desireth a ground that is well tilled it may be sowne in the Spring time the decoction thereof purgeth Choler and all superfluous humours it also looseneth the bellie chiefely if it be ministred in Glyster and prouoketh the termes in Women Then Cardâ—â—â— Stellatuâ— which is a verie delicate Plant and groweth verie easily either from the root or from the seed in the Spring time or in Autumne The chiefest vertue of this Plant consisteth in the seed which being beaten to powder and drunke with Wine prouoketh Vrine and expelleth Grauell Lastly Venus haire which groweth besâ— neere vnto Fountaines and Springs in Countries that are rather hot 〈◊〉 cold for it loueth neither stormes nor wind it is best to be planted in the Spring This hearbe purgeth well it breaketh the Stone and auoideth Grauell it is good against the bitings of venimous Beasts and prouoketh the termes in Women it stauncheth Bloud and the decoction thereof is excellent for the yellow Laundise Those hearbes which delight in the West and loue the declining of the Sunne are first the hearbe Scabious which delighteth in a reasonable tilled earth 〈◊〉 moist than drie and hauing his seat according to his nature prospereth verie
of the colour in this case you shall distill your vinegar either in a Limbecke or other ordinarie Still and with the water which commeth from it which will be of a most pure and chrystaline colour and is indeed the spirit and sharpest part of the vinegar you shall preserue your flowers and then without doubt they will not abate any part at all of their owne brightnesse and colour White yellow and red Gillo-flowres do craue the like ordering that the March Violet doth and grow better vpon walls house tops and old ruines of stone than planted or tilled in gardens especially the yellow which come neerer to the resemblance of a shrub than of an hearbe hauing hard and wooddy stalkes and set full of branches commonly called of Apothecaries Keyâ—y The seed of Gillo-flowres stampt and drunke with white wine is soueraigne to prouoke womens termes and to further deliuerance in them that trauell Daisies must not be sowen but planted after the manner of violets this is the least kind of the 〈◊〉 which is likewise found in the fields without being tilled it flourisheth all the yeare long if it be well ordered Daisies stampt with Mugwort resolueth the King-euill A Cataplaâ—me made of Daisies is good for the palsie and all manner distillations For wounds in the brest whereinto tents may be put it is good to dâ—inke by and by a drinke made of stamped Daisies they heale the pastules of the tongue if they be chewed as also of the mouth being braied they asswage the inflammation of the priuie members eaten in sallades or broth of flesh they loosen the bellie Purple Veluet flower called in Latine Aramanthus doth recreate more with his colour than with any smell that it hath for it smelleth nothing at all notwithstanding who so will haue it in their gardens must plant it in a drie and sandie place The flower supt in pottage doth stay the flux of the bellie the termes and white flowers of vvomen the spitting of bloud especially if there be any veine broken or bruised in the lungs of brest The flower hereof infused in vvater or white vvine the space of an houre maketh the colour of the wine red and thus one may helpe himselfe the more easily to beguile any that are sicke of some ague and cannot abstaine from Wine Canterburie-bells as well the simple as the double require a fat ground and well inriched The Latines call it Viola Calathiana Their â—lowers mingled with Wheat flower make a good Cataplasme against scuruinesse and other sorts of scabbes likewise their roots boyled in white Wine to the consumption of the halfe and a linnen cloth dipped therein and applyed to scabbes and scuruinesse doth heale them the roots boyled in Wine and taken in a potion doe heale all the ruptures of the inward parts of the bodies doe cleanse the exulcerated lungs and spitting of bloud brayed and ground in manner of meale and drunke in Wine the weight of a French Crowne with two or three graines of Saffron are singular good against the jaundise if the partie sweat thereupon presently the like vertue is in the distilled water of the flowers the juice drawne out of their root and flowers applyed vnto wounds doth heale them presently a pessarie drencht in this juice prouoketh womens termes and draweth out the child dead in the mothers vvombe being dropt into the eare whereinto there hath some Flea or such other vermine crept it killeth them Gillo-flowres of all sorts are seldome sowne but oftentimes planted of roots or braunches pluckt from the plants the root shall be planted in the beginning of Autumne in a fat mould and so put in pots of earth thâ—t it may be remoued and set vnder some couert in Winter for feare of the frosts Sommer being come before the great plant haue cast forth his sprouts you may breake off so many small branches from about the root as will almost serue to set and plant a whole bed withall and so you may breed new plants of them You may make Gillo-flowers smell like Cloues if you lay bruised Cloues round about their roots In like manner you may make them haue faire flowers large pleasant and sweet smelling if you plucke away their leaues often and take paines to digge and water their earth furthermore such Gillo-flowers are commonly called Gillo-flowers of Prouence of the place where Gillo-flowers so ordered doe grow large tufted and ample those which haue not their flowers so large nor so sweet neither yet are so carefully looked vnto and dressed are properly called Purple Gillo-flowers The flowers of Gillo-flowers of Prouence as also their root are soueraigne against the Plague And for this cause such as are well aduised in the time of the Plague 〈◊〉 make conserues or vinegar of the flowers of Gillo-flowers to keepe themselues 〈◊〉 the euill ayre Indian Gillo-flowers called of the Latines Flos petillius and Ocellus 〈◊〉 although it refuse no ground notwithstanding if you plant it of the whole plant or of the branches thereof or else sow it in a fat and wel manured ground especially in the beginning of Iuly it will grow vnto such a height as that it will seeme to be a thing degenerated into the bignesse of a tree and will put forth of his stalke many boughâ— after the manner of a tree or shrub and by the same meanes there will put 〈◊〉 flowers induring vntill Winter Who will be counted carefull of preseruing his health must not smell vnto the flower of the Gillo-flowers of India for the smell thereof doth procure head-ach and giddinesse and is a meanes to breed the Falling-sicknesse further also which is more dangerous some haue found it by experience that it ingendreth an infectious aire likewise Physitians giue speciall prohibition to smell vnto the Indian Gillo-flower in the Plague time because the flower thereof is venimous and of temperate much like to the Hemlocke which may easily be perceiued by the vnpleasant smell it yeeldeth being both most strong and stinking That it is so namely that 〈◊〉 is venimous I haue giuen thereof sometimes vnto a Cat the flower the Gillo-flowres of India beaten and mixt with cheese to eat and she hath thereupon become verie much swelled and within a short time after dead I saw likewise a little young child who after hauing put these flowers in his mouth his mouth and lips did swell and within a day or two after became verie scabbed Wild Gillo-flowers as well white as red although they grow in the edges of fieldâ— and along the waies may notwithstanding be planted and set in gardens where 〈◊〉 they be oft remoued they will grow to haue a double flowre Their seed flower and whole hearbe is good against the stinging of Scorpions and indeed haue so greâ—â— vertue this way that the hearbe onely cast among Scorpions taketh from them all power to hurt their seed taken
is another note of admiration in this flower which is that it changeth it colour euerie yeare of it owne nature for the which no Gardiner is able to giue anie account Also there be some Tulipans which will not â—â—ourish aboue foure or fiue daies in the yeare and then after it carrieth no flower 〈◊〉 all The Martagon is a plant which putteth forth verie rare and excellent flowers â—uch what is shape like the Flower-de-luce and are infinitely desired for their exâ—ellencies it is most commonly either of an Orange or red colour and may be eiâ—her sowne or planted in a good ground in the Spring time when the Moone encreaseth It groweth in height seldome aboue three foot neither hath it anie branâ—hes it garnisheth the earth with manie greene leaues both long and sharpe â—ending their points downeward At the toppe of the stemme the flowers put â—orth vpon seuen or eight round buttons or cuppes which after a few daies doe open and out of euerie button springs forth a flower which will continue 〈◊〉 upon at least three or foure daies and then they will fall away and the bowle is perceiued in which the seed is retained which is not verie great but of a little and 〈◊〉 compasse Pâ—onie are flowers of diuers kinds some being single and some double and are 〈◊〉 esteemed for the beautie of their flowers they may be sowne or planted on any 〈◊〉 earth immediatly after Winter the stalke of it is greene and being risâ—n 〈◊〉 foot from the earth it putteth forth diuers large branches vpon the tops whereof 〈◊〉 many great buttons out of which breaketh forth the flowers being round 〈◊〉 and large so that some haue beene measured from the circumference to be the 〈◊〉 part of a foot in the diameter these flowers are euer of one colour as being all 〈◊〉 all white or all purple and not mixt or stripped as other flowers are Amongst all the flowers which beauitfie gardens none may compare with this other for odour glorie or generall delicacie whence it commeth that it is 〈◊〉 the Crowne Emperiall it may be sowne from the seed in any well drest 〈…〉 the Spring of the yeare and the new of the Moone yet it is much better if it be 〈◊〉 from the root which root is bigge and round like vnto a great S. 〈◊〉 Onion about which in the planting you shall â—ould a little fine mould 〈◊〉 with cows dung and then set it a good depth into the earth the stemme of this 〈◊〉 will spring out of the ground three or foure foot garnished all along with fine 〈◊〉 yet without any braunches at the top of all it putteth forth eight or nine 〈◊〉 borne vpon seuerall little branches distinguished from the stalke euerie one of 〈◊〉 being of equall height and length the flowers thereof for the most part shew 〈◊〉 because like the Helitropian they continually follow the Sunne and 〈◊〉 stand streight vpright but at hie noone onely the colour of them most 〈◊〉 is a pale red and they haue within the inward part of them a round liquid 〈◊〉 like vnto an Orient pearle which whilest the flower is in strength being for the 〈◊〉 part fifteene or twentie dayes you can by no meanes shake off nor will it be 〈◊〉 way with showers or tempests but if with your hand you wipe it away a new 〈◊〉 will arise againe presently in the same place this pearle if you tast vpon your 〈◊〉 is sweet and pleasant as Honie or Sugar This flower must be carefully 〈◊〉 from the frost and the slips of it would be seldome or neâ—er set because they are 〈◊〉 they bring forth flowers as three or foure yeares at the soonest CHAP. XLIX Of sweet smelling Hearbes BAsill as well the great as the small is sowne in Aprill and May in a 〈◊〉 ground and commeth vp quickly if so be that by and by after it is 〈◊〉 it be watered with water somewhat heated It may be sowne 〈◊〉 in Autumne and the seed would be watered with vinegar for so 〈◊〉 it but a verie little it will grow forth into branches If you sow it in a drie ground 〈◊〉 open vpon the Sun it will by and by turne and become either mountaine 〈◊〉 or cresses When you haue sowne it you must draw vpon the ground some 〈◊〉 fasten and set it close together for if it should lye light and hollow the seed would 〈◊〉 corrupt It must be watered at noone-tide cleane contrarie to other hearbs 〈◊〉 would be watered at morning or euening To cause it to grow great it is 〈◊〉 crop it oft with your fingers and not with any yron thing Some report a 〈◊〉 strange thing of Basill as namely that it groweth fairer and higher if it 〈◊〉 sowne with curses and injuries offered vnto it and further that there is a deadly 〈◊〉 betwixt ambeâ— basill for whereas amber or blacke jet it giuen to draw 〈◊〉 â—nto it vpon the touching of them it driueth and putteth farre from it the leaues and 〈◊〉 of Basill Such as are subject vnto head-ach or feare to be troubled therewith must shun the 〈◊〉 of Basill altogether for the smell thereof begetteth paine and heauinesse of the 〈◊〉 yeâ— sometimes it ingendreth in the head little small wormes like vnto Scorpiâ—â—s as we read to haue happened to a certaine Italian in our time as Monsieur â—â—oulier D. in physicke doth testifie in the beginning of his Practica in whose â—â—aine the oft smelling of Basill did beget a scorpion which caused him to endure â—â—treame paine and brought him to his death in the end The greatest vertue that 〈◊〉 hearbe can haue is that if a woman doe hold the roots of Basill in her hand toâ—ether with a Swallows feather when she is in trauell she shall be deliuered by and 〈◊〉 without any paine Rue as well that of the garden as the other which is wild doth not loue eyther a â—oist or cold ground neither yet a ground made verie fat with dung but rather a 〈◊〉 and drie ground free from vvind and where the Sunne shineth much in respect â—hereof it must be couered with ashes during the Winter time for the naturall heat 〈◊〉 the ashes doth cause it to resist the cold It may be sowne in March August and â—â—ptember although in deed it grow better set of roots or braunches than sowne â—hen it groweth old it degenerateth into a wooddie substance and therefore you â—ust cut the stalkes twice euerie yeare euen to the root to recouer his youth againe 〈◊〉 must not be suffered if possibly it may be let to flowre for if it be suffered to put 〈◊〉 any flowres it groweth so much the more drie Some report that this hearbe 〈◊〉 a maruailous propertie as that if it be toucht or come neere vnto be it neuer so 〈◊〉 by a woman that hath abused her bodie or that hath her termes that it dyeth 〈◊〉 and by To cause that it
or without borders shall be of a square forme or of the fashion of an egge or round or mixt of a square and a round or some other such like forme If you be disposed to plant any hearbe in the midst of broken quarters it must not bee ouer high but lesse and shorter than those wherewith the proportions are set that so it may not hide or hinder the sight of any part of the quarter It is true indeed that in this middlemost part you may set an hearbe of a meane and middle height yea or some such as for his bignesse may resemble a shrub or little tree but it may not be thicke set with leaues not spreading far abroad but rather putting forth his stalke vpright as doth the Bay and Cypres tree But in respect of the beautie and comelinesse of the quarter you must not plant any thing in it or if you do plant any herbe you must see that it be of a shorter stalke than that which compasseth it about the knot that is made of borders must consist but of two sorts of herbes as for example of Lauander or Rosemarie or Boxe for the border and of Penny-royall of Hissope within It is true that in the middest and foure corners thereof there may be set some Cypres or Rose-marie or some such other herbe or little tree which is not thicke set with leaues not spreading far abroad but rising in height vpright But the knot made of broken quarters may bee made of diuers and differing herbes which notwithstanding may not grow great and tall because they would hinder the view of the garden but they must be short and thinne set with leaues as Sage Penny-royall Margerom Cammomill Daâ—sies Violets Basill Rue and such others which herbes shall be planted in diuers quarters to the setting forth of greater varietie in the knot and to giue grace vnto the little quarters It is true that within some round quarters or squares of broken quarters you may worke some small birds men or other such pourtraites made of Rose-marie according to your pleasure and inuention of your Gardener The herbes wherewith proportions are set out and deckt must bee planted of rootes or slippes the time to plant them is Ianuarie Frebruarie March and Aprill It is true that if you plant herbes especially Penny-royall and Lauander vpon slâ—ps The time of gathering of good plants will be at the end of Ianuarie and in the moneth of Februarie and not later because this kind of slip will not bee frozen by any frost that may happen and withall in the meane time it doth not stand in neede of watring because it hath taken roote before the hot times of the yeare come in Againe if you set herbes of the roote you must stay till March and Aprill and looke well vnto it that your herbes haue â—ound liuing and euery way sufficient rootes for otherwise they will not bee able to prosper spread and grow in the earth but will die for the most part It is meete also that when they are planted you should water them verie often because of the heat then growing more and more euery day for otherwise they will wither or grow small and dwarfish or die right out Wherefore for the greater assurednesse I could wish you to plant your herbes rather of slippes than of rootes for besides that it will bee more easie and of lesse â—harge and cost to purchaseslips than to purchase the whole herbes with the roots Iâ— will be also lesse labour and trauell for to preserue and make to grow the one than the other for the slips will assuredly grow without watering and notwithstanding any frost and they will shew faire and thicke leaued by such time as Sommer shall begin To plant within the earth whether it be root or slip you must cast trenches rather with some short handled hand-forke or hand-spade than with a dibble which you shall find a great deale more easie Behold here the greatest part of the things which you are diligently to looke vnto before you put your hand to the worke of casting your proportions or knots and whereas their whole beautie and commendation doth consist in a well framed and proportioned forme and in a well carried and appointed order of disposing them such as may delight the eie to the end you may attaine this commendable and well pleasing kind of proportion in the contriuing of your quarters you must first cast what is the space and whole contents of your quarter wherein you meane to draw your proportions that so according to the said contents you may fit them with such forme as the place will affoord After that you shall haue in your hand many measures of small cord and yet sufficient strong many cord-reeles and dibbles and such other things to finish the proportions which you desire to haue drawne in your quarter And thus much concerning the meanes which you shall vse in the finishing vp of a knot with borders Before you stretch your line to draw and cast the shape of it you must first take the bredth and length of the border and that such as the quantitie of the ground may conueniently beare and so make it more long and broad or else long and broad accordingly It is true that if you haue good ground enough as about some sixtie foot square after the measure of a common foot euery one containing twelue inches you may make your border large enough but and if you haue lesse quantitie of ground then you must make your border lesse and the proportions at large you shall so finish vp your borders as that in the middest of them you may haue some prettie little knot When you haue cast your ground you shall begin to stretch your line with good and firme line-reeles to take the bredth and length of your borders round about Then you shall draw your line a crosse from the which crosse and from about the which said borders you shall not draw vp your line and line-reeles vntill you haue marked out all your border or at the least one side or halfe of it because this is the directorie for the whole quarter and border to this is it whereby you must be guided and directed for the making of compasses and largenesse of your squares and rounds Furthermore you may stretch your line in the middest of the border thereby to take the iust middest and that for to direct and guid you Furthermore you shall haue two lines of the length of the border or quarter and two foot ouer and these are called the flying or running lines for that they serue to carrie or remoue from place to place for the planting of herbes in the said borders Againe you shall stretch out a line from corner to corner because that without such line you cannot make vp your corners and this is the manner of making your borders As concerning the knot contained within the borders to take the measure of the
Oliues a long time must change his 〈…〉 euerâ—e quarter of a yeare As concerning Oliues to make Oyle of they must be gathered when they are somewhat more ripe than those which are to be preserued and when as there are manie of them become alreadie blacke but yet not so manie as are white in other respects they must be gathered in such manner as wee haue said that the others should be gathered that is to say with the hand and when it is faire weather except it be those Oliues which by tempests and winds haue beene blowne to the earth and such as must needs be gathered as well because of wild as â—ame and house beasts There must no moe be gathered at one time than may be made into Oyle that night and the day following for all the fruit that is gathered in a day must presently be put vpon the Milles and so into the Presses But before that they be put into the Presse they must first be spread vpon hurdles and picked and culled as likewise that their 〈◊〉 and waterish liquor may runne out a little and spend it selfe for it is a great enemie vnto the Oyle insomuch as that if it remaine abide and stand with the Oyle it spoyleth the tast and sauour of it And therefore in this respect when sometimes the quantitie of Oliues is so great as that there want Presses and workmen to dispatch them you must haue a high and well-raysed floore where you must prouide partitions to keepe asunder euerie daies gatherings and these partitions in the botâ—â—me must be paued with Stone or with Tyles or Squares made somewhat sloping that so the moistnesse of the Oliues may conuey it selfe along the channels which shall be there prouided And thus much concerning the preparing of Oliues to make Oyle of it remaineth now to speake of the making of Oyle but wee will reserue that for the end of the third Booke where we will make a large discourse of the making of Oyles Finally there is a verie astringent and binding facultie in the Oliue tree for the decoction of the leaues in a Clyster doth stay the flux of the bellie the iuice pressed from the leaues with white Wine and Raine water doth stay all manner of fluxes of bloud the liquor which droppeth from the greene wood of the Oliue tree when it is burning doth heale the Itch Ringwormes and Scabs Oliues yet greene and vnâ—ipe doe stirre vp and prouoke an appetite being eaten and cause a good stomacke but they make the bodie costiue and are hard of digestion Ripe Oliues doe ouerturne the stomacke and make boylings therein they cause also headach and hurt the eyes As concerning the vertues of Oyle wee will speake of them in his place See more of the Oliue-tree in the third Booke Pistates require as great toyle and diligence about them as the Oliue-tree and would be sowne about the first day of Aprill as well the male as the female both â—oyntly together or at the least one verie neere vnto the other the male hauing the backe turned to the West for being thus ioyned or neere neighbours one vnto the other they beare better and greater store of fruit especially if they be sowne in a faâ— ground and well ayred and there you may graft them at the same time vpon themselues or vpon the Turpentine tree notwithstanding that some doe graft them on the Almond tree They may in like manner be set of Plants and the manner of planting them is thus You must make Pits sufficient deepe in some place where the Sunne shiâ—eth verie hot and chuse new shoots of the tree which are in verie good liking and â—hese bound together put into the Pits the second day of the moneth of Aprill afterward bind them together from the earth vp to the boughes and couer the roots with good dung watering them continually for the space of eight daies And after the â—odie of the Tree is three yeares old you must lay open the Pit neere vnto the rootâ— â—nd set the bodie somewhat deeper in and then couer it againe with good dung to the end that when the Tree shall be growne great it may not be ouer-blowne with â—â—eat winds This Tree was rare and hard to be come by in this Countrey before the most reueâ—end Lords Cardinall du Bellay and Reue du Bellay Bishop of Mants brethren and 〈◊〉 worthie of eternall memorie for their incomparable knowledge alone and 〈◊〉 all other Frenchmen had brought into this Countrey the knowledge not onely of 〈◊〉 which were altogether vnknowne vnto vs but also the ordering and figureâ— of strange Hearbes and Trees the fruits whereof we are greatly in loue withall and doe highly commend notwithstanding that as yet we doe scarce know themselueâ— But surely herein this whole Nation is bound to acknowledge an euerlasting 〈◊〉 vnto them for the same The fruit of Pistates as Aâ—icenne saith verie well not sticking at the scruple and doubt which Galen casteth in the way doe comfort the stomack and nourish 〈…〉 and this is the cause why they are prescribed them which are leane and worne away with sicknesse and which desire to be strong and mightie in performing the act of Venerie Citron-trees Orange-trees Limon-trees and Citron-trees of Assyria require 〈◊〉 like manner of ordering by reason of their like nature whereunto in respect of 〈◊〉 great tendernesse and incredible daintinesse it is needfull to giue great heed 〈◊〉 otherwise there is no hope of reaping any profit or pleasure of them And for as 〈◊〉 as they are best dealt withall and found to prosper most when they are gotten 〈◊〉 growne great from some other place it being so difficult a thing and exceeding toyle to make them breake the earth and grow vpon the seeds in this Countrey I will make a briefe discourse concerning whatsoeuer is requisite for the 〈◊〉 planting remouing and gouerning of them in our Countrey and Grounds And therefore to speake in the first place of the manner of transporting of them 〈◊〉 must thinke that these Trees get no good by changing their place but that they would doe a great deale better in their naturall and natiue soyle and ground when they were first planted sowne or grafted than to be remoued else whither Notwithstanding if it please the Lord of the Farme to procure them from 〈…〉 must doe it in the Spring time rather than in Autumne because euen as in 〈◊〉 the wood thereof groweth hard and solide being ripe and for that the â—appe 〈◊〉 to comfort it with his warme moisture by reason of his approaching cold so iâ— the Spring time on the contrarie they begin to bud by and by after that they are 〈◊〉 and planted and bring forth leaues yea and flowers if the Plants be great and strong ynough The way to transport them is in such sort to â—it the rootes with â—lothes or 〈…〉 that you may bind therein vnto
which 〈◊〉 planted their Trees in Pots or Cases vse to carrie them into houses and vnder 〈◊〉 in the Winter time and out againe at the Spring vvithout anâ—e ragardâ—ed in them after the same siâ—uation and state of standing wherein they stood the 〈◊〉 before Thus the Tree being seated vpon the ground in the like aspect of the 〈…〉 it was you must dresse it about the foot with a leuelled bed of good earth or the thicknesse of halfe a foot and trample it downe and againe vpon this 〈…〉 bed of the same thicknesse of good made earth and for want thereof with 〈◊〉 newly mixt with good dung and to tread and trample it downe and thus by 〈◊〉 of the one and the other to continue till the Pit be filled vp euen with the 〈◊〉 swarth and then to water it All these said and seuerall workes shall be ended before the full of the Moone and the better if it be in the encrease of the day that 〈…〉 about nine or â—enne a clocke in the morning For some hold that if these things 〈◊〉 done in the full Moone that then there would grow Wormes and Ants 〈…〉 bodie and barke of the Orange tree Being thus planted you shall order and gouerne them both in Summer and Winter in manner as followeth In Summer 〈◊〉 shall be watered euerie three daies morning and euening and ofter too if the 〈◊〉 of the heat doe require it For the Orange tree aboue all things doth 〈◊〉 water and standeth in need of two buckets of water at the least vnto euerie 〈…〉 tree root and therefore the Gardiners are happie in this case which in their 〈◊〉 or not farre off haue water at commandement because commonly they 〈◊〉 both more fruit and that also more beautifull and faire and better seasoned Such 〈◊〉 water them must beware of touching the stocks or trunkes of the tree or else the 〈◊〉 therewith but rather that they cast it a pretie way off and that round about that so it may sucke in and sinke downe equally vnto and vpon the rootes And to this 〈◊〉 you shall make a little furrow digged some three fingers deepe round abouâ— and into this you shall poure your water and when it is sunke you shall fill vp the 〈◊〉 againe In Winter the care and labour is the greater in keeping them from being tainted of the Frost and therefore so soone as the Frost shall begin you shall 〈◊〉 them in good time about the first of October with good store of boughes held vp with props or else to make for euerie one of them a lodging of Mass with a 〈◊〉 in it open vnto the South Some vse to couer them with Corke and it is a 〈◊〉 good couering for them Some as hath beene said before remoue them into 〈◊〉 vnder the earth carried thither vpon little Wheele-barrowes and fitted of 〈◊〉 or Cases But which of these courâ—es soeuer it shall be that you shall take you must alwaies see that their tops and outsides be at libertie and not pinched of due 〈◊〉 by that which couereth them and that this coueret be not taken away till 〈◊〉 be past It is true that before you couer them or set them in vaulted caues you must see that they be not wet anie manner of way for if the cold should seize vpon them in that pickle both the tree and the fruit would be easily spoyled by the 〈…〉 that this wetnesse would cause the flowers and fruits to corrupt and rot when they were vnder their couert but good and wise Gardiners before they coâ—er these 〈◊〉 doe take from the Citron trees being the least able to endure cold of all the rest 〈◊〉 the flowers buds and tender boughes of the same You must beware that it 〈◊〉 not into their lodging or place of couert especially vpon the thaw of Snow 〈◊〉 Snow water is more hurtfull vnto them than anie other Likewise if anie 〈◊〉 of Snow or Sleet come thwart their lodging or that anie trade wind doe bring it 〈◊〉 them you must shake it off from their branches and take it from the foot of 〈◊〉 for it would scorch them And therefore to meet with these inconueniences if 〈◊〉 be anie cleft or hole in the couering you must make it vp close and stop it well 〈◊〉 dung or vvispes so as they may be taken out when it is a faire and cleere weather 〈◊〉 that the Sunne shall cast forth his beames that so it may shine vpon the 〈…〉 dispell the ill corrupt and infected ayre and take away and drie vp the 〈◊〉 moisture rising of the continued shadow and then againe when the Sunne goeth downe and falleth off you must stop them vp againe that so the cold may not take hold vpon them It will not likewise be amisse to make a fire there during the extreame cold times of good drie Wood or Coale because the heat thereof would be great and continue well without working anie annoyance vnto the plants either by his flame or smoake and this to be most chiefely performed in the behalfe of the Citron-trees which are most subiect vnto the cold of all other the cause being for that they haue in them greatest store of iuice and substance as on the contrarie they are least subject to cold which haue least iuice and substance in them Againe you may not be too hastie in vncouering of them vpon some shew and promise of gentle meeke and faire weather because the cold oftentimes faining it selfe to be gone returneth againe in more vehement manner than before threatning the killing of them onely it will be the best and safest to open some boord or window of their lodging that so the treeâ— may enioy the present heat of the Sunne for certaine houres In the time of the couering of these new translated trees you must not forget to renew them at the foot a cubit height with good earth enriched with good rotten dung and that to lye round about the said foot the breadth of a good fadome and this will serue and stand in stead in case that by extremitie of cold the bodie of the tree should be frozen to refresh and repaire it againe from below where the frost shall not haue pierced it notwithstanding if in such extraordinarie cold seasons you couer and lay ouer their former couering with other dung well rotted you shall preserue the said Orange trees Their grafts whereof wee are to speake hereafter are a great deale more tender and more easie to be broken by the cold and frost and therefore they must be couered at the foot and layd high with earth and as it were cloaked or hooded and double couered and cloathed as hath beene said and that a great deale higher that so it may not be pinched in the place of the setting in of the graft But and if the cleft or other receit made for the setting in of the graft be so high that the said prouision and defence cannot conueniently be applyed
vnto it you must then couer such chase with thicke new cloth being well woolled or else with straw and to tye the one or the other fast to by wreathing it about with one of the breadths of a Mat and stay it vp with a prop if need be In hot Countries as Spaine and Portugall it is held as an approoued opinion That by how much the more Orange trees are watered in Winter so much the lesse subiect are they to frost because their water is either out of the Well or fresh drawne from some Fountaine or of water broken out of the earth and made warme with the Sunne or with the fire and for that it is drunke vp all into the earth but I feare me that it would not fall out for well done if so be that in this cold Countrey one should take that course notwithstanding if you will vse the same order you shall doe it either by the helpe of the foresaid Sunne beames or by a pipe of Lead laid good and deepe in the earth a farre off from the root of the tree powring of the said water into it that so it may descend and reach vnto the roots but so soone as you haue thus powred in your water you must stop verie well and couer the said pipe with earth and dung that so the cold ayre may not runne along it vnto the roots for so they would be frozen They must be vnder-digged and cast at the foot from moneth to moneth if the season will suffer it and the earth made light and soft mingling it with dung and watering it as hath beene said And for the better preseruing of the branches of these plants and keeping of them in their strength and force they must be cut euerie yeare more or lesse according as the good and expert Gardiner shall iudge it necessarie in as much as these trees being both daintie and precious doe require a verie carefull regard to be vsed in this cutting It must not furthermore be forgotten to take from them continually all manner of superfluitie filth and grasse growing at their foot or elsewhere and likewise thornes or pricks and that with the hands or some other cutting yron And if anie branch through â—rost or otherwise grow drie pale or blacke you must cut off the dead part at the Spring in the decrease of the Moone in faire weather and calme and temperate and vpon the putting of it forth againe and this must be done with a Garden Sickle or Knife well sharpened and the cut must be well 〈◊〉 together and couered ouer that so it may put forth branches againe You must also bow the boughs as shall be necessarie and to raise some higher and pull some lower as occasion shall require cut the ends and sprouâ—s which put forth at the toppes of the tree take away those that grow too high to the end they may be proportâ—â—â—â— in an equall measure of growth for these trees especially the Citron tree growing in anie great height and hauing anie great store of boughes doe neither bring 〈◊〉 so much nor so good fruits as when they are otherwise fitted and freed from their vnâ—necessarie boughes and further if need require to seâ— some store of pâ—les to hold vp the boughs If notwithstanding all the paine and preseruation spoken of before they fall now and then into mislikings and diseases then you must burie at their 〈◊〉 some Sheepes hornes for some are of opinion that by these they are maintained is â—ound estate and good plight And thus much as concerning the ordering of these Trees when they be brought out of other Countries but as for those which wee procure to grow and spring out of the earth here in this Countrey wee must know that they grow either of 〈◊〉 boughes grafts or â—eeds But to speake of these particularly the Orange tree groweth not but verie hardly either vpon shoots or grafts for hauing a verie hard 〈◊〉 it hardly taketh root It is true that some vse to prepare a Plant of it in such manner They picke and prune from an Orange tree bough his sprigges and 〈◊〉 plant it the small end downeward wrapt in a Linnen cloth hauing within it 〈◊〉 dung that is verie new and of such plants haue beene seene to grow Orange trees growing indeed lower than the other but hauing a well spread and large 〈…〉 yet it is better to sow it so that it be in a good soyle notwithstanding it be long before it bring forth fruit but he that will helpe that and cause it to hasten to bearing must graft it The manner of sowing all these sorts of trees is first to prepare and manure the ground verie well with Horse dung about the moneth of May or else with Oxe or Sheepes dung and to mixe therewith some Wood ashes or which were better some Cucumber ashes then making pits in the said ground of the breadth of halfe a foot to put three seeds together and the sharpe end vpward and the higher part of the seed toward the earth after this they must be oft watered with 〈◊〉 water or with Sheepes milke for so they will grow better and sooner And yet 〈◊〉 not before you sow them to lay them in steepe in Cowes milke that is warme and if you desire to haue them sweet fruit put to the liquor wherein you steepe them 〈◊〉 Sugar candâ—e You shall plant their shoots after the same manner in a well husbanded and 〈◊〉 ground as also their boughes and grafts about mid May setting the great ends vpward and filling the pits with ashes made of Cucumbers These bring forth 〈◊〉 and the middle part of the apple will be sweet if the bodie of the tree be pierced with a Piercer in the moneth of Februarie and that there be made therein an oblique and sloping hole which must not goe through and from out of this the sappe is let distill vntill such time as the apples come to be formed and then you must stop vp the said hole with Potters clay or mortar or else giue a slit in the thickest branch of the tree and in the place where you haue giuen the slit make a hollownesse of the depth of a good foot which you shall fill with honey and stop vp with mortar 〈◊〉 feare of raine and of the heat of the Sunne when as the tree hath drunke in all the â—onâ—y you shall put in more and water the root with vrine in the end you shall 〈◊〉 off all the little shoots which shall put forth of the tree letting those alone which shall grow vpon the slit branch At the same time Orange trees may be grafted chiefely vpon the Pom◠〈◊〉 â—tree for vpon this they thriue maruellously especially the Orange tree both in goodnesse greatnesse beautie and thicknesse of such fruits as they bring forth in respect and comparison of those which they bring forth when they are grafted one 〈◊〉 another that is to say the Orange
vpon the Citron or the Citron vpon the Orange tree They may be grafted likewise vpon themselues as the Citron-tree vpon the Citron tree and sometimes vpon the Pomegranate Peare Apple and Mâ—lberrie tree but seldome betwixt the barke and the wood but vpon the head of the trunke or bodie of the tree cut off neere vnto the root In the grafting of them you must make choice of the fairest grafts which may be found as â—o graft a good Citron tree vpon a better The Limon grafted vpon the Citron doth beare fairet fruit than the Citron grafted vpon the Limon because the Citron tree is a great deale more â—appie and full of iuice for to make nourishmenâ— of than the Limon tree Citrons and Liâ—â—ons grafted vpon an Orange tree doe beare more fruit than vpon their owne â—â—umpe and bodie and are not so subiect vnto the cold because they enioy and parâ—â—cipate so largely of the Orange tree his properties and qualities which consisting of a hard wood without sappe doth resist the cold a great deale the more 〈…〉 way to graft them is by cleauing the stocke and then it must be done in Aprill or in March or by way of crowning and that must be done in May or by cutting a â—ound hole in the barke of the tree and this must be done in Iuly When they be grafted into the barke of the tree you must cut away whatsoeuer is superfluous or more than needeth of buds or sprouts which are not grafted and withall take away all the shoots which grow thereupon afterward When they are planted you shall â—ot suffer anie weeds to grow there about them except it be the Gourd whereof they are refreshed if it grow neere vnto them as being much succoured by them and protected from the cold as also for that the ashes thereof sowne and cast about â—he roots of Citrons doe make them more faire and fruitfull And seâ—ing that the Citron tree is verie fruitfull and bearâ—th a heauie fruit after such time as it hath brought forth his fruit you must gather the greater part and leaue but a few remaining and so the remainder will proue verie faire ones and a great deale the better The Orange tree will neuer freese nor die with a cold wind nor yet with the frost if it be grafted vpon Holly being an approued thing but then indeed the fruit will not be so naturall as that of the others Citrons Oranges Limons and Syrian Citrons must be gathered in the night with their leaues in the change of the Moone not before they be ripe but when the Orange is of a golden colour all ouer if you purpose to keepe them long and you must not tarrie till they be become pale before you gather them You may keepe them fresh and vncorrupt all the yeare if you hide them in heapes of Barly or Millet or else if you annoint them ouer with plaister well tempâ—red or if you close them vp in vessels euerie one by it selfe You must not in anie case lay Citrons neere vnto hot bread for it would make them not To haue Oranges of a mixt nature and as it were halfe Oranges halfe Citrons you must about the beginning of March cut a sience or branch of the Citron tree whiles it is yet young of the thicknesse of three fingers and plant the same in a conuenient time giuing it all his orders and best helpes of husbanding at the end of two yeares or thereabout when it is well taken and betwixt March and Aprill you shall sow it of a finger within the earth and closing the cut fast you shall graft by way of cleft a graft of a young Orange tree thereupon as of some two yeares old proportionable and sutable vnto the Citron tree in thicknesses afterward you shall rub and annoint the said cut and chaâ—e or cleft for the receit of the graft with the root of the hearbe called Aron and you shall couer it well with a good cappe after the manner of other grafts putting therewithall vnto the foot thereof well rotted dung or the ashes of Gourds after that you shall lay it about with good earth a reasonable height and vnderprop it till such time as it shall grow great and strong but know that the graft must be taken of the side of the Orange tree which standeth towards the East and it must be done in the encrease of the Moone and day for so it will prosper more effectually The Citron will be red and sweet if it be grafted vpon a Mulberrie tree and will grow in such forme after such manner as a man will haue it if before it be growne to his bignesse any way it be closed vp in a frame or mould cut after the shape you would haue it 〈…〉 may grow 〈…〉 quantitie therein By the 〈…〉 it be put into a vessell of earth or glasse 〈◊〉 it be fully growne it will 〈…〉 fashion of the vessell and become as great as the vessell but in the 〈…〉 is haue ayre you must make some small holes in the vessell The fruits of these Trees are alike differing both in colour disposition 〈…〉 for Oranges haue a more yellow and golden rind a sowre or 〈…〉 sowre and sweet together being round as an Apple and fitter for the Kitchin 〈◊〉 for Medicine The Limon hath a longer shape a paler rind a sowre-tast and is good for the Kitchin and in Physicke to coole cut and penetrate The Citron is long 〈◊〉 the fashion of an egge the rind thicke yellow without sowre good for 〈◊〉 and preseruatiue medicines Syrian Citrons are twice so great as 〈…〉 fashioned like Cucumbers and the rind an 〈◊〉 thicke The leaues of the Citron tree doe cause a good smell amongst clothes and 〈◊〉 them from the freâ—ting of Moathes The rind iuice and seed of Citrons are all of them verie soueraigne against all manner of Poyson and danger of the Plagues 〈…〉 also that of the Limon And for this cause there may a whole Citron and 〈…〉 boyled in Rose water and Sugar vntill such time as all be consumed away to 〈◊〉 iuice and after to vse euerie morning to the quantitie of one or two 〈…〉 this decoction in the time of the Plague The rind and iuice of Citrons doe procure a sweet breath the rind preserued heatâ—th the stomacke and helpeth digâ—â—â—â— The iuice pressed from the rind of an Orange is quickly set on fire it 〈…〉 by his great subtlenesse through the glasse euen into the Wine that is 〈◊〉 therein The iuice of Limons killeth Sâ—abs Itch and Freâ—kles and taketh away the spots of Inke out of Cloth The same distilled through a Limbeck maketh 〈◊〉 countenances smooth and beautifull and taketh away all filthinesse from all the 〈◊〉 of the bodie being giuen to children to drinke it killeth the Wormes which are in their bodies If one bring the Limon neere vnto the fire the thinne iuice that will come forth doth
cleanse the faces of young girles and taketh away red pimples iâ— the same as also other manner of spots like vnto them Likewise the iuice of 〈◊〉 distilled in a Limbeck besides that it helpeth and polisheth the countenances of women is furthermore good to take away out of the face and other parts of the bodie all white Spots Warts and other such like things The iuice of a Limon is of such vertue that if you straine it twice or thrice and then wash in it whole Pearles and afterward sâ—eepe them in it and after lay them in the Sunne within fiue or six daies they will become so soft as honey so that you may make anie shape with them that you will Furthermore the iuice of Limons is so corrasiue as that if you steepe in it a piece of Gold some certaine houres you shall find it diminished and become light and as much will fall out if you sticke a piece of Gold in a Limon See more of 〈◊〉 matter in the third Booke The flowers of Oranges are preserued with Honey or Sugar and those are verie cordiall therewith likewise is made a very precious water of rare and singular sweetnesse which is called the water of Nafe Pomegranate trees craue a hot or temperate ayre for they cannot beare fruit 〈…〉 cold Countrey and albeit their fruit be of one of these three tasts as sweet sowre 〈◊〉 both sweet and sowre notwithstanding all manner of Pomegranates doe craue 〈◊〉 and the same ayre ground and manner of ordering They maintaine themselues 〈◊〉 good state in all manner of ground whether it be far or strong or grauellie or 〈◊〉 or sandie foreseene that the sand be somewhat grosse and moist They refuse not 〈◊〉 situation of anie ground be it hill valley or plaine yea they refuse not to grow well in stonie drie and rough grounds for a little nourishment doth content them And for these causes they need not to be so carefully husbanded as the former and 〈◊〉 rather because they will grow if they be but prickt downe and doe well beare either to be planted or grafted Further if you will take the paines to picke and 〈◊〉 them whiles they are young and in due time the fruit will be a great deale the bigger and of a better fashion but it must be looked so that they be planted vpon 〈◊〉 South Sunne but neuer vpon the East nor yet vpon the West for this quarter doth most hurt them as well as the Vine Note notwithstanding that the young branches which you shall cut off from them must be taken when the tree hath put forth his buds and not before which is contrarie to the branches of other trees as also that the siâ—nces with barke and all be of the thicknesse of the helue of a knife And before that you plant them you must make sure and close both ends of them and annoint them with Swines dung which is more familiar vnto them than anie other and then lay them ouerthwart or crosse in the earth they delight in a ground that is noâ— leane nor moist but indifferent fat and they grow the more easily and faire if there be planted and set by them the Sea Onion or especially some Mulberrie tree The time to plant them is from after March vntill May betwixt the same times it is good to graft them vpon themselues but to better successe vpon the Myrtle tree wherein they delight greatly The Citron tree the Willow and the Mulberrie tree are not so good howsoeuer that sometimes they may be grafted vpon them The manner of grafting them is to put into the bodie of the tree the graft of the Pomegranate tree so soone as euer it shall be cut off from it and after to poure vpon it some oyle and to plaster and couer it with earth and as concerning the graft it must be taken from the Pomegranate tree after it hath budded after the same manner that we haue said of the branches Furthermore the craue to be often watred when the Sunne is in Libra Pomegranate trees by mightie raines excessiue dewes and great fogges doe easily loose their flowers and fruits before it be ripe but to preuent this mischiefe they would be planted neere vnto some wall and haue their boughes bowed downward to the end they may not so easily take wet which is so noysome vnto them They endure clefts and chaps in their bodies without anie danger and therein they are like vnto the Figge-tree and Vine If the Pomegranate tree bring forth sowre or scarce sweet fruit you must water the roots thereof with Swines dung and mans dung mixt with old vrine or temper a little Beniamine with wine and therewith to bath and wash the top of the tree or to spread vpon the roots Asses dung and after to couer them and water them with mans vrine The seeds of the Pomegranate will be white if the roots of the tree be compassed about with Potters and Fullers clay and one fourth part of Plaâ—ster for the space of three yeares The barren Pomegranate tree will become fruitfull if the bodie thereof be often washed with ashes and lees The Pomegranates will become red if the roots of the Pomegranate trees be often watered with lee or couered with the ashes of Acornes The Pomegranate will grow grosse and thicke if you put much Swines dung at the foot of the tree againe looke how much more of this dung you put there by so much the more sweet will the great sowre ones become Pomegranates will haue no seedes if you take away the greater part of the sappe of the boughes of the tree and lay them in the ground all shiuered and after that they haue take cut that part of the Plant which spreadeth furthest and hath alreadie put forth his buds Pomegranate trees will be fruitfull if you stampe Purâ—â—aine and Spurge together and therewith annoint the bodie of the tree Pomegranates will not breake nor open vpon the tree if there be three stones put at the root of the tâ—ee when it is planted but and if the tree be alreadie planted then neere vnto the tree roots you must plant the Sea Onion But indeed all these helpes and such other doe but little preuaile and therefore it were better to plant or graft them onely which will not bring forth a fruit that will breake when it commeth to ripenesse The Pomegranate tree will not fall his flowers it the roots be watred euerie yeare thrice with old vrine mixt with as much water Pomegranates will keepe and continue if you dip them in faire warme water and take them out again by and by or else if you put them apart in drie sand or in a heape of corne in the shadow so long as till they become wrinkled but yet better if when they be ripe and yet hanging vpon the tree you wrythe the small bough a little
inconueniences it is good acâ—ording to the counsell of Columella to steepe the seeds for a certaine time in the juice of 〈◊〉 madame or to mingle with the said seed some â—oot or else to water them with 〈◊〉 wherein soot hath beene tempered but it is better to speake of these things pâ—â—ticularly Generally against all such beasts as doe hurt gardens it is good to 〈…〉 place of the Garden as where you thinke these beasts doe most abound and keepe the paunch of a Sheepe full of dung as it commeth out of the Sheepes belly and to couer it with a little earth and within two daies you shall find all these beasts gathered together into this place before you haue done thus twice or thrice you shall be prouided of the meanes to kill and root out all these 〈◊〉 know then in a word what be the necessarie remedies for the auoiding of such accidents Against Haile ancient men were wont to set the whole compasse of their ground about with white wild Vine or else to fasten vnto the top of a high post an Owle hauing her wings spread The Lightnings and Thundring will doe no harme if there be buried in the midst of the Garden a kind of Toad called a Hedge-toad closed vp in a pot of earth Others doe hang in the midst of the Garden or at the soure corners thereof the seathers of an Eagle or the skinne of a Seale Others plant manie Bay-trees round about the Garden It is true that to breake or dissolue the Thunder accompanied with a great thicke cloud threatening haile there is nothing better than to ring the belles as is vsed to be done in hot Countries and to send forth the roaring sounds of the Canons as is wont to be done at Sea or else to set on fire some heapes of Weeds or stinking and rotten Seeds There is nothing more hurtfull or dangerous for hearbes than Frost which commeth when Snow and Ice are thawing And for to preserue your hearbes from this inconuenience of cold you must spread all ouer the ground great store of straw and ashes withall about that for by this meanes the heat of the earth will be preserued and the frost hindred that it cannot enter If you conceiue that your hearbs are like to be hurt by mists or fogs you must get together in diuers places of your gardens diuers heapes of tender twigs and straw or of weeds and shrubs pulled vp in the same place and after to set them on fire for the smoake thereof doth correct and cleare the duskish and cloudie ayre Against blasting which is a corruption happening to hearbes and trees by some euill constellation there is nothing better than to burne with the dung the right horne of an oxe in such sort as that there may on euerie side be caused a verie great smoake for this smoake will driue away and resolue the euill qualitie of the ayre which is the carrier of this maligne influence or else it will be good to plant in diâ—erâ— places of the gardens diuers Bay-tree-boughes for the blasting will fall all vpon them To preserue seeds from being eaten of birds you must sâ—atter round about your gardens wheat or barly sod in wine mingled with hellebor or else water and sâ—eepe the seed in the decoction of â—ray fishes boyled in fresh water assuring your selfe that looke what groweth of such seeds will be free from all danger of these fowles or else water your seed with water and the lâ—â—s of wine or else â—caâ—er throughout the gardens some boyled leekes for so soone as they shall haue swallowed thew they wil be easily taken vp with your hand Some put ten cray fishes in a vessell full of vvater which they couer and set out in the Sunne for the space of ten daies afterward they 〈◊〉 the seeds they would sow with this water twice once before they be sowne and the other eight daies after that they are sowne By this meanes the seeds will not onely be kept safe from birds but also from all other manner of beasts To take away all harme which may come by little beasts it will be good to drie vpon the skinne of a Tortoise all such seeds as you intend to sow in your Gardens or else to plant in diuers places of your Gardens some Mints especially amongst your Coleworts or else to sow amongst your pot-hearbs some Cich-pease or Rocket or to fill the ground of your Kitchin Garden with Goose-dung tempered with salt â—rine or else to sow the seeds in the first quarter of the Moone New Oyle lees or the foot of the Chimney sowne all about in your Gardens is good against Snailes To keepe away Caterpillers you must water your hearbes with water wherein haue beene steeped the ashes of the young shoots of Vines or perfume your hearbes and trees with quicke brimstone Some steepâ— the seeds in the 〈◊〉 of fig tree 〈◊〉 and to kill the caterpillers doe cast vpon them the ashes themselues others like it better to plant a great onion called Squilla or else to burne â—oad-stooles that grow out of the nut-tree or else some great store of garleeke without any head to the 〈◊〉 that by the strong smell which shâ—ll 〈◊〉 thereof they may die Columella maketh mention of a certaine and approued remedie in this 〈◊〉 Caterpillers which is that when they will not be driuen away by other meaâ—â— to 〈◊〉 a woman baâ—e footed hauing her termes her bosome open and 〈◊〉 about her eares to walke three times about the quarters and alleys of the hedges or 〈◊〉 of the garden This done you shall see the Caterpillers fall vpon the earth from the hearbs and trees bearing fruit neither more nor lesle than and if by shaking you beat 〈◊〉 the raine or water from a tree but in the meane time there must be care bad that this be not done at 〈◊〉 rise because that then euerie thing in the garden would 〈◊〉 and pine away If you water the fleas or lice with strong vinegar mingled with the juice of â—enbane wherein the water of hemlocke shall haue boyled or with water 〈◊〉 Nigella hath bin steeped or with the decoction of mustard-sâ—eed they wil die shortly Gnats will be killed if you lay 〈◊〉 in sleepe and sprinkle the water about the garden or if you make a perfâ—me of Galbanâ—m or of Brimstone or of 〈◊〉 or of ox-dung If you would 〈◊〉 away flies make a perfume of Colo 〈◊〉 or water the place with water wherein it hath steeped To gather together all the Paâ—mar-wormes and other like beasts into one place to the end you may kill them you must spread in the place especially where they 〈◊〉 bound the gâ—ts and 〈◊〉 of some sheepe newly killed the same made 〈◊〉 cleane but still full of filth and dung then two daies after you shall find them all come together vnto the entrailes For to kill Weazles you
vve make readie and trim vp a greene plot for fruit trees containing in it as much ground as both the other gardens and that without any manner of other aâ—â—eys of 〈◊〉 beewixt it and the gardens or in the middest of it selfe than such distance and spare as must of necessitie be betwixt the trees and whereof we will speake more 〈◊〉 and without also whatsoeuer other husbandriâ— grasse or other things whereof you might hope to make some proâ—it vnderneath whether of hay or any such other thing which would grow there for the fruit tree would not haue his sustenance purâ—oyned or kept from it by the â—â—lling of other plants which might be â—eared about it neither doth it craue to be kept vvaâ—me in Winter time but onely tilled and ordered according to his seasons because that otherwise it would yeeld no profit vnto the owner thereof The situation of the orchard would be vpon some hill top or some little hill rather than in a plaine ground for besides that such seats haue better ayre more pleâ—sant and delightsome for contentment of contemplation and view and diuers other allâ—rements which will there offer themselues the tops of hills are yet more apt to containe greater number of fruit trees to be planted therein than the plaine groâ—â—â— possibly can for such as stand in plaines if they be planted any whitneere do annoy one another vvith their shade the other on the contrarie side according as it 〈◊〉 more and more from the foot causing euerie tree to ouer-looke his fellow taketh away the discommoditie or inconuenience of such ouershadowing one of another It must also be planted somewhat more vpon the North than vpon the South quarter that so it may minister matter of rejoycing to such as shall behold it out at the windowes in his beautie and jolitie Indeed if it be planted vpon the South it 〈◊〉 more open vpon the Sunne whose heat is verie requisite for fruit trees but then 〈◊〉 would not stand so faire for prospect besides that it vvould be offended and 〈◊〉 of the dust and filth of the threshing fâ—oore vvhen the corne is threshâ— if in case it should stand neere vnto it In any case let it not stand vpon the North-West quarter because it is a moâ—â— deadly enemie vnto all sorts of plants but principally of flowers which it singeth as if a fire had passed that vvay and the cause is for that it commeth from the 〈◊〉 side and taketh part with the North vvhich is verie rough and sharpe but yet not so dangerous as that North-West vvind vvhich bloweth once a yeare chiâ—â—ly 〈◊〉 the Spring and spoyleth the cherâ—â—e-tree-flowers and the vine more than any of the 〈◊〉 Whereupon there arose this Latine verse Vae tibi galerna per quâ—m sit clausa 〈◊〉 In any case let not the ground vvhereon you plant your orchard be marshie or 〈◊〉 terish for the fruits growing vpon such grounds are not vvell relished neither 〈◊〉 vvill they last long it must likewise be inriched one yeare before that it be cast and digged to make any nurceriâ— there either of seeds or steckes and after it hath 〈◊〉 the second time digged and dâ—â—ged or marled you must let it rest digest his dung and marle and in like manner pick out the stones that are in it most carefully And as concerning the naturall disposition and goodnesse thereof it must be â—at in handling blacke in colour and vvhich murleth easily in breaking and stirring it vvith your fingers not being hard clayie chalkie or sandie Yet if it be so that the situation of your Farme lyeth in such a soyle as is marshie and vvaterish for 〈◊〉 man cannot make choice of his abiding and it is a brauer reputation to the Husbandman to make a barren earth fruitfull than to make a fruitfull ground pleasant therefore as â— said if your ground lye low and be much subâ—ect to wet and rottenneâ—â—e you shall trench it diuers waies almost in the manner of a Labyrâ—th cutting one â—rench into another in such wiâ—e that the water may haue a descent of falling away into some Brooke Riuer or other Dike which as a Sewer may carrie away the wet and keepâ— the Orchard drâ—â— and also you shall bring from some other Grounds Lakes or Ponds great store of earth mudde and other compas wherewith you shall raise and heighten the bankes betweene the trenches in such â—ort that they may remaine and be farre from the danger of washing or ouerflowing of anie water and these bankes you shall stake well with strong Oaken stakes on euerie side and plant great store of Oziers also about them to maintain and hold vp the earth from falling Then as soone as you see these bankes firme and beginning to grow to haue a greene swarâ—h vpon them you shall plant your fruit-stocks of euerie seuerall kind vpon the same and without all doubt they wil prosper and grow there as well as in any ground whatsoeuer as may be seene in diuers places both of this and other Kingdomes The inclosure or defence vnto the Orchard shall be either a hedge of Quickset which is in truth the most pleasant and conuenient though yet the wall be more profitable as being more strong and built in lesse time which also being planted and handsomely dressed affoordeth not much lesse pleasure than the hedge or else if you like it better a ditch cast about it with a Quickset hedge set vpon the raised side thereof but in this according as the sufficiencie and reuenues of the Farme will beare it 〈◊〉 yet alwaies prouided that it be out of the way of the cattell and where no man 〈…〉 except he enter in at the gareâ—â— and graunted that the wall is the surest kind 〈◊〉 defence as also the strongest most profitable and perfected in least time Besides the wall of all other â—ences is most needfull for the Orchard as well for the strength indurâ—ance and safe keeping of the same as also for the great profit which commeth thereby to all maner of fruit which is planted and plashit vp against the same chiefly in those cold countries where the Sunne is not altogether so violent nor so readie to 〈◊〉 as in these our 〈◊〉 â—oyles of France for it is most certaine that by planting any daintie or render fruit close to a wall and spreading his braunches open against the same which with loopes of leather or felt together with small nailes may easily be done â—aâ—â—ning euerie principall braunch and materiall twig to the wall it will doubtlesse put â—orth as early flower knit and ripen being in a cold and hard â—oyle as if it were in the warâ—nest and fertillest earth which doth best of all agree with its nature as may be seene daily both in the cold and barren countries of Fraunce as also in other kingdomes much more Northerly and lesse beholden to the Suns warmenesse And herein you shall vnderstand that the principall fruit trees which delight
keepe them still so bare of braunches as that their sap may be imployed wholly in the making of one faire and lustie bodie and stocke and not many afterward pull them vp toward Winter before they haue begun to blossome to transplant and remoue into the nurcerie of stockes To cause them to shoot and put the sooner out of the earth you must steepe their kernells in vvater or milke for the space of two or three daies And you are here to vnderstand that the 〈◊〉 of the Mulberrie-tree doth not grow so haâ—â—ly or bring forth so good fruit as the seed of the Figge-tree For to sow the Elme you must gather his seed before the tree be couered with leaues which is in the beginning of March at such time as it beginneth to be yellow afterward they must be dried two daies in the shadow and after that sowne in a suffâ—cient firme ground an inch deepe and watered often if there fall no raine The Bay-tree must be sowne a foot deepe in the ground and foure seeds togegâ—ther transplanting and remouing it a yeare after into some other place and in like â—ase you are to deale with all such like seeds whether they be of Cypres trees Myâ—â—â—â— trees or others CHAP. III. Of plants comming of stones FOr your plants of stonie kernells as of Oliue-trees Cherrie-trees Plum-trees Almond-trees Peach-trees Chesnut-trees Pomegranat-trees if so be that Pomegranat-trees be rather to be reckoned amongst them which haue stone-kernells than amongst the other which haue the soft kernells Abricots and Date-trees you must drie the stones as they come fresh out of their fruits which you meane to set in the ground at such time as the Sunne is not vâ—â—ie sharpe and in the shadow thereof and see that it haue beene sâ—eeped in milke or vvater three or foure daies before and then thrust it into the earth But this must not be done but in the beginning of Winter that so they may first breake forth in the Spring for and if you put them into the earth before Winter they may also sprout and put forth before it come and so finding them young and tender when it commeth may preuaile against them to kill them they not being able to resist the rigour and roughâ—â—esse of the cold and frosts But and if for your auoyding of 〈◊〉 labour you will graâ—t them in their nurcerie that is to say in the place where you first 〈◊〉 them and where they haue put forth without remouing of them to any other place then seâ— in eueriâ— hole three foure or fiue stones and if all of them spring spring vp and take root yet you must let none but the fairest stand and 〈◊〉 to graâ—t vpon in the place and as for the rest they would be pulled vp and remoued into some other place In what season soeuer it be that you set your stones yet see to it that the ground be good and digged verie deepe but put much small dung amongst it either alone or mingled with dust gathered out of the high waies and see them three fingers within the earth and halfe a â—oot one from another watering them three times euery monâ—â—â— especially in Summer when it falleth out drie and weed them once a moneth Especially see they be set in a faire soile and open vpon the Sunne if so be you would 〈◊〉 a well-â—ed and pleasant-tasted fruit for otherwise if you set them in a shadowed place though it be of a good soyle indeed the fruit may be faire to looke to but 〈◊〉 ynough to eat When the stones are set and haue taken sooting and are become 〈◊〉 what preâ—ily fed pull them vp about Aduent which you mind to transplant and breake off the points of their roots and strip them of all their branches before you set them downe againe in their new appointed standing and know that a double remoue doth make the wild to become free conditioned and better bringing vnto them great aduantage And as concerning particular properties belonging into euerie stone and how it must be set it is to be knowne that grosse Nuts all manner of Peaches wild Figgeâ— Almonds Cheâ—nuts small Abricots but especially and most singularly well the branches becommeth free and reclaimed being set of a stone foreseene that they find as good and as faire a soyle as the trees enioy from whence the fruit of the said 〈◊〉 were taken The stone of the Peare-Plum-tree must be set in a cold place a foot deepe in the ground the point downeward euerie one a foot from another and this in Nouember in high places and in Ianuarie in low places The stone of the Iuâ—ube tree must be set after the manner and fashion of the stone of the Peare-plum-tree but it is long and slow in growing out of the earth The stone of the plum-tree must be set a fat ground a foot deepe and that in Nouember and Februarie and they are to be remoued the same time of the yeaâ—â— making their holes and pits neither too wide nor too deepe The stones or nuts of the Pine-tree must be set in cold places in Februarie and March or about the fall of the Pine-apple or shortly after in pits well digged and of a good mould the apple may not be broken by violence or with any 〈…〉 to get out the kernell but you must attend till it be opened and set vpon 〈◊〉 And the Pine-nuts must be steeped three daies before you set them and then you must set seuen together Some lay them in little baskets and cut them when they are sprung up They need no remoue but and if you do remoue them you must lookâ— in the taking of them vp that you hurt not the chiefe and principall roots Small nuts and plums of all sorts peaches the small and great and great abricâ—â—â— in whatsoeuer good ground and pleasant soyle their kernells be set yet they grow not altogether like vnto the fruit of their trees whereof they were gathered and therefore they delight rather to be grafted vpon their young stockes The stone of the Date which bringeth forth the Date-tree must be set the great 〈◊〉 downeward two cubiâ—â— deepe in the earth and in a place enriched with Goaâ—s 〈◊〉 and the sharpe side vpward it desireth to be watred daily and that there should 〈◊〉 yeare be salt sowne about it and withall it must be remoued The seeds of Limons Citrons Oranges Assyrian Citrons and such like as 〈◊〉 bin said in the second Booke must be prickt downe vpon beds well prepared 〈◊〉 about the moneth of March the sharpest end downward halfe a â—oot 〈◊〉 from another and a finger and a halfe deepe in the ground they loue to be much 〈◊〉 after when they are growne a foot high remoue them to the foot of some wall opâ—â— vpon the South and in Winter when the time is hoarie couer and fauour thâ—â— in such manner as wee haue
you will remouâ— them 〈◊〉 they are or plant them out of their nurserie without other manner of grafting them they vvill not faile to bring you good fruit for the taste and eating as also to 〈◊〉 Cyder of but the best fruit doth alwaies come by grafting for the fruit comming vpon grafting doth alwaies retaine a better forme and groweth more and more kind and withall much the greater but that which groweth of a kernell doth chaung◠〈◊〉 oft as the tree is changed which beareth it And besides you must note that 〈◊〉 all trees which haue a strong fruit grow better of kernels than of boughs yeâ— so it 〈◊〉 that a late â—eed doth bring forth but an ill-fauoured plant especially the said â—eed being put besides his familiar and well pleasing ground CHAP. V. Of Plants Siences and Shooâ—â— THe little siences of Cherrie-trees growne thicke with hairie 〈◊〉 and those also which grow vp from the roots of the great Cherrie-trees being remoued doe grow better and sooner than vpon stones but then they must be taken away and planted whiles they are young 〈◊〉 whiles they be but two or three yeares old for when they are growne thicke they thriue not so well againe if you stay till they be growne groâ—â—e in remouing of 〈◊〉 you must then â—op them and strip them cleane of their braunches setting their great end in the earth the depth of a foot and after treading downe the earth and pricking downe withall at the foot of euerie plant a little stake to hold them fast and to let the vvinds and vvhatsoeuer other thing from harming them But especially you must see that you cut not siâ—nces at any other time than in Winter for that moisture and coolenesse during the time of Winter especially is a meanes to conserue and keepe them and thereupon also they grow and bring forth their fruit the better afterward The Mulberrie tree groweth after the same manner of little â—iences although the best way of planting it be by taking a twigge thereof from the great branches which are cut from the old tree of the length of a foot and setting it good and deepe in the ground and that in such sort as that the ground may couer it three or foure fingers and this done you must see that in Sommer it be watered diligently Fâ—â—berts in like manner doe grow of smal shoots which grow forth of the roots of good Filbere-trees that are well rooted these â—iences must not haue their braunches cut off when they are remoued except they be growne great and ful of branches but three yeares after that they are remoued if they doe not prosper and grow faire you must cut them close by the ground and they will put forth a bush of streight siences verie smooth and neat and of these you may chuse whether you will suffer the fairest onely or all together to grow vp and continue The siences of the Oliue-tree which you intend to transplant must be long and faire ones and full of grosse and thicke moisture so as that they may be taken and grasped in the hand and the barke thereby nothing hurt They must be drawne ouer with dung mixt with ashes the head and the foot and after laid in the earth as they vvere vpon the Tree the lower end more downeward and into the earth and the higher end more vpward and looking into the aire for else they will not take at all and this must be a generall obseruation in transplanting of all manner of siences The siences of a vvell stringed root of a good plum-tree not grafted doe yeeld being transplanted a fruit no vvhit inferiour vnto that of the chiefe and principall plum-trees from which you haue â—aken them But and if the old plum-trees be grafted you must also take grafts and graft them in other plum trees or wild cherrie-trees or vpon â—oure Cherrie-Trees and not to vngraâ—t siences to transplant them Garden plummes and hartlike cherries doe not grow naturally being planted of siences but desire rather to be grafted of grafts CHAP. VI. Of pricking downe or fastening in the earth of small or great braunches SPrigs or plants taken from boughs or branches doe grow more speedily and come to better perfection than the â—eed of kernels or the setting of stones especially if it be put a little besides his owne ground and soylie and of this sort are â—ig-trees quince-trees and pomâ—granâ—t-trees When a man is disposed to pricke downe some small sprig of a Mulberrie Figge Quince Cornell Pomegranat and Plum-tree or many sprigs of all these kinds and their diuers sorts he must cut them off betwixt the first of Nouember and the later end of December or a little after and he must see that these his sprigs be faire and well fauoured ones hauing a sound barke full of little eyes and as thicke as a sticke or thicker He must chuse such as be streight and full of moysture consisting of one onely rodd and of young vvood as of some three or foure yeares old and that they haue also as much old vvood as they haue young and they must be sharpened like a stake for the value of the length of halfe a foot but the bare must be left on vpon one side that their end which you meane to put into the ground must be writhen and steept in vvater or else you must cleaue it a little in quarters and make it stand vvide open and gape vvith a beane in the cleft or else some 〈◊〉 little small stone put in the middest thereof and so pricke it downe in the earth a foot dâ—â—pe or else let it in a little-boxe of pease full of water and so put them all into the ground together The braunches must be gathered vpon a tree that is a good handfull thicke and hath borne fruit they must likewise be verie â—ound and they may be watered with a pipe which goeth downe vnto the root Obserue and marke 〈◊〉 the place nature of the soyle and aspect or scituation of the tree from whence you haue gathered the branch to pricke it downe on the same side the like soyle and the same scituation and lay vpon it some Elder-tree if so be that you would not haue it 〈◊〉 shoot vp into a tall tree but to continue alwaies low the braunches being such they will take the better and not breake in the gathering To plant the Figge-tree after the manner of the Genowais which shall beare fruit within three yeares after and it may be thus planted all Sommer time there must be taken a Figge-tree branch that hath borne fruit two or three yeares and that 〈◊〉 hauing leaues and fruit vpon it or not it must be sharpened and cut biace and pâ—icked thicke about that end which shall be set into the ground and afterward planted in a pit halfe a foot deepe in such sort as that the top of it may abide aboue the ground with
three or foure of the little eyes and be couâ—â—ed with straw for 〈◊〉 daies and watered euerie one of those sixe daies afterward let it be vncouered because by this time it will haue put forth and in the end of the yeare towards the moneth of Februarie you must cut off that which is put forth close by the earth and after that 〈◊〉 will shoot so mightily as that it will beare fruit the second yeare CHAP. VII Of the manner of making Siences for to plant FOr to make Siences of diuers sorts which you may plant and set â—â—â—â—ding as you shall haue need cut in the Winter some great tree if it begin to be yellow or vvaxe bleake and pale and whereof you 〈◊〉 haue increase saw off some stockes of the thickest braunches into â—â—â—choons about the length of a foot and make a furrow in some verie far ground and of that depth as that you may set your â—â—uncheons in them endwaies the earth cast vpon and courering them some three or foure fingers and prouiding that being thus 〈◊〉 in this furrow they may stand halfe a foot one from another couer them well and vvater them in Sommer if there be need and weed them verie well its space of time they will put forth â—iences which you may remoue when they haue taken rootâ—â—â— two or three yeares but and if they haue not as then any roots set them good and deepe into good earth that so you may cause their roots to grow And these â—iences will pâ—â— forth other which will likewise serue Marke it that all trees that put forth 〈◊〉 if you cut them in Winter they will shoot out aboundance of â—iences all which will be good to be planted The barberie redde corant and goose-berrie-trees are planted likewise in Winter vpon â—iences that come out of their roots and they must haue some hairy 〈◊〉 but and if they haue no roots there must some be procured to grow out of them CHAP. VIII Of planting of shoots of a yeares growth PRopagating or planting of Trees is fittest for such as haue beene planted of siences and such as doe put forth siences and small shoots from their roots for this causeth them to beare a more beautifull fruit and more aboundantly and more durable because they attract and draw a greater quantitie of iuice out of the earth For this cause Plum-trees Cherrie-trees Pomegranate-trees and all other Garden-trees that are wont to be grafted vpon wild ones would be propagated or planted for in as much as the wild one doth not draw such and so much iuice as the grafted tree doth require it is necessarie that it should be planted As and if a sweet Cherrie-tree should be grafted vpon a wild Cherrie-tree or one that beareth verie sowre Cherries such a Cherrie-tree would not continue and last long neither indeed will it beare anie sweet Cherries if it be not planted a yeare or two after that it is grafted and the reason hereof is because the wild Cherrie-tree draweth not iuice ynough to cause the tree to grow and withall the iuice which it doth draw is not so familiar or fit to bring forth and nourish sweet Cherries There are foure sorts of planting or propagating as in laying of shoots or little branches whiles they are yet tender in some pit made at their foot as shall be said hereafter or vpon a little ladder or in a basket of earth tied to the bottome of the branch or in boaring a Willow through and putting the branch of the tree into the hole as shall be fully declared in the Chapter of Grafting There are likewise diâ—ers seasons for to propagate in but the best is in the Spring and March when the trees are in flowers and begin to grow lustie The young planted siences or little grafts must be propagated in the beginning of Winter a foot deepe in the earth and good manure mingled amongst the earth which you shall cast forth of the pit wherein you meane to propagate it to tumble in vpon it againe In like manner the superfluous siences must be cut close by the earth when as they grow about some speciall impe which wee meane to propagate for they would doe nothing but rot For to propagate you must digge the earth round about the tree that so the roots may be in a manner halfe layd bare afterward draw into length the pit on that side where you meane to propagate and according as you perceiue that the roots will be best able to yeeld and be gouerned in the same pit so vse them and that with all gentlenesse and stop close your sience in such sort as that the wreath which is in the place where it was grafted may be a little lower than the sience of the new wood growing out of the earth euen so high as it possibly may be If the tree that you would propagate should be somewhat thicke and thereby the harder to plie and somewhat stiffe to lay in the pit then you may cut the stocke almost to the middest betwixt the root and the wrythen place and so with gentle handling of iâ— to bow â—owne into the pit the wood which the grafts haue put forth and that in as round a compasse as you can keeping you from breaking of it afterward lay ouer the cut with gummed wax or with grauell and sand If there be manie siences and impes in the plant which you would encrease multiplie and propagate and that all of them by hap or casualtie doe breake in propagating of them the remedie will be to set the tree straight vp and to couer the roots â—gaine with the earth that was about them before and which you had taken away and then to cut all the broken siences a little vnder where they are broken and to leaâ—e them so vntill another yeare when they shall haue put forth new shoots which the Winter following you may propagate but and if of all those siences there remaine some one not broken goe forward and propagate it cutting close by the ground some of the wrythen place and of those shoots which are not broken In propagating of them see that you lay good quantitie of the siences of your branches into the pit couch them there verie round couering them with the earth which you cast vp in making the pit after that you haue first mixt it with good fat â—ould and tread it downe by little and little aboue and looke that none of the said siences doe rise againe after you haue so troden them downe This being done 〈◊〉 right vp all the ends which shall come out of the earth and that so high as you can and to 〈◊〉 them rest for three or foure yeare before you furrow them euen vntill the 〈…〉 taken earth and be alreadie become full of hairie strings you must prickestickes about them for to handsome them taking heed that you breake them not Three or foure yeares after you must doe the earth
chiefely when they are blossomed Before you make wide the cleft with your wedge bind and tie with two or three turnes about with a wickar drawne verie strair your tree foot vpon the place where you intend to make your cleft that so your tree foot may not cleaue too farre which is oftentimes the cause that grafts take not the cleft being so open that it cannot 〈◊〉 shut againe and grow together and so by that meanes breatheth out whatsoeuer it hath of life in that place and both the graft and the foot doe thereupon also perâ—â—â— but this happeneth oftest in Plum-tree stocks and branches of trees because they are more subiect to cleaue thus than anie of the other sorts Great trees and such as yet goe beyond the fore-named measures cannot be grafted by a cleft in the stocke bâ—t verie well in the branches as wee see accomplished in great Apple-trees and wild Peare-trees for they would be rotten before that the grafts could shut and close vp the wound in the stocke If the small branches be drie and without anie sappe you must cut their stockes or armes and after two or three yeares when they haue put forth new siences graft the best and cut away the feeble and starued ones And afterward when the grafts 〈◊〉 put forth verie well you must strengthen and vnderprop them or else wrap them one within another and tie them with wood amongst for feare that the wind should breake them or else if it be a good and well reclaimed tree let new siences grow 〈◊〉 of it And this thing wee see much practised in Normandie Bretaigne and other Countries where they esteeme of Apples and Peares to make Cyder of CHAP. XII To graft in the cleft THe manner of grafting in the cleft that is to say in the stocke being clouen is proper not onely vnto trees which are as great as a mans legge or arme but also vnto others which exceed these in greatnesse It is true that in as much as these trees cannot easily be clouen in their stocke that therefore it is expedient to make incision in some one of their branches and not in the maine bodie as we see to be practised in great Apple-trees and wild Peare-trees and as we haue alreadie declared here before To graft in the cleft you must make choice of a graft that is full of sappe and iuice but it must not be till from after Ianuarie vnto March and you must not thus graft in anie tree that is alreadie budded because a great part of the iuice and sappe would be alreadie mounted vp on high and risen to the top and there dispersed and scattered hither and thither into euerie twigge a newes nothing welcome to the graft You must likewise set downe and resolue not to gather your graft the day that you graft it but tenne or twelue daies before for otherwise if you graft it new gathered it will not be able easily to incorporate it selfe with the bodie and stocke where it shall be grafted because it will come to passe that some part of it will drie and by this meanes will be a hinderance in the stock to the rising vp of the sappe which it should communicate vnto the graft for the making of it to put forth and whereas this dried 〈◊〉 will fall a crumbling and breaking through his rottennesse it will cause to remaine a cauitie and hollow or void place in the stocke which will be an occasion of the like inconuenience to befall the graft and on the other side the graft being as yet new and tender might easily be hurt of the bands which are of necessitie to be tyed round about the stocke for the keeping of the graft firme and fast You must furthermore take heed and see that the tree whereupon you intend to graft haue been transplanted and remoued from out of your stocke-Nurcerie for a long time before that so you may assure your selfe that his rootes are long since well inseaâ—oned and haue fully taken with the earth and thereby also hath sufficient store of sappe and iuice When you are minded to graft manie grafts in one cleft see that the incision made vpon their ends be alike great which if you looke not to it may happily come to passe that the cleft of the stocke shall be forced wider on the one side than on the other You must likewise foresee that the grafts be of one length or not much squaring and it is ynough if they haue three or foure eyelets without the wrench When the plant is once sawed and lopped of all his small siences and shoots round about as also emptied of all his branches if it haue manie then you must leaue but two at the most before you come to the cleauing of it then put to your little Saw and your knife or other edge-toole that is very sharpe cleaue it quite through the middest in gentle and soft sort first tying the stocke verie sure that so it may not cleaue further than is need and then put your wedges into the cleft vntill such time as you haue see in your grafts and in cleauing of it hold your knife with the one hand and the tree in the other to helpe to keepe it from cleauing too farre Afterward with the same hand wherewith you held your tree put in your wedge of Box or Brasill or Bone at the small end that so you may the better take it out againe when you haue set in your grafts If the stocke be clouen or the barke loosed too much from the wood then cleaue it downe lower and set your grafts in and looke that their incision be fit and â—erie iustly answering the cleft and that the two sappes that of the graft and the other of the plant be right and euen set the one against the other and so handsomely sitted as that there may not be the least apparance of anie cut or cleft for if they doe not thus iumpe one with another they will neuer take one with another because they cannot worke their seaming matter and as it were cartilaginous glue in conuenient sort and manner to the gluâ—ng of their ioints together You must likewise beware not to make your cleft ouerthwart the pith but somewhat aside The barke of the Plant being thicker than that of the graft you must set the graft so much the more outwardly in the cleft that so the two sappes may in anie 〈◊〉 ioyned and set right the one with the other but the rind of the plant must be 〈◊〉 what more out than that of the grafts on the clouen side To the end that you may not faile of this worke of imping you must principally take heed not to ouer-cleaue the stocks of your trees but before you widen the cleft with your wedges bind and goe about the stocke with two or three turnes and thaâ— with an Ozier close drawne together vnderneath the same place where you would haue your cleft
to end that so your stocke cleaue not too farre which is a verie vsuall cause of the miscarrying of grafts in as much as hereby the cleft standeth so wide and open as that it cannot be shut and so not grow together againe but in the meane 〈◊〉 spendeth it selfe and breatheth out all his life in that place which is the cause that the stocke and the graft are likewise spilt and this falleth out most oft in Plum-trees and branches of trees You shall also be verie carefull to ioyne together the rindes of your grafts and the plants that so nothing may continue open to the end that the wind moisture of the clay or raine running vpon the grafted place may not 〈◊〉 in When the plane cleaueth verie streight there is not anie danger or hardnesse 〈◊〉 sloping downe the graft if you leaue it somewhat vneuen or rough in some places that so the sappes both of the one and other may the better grow and be 〈◊〉 together When your grafts are once well ioyned vnto your plants draw out your wedges verie softly least you displace them againe You may leaue there within the cleft some small end of a wedge of greene wood cutting it verie close with the head of the stocke or else so soone as your wedge is drawne out put some small chip of greenâ— wood vpon the cleft of the plant Some cast glue into the cleft as it were to 〈◊〉 and glue together the sappes of the two substances Othersome sprinkle into it Sugâ—â— or powder of Cinnamon or some other such spice or some sweet smelling liquor and withall dippe the ends of the grafts in honey or in some other sweet and 〈◊〉 quor hoping that by this meanes the fruits of the trees will retaine the tast thereof But howsoeuer it is couer the cleft of the grafting all about with grauell or sand 〈◊〉 on like a causey or else with gummed waxe which is better to couer withall 〈◊〉 the former or any other thing that can be learned and that the cleft may be very 〈◊〉 filled it must be laid on two fingers thicke or thereabout that so neither wind 〈◊〉 raine may enter or get in and you shall couer it ouer with Moste or Ryestra◠〈◊〉 Barke or the thinne rinde of the Elme prepared with a little earth and 〈◊〉 of old Woollen clothes or the barke of Willow and tie them on verie strait with small Oziers but in binding them take heed that the wreaths doe not shrinke to the one side or the other and if you haue not clay then arme and couer ouer as hath beene said the said clefts with gummed waxe and for want of both these mingle small hay and the earth of the place where you graft in manner of lome or mortar When thus you grafts shall be well wreathed â—asten some small boughes about them for to keepe and defend them Furthermore if the stocke of the plant whereupon you intend to graft be 〈◊〉 so thicke as your graft you shall graft it after the fashion of a Goats foot in 〈◊〉 manner Make a cleft in the stock of the plant not direct but byas and that 〈◊〉 and euen not rough then apply and make fast thereunto the graft with all 〈◊〉 barke on and answering vnto the barke of the plant this being done cover 〈◊〉 place with fat earth and mosse of the wood ried together with a strong band 〈◊〉 to the end that the tree may not be hurt either of the winds or other things 〈◊〉 downe neere vnto it some pole of wood for to strengthten and beare it 〈◊〉 They are greatly to be blamed for their fault committed who hauing faire wild uses or others the fruit thereof displeasing them doe cut them verte low hauing faire branches aboue and a bodie of the thicknesse of a mans legge and there graft them when as fiue or sixe years will scarce couer the wound that they haue made by such their kind of grafting whereas they might with as much eale haue grafted vpon the branches of the same and then they had not beene aboue a finger thicke and would haue growne better and brought more profit because that and if you haue foure branches you may make as manie grafts thereof and these will beare fruit the second yeare CHAP. XIII Of grafting in the ends of branches FOr to graft at the end of such branches as haue goodly new wood and great siences on high although the tree haue beene grafted before and that it be as yet not throughly growne take grafts of what sort of tree you will and cut some of the siences off from the high parts of the tree where you mind to graft and if the grafts should be thicker than the siences then graft them after the manner of the Goats foot as hath beene said alreadie of small Plants And if the siences be of the same bignesse with your grafts then cut them between the old and new wood or a little higher or lower and cleaue them a little and cut the graft of the like thicknesse to the sience which you haue cut off making but a short incision and reseruing the barke vpon both sides and looking that both the sides be of equall thicknesse then set your graft thus fitted into the cleft and that so as that the barkes of both sides the graft may stand euen with the barkes of the branch And for these grafts it is ynough if euerie one of them haue one good eyelet or two about the wreathing for to leaue them anie longer would not be good and you must wreath and wrap them in earth and mosse and couer it ouer againe with Woollen clothes and tye them vnto the same verie strongly as hath beene said Also by this meanes you may procure that one tree shall bring forth diuers fruits so that they be not such as the situation of the Countrey and qualitie of the Ayre doe refuse and reiect as I haue seene sometimes at Padua in the Garden of Messire Gabriel where one stalke of a tree hath borne fruits of diuers sorts And there is nothing that should hinder or let vs in this Countrey from doing the like if it be not perhaps that in some places the fauourable furtherance and mildnesse of the ayre is not so correspondent and answerable Moreouer if you will graft little Plants in this manner see that they be of the same thicknesse of the grafts and graft them neere vnto the earth as some three fingers off or thereabouts This manner of grafting at the ends of branches must be done in trees whose branches haue beene formetly cut off by reason either of some great want or else too great aboundance of sappe and that there be put forth of their stocke some new shoots which three or foure yeares after may be grafted after the manner wee haue spoken of Thus Columella teacheth vs to graft the Oliue-tree vpon the Figge-tree CHAP. XIIII To graft betwixt the wood and the barke IT
you shall furnish it euerie manner of vvay as others are deale withall And this kind of grafting is more profitable and sooner growne vp than that which is done in the forme of a Scutcheon CHAP. XVII Of other sorts of kinds of grafting vpon all sorts of Trees YOu may graft in the bud by taking vp the bud of a young shoot or plant and putting it with a little barke in the place of another which you shall haue pulled from the Tree vvhereupon you meane to graft binding it there aboue and below in manner as hath beene said of the Scutcheon-like graft and this may be done at the same time and vpon the same trees You may graft all manner of grafts vpon all manner of trees after this manner Make two pits foure foot euerie way and the one hard by the other in the one of these plant an Oliue-tree and in the other a Figge-tree or any other such like sort of Trees as shall best please you when the Oliue-tree hath taken root you shall bow downe such plants of the same as seemeth vpto you the fairest of the rest and bind them to the foot of the said Figge-tree this being done cut away all the other plants of the said Oliue-tree except they be such as you meane in like manner to graft then cut downe the Figge-tree and make smooth and euen the cut after this clause it in the middest with a wedge after which scape both the sides of the ends of the siences of the Oliue-tree such as the Tree beareth and put them in the cleft of the Fig-tree in such manner as that they may reach through afterward â—ome the said cleft of the Figge-tree on the one side and on the other with tough â—ome and tie fast within the stocke of the said Figge-tree the said plants in such sort as that a man cannot pull them away Thus three yeares after the Figge-tree and Oliue-tree will grow together and the fourth yeare when they are well growne you shall cut and vncoâ—ple the plants of the said Oliue-tree from it as is done in propagating so they shall seeme not to appertaine any longer vnto the Oliue-tree This manner of grafting is verie vsuall in the Countrie of Mans where I remember I haue rasted of a grape which had the cast of a nut because the vine that bare this grape had beene grafted into a nut-tree and after that manner that I haue now spoken of To graft in a Canon Flute or Cornet is thus perâ—ormed You must raise a long Gun or Canon hauing two or three eyelets from oft a new and reclaimed plant that is a finger thicke or thereabout and cleaue it casily the whole length of it after you must raise of the barke of some branch of a plant of the like thicknesse a Canon of the like length to the former and in place of this later you must make fast the foresaid Canon of the said barke of the new branch as forward and close as it can be set and the superfluous barke of that wherewith there is nothing intended to be done is bestowed vpon this thus grafted to defend it after this it is tied aboue and below the eyelets so carefully as that they may not be hutt then you must cut away the wood which is aboue the root and worke it ouer with gummed waxe all along the seames and at the end To graft in the bodie of a Tree is thus You must pierce the stocke of a Tree with a wimble euen vnto the pith and afterward cleansing the hole of the wimble 〈◊〉 well you must by force put a graft thereinto which hath two or three eyelets within and then after that close vp the hole verie sure with waxe To graft vpon a Willow or Colewort Make in the pole of a Willow or stocke of a Colewort two holes reaching to the marrow or pith either halfe a foot from the other set therein as it were by force euen in either of them a graft of such fruit as you your selfe will hauing their barkes seraped off and this in such foâ—t as that the holes be stope all of them therewith after this you must stop the same holes verie will with Waxe pricking downe the said pole within halfe a foot of some water after such a manner as that the grafts may be three fingers vnder the earth and at the end of the yeare when it hath taken root cut the plant in peeces and plant euerie graft where you your selfe will Thus you may graft in the Crowne You must cut oft the bodie of a great Tree rather than a little or thinne one vp on high but yet it may not be old though it may haue a hard barke rather than a soft and thinne afterward you must open it vp aboue on high in three or foure places in the cut of the barke of the said sâ—ocke which done you must with the helue of a penknife of bone being verie sharpâ— pointed put into euerie one of those opened places a graft gathered from the most Easterly part of his owne Tree then you must stop and couer well with toâ—gh 〈◊〉 or clay the wound that is aboue and lay a good cap vpon it so as that neither the raine may be able to wash and corrupt it neither yet the ayre to drie and chinker it after this you must tie the Tree with a coard or band neere vnto the place where the Tree was sawed ofâ— that so it cleaue not then you must thrust in your wedge betwixt the barke and the wood after which it remaineth that these grafts be 〈◊〉 to set round about the bodie of the Tree one distant from another no lesse than foure fingers then for the shutting vp of the matter taking away the coard or girth you must tie the barke with a companie of Oziers being of that length as that they may goe about the bodie of the Tree three or foure turnes and doubles that so by this meanes the grafts may be garded and stand fast against the winds and whatsoeuer other violence and against the bodie of the Tree you must set a stake or prop for to beat it vp and stay it taking away all the shoots that are about it because that by how much the number shall be the lesse by so much the more will the sap proout the strength and grouth of boughs Some doe graft in a Sience after this manner They make way into the Tree and that to the verie pith thereof with a penknife and after grafting a plant therein stop it vp close with Waxe Otherwise and the likelier some take a sience of one joyâ—â— and writh it afterward taking from it his joynts and bark and so graft it vpon a sheet as thicke as it selfe and it taketh quickly To graft in a morsell you must take in the moneth of March a peece of the thicknesse of ones thumbe and sufficient broad and long together with the eyelet
the later end of the Moone and then they will beare their fruits as others doe Notwithstanding this limiting and bounding of the time of the Moone is not of such warrantiâ—e but that the tree may be as profitable at all other times of the Moone as well as either then or else in the encrease and new of the Moone Some plant in Ianuarie the plants that haue the shanke or foot of their shoots â—ut by as as also the plant that is set of stones and in a well tempered place but in a warme place men are wont to plant in the moneths of October Nouember and December Trees that haue a grosse thicke root are planted in October Nouember and December but the shoots or little branches are planted in March when they are in sappe Trees that haue a great pith as Figge-trees naturalized Mulberrie-trees Hazell and such like are planted without anie root from after mid September vnto the beginning of Nouember but other trees which you would plant with roots must be planted about the beginning of December or verie shortly after Grosse trees are transplanted from one place into another in the moneth of Nouember and they must be freed from Snailes and lopt and cropt before they be transplanted for so they take the better and put forth their siences verie powerfully and if in taking of them vp or transporting of them it happen that the barke of their roots be broken you must draw the pilled and vncouered place ouer with good dung or earth before that you put it into the ground againe and stirre vp the earth verie well round about where you intend to let them downe againe to the end that their roots may spread and seat themselues to their good contentment without being pinched or straitâ—ned Some doe remoue from after the beginning of Nouember vntill March when the trees begin to enter into their sappe for the sappe once drawing vp aloft doth forbid all remouing of the tree and therefore in such case the sooner the better that is so say if presently after the leaues be fallen which is in the beginning of Winter you goe about it but in waterie places it is good to stay till Ianuarie and Februarie but nothing must be done this way when it raineth or when the earth is wet for it would so harden vpon the drying as that the roots would be oppressed and choaked The young grafts which you haue grafted in the stocke-Nurcerie or elsewhere must be remoued as soone as the grafts shall haue closed vp the cleft of the plant as some are of opinion but yet this is hazarded ware the graft hauing not as yet taken almost anie disposition or good liking of the sappe of the plant which being thus againe remoued it halfe aâ—tonished and put out of the high way of his well-pleasing nourishment and so beginneth to wither when it commeth to take a cast of his new dishes and prouision but and if you stay till the graft haue put forth a faire branch before you remoue the graft you shall shunne the danger that might otherwise ensue You must plant your trees againe as soone as you haue taken them vp if no other weightie matter let you but if you be put off from doing it either because it is brought you from farre or vpon some other occasion you must so soone as they be taken vp couer their roots with the earth from whence they were taken new leaues and slraw that so the raine may not wash them and make them afterward to 〈◊〉 when they become drie againe and to the end also that the ayre and breath 〈◊〉 of the wind or of the Sunne or yet of the Moone may not drie them and 〈◊〉 the moisture which keepeth their roots in good hearr and fit to grow 〈…〉 things being verie hurtfull but the raine the worâ—e of the two Sowre Cherrie-trees cannot abide to be remoued for being transplanted they will hardly put forth anie siences especially if they haue their chiefe and principall root maimed Before you remoue great trees you must loppe off their boughes verie diligeraly at hath beene said but as for little ones you need not crop them to take off 〈◊〉 of their heads neither yet to take anie of their boughes from them if they haue 〈◊〉 too bushie a head If you desire to know a reason wherefore it is thus If you 〈◊〉 the head and toppes vpon trees when they are growne somewhat great and thicke they will still be lending of their sappe vpward not looking to the feeding of the roots for that the ayre attracteth the nourishment of plants as may easily be proued by example when there groweth anie small tree vnder one that is verie great for there the small tree will not thriue so well as if it were abroad in the ayre and 〈◊〉 vnder the shadow and so that which hath his head cut off will take root sooner than and if it were whole and vntouched But if the tree which you remoue exceed not the thicknesse of a great ynch you shall let it remaine whole because young plants take root more easily than those which are old and the reason is openly knowne If the rootes of the trees which you would remoue be much longer than is needfull you may take off the ends thereof in setting them downâ— againe and that so much as may fit best for the hole wherein you meane to set them for so by this meane they will not be stopped vp of the sides of the hole but will amast and draw moisture out of the earth for the nourishment of the tree a great deale more aboundantly When you remoue anie tree you must lay his rootes round about with 〈◊〉 earth and take heed that the weedie earth which you haue digged or cut away 〈…〉 pit whither you meane to remoue it doe not fall in amongst the roots for it would put them in danger to be ouer-heated or else that they growing vp againe might diminish the nourishment of the tree If it happen that the earth which you 〈◊〉 taken out of the pit be full of wormes which might hurt the rootes then 〈◊〉 therewith some lee and ashes When the rootes haue taken foot trample downe the ground as hard as may be or else beat it with a Pauiers beetle watering it afterward if it be drie or else not CHAP. XX. Of the place and soile for Trees in generall THe principall point in growing of Trees is to prouide them of 〈◊〉 ayre and earth because that these doe cheere and season theâ— and are the proper subiect of their nourishment And as concerning the earth that is recommended into vs as to be had in regard and looked vnto more than anie thing else as that it be such as is verie murlie temperate in cold and heat and of a meane and middle sort of moisture and fatnesse for such ground as exceedeth in anie one of these things is not so fit for anie Fruit-tree This
is a rule to stand generall in and for all Fruit-trees but as for particular kinds of Trees it is verie well knowne that euerie particular Tree craueth his seuerall 〈◊〉 particular soyle whence it may gather fit and agreeable nourishment for it 〈◊〉 as Theophrastus testifieth In like manner one desireth a diuers kind of placing and situation from the other Wherefore the trees which craue the refreshment of hauing their stockes taken vp doe commonly thriue better in valleyes than in high places as well for that their seat must not be altogether so drained of moisture as the higher places be as also for that the moisture which is in higher grounds conueyeth it selfe and distilleth into the lower and hollow whether it be raine or anie spring rising from thence In watrie places you must not make your pit verie deepe wherein you mean to plant your tree but in drie grounds you must set them somewhat more deepe neiâ—her yet must you heape too much earth in vpon those pits when you fill them vp againe that so the raine may the better stay about them and water them That which is commonly receiued as that in good ground there grow good fruits must be vnderstood with respect had to the naturall goodnesse that the fruit hath in 〈◊〉 selfe if both the industrie and skill of man to husband and keepe it neat and deliâ—â—er it when anie inconuenience presseth vpon it to drie and to season it so as that it may yeeld his fruit in due time be not wanting for these failing the fruit will likewise greatly faile of his goodnesse tast and durablenesse and so will falsifie the generall rule aboue named Set downe with your selfe to remoue your trees into so good a ground or rather better than that from whence you tooke them vp hauing respect to other especiall obseruations besides to be obserued according as will be required of the particular natures of euerie one And if it is be possible remoue them into the like situation for the receiuing of the Sunne-shine vnto they which they were first set and planted in and that you may not faile hereof marke their barke vpon such or such a quarter and set 〈◊〉 vpon the same againe in remouing of it But this obseruation as I must confesse is not alwaies kept for the reasons aboue named Also plant those of a forward Spring in a late soyle and a late soyle in a hot â—round The greatest part of trees doe delight in the South Sunne and to be seated vpon â—ome Sunnie banke from the Westerne wind as being verie contrarie vnto them â—specially to Almond-trees Abricot-trees Mulberrie-trees Figge-trees and Pomeâ—ranate-trees but principally from the North-east wind because it is sharpe swithâ—â—ing verie hurtfull for all sorts of plants euen to all fruits of what qualitie soeuer that â—hey be but chiefely when they are in blossome and that because it bloweth from off â—he Sea as also for that it is halfe North which is verie sharpe but not so dangerous 〈◊〉 the North-east and some say that this wind bloweth once a yeare as in the Spring â—nd that it spoyleth buds especially those of the Vine Vnde versus Vae tibi Galerna â—re quam fit clausa Taberna On the contrarie Chesnut-trees Cherrie-trees that beare 〈◊〉 sowre fruit Quince-trees and Plum-trees doe not much affect or sport and delight â—hemselues either with cold or much heat In watrie places trees commonly grow great and beare much fruit and leaues but â—hey are not of anie commendable rellish colour or durablenesse yea they beare â—ruit commonly the yeare they are set if they be accustomed to beare Trees must be â—et the thicker in a fruitfull soyle If you meane to plant trees in a cold place and that yet the tree should not be hurt of the cold you must plant them on the Sunnie side of the banke from the North â—ut towards the South CHAP. XXI Of the place and time wherein euerie Fruit-tree delighteth to be sowne planted and grafted in particular and first of the Almond-tree THe Almond-tree delighteth in hot places looking towards the South or East or where the ayre at the least is moderate as vpon the tops of hills or places neere vnto hills that are somewhat stonie and grauâ—lie stonie or marlie in which places it doth not onely flourish well being planted and blossome aboundantly but beareth therewithall great quantitie of drie Almonds as also hard and well-rellisht ones But contrariwise if it be planted in a moist and watrie ground and cold place it neither groweth well not beareth fruit well neither yet continueth long The fit time for the setting of it is about the Winter Solsâ—ice which is the eleuenth day of December euen vnto the end of the same moneth or somewhat after for the plant of this tree being forward and early in putting forth buds if it were planted in the Spring time it might let slip and loosen the time of the yeare which might be the fittest for the maintaining and comforting of his blossome If you would haue it to grow of the stone vnbroken and if I may so say of his seed you must let it be in Ianuarie and all Februarie in such places as are temperate or in October and all the moneth of Nouember in places that are hat And thus to cause it to grow of his fruit you must take new Almonds thicke ones hauing white shells verie porous and spongie and lay them in steepe for the space of twelue houres in honied water and after this digge them in the earth foure finger deepe the sharpe end downeward and after to water them three of foure times a moneth It groweth also of shoots and siences but the sience must be taken from the top of the tree full of pith sound of barke and cut vnder the knot And as concerning the grafting of it you must take the time of Autumne for as hath beene said this tree is a quick-spur and fore-rider but and if you stay till the Spring time you shall breake it off when the sience is fully put forth And for the chusing of grafâ—s that will take well you must take them vp on high and on the top of the tree and not from the middest much lesse from below and these grafts you may graft either in the bud or in the cleft and vpon a tree of his owne kind or vpon the peach or Plum-tree indeed the Almond-tree that is grafted is not of such growth or so â—â—â—â—full as that which is planted The good Farmer must plant and make grow great store of Almond-trees seeing they are not chargeable to maintaine neither yet their fruit to keepe but rather of greater profit and lesser losse than anie other seeing that euen vnder them Come will grow iolly and faire the Almond-tree hauing but a few leaues and those little ones The barren Almond-tree will become fruitfull and beare if you lay open the roots in Winter or else if you pierce
be fallen at the least three or foure times vpon them because it strengtheneth them greatly to their better enduring and lasting and encreaseth their goodnesse But in anie case they may not be gathered in raine but rather in drie weather being themselues well dried by the Sunne and that in gathering they be not hurt by anie manner of meanes whatsoeuer but to chuse them one after another by cutting them downe with a good knife made fast to the end of a pole or else to make them fall into a cloth spread vnderneath for the receiuing of them and in it separating the rotten spoyled or hurt from amongst the faire sound whole and vnhurt ones that so they may be layed vp to keepe in such sort as wee will declare hereafter in his place Although generally and without saying anie thing of anie particular by way of comparison the Apple be farre fuller of iuice and for the most part more sound than the Peare notwithstanding if one should stand vpon the tast the Peare is commonly more pleasant and better relished and more contenting and agreeing with ones tast eaten in his season raw rosted or preserued than the Apple wherefore I am ashamed that men giue not themselues to plant moe Peare-trees than Apple-trees seeing that besides the reasons alledged the Peare-tree of all other fruit-trees is the fairest streightest and couering no whit so much ground with his shadow as the Apple-tree doth bearing also his fruit almost euerie yeare where the Apple-tree is but a iourney-man bearing one yeare and not another There is a drinke made of Peares called Perrie whereof we will speake as also vineger of wild Peares as hath alreadie beene said of Apples The Peare hath this speciall vertue aboue the rest that the often vse of the kernels should be maruellous profitable vnto such as are troubled with the inflammation of the lungs as also for them that haue eaten manie Mushromes that they may rid their stomacke of so great a load there is nothing better than to eat Peares for the Peare by his weightinesse and astringent iuice maketh the Mushromes eaten and lying in the bottome of his stomacke to descend and fall downe from thence CHAP. XXX Of the Medlar-tree CErtaine it is that the Medlar-tree groweth into a thicke stock it endureth the cold ayre easily and yet delighteth best in a hot or temperate ayre and in a sandie and fat ground It is planted either of roots or of branches and that in Nouember and some sow it of stones in a ground mixt with dung it will beare fruit in great quantitie if there be layed to the foot of it earth mixt with ashes It may be grafted vpon it selfe or vpon the Peare-tree Apple-tree or Quince-tree and that it may be well grafted and with good grafts you must prouide your selfe of those which grow out of the middest of the Medlar-tree and not of the top and it must be grafted in the cleft or highestâ— part of the stocke not in the barke because the leanenesse of the barke would not be able sufficiently to nourish it If you graft it vpon a Quince-tree the fruit will be verie faire and the reason is verie manifest because the stocke which receiueth the graft and nourisheth it is giuen naturally to bring forth a thicke grosâ—e fruit and yet it will yeeld a fairer without all comparison if you graft it vpon the hawthorne vvith which it is joyned in exceeding familiar and friendly league also the fruit that commeth thereof is more beautifull and plentifull it may also be verie fitly grafted vpon any other thorne it selfe being pricklie if you graft the Medlar-tree vpon any other Tree that is not of his owne kind the Medlar will haue either no stones or verie few or else verie little ones If the vvormes assaile the Medlar-tree you must water the stocke with vinegar or throw ashes vpon it Some hold it for certaine that the flesh and especially the small stones of the medlar dried either seuerally and alone or else together made into powder and drunke with white wine wherein hath beene boyled the roots of Parsly doe breake and consume the stone as well of the reines as of the bladder Looke into the second booke in the Chapter of Turneps as concerning this remedie You may make a cataplasme of drie medlars cloues white and red corall and nutmeg all incorporated with the juice of Roses to lay vpon the bellie in the great fluxes of the same and vpon the breast for the spitting of bloud CHAP. XXXI Of the Mulberrie-tree MVlberries grow vpon a certaine kind of Tree which hath a firme wood but a brittle fruit and leaues it buddeth the last of all other Trees after that the cold is ouerpassed vvhereupon it is called by the name of sage or wise wittie and prouident it putteth not forth his leaues till all other Trees be laden with leaues if at the least you hasten not forward his budding by giuing vnto it fresh and new dung in the new of the Moone of Februarie This Tree is of two sorts the one vvhite because of the white Mulberries the other blacke because of the blacke or red Mulberries which it beareth and bringeth forth which though they resemble one another in this that both of them doe put forth their leaues later than any other Tree yet notwithstanding they are vnlike in flowers leaues and other considerations For the blacke doth not onely bring forth a farre fairer and better relished fruit and that of greater aboundance of liquor than the white but it hath besides a thicker stocke and a greater and harder leafe it groweth verie hardly and with much adoe being planted and it is a great while in growing before it become great and therefore is no shame that there are so fâ—w it being so vnapt of it selfe to grow being planted of plants and siences as also propagated and multiplied vnder the earth with the stocke that bare it euen as is vsed to be done with the white ones which yet doe grow infinitely euerie where as well planted of shootes and propagated as sowne both the one and the other doe loue a hot ayre or at the least a temperate a ground that is fat and well battled with dung and labour at the foot and to be kept cleane from mosâ—e and caterpillers and without any dead wood They are planted especially the white either of shoots or of roots or buds and that in October and Nouember even in like manner as the figge-tree In planting of them you must make them deepe and large pits and couer them with earth mixt with ashes they may be grafted vpon the chesnut-tree apple-tree wild peare-tree cornaile-tree elme or white popler and then they will beare white mulberries and this must be in the cleft and vpon the figge-tree in the scutcheon-like graft they may also be grafted vpon themselues and the one vpon the other as the vvhite Mulberrie-tree vpon the white and the blacke
the yeare after that they beare out of all measure as in Portugale and the oyle that is made of those is good in the highest degree You must in any case looke to the inconueniences and harmes that the Oliue-tree is subiect vnto Many times in drie or moist places Oliue-trees are spoyled and become all ouergrowne with mosse which must be taken away with one toole or other for else the Oliue-tree will neither abound in leaues nor fruit Sometimes the Oliue-tree although it be faire yet beareth no fruit and then you must bore through the stocke with a wimble and put in good and deepe the graft of a greene bough of a wild oliue-tree or of some other oliue-tree that is fruitful and that vpon either side of the hole then afterward to close vp both the said holes with mortar mixt with straw and the tree as a new made thing wit become fruitful by the grafting in of this graft Others in such case doe vncouer the root and renew the seat that it standeth in Againe it may be remedied and the foot not vncouered with the lees of vnsalted oliues with mans vrine that is old or with the stale vrine of hogges It falleth out many times that the fruit is spoyled and lost by the naughtinesse of the ground where it is planted and then it must be thus remedied The Tree must be vncouered verie low at the â—oot round about and quicke lime put into it more or lesse according to the greatnesse of the Tree for a little tree craueth but a little The Oliue-tree sometimes beareth much fruit or flowres and notwithstanding by a secret disease that is in it it cannot bring them to a good end to ripen them vvhen thâ—â— happeneth the stocke must be vncouered round about and the lees of oyle mixt with sweet water afterward applied thereto Sometimes the Oliue-tree becommeth all withered and falling into a consumption which thing may happen through wormes or other vermine which spoyle and eat the roots and the remedie is to water the foot with lee of Oliues It sometimes also falleth out that the fruâ—t of the Oliue-tree falleth before it be ripe for a remedie whereof take a beane that hath a weeule within it close vp the hole with wax afterward take a greene turfe from neere vnto the root of the Oliue-tree and put the beane in it and so couer it with earth and the fruit of the oliue-tree will not fall Aboue all things you must keepe oliue-trees from Turtle-doues Stares and other such like birds which are exceedingly giuen to â—â—corishnesse As concerning the Oliue-tree and oliues you may see more at large in the second booke and of the oyle in this third booke CHAP. XXXV Of the Date-tree COncerning the Date-tree it hath much a doe to beare fruit in this coâ—â—trie but and if it beare yet it is verie late it craueth to haue a hot ayre and countrie or at the least well tempered and the fruit which it beareth is ripe before the Oliue-tree be good It delighteth in a light sandie and vntilled or champian ground and it is a plant either for Aprill or May to be planted of a small plant with the root The stone is set new in October and there must ashes be mingled with the earth where it is planted and to make iâ— grow and beare goodly fruit it must be watered often with the lees of wine Looke in the second booke Who so is carefull of his health let him not eat any Dates or else as few as possible he can because they cause the head-ach obstructions wringings in the bellie and in the stomach And yet notwithstanding this they stay the flux of the bellie and put into gargarismes they cure the frettings and cankrous vlcers of the mouth CHAP. XXXVI Of the Chesnut tree LEauing the Date-tree we come now to treat of the Chesnut-tree which groweth verie great high and thicke differing but a little from the walnut-tree it beareth a profitable fruit and hath not his like whether you respect the shape his nature or the nourishment it yeeldeth 〈…〉 as is to be seene in Auuergne Sauoy Periguâ—ux and Lymosin and especially in Lyonnoyse and Daulphinie where the great chesnuts grow in which countries especially in Parigord the greatest parts of the forests are of chesnut-trees an infinit 〈◊〉 of people liue not of any other thing but of this fruit eating it sometimes boyled sometimes roasted sometimes made into bread sometimes into broth with 〈◊〉 sometimes in meale baked after another sort Likewise nature seeing the profit 〈◊〉 redounded vnto men from this so profitable a fruit hath fenced and armed it with strong harnesse and such mightie armour as that it goeth for proofe both against the tooth of the beast and beake of the birds so long as it is kept within his vppermost cote and prickly couering yea and furthermore vnder his rind and pilling when it is taken away with another rind that is good and hard and with another that is more soft and fine for the better preseruing of it This tree pleaseth it selfe with such a ground as is lying vpon the North and being moist rather than drie or standing vpon the South for as much as it loueth the shadow better than the open Sunne the valleyes better than the mountaines a soft ground better than that which is hard and massie and a light ground and yet not a sandie or clayie To haue good store of Chesnuts it is better to sow them than to plant them and that in a well digged and stirred ground being also neat and well batled and that in the moneth of March â—etting them in the earth a foot deepe the sharpe end vpward foure or sixe of them together taken out of great and ripe Chesnuts and euerie hole distant from another the space of a fadome and two or three yeares after to plant them in some other places fortie foot asunder euerie one from another and that in respect of the great compasse which they take with their branches on euerie side If you would haue it to grow of a branch it must be such a one as hath root for to make it grow of it selfe by pricking downe into the earth some sience it will neuer be Wherefore the most certaine way is to make it grow of the fruit it selfe pricking it downe into the earth as hath beene said notwithstanding it may be propagated or multiplied burying and sinking some of his new shoots in the earth It taketh likewise if it be grafted in the cleft or in the Canon or Gun-like graft and that in March Aprill and May vpon it selfe or vpon the Beech-tree or vpon the Willow but it then ripeneth verie quickly and beareth a fruit of a sharpe and vnpleasant tast Chesnuts must be gathered in Autumne and kept till their rindes be become of a verie bay colour and cast out their fruit Howbeit if one would keepe them a long time
it were better to beat them downe with poles whiles they be greene and not to tarrie till they fall to the ground for those will not keepe aboue fifteene daies if they be not presently dried in the smoake The manner of keeping Chesnuts is to couer them with common Nuts for the common Nut hath power to drie and inuade the excrementous moisture of all things whereunto it is applyed or else to gather them reasonably ripe in the decrease of the Moone and to put them in a coole place in sand or in some vessell but let in stand continually in the coole and so well stopt as that no ayre may get in for otherwise they will be spoyled and rotten in a short time The fairest best fed and most pleasant Chesnut of all others is that which groweth in the Countrey of Lyonnoise and are called great Chesnuts of Lyons or else I know not as yet from whence they haue taken their name But howsoeuer it is besides the profit of the nourishment and sustenance which the Chesnut yeeldeth the Chesnut-tree is of great vse to make Vessels of as Caske to put wine and other drinkes into to build Bridges withall as also Conduit-pipes Pillars and infinite other things about Buildings Engines props for Vines Pales and Railes for Parkes Gardens and other such places The leaues of the Chesnut-tree after they be fallen are gathered vp before anie raine come to touch them and serueth for litter for Cattell which being thus turned into dung serueth to manure withall Many vse them to fill featherbed-ticks withall and call them mockingly by the nick-name of Parliament-beds because the leaues make a noise when you lye downe vpon them when you rise vp from them or when you moue your selfe anie manner of way to or fro The ashes of the wood of Chesnut-tree is not good to make lee of because it spottâ—â—h and staineth the Linnen so mightily as that such staines will neuer be got out Chesnuts with vineger and barly flower applyed in manner of a Cataplasme vnto womens breasts which are hard doe make the same soft stamped with salt and honâ—y they are applyed vnto the bitings of mad dogges the rinds or skinnes thereof are put manie times in lees which are made to colour the haire yellow their red inward rind which lyeth next vnto the white kernell being drunke the weight of two drammes stayeth all manner of fluxes of the belly and of bloud as also the whites of women with equall quantitie of Iuorie Chesnuts in as much as they be wiâ—die they prouoke men to lust being eaten excessiuely they cause the head-ach they swell and harden the belly and are of hard digestion such as are roasted vnder ashes are lesse hurtfull than the raw or boyled ones especially if they be eaten with pepper per and salt or sugar CHAP. XXXVII Of the Pine-tree THe Pine-tree craueth a sandie light and stonie ground and therefore it groweth willingly in out-cast and contemned plots such as there are manie of by the coasts of the maine Sea It is planted in the moneth of October and Nouember and it is not to be translated till after that it hath beene three years planted and then it must be seated in a well digged place and in an earth well manured with Horse dung This tree hath a nature contrarie vnto the Walnut-tree because it causeth to thriue and prosper whatsoeuer is set vnder the shadow of it againe it is not so combersome as to keepe away the Sunne and the wind from the things that ioyne next vnto it or vnder it The Pine kernes for to be kept must be put in new pots full of earth together with their shells Such as haue weake lungs or are growne leane by some long sicknesse must goe a taking of ayre into the Forests where there are good store of Pines because such ayre is verie profitable for them Their kernels steeped in warme water to take away their oylie qualitie and sharpnesse being often eaten doe cure the ach of the 〈◊〉 the ach of the backe the palsie benummednesse trembling of the parts weaknesse of the lungs shortnesse of breath vlcers of the lungs vlcers of the reines and of the bladder the scalding of the vrine and make fat such as are leane and wasted 〈◊〉 vp lust in such as languish and are weake vnto the workâ— of venerie They cure the gnawings of thâ— stomacke taken with water of Plantaine or iuice of Purcelane The new Nuts of the Pine-tree distilled in a Limbecke make a singular water to take away the wrinckles of the face and to stay the excessiue great growth of womeâ—â— breasts if you apply a Linnen cloth steeped in this water vpto them Set in the second Booke CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Plum-tree AS for the Plum-tree it is a common and ordinarie tree agreeing with 〈◊〉 Countries of whatsoeuer conditions howbeit the Damaske Plum-tree is more cheerefull and pleaseth it selfe better in a drie Countrie and hot aire than it doth elsewhere The Plum-tree will grow easily and encreâ—se infinitely for and if it be once brought into a plot of ground in a short time it â—eiseth it selfe vpon the whole place and if it be planted on the one side of a wall it will leape within a short time after vpto the other side of it and so placeth the wall in the midst It desireth not to be dunged because the dung maketh the fruit to mould or rot and easily to fall downe but it would be oft digged at the foot round about as fâ—rre as the compasse of his roots stretcheth and watred in drie weather It growth vpon a stone buried a foot deepe in the earth that is fat and that in Nouember or Februarie hauing sleept the said stone for three daies space before you sow or set it in lee or longer in a composition of Cinnamon water if you would haue it to yeeld anie aromaticall smell or else of a meere plant hauing a root in a pit a little digged because it graspeth not much ground with his foot but yet it must be good and light and easie to be pierced round about for the affoording of an easie and plentifull seat vnto it It groweth also in prosperous sort if it be grafted after the Scuti hâ—on-like fashion either vpon it selfe or vpon the sweet Cherrie or else in the cleft and that besides the two former vpon the Apple-tree Almond-tree Peach-tree and Ceruise-tree of all which sorts of grafts that is the best which is vpon it selfe or vpon the sweet Cherrie-tree for all the rest are but meanes to cause the Plum to degenerate from his nature and to become bastardly as well in their shape as in their tast The fittest time to graft them is in Februarie or in March and then rather in the stocke than in the barke There is a certaine kind of scab which doth take hold of it and that either by letting the gumme to stand and hang
propagate the Winter following in the said â—oneth of March at which time the sappe draweth vp vnto the barke if so be that you desire to haue great store It taketh also of a branch foreseene that it be set in a fat and blacke earth which is moist The time to set it of root plant or branch is either in Autumne or in the Spring It is sowne in the same seasons a foot vnder ground and foure berries together and when one yeare is past you must plant it where you will haue it abide In anie case you may not sow it or plant it neere vnto anie of the Lattice-worke or climbing and running frames made for the Vine much lesse neere vnto the plant it selfe because that the Bay-tree is altogether enemie vnto the Vine as well in respect of his shadow as of his heat which draweth away all meanes of growth from the Vine Looke in the second Booke The leaues of the Bay-tree doe preserue keepe vncorrupt and make faster the Fish that is fryed especially that which is fryed in oyle laying them by beds one vpon another They performe in like manner the same good vnto dried Figges Damaske or Frayle Raisins if you strew of them amongst the said Raisins in the Frayle You must obserue as well in the leaues of the Bay-tree as in those of the Iuniper and Elme-tree that they being cast into the fire doe presently crackle and that the cause of this is for that they take fire before their superfluous and raw moisture be consumed and spent The leaues of the Bay-tree dried and rubbed one against another if there be put betwixt them a little powder of Brimstone doe cast out sparkles of fire as doth the steele and the stone in like manner doe Iuie leaâ—es The boughs of Bay-tree stucke downe in arable ground doe keepe the Corne from mildew and blasting Some arâ— of opinion that tempests and lightning will turne away from those houses and places where there are hanging anie Bay-tree boughs wherher it be at the chamber floores or else at the doores or windowes The tender crops of the Bay-tree boyled with flowers of Lauander in wine doe heale hardnesse of hearing and noyses in the eares if the vapour be taken thereat with a funnell The Vuula being fallen is againe restored to his place if you lay the â—ayes of the Laurell-tree verie hot vnto the top of the crowne of the head with equall weight of Cummin Hyssope Organie and Euforbium mixt together with honey The bayes of Laurell powned with Wheat-bran Iuniper-berries and Garâ—icke heated in a hot frying-panne sprinkled with wine and laid to the flankes doe prouoke the retained vrine If women with child and neere their accompts doe eat euerie night going to bed seuen Laurell bayes or Bay-berries they shall haue a more easie traâ—aile and deliuerie CHAP. XLIIII What space must be left betwixt Fruit-trees when they are remoued THat you may fitly appoint the standings of trees and their distances one from another in respect of the trees themselues compared one with another you must first consider the height fulnesse of the leaues and boughes and spreading of the same according as euerie sort of tree doth ordinarily grow and attaine vnto and besides the ordinarie how by place affoording aboundance of nourishment the tree may exceed and surpasse it selfe in height and breadth for that fruit-trees would not be encombred aboue head or ouer his top but would haue the breathing and blowing of certaine winds at libertie and with sufficient space fauourably to light vpon them and withall the fruition and benefit of the Sunne in all which points the vnequall proportion of one tree vnto another in height or breadth doth offer let and hinderance And yet further if they would haue their waggings and plyings to and fro to be free that so they may play 〈◊〉 libertie when the wind tosseth them how greatly should the exceeding greatnesse of the neighbour trees disturbe and trouble one another if care and aduise be not takeâ— in the first planting of them And therefore you must haue regard and cast an eye about you for this cause that so you may well and profitably appoint out your distances and spaces betwixt one and another for in good and fat grounds where trees may grow much you must allow more space than elsewhere And further you must note that one tree planted well at libertie whatsoeuer the place be of it selfe doth fructifie and beare a great deale more If you mind to plant thicke and grosse trees all on a row and vpon high waies and against the hedges of fields then you must leaue them some fiue and thiâ—â—e foot distant one from another but and if you intend to plant manie rowes in one and the same place then you must be sure to leaue fiue and fortie foot space betwixt euerie two and as much betwixt one ranke and another that so the boughes of each tree may the more freely spread themselues every way vpon their emptie and vacant sides As for Peare-trees Apple-trees and others of that bignesse if you plant onely one row by the sides of your field-hedges or elsewhere it will be ynough to allow twentie feet betwixt one and another but and if you set two rowes vpon the hedge of your Garden allies then you must allow them some fiue and twentie feet betwixt one and another euerie way square in such sort as that as well the alley as the spacâ— betwixt euerie two trees on either side may make a perfect square of fiue and twentie feet in euerie line and if the distance allowed them be of lesse quantitie then it must be somewhat answered and helped by not planting of them euerie one right ouer one against another but as if you should wrap and lay them vp one within another to let the full and planted place of the one side stand ouer-against the void and emptie of the other Some would that there should some small trees bâ— planted amongst those great trees which you thus set about the alleyes for the times whiles they are in growth but this would not doe well if either they should be suffered to continue there alwaies because it would breake the rule and precept deliuered before couching such course neither yet if they should be taken vp afterwards and the reason thereof is because they draw away and eat vp the iuice and nourishment of the earth vvhich should wholly bee imployed in growing and furthering of those which are intended for the inclosing and defending of the alleyes If you should goe about to plant a whole Field or quarter of your Garden with great fruit-trees such as before named you must then set them checkerwise and allow them betwixt twentie and thirtie foot of distance the one from the other euerie way that is to say from tree to tree and from row to row Plum-trees and other trees bearing stone-fruit and being of the like size of bignesâ—e will not
admit vnder foureteene or fiâ—teene feet distance one from another in euerie row but and if you will onely plant two rowes vpon the sides of your garden alleyes then they need not aboue six foot distance square but you must looke that this proportion or whatsoeuer other that you sâ—t downe to your selfe doe â—ustly answere the proportion of the length of the place intended to be planted Sweet Cherriâ—-trees and bitter Cherrie-trees doe looke to haue allowance of distance betwixt tenne and twelue foot but and if they be to be planted vpon the sides of the great alley of your garden then it will suffice to allow them betwixt nine and tenne The lesser trees as Cherrie-trees Quince-trees Figge-trees Hasel Nut-trees and such like are sufficiently allowed if they be set distant betwixt eight and nine foot in your greene Grasse-plot or Orchard and betwixt fiue and six in Alleyes and Garden rowes When you would plant two rowes eiâ—her of them of seuerall kinds of trees then set the lesser on that side that the Sunne falleth first vpon that so the shadow of the greater may not disaduantage them CHAP. XLV Other precepts about the planting of Fruit-trees IF you plant Peare-trees and Plum-trees one with another it will be better to set the Plum-trees towards the Sunne for Peare-trees doe better endure the want and with holding of the same When you shall take vp a tree to plant it elsewhere take a great circle â—ound about the foot and rayse together with the root as much of the earth cleauing â—hereunto as you can for besides that thus the roots doe not loose their bed they find themselues otherwise also infinitely better contented when they carrie with them the earth alreadâ—e reclaimed and familiar vnto them than and if they should be constraiâ—ed in their new lodging to stoupe and conforme themselues to the earth which they â—hould there find For as for watering of the roots in pulling of them vp to the rayâ—ing vp of the more earth therewithall it is as good as nothing but rather doth much â—urt because that this wet earth being within the new hole becommeth stiffe and â—ard which cannot but greatly offend the roots of the tree remoued for the verie â—emoue doth astonish and blur them so as that it maketh the points of their roots as 〈◊〉 were blunt and to haue their mouths stopt so as that they can neither draw vnto â—hem or else goe forward themselues so that if they find not the earth of their new â—odging so light and crumly as that they may pierce it without straining of themâ—elues and conâ—ey themselues anie way either the tree continueth long without taâ—ing or else it dieth right out For the auoiding of which discommoditie you must â—ot either wet the new hole neither yet the tree in remouing of it nor so much as reâ—oue it in a drisâ—ing time and it is ynough that the hole hath continued open before â—or the space of fifteene or twentie daies and hath drunke in of the dew and wet of â—he night Of one thing you must take good heed that you giue it his iust quarters â—f North South East and West as it had before and that if you take it vp from a â—laine ground that then you bestow it in a plaine ground againe and if you remoue 〈◊〉 from a hillie place into the like or otherwise into a plaine then you must look that â—he seat wherein you set it in be desended in like manner from the winds both below â—nd on high as it was in his first You must not plant the treeâ— that haue beene browsed by cattell or haue had their 〈◊〉 broken off for they grow not so well except you thinke it good to cut off the end of their tops and head to see if that thereupon they will take and grow againe You may plant trees also without roots if they haue great piths as the Figge-tree â—ame Mulberrie-tree Hasel-trees and other such like And as for the Pits wherein you meane to plane trees you must make them six foot deepe in clayie places but not so much in moist places you must likewise make them roomethie and wide ynough for though the tree that you shall plant should haue but small roots yet you must make it wide that so there may store of good eâ—rth be cast in round about the root And if the bottome of the earth where you make the pits be too soâ—t then helpe it by putting to it some drie earth or else stay till it hardeâ— and breath out his moisture On the contrarie if it be too drie or hard and hoâ—â—ie dung it and moisten it with water letting it drinke in of the same well and sufficieâ—â—ly not that you should make it like a poole but sprinkled or bedewed with water therewith to coole it Againe it is meet that if your tree be old gathered that they be watered and steeped at the foot two or three daies If any of the roots of your trees proue too long or to haue their barke hurt then you must cut them off byas and 〈◊〉 the side that is most vnfurnisht be vnder when the tree shal be planted for there will small roots come forth round about the cut It is a generall rule that before the remouing of anie manner of tree whatsoeuer and especially if it be a tree growne vp of kernels if it be growne thicke for to 〈◊〉 off the branches of it first and to leaue nothing on it except such sprigs as are not aboue a fingers length or somewhat more or lesse according as the tree doth require and this is it which some vtter in a prouerbe That he that will plant his father must cut off his head but as for small trees which haue but some one small wand or roâ— put out of them there is no need that such should be cut vp on high when they be remoued The stocks of the Nurserie which you intend to graft must be verie well 〈◊〉 forth into branches before they be remoued as we haue said before And when you shall set downe your trees in their pits you must free their roots from being intangled one with another as much as you can and make them all 〈◊〉 draw downeward not suffering anie one of them to turne their ends vpward and 〈◊〉 is not needfull that they should be set so deepe into the earth for it is ynough that the roots be laid in so deepe as that the earth may couer them halfe a foot or thereabaâ—â— if the place be not verie scorching and stonie and you must not fill vp your pit 〈◊〉 leaue a hollow round about the tree with some open passage or conduit that so the raine water staying there may be conueyed vnto the roots of the tree When your trees shall be spread in the pits and the roots thereof orderly layd 〈◊〉 large weigh downe vpon them easily with your
foot and after mingle well 〈◊〉 earth with a part of that about the pit and strew this vpon your roots causing the smallest of it to fall downe amongst them but lay not the grassie side of the earth â—â—wards them for that might set them in too great a heat you shall mingle the 〈◊〉 earth well with the other and so fill vp the whole pit And if there be anie wormes in the earth that you shall put in then you shall mingle some lee ashes therewith to kill them because they might doe hurt vnto the roots Afterward when your pit shall be filled within halfe a foot or neere thereabout you must tread downe the earth 〈◊〉 vpon and in the places about the roots and it is farre better if it be drie in that 〈◊〉 than for to haue it wet But and if you pricke downe or plant a tree of a prop stake stake or pole without 〈◊〉 with a wooden beetle or mallet make not way for it into his hole with another 〈◊〉 but let it make his owne hole for it selfe not leauing it such a depth of earth to passâ— through as that it cannot possibly enter without spoyling his barke but when yoâ— driue in the stake tye it in such sort at the vpper end as that it may not 〈…〉 driuing CHAP. XLVI Of pruning lopping vncouering and making cleane of Trees SLouthfull and negligent Hinds say That a tree must neuer be touched after it is planted but a good Husbandman saith Be still doing one good turne or another vnto the earth and the tree and they will doe the like to you againe It were true indeed that to say that we may not touch the tree would haue some colour of reason if it were to be vnderstood of the not remouing of it from his first seat it being good and according to the nature of the tree but to say that wee should not touch it at all after it is once planted would be either to proue negligent or else to be willing not to receiue anie fruit of his trees for by how much you are the more diligent about it and procure it the more good and pleasure by so much the more encrease will it repay you againe and he shall neuer haue good or much fruit that shall not be diligent in cleansing of his trees in Winter and in the end of Autumne For as concerning the taking away of superfluous and bad branches and picking of them it is most certaine that a tree that busieth it selfe much to grow wood must haue his branches tamed about the beginning of December by taking away of them so manie as are superfluous with the vnnecessarie wood ouer tall and high boughes and such as hinder it from making of manie buds to blossome and beare flower in doing whereof you may not touch the principall branches Againe you must free your trees of branches and some part of the stocke also when it standeth behind others that take away his Sunne that so after such disbranching and losse of some part of his stocke it may set afresh vpon putting forth of new and that so couragiously as that it may surmount and ouergrow those which before did ouer-top it and take away the Sunne from it for the â—ame reason if the Sunne enter not in forcibly enough amidst the branches of a tree but that some are still shadowed it commeth to passe that those shadowed ones doe â—ot beare anie fruit and therefore there is cause that it should be obserued and marâ—ed euer as it groweth what branches there be that doe ouer-shew and drowne the other and to take them out of the way when the leafe is fallen You must likewise â—ut the boughes that looke downeward or which grow crooked in the midst of the â—ree as those which hinder the growth of it This disbranching must be done in the decrease of the Moone when there is not either excessiue cold wind or raine â—nd that with a good cutting toole and not in any case when the tree is in his blosâ—omes because that so it might come to passe easily that they should drie away Young grafts may not be too soone pickt and pruned least they should become too â—rolicke and lustie putting vp still in height hauing but a feeble bodie to beare so great a head and therefore they must be let grow strong about the foot before you doe any thing vnto them It is like wise most certaine that the dead wood of a tree doth cause other braunâ—hes for to die and so by little and little the whole tree throughout or else it keepeth â—he tree from growing and rising which is the same that we call bourgening Then 〈◊〉 appeareth how necessarie it is to take away all dead wood and it may be done eiâ—her in Summer or Winter This mischiefe haunteth old trees most or else such young ones as the Sunne hath come too fiercely against in the place of their standing or â—lse by some inconuenience of lightning thunder or tempest or else of some veniâ—â—ous beast lurking at the foot of it hauing bitten and wounded some fibrous part of the root or else by hauing had some of the branches tainted and wronged by the â—pade or pick-axe in the laying of it open at the foot or multiplying of it by propagation And if it be meet that that should be remedied that is aboue the earth â—hen doe that also which is vnder the earth and with greater care and diligence for the heat of the earth and dung doth engender vermine at the foot of the tree which eat away the rootes or else sometime dung cast about it doth minister such store of nourishment vnto it as that thereupon it is forced to put forth so great store of shoots and siences as that these doe make it to miscarrie without hurting or taking anie nourishment from anie other of the trees So that then hereby it appeareth that there is need to digge trees at the foot in Winter vnto the verie quicke of the earth and take away from thence whatsoeuer may threaten anie danger and as for such number of siences to see them planted other where whether they be of Plum-trees Peare-trees Apple-trees or such other and at the end of three years to graft them And here it shall not be amisse to note that the siences of Hasel-tree being remoued bring forth the better small Nuts In like manner the tree must haue some recreation giuen it in Winter after hiâ— great trauell in bringing forth of his fruit and that in this sort as by opening the earth and laying his roots bare that so you may cleanse them and that the raine and the snow may fat them which especially and principally happeneth in nanie places that are hot drie and lying verie open vpon the Sunne in his scorching heat Furthermore if the barke of the tree begin to drie away shewing signes of small store of nourishment within that then you make
fast vnto the foot of the same tree some dead dogge or other carrion for to reioyce it withall and some one or other scuttle full of good and small dung to lay about the foot of it or on the contrarie lee ashes if so bâ— that the ground be found too fat and full of wormes The age of the tree will make it to grow full of mosse and if it be young then toâ— much moisture will make it mossie as also too much drinesâ—e This disease feedeth vpon a tree and maketh it leane as the scab doth the beast and we must not thinke thâ—â— this can happen by reason of the mosâ—e that is put about and aboue the wreath of the grafts The remedie for this is to lay it open at the roots as hath beene said heretofore as also to make it cleane in Winter with a knife of wood or of bone for feare that the mosse continuing in peace winne the countrey and in fine deuoure the whole tree He that will haue faire young trees must digge about them euerie moneth and 〈◊〉 off vnprofitable and noysome parts euerie of those times after March and October and so long as vntill they be growne great but when they are become great they must not be digged ofter than thrice a yeare In Winter whether they be great or small the earth must be taken from their feet that so it may be mingled with dung and put into the pit againe to the continuall retaining of necessarie moistured and comfortable influence of the heauens as wee haue said before And in Summer and when it is extreame hot there must be kept and gathered a heape of coole earth about the foot of the said tree to helpe it to auoid the heat and drought of the laid season It is best to disbranch and prune trees when the sappe beginneth to rise vp into them and when they thereupon begin to but and blossome in signe of approaching Summer and this time most commonly falleth out about March and Aprill And in this businesse you must see that you cut the superfluous boughes off dose by the stocke and the sappe thereupon will by and by runne out at the same cut which thing cannot so happily succeed with them which cut trees in Winter And to pâ—â—uent that the thicknesse of the weightie and great branches may not rend the 〈◊〉 from the tree in falling cut it first halfe a foot from the earth and after goef forward to saw off the residue verie close vnto the tree and lastly cast the sawed dust vpon the cut If you disbranch and prune your trees in Winter leaue the stumpes sufficient long to cut them afterward againe in March and Aprill but and if you meane to lop and disbranch your great and old trees to the end they may grow young againe wheâ— you perceiue them to loose their lustie colour and to begin to looke yellow then yoâ— must doe it shortly after the first of Nouember as after that their leaues are fallen and before their sappe put vp againe and in cutting or sawing of these boughs 〈◊〉 their stumps with the stocke that so you may graâ—t vpon them new siences some longer some shorter as the tree requireth being 〈◊〉 in all your worke to take away the most offending branches that â—o the remainder may receiue the more hâ—mour and substance It the tree through age or otherwise become barren contrarie to his wonted custome you must not cut off all his boughes but those onely that are dead Likewise you must vncouer his roots after the beginning of Nouember is past and cleaue the thickest of them and put in the clefts some shiuers of hard stone and there leaue them to the end the juice of the earth may enter in that way afterward at the end of Winter you shall couer their roots againe with good earth When the grafts of three or foure yeare old are broken broused or hurt of cattell or when as you see that at such age they increase not neither grow greater then you must cut them againe and graft them more low or more high than they were And after you haue thus cut it you may take the vnthriuing grafts cut off and graft them againe or some part of them in this new head but somewhat deeper than it was before in the former and let it also be well and close made vp euen from the first setting of it into the stocke and when you haue thus grafted the stocke this second time you must still leaue remaining and not pull away the siences which put forth of the plants so grafted vntill you see whether the graftes doe put forth new wood or no for peraduenture you might kill the plant which yet being reserued and kept aliue you may graft againe the third time if the second should die or miscarrie After the graftes haue put forth new wood of some two or three foot length if they agâ—ine put forth siences more than need and those about the parts which you desire to cherish and to bring to large growth then cut away those superfluous siences and that verie close euen in the yeare that the grafts were grafted but let it be at such time as the sap is in the wood likewise it will not be amisse to cut off some of the principall members of the shoots and grafts of the first yeare if there be too much put forth and to ingraft them in some other place and about foure or fiue yeares after that they haue beene grafted and therewithall the grafts well and close growne to the plants yet once againe goe ouer your former worke and take away after the same manner whatsoeuer you perceiue of ydle remainder for it is ynough for one tree to haue one good member for to make his stock or bodie of and especially those which haue beene grafted small vpon a graft and thus it proueth a fâ—â—rer and better tree in the end But and if the tree were grafted after it had beene growne great and that with many grafts you may well afford it larger allowance according as you shal find requisit and needfull for the better couering againe of the clefts and cuts made in the plant When your trees shall begin to grow you must gouerne and guide them well for three or foure yeares or more namely vntill they be come to a good shape and fashion cutting their top on high and their small branches of superfluous wood so long as till they come to the height of a man and more if well it may be done and dresse them well and set them in good order in their principall parts and members and that in such manner as that one branch stand not too neere vnto another neither yet that they may take hold one of another when they shall grow great and some also must be cut away if that thâ— tree should be too thicke of boughes within that so the Sunne
may shew his force by hauing passage and entrance thereunto If it come to passe that trees being yet young doe cease to grow in thicknesse you must cleaue the barke of the stocke in foure all along or else in fiue places according as the tree shall be in thicknesse and after that in a short time you shall perceiue it grow maruellously You must take from trees the drie leaues which haue shut vp within them the nests and egges of Caterpillers and other such like little beasts which are giuen to consume wast eat and spoyle the leaues tender parts and fruit it selfe from off the tree and besides doe oftentimes cause to drie away as also to die the whole tree especially peare-trees and apple-trees as being more subiect vnto this vermine than the other sorts of Fruit-trees And it is needfull furthermore to rid the stockes of all galls and breaches which the Wormes or Pismires haue made there because that vpon these occasions might follow their death and ruine Trees may be cut from the first of Nouember vnto the end of March and yoâ— are to giue order that there may no gashes be made of great depth and if you cut off the siences or shoots of the tree which bringeth forth no fruit and that it be in the decrease and last quarter of the Moone it will cause it to become fruitfull And when the tree which you haue grafted shall haue growne great you may take away his siences and leaue remaining your grafts alone For the matter of watering of trees they must not be watered except in time of verie great drought and then not vpon their foot and stocke but in compasse about them and this againe must be moderately done because trees desire to be moistened rather by amending of them with fat and well manured earth than with water also wee see that the fruits which grow in places that are not watered are ordinarily more sauorie and keepe longer than those whose earth and soyle is drencht with water howsoeuer that sometime the drinesse thereof be such as that it doth hinder and keepe the fruit from comming vnto his perfect growth and accustomed greatnesse If that trees sor some yeares together doe beare more fruit than ordinarie insomuch as that it is as much or more in number than the leaues you must in such case rid them of the third or halfe part in as much as those behind will not onely grow fairer but because also that the yeare after it will bring forth moe than and if those should be let alone it would doe CHAP. XLVII Of the curing of Fruit-trees EVen as all things that draw their force and take their growth from the earth haue some perseuerance of that which is good for them as those things by meanes whereof they liue so they haue certaine speciall and particular diseases growing vpon them by reason of things that are contrarie vnto them as either old age or vvant or ouer great aboundance of that which should nourish them Wherefore it is no maruell if Trees and euerie one of them doe now and then suffer inconueniences and such as if they be not quickly helped and relieued they will not faile to die All trees vvhich through force of wind or otherwise shall be clouen shiuered or sliuen must be cured with myre sheepes dung and swines dung Weeds growing about trees doe sucke the nourishment of the earth and they must carefully be weeded out and the rind of the tree must be smoothed with a hedging bill but not in ouerthwart maner When a tree groweth not in thicknesse and is long in putting forth of branches and in rising on high after that you haue vncouered it at the foot at such time as hath beene said before you must cleaue asunder many of his roots but those not of the chiefe and principall and put vnto them swines dung mixt with other earths and sometime powre downe in the place the lees of strong wine round about the roots likewise if it be growne exceeding mossie then you must cleanse it of the mosse with a great woodden knife taking heed that you hurt not the barke And in Sommer time when the earth is too wet it will be good to digge the earth about the foot and roots of those trees which were not vncouered at the roots in Winter and to mix therewith some thing to better the earth withall whether it be dung or some good mould from some other place You shall make the barren tree fruitfull if you hang amongst the boughes a bagge full of the seed of Roses Mustard-seed and the foot of a Weasell The file is a diseases in trees that fretteth their barks wherefore you must cut away this infection verie neat and cleane at the end of Winter with a verie sharpe toole and after put vpon the wound or cut the dung of Oxen or Swine and bind it to with old clothes and keepe them also verie close and fast with Oziers that it being thus fastned may continue a long time euen whiles the plasters can be kept on and made cleaue thereto There are but a few trees but they are subiect vnto the wormes and some more than others as Apple-trees Peare-trees and all such as containe within them a sweet juice some others lesse as the Bay-tree and others which beare sowre and bitter fruits Sometimes these wormes grow of the oldnesse of the tree sometimes of hauing taken a blow Therefore against such wormes as vse to breed in the barke of the tree in the place where you shall see the barke swelled or houen you must race it with a knife and pierce it euen vnto the wood that so the infecting humour may issue out and with some hooke or crooke you shall pull out the wormes and rottennesse that is within and that with as much speed as you can after this put into and vpon the cut an emplaister of oxe-dung or swines-dung mingled and stamped with sage and some quicke lime wrap it well and tie all fast and there let it remaine and abide so long as it can endure The lees of Wine or grounds of Oyle being cast vpon the rootes of the Trees that haue the jaundise or else are otherwise any way sicke doth them verie great good There breed in Trees certaine small beasts almost like to Weeuils and they are somewhat blewish or blacke and certaine of them haue long and sharpe pointed peakes or bills these doe great harme to grafts and other young Trees for they cut off young siences which are yet but tender and put forth not past the length of a finger you must at the height of the day when you shall see them there lay your hand vpon them verie softly without stirring the Tree for they let themselues fall downe when one goeth about to take them because they cannot quickly betake themselues to flight and if they let not themselues fall into
true that besides the helpe comming by this tinning of the vessels the veâ—ie action of the fire which worketh and dispatcheth speedily and violently wheâ—e as there is great quantitie of water doth keepe the Oyle from being â—ainted with anie euill smell or other accident that is not naturall and therefore there needs no feare to be taken for the vsing of Copper vessels in the distilling of Oyles for the occasions aforesaid although that earthen or glasse-vessels would be farre better and more naturall seeing in them there resteth no iot of mettall-like matter than either those that are of Copper or molten or of anie other mettall saue onely there is some danger of breaking or cracking of them being the things whereunto earthen and glasse-vessell are verie subiect when they are hot yea though they were armed with moâ—tar fat earth cement or anie other matter of defence and then such breach or cracke proueth a matter of no small dammage or consequence in the distillation of Oyles especially those which are precious Notwithstanding it is free for euery man â—o vse vessels of earth or glasse vpon paine that they be carefull to keepe them that they neither cracke not breake and the rather seeing that in the extracting of some Oyles there must needs be vsed glasse-vessels or earthen ones vernished and leaded and not Copper or Latten as which will verie hardly let runne anie Oyles from things that consist of an eager taste whether it be that the Copper hath the like it selfe or of some secret vertue and facultie which is in it And this thing wee see sufficiently tried in the seedes of Grapes whose Oyle conuerteth and turneth rather into a greene rust in such vessels than into anie airie or thinne exhalation doe a man what he can either about the fire or anie other way whatsoeuer but in the distillation of fragrant and aromaticall things as also those which are sweet in taste or haue a diuers qualitie from the Copper it might seeme that a molten vessell might be more conuenient CHAP. LXXVII At what time Oyles would be distilled and how the matter and things whereof they are made must be prepared THe matter of euerie Oyle is to be distilled at such time as when it is best disposed that is to say seedes and aromaticall things when they are fresh and new gathered for the fresher and newer that they aâ—e so much the more excellent Oyle will they yeeld especially the thingâ— that are of a sweet smell and aromaticall And as for hearbes they must be gathered when they are come to their full force that is to say when they are in flower for and if they be deferred longer the Oyle that commeth of them for the most part will be more full of scumme and ranke as also there will not so much be gathered of them Being gathered at such time they must be dried in the shadow for the space of a moneth or two to the end that some portion of their moistnesse and feeding humoâ— may be diminished and taken away and that the oylie and radicall humor may be extracted more pure and sincere and thirdly that the hearbes themselues may be the more easily crushed and bruised But on the contrarie side if the hearbes be 〈◊〉 and fresh gathered when they are distilled they will yeeld sufficient store of Oyle in as much as their naturall moisture will abound but the Oyle will not be of such â—fficacie nor yet so odoriferous as when the merrie and good meane betwixt both is kept But as concerning the preparing 〈◊〉 such matter as you meane to make your Oyles of there is not anie need to vse infusion or putrifaction as is done in the distilling of waters as we haue said before For if one should bestow an infusion vpon them either in water wine or Aqua-vitae it would but breed a confusion and mixâ—ure of the naturall sauor and smell of the Oyle with that of the liquor and againe iâ— would make them more moist than need would require in respect of the pure and sinceâ—e extracting of the Oyle Againe if you should take the way to putrifie them in Horse-dung earth hot ashes or boyling water the better to distill and draw out your Oyle afterward and following the way that we will speake of by and by yet thereby you shall giue occasion of infecting your Oyle with some ill vice For the matter being putrified it is not possible but that the Oyles should haue a smatch of it seeing it is one part of the matter That it so falleth out with Oyles that are so distilled of matter aforehand so putrified although it doe not by and by corrupt appeâ—â—eth sufficiently for in some space of time it is without all doubt corrupted and that in a great deale shorter time without comparison than other Oyles which are drawnâ— without putrifaction of their matter going before by which it may appeâ—â—e what my aduice and counsaile would be to euerie man namely that the matter 〈◊〉 you would extract your Oyle be not infused or putrified but onely crushed bâ—â—ised brayed and brought into small pieces so as that afterward they may be siâ—ted through some wide sieue which course shall doe as well yea rather better than your infusing or putrifying of them without stamping braying and bruising of them besides that the businesse is sooner dispatched yea and if you would infuse and putrific the â—â—â—ter you should not thereby gaine three drops of Oyle more than you should 〈◊〉 by onely beating and stamping of them CHAP. LXXVIII Of the manner and order that must be kept in distilling of Oyles WHen you haue prepared the matter whereof you meane to make your oyle that is to say bruised it and brought it into small cornes then passe it grosly through a scarce casting it into the vessell of copper with certaine measures of fountaine water that is to say to match two pound vveight of matter with eighteene pound of vvater and for that cause it is meet that the vessell should containe betwixt twelue and fifteene pintes and yet the third part remaine void and emptie vvhen the water and matter are both in This vvater standeth in steed of a coach or waggon vnto the matter to be distilled for the carrying vp of his vapors and to seperate the humours by the decoction and boyling that it there maketh You may adde or diminish of the quantitie of vvater according to the matter his quantitie vvhich you are about to distill vpon paine notwithstanding that you put in nine or ten times as much water as you doe matter and that your vessell of copper glasse earth or any such matter as shall seeme best be of bignesse proportionable and agreeing with the quantitie of matter which you would distill for being too great or too little it would proue but cost cast away It is true that the two pound of matter and eighteene of water here mentioned is the most certaine rate that we can sticke to
also must be separated from the single to the end that they may make the fairer silke and especially there must choice be made of such people as are the best workefolkes both â—or to know the silke as also to draw it out with such discretion as that there may â—come the most profit of it When the Wormes shall be out of their huskes then you must make choice of the best for encrease and breeding those which are the grossest and blackest are the strongest and affoord better egges than anie of the oâ—her You must likewise take more females than males and for the knowing of â—he one from the other the eyes of these creatures doe sufficiently testifie thereof â—or the females haue thinner eyes and not altogether so blacke as the males They must also be put asunder and white Linnen clothes spread or rather leaues of Paper vpon little Tables for to receiue their egges The Paper is more naturall â—nd commodious than the Linnen because it may be the better raked ouer with 〈◊〉 knife to draw together the egges thereupon without making of anie spoyle 〈◊〉 all As concerning the diseases whereunto these little creatures be subiect When they haue not beene so carefully looked vnto as they should to be kept cleane when the â—â—old Northerne wind or the hot Southerne Sunne hath molested them as also when â—hey haue eaten too much then they become sicke wherefore you must keepe â—hem cleanely stop the windowes and holes by which the cold windes doe enter and get in and carrie coales of fire that doe not smoake into their lodging setting thereupon Frankincense or Sawsages cut in slices for they so loue this smell as thaâ— it presently cureth them as also besprinkle them with a little Malmesey or Aqua-vitae If they haue beene troubled with too great heat of the South Sunne there must be sprinkled vpon them Rose-water If they haue ouer-eaten themselues the contrarie diet will cure them as the keeping of them three or foure daies without eating anie thing If there be anie of them that are spotted with anie duskish blewish or yellowish colour and that there appeare withall vpon their bellies a certainâ— humour that doth wet them they must be speedily taken from out of the companie of the rest and carried out and in the morning before the Sunne rise set the whole and sound in the ayre for some small time and afterward put them in their places againe and then it will be good to sprinkle them with good and strong vineger and to annoint them with Wormewood or Sothernewood and also to giue them ayre making them likewise to feele the force of the Sunne prouided that the beames thereof doe not â—ouch them and you must looke also that the windowes bee so placed as thaâ— the morning ayre may season and send his breath throughout the whole house The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE HOVSE That there are two sorts of Medowes CHAP. I. Of Medowes and their difference IN our former Treatise wee haue runne through those things which belong vnto the husbanding and ordering of Gardens and Orchards and now it requireth that wee speake of Medow Grounds vvhereupon consisteth the greatest meanes of feeding and bringing vp of Cattell to the end wee may perfect and accomplish our fore-appointed purpose The thing therefore called in our French tongue Prâ— may seeme to be borrowed from the old word Prat and both of them to signifie and point out a thing that is readie and prest to doe the Master of the Farme and Farmer seruice without putting him to anie paines in respect of the labouring or husbanding of them but this must be vnderstood of Medowes hauing their prey and maintenance about them namely such as are those which are fed and watered with the Marne on the one side and the Riuer Aube on the other which is about some hundred and fiftie leagues of square Countrey as also those about the Riuer called Veselle which of all others doth most abound in Medowes It is in like manner in the free and reclaimed grounds from Barle-duâ— to Vitrye in Partois and from Louemont to Vassie in Thierache all along the little Blondelle as also along the great and small Morin in our Country of Beauuoisis Such medow grounds doe not â—eare stormes and tempests as Gardens and other arable grounds doe but with little cost and charges they yeeld their double reuenue and profit euerie yeare the one of Hay the other of Pasture Medowes are of two sorts the one drie the other â—oist The drie craueth not the helpe of anie water to be watered withall except the raine because it is in a fat place and where it hath full store of refreshing â—uice and in such places Hay doth grow of his owne accord and that a great deale better than where it is forced by casting of water vpon it The moist medowes haue also seldome anie need of watering because most commonly they lye alongst the bankes of some great or small Riuers which feedeth and nourisheth them as those which lye here in France by the Riuers of Marne Aube Blondile and Morin and in England by the Riuers of Thames Trent Seauerne Auon Teame Ouze Wye and such like and these medowes are for the most part plaine and leuell grounds because the inundations of these Riuers washing them ouer at least once or twice euerie Winter the Moalâ—s and other silthie vermine which hurt the earth are destroyed and these Medowes are euer more fruitfull and more aboundant in their encrease than the higher Medowes are but the grasse is nothing neere so sweet and so pleasant neither feedeth so soundly nor so suddenly Whence it commeth that the husbandman keepeth his high-land hay for his cattell which are to be sed and his low-ground hay for those which worke CHAP. II. What grounds are good for Medowes and how to make new Medowes THe ground that is fat and full of iuice although it be nothing at all helped either by small Riuer or Brooke is good to bring forth hay so that such place be not exceeding farre from some small Brooke standing water or little Riuer or at the least that it be moist at the bottome and such as wherein if that one make a reasonable deepe ditch he may find good store of water for moisture is one of the nurses of hay Where such â—at and iuiceground is not there may Medow ground be made of what manner of earth soeuer it be whether it be a strong slight or leane earth so that you haue close by it but this one commoditie of a little Brooke to water it and that the field lye somewhat sloping or descending not verie low nor verie flat as wherein the raine water or other of anie small Riuer taking sometimes ouer the same doe not vse to dwell and stand anie long time but passeth and runneth away faire and softly without anie â—arrying Wherefore I agree and must needs confesse
that some grounds are not so sit and profitable as othersome for the receiuing of Hay-seed as those which through the neerenesse of some great Flouds and Pooles Lakes and great large Waters are oftentimes ouerflowne and couered with aboundance of water which in Winter drowneth the grounds Whereupon it commeth to passe that the hay is nothing fine or delightsome vnto beasts but great and full of stumpie stalk a broad grasse also and nothing pleasing their taste But howsoeuer it is the hay of standing waters ill husbanded and corrupted as also the hay which naturally growâ—th thereabout and by the large borders of Lakes is not such as the fine mouthed beast can delight in as neither that which is gathered in grounds bordering vpon the Sea as with the salt and nitrous rellish whereof the appetites of Cattell are ouerthrowne not being accustomed thereunto besides that the verie grasse it selfe is more ranke and vnsauourie than the common sort of grasse is and in taste verie vnlike it Yet this holdeth not generally for these low Medowes and those which border on the Sea are oftentimes the best of all other and feed with greater expedition than any other hay whatsoeuer as witnesseth manie of those salt marishes which are the most chiefe nurceries and bringers forth of fat cattell that are knowne and especially Sheepe which neuer are knowne to rot vpon the same And of all cattell which â—eed vpon hay none is so daintie and choice in its taste as the Sheepe is for hee must haue it both sweet short and soft So that by that beast onely it may be seene that those low Medowes are not euer vnprofitable And indeed to conclude there is not any ground which will beare grasse but by industrie manure and much rest may be brought to beare reasonable good hay if not to feede yet to keepe cattell in good pâ—â—ght and make them goe through with their labours soundly which is as great a profit to the husbandman as the office of grazing and more properly belonging to his profession Wherefore if you would make new Medowes make choice of the best ground you can this ground you shall lay fallow and let lye idle a whole Summer then in Autumne after you shall turne vp and plow the same ground often sowing therein for the first yeare Turneps or Nauets Millet Beanes or Oats and the yeare following with Wheat then the third yeare you shall labour it diligently and sow it with Fetches mixt with Hay-seeds and after this you shall mow and order it as other old Medowes as we will declare by and by Yet for the sowing of these manie Graines so manie yeares one after another it is not altogether so necessarie for though it may be vsed in some barren Countries because Turneps Nauers and Fetches are enrichers and as it were manurings of the ground and the Oates a great breeder of grasse yet if you onely when you intend to lay a ground of grasse doe but the last yeare cast downe the furrowes and lay the lands as flat as you can and then onely sow cleane Oates vpon the same it will be as fully sufficient as all the former labour and altogether as fruitfull if the husbandman slacke not his labour herein but giue it such needfull seconds as the soyle shall require CHAP. III. What manner of Husbandrie is required about Medowes SVch as obstinately defend and maintaine that there is not anie paines or labour to be vsed about Medowes seeme vnto me vnder correction void of all sound iudgement for euerie where in processe of time the earth becommeth wearie and standeth in need to be refreshed in some parts of it yea to be sowne againe and fashioned if need be especially in feeding grounds and Medowes appointed for pasture for horned beasts for such cattell as beare Wooll doe not desire waâ—â—ie places as Medowes would be but being contented with Shepheards graze along by the wayes and vpon the plowed grounds And as for your heards of young Horses and Asses they feed naturally and commodiously with your other cattell Yea furthermore I haue seene in Campaine as it should be about Pont vpon Seine a Medow countrey the Geese and Turkies daily and ordinarily driuen to the pasture for the sauing of charges at home which thing would not agree well about the places of Monfort l'Amaurye where is kept some part of the Kings breed of Horses and Mares for the downe and other feathers of those fowles as also their dung would make these sorts of beasts sicke euen Horse Mare Mule or Asse Besides according to the opinion of all good husbandmen these fowles are of all creatures the most preiudiciall that may be not onely to Medow grounds but also to all manner of Pasâ—ure grounds whatsoeuer for besides the annoyance which their feathers and downe make their dung is so poysonous vnto the earth that it makes it barren and forceth it to bring forth nothing but Goose-grasse which is such a sowre and vnwholesome weed that no beast will touch it and which in short space will ouer-runne a great deale of ground and make it vtterly vselesse therefore euerie husband must be carefull to keepe these fowles both from his Medowes and his feeding Pastures But whatsoeuer others say or doe sure I am that a good Farmer must not neglect his Medow ground seeing the husbanding of them is a matter more of care than of paine and labour For the first care must be to keepe it that it grow not with 〈◊〉 and thornes or great high stalkes of other hearbes all which would be pulled vp by the roots in Autumne or before Winter as bushes brambles and rushes some other of them in the Spring as Succories Hemlocke and such other weeds which are vnprofitable for the feeding of the heards of Horses and Mares Likewise there must not be left in them anie stones nor yet anie other thing that may hinder the digging of them when the earth is to be stirred The ground being freed of stones shall be made euen and smooth verie handsomely in the Winter time and after that tilled and turned ouer verie diligently and â—inely with the plough and after harrowed especially that which is leane and lying with some descent but not watred otherwise than the raine vseth to water it It must be dunged also in Ianuaâ—ie and Februarie when the Moone is in the encrease that so it may be fatted and store of iuice brought into it for the growing of grasse The best manuring that can be bestowed vpon it is fine crumbling earth mixt with dung which will doe it more good than the best and purest dung that you can find in your Neat-house For the making hereof you must gather in Summer the dust that is by the high wayes most haunted and mingle the same with the dung of cattell the â—ilth and sweepings of the house the dyrt of the streets the parings of the house and
the great and little Court the dung of Hennes and Pigeons Oxe-dung Horse-dung and all other such excrements which must be let incorporate and mingle together the whole Winter vntill such time as this matter watered with water and throughly pierced with the frost be sufficiently ripened This mixture when it is spread entreth better below into the earth 〈◊〉 dung alone and also incorporateth it selfe better with the earth But aboue all there is no dung more excellent for Medow grounds than the rotten staddell or bottomes of Hay-mowes or Hay-stackes which putrified with the moisture of the earth lookes mouldie blacke and most filthie and with this if you mixe the sweepings of the Hay-barne floore and the scattered seedes which fall from the Hay when it is shaked vp or bound into bottles it will be a great deale the better and the earth will put forth his encrease in much more plentie These Medow grounds must also be verie well drained from water if they be subiect thereunto and sluces and draines made either by plough spade or other instrument which may conuey it from one sluce to another till it fall into some ditch or riuer for as the sudden washing of the earth fatteneth and enricheth the same by reason of the mud slime and other fat substances which it leaueth behind it so the long abiding of the water vpon it 〈◊〉 the soyle rots the roots of the grasse and either makes it vtterly barren or 〈◊〉 it to a bogge-myre Nay where the water lyes long vpon the ground there it will â—ome the grasse to reed rushes or other vnprofitable weeds therefore by all meanes preuent the continuance of flouds and onely esteeme of a gentle washing and no more Againe in your Medow grounds you must be exceeding carefull to know the goodnesse or badnesse of the same as which is fruitfull which barren which quicke of growth which slow which will beare but one entire crop and which two and accordingly you must lay them that is giue them time of rest for growth as thus If your ground be verie fruitfull and rich yet through the coldnesse of the clyme will not beare aboue one crop it shall not be needfull for you to lay it before May day but if it be but of a reasonable fruitfulnesse then you may lay it at the Annuntiation of our Ladie but if it be verie hard and barren then it is best to lay it at Candleâ—â—ss that it may haue the vttermost of the Spring Summer to grow in also if it be exceeding fertile and so warme and close couched that it will beare two croppes then you shall lay it at Candlemas that you may cut it at the end of May and the midst of September for to cut it after that time is both ill husbandrie and profitlesse for howsoeuer men may be opinioned either through custome or the imitation of their neighbors yet they shall find it most certaine that the hay how good soeuer the growth be yet if it want the Sunne and kindly withering it can neuer be good either to feed or sustaine nature with but hauing the iuice rotting and not dried within it becommeth black vnpleasant and unwholesome insomuch that the worst straw is better than the best of such hay therefore let euerie husbandman haue a great care to the good and kindly withering of his hay and esteeme euer the qualitie before the quantitie After Medowes are laid then the husbandman shall haue a great care to his â—ences least either his owne or other mens cattell by day or night breake into the same for they may doe him more iniurie in an houre than they can doe him profit in a moneth for the young and tender grasse if it be nipt or bitten at the first springing hardly after prospereth till the sythe haue cut it for it is with grasse as with stronger plants which if they be nipt or bitten forthwith loose the beautie of their flourishing and groweth not straight or vpright but low crooked and ill-fauoredly neither to fast as before it did but verie slowly and manie times without seed therefore by all meanes preuent the cropping of your Medowes by cattell at their first springing Also if you haue anie riuers ditches or small rundles which butt vpon your Medowes you shall at such time as you lay your Medowes be sure to cleanse and scoure them both of weeds madde and other filth that shall anie way cloy or fill them that the water may thereby haue a more free passage and a larger receit to receiue and conuey away anie floud which shall happen for after your Medowes begin to grow if anie floud shall come vpon them the sand and other filth will fasten to the rootes and lye vpon the grasse in such manner that not being able to be cleansed by anie husbandrie it will make the hay vtterly vnwholesome so that lying in the stomacks of the beasts it will engender manie mortall and pestilent diseases And herein is also to be noted that the mudde and other compasse which you shall take out of these riuers or ditches would be spread vpon the Medowes and when it is drie with small clotting maules be beaten as small as dust for this is also an excellent maner of manuring your Medowes CHAP. IIII. What must be sowne in the Medowes THe way then to reforme the old and drie consumed places of your Medow if they be become hoarie rotten must be by sowing them in the Spring with good Hay-seed which is the Medow Clauer which is called in some places Sops in wine by reason of the flower which is an hearb which men in times past made great account of sowing it by it selfe as the Fetch is wont to be sowne and they did sow it in Ianuarie as Cato and Palladius doe report The maner of sowing it shal be set downe in the fifth Booke in the handling of Pulse Likewise the seed of Gallion or petty Mugguet wild Fetch and Hauer-grasse which the Latine Poet calleth properly barren Oates Againe the small wild Mallow is not amisse neither the little Crowfoot foreseene it be not that with the bulbous root that is to say the Crowfoot hauing a round root like an Onions because that is venimous for the beast but it must be that Crowfoot which hath a hairie and threadie root The two-fold Satyrion is good in some place where it groweth naturally so likewise is the Hyacinth the one of them being of a blew flower the other of a purple herein differing from the Satyrion which is more cut diuided into small buds as likewise more fragrant It is not good that there should be any great store of Plantaine except it be that of the least sort called Birds-toong The wild Carret especially that which in the midst of the white flower in the round broad tuft beareth a sweet smelling seed being rubd in the hand like vnto graines of Paradise of
cattell from tearing or spoyling the same till such time as the Farmer himselfe shall thinke it meet to cut downe the same Then when the extremitie of Winter shall come as either when the grasse is cleane consumed or that by reason of long Frosts or Snowes your cattell cannot come by anie food then is the time to cut downe your Hay-reekes and to fodder your cattell therewith morning and euening cutting no more downe at a time than shall conueniently serue to fodder your cattell for spoyle herein is the vildest husbandrie that can be This hay thus cut downe you shall not lay in one place but in diuers places of your ground in little tufts or hillockes scattering an armefull thereof in manie places because if you should lay it in one place or in a verie small circuit neere together your cattell would disagree and offer to gore one another at least the stronger cattell would euer beat away the weaker and so rob them of their food whereas being scattered into diuers remote places those which are beaten away from one place will goe to another and so take their food without trouble in which you shall euer obserue to lay more tufts or heapes of hay than you haue cattell Neither yet doe I meane that this manner of foddering shall ouer-spread anie great piece of ground at one time but according to the number of your cattell be close packed together both for the ease of the fodderer and for the well husbanding of the hay which to be carried vp and downe too 〈◊〉 would make much wast by scattering so that to lay one foddering within two or three yards of another is sufficient And this I speake of great cattell as Oxen Kyne Steeres Horses or such like for if you fodder Sheepe then you must lay your hay in long rowes one row three or foure yards from another vpon the driest and cleanest ground you can find because the trampling and treading of the cattell will else 〈◊〉 much spoyle of the hay And herein is also to be noted that you must not by any meanes lay your fodder aboue twice in one place but change and alter your ground finding out still a drie and vntrodden place to fodder in as well for keeping the ground from two much foyling and tearing vp with the feet of cattell as also for the â—aâ—ing of the hay which would be halfe lost if it should be layd in wet and myrie places And thus you may in one Winter runne ouer a great piece of ground and not onely sow it plenteously with the Hay-seedes which will fall from the Hay in the carrying but also manure the ground excellently by this drawing together of your beasts into one place making their lâ—are and dunging most thereupon Now some will say that this manner of enriching of grounds carrieth with it a discommoditie which equalleth the goodnesse which is reaped from it and therefore not so much to be esteemed alledging that the trampling of the cattell teareth vp the greene-swarth and as it were ploweth vp the ground in such sort that it will hardly beare any good croppe of grasse a yeare or two after To which I answere that if it doe as happily it will teare vp or digge the ground so that you loose the next yeares croppe in some part yet after the first yeare is past the second will double and the third will treble anie encrease formerly receiued from the same ground neither will the goodnesse euer after be abated from the same besides if your ground be subiect to anie filthie soft mosse or fuzzie grasse which is both vnsauourie and vnwholesome for beasts and also choaketh and deuoureth vp all better herbage this treading of the cattels feet will vtterly kill it and make the ground fruitfull for euer after Nay if the ground haue beene much subiect to small whynnes or prick-grasse which is a most venimous weed in anie ground according to the opinion of the best husbands this course onely will destroy it To conclude â—he Medow well kept and maintained doth alwaies bring double commoditie to that which is ill gouerned and husbanded CHAP. V. Of the harrowing watering and keeping close and well defensed the Medow ground BEsides the seedes of good hearbes which is verie requisite for the Medowes yet there are other workes needfull for the goodnesse of Hay for the Medowes must be harrowed and raked presently after they be sowne to breake the clods into small earth or dust that so the mowers may not thereby hurt their Sythes If the ground of the Medow be withered and drie it will be a maruellous commoditie vnto it to draw into it all the winter long at the least some small Brooke for the watering and moistening of it seeing that moisture is the naturall nourishment of Hay and this would be done especially during the moneths of Nouember December Ianuarie and Februarie afterward when the earth hath drunke her fill then stop the way whereby the water of the Brooke runneth It is true that if the Medow-plot lye vpon the side of some hill or vpon some high ground there shall be no need to water it for the first raine that falleth will descend and water such Medowes verie sufficiently being ioyned with the iuice and goodnesse of the dung which you shall haue bestowed in the higher places Neither shall it be needfull to water the ground much where there is great quantitie of three-leaued grasse because then it would die by and by Againe you must not cause anie water to ouerflow anie old Medow grounds in the time of great and excessiue cold except it should be that they should continue a long time because that the water fayling the ground thus boyled againe and drenched would be verie much annoyed by the vehemence of the frost and yce Likewise if there be anie marish or dead water in anie part of your Medow you must cause the same to runne and drayne out by some Conduits or Trenches for without all peraduenture the super-aboundance of water doth as much harme as the want scarcitie or lacke of the same You must be sure also to keepe Swine out of your Medowes because they are alwaies turning it ouer with their snouts and â—aying great soddes of earth Neither must you admit anie great Cattell into them saue when they be verie drie because the hornie hoofe doth sinke into the earth and either breake off the grasse or cut in sunder the rootes whereupon they cannot spring or multiplie anie more CHAP. VI. To mowe your Meadowes againe and againe to gather the Hay and refresh your Meadowes and to bring your barren Meadowes into Tillage NOw for the mowing of your Meadowes it must be according to their growth or ripenesse for some ripen soone and some late and sure there cannot fall to the Husbandman greater losse than to cut his Meadow before it be ripe for then the sap or moisture not being come fully out of the roote
the grasse in the vvithering shrinketh away and falls to nothing but a soft fuzzie and vnwholesome substance which no cattell will eat and also to let it stand till it be ripe or that it haue shed it seed is as ill husbandrie for then vvill the juice be too much dried out of the stalke and that substance which should giue nourishment to your cattell will be lost Therefore to know when your grasse is truely fit to be cut you shall looke carefully vpon it and vvhen you see the tops thereof looke browne and the cocke heads bells or bottells which beare the seeds not stand vpright or looke direct into the heauens but bend their heads downeward as looking backe into the earth then you may be certainely assured it is a fit and good time to cut it for the earth hath giuen it all the due it ought to haue and this will be if it be in a most fertile and verie rich soyle such as may be cut twice in the yeare at the beginning of Iune or about a vveeke before Midsommer But if it be in a reasonable ground which hath the title of a good earth onely then it will be about the translation of S. Thomas which is the third of Iulie but if the ground be extreame cold moist and barren then it vvill be after Lammasse and sometimes in the middest of September Now for the generall cutting or mowing of Haye it would euer be done in the new of the Moone and at such time as the vveather by all conjecstures is cleare constant and likely to continue faire As soone as your Haye is mowne if there be plentie of grasse and that you see it lye thicke in the swathes so as the Ayre or Sunne cannot passe freely through it then you shall cause certaine with forkes to follow the â—ythes and as they mow it so to cast it abroad thin whereby the Sunne may vvither it and this is called tedding of hay The next day after the dew is taken from the ground you shall turne it and let it vvither on the other side then handling it and finding it to your feeling fully drie the next day you shall with â—orkes and rakes draw it together in great quantitie into long rows which rows you must draw in that way which the wind blowes most least drawing it in the contrarie way the vvind scatter it abroad and loose both your labour and profit for these rowes are called Wind-rowes and as soone as it is thus gathered together you shall forthwith thrust the haye close vp together and make those Wind-rowes into good bigge handsome cockes sharpe at the top and broad at the bottome such as six or seuen of them may make a Waine-load for howsoeuer sloth or weakenesse may say that little cockes because they aske little labour are best yet it is certaine that the great cockes are much better and keepe the haye safer from vvet if any shal fall and also makes it sweat and haye a great deale more kindly in these cockes you shal let your haye stand a day at least if more it is not amisse and then breake them open againe and let them ley in the Sunne till it haue dried vp all the sweat and moisture that was in them vvhich done you shall load it according to the maner of the soyle wherein you liue and so carrie it to the barne or elswhere according to your pleasure Now this manner of making of haye you must vnderstand is for such as is most fine cleane and the purest grasse without vveeds stumpes thicke leaues or other grosse substances for if you find your grasse to be of that rough nature as for the most part all your vvood-land-grasse is or that it is much intermixt with burnet peny-grasse and other thicke leafed weeds then you shall giue it double withering and after you haue mowed it and tedded it you shall turne it twice or thrice ere you cocke it then being put into drie cocke you shall breake it open in the morning and make it vp into drie cocke againe at night three or foure daies together before you load it and be sure that in the cocke it take a verie good sweat and then carrie it home and stacke it vp as shall please you best But if your ground be extreame barren cold moist and full of verie sowre and stubborne grasse and of that also but little plentie being thin short and hard in the cutting then you shall not need to ted that hay at all but in steed of that labour you shall as it is mowne with your forke make it into thicke little grasse-cockes as bigge as prettie little moale-hills the reason whereof is this That such sowre and harsh grasse being exceeding slow of growth must necessarilie be verie late in the yeare before it can be ripe or readie to be cut whereby wanting the kindlie heat and strength of the Sunne â—t cannot but with great difficultie vvither vvell vvherefore you must adde vnto it all the art which you may to bring it to good haye which this casting it into little heapes and cockes will doe for the grasse so layed together will heat of it selfe and then being often turned and tost that the ayre may goe through it and drie it and then made into cockes againe euerie day bigger and bigger vvill in the end by it owne heat come to as kindly hay as if it had the full benefit of the Sunne And herein you shall obserue that as at first you make them into small cockes so the second day you shall make them into bigger by putting two or three of those cockes into one and the next day you shall put two or three of those bigger cockes into one euerie day increasing the bignesse of the cockes as you find them to vvither till you bring them to so great cockes that three or foure of them will make a Waine-load and in that estate you shall let them stand foure or fiue daies before you load them but vvhilest they are in the little cockes you shall breake them open once or twice a day at least according to the fairenesse of the vveather for you must vnderstand that whilest they are in grasse or vnwithered cockes if you let them lie too long the grasse will turne yellow and begin to putrifie vvhich often stirring vvill preuent Lastly touching the making of hay you must vnderstand that the greatest enemie it hath is wet or raine and therefore you must be carefull to make it vp in the driest and fairest weather you can and if any raine shall happen to fall on it not to turne it till the vpper side be drie for to turne the wet grasse to the wet earth is the readie way to make it rot Now to speake a little touching the choyce and vse of your haye you shall vnderstand that the haye which is most long loggie and of greatest burthen is best for horses being verie drie
sweet and got in a good season that vvhich is not verie long of growth but verie pleasant and cleane grasse without weeds hard stumpes pricks or such like is best for milch-kine or stall-fed-oxen onely that which you preserue for your Kine would be got verie drie and haue all the sweetnesse and pleasantnesse that may be but that you keepe for your feeding-cattell would not be altogether throughly vvithered but got a little greenish so as it may take such a heat in the mowe as may onely discolour it and turne it red but no more for that will bring a thirst vnto the cattell and make them drinke vvell and the Grasier is of this opinion that cattell neuer feed well till they drinke well and that haye which is the finest and shortest growing vpon high and drie grounds full of flowers and sweet 〈◊〉 is best for your sheepe or young calues and this must be got verie drie and as neere as you can vtterly without any raine for when it is so drie that it will hardly lye vpon the Waine then is it the best of all for when the husbandman saith that moist haye is profitable for the increase of milke he doth not meane that you shall get in your haye greene or any part vnwithered for that brings it to a rottennesse or ouer-drinesse which is verie ill for milke but you shall get it into the barne as drie as you can without scorching scalding or such vnnaturall extremities and this hay taking his kindly sweat in the mowe is that which is called the Moist-hay and that which taketh a little too much heat in the mowe and altereth colour is the Drie-hay and keepeth your fat cattell from gripings and other painefull griefes in their bellies to which they are euermore verie much subject It is an vse with some husbandmen as well in our France as in other countries after they haue brought their haye into drie cocke to put it into great stoukes or pettie stackes without doores and so to let â—t remaine a fortnight or more that it may take the full sweat before it be brought to the barne or hay-loft but it is a needlesse and a double labour and may verie well be spared if the orders be obserued before prescribed for this much curiositie did but spring from a fearefulnesse of ouer-heating or mow-burning which to preuent the Ancients spared not any labour Nay they were so curious in the first times that they would not suffer their haye by any meanes to lye neere to the sinke or smell of the beast-house or vvhere any other noysome sauours were supposing that the haye would naturally of it owne inclination draw all such corruptions vnto it but it was a feare might haue verie vvell beene spared Now touching the later crop of haye which is euer to be mâ—â—ne in the moneth of September you shall in all respects vse it like the hay of these barren grounds last written of for the yere time being so much shot on it can haue no other kindly withering neither is it to be vsed for the feeding of fat cattell or for milch Kine but onely for drie beasts or such as onely labor as the oxe horse mule or asse If by the gathering of your hay you perceiue your meadowes to become barren vvhether it happen by your negligence in not hauing beene carefull ynough in husbanding of them or by reason of age seeing the earth will sometime rest it selfe as being vvearie for the recouering of the strength againe as it is onely seene in barren soyles and no other for that which is truely fertile and good ground will neuer be wearie of bearing especially if it lie low and be gentlie washt with waters but that which lies high or violently against the heat of the Sun will many times decay in his aboundance which when you shall at any time perceiue it shall be good to forbeare the cutting of it the next yeare and onely graze it with cattell especially sheepe which vvill be as good as a manuring vnto it and make it beare grasse in as good plentie as euer it did afore for often cutting occasioneth barrennesse and often feeding breedes increase But if it be through the naturall fertilitie and hardnesse of the ground that it waxeth barren then you shall vse the like meanes that you vvould in making of new meadows set downe before in the second chapter of this booke or else if you see that you loose your labour in renewing of your barren meadows set downe with your selfe to reduce them into arable ground especially those which are drie parched bringing forth verie small store of grasse growne ouer with a hard â—â—st and fraught rather with naughtie weeds than good and profitable grasse For the doing whereof you must cut the vpper face and crust of the earth in Aprill with a shallow delfe in turfes some fadome and a halfe long and halfe as broad and to the thicknesse of two fingers drie these turfes in the Sunne and being concocted by the heat of the Sunne fit them one to another and lay one vpon another in manner of a furnace afterward set fire to them with good store of straw when they are burned let them coole sixe or seuen daies after spead the ashes thereof equally all ouer the field then looke for a good raine in May to incorporate this ashie earth and when it is accordingly performed then plow it vp in Iune and presently after sow it vvith millet afterward with rie and in the end with mastling and wheat CHAP. VII Of the Ozier-plot REmember this that three things carefully kept and increased by the diligence of the vvorkeman doe make rich vvithout any great trauell that is to say the meadow-grounds the Ozier-plot and the Willow-plot vvhich by the meanes of vvater lightly slyding through the veines of the earth in the fat and vvell liking places that are vpon the sides of hills and by the vvatering of manifold streames round about doe naturally grow euâ—rie yeare and yeeld great profit vnto their maister for the feeding of hiâ— cattell the making of hoopes for vessell and binding of them as also for fewell the benefit of poles woodden vessells arbours stakes for hedges and supporters for vines We will therefore speake first of the ordering and husbanding of the Ozier-plot and after it of the Willow-plot vvhich vve do not dreame to haue any other assigned place than about the meadows and far remoued from the arable ground in as much as their shadow is so hurtfull to wheat line pulse and other graine as that they neuer grow vvell where they are ouershadowed by these but on the contrarie meadow grounds receiue great profit thereby as well because that grasse doth grow the fairer and more pleasantly in the shadow than vvhere it is not shadowed as also for that the leaues of Ozier Willow Aller and such other Trees falling vpon the meadowes and there rotting maketh them the more fat
abounding in grasse and fertile The Ozier then which old Writers call Sea-willow or Wicker-tree that is to say apt to bend desireth not to come verie neere to the water but loueth rather to stand vpon the descending side of the valley and the Ozier-plot would end at the sides of the Willow-plot the Ozier-plot must be prickt with a line and prettie small ditches drawne out in it betwixt two lines and euerie slip must be set one from another about fiue foore and a halfe to giue them their spreading It vvill not abide the shadow of any tree but loueth much to haue the fruition of the South-Sunne The tame red Ozier requireth great husbanding and is afraid of frosts and the showres of raine that fall in March and verie cold vvater the vvhite and the greene Ozier vvhich neither bend nor yet defend themselues so well are of a harder nature and grow higher It vvill be good to pricke downe moe of the tame ones than of the other and alwaies to set them out of the shadow and there must be but a little water at their foot the most part of the time vvherefore you must make furrowes by the vvay to keepe and reserue water It must be dressed twice in a yeare to make it grow vvell that is to say about mid-May and towards the end of Nouember presently after that it is gathered being also the time of planting of it It is verie delightsome vnto it to haue the earth raised vvith the spade and stirred and to cast in again the clods vnto the foot some fifteen daies after S. Michael which is the time of gathering them and making of them vp into bottles You must keepe your bottles made of the thicknesse of a fadome fresh coole in some cellar or 〈◊〉 and if the season be drie to vvater them throughout now and then some slip off the leaues in gathering of them thereof to make good ashes others let the leaues fall of themselues and after gather them for the houshold and in Winter-nights by the fire side make the slaues spend their time in cleauing them for to make baskets of some doe not cut the oziers all from the head but such slips as are about the edges of it and leaue the maister-twig to stand vvhole for fiue or sixe yeares when it must be renewed and pricked downe againe for this is the terme of the plant for in all the time following the plant doth nothing but drie and the twig harden CHAP. VIII Of the Willow-plot SOme say that the Willow-plot craueth the like husbandrie that the Oier-plot because the Willow differeth onely from the Ozier in vse bignesse and barke for the Willow-tree is for poles the Ozier as hath beene said for bindings about the vine and caske the Willow is thicke and growing taller the Ozier is smaller and lower the Willow-tree hath a barke of a darke purple colour the Ozier of a yellow straw colour But vvhatsoeuer it is the Willow loueth vvaterie places and is planted of the tops cut off or else of poles the poles are taken from aboue of a good thicknesse but notwithstanding not thicker than the arme and they must be planted and pricked downe in the earth so deepe as they should stand before they touch the firme ground the cut of the top may be of the length of a foot and a halfe and be set in the earth being couered a little That which you shall plant must be cut from the tree verie drie because it will not thriue if it be vvet when it is cut therefore you must shun rainie daâ—es in the cutting of your Willowes The best time of planting the Willow is in Februarie in the beginning or in the end of Ianuarie vvhen as the heart of the great cold is broken vvhich oftentimes hurteth this plant when it is newlie planted It is true that it may be planted at any time after the beginning of Nouember yea it may be then both planted and gathered The plants shall euerie one stand from another sixe foot square and they must be carefully husbanded for the first three yeres as if they were yong vines You shall find a larger discourse of the Willow-tree in the sixth Booke The distilled vvater of Willowes is good to be drunke for the staying of all sorts of fluxes of bloud the decoction of the leaues or the lee made of the ashes of the vvood beeing drunke doth kill bloud-suckers vvhich hang in the throat CHAP. IX Of the Elme MEn of old time did much esteeme the Elme for the vine sake because they married the vine vnto the Elme as also it is yet practised of some vnto this day in Italie but now the Elme is applied to another manner of vse by the husbandman and for that cause vve haue giuen in charge to euery housholder to plant a plot of elmes at the end of his orchard as vvell to make fagots of as to make vvheeles and axle-trees of for his carts and ploughes as also for fire-wood and other easements besides the pleasure that the Elme-tree affordeth all the Sommer long For the planting then of your Elme-plot make choyce of a fat peece of ground and vvithall somewhat moist although this Tree be easie to grow in any kind of ground vvhich you shall digge and cast breaking the clods afterward verie small in so much as that you shall make all the earth as it were dust and in the Spring you shall harrow it and lay it euen afterward you shall sow it verie thicke vvith the seed of elmes vvhich shall by this time become little red hauing beene a long time in the Sunne and yet notwithstanding retayning his naturall substance and moisture and you shall sow it so thicke as that all the earth shall be couered vvith it then cast of fine mould vpon it good two fingers thicke and vvater it a little and couer the earth vvith straw or broken boughes and braunches to the end that vvhat shall come out of the earth may not be deuoured of birds And vvhen the siences shall begin to shew take away the straw and boughes and pull vp the bad vveeds verie carefully vvith your hands in such sort as that the small rootes of the elmes vvhich as yet are tender be not pluckt vp therewithall The waies and squares must be so discreetly cast as that he which is to weed them may easily reach to the middest of them euerie vvay Fâ—r if they vvere too broad then he should be constrained in pulling vp the vveeds to tread the earth vvith his feet by which meanes the shoots might be hurt After vvhen the branches are put vp some three foot high to take them vp from their nurserie and to plant them in another ground and after that to transplant them againe The Elme-tree also may be planted of small branches taken from great etmes and that a great deale better in Autumne than in the Spring time after three yeares passed they must be transplanted
and bundells of wood you shall ram in hard betweene the pile till you haue couered them then you shall driue in more piles and ram them likewise as before heaping thus pile vpon pile and earth vpon earth till you haue made the head of that conuenient height which you did desire and if in the middest of this head you preserue a conuenient place for a sluce or floud-gate which you may draw vp and shâ—â— at your pleasure it will be a great deale the better and on the top of the head you shall make a small sluce or two vvith fiue grates in them to stay the Fish from passing through the same vvhich sluces shall conuay the vvast vvater vvhich shall at any time rise aboue the height or leuell of the bankes the bottome and sides of this pond you shall paue all ouer with fine greene-grasse-turfe which vvill be a great nourishment to the Fish and aboue the water you shall plant Oziers and on the top of the head diuers rowes of Willow because all fish take great delight in the shadows and if you intend the pond for Carpe or Breame you shall all along one side of the pond stake and bind downe diuers fagots made of brush-wood in which the fish shall cast their young or spawne and so haue them preserued which otherwise would be destroyed CHAP. XII What manner of wild flesh is to be prouided for the furnishing of the Fish-poole NOw one great commendation belonging to inheritances is to haue wild flesh and fish in the fields thereto belonging As concerning the wild flesh the walkes thereof are partly in the woods and partly in the warrens of which we will speak in their place partly in the â—rable grounds and fallowes as the great and little Hare the Partridge Quaile and Larke and part in the vvood at the Hart the Hind the Doe and the vvild-Bore and as concerning birds the Stock-doue Turtle Small-henne Plouer and others but to returne to our fish-poole the vvild flesh thereof especially of birds is the Swan the Heron the Woodcocke Snite Mallarde Teale young wild Duckes the wild Goose and the Bittor Besides there are belonging thereto as concerning beasts such as auncient Writers haue called double-liued beasts that is to say such as liue either in or out of the water the Otter the Badger vvhich verily hath a scalie tayle like Fishes the Beauer and the Dormouse vnto vvhich vve will adde the Torteise that daintie dish for Princes and great Lords albeit the most commendable of them and which hath the best relish and in most request is that which is called the wood Torteise and maketh her borough in the woods the wealth of 〈◊〉 and Languedoc CHAP. XIII Of the sorts of Fishes wherewith Pooles Ponds and Ditches are to be furnished IF you desire to furnish your fish-pooles and feeding stewes it is needfull that you carefully consider the nature of the place wherein you haue made them for all sorts of fishes doe not feed alike in all manner of places the stonie and rockie places do like well the fishes called thereupon Saxatiles or fishes liuing in stonie places as the Tront Pearch Loach Lumpe Mullet and Gudgeons In muckie and slimie places the Tench Bourbet Codfish and Eele doe delight to liue In grauelly and sandie grounds the Salmon the Pike and the Barbel doe not much dislike to liue Wherefore to the end that vve may speake generally in regard of the fish of pooles ponds or ditches things common amongst the inhabitants of Beaux though they haue no such store of vvater as the people of Salongne Percheron Tutraine Anjou or Mantz the most common and which best â—â—ore and furnish the sâ—me are the Carpe and the Barbell It is true that the Pike is a good meat especially if he be kept in springing vvaters and into vvhich there runneth some riuer as the poole of Nau or Nouï as also that of Gouuieux the two most naturall and greatest pooles that are in all France and such as neuer drie vp but in keeping of him there is this daunger namely that he is a verie tyrant amongst all fresh-water-fish eating and deuouring the small thereof in such sort as that in fishing there is not a little one of that kind cast into the pooles againe after they be once drawne out vvhich yet is vsed in the little ones of all other kinds besides The small fish vvhich is called vvhite are the Pearch the Mullet the Millers-thombe the Cheuin Gudgeon Loach Menuise and the Trout albeit that the foremost are those which are the most daintie and chiefest in request for sicke and delicate folkes but the Trout is the princeliest and most delicate dish of all the rest which is neuer sound but in running vvaters or in great springs The Salmon-trout is a verie daintie thing and so likewise the flesh thereof is more fast and red euen after the manner of the Salmon after whom he had his name giuen The Tench Bourbet and Cod are of a courser and more slimie mear as is also the Eele which yet proueth singular good in great pooles and greatly commended being taken in that of Nouë and at the mills of Gouuieux witnesse hereof are the Eele-ponds which haue beene caused to be made there by Princes and therefore that of Nouë seemeth to me to be of greater account because of the causey belonging thereunto but therâ— are some which disdaine the eating of eele in respect of the vnâ—auorinesse of her flesh and also because as some say she coupleth with the snake But whatsoeuer the matter is I find her as good in a swift running vvater as either the lampreie or lamperne a venimous fish in the Sea though when she is scoured and come vp into the great riuers as Loire she become a firme same nourishment saue that it is somewhat slimie and of a hard digestion how well soeuer it be dressed or handled The excrements of the poole which are eaten after the manner of fish are the frogge and the creuisse the first whereof being taken in his season as when she is not ingendring but well flesht and liking doth taste like a little chicken the other doth more load the stomacke than nourish and yet vnto the husbandman and farmer this iâ— as a second manna for his familie which on festiuall daies delight themselues with the taking of them with the long-bow-net or with a little maund of bulrushes as also the little 〈◊〉 with the shoue-net small-net called a truble and line for the fire the tunnell and bait are forbidden by all right The net and the hooke are chiefe and principall of all the rest And of nets there are diuers sorts and kinds as first the long draw-net vvhich contayning many fadomes in length is as it were diuided into two parts and in the middest a long rod or pole drawne close together at the furthest end with a heauie stone hanging at
with end If the ground be fashioned like vnto a Wedge that is to say equally long on both sides but hauing one end broader than another as for example twentie pole long and seuen pole broad at the one end and but three at the other then you must gather the two breadths together which will make tenne pole to take the halfe of them will be fiue to multiplie the length withall in the doing whereof you must count fiue times twentie and the summe will rise in all to a hundred pole which make one arpent after the rate of a hundred pole to an arpent and eighteene foot to euerie pole This is your direct course to measure ground fashioned like vnto a vvedge But if the ground should be triangled hauing three sides equall then it is your best vvay to follow this course vvhich is first of all to learne out how manie poles there are in euerie side and then carefully to multiplie the number of the one side by the halfe of the number on the same or another side and that which ariâ—â—â—h of such multiplication vvill be the vvhole contents of the poles of that field as for instance suppose an equall triangled field hauing ten pole on each side I will multiplie the number of the one side by the halfe number of one of the other sides that is to say ten by fiue vvhich is fiftie pole and containe halfe an arpent at a hundred poles an arpent and â—ighteene foot to euerie pole and twelue inches euerie foot If the ground haue the fashion of an Oxe head that is to say be cast into two triangles equally joyned together and that euerie side for example sake containe twentie poles I will multiplie the number of the one side by the number of the other side that is to say twentie by twentie and I vvill say that twentie times twentie poles are foure hundred poles and that foure hundred poles are foure arpents at a hundred poles to an arpent eighteene foot to a pole and twentie inches to a foot If the ground should proue round like a circle you must diuide the same round into two diameters vvhich make foure equall quarters then you must know the number of the poles of euerie quarter afterward to multiplie them vvill be the summe of the whole round compasse of the ground for example euerie quarter of the round doth containe twentie poles vve will multiplie twentie by twentie and so we shall find foure hundred poles vvhich make foure arpents vvhich this round shall containe at a hundred pole to an arpent eighteene foot to a pole and twelue inches to a foot If the ground be of a mixt sort hauing many formes and shapes the best vvill be by the meanes of the squire to reduce them all into squares and then to find out the number of poles in them and to put the said numbers together And if in reducing and bringing of them into foure squared formes you borrow something you must restore the number vvhich you haue borrowed in the totall number vvhich you haue gathered and by this meanes you shall hauâ— the perfect number of yoâ—â— ground And last of all if so be that your ground be intangled vvithin some other peece of ground you must measure all together and afterward taking away the inclosed part and putting the one asunder from the other you must measure your owne by it selfe Thus haue we briefly set downe that vvhich is to be knowne of the Hâ—â—bandman concerning the skill of measuring of lands and whatsoeuer ground if hâ— happen vpon any peece of measuring vvorke which is of greater importance than this which I haue mentioned he must haue recourse vnto the professed skillfull in measuring CHAP. II. What manner of tilling of arable grounds shall be intreated of in this Booke AS it is ordinarily seene that the complexions of people dwelling in the seuerall Prouinces of one great region and countrie doe differ one from another according to the aire or aspect of the Sunne which is called the climat that they dwell in so in like manner one may see the nature and fertilnesse of arable grounds to ingender and bring forth diuers complexions and sorts of ordering of the same more in one place than in another according as the ground shall be moist and glib grauelly consisting of fullers clay brickie stonie or free and well natured vvhich thing did necessarily compell our predecessors inhabitants of this countrie to alter and change the manner of â—illing as also the fashion of the ploughs in France and the conâ—ines of the same as the high and base countrie of Beaun the countrie of Normandie and the confines thereof Sangterre Berrie and Picardie in like manner high and base Brie Champagne Burgoâ—gne Niuernois Bourbonnois Rotelois Forest Lyonois Bresâ—e Sauoye and againe in the countrie of Auuergne Languedoc Solongne where there groweth no corne but Riâ— Bordelais Rothelais Vaudomois Baâ—adois and generally throughout all the countrie of â—anguedoc euen vnto Gascoâ—gne Biscay and Bearne and not to leaue out Prouencâ— and Bretaigne vvhich some call Gallo and Tonnant To be short beyond the countrie of Mayne Touraine Poictou Le Perche and Conte d' Anjou which are as it were the lands of promise in our Countries of France And as it is thus with our Countrie of France so it is likewise with our neighbour countries as both in great Brittaine and the Neatherlands where according to the attration of the soyles so there is found an alteration in their tilling the East part much differing from the West and the North from the South nay euen in one and the selfe same countrie is found much alteration in tillage as shall be said hereafter Of all these sorts of tilling of arable ground vve haue purposed to intreat hereafter in short and easie manner and that in regard onely of the husbandrie of the true and naturall France vvhich vve vnderstand to containe all whatsoeuer is inclosed within the bounds and circuits of the riuers of Oyse Marne and Seyne and our purpose is notwithstanding this to make the husbandrie thereof as a patterno for all other fashions and sorts of tillage vsed in all other countries as well neere as those which are furthest off CHAP. III. Of the nature and conditions of the arable ground in France NOw as concerning the husbandrie of France which comprehendeth and containeth the confines called also French and reacheth vnto the countrie of Sangterre and to be briefe which compasseth all whatsoeuer Seyne doth ouerflow euen to the riuer Oyse both of the one side and of the other coasting along the riuers of Marne and Aube it is certaine that it is veâ—ie strong and toilesome as also the earth is found to be well natured easie to stir blacke deepe lying high when the fallowes come to be ploughed vp hauing few stones and by consequent bearing great store of fruit Againe it beaâ—eth pure Wheat that noble graine for
husbanded in the earth would notwithstanding yet neuer abide idle or without doing something It is true that the couch-grasse and that which is called rest-harrow make shew to be more standing tenants than veruaine or male knot-grasse for they will not away except the plow and culture their tyrannous commaunders doe come To conclude these later hearbes being cut and rooted out by oft and deepe plowing must afterward especially the thistles be thwacked and beaten small before the first raine that so there may nothing of them yea no more than of an Adder remaine aliue to breed or increase any thing againe for their nature is so soone as they receiue a little moisture to fasten and claspe themselues so close to the slime of the earth as that they vvill thereby againe so enter new possession that within a short time after they vvill become strong ynough to strangle their mother Let vs therefore conclude that the earings of the arable ground are to cleanse it from stones and vveeds to manure it to spread and cast abroad the dung or marle to plow it after the manner of the first earing to â—urrow or ditch it to clod it vvith a roller or board to couer it then after some time vvhen the raine hath fallen vpon it to plow it for the second earing which of auncient men is called stirring of it and this cannot be done without laying it in furrowes and the third earing is to plow it for seed time to sow harrow and pull vp vveedes vvhich by aboundance of raine and too much rankenesse of the earth doe ouergrow and enter commons with the new â—hot corne And lastly to mow and lay it bare and naked to sheare or cut it downe to sheaue it and to gather it in And albeit I here stand much vpon the cleansing of grounds from stones which is a verie good husbandrie and for which by a generall consent whole lordships and towneships will joyne together and make as they terme them in diuers countries common daies for common works yet you must vnderstand that all soyles are not to be cleansed from stones but only the clayes and sands which haue no generall mixture with stones but as one would say here a stone and there a stone scattered seuerally and not mixt vniuersally for where the earth and the stones are of one equall mixture not abounding more in the one than the other there to take away the stones were to impouerish the ground and make it bare and vndesensible both against the wind heat and cold as thus vvhere stones are mixed equally vvith light sands there they keepe the sand firme about the rootes of the Corne vvhich should they be taken away the vvind vvould blow the sand away from the corne and leaue it drie and bare by vvhich meanes it vvould neuer sprout or in those hillie countries where the reflection of the Sunne is verie hot and the earth light if the stones being generally mixt should be taken away that violent heat vvould so scortch and burne the corne that it vvould seldome or neuer sprout or neuer prosper and againe where the countrie is most cold and most subject to the bitternesse of frosts there this equall mixture of stones taking a heat from the Sunne giues such a warmth to the corne that it prospereth a great deale better and sooner than otherwise it would for vvhich cause stones are many times held amongst Husbandmen to be an excellent manure for arable land so that I conclude though in 〈◊〉 earthes they are most sit to be cleansed away yet in light soyle they may verie well be suffered as is to be seene in the Southerly parts of France and the Westerly parts of great Brittaine CHAP. V. The Plow mans instruments and tooles THe carefull and diligent plow-man long time before he be to begin to eare his ground shall take good heed and see that all his tooles and implements for to be vsed in plowing time be readie and vvell appointed that so he may haue them for his vse vvhen need shall be as namely a waggon or two according to the greatnesse of the farme and those of a reasonable good bigge size and handsome to handle vvell furnished vvith wheeles vvhich must be finely bound and nayled and of a good height but more behind than before one or two carres vvhich may be made longer or shorter according as the matter vvhich shall be layed vpon them shall require one light and swift cart the bodie layed vvith plankes and sufficient strong to beare corne vvine vvood stones and other matters that are of great vveight a plow furnished vvith a sharpe culture and other parts tumbrills to carrie his dung out into his grounds wheele-barrowes and dung-pots to lade and carrie out dung in strong and stout forkes to load and lay vpon heapes the corne-sheaues pick-axes to breake small the thicke clods the roller to breake the little clods rakes pick-axes and mattockes or other instruments to plucke vp vveeds that are strong and vnprofitable harrowes and rakes with yron or woodden teeth to couer the seed with earth sickles to sheare or cut downe haruest flailes to thresh the corne fannes and sieues to make cleane the good corne and to separate it from the chaffe dust and other filth And because the plow is of all instruments belonging to the arable field the principallest and varieth the oftest according to the variation of climats I vvill here giue you a little touch of the seuerall plows for euerie seuerall soyle and first to speake of the composition of plows it consisteth vpon the beame the skeath the head the hales the spindles the rest the shelboard the plow-foot the culture and the share then the slipe to keepe the plow from wearing and the arker-staffe to cleanse the plow when it shall be loaden vvith earth or other vild matter The plow vvhich is most proper for the stiffe blacke clay would be long large and broad vvith a deepe head and a square shelboard so as it may turne vp a great furrow the culture vvould be long and little or nothing bending and the share would haue a verie large wing as for the foot it vvould be long and broad so set as it may giue vvay to a-great furrow The plow for the vvhite blew or gray clay vvould not be so large as that for the blacke clay onely it vvould be somewhat broader in the britch it hath most commonly but one hale and that belonging to the left hand yet it may haue two at your pleasure the culture vvould be long and bending and the share narrow vvith a vving comming vp to arme and defend the shelboard from vvearing The plow for the red sand would be lesse than any before spoken of more light and more nimble the culture would be made circular or much bending like that for the white clay yet much thinner and the share vvould be made as it were with a halfe vving
they haue a slipperie and moist â—round fit to make pots of for necessarie businesse they plow vpon a causey and as it were vpon an Asses backe and in euerie fiue furrowes they hold it meete to cast one high ridge that is verie large and made also like vnto a caâ—sey that it may both receiue the raine water and that which springeth out of the earth which is alwayes moist and that because of two Riuers lying vpon the one side and on the other and doe moisten and water the grounds there continually vnderneath And for the same purpose which is also practised in small Beaux as in Long-boyau Val de Gallie Val-boyau Niuernois and Bourbonnois they make at the end of their ground certaine rises of sufficient height where betwixt the said rise and arable ground there is a ditch or pit made within it after the fashion of a long fatt to receiue the waters which runne along after great raine for otherwise they would rot and smother the corne This troubleth such as trauell those countries exceedingly and this is the cause of the name whereby they are called the Grashoppers of Brie Insomuch as that they cannot tell how to doe so well as in a rainie day to goe and pull vp Darnell Dane-wort and other ouer-spreading weedes which else they could hardly ouercome being a kind of earing of the ground called of auncient Writers the freeing of Corne-ground from weedes hauing further by such aboundance of raine this scath done vnto their Come as that it is layd bare now and then yea and that though it be neuer so well harrowed and the earth of it selfe strong and mightie There is no need of anie such rises or ditches in the parts of France truly and properly so called neither in the Isle thereof nor in the flat and free Countrey of Blairie as Long-boyau and Labeaâ—ce the verie Barne and Store-house of France the Countries of Oye Sangterre or else of Berry and free Poictou And all grauellie Countries may be well excused and freed from all manner of such inconuenience as appeareth by manie places of Picardie and Solongne euen vnto Percheron so that they make their furrowes close and neere one to another as is wont to be done in low grounds and valleyes The ground must also be plowed in a fit and conuenient time to the end that it may become fruitfull Wherefore the carefull Husbandman shall neuer plow his ground whiles it is wet for running through it with the plough at that time it will doe nothing but runne vpon heapes especially in tough and clammie grounds as also in those which be hard or growing and putting forth their fruit in as much as this maketh them so sad and close that it is impossible to make them fine and small mould againe Likewise it is an absurd thing euer to goe about to put the plough into a dyrtie and myrie ground because it is nothing fit to stirre or deale anie manner of way withall before it become drie and so vnfit as that though you could doe what you would vnto it with the plough yet there is no casting of anie seed into it And if it should fall out that there were anie Tree or Vinâ—-plant in the ground you must passe it ouer in lifting vp the plough from off the shootes which come from the rootes at all times when you perceiue your selfe to be vpon them or 〈◊〉 you shall cut them off with a hatchet rather than bruise and breake them with the culter for feare of breaking the culter it selfe and putting the Oxen or Horse to 〈◊〉 and paines CHAP. X. That the â—attell vsed to plow withall doe differ according to the manner and custome of the Countries IN rough and tough grounds as also in free and kindly grounds as hath been said where there are required as needfull three Horses to a plough of fiftie foot but not so coupled and spanged as they be in Countries where they vse to plow with Mares Oxen Asses or Buffles you must after the first caring breake the clods with the rowler and lay it flat square and plaine with a planke In leane grauellie and weaker grounds you shall not stand in need to be at such cost either with horse or man for it is not requisite that you should draw so deepe a draught in the earth and againe the husbandmen of such Countries haue sooner finished and made an end than others and yet doe labour with more leisure because of the ayre and climate of their Countrey Yet this is but a particular fashion in France therefore to speak more generally both according to that and other forraine soyles you shall vnderstand that there be two principall causes to make a man plow with Horses although he may haue Oxen at his pleasure The one is when he liueth in a verie wet and dyrtie soyle where the ground of it selfe yeeldeth forth such a continuall moisture that the finallest trampling or treading thereupon bringeth it to a verie myre in this case it is best to plow with Horse because they draw euer directly one after the other and tread euer in the furrow without annoying the land and goe also much more light and nimbly than other cattell whereas Oxen going double and treading vpon the land would foyle it and make it so myrie that it would be good for no purpose The other when a man liueth farre from his necessarie accommodations as from his fuell his fencing his timber and other such like necessaries which he must forcibly vse euerie yeare in this case he must euer keepe his teame of Horses because they are fittest for trauell and long iournies doing them euer with the greatest speed and least losse whereas the Oxe being a heauie beast would soone surfet and are indeed so vnapt for the same that a man can hardly doe them greater iniurie Now for the number of Horses to be vsed in the plow it must be according to the greatnesse of the labour and the strength of the cattell for in the heauie and stiffe clayes sixe are euer few ynough either to fallow with or to plow the Pease-earth with and fâ—ure for anie other ardor in the lighter sands foure is sufficient at all times and three vpon anie necessitie As for the mixt soyles if they be binding they will craue as much strength as the clayes but if they be loose the same that serues the light sands will serue them also And herein is to be noted that the stoned Horse is euer better for the draught than either the Mare or Gelding yet all good and meet for seruice Againe they worke with the Asse and the Oxe as in Aâ—uergne with the young Mule and in Romaine and Champaigne in Italie with the Buffle whereas of a truth the labour of Oxen is not readie nor so quicke of dispatch in the time of necessitie and for to remedie and helpe this mischiefe you must begin your worke with the Oxen
sooner and haue a greater number of them than of Horse The prouision of Oxen is of lesse charges for diet buying and selling againe whereunto you may adde that you may eat the Oxe or sell him againe after you haue had his labour a certaine time True it is that he that hath wrought all the morning must rest the afternoone and the Oxen going earlier to plough returne earlier from labor than the Horse The greatest commoditie comming by them is that they better endure the vnseasonablenesse of times and in sturdie and stiffe ground they draw a deeper draught and acquite themselues in the worke with more commendation againe they â—raue nothing so much shooing or harneis in the Countries where yron and harneis is deere neither are they subject vnto so manie maladies saue that they must be kepâ— from being starued with cold and from the raine as also care taken that they be well couered This I speake as of our French Oxen which are not much inured to labour but if you please to looke vnto the English Oxe you shall see that he is the worthiest creature of all other for the plow both in respect of his constancie in labour and of hiâ— long endurance therein as also for his leisurable and certaine drawing without 〈◊〉 or twitches keeping euer one pace without going faster or slower whereas the horse by his courage and fiercenesse doth when he is prickt forward draw so rashly and suddenly that a good hand can hardly now and then keepe an euen and direct fâ—â—row These Oxen are fittest for those soyles which are tough and firme without 〈◊〉 spewing moisture in them because as was before said they draw double ye◠〈◊〉 some places and in moist grounds you shall see them draw single like vnto horses with open collars and large hames Touching the number meet for a Plow the horse and they are all one for six Oxen will serue well either to fallow or breake vp Pease earth and foure will performe anie other ardor yet if you will let them haue anie Tytt or meane Iade to goe before them and lead the way which will as it were eaâ—e the yoakes from their neckes it will be a great deale the better and they will take their labours with much more pleasure and howsoeuer our custome is in France yet they will endure a full daies labour as well as a horse prouided that they be driuen temperately and gently for nothing breedeth surfet so soone in Oxen as ouer-hasâ—ie driuing or heating them without discretion I find not anie labour lesle chargeable than that of Asses such as are to be had in Tabie Calabrie Sicile and in the countrie of Iaffle being all of them countries where they grow great and faire for they endure more labor and are not subiect to so many diseases neither are they so costly to feed True it is that they do not so much neither yet altogether so well wherefore they are better to be vsed in leane grounds except the yong Mule of Auuergne which exceedeth all other beasts but he is troublesome hard to be brought to draw and so brainsick as that there is not the yong Mule which hath not his madding fit and vexeth his master now and then whereâ—pon it groweth that some vse to say namely A good young Mule but a curst beast The plowing with Buffles as is to be seene in Romaine and elsewhere is good in grounds that are fat and standing vpon a Potters clay and are not chargeable in harneis because that hauing so short a necke they stand not in need of anie thing but a ring to hold and keepe them by the snowt but in Summer they are dangerous and fall oftentimes into a frenzie especially when they see anie red clothes and yet notwithstanding they hold out longer at labour and are more readie and diligent thaâ— the Oxe Finally this poore beast serueth to giue milke besides the worke and laboâ— performed by them as also their hide is of much more vse than that of the Cow or Oxe for in some places Husbandmen doe vse Mares Asses shee Mules and Kinâ— to draw and goe to plow after the same manner that the males doe I doe not intend to trouble my selfe in this place with the fashion of the Plough neither yet with the diuers sorts thereof that are found in diuers and sundry 〈◊〉 so as if you should aske me of the difference betwixt the Ox-plough and the Horse-plough I intend not to shape you anie further answere than this namely that according to the loafe so must the knife be euen so according to the force and streâ—gh of the ground so you must haue your instruments and tooles for to cuâ— and fill the same Neither will I trouble my selfe with examining the fashions of our ploughs with 〈◊〉 described of Hesiod to see whether they be like or no no more than I inâ—end to meddle with the fashion and making of Columella his Hedging-bill or Wedge which 〈◊〉 saith in his time to haue beene named after the French name CHAP. XI Of clodding and earing it the second and third time and of sowing of it afterward FVrthermore it is meet after the first earing of Corne-ground verie diligently to breake and take away clods and to make the ground plaine and euen for the better sowing and bestowing of the seed in good proportion and sort vpon the ground vvhich our common Husbandman vâ—eth to doe in the time called of him the dusting time Notwithstanding that the inhabitants of Beauce doe not so strictly stand vpon the same for by reason of the fatnesse of their grounds they take the time howsoeuer it shapeth hauing no good assurance of the time whether it will continue faire or turne rainie It is the order and common fashion to breake the clods with the Rowler vvhich would doe well to be of Marble in a tough and stiffe ground or else you may breake them with a harrow well toothed with sharp-pointed teeth of yron and of a good length But howsoeuer you must so labour it and so oft goe ouer it as that it may be broken all into dust if it be possible that so there may not remaine one clod vnbroken after that it is sowne Yet for the more certaine clodding of arable grounds you shall know that it must be done according to the nature of the soyle and euer after a good shower of raine the first which falleth after the seed is sowne If the ground be a loose soft mould and verie apt to breake then the back-side of your harrowes being runne ouer the lands vvill be sufficient but if the earth be more hard and binding then you shall take the rowler of Wood for that of Marble is a great deale too heauie and indeed onely fit for Grasse-grounds and not Corne-grounds as also the teeth of the harrow are too sharpe and teare vp the earth too much and vvhere the vvoodden rowler vvill not serue there
you shall take clodding-beetles made of purpose broad and flat and with them breake the clods so in peeces that the raine may soften them then with your back-harrowes runne ouer them againe and this is called sleighting as well as clodding Wherefore after that the clods are well broken and all made plaine for the second earing you shall cut vp your grounds againe about mid Iune if they be fat and moist or about the moneth of September if they be leane and drie for otherwise your leane ground would be quite dried vp and burnt with the Sunne neither would there remaine therein anie vertue or iuice Aboue all things you must obserue and keepe such order in plowing as that the ground may not be too drie nor too moist for great store of moisture maketh them dirt and mire and too much drinesse doth disaduantage the husbandman amaine either because the plough cannot enter the ground or if it enter yet it cannot breake it small ynough but turneth vp thicke and broad clods of earth in such sort as that afterward it will be hard to plow vp the field againe for certainely there cannot be that done which should and is requisite when the earth is too hard Wherefore the ground that hath beene plowed in drought must haue a rainie season found out to be plowed in afterward againe that so the same being watered and moistened may be the more easily tilled Yet of the most approuedst husbandmen for France is not rich in that profession it is held that the earth can neuer be plowed too drie so long as the plow is able to run through the same and one ardor so gotten is worth three in the moister weather besides the greater that the clods are which arise by plowing thus in drie weather 〈◊〉 greater store of mould you shall haue which is a good aduantage to the graine neither will it be anie thing more difficult to plow if you stay a good season and haue the earth throughly wet before the next plowing for these great clods doe neuer arise but in the clay grounds which are apt to breake with anie moisture Shortly after the second earing you shall giue it his third earing which must be more light and such as breaketh not in so deepe as the two former This earing being finished you must make the ground euen and smooth with a harrow presently after which shall be about the middest of October then you shall sow and bestow your seed vpon the ground in good proportion but not at anie other time than in the encrease of the Moone and neuer in the decrease and then likewise it will be the better if you take the opportunitie of a little raine following the Prouerbe which sayth You must sowe Wheat in myre and Barly in dust and the reason is because thaâ— Wheat being hard and comming neere to the nature of Wood doth bud and 〈◊〉 better and sooner when it is layd in steepe and mollified in dyrt or else for feare of Pismires which if the Wheat should be sowne in a drie ground would become lords of it by and by and carrie it away Notwithstanding if you see that the raine be somewhat long in comming seeing the times are not in mans power you shall not deferre to sow especially in dry grounds for the corne which is sowne in dry ground and well harrowed and couered doth enioy and keepe the same without corrupting as well as if it were in the Garner and if there follow anie raine the seed will be vp in a day I presuppose in the meane time that the Husbandman hath let rest and lye idle his grounds for some two yeares wherein he is intending to sow his Wheat to the end they may bring him a better crop Furthermore seedâ—time is expired and past about the eighteenth day of Nouember for then the earth by the coldnes of the aire becommeth close shut and as it were rugged staring and agast so that it will not be able so well to receiue the seed and to cause it to thriue It is true that in cold places seed must bee sowne earlier but in hote places later whereupon it commeth to passe that in Italie they sowe about the beginning of Nouember but with vs in France where it is temperate in October in cold places and Coast-countries in the kallends of September or rather sooner to the end that the roots of the come may be growne strong before that the Winter-raine doe molest it or the Yee and Frosts doe hurt it Notwithstanding at what time soeuer you sowe your seed you must maâ—e diuers conueiances ouerthwart the grounds and conduits to carrie away the water out of the Corne. Yet this Seed-time is spoken but as of Wheat only or Rie which are called Winter-cornes for Pease Beanes and Pulse would bee sowne in Februarie and the beginning of March and Oats and Barley at the end of March and beginning of Aprill Now sometime the husbandman shall haue occasion to reioice in hope of good successe and sometime to feare in doubt of the euill successe of his seed by reason of the variablenes of the time Hee shall haue good hope of his Seed if hee see the time inclined to sweet mild and not violent showers and vnto temperate not eâ—cessiue and often showers for the mild showers resemble the dew the excessiue ones doe moisten and coole too much If in like manner the snow doe fall in aboâ—ndance and become hard by some frost following thereupon for such snow letteth and stayeth the earth from spending it selfe by exhalation and vvasting of his fatnesse which otherwise by vapours would be consumed and if also the said snow in making doe wash and water by little and little the earth vvith his pure and sweet liquor and as it vvere scumme of raine for that serueth to make the earth fat prouided that presently vpon the melting of the snow there fall no showers of raine accompanied vvith haile if lastly the frosts come in their proper and due time for if they be too 〈◊〉 and forward they burne the young sprouts and if too late they hurt them verie much CHAP. XII Of the choice and quantitie of seed to be sowne FOr Wheat to make seed of the industrious Husbandman shall chuse such as is full thicke heauie firme and so hard and strong as that it cannot but with paine be broken betwixt the teeth of a red colour bright cleane not aboue a yeare old which maketh sauourie and well-tasted bread threshed out of choice and culled eares which after fanning and winnowing lyeth vppermost as that which is the thickest and most massie which was growne in a fat ground but contâ—arily seated to that wherein such Wheat is to be sowne as from hill to plaine and from moist to drie and yet so contrarie as that the seed of a bad place be rather sowne in a good place than the seed of a good place sowne in a bad for seed
little that so the corne may not be too close and fast couered 〈◊〉 the â—oot which would cause it to die also and rot away bringing forth nothing This worke and dutie is not of small weight and moment in as much as oftentimes the corne is choaked by weedes and bowed to the earth by their too much loftinesse taking their opportunitie of some beating wind or raine Moreouer you must not be abashed if the greater part of the eares proue emptie without hauing anie thing at all in them and the other not to come to perfection and ripenesse Againe when the good corne is accompanied with Fetches Darnell and other weedes the bread is not onely made more vnpleasant lesse sauourie wholesome and discoloured but also it commeth not to the one halfe of good corne which is not mingled with these filthie weedes insomuch as that three load of such corne after the winnowing of it doe not yeeld two of pure and cleane corne And which is worse the field where such seedes are scattered doe not bring forth halfe so much as those which are charged with nothing but well cleansed and winnowed corne CHAP. XIIII Of mowing or shearing THe last labour and toyle for the which all the other in the whole yeare going before was taken is mowing and cutting downe of the corne which must be attended after that it once becommeth ripe which will appeare by the turning of the colour into a light yellow throughout in all parts alike and before that the graine be altogether hardened and turned red that so it may grow thicker in the weathering and barne rather than standing in the fields For it is most certaine that if it be cut downe in good and due season it will grow bigger and encrease afterward whereas otherwise if you stay the mowing or shearing of it downe till it be throughly drie the greatest part of the corne will fall to the ground in shearing of it and will become a pray for the birds and other beasts If there happen anie violent storme or whirlewind it will lay it flat with the earth You must of all other times make choice of the wane of the Moone or betwixt Moone and Moone to cut downe your corne therein if that you would haue your corne to keepe well and the best houre is the breake of the day when it is full of deaw The manner of shearing is either to cut it in the middest of the straw to the end you may haue stubble to couer your countrey houses as also to heat the Ouen to bake bread in such countries as are vnprouided of wood as in Beauce or else to cut it within a foot of the ground for the greater prouision of straw which will serue afterward to make Mats for Beds or Litter for Horses and other Cattell and which is yet the greatest profit of all to imploy about the making of Mats for the vse and behoofe of the householder in his chambers That which remaineth shall either be cut downe with Sickles or Hedging-bills made fast to the end of a great staffe to make a fire withall for the Winter time or else it shall be burned in the fields themselues to make dung by the means of raine falling thereupon in grounds especially that are sandie or standing of a stiffe Potters clay or which haue a strong mould And although this be the French manner of shearing of Wheat or Rie for of these graines there are no difference yet in other countries they vse to sheare after the Sunne is risen and at such time as the corne is most drie holding as doubtlesse it is most probable that the binding of the corne together in sheaues whilest the wet deaw is vpon it doth either rot or make it mildew quickly As for the stubble it is much better to mowe it downe with Sythes than cut it vp with Sickles both because you may goe neerer to the ground and also saue much labour in doing your worke sooner and better The corne being cut shall be gathered together and made into sheaues and after led and carried into the barne by the Farmer which must be seated in a sufficient high place that so it may receiue the wind somewhat readily and yet not that I would haue the wind when it commeth to be able to goe against the houses or gardens for besides the annoyance which the small chaffe would worke in the eyes of the people and that before they should perceiue it it would furthermore hurt and much annoy the gardens because that by the same sticking to the leaues of the hearbes and trees as also to their fruits in Autumne it would drie them and make them apt and easie to be burnt by the heat of the Sunne CHAP. XV. Of threshing Corne. FOr the last labour of the Husbandman there remaineth nothing more but to thresh out the Corne for to sow it againe or for to store vp and lay aside in the Garner and this not sooner than till three months passed after the Haruest for although the Corne should be gathered of full ripenesse yet still it goeth forward to more perfection as it lyeth in the Barne The Gascoines notwithstanding fearing that Corne left long in the sheaues should not onely take a great heat but grow full of Butterflies Mothes and small Woâ—mes which are wont to spoile it cause the sheaues to be dried three whole daies in the Sunne and that in the field where they were mowen and afterward thresh it in the same place carrying lastly the Corne so threshed into Garners so that by that means they stand not in need of Barnes to carrie their sheaues into and there to keepe them This is also a custome vsed both in Ireland Spaine and the Islands neere vnto Spaine but I cannot commend the husbandrie for it is most certaine that except Corne may take a kindly sweat in the Mowe it is neuer wholesome nor will yeeld flower in that aboundance which otherwise it would do Besides Corne is euer more safely kept in the eare than in the Garner and take much lesse puâ—rifaction Whence it comes that your great Corn-masters and hoarders of Corn when they want roome to lay their Corne in will thresh vp their oldest store and then keepe it in the chaffe till they haue occasion to vse it being of this mind that whilest it lyes therein it will euer keepe sweet and it is a most certaine rule for nothing is a greater preseruer of Corne than the owne chaffe except it be the care it selfe in which Nature hauing at first placed it of necessitie it must euer be safest therein Wherefore I would haue all good husbands to bring their Corne home into the Barne first and there to let it rest three weekes or a moneth at least in which time it will haue taken the full sweat and then to thresh it as occasion shall serue And herein is also to be noted that if you
at such time as it is sowne onely neither is it euer sowne vpon the fallowes but vpon the Pease-earth being euer vvell and carefully harrowed if you find the sayle whereon you sow it to be weake or out of heart the best meanes to giue it strength is to fold it with sheepe immediately before you sow it so that as soone as you take your fold from the land you may put your plow into the land by which meanes the seed and the manure as it were meeting together the manure keepeth the seed so warme and giues it such comfort that forthwith it takes root and brings sorth the increase most aboundantly Now for the cropping or gathering of this Maslin or blend corne you shall euer doe it so soone as you see the Rie begins to open or turne his eare downeward towards the earth albeit the Wheat seeme a little greenish at the root and be nothing neere ripe the corne being soft and milkie for the Wheat will ripen and grow hard in the sheafe which no other corne will doe and the Rie being suffered but to grow a day beyond his full time will shed his graine vpon the earth and you shall loose more than one halfe of your profit againe you shall not lead your blend-corne so soone as you doe your cleane Wheat or your cleane Rie but making it into good bigge safe stouckes vvhich will shed the raine from the eares and containing some sixteene or twentie sheaues in a stoucke you shall suffer is so to stand in the field to ripen as well for the hardning of the Wheat as for withering of the greene weeds vvhich growing amongst the Corne will be shorne vp therewith and bound in the sheaues altogether Secourgion SEcourgion is a kind of Corne that is verie leane vvrinckled and starued somewhat like vnto Barley and it is not vsed to be sowne in France except in the time of famine and dearth and then also but in some countries as are barren and verie leane and that to stay the vrgent necessitie of hunger rather than to feed and nourish It hath his name from the Latine vvords Succursus gentium The greatest part of Perigord and Lymosin doe vse this sort of Corne it may seeme to be a degenerate kind of Corne and may be called bad or wild corne It must be sowne in the thickest and fattest ground that may be chosen howsoeuer some say otherwise as that it delighteth in a light ground in as much as it sprouteth out of the earth the seuenth day after that it is sowne the thicker end running into rootes and the smaller putting forth the greene grassie blade vvhich flourisheth and groweth out of the earth The fittest time for the sowing of it is about the moneth of March in cold places or about the eight or tenth of Ianuarie if it be a mild Winter and not sharpe and pinching This is that kind of graine of three moneths growth whereof Theophrastus speaketh in his Booke of Plants howsoeuer Columella doe not acknowledge any kind of graine of that age Theophrastus in like manner maketh mention of a kind of graine of threescore dayes or two moneths growth and of another of fortie daies growth I heare say that in the West-Indies about Florida there grow sorts of corne some of two some of three moneths and some of fortie daies vve see it verie ordinarie in France to haue corne in three moneths namely in the countries of Beauce Touraine Lyonnoise Sauoy Auuergne Forest Prouence Chartrain and others in which the corne being sowne in March is ripe and readie to be cut downe in the third moneth The occasion of sowing it so late is either the vvaters or excessiue cold or snow or some such other hard vveather vvhich kept and hirdered it from being sowne any sooner Such graines and sorts of corne as are of three or two moneths or of fortie daies and amongst them especially the Secourgeon doe yeeld a verie vvhite and light flowre because it hath but verie little bran and the graine hauing drawne verie small store of substance for his nourishment but such as is of the lightest part of the earth and therefore small store of Bran by reason of the small space of time that it stayed in the earth The bread made of this Corne is verie white but withall verie light and of small substance more fit for Countrie-people and seruants in Families than for Maisters and vvealthie persons Againe in countries vvhere it is of account they vse to mixe Wheat vvith it to make houshold-bread Blanche BLanche is a kind of Wheat which the Latines call Far clusinum and old Writers Far adoreum as a Corne or Graine worthie to be highly thought and made of for his excellencie and goodnesse sake it is verie hard and thicke and requireth a strong and tough ground though it be not all of the best husbanded It groweth also verie wel in places and Countries that are verie cold as not fearing any cold be it neuer so outragious Neither doth it mislike and refuse drie and parched grounds and such as lye open to the excessiue heat of Sommer the Corne cannot be driuen from his huske except it be fried or parched againe for to grind and make bread of it they vse to frie or parch it but vvhen they vse to sow it they let it alone vvith the huske and in it they keepe it for seed It is verie massie and vveightie but not altogether so much as Wheat but yet more cleane and pure than Wheat and also yeeldeth more flowre and branne than any one sort of Wheat besides This kind of Wheat is verie rare in France but verie common in Italie vvhere it is called Sacidate Fine Wheat or Winter-wheat THere is a kind of small Corne that is verie vvhite vvhich the Latines call Siligâ— vvhereof is made White-bread called therefore of the Latines Siliginitis The French cannot as yet sit it with a name It must be sowne in verie open places and such as are hot and throughly warmed by the Sunne although it doe not vtterly refuse an earth that is thicke moist slymie and of the nature of walkers-Walkers-earth seeing that good husbandmen doe likewise report of it that there needeth no such great care to be taken about the making of this graine to grow and vvithall that if a man vse to sow Wheat in a moist and muddie ground that after the third sowing it will degenerate into this kind of Wheat It is that kind of Wheat which amongst the English is called Flaxen-wheat being as vvhite or vvhiter than the finest Flax it is of all sorts of Wheat the hardest and vvill indure a more barren and hard ground than any other Wheat vvill as the grauellie the flintie stonie and rough hils against which by the reflection of the Sunne onely vvhose beames it loueth exceedingly it will grow verie aboundantly neither will it prosper vpon and rich soyle but being as it were ouercome vvith the strength thereof
because it must euer lye in a loose and gentle earth and therefore when it hath least it ought to haue full foure earings before it be sowne as in the fertile rich clayes it must first be fallowed at the later end of April for to stay till May the ground may be too drie and this arder of fallowing must cast downe the ground that is to say the furrowes must be all turned downe from the ridge and the ridge left open so as the earth must receiue seasoning At mid-May you shall manure it and in Iune you shall giue it the second earing which is called Sommer-stirring and in this ardor you shall set vp the land that is you shall plow all the furrows vpward toward the ridge of the land closing vp that which was before opened and lapping in the manure into the earth in such wise that not any thereof be vncouered then at August you shall giue it the third ardor or earing vvhich is called foyling and that is to cast the land downe againe as you did vvhen you fallowed it and this ardor is of all other one of the best especially for the destroying of weeds and thistles then in October you shall giue it the fourth ardor or earing vvhich is called Winter-ridging and in that ardor you shall euer set vp the land againe as you did at the Sommer-stirring and then in March and Aprill following you shall sow it Now touching the manner of sowing of these stiffe clayes you shall first make you seedes-man cast his seed ouer the land in such sufficient manner as you shall thinke meet then taking the plow and beginning in the furrow you shall cast the land downeward ouer the seed till you haue plowed all the land and left onely the ridge open then holding the plow croswise ouerthwart the ridge you shall close the ridge and draw the mould into it then you shall make your seedes-man cast another cast or two of the seed vpon the ridge onely and then harrow it with woodden toothed harrowes and this manner of sowing is called sowing vnder furrow Now whereas I haue shewed you in the plowing of your land that you must first cast downe your land then ridge it vp then foyle it downe and lastly set it vp for the whole Winter following you shall vnderstand that it is the best and most orderliest husbanding of land breedeth the greatest plentie of mould and couereth the manure closest and maketh it soonest rot in the earth yet notwithstanding for as much as Barley is a tender graine and may by to meanes indure any cold or vvet if you find that your lands doe lye too flat so that the Water cannot descend from them but either choaketh them or keepes them too vvet then you shall set vp your land and not cast it downe in any ardor till you haue brought it to that conuenient height that the vvater may haue free passage from the same and so on the contrarie part vvhen your lands lye too high you shall cast the furrowes downeward vntill you haue brought them to that lownesse vvhich shall be conuenient and vvhen you haue so done then you shall cast them downe and set them vp againe in such order as hath beene before mentioned There is also another maner or sowing of barley vpon these fertile and rich grounds vvhich is called sowing vpon the Iunames that is to sow barley on the same ground from vvhence but the haruest before you reapt your Barley and it must be done in this sort as soone as you haue reaped your barley vvhich is commonly in August you shall forthwith if the ground doe require it manure as much as you intend to sow Barley againe vpon and as soone as you haue manured it immediatly if the ground be not too hard you shall plow it either setting it vp or casting it downe as the land shall require or if it be too hard then you shall stay for a showre of raine yet the drier it is plowed the better it is both for the land and the come the land being thus plowed you shall let it lye till Nouember and then you shall plow it againe but in this earing you shall be all meanes set it vp and not cast downe the land and so â—et it lye till seed-time and then sow it vnder furrow as was before shewed This barley vvhich groweth thus vpon the Iunames is the fairest vvhitest and goodliest Corne of all other and is the onely principall Corne you can reserue for seed of all other and therefore you must haue a great regard to the election of the barley you thus sow vpon the junames for the sowing of Barley vpon any mixt earths or hasell-grounds vvhich are clayes and sands or clayes and grauells mixt together you shall husband the grounds in all poynts as you doe the clay-grounds onely you shall differ in the times for these mixt earths must be fallowed in Ianuarie Sommer-stirred in May foyled in August and Winter-rigged in October as for the sowing of them you shall not sow them vnder furrow but aloft because they are of binding natures so that after the sowing should any sodaine raine fall and then a drinesse follow it it would so bake the earth together that the Corne vvould not possible be able to sprout through it and therefore as I before said you shall sow it aloft that is to say you shall first plow it beginning at the ridge and setting the furrowes vpward then cast on your seed and lastly harrow it Now for sowing Barley vpon sand-grounds you shall husband it like vnto the mixt earths onely you shall giue it an eaâ—ing more that is to say a double foyling and you shall forbeare to sow it till it be about Whitsontide for the heat of the sand is so great that it vvill make the Corne verie swift in growth and ripen verie sodainely Barley in vvhat soyle soeuer it is sowne must be exceeding vvell sleighted clotted stoned and vveeded for it is so verie tender in the growth that the smallest clot or stone will keepe it backe and the least vveed vvill choake it Barley is of most pretious estimation vvith all those vvhich know the true vse thereof especially for the making of mault of vvhich is made Ale or Beere drinkes so vvholesome and excellent for mans bodie that no nation vvhich doth enjoy it hath any blessing to preferre before it as touching the order of making of malt it is in this sort first after your barley hath beene cleane vvinowed and drest you shall put it into a cesterne or fat made for the purpose and there sleepe it in vvater the space of three nights then draine the vvater from it cleane and so let it lye in the fat one night more then take it forth of the fat and lay it vpon a floore made either of boards plaster or earth the earth floore is vvarmest and best for Winter the plaster floore is coldest
the cakes which liquorish women vse to make of the meale It must not be sowne but in the midst of Summer whiles the times continue drie and that there is no raine looked for of a long time for the raine doth hurt it after it is sowne cleane contrarie to other plants which all of them reioice in raine after they are sowne The oyle which is pressed out of the seed of Sesame doth neuer freeze and is the lightest of all other Oyles and yet being mixt with Wine or Aqua-vitae sinketh to the bottome There is no account to be made of this graine for nourishment because it is giuen to ouercome the stomacke and is hardly digested as is all oylie matter Lentils LEntils must be sowne at two times in Autumne and most commonly especially in France and cold Countries in the Spring time whiles the Moone encreaseth vnto the twelfth thereof and either in a small or little mould or in a fat and fertile ground for when they be in flower they destroy and spoyle themselues through too much moisture or by putting too farre out of the earth And to the end they may grow the more speedily and the greater they must be mixt with drie dung before they be sowne and foure or fiue daies after that they haue beene so laid to rest in this dung to sowe them They will keepe long and continue if they be mingled with ashes or if they be put in pots wherein oyle and preserues haue beene kept or and if they be sprinkled with vineger mixt with Beniouin Lentils howsoeuer auncient Philosophers had them in estimation are of hard digestion hurtfull to the stomacke filling the guts full of wind darkening the sight and causing fearefull dreames and withall are nothing good if they be not boyled with flesh or fried with oyle Fasels FAsels grow in stubbly grounds or rather a great deale better in fat grounds which are tilled and sowne euerie yeare and they are to be sowne betwixt the tenth of October and the first of Nouember or else in March as other pulâ—e after that the ground hath beene eared about the eleuenth of Nouember They must be sowne after that they haue beene steept in water for to make them grow the mose easily and that at large when they are sowne and alwaies as they ripen to gather them They make far grounds where they be sowne they are accustomed to beare much fruit they keepe a long time they swell and grow greater in boyling and are of a good pleasant tast vnto all mâ—ns mouthes It is true that they are windie and hard to digest but yet notwithstanding they are apt to prouoke vnto venerie if after they be boyled they be powdred ouer with Pepper Galanga and Sugar and yet more specially if they be boyled in fat milke vntill they burst If you mind to take away their windinesse eat them with Mustard or Caraway seed If you haue beene bitten of a Horse take Fasels chew them and apply them so chewed vnto the greene wound Young gentlewomen that striue to be beautifull may distill a water of Fasels that is singular good for the same end and purpose Lupines LVpines craue no great husbandrie are good cheape and doe more good to the ground than anie other seed for when as Vineyards and arable grounds are become leane they stand in stead of verie good manure vnto them Likewise for want of dung they may be sowne in grounds that stand in need to be dunged if after they haue put forth their flowers the second time they be plowed vnder the ground they grow well in a leane ground and such as is tyred and worne out with sowing and they may be sowne in anie ground especially in stubbly grounds such as are not tilled for in what sort soeuer they be sowne they will abide the roughnesse of the ground and negligence of the husbandman neither doe they craue anie weeding as well in respect of their root which is single as also for that if it were hurt they would die presently and because also that it should bee but labour lost for they are so farre off from being infected and wronged with weeds that they euen kill them and cause them to die And this is the cause why manie sowe them in the middest of Vineyards to the end they may draw vnto them all the bitternesse of the Vineyard as being the qualitie most familiar vnto them and with which they best agree Notwithstanding they may not be sowne deepe for when they flower they are made no account of Of all other kinds of Pulse they only stand not in need to be laid vp in Garners but rather vpon some floore where the smoake may comâ— vnto them for if moisture take them they will grow full of wormes which eate vp that which should make them sprout and that which is remaining can doe no good they must be gathered after raine for if it should be drie weather they would fall out of their cods and be lost Lupines are good to feed Oxen in Winter but they must be steept in salted and riuer water and afterward boyled they serue also for to feed men to make bread thereof when it is a time of dearth of other corne Some doe note this speciall propertie in them which is that they turne about euerie day with the Sunne insomuch as that by them workmen are taught the time of the day though it be not cleare and Sunne-shine Lupines stampt and laid vpon the nauell doâ— kill wormes in little children the decoction thereof doth prouoke the termes of women and taketh away the obstructions of the sight by reason whereof manie doe wish them to be taken of young maidens and women which haue pale colours Their meale is singular good in caâ—aplasmes to resolue the swelling of the Kings euill and other hard tumours as well boyled in honey and vineger as in honey and water and likewise for the Sciaâ—ica Beanes BEanes must be sowne in a fat soile or else a ground that is well manured and eared with two earings and although it be in stubbly grounds and seated in low bottomes vvhither all the fat and substance of the higher parts doth descend notwithstanding the earth must be â—liâ—ed and cut small and the clods broken before they be sowne for albeit that amongst all the other sorts of pulse there be not any that doe so little vvaste and the strength and juice of the earth notwithstanding they desire to be vvell and deepe couered vvithin the earth they must be diligently vveeded at such time as they peepe out of the earth for so the fruit vvill be much more and their coddes farre the tenderer They may be sowne at two times of the yeare in Autumne vvhere it is a strong ground and the beanes be great and in the Spring especially in this Countrie in a vveake and light ground the beanes being but small and of the common size those vvhich are sowne in Autumne are
more worth than the other so that the hindes let not to say That they had rather eat the huskes or stalkes of beanes sowne in due time than the beanes themselues of three moneths old because they yeeld more fruit and haue a greater and better stored graine But at what time soeuer you sowe them you must haue speciall regard to sowe them all about the fifteenth day after the change of the Moone because that in so doing thâ—y will be the beâ—ter loaden and because they will not be so much assailed of little vermine as and if the Moone were new The day before they be sowne you must steepe them in the lees of Oliues or in water of Nitre to the end that they may beare the more fruit be more easie to boyle and not to be subiect to be eaten of Weeuils or Larkes They must likewise reape and pull them vp in the new of the Moone before day and after leaue them in the ayre to drie and thresh them out before the full Moone and afterward carrie them into the Garner for being thus ordered vermine will not breed in them Againe they proue more profitable being planted than sowne in a good ground that is well dressed tilled fatted and manured vvhich said ground if it be sowne the yeare following with Wheat will yeeld a more copious and plentifull haruest in as much as Beanes doe fatten a ground more than anie other kind of Pulse If you would keep them long you must sprinkle them with salt water but if you meane to boile them you must bee sure to keep the salt from them because salt-water doth harden them they must not be left in the cold aire for the cold also doth make them the harder to boile To keepe them from being euen of wormes they must bee annointed or rubd ouer with oile-oliue one after another vntill such time as they be well liquored with this oile The flowers of Beanes notwithstanding that they be of a pleasant and delightsome smell doe hurt a weake braine and such a one as is easily carried away and ouercome And hereupon it commeth to passe that there are a great number of fooles when Beanes are in flower Thus much for the French experience of Beanes which doth indeed more concerne the Garden-Beane than those which are continually in vse amongst Husbandmen Therefore to come to the profit and true knowledge of the husbanding of Beanes you shall vnderstand that they are onely to be sowne in a rich stiffe ground that is verie fertile as namely the black or blew clay for in other earths they â—oy but a little and they will grow with one eaâ—ing onely which would be done at the beginning of Ianuarie vpon such earth as hath borne Barly before or else vpon greene-swarth which hath not been plowed long before it must be plowed deep and haue a great furrow turned vp then you shall let it lye till it haue taken frost and raine then vpon the next faire season being about or soone after S. Valentines day you shall sowe it and harrow it As for the weeding of Beanes it is to no purpose for they are of themselues so swift of growth that they will out-grow all weedes And if they haue anie Pease mixt amongst them which should euer be for it is the surest seed they will smother vp and destroy all sorts of weedes They are because of their vpright growing better to be mowne with sythes than cut to reapt with hookes they aske little withering for so soone as the cod turnes blacke the stalke dryes The vse of them is principally for prouander for Horses or to mixe with Barley Wheat or Rie to make bread for hind-seruants or for hunting or running Horses but then commonly they are vsed simply of themselues or else mixt with Wheat onely for the mixture of Barley or Rie is not good for Horses of that nature except for some cause physicall as to keepe them soluble in their bodies and so forth The Garden-Beane is good for men to eat being boyled and mixt with butter vineger and pepper or for want of butter with oyle-Oliue The cods also are a verie good food being boyled whilest they are greene and tender Lastly the water which is distilled from the flowers of Beanes is good to take away the morphew or spots in men or womens faces Small Peason SMall Pease are no lesse profitable for the fatting of ground that is leane than Lupines It is true that if you looke to haue good store of them and well-codded you must sowe them in fat and warme grounds and in a temperate and moist time as in Februarie or March and sometime in September in the increase of the Moone and yet it is hard for them to endure and hold out the Winters cold for they alwaies desire the full fruition of the Sunne and doe grow a great deale the fairer when they doe enioy it accordingly and when also they are borne vp to that end on stickes rather than let fall flat to the ground to creepe vpon it they must be sowne thinne because their stalkes doe spread themselues further than anie one other kind of pulse They are verie subiect to be eaten within of Wormes and yet those which are so eaten of Wormes are better to sowe than the other which are whole and sound For this cause if you will preuent the Wormes that they may not hurt and hinder your corne sowe Peason first in the place It is true that for the better growth and prospering of them the thicke and grosse seed is most conuenient to be sowne especially if it be laid in water to steepe therein a night because thereby they grow the more easily and lose some part of their saltnesse in being steept by which meanes they recouer their naturall verdure againe They must be gathered in the decrease of the Moone presently vpon their being ripe for else they drie vp and fall out of their swads The earth wherein they are sowne standeth in need but of one earing Cich Peason CIch Peason doe likewise grow in fat and moist places they must be sowne in a rainie time they doe greatly load and burthen the earth and for that cause are neglected of the wiser sort of husbandmen Notwithstanding if you will sowe them you must steepe them in warme water a day before that so they may grow and put forth of the earth the sooner and greater Some to haue them grow the fairer doe steepe them and their cods in nitrous water To keepe them that passengers and other folke may not gather them to eate when they are ripe you must water them fiue mornings together before the Sunne rise with water wherein haue beene steeped the seedes of wild Cucumber and Wormewood and the dew within fiue daies after will haue taken away all the bitternesse thereof Such practises are likewise good for to be vsed about small Peason and Beanes The vse of them is good for such as are
whose mould is driest loosest blackest and quickliest ripe with little earing as namely with two ardors at the most which vvould be in October the first and the last in March which is the best and most conuenient time for sowing Hempe must bee exceedingly well harrowed and clotted and the mould must bee made as small as dust for the seed is verie tender at the first sprouting but being once gotten aboue the earth it ouâ—groweth all other weeds whatsoeuer and out of its owne nature it doth choake and destroy them whence it comes that hempe neuer needeth any weeding it must bee diligently and carefully kept and tended after the first 〈…〉 appeare aboue the earth from birds for the seede is so sweet and so much desired of all small birds that without great and diligent care they will not leaue you any in the earth Now for the best time of gathering your hempe it is acording to the common custome of house-wiues about Saint Margarets day being towards the latter end of Iuly But more particularly you shall vnderstand that it is best pulling your hempe for the pill as soone as it doth begin to turne yellowish and the leaues to hang downeward looking vnto the earth but if for seed then not before the seed looke blacke and bee readie to shed hempe must euer bee pulled vp by the rootes and first sprâ—ad thinne vpon the earth then afterwards bound vp in bundles which they do call bayts then it must bee câ—rryed to the water to ripen of which water the running streame is the best and the standing pond is the worst yet it must bee done with great heed for hempe is very poysonous and it doth not onely infect the waters but it doth also poyson much fish Hempe must lye three dayes and three nights couered in the water then it must bee cleane washt out of the water and afterwards brought home and dried either in the Sunne or vpon the kilne There bee some house-wiues which either for sloath or for want of a conuenient place to water in doe ripen their hempe vpon the ground by suffering it to lye at the least fifteene nights vpon the sâ—me taking the dewes which do fall Morning and Euening and other raine by which it ripeneth prouided that it bee turned euerie day once but this manner of ripening is not good for besides that it is vnkindly and doth oftentimes cause the hempe to bee rotten it also maketh the hempe to be very blacke and foule so that it doth neuer make white cloth After the ripening and drying of your hempe you shall brake it in brakes which are made of wood for the same purpose and this labour would euer as neere as you can bee done in the Sunne-shine after the braking of hempe you shall swingle it then beate it then heckle it and if you intend to haue verie fine cloth of it you shall after the first heckling beate it againe and then heckle it through a finer heckle then spinne it after warpe it and lastly weaue it Thus much for the hempe which is vsed for to make cloth withall but for such as shall bee preserued for cordage or the roper you shall onely after the ripening pill it and then either sell or imploy it Hempe seed is verie good to make hennes lay many egges and that in the depth of Winter and greatest coldnes of the same Many doe burne the thickest rootes of the male hempe and of the same so burnt and made into powder do make gunne-powder The iuice or decoction of the greene herbe being strongly strained and powred in some place where there are earthwormes doth cause them to come forth by and by likewise being dropt into the eares it causeth the worms or other beastes which shall bee gotten in thither to come out presently and this wee haue learned of fishermen which by this wile doe take wormes to serue them for their hookes Hempe seede must neither bee eaten nor drunke because it sendeth vp many fumes vnto the braine which will cause the same to ake and therefore women do greatly transgresse the rules of Physicke which giue this bruised seed in drinke to such as are troubled with the falling sicknes or head-ach This is a thing to be wondred at in hempe that seeing there are two sorts of it the male and the female yet the female beareth not the seed but the male Line LIne must not bee sowne in any ground but where there riseth great profit and this followeth and is caused by reason of the seede which impaireth all sorts of grounds verie much and for that cause it must bee sowne in a verie fat ground and such a one also as it reasonably moist In any case the ground where line-seed is sowne must bee curiously handled and clensed and with manifold earings plowed and turned ouer so oft and so long as that it become like dust and furthermore the good hus-wife must be carefull when the line is growne to free it from being 〈◊〉 with the weed vsing to wind about it and which of some is called 〈◊〉 and that not once but oft to the end that in gathering the seed in beating it with beetles heckling and spinning of it such filth may not remaine among the tow It must be gathered when it is ripe and when the colour of it groweth yellow and after layd vp in some drie place that so it may bee defended from the raine and dew which are vtter enemies vnto it when it is drie it must be thresht as soone as may be to the end that the mice eat it not with wooden mallets to get the seed out of it and presently after that it shal be caried to the water about the change of the Moone that it may lie therein three or foure daies in Iuly or August till it become soft and tender to the end that the pilling or barke thereof may the more easily be seperated from the stalkes for the making of cloth When it is drawne out of the water it must bee laied on a heape all round but two or three fadomes broad loading it aboue with boords and stones and after that spred in the Sunne to the end it may drie the better The finest line which is without seed notwithstanding it bee the least and lower of growth than the rest is the best being soft and fine after the manner as it were of silke whereas that which is long and thicke is also more rough and boysterous in spinning You shall make verie fine and white sowing threed of your sine flax in this sort Let it be watered in running water fiue or six daies in Iuly or August in the change of the Moone so soone as it is drawne out of the water spread it in the Sunne that it may drie neuer casting it into any heapes for that which is laid vpon heapes after the comming of it out of the water that it may take a heat and being pressed downe to
wee haue said before If you haue need to sell corne sell it in the increase of the Moone and not at any other time because at such time they grow and become bigger in the garner then they are woonâ— to bee at other times CHAP. XX. Of the Bake-house IN vaine should the husbandman toyle himselfe in tilling his ground so carefully according to the forme and manner which we haue before described and in like carefull sort to gather in heape together and keepe his corne if hee hoped not for some fruit and profit of his paines and labours But what that profit is which he receiueth of his corne I 〈◊〉 my selfe vnto the sale which hee may yearely make vnto foreine and strange 〈…〉 as whereby there redoundeth vnto him an incredible summe of money Witnesses in this point may be the infinite number of rich husbandmen in France and namely in Beauce Brie and Picardie who liue in better estate and fuller of money than many great Seigneours and Gentlemen and I referre my selfe likewise vnto the diuers sorts of bread which they make of their corne for the feeding and sustaining of themselues and their families as also their cakes cheese-cakes custards flawnes tartes fritters and a thousand other prettie knackes and daintie conceits which may be made and wrought of the meale which their corne yeeldeth And yet further I report me to the beere which standeth in steed of wine in the countries where the vine cannot beare fruit made commonly with wheat and barley And lastly to the sale of bread which hee may practise and vse euery day whithout any whit disaduantaging himselfe as wee see in the husbandmen of Gonesse neere to the Citie of Paris Now therefore seeing that matters stand in this sort me thinkes it should bee an vnseemely thing not onely for the farmer but also for the Lord of this our farme to vse to send to the towne or else whither to buy bread custardes 〈◊〉 cakes tartes beere and other such necessarie things for the food and 〈◊〉 of his house either yet to borrow of their neighbours strangers as bakers paste-cookes and brewers for the vse or to bee beholden vnto them for any of 〈…〉 when they stand in need of them For it is my intent â—nd 〈…〉 countrie house should bee another Pandora furnished and flowing with 〈◊〉 all manner of good things and commodities in such sort as that the neighbour townes might haue recourse and seeke vnto it in cases of their 〈…〉 but without taking or receiuing any thing at their handes but 〈◊〉 as the price and sale of the wares shall amount and come vnto which 〈◊〉 sendeth and furnisheth them withall day by day I 〈◊〉 therefore 〈…〉 a baker panter worker in pastrie and a brewer when need shall be 〈…〉 that he should not be ignorant of any thing which might helpe to keepe sustaine and inrich his house Whereof Bread is made ANd to the intent that I may enter into my purposed matter of the Bake-house I doe not here intend to crie or search out who was the first inuenter of Bread-making or what meates were in vse amongst them of auncient time before the making of Bread was found out or whether it was the man or womans labour to play the Baker these I leaue to such as make their whole profession that way to discourse of contenting my selfe to teach and instruct my Farmer what graine or corne hee may imploy and vse for the making of bread For certaine there may be bread made of all sorts of corne but not of all sorts of graine for Pulse as we call them that is to say such graine as is inclosed in coddes or huskes and which are not cut downe with Sythe or Sickle but gathered by plucking them from the earth by the rootes as Pease Beanes Rice Lentils great Cich-pease small Cich-pease Lupines Fasels Fetches Fenugreeke and other such like are not fit to make bread of except in time of famine and when as other corn doth â—aile altogether or else fall to be exceeding deere according as wee see in such times of hard distresse bread of Oats Barley Beanes Rice Millet and Pannicke for such I haue seene in Perigord yea of Bran Fishes dried in the Sunne Acornes Chesnuts and Ferne rootes for such haue I seene in base Britaine or which is more of Brickes Tiles and Slates as is reported to haue beene made by the inhabitants of Sancerra who during the time that they were besieged did make and eate bread made of Slates Of Corne and of such differences and sorts of the same as will make good bread THe excellentest wholsomest and best kind of graine for to make bread of is corne of which as there are many differences and diuers sorts according to the regions countries grounds and soiles where they grow according to the industrie of the husbandman so likewise there are diuers sorts of bread made differing as well in sauour and taste as in maner of nourishing Therefore that you may be able to make your choise wisely of all sorts of corne of euery countrie that is fit to make bread of you must see that it be thicke full grosse massiâ— firme of colour somewhat inclining to yellow cleane yeelding great store of cleane and white meale which being sâ—eept and boiled in water doth quickly swell which being newly threshed commeth presently from the sheafe for that which is old threshed although it be drier than that which is new threshed as also more light apt and ready for to make meale to keep in â—â—ale notwithstanding the bread is not of so pleasant a taste seeing it hath lost a greâ—t part of his well relishing iuice and hath gotten as it were another nature by the alteration of the aire for certainly euen so deale the Corne-Merchants who well bethinking themselues at what time to sell their corne doe not thresh it before the very same moneth wherein they meane to sell it and as on the other side the Baker will not buy if possiâ—ly he may choose any other corne to make good bread of than that which being new threshed commeth fresh from the shease The excellentest corne in all France and which they vse most in Paris are those sorts which comâ— out of Beauce France Briâ— Picardie Champaigne and Bassignie in Burgundie howsoeuer also these in Berreâ— Poictou Zanctonges â—â—goulmois Limoges Normandie Liâ—agne Languedoc and Auuergne be not altogether to bee reiected The corne of Beauce maketh a faiâ—er shew than the corne of any other countrie because it is growing in a fertile and a fat soile and such a one aâ— iâ— not drie and it hath in it a band which sheweth great when it is in bread althoâ—â—gh there 〈◊〉 lesse quantitie of paste The corne of France hath a shorâ—â—â— and 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 because it groweth in a ground neither too fat noâ— too leane but indifferent so that the bread that is made thereof is not of so great shew
meale for if you knead it vvith vvater that is more hot than needeth the paste will swell vp the more a great deale and afterward vvill drie out of all reason To make bread of the corne that was growne in Brie you must vse a quite other manner of order because that countrie corne is much more churlish than that of France or Beauce the first flower that commeth out of huske or skin of the said corn is better bound than the others because the corne is shorter and so hangeth in the bolter as doth the oatmeale contrarie to the nature of other corne in as much as the said oatemeale is sweeter than the other sorts of corne which causeth that the bolter letteth some small quantitie of meale somewhat roundly ground to crosse it ouerthwartly and that may bee the second â—lower and this was not neither should it bee shorter than the corne of Picardie Picardie corne must be much corrected as being hard to be vvell ordred either in paste or in any other such manner of vsages as also for that it craueth a very hâ—â—ouen and when it is in it it maketh such a couering to the bread as though there were no manner of leuen in it at all It is hard to bake and hard to take colour which may seeme somwhat strange for seeing that it is so sowre and drie it should argâ—e that the bread should the sooner bee baked in the ouen but the hardnesse and heauinesse of the meale is the cause that it is so hard to bake as also there may be ioined thereto for another reason the crust that groweth vpon the same presently for it is a meanes to hinder the heate of the ouen that it cannot enter into the inward parts of the bread so easily as it should and this is the cause that maketh the bread to bee alwaies as it were â—at The meale of the corne of Champaigne craueth a newer made leuen when it is to be made into bread because it hath a smatch of the earth which would make it to be become worse in past if it should not haue added vnto it such leuen as were excellent good as also for that the corne comming out of the sheafe doth smell of the ground whereon it grew and this cannot be amended without great diligence vsed and care had in the making of the bread Besides these breads made of these seuerall cornes you shall vnderstand that generally the breads which are most in vse are first the manchet which is the finest of all other and is made of the purest and best part of the meale finely bolted or searst and made light with barme onely and not with leuen neither must it be made too light or spungie but of a good solide temper â—irme and fast wrought the next to it is fine cheate bread which is made of the next meale to the finest and brought onely to differ through the coursnesse of the boulter which being a little wider than the first giues more libertie to the meale to passe away and goe neerer to the branne this must be made light both with leuen and barme yet very well wrought and made altogether as firm as the manchet the next to this is course cheate bread the which is made of the coursest meale as being boulted as cleane from the branne as it can possibly be got and the boulter which is for this purpose must bee a course searse or a fine temze this bread must be made light with leuen onely neither is it much materiall how spungie or open it appeares for this kind of bread is euer to be puft vp and made to appeare in as great quantitie as possible it may bee the last sort of bread is that which is made for pessants or hinde seruants and it is made of meale vnboulted the branne and the meale being all knodden together and in this case your meale would bee ground as fine as is possible There be some that after they haue ground their meale grosse and boulted out the manchets they will then send that which is remaining to the mill againe and haue it newly ground ouer againe as fine as it possible may bee and of it they make this course hindes bread and of a certaintie it is a well allowed husbandrie for thereby you shall reape a double commoditie This bread some mixe with leuen some doe not but certainly the leuen is best for it giues vnto the bread a pleasant and delightsome tast whereas the other wanting the same hath a very rough waterish and vnwholesome tast and it is onely profitable in this that a man not taking any delight to eat it it will last a great deale the longer this bread would be bakt in great loaues and that somewhat hard also Meslin thriueth not so well as not yeelding so much when it is made in bread it is by nature fat as also the meale thereof being boulted it is no easie thing to pull out ones hands when they are in kneading of it the good huswife that hath not bin acquainted to worke in this kind of corne doth find herselfe much incumbred therwith and that in part because the better part of the meale vseth to stay behind with the bran and therefore for the profit of the house it were better to bolt the meale of rie and mesâ—in than to sift it because the bolter with the working of the arms doth cause the bran to let go the meale that is within it which is more than either the pocket or searce will do because they make no mouing or stirring of the meale but from one place to another The paste therefore being well kneaded shifted and prepared as need requireth it must be parted into round peeces of reasonable greatnes thicknes to be set in the ouen made reasonably hot euen in such sort as that the bread may according to the greatnesse thicknesse qualitie of the paste be sufficiently baked for a weightie and thicke loafe of paste made of the corne of Picardie would haue a longer and greater baking than a small loafe and that made of the corne of Beauce or France If the ouen be too hot the crust will bee scorched and within it will remaine raw and vnbaked the heat not being able to enter and pierce to the inner parts the crust that is so hard dried vpon it being a let thereunto In the meane time it must not be forgotten that when any man is 〈◊〉 to make salt bread or to mixe annise seed therwith or any other such mixture 〈◊〉 bee must mingle and put the same thereto whether it be salt or annise seed or any such thing at such time as the past is in kneading There are likewise diuers sortâ— of bread made of one and the same meale according as the bolter pocket temze or searce shall be through which it passeth Of the meale wholly together and hauing nothing sifted out is made houshold bread And when
grapes in places that are hot and giuen to be mild In drie countries he must plant those vines the fruit whereof is woont lightly either through raine or the dew to rot as those be of samoureau Gouet Pinot Blanke and Beaunoies and in a moist place those which are woont to spoile and perish through drinesse In countries which are troubled with haile such as are of a hard and large leafe for such are able the better to defend and couer the fruit CHAP. III. How that there is not planted any vine by the way of making a seed nurcerie except it be onely for pleasure I Am of that mind that a man cannot but hinder and iniurie himselfe in making nurcerices of vines for besides that the tree doth not grow sooner of kernels than it doth of the plant there is also this inconuenience namely that the vine growing of knernels doth not yeeld any thing of profit or good for vse This is indeed a worke for such as loue their pleasure and haue in their purses largely to defray the charges thereof being able thereby to sow seeds out of some strange countrie afterward to raise a nurcerie of stocks of the same when they are growne vp for to bee transplanted and remoued into a better ground and that they may graft thereon and afterward againe remoue the stockes so grafted into a better ground also that so about two yeares after they may reape the fruit thereof which is woont to be both great and daintie enough but yet this same new vineyard thus planted is the least durable of all others Againe in this countrie wee doe not trouble our selues in planting vines to runne vpon trees in such sort as any man may easily see that they doe in Lombardie and other places neither yet with such as are raised vpon single and double shadowing arbours neither yet with such as vse to creepe along and spread themselues vpon elmes or other trees for the wine neuer proueth so good as well because the root of the tree is corrupted after the maner as it falleth out with coleworts as also because this plant loueth not to be hoiâ—ed and mounted too high neither yet shadowed with any building of timber-worke higher than the stature of a perfect man CHAP. IIII. How that before you plant your vine you must learne out what wine the earth will beare where you are purposed to plant it WHosoeuer doth purpose to plant vines must not so much trust vnto the markes and signes of a good ground ceclared and set downe before as first to see that he haue made trial what wine the ground will best beare where he mindeth to plant his vine for it were but labour lost and money cast away to plant a vine for so small increase as can nothing like aunswere and content your expectation Thus then you may trie and proue your ground make a pit in the ground where you meane to plant it of two foot depth and of the earth cast out of the pit take a clod and put it in a glasse full of raine water that is verie deane mingle and beate together this earth and water then let it rest vntill such time as the earth haue made his perfect residence and setling in the bottome of the glasse which is easily perceiued by the cleerenesse of the glasse which will follow thereupon and after that the earth is throughly setled tast the water and looke what relish or tast it hath such would the wine be and therefore a vine yeelding such a relished wine fittest to be planted there therefore if you find therein a bitter tast a saltie or allum like or any other such vnpleasant tast auoid and cease to plant any vine in any such ground Which if it be true then to dung and manure vines is altogether to bee condemned because it is very hard that earth fed and nourished with dung should not taste and retaine the smatch of the dung and so by consequence communicate the same with the wine Wherefore the Parisians are fowly and foolishly ouerseene to load and lay vpon their vines yeare by yeare such great quantitie of dung and that is the cause for the most part why their wines haue an vnpleasant tast and doe easily and very quickely corrupt and yet further the dung doth cause the vines to grow old by and by and become barren because they put forth all their goodnesse the first yeare CHAP. V. Of the choice of young vine plants THe choice of young plants whether they bee crossets marquets or the tenais must not be put to the discretion of the seller who little careth to take the fit season for the gathering of the said young plants neither yet for the goodnesse of them but altogether to his diligent heedfull care which is the workemaster and for that cause it were best for men to take them of their owne vines or else at least to haue those which hee shall buy warranted to beeâ— good he must also haue regard to the quality of the aire and situation of the ground where he will set his plants that so he may fit them for the same For and if the ground lie vpon the South he shall chuse the young branches of vines which he will plant from the same part and quarter if he meane to plant them in a high place hee shall gather the plants vpon some high and tall vine and if low then out of some vineyard that is very low planting in a hot cold drie or moist ground hee shall chuse his plants for the renewing of any failing or decaied of the like situation by this meanes the plant will fasten the sooner in the ground and it will bring forth fruit sooner and a great deale better than if it should bee otherwise Likewise hee must not keepe the young plant any long time before hee plant it for no more than trees which are to bee remooued can the vine well and easily endure after it is cut to bee long vnplanted neither yet would it be carried far or remoued out of its owne soile into another because it feareth the change of earth and aire and thereupon it commeth that the young plants brought out of strange countries as of Beaune Rochel and Burdeaux cannot prosper so well in our soile as those which grew there first To make good choice therefore of crossets to plant new vines of you must see that the vine from which you gather such Crosâ—ets bee but sparingly furnished with pith because that such a one is not onely fruitfull and bearing aboundantly but because also it is not so subiect to the iniuriousnesse of time as Snow Fogges Frostes and the burning of the Sunne in the time of Sommer as those which haue much pith in them afterward when the vines beginne to bud you must diligently view about the beginning of September those that are most laden with grapes and which are most fruitfull and haue most
eies in their branches which haue not beene iniured or hurt by the hardnesse of weather and which are neither young not old but in their chiefest strength and middle age or not much past Of such vines must your branches be gathered in the increase of the new Moone somewhat late of the day in the afternoone not of such as grow most low not yet of such as grow highest but of the middle growth and such as are round smooth and fiâ—me hauing many eies and about three fingers of old wood together with the new It must be planted presently that so it may take the sooner in the earth whiles yet it is in life or else presently as soone as it is cut off to wrap it in its owne earth not tying it hard as also if you would keepe it a long time to put it in a vessell full of earth well closed and stopped perfectly on euery side that so the aire may not any way wrong it or else if it bee to bee carried into any far countrie to sticke it in an onion or wilde garlicke and then before planting of it to steepe it in water especially if the ground from whence it is gathered be drie by nature The vine-dressers of the duchie of Burgundie before the planting of crossets do cause them to be steeped one whole day or a night in running water and find by experience that the said crossets do take more easily Others cause the branch to be set and planted by and by that so it may take the sooner CHAP. VI. The manner and way to plant Vines THe first casting of the earth for to plant the vine must bee done in the Spring or Sommer in which first digging or casting of it the ground must bee cleansed of all superfluities as rootes weeds and stones it must be digged and renewed oftentimes to the end that the earth which is vppermost may bee brought vnto the bottome and that in the bottome may bee turned vppermost to moisten and refresh that which is drie and to heat and drie that which is moist thick and afterward made euen and cast into many furrows pits of a foot and a half breadth depth till you come to the hard stone in the bottomâ— and the knights or guids of the one side the other of such a thicknes aboue as may aunswere to the depth of the furrow which yet must be made hollower in a rough and crabbâ—d ground than in sandie flintie or wet ground in the bottomes of the sides of which furrowes there may bee put stones so that they bee no bigger than a loafe and couered with earth for the cooling of the vines in the heat of Sommer as also to the end that vpon great raine the water may find passage and not stand at the rootes of the plants Whereupon your ground being well laid with stones in this sort and rested and setled after the first dressing of it and being in the time of this rest turned oâ—er and wrought for the taking away of the couch grasse and other weeds you must spie out some calme and quiet weather to plant in according to the place where you shall bee and the nature of your ground prepare make readie sharpen and cut off the root and hairie threeds of your young plants and fit them well for the South Sunne plant them in the middest of the furrow in the plaine flat where your foot vseth to â—read and one right ouer against another and after the maner of a Burgundian crosse for to make them after that they are couered with earth and old made dung or with the earth which hath beene cast out of the furrowes and thrown on the ridges leape to the two sides of the furrowes towards the ridge of either part for so they beare more fruit and this is called the double plant which must bee vnderstood of the plants onely which are so planted in doubt that if one doe die the other may escape or that and if they both take the one of them may bee taken vp to put in place where others haue failed For howsoeuer the plant set of a crosset may make the better foot and root yet for certaine it is harder to take than the marquot although the marquot be not so lasting and of such continuance in as much as the crossets do put forth rootes of themselues Furthermore you must cut off the greatest wood and most knottie from the vine stocke which you know to bee the fairest and most fertile and it must consist both of old and new wood It continueth foure yeares without fruit and on the other side without some misfortune it is seene to continue thirtie yeares in his vigour and lustinesse After it is cut off it must be cut fit not leauing aboue three or foure ioints at the most two wherof in planting it may stand aboue ground and if it haue put forth any eielet you may rub it off with your finger or nip it off with your naile If you make lesser furrowes you must plant them after the fashion called â—n godeau after the Angeuin fashion setting euery one distant from another two foot one marquot betwixt two knights or guides as is vsually obserued in planting of stocks in the nurcerie of fruit trees and after that to leaue it foure yeares in the same state that it may be laid downe againe when it is growne that is some two or three yeres after it hath put forth strong and able wood in such sort as that to vines so planted there need no propping or vnder bearing for the chiefe and principall foot as it is in trees doth sufficiently beare vp the siences putting forth of the same In Languedoc and Prouence they plant them in this sort but they pricke them downe a great deale further off one from another and set an oliue tree betwixt euery two which nothing hindereth by his shadow either their growth or the Sunne from hauing full power vpon them And yet they leaue not so but as is vsed in Italy they set in euery furrow fiue or sixe rowes of pulse or wheat and yet so as that there groweth no intanglement betwixt them and the vine as not being set or planted amongst them and yet they let not to plant the oliue trees in corne fields prouiding as hath beene heretofore said that the shadow thereof doe not any thing hinder the growth of the graine The marquot would be planted as soone as it is raised from his stocke with his whole furniture of twigs and that alone in the middest of the furrow because of his small sprigs seeing there is no doubt made of the taking of it againe it must haue a bed and spreading place of great length it groweth sooner as hath beene said than the crosset but in like manner as the grafted one it indureth the least and shortest time of all the rest After that you haue planted your crossets
earth because that vnder the crust of the frost it inwardly gathereth its sâ—rength together afresh that afterward it may shew forth iâ—s whole force and power in the Spring Wherefore in cold places it will bee better to plant your vine before the Spring as on the contrarie in hot drie and vnwatered places in Autumne to the end that the raine which shall fall all Winter may supplie the defect of other water and that the roots may the sooner take in the earth and then and at that time principally when nature ministreth most nourishment vnto the rootes My counsell is that in planting vines there be not any holes made but rather little pits of a fadome and a halfe in widenesse and as much in depth and this is to be done in October if you mind to plant your vines in Februarie or else in August if you meane to plant your branches before Winter The principall tooles of a vine-dresser are the mattocke to digge and turne ouer the ground withall the forked picke axe to make pits withall thâ— spade the weede forke to cast vp weedes withal the rake a little saw a great hedging bill a little hedging bill to crop and cut off the wood and to make young branches and an aâ—gar to graâ—t the Vine withall CHAP. VIII Of the plant of the Blacke Vine COncerning the naturall plant of the black Vine it groweth euery where the wilde doth yeeld a sharp and rough wine such as that which groweth of ground newly broken vp but the Vine that is intended to be for Claret wine is planted halfe of blacke and halfe of white Wine and thereupon standeth in neede of another manner of dressing and seat than the common Vine doth in like sort it is harder to order well as requiring a verie great care to be taken about it because the wine which commeth thereof is most pleasant to the eye and of excellent taste albeit that it doe not nourish so much The yong plants of the blacke Vine are the Morillion the Samoyreaâ— the Negrier and the Neraut Besides which for to make Claret Wine it is accustomed to adde the yong white wine plant And for the mingling of them afterward to make a Claret it will in a manner suffice if among three or foure plants or branches of the blacke there be one of the white The best of the blacke plants is the Morillion the wood whereof being cut sendeth forth a redder liquor than any of the other and the best of this sort is the short one being iointed within the bredth of euerie three fingers at the most and growing more or lesse thicke according as the countrie is bearing and nourishing it it beareth a well packt fruit and hath a rounder leafe than any other of that sort The other Morillion hath a long wood iointed with ioints at the end of euerie foure fingers at the least it is thicker and fuller of pith within and in cutting also it is pithie and so more loose the barke except that on the outside is verie redde and the leafe three forked after the manner of a goose foote and like vnto the leafe of the â—igge-tree This second Morillion is otherwise called wilde Pinot it beareth but few cleere grapes and those also small but the wine proueth strong yea better than that of the â—irst Morillion The third Morillion called Beccane hath a blackewood and the fruit is like vnto it in the blossome it maketh a great shew of Wine but when it commeth to ripenes halfe the fruit and sometimes more falleth away The branch is longest iointed of all the rest and groweth more in length and height of wood than any of the other This third kind of Morillion is called Le frane Merillon lampereau it ripeneth before the other Vine plants and yeeldeth good wine and as much as both the other The Samoyreau is likewise found to be of three sorts the best of which branches is short iointed and of a verie hard wood the other draweth verie neere vnto it The third sort is called indented Samoyreau otherwise white Prunelat and that because that his wood is whiter than the other the wine it yeeldeth is of an vnpleasant taste and it beareth but some yeares It hath furthermore this fault that when the fruit should come to be gathered it is for the most part found fallen down and shed vpon the earth The Negrier called redde Prunelat hath a redde bark the wood is long iointed of a thicke and grosse pitch a leafe verie much cut and the grape great cleere verie redde and last ripe Wherefore there needeth to plant but a few of these red plants for the colouring of the other blacke and fastning of them it keepeth and defendeth itselfe from the frost because it hath a high stocke The Neraut called the blacke Bourguignon hath the same nature with the white Bourguignon a hard and a verie blacke vvood a fast and small pith ioints one vpon another an indifferent leafe and altogether round the foot thereof being verie redde the fruit very thicke and close standing one by another as though it were a piled or packed thing it saueth it selfe better from the frost than any other there needeth not so much to be planted of it for it maketh a deep colour in such sort as that they which haue great store of it planted make wine for woollen-diers and â—ell it very deere The small Rochell and Bourdelais of the same nature are scarce to bee found because they are not any great bearers neither yet good for any thing but making of arbours the wood is red as shal be said afterward in inâ—reating of the white vine except because it is â—ound a little redder of a very vermillion colour where it is cut off CHAP. IX Of the plants of the white vine THe best young plant of the white vine is the Frumenteau whose wood draweth towards a yellow colour next vnto it is the Muscadet which beareth a red wood next vnto the Muscadet is the â—ine Pinet of Anjou which hath a wood drawing neere vnto a greene and the fruit yellow as wax There is no young plant that is more apt to beare and indure the frost than the Gouest which beareth a tawnie coloured wood and is very thicke in his stocke hauing a round leafe and yeelding much fruit There is another kind of Gouest which is called sage Gouest so called because of the tast that it maketh in the mouth it is smally in request notwithstanding that it yeeld great store of wine and be no more subiect to the frost than the other Gouest of the same â—ort The fruitfullest of all the white vine plants is that which is called the white Bourguignon or Mourlon or else the Clozier whose ioints are distant some two fingers and a halfe and the fruit hauing a short taile is thicker and closer grown than the Rochelle the leafe is very
it for by it the earth is made the more supple and tractable In this peece of worke is contained the laying bare of the roots of the principall stocks and if the plant be grown high then this may be done in the calme and quiet time of March according to the difference and alteration of places for in this chill and cold place which is subiect vnto frosts and blastings as also in places seated in the vpper parts and tops of mountaines this first order and fashion of dressing them must be done in the after end of Winter which is called mid-May The second fashion of dressing and tilling the vine is to weed rake and cut the same as hath beene said before but before this worke come in hand the plants must bee fitted by being cut that so they may be able to continue in the place where they are planted and not to be tossed and carried to and fro with strong and blustering windes The third sort of labour to be performeed in dressing of vines is to propagate them but this worke fitteth them not for the second yeare no nor yet for the third yere except in some certaine places and in such vines as at that age are growne to very stronge wood The third yere besides the foresaid dressings if the plant be strong and seated in a good ground and that it hath put forth faire and goodly wood it is woont to be propagated betwixt mid-Aprill and for surenes sake vnto mid-May and then the propagated branches are buried in the places where the ridges are broken cast down and that alike on both sides by which meanes is made the checker whereof Columella speaketh In this same third yeare of the new plant according to the strength of the wood which it hath put forth notwithstanding for the cause aboue mentioned you haue with your naile nipped off such buds as were readie to blossome yet according to the store that it hath of strong wood after you haue cut it and amended the stocke some begin to prop vnderset and bind it for the bearing vp of the faire and iolly branches therof that they may not fall and lie flat vpon the ground which done you must go ouer it with the second fashion of dressing of it and yet before this be done it must be raised thrust vp and bound with his first band Vines are propagated in Aduent and Ianuarie after they haue beene cut howbeit in places that are more chill they be let alone till Februarie and March and for the doing hereof they make choice of the fairest branch that they can find growne out of the stocke cutting off the rest of the branches some two ioints from the stalke Sometimes if they were of a faire stocke some vse to take two of the fairest branches of the chiefest plant and then lay them verie gently one after another low vnder foot in a pit that shall haue beene made in the ridges afterward they must bee couered with earth some do lay the chiefe branch that is to be propagated very deepe to the end that the yeare after that it shall haue beene dresâ—ed and the branches handsomely laid downe in the earth without any offence or hurt done vnto them it may abide the manuring with dung for the chiefe and mother braunch is not woont to bee manured at any time but rather it is to be vncouered and layed opeâ— at the foot in Ianuarie in the beginning of December when the propagated braunch is manured to the end it may the better take in the snow and raine water which may make it to haue a thicke foot In Chablyes and throughout all Toâ—uerroies and Auuerroies they vse to propagate their vines in October and in the beginning of December when they fall calme in stonie and grauelly grounds And from mid-May vnto mid-Aprill they propagate their vines in the said conutries in their sandie grounds and such as stand on a potters clay and not sooner than that because the water that would stand in the pits would rot and kill the young braunches newly planted because of the frosts there continâ—ed both in Winter and in the Spring After August you must dresse your vine againe whether it be young or old binding it ouer againe by reason of his former young sprigs which might haue beene hurt by the first band and withered away and now at this time it must haue two bands bestowed vpon it though they vse not so to do in Anjou and Tourraine because their dressing of their vines is diuers and differing from that which wee vse Wee haue forgotten how that at mid-May before the raifing of the plant it must be stripped of his buds and in doing hereof to bee heedy and warie that the principall sprigs which shall be about the blossome be not hurt or touched except there be too many of them vpon one stocke For the third dressing of the vine which shall bee in August it is woont to bee trimmed and tied again after which in a gentle calm weather after some raine hath fallen the earth must be stird with the pick-axe very gently and softly and the weeds turned vnderneath and sometimes it is weeded if the yeare haue been rainie Besides which ordinarie dressings you must be further aduertised that indeed it is requisitâ— neuer to goe without a spade in your hand whiles you are amongst vines if so bee that you would haue them to prosper and that this businesse bee not posted ouer to rascally fellowes or maides especially the propagating of them and the stripping of them of their buds To conclude and shut vp the whole matter of the dressing of the vine set downe in his diuers sorts heere before it is to be vnderstood in generall that in the moneths of December and Ianuarie the new propagated plant must bee cut and the old one of the yeare past looked vnto in laying bare the foot of the old and dressing a new the propagated one and manuring of it if there be any need In March and Aprill it must bee cut and moe new plants made at the same time also some lay bare their vines and manure such as haue need within a shoâ—t time after they must be laid bare againe as also couered againe afterward before they blossome and flowre they must bee stripped of their buds with your hand especially whiles the branches shall appeare so tender as that they will scarce abide touching with ones finger for feare of spoiling and breaking off then shortly afterwards to prop them vp with railes and stayes to tie them with soft and nimble bands and of all this while not to forget to giue them their seuerall orders such as haue beenâ— mâ—ntioned and spoken of before CHAP. XI Of the manner of grafting the vine THe vine in this countrie is seldome grafted notwithstanding wee will speak a word or two of it hauing alreadie in the third booke handled this point more
in this order and to water them often so long as vntill the buds doe put forth To keepe grapes all winter long you must cut them downe after the full Moone in a faire and calme season about eight a clocke in the morning when the deaw is vanished and afterward dip them in the Sea water ouer head and eares or else in salt brine mixt with a little boyling wine laying them afterward vpon barley straw Som put them in a vessell full of new wine or else in a vessell close couered and luted Other some doe keepe them in honie others annoint them ouer with the juice of Purslaine others keepe them in Oate chaffe CHAP. XIII Of the diseases of the Vine and the remedies for the same SOmtimes the Vine is troubled with violence of windes or else by the vnwarines of the Vine dresser wounding the same with his pickaxe in these cases you must couer the bruised or hurt place with goâ—â—es dung or sheepes dung mingled amongst verie choice earth and cast the ground round about them oftentimes with the pickeaxe The Vines will not be spoiled with the frost if in diuers places amongst thâ—â— there be made heapes of drie dung or chaffe and when you perceiue that frosts are toward to set the same on fire for the smoake rising thereof will breake the force of the frost notwithstanding if it come to passe that the Vine bee alreadie spoiled and the fruit destroyed it must bee cut off verie short that so his strength may yet continue in the remainder for the yeare following it will bâ—are twice as much fruit The vine will not be blasted if when it is about to bud you cut it as late as it may for this late cutting of it will make it to be in blossome at such time as the Sunne is in his greatest and most feruent heat To breake off such mists and fogs as are alreadie gathered in the aire for feare they should fall vpon the vines you must make a smoake round about the vineyard with the dung of goats well kindled and set on fire Against such fogs as haue already hurt the vines you must stamp the roots or leaues of wild cucumbers or of coloquintida and lay them to steepe in water and with the same to water the vines after the mists Some say that if there bee many bay trees planted in the vineyard that then all the malitiousnesse of the mists wil fall vpon their boughs Some say that the barren vine will become fruitfull if the bodie thereof bee watered with man or womans water that hath beene made long before and dropt vpon the vine stocke by little and little and if therewithall presently after it be laid about with dung mixt with earth and this cure must be done in Autumne Vines are perceiued to want moisture when their leaues turne very red this disease must be holpen by watering them with sea water or man or womans vrine The vine sometimes poureth forth great store of teares whereupon it commeth to passe that it looseth his force altogether The remedie is to breake the barke of the vine vpon the bodie therof and to annoint the wound with oyle boiled to the halfe or else with the lees of oyle not salted and afterward to water it with the strongest vineger that may possibly be found The vine sometimes falleâ—h into such a scattering disease as that it letteth its grapes fall off the markes and signes thereof are when the leaues thereof become white and drie and the branch falleth broad lenow and soft this is to be remedied with ashes beaten and mixt with strong vineger and rubd about the foot of the vine and by watering all that is round about the stocke The vine shooting out into ouer many branches must bee cut off verie short and if for all this it giue not ouer it must bee barred at the rootes and riuer grauell laid round about the stocke together with a few ashes or else some stones for to coole the same If the grapes wither and drie away as they hang vpon the vine you must take away such as are alreadie withered and water the rest with vineger and ashes of vine branches or for the more certaintie water the foot of the vine with strong vrine which hath stood a long time There are some vines that do rot the fruit which they haue newly brought forth before such time as they become fully growne and ripe to cure this mischiefe you must put old ashes vnto their roots or grauell or else barley meale mixt with seed of purcelane about the stocke and bodie To preuent that the biting or breath of oxen and kine which are very hurtful vnto vines may not do them any hurt at all you must wateâ— the foot of euery vine stock with water wherein the hides of oxen or kine or some such other beasts haue beene steept and mollified for oxen and kine haue the stench of this water in such detestation as that they will not abide to come neere vnto the vine Caterpillers lice and such other like small vermine will not hurt â—he bud or the leafe of the vine if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut away the superfluous boughâ— of your vine be annointed ouer with the bloud of a male goat or the fat of an asse or of a beare or with the oile wherein caterpillers or brayed garlicke haue been boiled or if you annoint and rub them with the purse and sheath of a badgers stones after that it hath been ground To driue away little noisome beasts which are called locusts from the vines you must procure smoakes to be raised amongst the vines of the dung of oxen or Galbaâ—um or of some old shooe-soles or of harts-horn or of womans haire or for to plant amongst the said plants some pionie To preserue the vines from being annoied of the small beasts called shrewes you must cut them in the night when the Moone is in the signe Leo Scorpio Sagittarius or Taurus or else you must water your vines with water wherein haue beene steeped in the Sunne for the space of ten daies ten riuer or sea craie fishes Pismires fretting in sunder the wood of the vine euen vnto the marrow will not hurt the same at all if you annoint and rub the stocke with the dung of kine or greaâ—e of asses The bay-tree and coleworts doe likewise hurt vines very much if they be planted in the same ground but especially the coleworts which the vine hateth aboue all the rest there being a naturall and deadly contrarietie betwixt those two plants in so much as that coleworts are a preseruatiue from drunkennesse at wee shall further declare by and by wherefore the good vine-dresser shall neuer sow or planâ— any coleworts baie-trees or hasell in his garden of vines CHAP. XIIII Of the manner of gathering grapes or of vintage THe last paine
timber trees if peraduenture you haue not the bâ—nefit of some vnder wood neere vnto your house where the conies may settle themselues and make their abode Notwithstanding in as much as the hunting and taking of conies which haue their couerâ—s and boroughs in such vnder woods is some what more hard and difficult than that of the Warren and because also that conies liuing in smal woods multiplie nothing so much as those in the Warren and that especially by reason of foxes woolues and other field beastes whereunto they are oftentimes made a pray by being deuoured of them it will bee better and for your further both ease and profit to make a Warren apart by it selfe You must then for the making thereof reserue some fiue or sixe acres of fine dustiâ— or sandie ground such as is not fat strong or close in a high place lying open vpon the Sunne and not in a â—arish or waterie ground for together with that the â—onie hateth aboue all things moisture and cold yet for the conueniencie of her making of here earthes it is requisite that she be in a place where she may dig with ease for the making of her bed and couert This peece of ground shall be compassed and be set about after the manner of a parke with reasonable high walls to keepe out foxâ—s woolues and other wild beasts that they may not iniurie or make war vpon this little beast Within this conigrie you must plant great store of brambles mulberriâ— trees and â—loe trees strawberrie plants wild pine trees hurtle berrie bushes goose berrie bushes mâ—rtle trees and great store of iuniper for the conie loueth the iuniper berrie aboue all other things And as concerning hearbes you must sow if so be the earth bring not forth someof itselfe great â—tore of sowthistle groundswell succorie coleworts lettuces clarie taragon thistles turneps cich â—ease and other such like for the feeding of these little beastes As for the drawing of some small brooke or bestowing of any water conduit vpon them you need not trouble your selfe seeing the coniâ— hath moisture more than any thing else Neither yet doe you trouble your selfe to prepare them any other lodging than the holes which they shall dig and worke out for themselues And those burroughs or clappers which shall be meet for them to worke in which borrough would if the nature of the ground doe not allow it bee cast vp somewhat high and sâ—â—ape wise so as the water may by all means dessend and passe from the same without soaking into it or drawing it vpon any fluxe of raine whatsoeuer vpon the tops of these burroughs or clappers for the better strengthning of them and holding the loose mould together you shall plant good store of alders and other rough bushes which are quicke of groweth whose roots once entring into the earth and twinding about the mould will keepe any from falling more than that which the conie of her owne selfe diggeth and although out of the precisenesse of choice we desire a speciall place for the conie Warren yet you shall vnderstand that the most barrenâ—est ground whatsoeuer so it lie drie will serue for the conie Warren as namely the most dryest heath or downes or those earths which are ouer runne with linge gorse whynnes braken broome ferne and such like for a conie feedeth as a sheepe doth close and neere to the ground and will gather vp the smallest chiâ—e of grasse that may be and also delighteth to crop vpon weeds or any other tender bud that groweth within the compasle of her feeding the snow is her greatest enemie â—et not so much for the want of food as for the ouer moistning of â—er food and so bringing rottennesse therefore it is meere to haue euery Winter in your Warren a little cob or stacke of hay wherewith in those extreame times you may fodder your conies pricking vp little 〈◊〉 thereof in clouen stickes close by the ground which they will eate with all greedinesse for it is a meat at those times which they loue exceedingly for proofe whereof doe but fodder sheepe neere vnto a connie Warren and you shall see how euening and morning the conies will swarme vnto the same eating vp whatsoeuer the sheepe shall leaue which is not too hard or rough for their eating CHAP. II. That there must a Clapper be made for the better storing and planting of your Warren ANd yet it is not inough to haue made and finished the things that are to bee done round about the Warren as to haue fenced it with whatsoeuer is necessarie for the preseruing and nourishing of conies but you must also store and plant it for no more than arable ground beareth fruit except there be seed cast into in nor the vine any grapes except it bee diligently planted and dressed so neither thinke you that your Warren be it neuer so neaâ—ly and necessarily appointed and trimmed vp can breed and feed conies except you first put them there Wherefore for your storing of your Warren it is requisite that you cast vp a clapper wherein you may put your males and females to kindle euery moneth for to buy so many as should be needfull would be too costly and chargeable for the farmer or housholder Seeing also that it commeth to passe oftentimes that after hee hath sold many vnto the vitailers or for that the foxes haue eaten vp some great number the Warren remaineth quite spoiled and destitute of conies in so much as that he must be compelled to store it againe It is better therefore in respect of the greater commoditie and lesse charges to make a clapper in some corner of your court kitching or garden which may be foure square narrow and fenced in with bords or plaistered walls indeed it were better to be prouided in the Warren for so the young ones might more commodiously out of the clapper passe into the Warren at some one side of the clapper which should bee crosse wrought with lattise worke and should haue the holes thereof left so wide as that the young ones might passe out and in vnto their dams Whether therefore the clapper be prouided in the Warren or elsewhere you must build certaine small lodgings paued with boords and these must haue holes in them like to those which the conies make themselues in the earth and euery one seuerall from another for the conies to betake themselues into and it will be enough for to allow in such places one male to eight or ten females and yet therewithall to keepe the bucke close shut vp in his lodging for feare he should hurt and wrong the young ones for the male conie contrarie to the nature of all other manner of buckes deuoureth the young ones It is very true that so soone as it is espied that the Doe hath kindled she must incontinently be put into some other hole with the male that so he may Bucke her for this is a most certain thing that
so soone as the Doe is emptie and deliuered of her young ones euen so soone she is full againe of young in such sort as that she bringeth forth young euery moneth in the yeare yea and being great with young she letteth not to take the Bucke and to continue a second burden which she bringeth forth afterward in due time So as that this fruitfulnesse in conies hath become so admirable vnto many as that some haue vpon too slender grounds thought and beleeued that the Bucke shoold conceiue aud become great with young aswell as the Doe which is very false and altogether contrarie to all naturall course in the action of generation seeing that by natures course it is ordained that the female only amongst beasts should conceiue and ingâ—nder and not the male After that the young ones are growne somewhat great and become able to leaue their dams you shall carrie them into the Warren for to store it therewith and so let them grow wild otherwise if you keepe them shut vp and fast inclosed in the clapper with their dams they will become tame and alwaies continue as it were slumbring and heauie like vnto those which are continually shut vp in clappers made for the purpose and so will haue a grosser and more vnpleasant flesh And yet notwithstanding you must beware not to put abroad into your Warren the old clapper conies either males or females for seeing they haue not had their free swing to run abroad as those of the Warren and haue not learned to saue themselues from dangers and violences offred them by foxes and other such wild beasts they would bee by and by deuoured so that thereupon it seemes better to containe and continue them still in their accustomed clapper Conies in the clapper are to be sed with colâ—worts lettuses groundsell clarie succorie sowthistle â—arragon thistles cich pease oats barely and bran mingled together and other such like things as we haue spoken of heretofore In some countries they feed them with mans bloud such as is to be come by when sicke persons are let bloud but such manner of feeding of them is starke naught and maketh their flesh vnsauorie in eating and very preiudiciall vnto health And surely to speake the truth there is no food that a man can bind a conie to 〈◊〉 which is wholesome for them because they are beasts which aboue all other desire freedome of feeding and to make choice of their owne meat Whence it comes that the tame conie is nothing so pleasant to eat as the wild but is of a much ranker taste and most easie to be discerned CHAP. III. How the Conies in a Warren ought to be handled and ordered ALthough the hauing of a clapper be very necessarie for the storing of a warren againe and againe as we haue said before notwithstanding for need one may leaue off all vse of the clapper and so without any further charge or expences content himselfe with putting a certaine number of conies both males and females into his warren of them to haue sufficient store by encrease of young ones True it is that they are not so fruitfull nor of such plentifull encrease and therefore the warren will not be so soone stored by them for they being accustomed to the warren become more sauage and strange but lesse giuen to engender and thereupon it commeth that the Does of the warren bring forth young ones onely thrice or foure times a yeare and those that are kept in house-clappers once euerie moneth But howsoeuer it be if you find it more for your profit to furnish your warren with store after this later manner it will be sufficient for six dozen of Does to put in nine Bucks hauing more regard and consideration still vnto the Does than to the Bucks to spare them if at any time you would take any Their feeding shall be no otherwise than hath alreadie beene mentioned and yet notwithstanding besides that manner of feeding if you would haue great store of conies in your vvarren and that they should be to sufficiently fed as that they should become fat it will be good to sowe an acre of ground or two with Barly or Oats not for to make any further haruest of them than that which they shall leaue vneaten You must haue a speciall care that they feed vpon good nourishment because their flesh in like manner as the flesh of Partridges doth retaine the smell and sauour of that whereupon they feed as for example of Iuniper if their vvaren be full of Iuniper and so semblably of other things If you see any conie-hole stopt with hay or straw or such other like thing doe not vnstop it but content your selfe onely to obserue it and to gesse that there are young ones vvithin vvhich the dam nourisheth for this is the manner of the Doe that from the time that she hath kindled vvhether it be in a house clapper or in a vvarren shee shutteth stoppeth vp her hole with hay straw or some other grasse such as shee can gather together and to no other end but that the Bucke may not find her yong ones or goe into her hole vvhere if hee should once come hee would eat vp all her young ones this thing being assuredly and vndoubtedly conceiued of the Doe whether she be in her hole or else goe forth to feed she stoppeth her earth and if so be that at her returne she find the mouth of her hole neuer so little vnstopt she her selfe will by and by kill her young ones hauing taken opinion that the Bucke is gone in thither And this is the cause why good hunters will neuer put their ferret into any earth vvhose mouth they see stopt for feare of disquieting the dam and causing of her to kill her young ones True it is that shee doth not keepe her hole euermore shut for at such time as shee knoweth her young ones to be growne great and become strong ynough to seeke their meat and to runne with others shee beginneth to make a little hole for them to issue and goe out at Furthermore you must not thinke that conies either males or females doe at any time forget their earth be it neuer so farre off for howsoeuer some say that comes haue no memorie notwithstanding they are alwaies mindfull of their hole be they strayed or wandered neuer so farre from the same And this is the reason likewise why some say that a good conie will neuer die out of her earth You must likewise coniecture that the conie is taught by nature to be afraid of the fox as the sheepe of the woolfe which is another case besides his wild and strange nature why when he goeth out of his hole his mind runneth vpon nothing but running thereby forgetting to thinke vpon other conies holes and so of the Does and of the eating of her young ones for although he bee mindfull of his owne earth yet hee taketh no care neither casteth any
walkes or about houses for shade bearing a large head like the Cicamore and fully as round and as much extended and the leafe naturally of it selfe being broad and growing so thicke that hardly neither the Sunne nor the raine can possibly passe through the same neither is it tender but very apt to grow and may be remoued at any time or age as long as it is portable and meete to be wiâ—lded by the strength of any one man It is very true that the elme groweth easily and plentifully after that it hath taken with the ground And who so would for varietie sake mingle diuers sorts of trees of diuers natures as maple beech aspe and such other kinds of wood may do it but the moe okes and chesnut trees a man groweth the better he doth CHAP. VI. Of the seating and disposing of a wood for growing of high and great timber trees WHo soeuer hath a faire plot of eight or ten acres of ground and would make it shew faire and beautifull the first yeare and that by bringing the wood into some shape and commendable forme with hope of further delight pleasure from the same in time to come must for the first yere wall it about or else ditch it so well and plant it with hedges of quickset as that no cattell may possibly be able to enter thereinto And if the said plot should come to be ditched then I am freely contented to vtter my opinion at some other time concerning the fashion that they are to bee made after as also how when they are made they must be planted or set with quickset But presuppose that the said square plot is inclosed with a wall and that the said square hath foure sides that is to say two of length and two of bredth mine aduise is that all the sides of the said wal should be couered and clothed with greenenesse and with foure sorts of trees and six foot thicke and large seeing that nature reioiceth in varietie that so both the walls may be kept from being seene and there may be a walk betwixt two greenes The said couerts shall bee made according to the good liking of the Lord as for example one of the sides if it should so seeme good vnto him euen the South side with hasell and white hawthorne because these are the first leaues that doe first put forth in the spring time as those also wherin the nightingale doth make her neast another of the sides with barberrie trees which are beautifull and serue for very many vses spreading themselues in comely sort when they meet with a good ground The third side being that whereupon the Sunne beateth at his rising with â—ame osiers which may serue in husbandrie and therewithall also make a faire shew and the fourth side with yong peare-tree plants with some white thorne plants amongst as at the end of euerie foure foote square which are more greene than any other sorts of trees and they will bee of vse for to graft many faire grafts vpon and good store of great medlars The alleyes about the said wood must be twelue foot broad and vpon the edges of all the said alleyes as well on those that are toward the wall as on the other there must be planted elmes euery one foure fadome from another hauing their heads cut off and their bodies remaining a seuen foote high or thereabout to giue some grace and comlinesse vnto the said alleyes because that if a man should walke in the fairest place in the world if there be no sweetnesse to be found in it it proueth tedious and irkesome For this cause if it please the Lord of the farme to plant along the said alleyes certaine fruit trees as also wallnut-trees and those such as may sute euery season of the yeare he may do it Further it may seeme that all the said trees should be set from foure feet to foure feet and that by the leuell of a line euery way aswell to please the sight of the eie as also for that sometimes men are desirous to make alleyes within the wood and then if the draughts be straight it is more easie for to make them CHAP. VII Of the manner of planting trees in woods of high and tall growth IF you purpose to plant these trees well you must presently make dithes in manner of furrowes as you are woont to doe in the planting of vines wherein they must be planted to the end the earth may feed it selfe in aire and that it may battle and grow fat with the raine and snow which shall fall during Winter vpon them vnto the end of December or vnto the beginning of Ianuarie These trenches are not to be made aboue two foot deepe but they must be well handled in the bottome and that by laying the good earth vpon one side of the furrow and that which is lesse worth vpon the other and not to cast it abroad to the end that if the bottome should proue bad ground or otherwise to bee ouer deepe then there might be cast into the said furrow or trench some of that good earth which shal be on the side to the end that the roots of the tree may not busie themselues in searching a bad bottome in steed of stretching forth themselues in largenesse and you must so leaue the trenches and furrowes all Winter long for the receiuing of the rain water when it commeth and they must be so wide as that one may turne a yard euery way round within The said trees must be planted in December if it be possible and that the times be fauorable as when it freezeth not for great frosts are great enemies to the good proceeding of this worke You should rather cast to plant trees that are alreadie growne vp than to deale with the sowing of acornes or chesnuts because it requireth great care and industrie to make the said seed to grow and as concerning the seed it selfe that of the chesnut groweth sooner than that of the acorne And whenas you go about to sow them it must be done with leauing a foot distance betwixt one and another with the largest and in the end of great frosts because that during the said frosts the mowles do eate the chesnuts in the ground As concerning the planting of trees alreadie growne they must be taken vp with as many roots as they can possibly and after they be taken vp if there by any of their roots broken to cut the same and those which are not broken to cut their ends for to refresh them the length of three or foure fingers more or lesse as the roots may beare it You must make choice of a young plant that hath a liuely and cleane barke not rough and ouergrowne with mosse a good and handsome root a straight shanke and long without scares or frets and before you plant it it will bee good to cast into the furrow some good earth taken from the side of
the same trench to the thicknesse of a finger or two and vpon that to set the tree which you are to plant then couering the rootes with earth to sway vpon them gently with your hands that so there may not any aire stay about them and in filling vp the said furrowes you must prouide that they haue some sloping of earth both on the one side and on the other in maner of a gutter to the end that if it raine the raine and moisture may run away the more easily And to the end that the planted trees may grow the better you must lay their longest roots all along the trench on the one side and on the other and if by hap it fall out that there be long ones on euerie side so as that they cannot easily bee laied along in the furrow you must inlarge the furrow a little in the place where such roots require it to be enlarged to the end that the said roots may not touch the firme and fast earth but may bee buried and wrapt in soft earth that hath beene moued and stirred You must likewise cut off by the top of the shanke all the trees which you plant that is to say such as you plant to make high and tall tymber trees or which you mind to set along by the sides of the alleyes till you haue not left aboue the length of fiue or sixe foote to stand out of the earth to the end that they may the sooner beare a great quantitie of woode but the trees which you are purposed to plant for lowe and small wood must bee cut that there bee not left aboue a foote and a halfe for it will bee sufficient if they haue the length of foure inches out of the ground neither is there any danger in mingling chesnut trees with oakes except a man bee purposed to plant one wood with oakes onely and another with chesnut trees and as concerning the thickenesse of the said trees it needeth no deepe aduice for they may bee either of the thickenesse of a chesnut tennise-ball or some other such like but rather the care is that they bee well and newly taken vp and planted the same day they bee taken vp or at the farthest the day following Neither is it doubtfull but if they bee of much larger and bigger compasse as seuen or eight foot in length aboue the ground and twentie inches in compasse yet they will grow as well and as fast as the younger especially the â—lme aboue all other trees nor would I wish you if you can get them to chuse plants of any lesse bignesse And howbeit that some Woodwards are of opinion that the ash would bee planted but of a meane length because say they looke how mâ—ch it is aboue the earth so much it will shoot out in roote vnder the earth before it begin to prosper aboue yet it is but a false coniecture and if you intend to haue a faire and a large tree you must chuse the fairest and largest plants that you can get and then planting them in a conuenient and due time and in a fit earth they will in one Winter recouer that roote which shall preserue them from perishing euer after againe you must remember that as soone as you haue fixed your plants in the earth and couered them wel close which is a principal care you must then forthwith couer the top of the head all ouer and at least halfe a foote downeward with clay and mosse stâ—sly well tempered together and if the clay be apt to chap or riue then you shall mingle a few ashes therewith and so keepe it closse couered till the new branches spred forth and couer the head all ouer then when those branches are put out and are tender you shall plash and order them at your pleasure whether it be to make a tree for timber or for shade for speciall marke or for any other deuice whatsoeue The wood thus planted must bee twice laboured and tilled once in the end of Aprill and the second time at the end of Iulie after the fall of some great raine vpon thunder and if the caterpiller shall fall vpon it within the yeare it must bee clensed and freed from them CHAP. VIII Of the time when wood is to be tilled and husbanded IT is here to be noted that the chiefe principall furtherance and comfort that can be giuen to trees either reclaimed or wild is the labour bestowed vpon them in due conuenient time for the more they are husbanded tilled so much the more do they grow and prosper in greatnesse wherfore dressing and labour is necessary for young plants of all sorts of trees as well small as great and especially the foure first yeares they must be husbanded throughly and plied with two seuerall dressings euery yeare as vines are that is to say towards the middest of Aprill when they begin to put forth their buds and towards the end of Iune this must be done in moist rainie weather and not when drying winds or heat doth raigne because the ground then stirred would do nothing but turn to dust which would destroie the young springs and cause them die againe the said earth dressed at such time doth more easily conueigh the drienesse of the drie earth turned downe vnto the rootes of the trees which is very contrarie vnto them seeing that moisture is the thing that is required for the nourishment of plants and againe if the ground be moist it ioineth it selfe close vnto the roots and lendeth vnto them of his moisture The other reason is for that the earth being newly opened by its lying open giueth pasâ—age for the water raine or dew to enter more easily vnto the said roots The principall labour to be made about all trees is to root out all weeds seeing they are giuen to grow euery where in all grounds and which if they be suffered to grow vp sucke purloine and carrie away the sap and substance of the earth in such sort as that there is not left sufficient vertue and power to nourish the rootes of the late planted trees well and in good order and this is perceiued by the labour made in dressing of the vine and gardens the which the more they are husbanded and tilled so much the more fruite and young springs they put forth and become so much the more beautifull and faire So it will bee the chiefe worke after you haue planted trees to cause them to be so dressed in seasons that are moist and that twice at the least and that will cause them to grow greater of wood greater of boughes and to yeeld double profit And if extraordinarily the Sommer proue rainie so as that your plants become ouergrowne with much weeds it shall be left to the discretion of the husbandman if he see that his plants be not cleane to bestow a third dressing vpon them to the end that the weeds may not
and tumours that are hard and not easily softned The hunting of the wild Bore CHAP. XXVII The best time to hunt the wild Bore and the markes of a good wild Bore IT is certaine that the hunting of the wild Bore is a great deale more difficult and daungerous than that of the Hart in asmuch as the wild Bore doth not feare the dogs but tarrieth and stayeth their comming and which is more doth sometimes set vpon them so far as till he be amongst them and all to the end hee may teare and rent them with his teeth whose wounds especially those that are giuen into the chest of the bodie are as it were incurable Wherefore the good hunts-man that maketh any account of his dogs for to hunt the Hart the Roe-bucke and Hare must neuer giue chase to the wild Bore with his coursing dogs but rather with some companie of mastiues whose proper pray the wild Bore is or else which is better to find the meanes to take him in toiles or to kill him with a wile and a speare as we shall further declare But howsoeuer the matter go yet this is to be knowne that all Bores are not fit to be hunted but such onely as are not past foure yeares old howsoeuer they may bee otherwise both faire great and fat for after foure yeares the wild Bore groweth lâ—â—ne through oldnesse of age and forthwith looseth all his goodnesse Againe all times are not fit to hunt them in but onely when they are in season and in the best plieght as namely from mid September to December at which time they begin to go to rut and yet in Aprill and May they are more easie to be taken in toiles than at any other time because they sleepe more in this season than at any other time and the cause is for that they feed vpon strong herbes which stirreth the bloud and sendeth vapours vp vnto their braine whereby sleepe is brought vpon them againe the Spring time doth then restore and renew their bloud whereby they are brought to take great ease and rest The hunts-man therefore shall know the fairenesse of the Bore and that hee is worth the hunting by these markes that is to say by his traces rooting foile and dung The prints of his traces great and large the taking of the trace before round and grose the cutting of the sides of the traces vsed but not shewing themselues cutting the heele large his gards grosse and open wherewith he must tread vpon the ground in the hard wheresoeuer hee goeth all these things declare him to bee a faire and great bore In like manner the traces behind being larger than those before doe shew the thicknesse of his haunches the wreathes and wrinkles which are betwixt his gards and the heele if they make their prints vpon the ground do shew that his steps are great and long The markes of his traces deepe and wide do shew also his heauienes and corpulencie The rootings of the bore being deepe and large do note the thicknesse and length of his head The soile of the wild bore being long large and great doth note and argue the bore to be great or else in going from the soile his greatnesse may be known by the entrances of the thickets by the leaues and herbes which the soile hath touched because that at such time as hee commeth out of it he beareâ—h dâ—rt and mire vpon him and therewith the leaues are bemired as he goeth amongst them and hence is gathered his height and breadth or else it falleth out oftentimes that the wild bore after he hath bin at soile goeth to rub himselfe against some one tree or other and there hee leaueth the marke of his height The dung of the wild bore being thicke and long doth shew the greatnesse of the wild bore howbeit the hunts-man is not to present it vnto the companie but onely giue them the view of it in place as it lieth CHAP. XXVIII Of the wild Bore tame Swine wild Bore and wild Sow and of their haunt THe difference betwixt wild Bores and tame Swine is this The wild Bore in his gate doth alwaies set his hinder feet in the stepts of his forefeete or very neere and doth pitch his steps rather vpon the forepart of the foot than vpon the heele resting notwithstanding his gardes vpon the ground spreading the same abroad thereupon vnto the vtter sides the â—ame Swine in their gate do open the cleft of their hoofe before pitching rather vpon the heele than vpon the forepart of their foot and their hinder foot doth not ouer-reach their fore-foot the sole of their foot is full of flesh so that the prints of their steps cannot bee but vneuen contrarie to that of the wild Bore In like manner the wild Bore maketh deeper rootings because he hath a longer head and when he commeth inâ—ields that are sowne he willingly followeth one furrow nuâ—ling all along the ridge vntill he come to the end of it which the â—ame hog vseth not to doe for hee neither turneth vp the earth in so deepe manner nor yet followeth on along with it as the wild Bore is accustomed to do but hee casteth vp one peece of ground in on place and another in another further off crossing the ridges the one of them not reaching vnto the other Furthermore when the wild Bores goe vnto the corne they bearâ— down the same all in a round but so do not â—ame Swine The wild Bore also hath this particular propertie namely that he is neuer meazelled as the â—ame Swine wil be The difference betwixt the wild Bore and the Sow is this The Bore goeth wider with his hinder legs than the Sow and commonly setteth his hinder steps vpon the edges of his foresteps on the out-side because of the thicknesse of his hanches and stones which cause them to go wider dehind which the Sowes do not for they are emptie betwixt the hanches for which cause they tread narrower The Sow maketh not so good a heele as the bore and hath her hoofe longer and sharper before and more open her steps and soles of her feet behind more narrow than the Bores The bore with much adoe and hardly will be brought to crie when he is killed but the Sow will not let to make you heare her aloud The wild Bore hath no certain abode and as some say he is but a traueller because he doth nothing but runne from one forest and wood to another and yet hee taketh great delight to remaine in the countrie and place where hee was bred in so much as that if he be hunted by dogs from any bush or forest he is still readie to run without any stay vntill he come in the countrie from whence he first came and where hee was bred for there hee setteth vp the rest of his safegard and maketh it the onely refuge of all his force and strength he is also
legd than the others The two sorts accompanie not together but they feed of all manner of flesh they doe much harme in warrenâ— especially vnto the young rabbets which are within their nests and are very sweet and daintie but more to pigs and hogs whereof they feed more than of any other flesh they feed also of all sorts of wild flesh as geese hens and such like they are very cold and chil and if they be left in any roome where fire is they will goe lie in it and burne their feet they will liue hardly as also they haue a hard skin they feare their nose notwithstanding very much neither can one giue them euer so little a blow thereupon with a sticke but they die sodainly they are deadly enemies vnto the foxes and oftentimes fight with them CHAP. XXXVII Of two sorts of earth-dogs vsuall course foxes and brockes withall and the manner of teaching and trayning of them thereunto COncerning the hunting of the Foxe and Broke it is to bee performed with earth-dogs which are of two sorts the one hath crooked lege â—nd commonly short haire the other hath straight legs and a shagd haire like water-spannyels those which haue the crooked legs creepe more easily into the earth than the other and they are best for the brocks because they stay long there and keepe better without comming forth Those which haue straight legs serue for two vses because they run as coursing dogs about the ground and also take the earth more boldly then the other but they tarrie not so long because they vexe themselues in fighting with the foxes and brockes whereby they are forced to come forth to take the aire Now if it fall out that the hunts-man haue not earth dogs readie taught hee may traine them in this manner The time to begin to take them in hand must bee when they are betwixt the age of eight and ten moneths for if he will not be brought to take the earth at a yeare old he will scarce euer be able to bee made to take it againe they must not be roughly dealt withall in the time of their training neither so handled as that they may take any hurt of the brockes in the earth because that if they should be beaten or hardly handled they would neuer â—ak the earth more And for that cause it must bee carefully looked vnto that such young trained dogs bee neuer made take the earth where there are any old foxeâ— or brocks but to let them first stay out their yere and be throughly nurtured and furthermore there must some old earth dogs be put in alwaies before them to indure and beare off the furie of the brocke The most conuenient and readiest way to traine them is thus as such times as foxes and brocks haue young ones you must take all your old earth dogs and let them take the earth afterward when they shal begin to stand at an abbaie then must the young ones be brought vnto the mouth of the hole one by one for feare they should beate themselues and there cause them to heare the abbaie When the old brockes or foxes shall be taken and none remaining but their cubs then you must take vp and couple vp all the old earth dogs and after let loose the young ones incouraging them to take the earth and crying vnto them Creepe into them basset creep into them Hou take them take them and when they haue hold of any young brocke or foxe they must bee let alone till they haue strangled him in the burrow or hole taking heed that the earth fall not in vpon them least it might hurt them afterward you must carie all the yong brocks and foxes vnto your lodgings and cause their liuers and the bloud also to bee fried with cheese and fat making them meate thereof and shewing them the head of their wild flesh They may also be trained and taught after another manner as namely you must cause the old brocks and foxes to be taken aliue by the old earth dogs and with pincers fit for the purpose take and breake all the teeth of the neather iaw wherein the great gripers stand not touching the vppermost at all to the end that by it may continually appeare and be seene the rage and furiousnesse of the beastes although they be not able to do any harme therewith at all afterward you shall cast earthes in some meadow plot of sufficient largenesse for the dogs to turne themselues and go in by couples on a brest couering the burrowes afterward with boords and greene turfes this done the brocke must be put in and all the dogs both young and old let slip and incouraged as hath alreadie beene said And when they haue baited him sufficiently you must strike seuen or eight great blowes vpon the side of the hole with a spade to harden and acquaint them therewith against the time when you shall stand in neede to vse deluing then you must take vp the plankes ouer the place where the brocke is taking hold vpon him with pincers killing him before them or else causing him to be stifled by some grey-hound that so there may meat bee made of him for them And you must haue cheese which you must cause to be cast them presently after their wild flesh when it shall be dead and if peraduenture you would not breake all the teeth of the neather iaw of the brocke yet you must cut off all the greater and master teeth that so he may be kept from biting and doing of mischiefe CHAP. XXXVIII The manner of killing of the Foxe AS for the killing of the Foxe it is mâ—ch more easie than that of the Brocke herein especially seeing that after they once scent the dogges which baite them they gather themselues together and rush out vpon the sodaine except it be at such time as the female hath young ones for then they will not forsake them Naturally they are giuen to dig their earths in places that are hard to be digged as in rockes or vnder the roots of trees they haue but one hole but it is both strait and reacheth far Some hunts-men are of opinion and sure it is very likely and credible that the Foxe neuer maketh his owne earth or kennell for though he bee the subtilest of all beastes both touching his owne saftie and the gaining of his pray yet he is nothing laborious or giuen to take paines for any thing but his bellie onely neither hath nature giuen him any especiall instruments for the same vse more than to other mungrell dogges of which he is a kind so that he may scrach or digge vp the earth a little for the hiding or maine couering of his pray but to make such tedious deepe long and winding vaults and in such difficult and tough places is hard to bee coniectured whence it comes that those of better obseruation affirme that the Brocke or Badger or as some call him the
Grey by reason of his colour who is a beast of infinit great industrie cleanlinesse and fearefulnesse doth first make the Foxes earth but not with any determinate purpose that the Foxe should inioy it but as a place of refuge and rest for himselfe onely which as soone as the Foxe findeth out he presently watcheth the going out of the Badger and then entring in at the hole he defileth the mouth and entrance thereof both with his dung and pisse which is the loathsomest of all excraments in such filthie and hatefull manner that the Badger returning and finding his lodging so nastily beraied presently he forsakes the place and commeth there no more but leaues it to the Foxe and digs himselfe a new cell in another place But to our former purpose when the the dogges haue once ouerthrowne the Foxe he resisteth a little but it is not with any such boldnesse and courage as to daunt the dogs neither hath he any daungerous bite and yet some say that he hath his shift as to clap his taile betwixt his legs when he seeth himselfe once ouerthrowne by the dogs and to pisse vpon it and therewithall to besprinckle the dogs to the end that feeling the stench thereof they may be driuen backe and let him depart If you take a bitch Fox when she is salt and cutting away her priuie member and the gut annexed thereunto with the little testicles or stones which are the cause of ingendring being the same that gelders vse to take from bitches when they geld them and put all the same cut in prettie gobbets into some little pot all hot as they were cut away and take Galbanum and put it in mingling alltogether and couering it that all may not breath out you may keepe it a whole yeare and make it serue at any time when you would make a traine to allure the dog Foxe by taking the skin or a collop of lard and putting it vpon a gridyron and when it shall be broyled and all hot moisting it in the pot where the priuie part of the Fox and Galbanum is therwith making all your traines then you shall perceiue the male Foxes following oâ— you euery where but he that maketh the craine must rub the soles of his shoes with cowes dung least they should take the scent of his feete Thus you may see the means how to draw on the dog foxes to any place where you may take them in a snare or gin and so kill them in the euening with a cros-bow This is most true that if you rub an earth dog with brimstone or with oile of the lees of oyle and thereupon cause him to take the earth where there are foxes or brocks they will get themselues thence and come no more there for two or three moneths There is furthermore another thing to be noted that after that the earth dogs are come out of the earth of foxes or brocks they must be washed with warme water and sope to rid them of the mould that shall bee gotten betwixt the haire and the skin for else they would grow scabbed of a scab that would very hardly heale Some subtile foxe hunters take the foxe without any helpe of dogs with this wile they rub the sole of their shooes with a great peece of lard lately rosted at such time as they are about to returne home from the wood or from any plaine where they know that there is any foxes after the same manner they vse to scatter by the way as they goe little morsells of hogs liuer dipped in hony drawing after them a dead cat whereupon the foxe following the trace at hand allured by the scent of the lard and hogs liuers they haue a man accompanying them with a harquebuze or arrow to kill him at a blow CHAP. XXXIX The manner of killing the Brocke AS for the killing of the Brocke it is more difficult than the killing of the Foxe as hath beene said because their holes are deepe and narrow and consisting of many conueyances and passages for which cause it is meâ—â—e and conuenient for the vndertaking of such a worke first to haue foure or fiue men furnished with spades and tooles fit for the digging of the earth secondly halfe a dozen of good earth dogs at the least euery one armed with his collar about his necke of the breadth of three singers and hung with little bels to hunt the seuerall earths to the end that the Brocks may be driuen the sooner to their stand and the dogs defended the better by those collars from taking any hurt and when it is perceiued that the Brocks are at their stand or that the dogs grow weary out of breath or the bels to be full of earth you must take vp the dogs and take away their collars from them wheras at the first they are of good â—eruice and cause the Brocke the sooner to take them to their stand But before you let slip the dogs there must regard be had to view the earths what manner of ones they be and the place wherein they lie and where the furthest parts of them are for otherwise a man should but loose his labour in so much as if the earths should be on the side of a hill it were requisite that the dogs were put in vnderneath toward the valley to the end that the brocke may be compelled and forced to the vttermost end of the vppermost holes where the said earths are not so deep as the other and therefore may the more easily be digged But otherwise if the earth should be in some raised peece of ground and therwithall round about the same the rising ground being seated in the middest of a flat peece of ground then the dogs must be put in at the holes which are highest and neerest vnto the top of the rising ground but before they be let slip and put into such earths there must twentie or thirtie blowes bee giuen with the head of the spade vpon the highest parts of the earths thereby to cause Brockes to remooue from out of the middest of them and to cause them to descend to the furthest ends of their earthes which are in the bottome of the rising ground There must alwaies two or three dogs be let slip at the mouths of the holes that so by their vehemencie and eagrenesse they may part and put a sunder the Brocks which shal be together and force them to flie to their rests They haue a tricke to stand the abbaie at the places where their holes doe meete and stoutly to resist the dogs in such places which when it is perceiued it is requisite to smite three or foure blowes with the spade and if yet for all that they will not remoue you must forthwith discouer them with an aâ—gar Then when it is perceiued that they are fled vnto the furthest part of their holes you must not pierce through right vpon them for then they would bolt forward
againe into the wide spaces and meetings of their holes and offer violence vnto the dogges for which cause it behoueth that the hole be bored right ouer where the voice of the dogge soundeth with a round augar for the nature thereof is to cast vp the earth and not to let it fall downe within and after that is done presently to put a slat augar into the hole of the round augar that so it may crosse the hole right in the middest least the Brock should recoile vpon the dogge and if it be possible to shut the dogge forth on the hinder part of the augar it will be very good for and if he should be shut within toward the sore-part of it the Brocks might beat and handle him roughly seeing that sometimes there are found mustered together in the vttermost end of one hole six or seuen vvhich might beat and driue backe the dogge When the hole is thus crosse-barred with the flat augar you must presently make a trench with spades and shouels to the end that it may serue to set a man in and at conuenient time to let in some dogges by the said trench and to cause them to hold a bay in that place vvhere a man may see warring and fighting on all sides These things thus furthered care must be had that the Brockes doe not couer themselues with earth vvhich they are verie readie to doe being driuen vnto their vttermost places of flight insomuch as that the dogges are sometime vpon or our them and yet not know where they are Afterward their fort being throwne downe you must pull them forth not by the whole bodie but by the nether iawes for if you should take them by the vvhole bodie they might hurt the dogges and if by the vpper iaw then you might hurt their nose which is in them very tender insomuch as that being hurt therein be it neuer so little they die incontinently When they are thus drawne out they would be put in some sacke and after carried into some court or garden closed in with walls to make them coursing-game for young earth-dogges But in the meane time it will be good to draw your bootes vpon your legges for when they are once throughly heated they spare not to runne vpon men after the manner of the vvild Bore in such sort as that oftentimes they carrie away with them pieces of their stockings yea the flesh also which is vnder them CHAP. XL. The hunting of the Conie WE haue entreated of Conies largely ynough vvhere vvee spake of the Warren the hunting vvhereof is profitable not onely in respect of the prouision of foode vvhich it ministreth and that verie good but likewise in respect of the dammage vvhich this little beast bringeth vnto Corne Trees and Hearbes and that so dangerously as Strabo vvriteth as that certaine Nations vvere constrained in the dayes of the raignes of Tiberius and Augustus to send embassadours vnto the Romanes that they might haue their aid and succour against the vrgent and â—ore pressing iniuries and dammages vvhich their Countries sustained through the excessiue number of these little beasts Wee haue make in our Treatise of the Warren two sorts of Conies the one of the Clapper and the other of the Warren Those of the Clapper are easie to hunt because they are came but those of the Warren are somewhat more hard to take because their nature is more enclining vnto wildnesse The manner of hunting them is chiefely of two sorts and both of them verie well knowne that is to say either with Pursnets or with the Ferrets As concerning the Ferrets they are put into the holes of the Conies to fight with them vvhereby they being astonished and frighted bolt forth by and by out of their holes and fall into the pursnets which lie spred vpon the tops of their holes sometimes the Ferret doth kill them within which falleth out to bee the occasion of no small attendance oftentimes vnto the hunters The catching of Birds CHAP. XLI That men of old time made no account of catching of Birds THe taking of Birds hath not beene much approued nor liked of by men of old time by reason of the little exercise which it affoordeth seeing they made no account of any manner of hunting whereby the bodie receiued no kind of exercise whereby it might be made more nimble and readie to mannage matters of greater importance againe we find not any mention made of the hunting of Birds in the bookes of the auncient writers as Aristotle or Plinâ—e who seemeth not to haue beene ignorant in any thing that might make for the truth of his writings neither yet of hauking which is the noblest kind of hunting of birds of all the rest All which notwithstanding the men of our time haue not ceased to put in practise many sorts of taking of birdes as with birdes of the praie which excelleth all the rest with great nets small nets tonnelling fire snares bundles of straw with the cros-bow long-bow nooses pit falls chirping pipes horse crow bell hand and many moe waies which are well enough knowne to birdeâ—â— we wil first speake of hauking Of Hawking CHAP. XLII What Hawking is IT is most certaine that the skill and knowledge of hawking hath beene brought into an art of late times as hath beene said auncient writers as Aristotle and Plinie the admirers of high and excellent things and the diligent and industrious searchers out of all things would not haue cast behind them so great and famous a worke of the skill of man as to lure and reclaime the birds of pray but would haue written of it if it had beene then in vse For this is a wonder to see a bird which hath been wild to become tame to drop out of the skies and to light vpon a mans fist to soare aloft as high as the cloudes to seeke other birds to kill them and also to make warre vpon the foules and such as liue below vpon the earth and withall to take certaine foure footed beasts as the Hare Rabbets and Conies This skill is now a daies so highly honoured as that the great nobles of the world will that it should bee consecrated wholly to themselues as reseruing it for a pastime onely beseeming them and in this our countrie of France it is had in such price as that the gentleman which is ignorant in this skill and that other of hunting is lightly prized as though he lackt the two things which of all other chilualrie and martiall skill excepted are the most rare and excellent Now as hawking is the art and skill of luring and reclaiming of birds of the pray to cause them to flye at other birds liuing either in the ayre vpon the earth or about the vvaters so hee is called a Faulconer vvhose place and office it is to reclayme such birds vvherein if vvee please to looke a little more neerely into the name it should seeme that the later Frenchmen
the particular CHAP. XLIIII Of birds of the prey in particular AMongst all birds of the prey the Vulture called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of the Latines Vultur is the greatest a passenger or bird for a time in Egypt knowne in this countrey rather by his skinne and feathers than otherwise because the Skinners are wont to make stomachers to lay ouer the stomacke and the Fletchers feathers thereof to set vpon arrowes They may be fed with small tripes dead carkasâ—es and out-casâ—â—ngs of beasts Likewise some report of them that ordinarily they follow Campes because of the dead bodies They cannot rise from the earth to flie except they first take their aduantage by running or else take their leaue vpon some great butt The Eagle is called the King of birds very vnhandsome to carrie vpon the fist by reason of his corpulencie hard to reclaime being once wild because of his boldnes might readines and easie inclination to hurt the Faulconer in the fate or elsewhere Wherfore who so desireth to haue him good must take him in the neast and reclaime him with coursing-dogges to the end that when he is to flie he may follow them that so they hauing put vp the Hare Foxe Roe-buck or any other such beast he may seize vpon it to stay it He may be fed with any manner of flesh especially of such beasts as he taketh and seizeth vpon The Faulconer must be diligent to attend him well because he is very apt to flie away but that mischiefe may be preuented by sewing the feathers of his traine in such sort as that he cannot spread them to flye with them or else by plucking bare the hole of his fundament in such sort as that it may appeare for thereupon he being driuen into a feare of the cold he will not be hastie to â—oâ—re so high The Eagle is knowne to be good and faire when he is of a red colour hauing deepe eyes and a whitenesse vpon his head or back The Sparrow-hawke the Goshawke differ not in any other point than in greatnesse and strength because the Goshawke is of a stronger nature and therefore not so soone sick as the Sparrow-hawke they are both of one kind as are also the Rauen and the Iay the great dogge and the little one and both of them are of two sorts either such as are taken abroad in the woods or else such as are taken young out of the neast Of this sort there is good choise to be made in respect of their aptnesse to learne as also of those which are fliers but haue neuer mued their feathers neither made any aire or fed any young ones The goodnesse and fairenesse of a Sparrow-hawke is knowne by their being great and short and yet hauing a little head and somewhat round aboue a thicke beake the eyes somewhat hollow and the circle about the apple of the eye of a colour betwixt greene and white a long and somewhat thick neck open in the place where the reines lie sharpe towards the traine not very long set with good and large feathers hauing flat and short legges sharpe â—allons thicke and broad shoulders long and small feet blacke feathers when they are taken young in their aire and which follow the old one from bough to bough hauing neuer yet mued And though here for the familiaritie and common vse we haue of them I put the Sparrow-hawke before the Goshawke yet it is to be vnderstood that the Goshawke is a great deale the more worthier Hawke both in respect of her beautie and comelinesse as also in respect of the worth estimation of the prey she killeth for amongst Faulconers that Hawke is held worthiest which killeth the greatest prey The Mallard-killer be valued before the Partridge-killer and the Hearne-killer before the Mallard so the Sparrow-hawke which is most vsuall for the Bush and Blackbird at the most can aspire no further than the killing of a Pooâ—e or a Partridge cannot compare with a Goshawke which killeth not only the Partridge but the Phesant Hare Conie Most of the French Goshawkes breed in Norway but they are the worst kind and neither so valiant sound or durable as those which are bred in Ireland especialâ— in the North parts thereof which are easie to bee knowne from any other countrie goshawke by the â—lender and fine shapes of their heads their exceeding quicke and sharpe looking eies and the palish or sea-coloured greenenesse of their legs As for the sparrow-hawkes they are bred both in France England Ireland and many other countries and very good and hard hawkes in all those places yet are some ayryes better than other some according to the scituation of the place and temperature of the ayre for such as are bred in warme climats and where they pray but vpon small birds as sparrows robbins wrens linneâ—s and such like are nothing so valiant as those which are bred in cold climats and tall woods where they pray vpon blackâ—birds iayes pyes and such strong and fiercer foule neither is the ayre of the wood so good as the ayre of the rocke because their pray being so neere vnto them they do not labour or take that â—oyle which the other doth and therefore are much more sloathfull of wing and lesse giuen to paines taking also the ayrie which buildeth highest and vpon the tallest timber trees is the best because it sheweth courage in the mount and those which build low and neere to the springs are worst for it shewes a faintnesse of spirit and a sloathfulnesse in nature Now though the best taking of either of these hawkes as before I said is when they are branchers and are able to follow their dams from bough to bough and to foot the pray which she killeth for them yet some Faulconers loue to take them from their nests as soone as they be disclosed and to bring them vp in such maner as they may know no other damme but their keeper being persuaded that such familiaritie and long acquaintance with the man makes them more louing and lesse apt to take toy and flie away than the other by many degrees and doubtlesse it is most true yet these thus brought vp and which are called of Faulconers Iias-hawkes are nothing so valiant aâ— thoâ—e which are taken long time after and are called ramadge hawkes Besides this too much familiaritie or acquaintance with the man makes them so ouer fond and doâ—ing that they will neuer leaue crying or making a noise as oft as they are either bare faced or want any thing they desire besides they will be so doâ—ing of the man that you shall be a much longer time in entring them or making them foot the praie than the other because they will expect euery thing from the keeper and rather flie and sit vpon his shoulder than labour or striue for the pray which flies before them therefore howsoeuer the care of holding or keeping
282 Clapper or Warren storing thereof 645 646 To Clod the earth 541 Câ—mpound water of trees 461 Clâ—uds darke and thicke a great signe of raine 26 The nature of the Lark called Cochenis 727. and her feeding ibid. To cut Cocâ—rels or to make them Capons 77. to fat Capons ibid. with speede 590. to make them lead Chickens 515. to make their stones good to make leane men fat 74. Capons of Mans and Bretaigne 73 Cocks and Capons must not haue their wings broken 67. one Cocke to a dozen Hennes ibid. notes of a good Cock and his colour 68. Cocks crowing at all houres a signe of raine 〈◊〉 How to order and breake Colts 1â—8 the marks of a good Colt 135. Colts how they must be looked to 1â—6 and to burne them and slit their noâ—â—â—â—ils ibid. to geld them 127. the means to make them seruiceable ibid Colutea 291 Rocke Comsâ—ey 202 Great Comâ—rey ibid. Compositions of honey 230 Conâ—es are a kind of Hares 697. those of the Warren how they must be cared for and fedde 646. the diffeâ—ence betweene those of the Warren and those of the Clapper 648 Conserue of the root of Elicampane 428 Conserue of Quinces wherefore good 376. laxatiue conserue of Quinees iâ—id Constraint is neuer good 12 Sale Cookes their vse of great deceit 117 Corke trees what ground they delight in 667 Red Corant tree 342 Coriander 245 Corne of all sorts and the manner of growing them 548. Seed-Corne how it must be chosen 543. to sow â—anne riddle lay vp corne vpon the end of the Moone 31. such diuers sorts thereof as are fit to make bread 571 Corne of diuers Countries of France and which are the best 571. the grinding of them 572 Tuâ—kie Corne and how it must be husbanded 553 Saracâ—ns Corne or Wheat ibid. Aduertisements concerning all manner of Corne and Pulse 569 570 Corne-flagge 239. distilled 462 Costmarie and his properties 182 The Court next the dwelling house and the scituation thereof 15. how it must be walled 16 Cowcumbers without water 195. how they may be kept 281. enemies to oyle 190. their huâ—tful qualities ibid. obseruations to be knowne concerning the same 194 Creame of milke and how it must be prepared 65 Crâ—spinet a singular hearbe against the Stone 〈◊〉 Cresses and their faculties 184 Crowes bathing themselues and braying at night are a signe of raine 25 Crowfoot 210 Cummin 249 Curiositie the ouerthrow of good wits 1 Curlew 78 Cuttlâ—-fishes and the manner of taking of them 515 D ADaies worke how much ground it containeth 518 Criticall Daies concerning the Moone 3â— The 12. Daies of the feast of the Natiuiâ—itie do prognosticate the disposition of the whole yeare 28 The Huswiues Dairie-house 16 The Dairie-woman and her office 38. what medicines she is to know for the diseases of the familie 39 Daisies 237 Daâ—es how planted 338 Date-trees how planted 390. male and female and their nature 292. what earth they craue 390 Dates how to be kept 409 Dâ—â—â—-wort 206. distilled 453 â—earth and the signes fore-shewing the same 29 〈…〉 grounds how they may be prepared to beare fruit 10 〈◊〉 â—iâ—phâ—â—nicon distilled 462 〈◊〉 Diligence of the householder doth ouercome the weakenesse of the ground 10 〈◊〉 249 〈◊〉 good kind of Dissembling 21 〈◊〉 by whom it was inuented and the kinds therof 439 440 〈◊〉 of many sorts of waters with a briefe discourse therâ—upon ibid. 〈◊〉 what it is ibid. 〈◊〉 of Oyles and Quintessences with a discourse theâ—eupon 469 〈…〉 Herbes Flowers Baâ—kes and Roots euery one by themselues 45â— c. 〈…〉 of Distilling 440 〈◊〉 matter must be prepared before it be Distilled 448 〈◊〉 Distill by Coldnesse 440 with the heat of Sand. 450 oftentimes one and the same water 451 what maner of heat is requisite thereto ibid. licours and the maner of ordering all things therein 454 compound waters three manner of wayes 460. c. per descensum 464 468. and without heat ibid. with a filtre ibid. liuing things 458 wood 480 481 â—â—sâ—ruments and vessels for Distillation 441 〈◊〉 forme of Furnaces to Distill chymicall oylâ—â— 471 472. â—â— itches for fishes 508 â—â— ittanie and his properties 210 〈◊〉 203 â—â—â—ogges three sorts belonging to a Farme-house 120. to preuent their going madde and how to handle them 221 â—â—â—â—oggeâ— their names ibid. â—â—unting Doggâ—s are of three sorts in generall 685. their keâ—nelâ— and feedings 676. their diseases and cures 677. c. 〈◊〉 Doggeâ— how to traine them vp to fit them to hunting to swimming and diuers other pretie qualities 68â— their tumbling vpon the ground a signe of raine 25 〈◊〉 Madde Dogges 678 〈◊〉 madde Dogge hauing bitten an Horse â—47 〈◊〉 Dogges-tooth a signe that water will 〈◊〉 found if there be pits cast 7 〈◊〉 Dogge-tree 395. and how to keepe the fruit thereof ibid. â—â—he backe Dâ—re of the house 18 〈◊〉 ground Dung-house how and where it must be made and â—eated 17 〈◊〉 Doue-houses 86 〈◊〉 Dragons great and small 268. distilled 465 〈◊〉 Dreames ioyfull in the new of the Moone 32 â—â— Drinkes made of fruits and a discourse of the making of them 410 â—â— â—rinâ—e of Sloeâ— 419. of Ceruises 395. the making of the Drinkes of Cerâ—ises 419 〈◊〉 haue a barren seed 626 〈◊〉 Drunkennesse how hurtfull a thing it is to man 625 〈◊〉 and Drakes how they must be kept and handled 〈…〉 where they must â—it on nights ibid. 〈◊〉 â—ild Ducks made drunke are easie to take â—8 〈◊〉 â—lesh pleasant to eate ibid. Ducks bloud good against all manner of venime â—bid Young Ducks ibid. Dung of the Stables where to be laid 15 What manner of Dung is to be laid vpon the ground 534 Than Dunâ— nothing more deare 535 Dunâ— of diuerse sorts and how and when it must bee spread 536 Dung of Pigeons for what ground it is good 89 Duâ—g what is good or euill for the Vine 599 602 603 Dung of Oxen Kine and Sheepe is good for manie diseases 104 116 of Men Kine and Pigeons diâ—tilled and their vertues 557 of Hares hindeâ—eth conception in Women 698 of Hens swallowed of an Horse causeth winging in the bellie 147. and causeth haâ—re to grow againe 74 of Hogges stayeth the spitting of bloud 111 of Goats cureth the Parotides Bubo Sciatica and other Apostemes 120 of â—urtle Dâ—ues for the spots of the eyes 84 of the Goose for the Iaundise 77 of Dogges excellent for the Squinancie 122 To Dung the ground and what manner of dung it must be 535 To Dung the ground in the encrease of the Moone 32 To lay any Dung to Vines is a damnable thing 595 There must 〈◊〉 two Dungâ—â—â— made and why 15 E EAgle the king of Birds 707. and the nature of Eagles ibid. The Earth of a cold and drie nature 10. of contrarie qualities according to her particular plots ibid. Diuers sorts of Earth and their diuers manner of tilling and encrease 11 Blackish and yellowish Earth good and fruitfull 11 12 Eâ—â—on borne the sixt day
SAcres hawks so called 713 Saffron how it must be husbanded â—11 a venome to the heart ibidem Sage 158 245. good against the trembling of the members 56 Compound water of Sage 460 Salmâ—â— a very delicate fish 507 and how to take him 575 Salomons seale 208 Salt turning moist a signe of raine 25 Samuel boâ—ne the 11. of the Moone a fauourable day 33 Sandie grounds what fruit they beare and how they must be tilled â—1 Sanicle and the great vertues thereof 202 Sapa or boiled wine 622 Saps of grafted trees must ioine one with another 32 Saâ—iâ— tree 285 Saul borne the 21. day of the Moone a happie day 34 Sauâ—rie 245. being sowne it putteth not forth till thirtie daies after 161 Saxiâ—rage 200 Scabious 201 Scallions and their faculties 180 〈…〉 to plant and the manner to doe them 343. and to propagate them ibid. 〈◊〉 swallowed by an Horse 147 〈◊〉 their biting of Neat. 10◠〈…〉 and the maruellous faculties thereof 203 〈…〉 distilled 468 〈◊〉 what kind of corne and the husbanding thereof 550 〈…〉 to choose 543 〈◊〉 Seeder 159. and the time to sowe them 160. how old and what manner of ones they must be ibid. and in what time they must put out of the earth 161 〈…〉 distilled 468 〈…〉 wheat how it must be chosen 543 â—gainst Serpents 315 â—â—bandmenâ— Sâ—ruants how they would be entreated 23 〈…〉 559. oile and cakes thereof ibid. 〈…〉 109 〈…〉 how they must be watred and how oft a day 112 where they must â—eed ibid. when they must be shorne 113 they are cold of nature 111 their going to rutte and what forrage is best for them ibid. how they are kept from the Wolfe 116 their diseases and cures ibid. 〈…〉 of a good Sheepe 110 〈◊〉 â—epheards their manner in times past 111 they must be gentle ibid. what 〈◊〉 they haue inuented 110 their folds in Summer 113 he fashion of the Sheepe fold and how and whereof it most be made 110. and where it must be seated 18 〈◊〉 that spoile Vines 607. biting Neat 10â— biting a Hoâ—â—e 147 〈◊〉 what kind of corne 551 â—â—â—â—wormes and the profit of them 486. how to order them 489. their diseases ibid. 〈◊〉 grasse good for medicine 201 〈…〉 552 〈◊〉 2â—0 〈…〉 to plant Gardens 263 〈…〉 â—69 〈…〉 his planting and vertues ibid. 〈…〉 495 〈…〉 swallowed by Neat 102. and how to kill them 314 〈◊〉 â—noiles spoyling Bees 405 〈…〉 distilled 458 〈…〉 and the tokens fore-shewing the same 25 〈◊〉 â—â—dome and Gomoâ—â—ha sunke the 17. of the Moone a bâ—d day 33 〈◊〉 â—â—mmer and the presage of the constitution thereof 22 〈◊〉 â—â—rell and his properties 171 〈◊〉 â—o Soâ—e corne in the end of the Moone 31 〈◊〉 â—o Sowe Wheat in myâ—e and in the encrease of the Moone 541 â—â—wes farrowing 106 pigges ibid. eating their pigges ibid. 〈◊〉 â—he place for the Swine-coat â—8 〈…〉 bread 209 〈…〉 247 〈…〉 thistle 168 〈◊〉 â—parrowes male and female 86. crying early a signe of raine 25 〈…〉 Sparrowes and their nature 725 Sparrowhawkes of all sorts 〈◊〉 wherin they differ from Buzzards 〈◊〉 the manner of taking and keeping them ibid. their diseases and remedies ibid. Speech vnprofitable maketh a man contemptible 〈◊〉 Simple and true Speech causeth a man to be much esteemed 23 A Spence to keepe victuals in 17 Spelt-corne and how it must be husbanded 552 Spices distilled 478 Spiders falling without any violent cause a signe of raine 25 A Spider swallowed by a Horse 146 Spinach male and female and why so called 274. the great profit comming thereof ibid. When Spinach must be sowne 161. it groweth vp three daies after ibid. The Spinke a very beautifull and liuely bird her feeding 721. All Spinkes haue not like volces ibid. The Square an Instrument for measuring 521 Stables for Horses 16 A round Staires 17 Cow Stalls must be kept cleane 62 All manner of beasts Stalls how they must be seated 15 Stallions to couer Mares 81 Stallions to begeâ— Mules and Mulets 151 Starres sparkling are signes of great flouds of water 241 Starthistiâ—e 200 The Steâ—le-glâ—sse is the bewraier of the countenance 624 Young Stocks and wild plants must be remoued 339. and how they must be husbanded 340. young or wilde â—â—ocks to graft vpon and how they must be prepared 344 Stomacke weake 219 A Stone in the gisserne of a Capon that maketh men apt to carnall lust 74 In what place Stones doe ordinarily grow 9 Cherrie Stones distilled 453 Storks and their maruellous nature 79 Storks distilled 458 Fresh Straw and the benefit thereof 205 Strawberries 195. their maruellous harmelesnesse and other properties ibid. distilled 45â— Succorie 168 Suits and matters in law how and by whom to be ordered 21 Sunne and Moone two great and admirable lights of the world 30 when and how it betokeneth faire weather 26. when and how it betokeneth raine tempest 25. when it betokeneth Snow in Winter 25 The South 〈◊〉 vnwholesome 5 The 〈◊〉 of the seuen Bookes 2â—3 Swallowes distilled 453 Swannes and how many are requisite to be together 78 79. their nature ibid they foresee their owne death and mans 79 Swine cannot abide hunger 106 more greedie than any other beasts 104 how to feed them and their natures ibidâ—â— subiect to the plague and many other diseases 107 their cures ibideâ— to fat them 291 in what quarter of the Moone the would be â—illed 10â— how to salt them 109 their playing and running hither and thither a signe of raine 25 honoured of the Egipâ—yans for shewing them the tilling of the earth 108 T TAbacco 215 Tale 〈◊〉 are not to be harkened vnto 38 Tamaritke 290 Tansay 251 Great wild Tareâ— 564 Tarts 587 The Teeth of horses declare their age 136 Signes of Tempest and Thunder 26 Terragon is made of Lineseed and how 18â— What Things are requisite in building of the farme 3 White Thistle 203 Euery Thing at his height doth decrease in the â—nd 4 Ladies Thistle â—00 Blessed Thistle and the maruellous vertues thereof 199 The hundred headed Thistle and his maruellous 〈◊〉 203 The Tazell his late giuen names and his properties 310 311 The Tazell closing and shutting together presageth raine 2â— To Thresh corne and the flower of the same 5â—6 Throstles what manner of birds they be 726 sold verie deere amongst them of old timâ— 85 they are of two sorts 727 their nature and food ibidem leauing the valleâ—â— they foreshew raine 25 Thyme 244. mountaine Thyme 248 Tiâ—â—ing of the ground with diuers sorts of beastes according to the countrie 539 Tillage diuers according to the diueâ—sitie of the soile and countrie 527 The Tilling of the ground and precepts touching the same 531 The Tune and presages of the entrances of the â—oure quarters of the yeare 26 Wâ—at manner of hawke the 〈◊〉 is 711 Tormâ—ntill 50â— and why so called ibidem Tâ—â—â—eises and how to bant to them 5â—5 The heat be 〈◊〉 bona 252 Tourtaine the garden of France 10. 40â— the people
ones 21â— vlcers of the mouth 197 199 203. of the eares 209. inward 207. of the lungs 205. of the â—emeâ— 459. comming of the pocks 58 203. vlcers in Oxen. 102 A low and base Votte 148. to haue a good voice 176 To stay Vomiting 48 204 213 249. to cause vomiting speedily 449. to prouoke vomite 285. to the curing of a quartane and tertian ague 298 Vrine of all sorts and to procure the making of vrine 〈◊〉 97 171 176 180 182 194 197 199 203 205 208 210 211 212 246 248 251 371 397 453 679 690 Horses hardly able to make their Vrine 141. W WArts 60 206. hanging Warts â—16 Against Witchcrafâ— 199 Fukeâ— for Women c. 208 304 465 Wormes amongst Beeâ— 398 Wormes and how to kill them 157 200 201 203 205. 207 220 245 247 251 285 372 〈◊〉 690. wormes in little children 180 210 244 246 561 693. wormes menting horses 146. to cause the wormes that trouble dogges to fall from them 677 678. to kill them that destroy trees 405 406. to keepe flesh from all manner of wormes 197. to cause them to come out of the earth in great aboundance 386 The flying 〈◊〉 a disease in horses 142 To kill earth Wâ—rmes that eat the roots of hearbes 401 Wounds in dogges 678 Woundâ— 198 200 207 214 against all sorts of wounds 204. against the inflammation thereof 28â— wounds fresh and new â—7 207 209 214 220. old 58 214. maligned 201. wounds in the armes and legges 219. in the noble and â—nner parts 207 208. in the head 〈◊〉 in the guts 288. wounds with Dagges 59. to draw yâ—on out of a wound 199. for to consider of inward and outward wounds 202 205 207 211 212. an excellent balme for green wounds and cuts 57 204 437 Wringâ—â—â—â— 249 Windinesse in the stomacke or bellie ibid. Y THe Yard swolne and the cure thereof The Yard of an Oxe growne hard FINIS Pâ—â—tarch in â—eg Apoh 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 2. Chro. 26. â—0 Genes 4. â— â— Sam. â— 14. 〈…〉 The varietie of Countries causeth a diuers manner of labouring of the earth Ouer-much curiositie the ruinâ— of good wits What manner of Husbandrie iâ— entreated of in that which followâ—th The name of the Country â—ouse 〈◊〉 a Farme Meese or field Inheritance The Translator The English practise added to the French The Summe of the first Booke The Sâ—mme of the second Booke The Summe of the third Booke The Summe of the fourth Book The Summe of the fiâ—â— Booke The Summe of the sixt Booke The Summe of the seventh Booke The Kitchin must be the first piece of building in a good house Purchase by statute the surest of al others That there be 〈◊〉 foolish buyers than sellers That Land 〈◊〉 striâ—e in hand Labour 〈…〉 a Householder That 〈◊〉 to say that euerything hauing attained his height doth in the â—nd decrease 〈…〉 A good aire 〈…〉 Farme Neere vnto a good neighbor Farre from places of garrison Farre from Riuers and Brookt It behoueth vâ— to content our selues with that which God and Nature affoordeth Rockâ—e grounds good for the bearing of Vines and so for such Countries as a bound with Vines A high and flat Countrey Pooles Cesternes Pits called Aranques To make a Cesterne for to hold and keepe Raine water The way to prepare ground for the bearing of wood A Country neare vnto Riuers The pleasures of Princes A drie Countrey A Hill to build vpon 〈…〉 Wells of good Water Fountaines To find out the beads of Fountaines The best time to 〈◊〉 out Spring-heads 〈…〉 What Waters are best Places giuen tâ— bring forth 〈◊〉 Deceitfull stone-pits Why the earth is termed by the name of a Mother That it is against the nature of the free Countrey of Beaâ—x to beare any Rie Toâ—â—aine the Garden of France Man by labour is able to tame euery thing Watrie and marish places The vnder parts of watrie grounds Islands of Flaunders To build on the tops of high ground Wild grounds Desarts and Bull-rushes Stâ—nie grounds Vntilled grounds Sandie grounds What is 〈◊〉 to know the nature of great Sand. Strong grounds Rough ground A clay ground To build vpon a high ground Territories and fields lying in Croye and Ardose The nature of the earth must be knowne An old prouerh That of compulsions comes no good Good ground a fruitfull countrey of France The fruitfulnes of Aquitaine The inconueniences of the Southerne wind in Languedoc Prouence and Guienne The signes of a good and sertile ground Naughtie earth Great Cages make not theiâ— Birds good Vnfaithfull Farmers The eye of the Master fatteth the Horse 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The base Courts 〈…〉 Of the Ligâ—ts to be made in Building 〈…〉 The Wells of the Câ—â—rt Tâ—e dore of â—he Hâ—use A partition The Farmers Lodge The Farmers Ouen The Farmers Chamber Garners Stables for Hoâ—se 〈…〉 Oxe-housâ—s The entrance of the householdeâ—s dwelling place The round staires The Kitchin The chietest Lights must be tâ—ward the East Garners The North wind good for the keeping of Corne. A Henne-house Turkâ—â— Hennâ—â— and Cockâ— Fesants 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 What things are most fit to be farmed out The chiefe key of all the rest 〈…〉 To order his Suites What time the Householder should keepe at his Farme and when he may best goâ— abroad to the Towne or elsewherâ— Men cannot abide to be roughly entreated Husbandmens apparrell To know to write and read is not necessarie for a farmâ—r Paper endureth all tâ—ings A Farmer must haue much knowledge 〈…〉 Nâ—cessarie things to be prouided It is not good â—o exact too much at a seruants hands The naturall inclimatâ—on of the sâ—uerall Câ—untâ—imen of France Normans Normans Picards Bâ—yais Limâ—sins Goscoins 〈…〉 〈…〉 The fâ—retelling of Raine Signes â—oreâ—â—kening great store of Raine Signes â—oretâ—kening Snow Haile Signes â—orâ—â—tkening Winds The signes foretokening Tâ—â—nder Lightnings and Tempests The signes â—ore-tokening faire Weather Sigâ—es â—oretokening the beâ—innings and endings of times Signes â—oretokening Cold. A long Winter The heat oâ— Summer The knowledge of the disposition of eueriâ—â—oneth 〈…〉 A good or bad yeare Signes foretokening fruitfulnesse A barren â—â—are Tokens â—â—reshewing Cornâ— to be good cheape or deare Signes foreâ—â—kening a sickly or sound yeare Thâ— Sunne and the Moone great Lights Of the Moone Tâ—e cause of the growâ—h and waâ—â— of thâ— Moone To slaughter Caâ—â—ell in the new of the Moone Fruit-trees and others To cleanse trees To gather fruits Grapes To sow Cornâ— To winnow or fanne to searce and lay vp Corne vnder locke To grind Corne. Onions soâ—n in the wanâ— Tâ— mow Medâ—wâ—s To dung them Ianuarie Februarie March Aprill May. Iune Iuly August September October Nouember December To â—se Bread temperately Prouision for Drinke The Plague Naphe A continuall Feauer A Quartane Aguâ— Thirst. A Tertian Ague A Quotidian Ague Headach comming of Heat Headach comming of drinking of Wine Headach proceeding of Coldâ— Frensie Drowsinesse or heauinesse of Sleepe
and best for Sommer and the boarded floore is betweene both as soone as you haue laied it on the flooâ—â— you shall make it into a great big coutch or heape a yard thicke or better vvhich coutch you shall make either long round or square at your pleasure and according to the quantitie of your corne it shall thus lye in the coutch till you see it begin to sprout and put forth little white jags or strings vvhich is called the coming of the malâ— and them you shall reane and turn it bringing that vvhich was the out-side into the midst and that which vvas in the middest vnto the our-side that so it may come all alike for that which is in the middest and lieth warmest vvill euer come the first Now so soone as you see it is all comed you shall forthwith spread open your coutch vpon the floore laying it not aboue a handfull deepe at the most that so the corne may coole and not sprout or come any further not forgetting but euerie day the space of three vveekes or vvithin three dayes of three weekes at the least to turne the malt vpon the floore twice or thrice a day least forbearing so to doe the corne heat and by that meanes aker-spire vvhich is to sprout at both ends and so loose the heart of the graine and make the malt good for nothing When you haue thus giuen it full â—at and floore three weekes then you shall lay it on a vvell-bedded kâ—lne vpon a good haire cloth and there with a gentle fire drie it the best fewell to make this â—ire on is straw either Wheat Rie or Barley Braken or Ferne is good also goâ—sse is too sharpe and vvood is the vvorst of all for it leaueth through the sharpenesâ—e of the smoake an ill taste or sauour vpon the malt yet here in France there be kilnes made of Bricke vvith such furnaces that carrie away the smoake that you may burne what fewell you please vvithout annoyance neither are they so dangerous for the casualtie of fire as the â—ther plaine kilnes in England and other places are After your malt is vvell dried you shall with your hands rubbe it well vpon the kilne to get off the come or sproutings vvhich before the drying did sticke vnto it for it is a generall rule that the cleaner your malt is from come and the snugger and smoother it lookes like Barley prouided it be well malted the better it is and euermore the more marketable for the come is of this nature to drinke vp the liquor in vvhich your malt is mashed vvhen you make Beare or Ale and so by that meanes to scant you much of your proportion When your malt hath beene well rubbed and is reasosonable cleane then you shall shouell both the malt and the corne together and so put them together into a close garner made for the purpose vvhere you shall let it lye at least a moneth or six weekes before you vse it to ripen in the come for that makes euer the best yeelding malt then when you please to vse it you shall either winow it or trie it through a skreene made of wiers for the purpose and then grind it and brew it as occasion shall serue Now touching the choyce of the best malt you shal euer take that which is made of best and cleanest corne without weed-seeds â—are or like filthinesse yet if it haue here and there an oat it is the better and not the worse it shall to your eye appeare bright white full and cleane without come in smell it shal be pleasant and sweet and not sharpe of the smoake in handling it shal be brittle and apt to breake and the kernell shall be white and meallie and in taste it shall be strong and exceeding sweet and the graines which you shall champe in your mouth if you take them forth and presse them betweene your fingers they shall yeeld you a white juice like milke but thicke and luscious but if in the biting or breaking they be hard and vnapt to bruise then it is a signe that there is in it much barley vnmalted and so the malt of a great deale the lesse profit Barley as it is thus most excellent for the making of drinke so it is good also for bread but not of the French maner which maketh bread thereof simple of it selfe for indeed that bread of all other is least nourishing and most vnsauourie but to mix it with any other graine as with wheat rye pease or beans with any one or with all of them it maketh verie good most wholesome bread it is vsed in England most for hind-seruants adding to a bushel of it and a bushell of pease one pecke of wheat and another of rie and then laying it in strong lâ—uen and scalding the meale well to take away the strong smell of the pease and sure this is a verie strong and well-relished bread and most wholesome for any man that shall labour hard as is found by experience in England and other places This barley being boyled in water till it breake and so giuen to eat whilest it is sweet is the best food that can be for the feeding or fatting of swine of all sorts whether they be brawnes or porkets or bacon-hogges it also farteth a horse verie sodainely but such fat will not indure labour the light corne or hinder ends of barley are excellent for the seeding of all sorts of poultrie as capons hennes turkies geeese or what else strayeth about the Farmers yard or house a leuen made of cleane barley-meale and milke is the best food that can be for the cramming of all sorts of poultrie many other vertues are in Barley but none of greater vse than these alreadie rehearsed Oats notwithstanding that they grow amongst Wheat and Barley without being sowne as an euill and vnprofitable thing notwithstanding for the profit comming of them for the feeding of great cattell as also of men in the time of necessitie they deserue a proper and conuement kind of husbanding They loue to be sowne in leane places which are drie well aired and haue beene alreared twice eared and that in Februarie or March but not later they craue vvatering and then they grow both fairer and fuller set They must be gathered presently after that Rie and Barley are in Although Oats be not vsed to make bread of except it be in the time of great dearth notwithstanding some doe beat them in a morter and doe make a meale thereof called Oat-meale vvhich is boyled either alone or else with flesh to vse in manner of a panade Physitians are of judgement that Oat-meale so made doth feed verie vvell and is good against the grauell and difficultie of vrine for the truth vvhereof I referre you to the Britaines and Angeâ—ines which vse it for the same effects When it is boyled all alone for the making of it the more pleasant there is woont to be put vnto