turn it into its own nature in certain years But if the ground be but somewhat stony with a mixture of Mould between and among the stones the fruit-trees will root indifferent well in such grounds all that can well be done is to dig up and loosen the stones as much as may be and to pick out some of the biggest and cast in some good soyles in their sted Low bottome grounds Land that lies below towards the bottome of the Hill or near a River which sometimes over-flowes This generally is exceeding good for fruit-trees it hath many advantages of some other grounds for it not only keeps and retains what rain and moisture falls upon it from the Clouds but also moisture descends from the higher grounds to these and withal if the River overflow it adds much to the fatness of the ground But yet this is to be considered That land may have overmuch moisture as before is observed That is when it stands and rests all the year long in and upon the ground as some wall springs and boggy low grounds where the superfluity of water cannot descend from it to any other place but where much water comes and rests for a certaine time only and then the superfluity runnes off and leaves onely the strength fatness of the water behind there the land is good and fertil and fruit-trees will grow large there and the fruit great And so much for the ground fit for fruit-trees Concerning shelters or defences for Orchards and Gardens ALthough it be not absolutely necessary that fruit-trees be sheltred or defended from the cold North East and West winds yet it will be very convenient and profitable so to do as much as may be for we know and see by yearly experience how dangerous the East or Northâ—east winds especially are in the spring time as in blighting and spoyling of blossomes fruits and sometimes the very boughs branches and the Trees themselves And the West winds are commonly strong towards Autumne and throw down abundance of Fruits when ripe or near ripe wherein is losse so that if the Orchard be planted where it may have Hills Houses or such like to burrow or shelter it from the North East and West-winds it will be a special advantage to it Walnut-trees good shelters for Orchards But if there be no such shelters it will be very profitable to Plant Walnut-trees or some other kinds of Trees that naturally grow great and high upon these three sides of the Orchard The Walnut-tree is profitable very many ways not only as to shade and shelter but also the wood is of manifold use and much dearer then Oak Ash Elm or such like the Fruit is useful and profitable both green and ripe so the leaves bark juice c. in many Physical respects Mr. Parkinson sayes the profit of Walnut-trees is infinite It is a good encouragement to Plant these trees also because as they are so many wayes proprofitable so also they endure exceeding long and will prosper well almost in any kind of soyle or in any Country this was observed long since Bap. Port. says in former times it was accounted an excellent and singular Fruit-tree Iuglandes egregiam existimarent And Cressentius gives a good encouragement to Plant this tree Hâ—c arbor nullum recusat aerem neque genus terrâ—â— he says This Tree refuseth no kind of aire nor earth Now seeing it prospers well in all places and is so many ways profitable above many other kinds of Trees and so fit and proper for the sheltring of the Orchard in regard of the exceeding great height and bigness that these Trees attain and the long time that they last let there be therefore many of them planted without the Orchard to shelter it as before is said so many as may be convenient for that purpose Set many of the best thin-sheld Nuts in the Nursery when they are fully ripe and preserve them there three or four years until they be a competent bigness to remove for this purpose if they be set with the green husk on it is so much the better to preserve them from worms c. Quantity of grounds for an Orchard Having considered of and found out fit place for an Orchard in respect of thâ— lying of the ground soyle and shelters for it the next thing is to designe the Quantity And herein let not men be niggards to themselves their posterity and the Commonâ— weal in allotting a small quantity Wheâ— they may take much For the Fruit trees will yield after certain years many timeâ— more profit then the Corne or Grass of so much land Especially if converted into Cider and Perry Of the Profits of Fruit-trees see Mr. Blith his Improver Improved pag. 262 263 c. Where he shews Land may be improved by Planting 8 or 10 times the value and more Such as begin soonest will have most profit And they that begin and first set on this work of planting large Orchards and fruit-trees in the fields and hedges will have not onely the speediest but the greatest profit because now as yet there are but few or no great Orchards in some Countries and while so great a commodity is in the hands of a few men it will be exceeding advantagious 〈◊〉 them but when it is more common â—e advantage will be less Therefore if â—â—en be but willing to make 20 l. worth â—0 l. or 50 l or to make 100 l. a year â—orth 2 or 3 or more this is the way â—ith little labour and charge Great Profits with little Cost or Pains What work is of so much profit with so â—â—tle cost and pains Corn and Cattle must have renewed charges and labours every â—ear But as for planting Fruit-trees there â—he charge is at the first and little or noâ—hing ever after and the profit still increasâ—ng more and more for many years Fruit-trees have an advantage and excellency above other Commodities which for the most part are best at first and worse and worse till nothing worth As Meat Drink Apparel c. but Fruit trees increase in worth and goodness are least and worst at first and of the mending and increasing hand for many Years or Ages Orchard and Garden on the South-side In Planting the Orchard let it be on the South-side the house rather then on any other side the house will be a shelter to it from the North and beside into the South is the sweetest and most pleasanâ— prospect and much the better for the Orâ—chard And if it may be as in some places it may plant Fruit-trees round abouâ— the house Build the House in the midst of the Orchard Men that are to build the house as welâ— as to plant the Orchard were best to build the house in the midst of the Orchard and so they may live in a sweet perfumed wholsome Aire all their days which will not be a little conducing to health and long life besides all the pleasure and delight superadded
Eden to Till the ground We see likewise the Scripture calls it Husbandry Noah is called an Husbandman when he Planted a Vineyard Gen. 9.20 God blessed for ever is called an Husbandman for that he Pruneth Purgeth and ordereth his Mystical Vine-tree the Church Joh. 15.1 So that I shall keep the phrase throughout the Work I have seen I suppose the best Works both of antient and late Writers upon this Subject and have learned from them what I could for the accomplishing of this Art and have observed the practise and experiments of many from time to time concerning it and have improved them to my own advantage And likewise I have set my self to the Practise of this work about Thirty and seven years endeavouring to find out things of use and profit by Practice and Experience that I might speak upon better and surer grounds than some others who have written upon this Subject for Experience guides and informs Reason in many things in which without Experience it would often erre Some who have taught this Art of Planting Fruit-trees have been in it only Contemplative men having little or no Experience in it so that in many things they have erred and that grosly as shall appear in due place See pag. 165 166 c. A Learned Author sayes The writings of speculative men upon active matter for the most part seems to men of Experience to be but as dreams and dotage Study and Practise by degrees frame new Arts and add to the old Per varies usus Meditando extunderet Artes paulatim Experience is called the Perfecter of Arts and the most sure and best teacher in any Art Contemplation and Action are the two legs whereon Arts run steedily and strongly and the one without the other can but hop or go â—amely They are the two Eyes wherewith men see Natures secrets clearly but the one alone discerns but dimly And hence it follows that some who were only Contemplators of nature without experience and would needs adventure to write and give instructions touching the Practique part of Planting Fruit-trees have in many things as the aforesaid Author sayes presented us with smoak instead of the lucide flames of light They have indeed shewed us a comly and beautiful body Painted according to Art but yet lifeless and without a spirit and have offered us shells and husks instead of kernels But now speculation and action are as Soul and Body united which labouring together work out both Profit and Pleasure many advantages to our selves and others Experience as a Philosopher says is the Root of Art and it may well be so called from which springs a numerous multitude of new Experiments for from one Root or single Experiment though perhaps a poor and mean one in it self if throughly weighed with reason and judgment may arise many rich and rare inventions And it s most true which the Lord Bacon sayes to this purpose As through a small hole or cranny a man may see great Objects so through small and contemptible instances men may see great Axioms singular secrets of nature Men will labour hard and a long time in some labours full of hazard and danger and perhaps unjust too and all for a little profit but here in this employment men may with a little labour in a short time without hazard or danger and that justly obtain great and many profits and those with pleasures superadded Works and labours which have in them but a vain and unprofitable pleasure are approved but onely of some sensual persons and such labours as have but onely Profit and do not ease the Pains with some pleasantness in them are yet harsh and disliked of many but such as yield both Profit and Pleasure are universally liked and allowed of all according to the Poet Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. Either of these is the better because of the other joyned with it when they run along hand in hand the Profit is the more because of the Pleasure and the Pleasure is more because of the Profit Now therefore That men may obtain yearly a plentiful Harvest of Profits and Pleasures I have endeavoured to remove whatsoever might hinder and have laid down some Arguments of Encouragement to set upon and prosecute the means to obtain them discovering the best way I can find out how they may be gotten with most speed and kept with most security If any man think the Divine and Humane Arguments preceeding the work to be needless because generally men know that Planting Fruit-trees is a very profitable work none doubt it I Answer Some know it by Experience many others do not And although men are convinced of the profitableness of the work yet there is need of some quickning Motives to it as to some persons And I know none more prevalent than those taken from Profits and Pleasures considered in so great and so many respects Accept of what is made ready at present which as it may be profitable to some in respect of Encouragements and Directions in the practise of the Work so also I desire it may be a means to stir up others to do something in the like kind for Publique profit There are many good Wits exercised about Toys and Trifles some men bestow excessive Time Cost and Labour about meer shadows empty speculations and well deserve Martials Motto Turpe est difficiles habere nugas Et stultus labor est ineptiarum While they might in the mean time by the Study and Practise of this Art in searching out many hidden secrets of nature and experiments much advantage themselves and many others both in respect of Temporals and Spirituals An Antient Authour sayes Not he that knoweth many things but he that knoweth things Fruitful is Wise. This Art is a full Store house out of which may be brought both Meat Drink and Money It is a Rich Mine without bounds or bottome out of which we may dig profits and pleasures great and many and worthy the study and labour of the most Wise and Learned and may be called the Philosophers-stone virtually and effectually though not properly for it turns by the help of nature though not Metals yet Trees and Fruits yea Earth and Water into Gold and Silver in a short time The good of this Imployment both in the Theorique and Practique part spreads it self over all places in the world to all persons in the world from the Cradle to the Grave from the beginning of the world to the end of it so that no work can be more universally good than this Now therefore seeing there is so much profit and advantage to be received from this imployment of Planting Fruit-trees both in Temporal and Spiritual respects Let us set about it and labour in it either with body or mind or both That thereby the Glory of God and publique profit together with our own advantages may be promoted The blessing of God go along with us and give the increase in all
have good store of Fruits when others it may be want who have none of these Trees Concerning Stocks fit for Cherry-trees â— account the Black-Cherry-stock the best to graft any kind of Cherry upon Yet some hold the Red-Cherry-stock is best for May-Cherries But the Black-Cherry-stocks are goodly straight Plants and full of Sap and become greater Trees then the Red-Cherry-trees There are very many kinds of Plums many more then of Cherries I esteem the Mustle-Plum one of the best being a faire large Purple-plush and of an excellent rellish and the Trees bear abundantly The Damazeene also is an excellent fruit The Violet and Premorden Plum-trees are very great bearing Trees and the fruits pleasant and good The Damasco-Plum is a good Fruit and the Trees bear well Many other kinds might be named very good Plums some approve of one kind and some of another but the driest plums which part from the stones are accounted best Plum-Grafts must be grafted upon Plum-stocks not upon Cherry-stocks or any other kind of stocks that I know The White Pear-plum-stocks are accounted the best and the Damson-stocks the worst being dry stocks so that Grafts cannot so well take nor thrive upon them Those stocks of Plums which have large leaves and full shoots I account the best as being fullest of sap Graft not Plum-grafts upon Cherry stocks nor Cherries upon Plums as some prescribe different kinds will not agree together They l grow it may be a year or two then die Though Aprecocks are in the general accounted Plums yet because of the excellency of the fruit they may be spoken of by themselves I know but few kinds of them but some I know to be far better bearers some are larger then others and some sooner ripe then others all good fruits There 's one kind that is a very great bearer and a faire large fruit observe then those Trees that usually bear well and get Buds from them at the season to Inoculate as is shew'd pag. 50. for these must be propagated only by the bud not by grafting I account the White-pear-plum-stocks the best to Inoculate Aprecock buds upon although they may be done upon other Plum-stocks with good success if they be good juicy stocks able to give a large nourishment for Aprecock-trees require much nourishment I shall joyn the Nectrine with the Aprecock although another kind of fruit The best kind that I know is the Roman red Nectrine But it is very hard to be propagated as for Grafting none take that way and but few with Inoculating which I conceive is the reason it is the dearest of all Plants with us The Yellow and Green Nectrines are much short of it in goodness The White Pear-Plum-stock though accounted the best for any plum yet I finde is scarce good enough for this fruit to be Inoculated upon it though some do indifferent well But I hold it best to Inoculate the Roman red Nectrine upon the Branch of an Aprecock which before hath been Inoculated upon a good Plum-stock that it may give not only a larger but a finer nourishment then ordinary Plum-stocks can do upon these stocks they take and hold exceeding well and also upon Peach-stocks Of Peaches there are divers kinds I know by experience the Nutmeg and Newington Peaches to be excellent tasted fruits and very good bearers especially the Nutmeg-Peach which makes amends for the smallness of the fruit but the Newington-Peach is a very large and gallant fruit These require choice Plum-stocks to be Inoculated upon as the White Pear-plum-stock or else stocks comming of Peach-stones I know but one kind of Figs that come to ripeness with us in England The great Blew fig as large as a Catherine-Pear The Trees grow in divers Gardens in Oxford and bear their fruits to perfect ripeness The trees must be set against a South-wall and be spread up with nailes and Leathers or if Planted upon warm land and in a warm place they will bear well on Standards These Trees are increased from the Root of the old Tree draw up the small suckers and plant them These need neither Inoculating nor Grafting also bend the boughs that are lowest down into the earth and they 'l take root as Vines which may be cut off and transplanted Some Authors affirm that there have been Vine-yards in England in former times though they be all destroyed long since Divers places retaine the name of Vine-yards still At Bromwel-Abby in Norfolke and at Elie in Cambridg-shire which afforded wine what else is the meaning of these old Rimes Quatuor sunt Eliae Lanterna Capella Mariae Et Molendinum nec non dans Vinea vinum Englished thus Foure things of Elie Towne much spoken are The Leaden Lanthorne Maries Chappel rare The mighty Mil-hill in the Minster field And fruitful Vineyards which sweet wine doe yield And doubtless men might Plant Vines with good success to make good wine even with us There are many kinds of Vines but I know none so good and fit for our Climate as the Parsley Vine with the white and red muskcadine we see by experience yearely these beare abundance of fruits unto perfection And whosoever will plant Vines in England I think he cannot meet with better kinds than these both for bearing and goodness The Frantiniack Grape is of great Account with many and is a special fruit where it comes to perfect ripeness which it hardly does except the Vine be set upon the South-wall where it may have much sun The Red and white Muskcadine Grape are special fruits and bear very well and come to perfect ripeness if the Vines grow upon the South-wall or upon the East-wall which is best next There is the Curran Grape Cluster Grape and many other kinds of good Grapes and the fruits are better or worse according to the place they grow in If they have much sunne and be well ordered the fruit will be better and sooner ripe Vines are increased by laying down branches into the earth in the winter or spring letting them grow still upon the Tree until removing time the year after and then they may be cut off and the Roots taken up and planted elsewhere Also the Cuttings will grown laid in the ground in the winter or spring though they grow but weakly slowly for a year or two We have in these parts the English and the Portugal Quinces the Portugal I esteem as the better both for bearing and use These are increased by suckers from the Roots of the trees and the boughes also cut off and cut in pieces a yard long or more or less and layd in the ground will grow as Vines and Mulberry cuttings and bear the same fruits These kind of trees are commonly long ere they bear fruits It is observed that Qince-trees bear much better in fat moist groundâ— than in dryer grounds as is seen upon som Ditch sides and ranck soyles about London There are two
hath pleasure in it is that which makes it acceptable Pleasure as one says is the good of every thing and a pattern of Heaven Now we find pleasure in an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees suitable to all the Senses of the body And here 's a mixture of pleasures with profits for divers objects of the senses are both pleasant and profitable this imployment is richly furnish'd with both And as I have shew'd some particulars wherein profit consiâ—â—s so likewise I will shew some particulars wherein pleasure consists in the use of a Garden of Fruit-trees Each sense hath its particular pleasure First for the sense of hearing It is a pleasure to the Ear to hear the sweet notes and tunes of singing Birds whose company a man shall be sure to have in an Orchard which is more pleasant there then elsewhere because of other concurrent pleasures there a Consort of Musick is more pleasant them upon a single Instrument The Poet took notice of this pleasure Aves Canoros garrulae fundunt sonos Et semper Aures cantibus mulcent suis. Melodious ditties chirping Birds indite Whose pleasant songs our ravishtâ—ars â—ars invite And besides something more this sense may receive from an Orchard though it have least share of pleasure therein of any of the senses by hearing the slow motion of Boughs and Leaves by soft and gentle Airs sometimes as it were with a kind of singing or whistling noise which will easily induce a sweet and pleasant sleep in summer time if a man be dispos'd in some close cool Arbour or shady seat Secondly the sense of Touch may have Pleasure in an Orchard from the cool fruits and leaves of Trees smoothing and brushing the face therewith which is refreshing and cooling in heat of Summer But this sense receives Pleasure chiefly by the shade of trees in sommer time Cool refreshing Ayres are found in close Walks Seats and Arbours under and about the Trees which keep off the burning heat of the Sun Opaca prebent arbores umbracula prohibentque densis fervidum solem comis Green Canopies the shady Trees us lend 'Gainst scorching sun boughs thick whilst they extend Yea they do not simply keep off the heat of the Sun but likewise much cool the ayre by its contact of these cool bodies Trees Fruits and Leaves coole fresh aires in heat of sommer are sought for and are not onely pleasant but exceeding profitable and healthful to the body Here Profit and Pleasure meeâ— and imbrace each other And hereto agrees the L. Bacon who says Exclusion of aire is profitable to long life for aire is predatory to long-life through the heat of the sun and ought as much as is possible to be excluded from the body Now what better place is there to exclude the heat of the Sun from the body in sommer season theâ— amongst the shady trees Arbours and Walk in the Orchard It 's laid for a ground That condensing the spirits in their substance is available tâ— long-life which he tells us is done most effectually by cool aires Refrigeration or cooling of the body from without is above alâ— things necessary to long-life So then the pleasure this sense receiveâ— from a Garden of Fruit-trees is to be much esteem'd Thirdly The sense of sight partakes oâ— Pleasure in an Orchard in beholding the exact Order in Planting of the Trees their decent forms the well composed Allies Walks Seats and Arbours therein for Order and curious forms of things much delight the sight of this see L. Bacon at large Likewise the sight is delighted with pleasant and delicate Colours of the Leaves Blossomes and Fruits that shew themselves in great variety curious Colours especially the Colour green is accounted helpful to the sight Fons speculum Gramen Oculis sunt alleviamen Green grass clear grass and fountaines pure Refresh Eye-sight long to endure Here again Profit and Pleasure meet And as foul and odious objects presented to the sight cause dislike in the spirits that they retire and shun such objects so ê contrario verum the contrary holds in delightful and pleasant objects of the sight the spirits thereby are delighted He says Objects of the sight as comming into a faire Garden or into a fair Room richly furnished and the like do delight and exhilerate the spirits much The beautiful flowers of various colours amongst the lovely Blooms of Trees and Plants what a glorious shew will they make Flores nitescunt discolore gramine Pinguntque terras gemmeis honoribus Gay flowers woven with discoloured grass With rich imbroidered Robes the earth compass Is it not a pleasant sight to behold a multitude of Trees round about in decent form and order bespangled and gorgeously apparelled with green Leaves Blooms and goodly Fruits as with a rich Robe of imbroidered work or as hanging with some pretious and costly Jewels or Pearls the Boughs laden and burdened bowing down to you and freely offering their ripe fruits as a large satisfaction of all your labours Aspice curvatos pomorum pondere ramos Vt sua quod peperit vix ferat Arbor onâ—â— The laden boughs with weight of Apples crack And Trees to bear their burthens strength do lack Fourthly the sense of smell may likewise have its share of pleasure in a Garden of Fruit-trees L. Bacon says The smeâ—â— of new and pure earth excellently refreshet the spirits he says A certain great Lord who lived long had every morning immediately after sleep a clod of fresh earth laiâ— under his nose that he might take the smell thereof and again Good earth newly turned up hath a freshness and good sent And that the leaves and branches of some Trees are odorous and sweet He says likewise That the leaves of Trees falling towards the middle of the Autumn yield a good refreshing to the spirits And that the Moss of some Appleâ—trees hath an excellent sent and is used of Perfumers But chiefly The pleasure this sense meets with is from the sweet smelling blossomes of all the fruit-trees which from the time of their breaking sorth till their fall breath out a most precious and pleasant odour perfuming the Aire throughout all the Orchard The same Author observes That the most Delicate Smells are from those Plants whose Leaves smell not and amongst other things he mentions Blooms of Apple-trees And in another of his Experiments he sayes That generally those smells are most grateful and pleasant where the degree of heat is small for those things do rather woe the sense then satiate it And prefers cool smells before hot for comforting of the heart Now The Blooms of Apple-trees Pear-trees Cherry-trees and such like have small degrees of heat and therefore the Odour is pleasant and wholsome And besides the pleasure of this perfumed Aire it is also very profitable and healthful to the body Here again Profit and Pleasure meet together and imbrace An Odores nutriunt is a
acquiramus novas Take away none of the Roots for it is a foolish thing to loose those Roots we have that we may get new This is a hurtful and dangerous Instruction for except some of the small strings and roots be cut away if there be many and all the ends of the great ones they will not put forth new Roots as they will if cut and multitude of Roots hinder the mould from closing on every side of every Root as it ought to do therefore some must be cut away and the ends of all that are left Experience proves this sufficiently Thirdly Columella giving instructions for choice of Grafts this is one surculi sint bisulci Let Grafts be double or forked So Ruelius This is a dangerous and hurtful instruction because forked or double or treble Grafts most of them die and those that live grow poorly not a fift or sixt part it may be so much as single and short grafts Fourthly Bapt. Port. giving Instructions for choice of Grafts says we must take surculos pregnantes turgentes Grafts full and swelling with Sap. This is a bad instrution for Grafts should be taken before they swell with Sap for it is a repulse to Nature to cut them after sap stirs in them neither will such take hold on the stock so soon as those which are indigent and needy of sap therefore let Grafts be cut from the Tree before sap stir in them Another says When Grafts put forth take away the Clay for Clay rather keeps moisture then drought save a little in the hole This is a hurtful Instruction for sap will not cover the head of the stock nor close up the clefts on both sides so soon without Clay as with it Clay is as a salve to a wound which heals it up and it rather keeps out moysture then otherwise if well closed and also preserves from dry Winds Sun and other annoyances therefore keep on the Clay a year or two till the head of the Stock be covered and the Cleft healed up Another says When the Grafts have well put forth underprop them else wrap them one within another and tye them with wood amongst for fear winds break them This is a very hurtful and dangerous instruction for all these wayes do fret and gall the bark and it may be breed the Canker And besides it hinders the young grafts that they cannot spread into an handsome form this course brings a certaine mischief to prevent an uncertain winds hurt but few except they be very top-heavy if so then cut some of the branches till they be grown stronger below able to bear the Top. Some Authors counsil us to cast glew into the place of Grafting to glew together the two substances or sprinkle Sugar Cinamon or sweet liquor that the fruits may retain the taste This is a hurtful instruction because liquor or any other substance put between the stock and the graft do hinder if not spoyle the joyning of stock and graft but if this might be done without hurt either to stock or graft yet would it be no way effectual for the End proposed Of this further see pag. 84. c. A late Author sayâ— Plant not against a wall because a Tree cannot be so long lived nor grow to the bigness it else would do This is a hurtful Instruction because many kinds of Fruit-trees as the Aprecock Peach Nectarine and divers other Trees will bear little or no fruit except they be planted against a wall And though it be granted that Trees planted against a Wall will not be so large as if planted from the Wall Yet I suppose it 's better to have a few small trees that bear store of great fruits then store of great Trees that bear but a few small fruits Columella giving Instructions for removing Plants says Mala aestiva Cydonia sorbe pruna post mediam hyemem usque in Idus Febr. serito Pyros Autumno ante brumanâ— serito Plant the Sommer Apple Quince service-tree and Plum-tree after Winter in February but Pear-trees before Winter This is a hurtful instruction as to the first part for Trees should be planted in Autumne as has beene said and there is the same Reason why the Sommer Apple-tree and the rest should be planted before Winter as is for Pear-trees See at large pag. 60 c. One adviseth thus Let the Orchard be seated on some Hill-top rather then on plain grounds for they have better Aire and better prospects and also contain a greater number of Trees then plain grounds This is no good Instruction for Orchards on low and plain grounds have many advantages of those on high grounds for the soyle of plaine and low grounds is commonly more fertil then hill tops Secondly low grounds are more safe from Winds then hills by reason of other Trees planted to secure the Orchard and by hills houses or other shelters hill tops can have no defence As for prospects on hill tops men do not plant Orchards for Prospects but for Fruits And as for good Aire I suppose there is better Aire especially at some seasons in the Orchard on plain grounds then on hills for in Blooming time winds would deprive us of the sweet Aire on hill tops but on plain grounds the Aire is more calme and the perfume of the blossomes stays within the Walls as within a perfumed Chamber Another Author says Set the stones of the Pear-plum a foot deep in cold ground This is a hurtful and dangerous Instruction For stones of any Fruits in any ground put a foot deep are rather buried then set for a man shall ne'er see more of them But set stones of any Fruits not above two inches deep rather something less One giving Instructions for Inoculating sayes Take off the bark just upon some bud knob and set the other bark thereon This is a hurtful Instruction for if the Bud to be Inoculated be set upon another Bud of the Stock then the Inoculated bud cannot possibly close unless the Root of it be out and if the root be out it 's spoyled that way The Author that talks thus had never any experience in the Art of Inoculating For buds must be set upon the smoothest part of the Stock that they may be sure to close Another sayes Set Apple-trees Twenty foot asunder This is a very hurtful and dangerous Instruction and the practise of it hinders men of Multitudes of Fruits We see that in many Orchards Trees are planted too near together it may be 4 or 5 or but 6 yards asunder which is too near together I conceive 8 or 10 yards or there abouts little enough for the distance of Apple-trees in ordinary soyle but if very good ground 14 or 16 yards or more if men have room enough for we see by experience that upon good ground and well-ordered they will touch one another at a greater distance And that a few Apple-trees having room to spread will bear more Fruits then 5 times
To this purpose Open the shell of an Almond and write upon the kernel what you will and wrap it in paper and set it in Clay mingled with Swines dung A late Author sayes Steep the stones of Peaches two or three dayes and then open them and with a brass Pen write on the rinde of the kernels after put them again into the stones and wrap them about with paper or parchment and plant them and the fruit will be written and engraven Is not this an odd conceit that writing upon the kernel should produce fruits written or engraven A man no doubt with as good success may ingrave or write upon the shell or huske of an Almond or other fruit as upon the kernel or if he will upon the paper or parchment in which it is inwrapt for the Rind of the Kernel contributes nothing to the Tree or Fruit but opens as the Husk or shell to let out the inner part of the kernel the vegetative vertue or internal form But if a man desires to have fruits with Inscriptions and Engravings he must take another course prescribed by a Learned Author upon better grounds which is by writing upon the fruits with a needle or bodkin when the fruits are young and as they grow bigger so the Letters will grow more large and graphical Concerning the second sort of Errors thus much It were easie to mention many more as idle as these but I shall not trouble my self nor the Reader with them at present onely I say in the general let men take â—eed of such things asserted by Authours â—â— have neither Reason nor Experience to uphold them lest they spend their money labour and time about them and instead of profits and pleasures find discouragements and trouble The third sort of Errors are Assigning wrong causes to effects One of these Errors is this some have conceived that Grafting is the cause of early bearing of fruits and doth much better all fruit Albert. Mag. says it 's better Propter digestionem Succi in nodo factam because of the digestion of the sap in the knot So also Cressentius and addes Et iste nodus facit diversitatem omnem quae est in Malis Pyris caeteris fructibus The knot which is between the Graft and the Stock makes all the difference which is found in Pears Apples and other fruits Bapt. Port. likewiâ—e ascribes all to grafting He says Trees coming of seed Longa est expectatio ad fructuum productionem Insitio vero in aliquibus eodem Anno producit Trees coming of seed are long ere they bear fruit but being Grafted some kind bear in a year or two So also Columell Lib. de Arbor pag. 490. Lo. Bac. wanted some experience in this point who sayes There is no doubt but that Grafting for the most part doth meliorate fruit and again Grafting doth generally advance and meliorate fruits above that which they would be if they were set of kernels or stones The cause saith he is manifest for that the nourishment is better prepared in the stock then in the crude earth I say herein these Authors assign a wrong Cause to an effest for simply grafting contributes nothing at all to the early bearing of Fruit nor to its goodness But the Cause is in the Nature of the Grafts if they be Grafts cut from bearing Trees and of good kinds they bear good fruits in a year or two but if they be Grafts from young unbearing Trees coming of seed such Grafts will not bear the sooner for Grafting it is not simply Grafting I say nor the knot as the Authors speak of that makes Trees bear one year one day the sooner for if so then grafts from young unbearing trees coming of seed grafted in the same manner and upon as good stocks as other grafts from old bearing Trees they would bear Fruits the one sort as soon as the other but it is otherwise so that the Cause lies not simply in Grafting but in the Nature of the Grafts Neither doth Grafting make Fruits at â—ll the better otherwise then as you chose grafts of a good kind for we know Grafts rule and keep their own Natures onely with some small advantage from the stock â—f special stocks or prejudice if a very bad stock And the Cause is not well assign'd by the Author who says It is for that the nourishment is better prepared in the stock then in the crude earth for we know the branches of an ungrafted tree receive sap not immediately from the crude Earth but from a stock or body as well as the branches of the Grafted-tree the stock of the Grafted-tree is a wild stock and of the same Nature as is the stock or body of the ungrafted-tree they are both alike and the concoction and nourishment in both is alike and the Cause being a like why is not the effect alike It 's plaine this is not the Cause but the Cause is in the Graft not in the stock though the nourishment be never so well concocted in the stock and the Fruit is not made better or worse simply by Grafting The Authour asserts this Truth plainely elsewhere The Graft saith he over-ruleth the Stock and again the graft will govern that is they keep the Nature and properties of the Trees from which they were gotten Another of the third sort of Errors is this A late Author sayes the Cause why Trees bear not fruit in a few years after Grafting is because they were grafted in the old of the Moon for saith he so many dayes as the Moou is old when you Graft so many years will the graft be ere it bear fruit The Cause is here mistaken for the Moon hath no such influence upon fruit-trees as to withhold their fruits in this manner Men we see by experience graft in all seasons of the Moon and find no such difference in the bearing of the Trees The chief Causes of unfruitfulness of Trees are when they are not fit for the Country where they are planted Secondly When the Grafts are chosen from young wild unbearing Trees or such as naturally bear little or seldome Thirdly Repletion or overmuch nourishment Fourthly Coldness or overmoistness of the ground Fifthly Frosts or cold winds in the spring Thirdly Another of the third sort of Errors is this Many conceive that Sap in Trees doth descend from the Branches to the Roots which causeth several effects as falling of the leaves goodness of the Roots of divers Plants for use c. but the Cause of these Effects is mistaken for Sap in Trees never descends but always ascends And leaves of Trees fall in Autumne not because Sap descends from them but because Sap ascends not to them sufficient to nourish or feed them any longer And if Roots are best in Autumne that is not Caused by descent of Sap but for that the Body and Branches of a Tree in Autumne draw but a small quantity of Sap from
other Wall-trees they prune off most of the fresh young branches of the last years shoot and preserve the old and big branches suffering them to run up a great part of the wall without or with very few small twigs or branches Whereas they should still from year to year preserve the small shoots nailing them up to the wall yearly all or most from the lowest part of the Tree to the top and leave no part of the wall void of branches and cause the branches to spread along the sides of the wall both ways and not suffer them to run upwards too much Another Error amongst some is this They Graft young Plants that came of seed in the place where they were sowed before they have been removed whereby they would get good Roots And hence it follows That such thrust down a single Root or two commonly into Clay Gravel or moist ground c. which root or roots draw bad nourishment below the good soyle and thereby hurt the Trees and Fruits and in case any of them be removed afterwards being grafted they want good Roots for that they were never removed being young to get good Roots See how to order them pag. 83. Another is this Some also when they Transplant young Trees they usuall set them with all their Roots whereas the Roots of all Trees Transplanted ought to be pruned See how pag. 83. Another Error is this Many break off all the Buds upon the stocks that are engrafted before the grafts put forth which endangers both Stock and Graft For Buds upon the stocks should be let alone all or most until the Grafts have put forth and be able to draw up sap and then break off all the buds below the Grafts that they may have all the sap Another Error in practise is this Many when they Graft great Trees which are unfruitful or bear bad fruits they graft upon their bodies round about between the bark and the wood Now Trees thus grafted will not of many years and some never cover the head in the grafted place but water gets in and rots the Tree whereas its much better to graft the small branches or if those be too high then to cut off the body two yards high slopewise and to cut it smooth that no rain or wet may rest on the head and the next year after to graft the small shoots which will in a few years be a large head again Situation of an Orchard HAving before spoken of sowing setting Grafting and ordering of fruit-trees I think good now to speak somewhat of the site soyle shelters and some other advantages of an Orchard and Garden and also of planting Fruit-trees in the fields and in the hedges and mounds about the fields whereby double treble or manifold profit may be made of Lands to what is usually in most places made especially by â—ider and Perry to the great advantage of the owners and of the Common-wealth with planting of wood for buildâ—ng fâ—ed and other uses And also of divers other things promiscuously in reference to Fruit-trees and Fruits And alâ—hough some of the ensuing particulars are touchâ— upon already yet I thought good to mention them again with some addiâ—ion seeing they are very material yet all very briefly What Situation is best for an Orchard Concerning the Site or Situation of an Orchard or Garden of Fruit-trees the best and fittest situation is upon a ground somewhat shelving or declining upon the South-East Sun for as the South-side is the warmest and hottest so also it is observed by Experience that the Morning or East Sun is better then the West Sun it does cherish and ripen fruits sooner then the Afternoon Sun though that be good also And if the ground somewhat shelve or hang towards the South-East it has an advantage of level or plain ground though that be good too for the Sun-beames are more direct and so more strong upon such a ground then upon a level such a ground is fitted to the Aspect of the Sun which is Coelum cum terra maritare vel societatem perquirere coeli terre ad arbores To Marry Heaven and Earth together or to obtain a mutual Society of Heaven and Earth for the benefit of Fruit-trees What Soyle is best for an Orchard As for the soyle of an Orchard the best is a deep sound land either a black or brown mould if with a mixture of sand so much the better In such ground so lying as before Fruit-trees will attain to a very great bigness and consequently will last much longer then the same kinds of Trees upon a shallow gravelly ground or upon a clay cold or wet ground Fruit-trees where they grow upon a warm ground and upon the South-East Sunne as the Trees grow great and live-long so also the fruit is greater and better and much more in quantity then upon poor gravel wet cold or clay grounds Howsoever men that have not the best must be content to Plant upon what they have and endeavour to amend it as they can Cold and moist ground Grounds that are overmoist and cold must be not onely trenched in several places to draw the water into the Trenches from the Roots of the Trees but also it will be convenient to mix sand ashes or such like hot and dry soyls with such ground if these or some such means be not used the Roots of the Trees upon this kind of ground will be chil'd and lie cold and cause the Trees to be Mossy and the fruit to be more spongy and waterish not so good tasted Fruit as if the Trees grew upon warmer and dryer ground Hot and dry grounds Fruit-trees upon hot dry sandy shallow grounds have need of some current of water now and then to runne over such grounds if it be possible to have it so or else paines must be taken to bring water some other way water out of Pools or Ponds that runs from dunghills is special good for this purpose which does not only moisten but makes the ground fertil also Cold Clay grounds If the Land whereon Fruit-trees are or shall be planted be Clay grounds a shallow crust of indifferent good soyle it may be on the top and Clay barren soyle underneath as is often seen then there is need of some Composts of contrary natures to be mixt among with this stiff cold barren ground as Sand Ashes of all kinds a convenient quantity of Lime Cbalk or any thing that is of an hot and opening nature Yea and let men do what they can to mend this kind of land yet the Trees will still be mossy and but small Trees in comparison of the same kind of Trees upon good sound deep fertil soyle Stony gravel ground As for gravel grounds they are as bad as any in some respects for a tree cannot root to any great bigness in such grounds and if muck and other soyles be laid to the Trees the Gravel will eat it up and
better c. Graft a tree low and maintain only the lower boughs Low Trees and the lower boughs of high Trees have their fruit ripe somewhat sooner then the higher because they have some benefit by the reflection of the Sun from the earth as well as from the wall if they grow against a wall but that the fruits are greater on lower then on higher boughs I perceive not I am sure I have seen sometimes fair fruit on the higher boughs and bâ—t small on the lower in case the branches of a wall tree have been permitted to grow stright upwards without bowing down along the wall as most commonly they be and the reason is plain because the most and greatest quantity of Sap presseâ—h upwards leaveth the side branches indigent of Sap whereby they grow poorly and some die for want of Sap now according to the quantity of Sap in branches so are the fruits smaller or greater It is true indeed many little and low Trees if they be vigorous and shoot well bear very large fruits it may be larger then high Trees of the same kinds but this is not because low but because they are more lively and vigorous then the other And if we should graft a Tree low and maintain only the lower branches by continually cutting off the higher this would much enseeble the Tree by degrees by obstracting of the Sap and the fruit would be accordingly But the best way to order a Wall tree that shoots upwards strongly is to bow those strong branches along the wall both ways and then there will be as large fruits on the lower as on the higher boughs and sooner ripe To have Fruit in greater plenty the way is to graft not onely upon young stocks but upon divers boughs of an old Tree c. It is an excellent Experiment to graft the boughs of an old Tree that is a bad bearer or bears bad fruits with Grafts of some special good bearing kinds for this will have large branches and bear fruits even in a year or two so that it is a very unwise course of many who when some of their Trees bear not as they would have them cut them down and set young ones in their Room which cannot possibly attain the bigness of the former in many years Digging yearly about the Roots of Trees is a great means both to the acceleration and melioration of fruits c. Old Trees that grow in stiff cold clay grounds have most need to be dug about yearly that thereby the ground may be more open and mellow but for young Trees of few years standing especiall if in sandy mellow grounds these have little or no need at all of digging about To dig about Roses and such like which grow near the top of the ground I conceive it is needless for this work is chiefly to open the earth about old Fruit-trees whose Roots are grown great and deep that the Rain Snow and Sun in Winter may reach the bottome Roots A Fruit-tree almost blown up by the roots and set up again the next year bore exceedingly loosening the earth comforteth any Tree Trees blown down and raised up again and well moulded may root again if they be not very old and though digging about the Roots sometimes be good yet overmuch digging and loosening the earth about the Roots of Trees will cause many to be blown down by great winds which will not fasten again to abide a strong Wind in many years if ever To revive an old Tree the digging of it about the Roots and applying new mould to the Roots is the way and change of mould to the better is profitable Digging as hath been said with caution is very good and change of mould if to the better is also very advantagious to Fruit-trees in case the soyl be barren but if it be very fat as some is especially some particular places by accident then mould that is more steril and hungry will do better for overmuch repletion and fertility may hinder fruitfulness and cause the sap to run most into long shoots and broad leaves The shifting of ground is a means to better the Tree and Fruit and all things do prosper best when they are advanced to the better And a Nursery ought to be in a more barren ground then the places whither they are Transplanted It is true change of soyls sometimes is very good if to the better but is true also that if Trees grow in over ranâ— soyle then worse will be better that is will help more towards fruitfulness as a coâ—rse and mean fare is better for a â—at man thâ—n the more delicious Without controâ—versie young Trees out of barren Nurseries come on faster when Transplanted then out of fat soyls but in case the Nursery be fat soyle then some other as good must be laid to their Roots when set again Hacking of Trees doth great good to Trees After eight or ten years growth cutting or scoring or hacking the bark of Trees with a knife is profitable but while they are young the Barke is but thin and tender and enlargeth well enough without this cutting unless some that through barrenness of soyl or other cause are bark-bound and to such hacking and scoring is profitable Shade to some Plants conduceth to make them large and prosperous more then Sun as in Strawberries and Bays c. It is true Iays and Lawrel prospereth better in the Shade then in the Sun being hot Plants but Strawberries do better partly in the Sâ—ade and partly in the Sun then in Shade â—nly as among Bushes and other Plants I have observed those in the Shade to beaâ— little or nothing when others of the same kind and growth somewhat in the sun bore very much â—ulling off many blossomes from a Fruit-tree doth make the Fruit fairer and if some blossoms be not pulled off the first time a Tree bloometh it will blossome it self to death Commonly the fewer blossoms upon a tree the fairer will the fruit be because as the Author says of the plenty of sap And indeed in case a Tree newly planted blossome very much and the Root be but weak which may be perceived by the weakness of the buds then its best to pull off most if not all the blossoms but many I have known the first years planting take Root so strongly being in good mould as that they blossome and shoot forth and bear fair fruits the same year It were good to try what would be the effect if all the blossomes were pulled from a Fruit-tree for two years together Fruit-trees that beaâ— but every other year they for the most part bear that year very plentifully and tâ—e excessive expence of Sap that year its lâ—â—e makes the Tree the more feeble the nexâ— but if blossomes be pulled off a year or twâ— together I suppose the Sap would go
kinds Apples Pears Cherries Plums c. all together as some prescribe there is no hope nor possibility of any advantage thereby All Plants that draw much nourishment from the earth and exhaust it hurt all things that grow by them as Ash-trees Coleworts c. And where Plants of several natures which draw several juices are set together there the nearness doth good As Rue by a Fig-tree Garlick by a Rose-tree c. It is true indeed That all Trees and Plants that draw much nourishment from the Earth are no good Neighbours to any thing that grows near them because such make the Earth barren in which Plants must needs grow poorly But that several kinds of Plants draw several kinds of juices out of one and the same soyl I much question as that bitter Plants Pâ—ue Worm-wood and the like draw the bitter juice of the earth and the sweeter kinds as Roses Flowers c. draw the sweeter juice For can it be imagined that there are so many kinds of juices in the Earth as there are several kinds of Trees and Plants so that every one should draw only its proper and peculiar nourishment May it not upon better grounds be said that many Trees and Plants growing near together in a piece of ground though they draw all of them one and the same juice yet they convert and assimilate the same every one into its own specifique nature We see that in a little Garden where there are it may be divers hundreds or thousands of distinct Plants Trees Flowers Herbs and Simples they growing all upon one and the same soyle do convert the juice and fatness of it into their several natures by the same Law in Nature as several kinds of Grafts upon one Tree drawing one and the same Sap do turn that one kind of nourishment into their several natures whereby they bring forth as we see by experience distinct and several kinds of fruits made of the same single juice or sap of the Tree whereon they all grow this they would do if there were all or many kinds of Apples grafted upon one great Crab-tree and so of Pear-trees Cherry-trees and the like upon their own kinds though multitudes of distinct kinds of grafts draw one and the same sap yet every one changes it into its own nature and why should it not be so also with several Plants drawing one and the same juice out of the earth So that I cannot conceive that those things mentioned or the like if try'd would succeed to the purpose viz. That Rue set by a Fig-tree will make Figs taste sweeter or Garlick set by Rose-trees will make the Roses smell sweeter or Sorrel set by Rasps will make the Rasps sweeter and the like because several or contrary kinds of Plants meet not with several kinds of juices in the same soyle shall we think there are hundreds or thousands of several juices in one Garden though they draw the same juice they convert it and assimilate it into their several natures according to the Innate and Intrinsecal form that every one hath as was said before of several kinds of grafts upon one Tree The altering of the Sent Colour or Taste of Fruit by infusing mixing or letting into the Bark or Roots of the Tree Herb or Flower any Coloured Aromatical or Medicinal substance are but Fancies All alteration of Vegetables in those qualities must be by somewhat that is apt to go into the nourishment of the Plant. Divers Authors in their Books of Planting Fruit-trees have given several directions for the altering of the Sent Colour and Taste of Fruits but none of them from any well grounded Experience Many particulars are mentioned and set down at large with Reasons and Experience against them that men may not be deceived by them and loose their time cost and labour about such fancies See pag. 176 177 c. of the Treatise of Fruit-trees But as this Author says well The likeliest way to make herbs and fruits Medicinal and to give them a good relish is the often watering of the Tree or Plant with that substance which we desire they should partake of for this is certain and we see it by manifest experience that Plants and fruits of Trees do somewhat taste and partake of the nature and virtues of that kind of nourishment which they continually draw As if Trees grow upon a low moist watrish ground the fruits will be more spongy and waterish then the same kinds of fruits where the Trees grow upon a dry sandy soyle So if Cabbages Turneps Carrots and such like grow in a rank Soyle full of filth and dung they have a virtue and relish accordingly not half so sweet and pleasant as the same kinds growing upon pure mould or sweet sandy soyle so here if men think it worth the while if they judge it will answer their labour cost and time to water fruit-trees herbs plants and flowers with Aromatical and Medicinal substances Infusions of Cinamon Ginger Cloves Mace and such like spices to give a pleasant relish or for Physical respects with Hellebore Opium Scammony c. If they can afford to give them enough from time to time of these things watring their Roots abundantly therewith then its probable such Plants will somewhat partake of their virtues but as for slitting of their Roots or perforating the body of the Tree and infusing the medicine or steeping the seed or kernel in some Liquor wherein the Medicine is infused these I account as good as nothing not only for that the virtues cannot be communicated or transfused by this means but also because though they were carried to all the parts of Trees and Plants yet such small quantities would be indiscernable the effect would be as nothing at all The VI. CENTURY IT is a Curiosity to have several fruits upon one Tree some early and some late ripe fruits all Sommer This is done by Grafting several fruits upon one Tree But I conceive the diversity of fruits must be such as will graft upon the same stock not contrary kinds It is true as the Author says that several fruits may be grafted or Inoculated upon one Tree some early and some late but yet as he also observes they must be of such as will take and grow together as many kinds of Apples upon one Tree so of Pears and of Cherries among themselves and the like And it is not true which some Authors have written that Cherries and Plums Figs Nuts Peaches and such like will grow together upon one Tree Yet a Book Intituled the Country farm composed by some Doctors of Physick and other inexperienced men is full of such odde conceits pag. 360 361 c. It is a Curiosity to have fruits of divers shapes and figures This is easily performed by moulding them when the fruit is young with moulds of earth or wood of several shapes in the innerside as it is in mould works of
and ranck then many red or other coloured flowers And for blossomes of Trees some that are white smell as much as some that are red or coloured for what smell hath the double blossome Peach flower or the Nectrine or any kind of Peach blossomes which are all coloured excellently more then the blossomes of Pear-tree Cherry or Plum-tree which are said to be inodorate So that there must be some other cause found out why some flowers and blossomes smell not or smell not so much as some others then that which is assigned viz. the thinness or scantness of that substance which maketh the Flower The cause why some flowers and blossomes smell not so much as others the same is the cause why some flowers and fruits are bigger then others and of a better taste then others which proceeds undoubtedly from the specifique or distinct intrinsecal Form of each particular Plant which the God of nature hath fixed in it as a Law which nature never violates but keeps in all kinds of Creatures Contrarywise in Berries the white is commonly more delicate and sweet in taste then the coloured as we see in the white Grapes white Rasps white Strawberries Currants c. the Cause is for that the coloured are more juiced and courser juiced and therefore not so well and equally concocted But in fruits the white commonly is meaner as in Plums the white harvest Plum is a base Plum the Musle Damazeen and other black Plums are of the best c. This proves what was last said to be true viz. that it is the specifical Form of every Plant that causeth the difference of tastes in fruits and smell in flowers For we see by experience that some white kinds of flowers fruits berries c. are sweeter and better in smell tast then others of coloured kinds and likewise other coloured kinds of flowers fruits berries are sweeter better then some white kinds so that it is a hard matter to find out the particular cause and give a distinct reason of the differences of particulars though men may venture at it Gilly-flower seed of one kind being sowen will come up of several colours The cause is no doubt that in earth though it be contiguous and in one bed there are several juices and as the seed doth casually meet with them so it cometh forth It is true that Gillyflower-seed of one kind sowen will bring up several kinds some double and some single but I much doubt whether it be for that the seed meet with several juices in one bed-of earth for can it be imagined that two or three very small seeds that lie as close together as can be in the earth should draw several juices from the very self same mould so as to cause them to vary in the colour of the flowers May it not rather be said it is from a Law in Nature which God of his general bounty to us hath put into it though we stand not in absolute necessity of them yet in that he gives us such variety and choice But for men to finde out and shew a particular Cause in Nature of this variety will be as hard to do as to shew a cause why several kinds of grafts upon one Tree drawing one and the self same sap do yet bring forth different fruits other then to say they keep their several Natures and so convert the same sap into several kinds of fruits according to the distinct specifique intrinsecal form of each particular kind of fruit And why may not the same be said of several Seeds and Roots in one Bed drawing the same juice of the Earth Concerning sowing of Gillyflower seed I advise those that sow it first to gather it from the fairest and best Clove-gilly flower and that it be full ripe ere it be gathered which is when it is turned black Also seed may be gathered from other double flowers some commend especially the London white others a flower call'd the old mans head and say the greatest varieties come from these some are for one and some for another but so it is that most will be single flowers from the best seed but doubtless there is much in the ground in which the seed is sowen if it be poor soyle they are more like to be more single then if the ground be special rich mould for as was said barren ground as it makes flowers small so sometimes in it they turn from double to single so it may be said as to the seed when sowen It is a Curiosity to have flowers double which is effected by often removing them into new earth or on the contrary part double flowers by neglecting and not removing prove single And the way to do it speedily is to sow or set seeds or slips of flowers and us soon as they come up to remove them into new ground that is good Enquire also whether Inoculating of Flowers as Stock gilly-flowers Roses Musk-Roses c. doth not make them double For the first part of this Experiment to make Flowers double or fâ—irer it is a good Rule as the Author hath set down especially if withal we observe the directions given in the Observation to the 506 Experiment in breaking off some of the buds and stems and letting some few grow to be flowers There are three ways sufficient for the propagation of flowers which are by Seed by Slips and by Layers but by Laying is by far the best as is shewed at large in the Observation to the 506 Experiment But as for Inoculating Roses Musk-Rose and all other kinds that is very common and sure yet as to the intent of the Authour viz. to make them doâ—ble it succeeds not and he himself hath given the Reason truly upon another occasion Thaâ— is all Buds and Grafts rule and keep their own Natures and so change not neither as to the making Roses more double or better then they were before nor as to the bettering of any Fruit as hath been shew'd heretofore Experiment 452. The making of Fruits without Core or Stone is likewise a Curiosity If a Cions or shoot have the Pith finely taken forth and not altogether but some of it left the better to save the life it will bear a fruit with little or no Core or Stone The like is said to be of dividing a quick Tree down to the ground and taking out the Pith and then binding it up again These prescriptions for making Fruits without Core or Stone I cannot think are from this worthy Author but they are such as are set down by others which I have seen And they are as weak and groundless conceits as many other things asserted by them about changing the species of fruits and making them of an aromatique and pleasant taste and altering the colour of Fruits and such like conceits the vanity of which I suppose hath been sufficiently laid open in my Treatise of Fruit-trees see there
Hornets Birds c. some part of them the rest sweeten and ripen sooner putrefaction beginning and hastning by reason of solution of continuity in that part We see that Beer or Wine in Bottles close stopped lasts long and that fruits closed in wax keep fresh And likewise bodies put in Hony and Flower keep more fresh It is true that Liquors when they are well setled in the Vessel after a certaine time and after drawn out into bottles and stopped very close with Cork and set in a Celler or buried in sand or in water such will be much more fresh and quick then the same Liquor in a great Vessel especially if any part of it be drawn off And therefore this is a good way to keep Cider Perry White-wine or the like and that for a long time together As for Fruits closed in wax or put in hony I find that even Cherries which are more subject to corruption â—hen many other kinds of fruits will keep fresh many weeks together thus more then they will do of themselves in the open 〈◊〉 exclusion of Aire preserves them for a time but yet putrefaction at length will work within because of the superfluous moisture which had need of drying up I have tried fruits in honey Aprecots Plums Cherries and they held good two or three Months afterwards putrefaction began A Bottle of Beer buried four foot deep in the ground became more lively better tasted and clearer then it was and a Bottle of Wine in like manner A bottle of Vineger so buried came forth more lively and more odoriferous smelling almâ—â—â— like a Violet after a Months burial all three they came forth as fresh and lively if not better then before This is certain That Beer Ale Câ—der and Wine when well setled and cleared in the Vessel and drawn off into Bottles and well stopt with Cork and Wax will continue fresh and good much longer then in the Vessel and will also improve in goodness If the bottles are buried in sand as was said before or buried a yard or more in the ground The reason I conceive is for that as no Aire can possible penetrate so deep and through the bottle to the liquor nor can the spirits of the liquor in the least get out so neither can the Liquor suffer any prejudice by alteration of the Aire from heat to cold as it does in Vessels above ground Tryal hath been made with earthen Bottles well stopped hang'd in a Well of twenty Fathom deep at the least and some of the bottles have been let down into the water some others have hanged above within a Fathome of the water Wine and Beer in these Bottles have kept better then in a Celler but those above water were apparently the best The Cause why Beer Wine Cider or the like will keep better thus and in Earth Sand c. as before then in Vessels or Bottles above ground I apprehend as was said for that the Aire is excluded and the spirits shut in also the Aire above ground is subject to variation sometimes more hot and sometimes more cold which somewhat stirs and affects the spirits of the Liquor in the Vessel whereby they become weaker I have heard it Reported for a Truth That Bottles of Wine or some other Liquor were found in a deep Draw well which had been many years fill'd up and afterwards opened and cleansed again for use and the Liquor was found to be very fresh and good notwithstanding it had lyen there many years whereby it is manifest that this way of keeping Liquors will preserve it good along time The IX CENTVRY WE have partly touched before the means of producing fruits without cores or stones And this we add further that the cause must be abundance of moisture for that the core and stone are made of a dry sap and we see that it is possible to make a Tree put forth only in blossome without fruit as in Cherries with double flowers much more in fruit without stone or cores This hath been spoken too sufficiently before See Experiment 514. It is neither the taking out of the pith as is there prescribed nor the abundance of moisture as here that will work this effect some Treeâ— have too much moisture and yet the fruitâ— of such have nevertheless cores or stones As for the Cherry-tree that puts forth double blossomes without Fruits that is not made to do so by any mans Art or Skill but it is natural I know the kind well it is as natural for it to bear double blossomes without fruit as for any other tree to bear such or such a kind of fruit Trees set upon the backs of Chimneys do ripen Fruits sooner Vines that have been drawn in at the Window of a Kitchen have sent forth Grapes ripe a month before others This is certain as the Author says such a kind of heat as is upon the back of Chimneys where fire is continually or most commonly kept will much hasten the ripning of fruits I have seen a thin Brick wall where fire hath been kept on the one side and fruit-trees have been Planted on the other side which have brought forth ripe fruits very early much sooner then the same kinds without such artificial heat And Branches of Vines being drawn in at the window of a Kitchen or room where fire is kept the fruits will be ripe sooner then those without dores but let it not be too near the fire left in wither or over much dry the branch FINIS Quid sit Agricultura vid. p. 11. â— Ba. Advanc Leaâ— Virg. Geor. Ob. Ans. 1. Ob. Ans. 2 Ob. Ans. See the second Book of his Confessions Chap. 4. 3. Ob. Ans. The praises of the Ancients and some late writers concerning the Husbandman scours of life in Planting Fruittrees August Reges Imperatores sum mos que magistratus non puduit Hortensia colere proprâ—is manibus Augustine See the worthie Acts of Cyrus king of Persia. Ezra 1.1 2 3. c. Of this See Sir Rich Barkley of the felicity of man pag 162. 1 Argument De Gen. ad Lit Li. 8 2 Argument 3 Argument Example Diodat exp Sir W. Rawley Hist. part 1. Ch. 3. Au de Civit Dei lib. 13. c. 24. Sir W Rawly 1. Book 1. part Chap. 9. 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Example 4 Argument Hos. 12.10 I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets 1 Similitude 2 Similitude 3 Similitude 4 Similitude 5 Similitude 6 Similitude 5 Aagumenâ— 6 Argument 7 Argument 8 Argum 1. Humane Argument Pog. Floren 2. Humane Argument 3. Humane Argument 1 In house Keeping 2 For Sale 2 Profitable to the body 1 In respect of Health Hist. Life and Death p. 412. 169. Hist. Life and Death p. 207. 208. Hist. Life and Death p 236. 2 In respect of long life Deu. 32.47 Prov. 10.27 Prov.