or stem which they called Magydaris And they affirme besides that it beareth leafy flat graines for the seed in color like gold which shed presently vpon the rising of the Dog-star especially if the wind be south Of which grains or seeds fallen to the ground young plants of Laserpitium vse to grow vp vnderneath that within the compasse of one yere wil thriue both in root and stem to the just and full perfection they haue writen moreouer that the vse was to dig about their roots and to lay them bare at certain times of the yeare Also that they serued not to purge cattell as is aforesaid but to cure them if they were diseased for vpon the eating thereof either they mended presently or else ended and died out of hand but few they were that miscaried in this sort As touching the former opinion of purging and scouring true it is that it agreeth well to the other Silphium or Laserpitium of Persia aforesaid Another kind there is of it named Magydaris more tender and lesse forcible and strong in operation than the former and affourdeth no such juice or liquor at all it grows about Syria and commeth not vp in all the region about Cyrenae Moreouer vpon the mount Pernassus there is great plentie found of a certaine hearbe which the inhabitants would needs haue to be Laserpitium and so they cal it wherewith indeed they are wont to abuse and sophisticat that singular and diuine plant the true Laserpitium so highly commended and of so great account and regard The principall and best triall of the true and sincere Laser is taken from the colour somewhat enclining to rednesse without breake it you shall haue it appeare white within and anone transparent If you drop water vpon it or otherwise thin spittle it will resolue and melt Much vse there is of it in many medicines for to cure mens maladies Two plants more therebe well knowne to the common sort and base multitude and to say a truth few els are acquainted with them notwithstanding they be commodities of much gaine and many a peny is gotten thereby The first is Madder in great request among diers and curriers and for to set a color vpon their wooll and leather right necessarie The best of all and most commended is our Madder of Italie principally that which groweth about villages neere vnto our citie of Rome And yet there is no country or prouince lightly but is full of it It commeth vp of the owne accord and is sowed besides of seed and set of slips in manner of Eruile Howbeit a prickie stalke it hath of the owne the same is also full of joints and knots and commonly about euery one of them it hath fiue leaues growing round in a circle The seed is red What medicinable vertues it hath and to what purpose it serueth in Physicke I will declare in place conuenient The second is that which is called in Latin Radicula i Sope-wort an hearb the juice wherof Fullers vse so much to scoure their wooll withall and wonderfull it is to see how white how pure how neat and soft it will make it Beeing set it will come vp and grow in any place but of it selfe without mans hand it groweth most in Asia and Syria among rough craggie and stony grounds The best is that which is found beyond the riuer Euphrates and that bears a stem like tall Fennell howbeit small and slender and whereof the inhabitants of the countrey there doe make a delicate dish for besides that it hath a commendable tast and much desired it giueth a pleasant colour to what meat soeuer is sodden in the pot with it It beareth a leafe like the Oliue the Greeks cal it Strution it floureth in Summer louely it is to the eie but no smel at all it hath to content the nose prickie moreouer it is like a thorne and the stalke notwithstanding couered with a soft down seed hath it none but a big root which they vse to cut shred mince small for the purposes aforesaid CHAP. IV. ¶ The manner of trimming and ordering Gardens the sorting of all those things that grow out of the Earth into their due places besides corne and plants bearing fruit IT remaineth now to treat of Gardens and the carefull diligence thereto belonging a commendable thing in it selfe and recommended vnto vs besides by our fore-fathers and auncient writers who had nothing to speake of in more account and admiration in old time than the gardens of the Hesperides of Adonis and Alcioniis as also those pendant gardens vpon tarraces and leads of houses whether they were those that Semyramis Queene of Babylon or Cyrus K. of Assyria deuised and caused to be made Of which and of their workmanship my intent is to make a discourse in some other booke Now for this present to goe no farther than Rome the Romane KK verily themselues made great store of gardens and set their minds vpon them for so we read that Tarquin surnamed the Proud the last king of Rome was in his garden when he gaue dispatch vnto that messenger that was sent from his sonne about a cruell and bloudie errand for to know his fathers aduise and pleasure as touching the citizens of Gabij In all the twelue tables throughout which contain our ancient lawes of Rome there is no mention made so much as once of a Grange or Ferm-house but euermore a garden is taken in that signification and vnder the name of Hortus i. a Garden is comprised Haeredium that is to say an Heritage or Domain and herupon grew by consequence a certain religious or rediculous superstition rather of some whom we ceremoniously to sacre and blesse their garden and hortyard dores only for to preserue them against the witchcraft and sorcerie of spightful and enuious persons And therefore they vse to set vp in gardens ridiculous and foolish images of Satyres Antiques and such like as good keepers and remedies against enuy and witchcraft howsoeuer Plautus assigneth the custodie of gardens to the protection of the goddesse Venus And euen in these our daies vnder the name of Gardens and Hortyards there goe many daintie places of pleasure within the very citie vnder the color also and title of them men are possessed of faire closes and pleasant fields yea and of proper houses with a good circuit of ground lying to them like pretie farmes and graunges in the countrey all which they tearme by the name of Gardens The inuention to haue gardens within a citie came vp first by Epicurus the doctor and master of all voluptuous idlenesse who deuised such gardens of pleasance in Athens for before his time the manner was not in any citie to dwell as it were in the countrey and so to make citie and countrey al one but all their gardens were in the villages without Certes at Rome a good garden and no more was thought a poore mans cheiuance it went I say for land and liuing The
and tie them together and so leaue them in the woods for the male tygres howbeit they rere neither the first nor second litter of them supposing that the dogs thus bred will be too fierce and eger but the third they nourish and bring vp Semblably thus doe the Gaules by their dogges that are ingendred of wolues and in euerie chace and forrest there be whole flockes of them thus ingendred that haue for their guide leader and captain one dogge or other him they accompanie when they hunt him they obey and are directed by for surely they keepe an order among themselues of gouernment and mastership This is knowne for certaine that the dogges which be neere vnto Nilus lap of the riuer running still and neuer stay while they are drinking because they will giue no vantage at all to be a prey vnto the greedie Crocodiles In the voiage that Alexander the Great made into India the king of Albania gaue him a dogge of an huge and extraordinarie bignesse And Alexander taking great delight and contentment to see so goodly and so faire a dogge let loose vnto him first Beares afterwards wild Bores and last of all fallow Deere But this dog making no reckoning of all this game lay still couchant and neuer stirred nor made at them This great Commander Alexander a man of mighty spirit and high mind offended at the lazinesse and cowardise of so great a bodie commanded that he should be killed and so he was Newes hereof went presently to the king of Albanie Wherupon he sent vnto him a second dog with this message That he should not make triall of this too against such little beasts but either set a Lion or an Elephant at him saying moreouer that hee had in all but those two of his kinde and if hee were killed likewise hee were like to haue no more of that race and breed Alexander made no stay but presently put out a Lion and immediately he saw his backe broken and all to rent and torne by the dog Afterwards he commanded to bring forth an Elephant and in no sight tooke he greater pleasure than in this For the dog at the first with his long rough shagged haire that ouerspread his whole bodie came with ful mouth thundering as it were and barking terribly against the Elephant Soon after he leapeth and flieth vpon him rising and mounting against the great beast now of one side then of another maintaining combate right artificially one while assailing another while auoiding his enemie and so nimbly he bestirreth him from side to side that with continuall turning about to and fro the Elephant grew giddie in the head insomuch as he came tumbling downe and made the ground to shake vnder him with his fal Bitches breed and beare young euery yeere lightly once and the due time for them to be with whelpes is when they are full a yeere old They goe with young threescore daies Their puppies come blinde into the world and the more milke they sucke the later it is ere they receiue their sight but as it is neuer aboue twenty daies ere they see so they open not their eies vnder seuen daies old Some say that if a bitch bring but one at a litter it will see by nine daies if twaine it will be ten daies first and the more puppies she hath the more daies it will be in that proportion ere they see Moreouer that the bitch-whelpe that commeth of the first litter see strange bugs and goblins The best of the whole litter is that whelpe that is last ere it begin to see or else that which the bitch carries first into her kennell The biting of mad dogs are most dangerous to a man as we haue said before especially during the dog-daies while the dog star Syrius is so hot for they that are so bitten lightly are affraid of water which is a deadly signe To preuent therefore that dogs fall not mad it is good for thirtie or fortie daies space to mingle hens or pullins dung especially with their meat againe if they be growing into that rage or tainted already to giue them Ellebor with their meat CHAP. XLI ¶ Against the biting of a mad Dog THe sure and soueraigne remedy for them that are bitten with a mad dog was reuealed lately by way of Oracle to wit the root of a wild rose called the sweet brier or Eglantine Columella writeth That when a whelpe is iust fortie daies old if his taile be bitten off at the nethermost joint and the sinew or string that commeth after be likewise taken away neither the taile will grow any more nor the dog fall euer to be mad I haue my selfe obserued that among the prodigies it is reported how a dog sometime spake as also that a serpent barked that yeere when Tarquine the prowd was deposed and driuen out of Rome CHAP. XLII ¶ Of Horses and their nature THe same Alexander the Great of whom ere-while we spake had a very strange and rare horse whom men called Bucephalus either for his crabbed and grim looke or else of the marke or brand of a buls head which was imprinted vpon his shoulder It is reported that Alexander being but a child seeing this faire horse was in loue with him and bought out of the breed and race of Philonicus the Pharsalian and for him paied sixteene talents He would suffer no man to sit him nor come vpon his backe but Alexander and namely when he had the kings saddle on and was also trapped with roiall furniture for otherwise he would admit any whomsoeuer The same horse was of a passing good and memorable seruice in the warres and namely being wounded vpon a time at the assault of Thebes he would not suffer Alexander to alight from his back and mount vpon another Many other strange and wonderfull things hee did in regard whereof when he was dead the king solemnized his funerals most sumptuously erected a tombe for him and about it built a city that bare his name Bucephalia Caesar Dictator likwise had another horse that would suffer no man to ride him but his maister the same horse had his forefeet resembling those of a man and in that manner he stands pourtraied before the temple of Venus Mother Moreouer Augustus Caesar late Emperour of famous memory made a sumptuous tombe for an horse that he had wherof Germanicus Caesar compiled a poeme At Agrigentum there be seen Pyramides ouer many places were horses were entombed Iuba reporteth That queene Semiramis loued a great horse that she had so far forth that she was content he should doe his kind with her The Scythians verily take a great pride and glorie much in the goodnes of their horses and Cauallerie A king of theirs happened in combat and single fight vpon a challenge to be slain by his enemie and when he came to despoile him of his armes and roiall habit the kings horse came vpon him with such furie flinging and laying about him with
of them apart according to their nature Now are we to treat of the rest which are of a carnous substance and those are diuided into fruits that be soft and pulpous and into berries The carnosity in Grapes and Raisons in Mulberries and the fruit of the Arbut tree differs one from the other Againe the fleshy substance in Grapes between the skin and the liquid juice is one and that in Sebesten is another Berries haue a carnosity by themselues as namely Oliues Mulberies yeeld a juice or liquor within the pulpe thereof resembling wine They be ordinarily of three colours at the beginning white soone after red and when they be ripe blacke The Mulberrie tree bloometh with the last but the fruit ripeneth with the first Mulberries when they be sull ripe staine a mans hand with the juice thereof and make them blacke but contrariwise being vnripe they scoure them cleane There is not a tree againe wherein the wit of man hath bin so little inuentiue either to deuise names for them or to graff them or otherwise saue only to make the fruit fair and great There is a difference which we at Rome doe make betweene the Mulberries of Ostia and Tusculum There is a kind of Mulberries growing vpon the bramble but their skin is much harder than the other Like as the ground-strawberries differ in carnositie from the fruit of the Arbut tree and yet it is held for a kind of Strawberrie euen as the tree it selfe is tearmed the Strawberrie tree And there is not a fruit of any other tree that resembleth the fruit of an hearb growing by the ground but it The Arbut tree it selfe spreadeth full of branches the fruit is a whole yeare in ripening by which means a man shall find alwaies vpon the tree yong and old fruit together one vnder another and the new euermore thrusts out the old Whether it be the male or female that is barren writers are not agreed Surely the fruit is of base and no reckoning at all no maruell therefore if the Latines gaue it the name Vnedo for that one of them is enough to be eaten at once And yet the Greeks haue two names for it to wit Comarum Memecylon whereby it appeareth that there be as many kinds among the Latines also although it be tearmed by another name Arbutus K. Iuba saith that these trees in Arabia grow to the heigth of fiftie cubites As touching Graines and liquid Kernels there is great difference betweene them for first and formost among very grapes there is no small diuersitie in the skin either for tendernes or thicknesse in the inner stones or pepins which in some grapes are but single or one alone in others double and those commonly yeeld not so much wine as the others do Secondly those of Iuie and Elder differ very much yea and the graines within a Pomegranat are not like to others in their forme for they alone be made cornered and angle-wise and seuerall as they bee they haue not a particular skin of their own but they are altogether clad within on which is white and yet they stand all wholly of a liquor and pulpous carnositie especially those which haue within them but a small stone or woodie kernell Semblably there is as much varietie in berries for oliues differ much from Bay berries likewise those of a Lote tree are diuers from them which the Corneil tree beares The Myrtle also differeth from the Lentisk in the verie berrie As for the huluer or hollie berries and the hawes of the white-thorn they are without any juice or liquor wheras Cherries be of a middle kind betweene berries and graines This fruit is white at the first as lightly all berries be whatsoeuer but afterwards some waxe greene as Oliues and Baies others turn red as Mulberies Cherries and Cornoiles but in the end they all become blacke as Mulberries Cherries and Oliues CHAP. XXV ¶ Of Cherries eight kinds BEfore the time that L. Lucullus defeated K. Mithridates there were no cherrie-trees in Italy but after that victorie which was about the 680 yeare from the foundation of the citie of Rome he was the man that brought them first out of Pontus and furnished Italie so well with them that within sixe and twentie yeres other lands had part therof even as far as Britain beyond the ocean Howbeit as we haue before said they could neuer be brought to grow in Aegypt for all the care and industrie employed about them Of Cherries the reddest sort bee called Apronia the blackest Actia the Caecilian be round withall The Iulian Cherries haue a pleasant tast but they must be taken new from the tree and presently eaten for so tender they be otherwise that they will not abide the carriage Of all other the Duracine Cherries be the soueraign which in Campaine are called Pliniana But in Picardie and those low countries of Belgica they make most account of the Portugall Cherries as they do also who inhabite vpon the riuer Rhene They haue a hew with them composed of three colors between red black and green and alwaies look as if they were in ripening still It is not yet full 5 yeres since the Cherries which they call Laurea were known so called they be because they were graffed on a Bay-tree stocke and thereof thy take a kind of bitternes but yet not vnpleasant to the tast There be moreouer Macedonian Cherries growing vpon a small tree seldome aboue three cubits high and yet there be certain dwarfe Cherries not full so tall called Chamecerasti i. ground cherry-shrubs The Cherry-tree is one of the first that yeelds fruit to his master in token of thankfulnesse recognisance of his paines all the yeare long It delights to grow in cold places and exposed to the North. The Cherrie wil drie in the sun and may be kept in barrels like Oliues CHAP. XXVI ¶ Of the Corneile and Lentiske tree THe same care is had in conditing the berries of the Corneil and the Lentiske as in preseruing Oliues so curious are men to content their tooth as if all things were made to serue the belly Thus we see how things of diuers relishes are mingled together and one giues a tast vnto another and causeth to be pleasant at the tongues end Nay we entermingle all climats and coasts of heauen and earth to satisfie our appetite for to one kind of meat wee must haue drugs spices fetcht as far as from India to another out of Aegypt Candie and Cyrene and in one word for euery dish we haue a seuerall land to find vs sawce To conclude wee are growne to this passe that we cease not to sophisticate our viands euen with hurtfull things so they tast well yea and to make dishes of very poisons because we would deuoure and send all downe the throat But more plainely hereof in our professed discourse of the nature and vertue of Hearbs CHAP. XXVII ¶ The diuersitie of tasts and sauours IN the meane time
blossome and fruit This is a generall thing obserued That al trees will thriue and prosper better yea and grow sooner to perfection if the shoots and suckers that put out at the root as also other water twigs be rid away so that al the nourishment may be turned to the principall stocke only The work of Nature in sending out these sprigs taught vs the feat to couch and lay sets in the ground by way of propagation and euen after the same manner briers and brambles doe of themselues put forth a new off-spring for growing as they do smal and slender and withal running vp to be very tall they cannot chuse but bend and lean to the ground where they lay their heads againe and take fresh root of their owne accord without mans hands and no doubt ouergrow they would and couer the whole face of the earth were they not repressed and withstood by good husbandrie The consideration whereof maketh me to enter into this conceit That men were made by Nature for no other end but to tend and look vnto the earth See yet what a commodious deuice we haue learned by so wicked and detestable a thing as this bramble is namely to lay slips in the ground and quick-sets with the root Of the same nature is the Yuie also euen to grow and get new root as it creepeth and climbeth And by Catoes saying not onely the Vine but Fig trees Oliues also wil grow increase of cuttings couched in the ground likewise Pomegranate trees all kinds of Apple-trees Baies Plum-trees Myrtles Filberds Hazels of Praeneste yea Plane-trees Now be there two waies to increase trees by way of propagation or enterring their twigs The first is to force a branch of a tree as it grows downe to the ground so to couch it within a trench foure foot square euery way after two yeares to cut it atow where it bent from the tree and after three yeares end to transplant it But if a man list to haue such plants or young trees to beare longer the best way were to burie the said branches at the first within would either in paniers or earthen vessels that when they are once rooted they might be remoued all whole and entire in them and so replanted The second is a more curious and wanton deuise than this namely to procure roots to grow on the very tree by carrying and conveighing branches either through earthen pots or oisier baskets full of earth thrust close to the said branches and by this means the branches feeling comfort of the warme earth enclosing them on euery side are easily intreated to take root euen among Apples and other fruits in the head of the tree for surely by this meanes we desire to haue roots to chuse growing vpon the very top So audacious are men and of such monstrous spirits to make one tree grow vpon another far from the ground beneath Thus in like manner as before at 2 yeares end the said impes or branches that haue taken root be cut off and carried away in the foresaid pots or paniers thither where they shall grow As for the Sauine an hearb or plant it is that wil take if it bee in this sort couched in the ground also a sprig if it be slipped off cleane from the stocke will come again and root Folke say that if a man take wine lees or an old bricke out of the wal broken small and either pour the one or lay the other about the root it wil prosper and come forward wonderfully In like manner may Rosemarie be set as the Sauine either by couching it or slipping off a branch from it for neither of them both hath any seed To conclude the hearb or shrub Oleander may be set of any impe and so grow or else come of seed CHAP. XIIII ¶ Of encreasing trees by seed the manner of graffing one in another how the fine deuise of inoculation by way of scutcheon and emplaister was deuised NAture not willing to conceal any thing from man hath also taught him to engraffe trees with their seed and graine For oftentimes it happeneth that birds being hungrie haue greedily gobled vp seed and fruit whole and sound which after they haue moistened in their gorge and tempered it also with the warmth and natural heat of their stomack they send forth and squirt out again when they meute together with their dung that giueth vnto it a vertue of fecunditie and so lay it vpon the soft beds of tree leaues which many a time the winds catch and driue into some clifts and cranies of the barke by meanes whereof wee haue seene a Cherrie tree vpon a Willow a Plane tree vpon a Lawrell a Lawrell vpon a Cherrie trre and at one time Berries and fruits of diuerse sorts and sundry colors hanging at one and the same tree It is said moreouer that the Chough or Daw hath giuen occasion herof by laying vp for store seeds and other fruit in creuises and holes of trees which afterwards sprouted and grew From hence came the manner of inoculation or graffing in the scutcheon namely to cut out a parcel of the barke of that tree which is to be graffed with a sharp knife made in manner of a shomakers nall blade and then to enclose within the said concauity the eie or seed taken out of another tree with the said instrument And in old time verily this was the only maner of inoculation vsed in fig-trees and apple trees Virgil teaches vs to open a concauity in the knot or joint of a bud that driueth out the barke and within it to enclose the gem or bud taken out of another tree And thus much for the graffing that Nature hath shewed But there is another way of graffing which casualtie and chance hath taught And to say a truth this Maister hath shewed well neer more experiments now daily practised than Nature her selfe Now the manner of it came by this occasion A certain diligent painfull husbandman minding to mound and empale his cottage round about with a fence of an hedge to the end that the stakes should nor rot laid a sill vnder them of Iuie wood but such was the vitall force of the said Iuie that it took hold fast of the stakes and clasped them hard insomuch as by the life therof they also came to liue and euident it was to the eye that the log of Iuie vnderneath was as good as the earth to giue life and nourishment vnto the stakes afore-said To come then vnto our graffing which we haue learned by this occasion first the head or vpper part of the stock must be sawed off very euen and then pared smooth with a sharp gardenhook or cutting-knife which don there offers vnto vs a two-fold way to perform the rest of the worke The first is to set the graffe or Sion between the barke and the wood for in old time truly men were afraid at first to cleaue the stocke but
manner of waies for either the roots be laid ouertwhart or acrosse and but shallow within the ground and look how many eies there be in the root so many plants wil spring aboue the earth or els they be pitched down right within a graue or trench of a foot depth so as there be two eies or buds vnder the ground the third aboue but close and meet with it but this caueat is to be giuen that the head thereof may bend forward toward the earth for feare that it drinke in any dew which might stand and settle vpon it This also is obserued that they be cut euer in the wane of the Moone as also before that they are imploied about Vineyards for to beare vp vines they would haue a whole yeares drying for such are more profitable than the greene The best staies to beare vp Vines are made of the Chestnut tree for why the wood is gentle and tractable tough withall and induring long besides it hath this property that cut it when you list it will spring againe more plentifully than any willowes It loueth to grow in a gentle and sandy ground but principally if the same stand vpon a moist grauell or a hot earth full of little pebbles and namely where there is good store of such soft stones as will soone crumble into grit neither makes it any matter how much the place be shadowed nor how cold and exposed to the Northern winds for such it liketh well enough yea although it be the side or hanging of an hill as bleake and cold as may be But contrariwise it may not abide the red French earth the chalkie or marle ground nor in one word any that is battle or fruitfull Set it is of a Nut as we haue before said but it commeth not vp vnlesse there be fiue in a heape piled together and those of the fairest biggest sort Moreouer the plot wherin you mean to haue Chestnuts grow must be ouvertly broken vp aloft from between Nouember and Februarie in which time the Nuts vse to be loose and to fall of themselues from the tree and spring vnderneath finding the ground light and hollow vnder them Betwixt each heape set in manner aforesaid there ought to be a foot space euery way and the trench wherein they be set of a span depth out of this plot as out of a seminary and nource-garden these yong plants are to be translated into another and then they must be set two foot asunder Howbeit they ought to be aboue two yeres old first before they be remoued and replanted Moreouer a man may increase Chestnut-trees by propagation to wit by couching and trenching the branches therof as they grow to the mother and there is not another tree againe that sooner taketh that way than it doth for the root thereof being laid bare the whole branch must bee interred along in the trench made for the purpose leauing out the end only aboue ground Thus shall you haue one tree spring from it and another from the root Howbeit planted in this wise it loueth not to be transplanted it cannot lodge elsewhere but dreadeth and hateth all change of soile and therefore such plots of ground as do affoord coppises of Chest-nut trees are stored with plants comming of marrons or nut-kernels rather than quicke-sets or plants set with the root For the ordering and dressing of them there is no other labour required than the others before rehearsed namely for the two first yeares inseing to dig the ground loose about their roots and to proine or cut away the superfluous twigs for euer after they will shift well enough manure themselues by reason that their owne shade will kill those superfluous water-shoots that spring out either from the root or the sides of the tree A coppise of these trees is cut ordinarily within euery seuenth yere and one acre of them will yeeld props enough for to serue a vineyard of twenty acres for besides that one pole of them will abide to be clouen and make two props apeece they will last very well vntill the next fall of the wood or coppis be past Moreouer the Mast-tree called Esculus is planted and commeth vp in like sort howbeit passing vntoward and vnwilling they are to grow and therefore they stand ten yeres at least before they be cut and lopped Set Acorns of this tree Esculus whersoeuer you please they wil surely take and come vp but the trench must be a span deep and the Acornes two foot asunder And foure times a yeare are they to be lightly * raked and clensed from weeds A forke or prop made of this wood lasteth very well and rotteth not and in very truth the more that the tree it selfe is cut and mangled the better it springeth and putteth forth new shoots Ouer and besides these trees abouenamed there be others that vse to be cut and lopped for Vine props and staies to wit the Ash the Bay tree the Peach and Hazell tree yea and the Apple tree but these are all of them lateward and slow of growth neither will they indure so well without rotting if they stand any time in the ground and much lesse will they abide any weâ—… But on the othe side the Elder tree of all others is most firme for to make poles and stakes of It wil grow of sions and imps euen as the Poplar As for the Cypresse tree we haue of it spoken sufficiently already CHAP. XXI ¶ The manner and skill of husbanding and dressing Vineyards NOw that we haue treated sufficiently of the instruments furniture and tackling as it were belonging to Vineyards it remaineth to speake of the nature of vines and to deliuer with especiall regard the manuring and dressing them According therefore as wee may see in Vines and some other trees which haue within them a spungeous matter and light substance their twigs and branches do containe a kind of marrow or pith inclosed between certain knots or ioints wherewith their stalkes are diuided and parted As for the fistulous concauities they are but short all of them and toward the top shorter and shorter but euermore betweene two knots they inclose the ioints aforesaid Now this marow this vegetatiue and vitall substance I say call it whether you wil runneth forward stil on end al the length of the hollow kex or pipe so long as it findeth no resistance by the way but meeting once with a ioint or hard knot which maketh head vpon it not suffering the same to passe forward it beeing driuen backe returneth downward howbeit in that reuerberation breaketh out vnder those knots and putteth foorth certaine wings or pinnions like arme-pits whereas the buds or leaues doe come but alwaies in alternatiue course one of this side another of that after the maner of reeds canes and fennellgeant as hath bin shewed before in such wise that if one wing â—…ise forth at the bottome of the lower knot on the right hand another
vines geld them as little as you can keep them with a good head rather if need require lay them along on the ground and two yeares after cut them hard to the root If it be a yong vine attend vntill it be of strength sufficient then will it be time and not afore to prune it If haply the vineyard be bare and naked of vines and that they grow but thin here and there make furrowes and trenches between and therein plant new quicksets but rid the weeds well from about those Trencheâ—… for ouershadowing them be euer also digging and delving Then if it be an old vineyard so drage and pulse for prouender if it be a lean and light ground sow nothing that bears grain or corn Be sure that ye lay about the heads of the said quickesets dung chaffe refuse of grapes pressed and such like mullock When the vine beginneth to put out leaues and look green fall to disburgeoning So long as the Vines be yong and tender tie them surely in many places for feare lest the wood or stalk therof do break asunder But when a vine hath gotten head to perch aloft vpon a single traile gently binde the tender burgeons and branches thereof extend and stretch them out and lay them streit Now when they stand once vpright and are able to beare themselues mark when the grapes begin to change colour bind them wel and sure below As for graffing of vines there are two seasons of the yeare meet therefore the one in the spring the other when the vine doth floure and this is held for the best If you purpose to translate an old stock of a vine into another place and there to replant it cut off the first thick arm only leauing behind two buds and no more In taking of it vp be carefull that you do it with such dexteritie as that you race not nor wound the root This done look how it grew before so set it now either in trench or furrow couch it wel and close and couer it throughly with good mould After the same manner as is beforesaid vnderset and prop it vp bind it turn and winde it but aboue all be euery while digging about it As touching the drage called Ocymum the which Cato wills to be sowed in a vineyard it is a kind of forage or prouender for horses which the Latines in old time named Pabulum it commeth vp very speedily and groweth fast and besides can well away with shadowie places CHAP. XXIII ¶ Of Trees ranged in rewes for to support Vines IT remaineth now in this discourse and treatise of Vines to write of the manner of trees planted of purpose for to serue their turn And here I canot chuse but cal to mind first how this point of husbandry hath bin iudged naught and altogether condemned by the two Sarsennae both father and sonne but contrariwise held for good and highly commended by Scrofa whereas all three were reputed the most antient writers and skilfullest in this kind next to Cato And yet Scrofa as great a patron as he is thereof alloweth not this deuice in any clymate else but only in Italy Howbeit gon this hath for currant many yeares past and time out of mind That the best and most dainty Wines came of those grapes onely which grew vpon such Hautâ—…ins or trees beforesaid Yea and it was thought generally that the higher a Vine climbed vpon these trees the better grapes it bare and yeelded more commendable wine and againe the lower that those trees were the greater plenty followed both of the one the other By which a man may see how materiall it is to raise Vines on high and haue grapes growing in the top of trees In which regard choise also is to bee made of trees for this purpose And here first and formost is presented vnto vs the Elme and yet I must except that kind of it which is called Atinia by reason that it is ouermuch charged with boughes and leaues and therewith too full of shade Next vnto it may be ranged the blacke Poplar euen for the same cause because it is noâ—… leaued nor branched so thick Many men there be that refuse not the Ash the Fig tree yea and the Oliue so that it stand not ouer thicke with boughs and make too much shade As for the setting planting and ordering of these trees in general we haue sufficiently and to the full treated heretofore But now for this speciall and peculiar vse that they be put vnto this would bee considered That Vines which are to be wedded to these trees must in no wise feele the edge of the cutting hooke before they be three yeares old full After which time this regard ought to be had that euery second branch or arme thereof is to be spared and likewise each other yeare and no oftener they are in this wise to bee pruned and by that they are six yeres old it is good time to joine them in marriage vnto their husbands aforesaid In Piemont Lombardie and those parts of Italy beyond the riuer Po they vse for this purpose to plant their grounds with these trees ouer and besides those aforenamed to wit the Cornell the Opiet or Wich-hazell the Teil or Linden the wild Ash Ornus the Carpin Carme or Horn-beame and the Oke About Venice and all that tract the Willowes serue the turne and none else by reason that the whole soken standeth so much vpon water As touching the Elme named in the first place it must be kept plaine and bare and the great water-boughs vnderneath shread vntill you come to the middest of the tree or thereabout and then the rest ought to bee arraunged and digested into good order whereupon the Vine may climb as it were vpon staires or ladder rounds and lightly none of these trees vpward be aboue twentie foot high Now in case it be a high ground vpon an hil and drie they are permitted to branch and shut out their armes within eight foot of the ground But in plaines and low moist grounds they begin not to fork before they bear twelue foot Howbeit let the place be what it wil the flat of the tree from whence the boughs begin to diuide ought to regard the south sun And the said branches immediatly from their project must rise somewhat vpright in maner of fingers standing forth from the palm of ones hand among which the smal sprigs must eâ—…tsoons be barbed as it were shauen clean off for feare they do not ouershadow the Vine branches As touching the space or distance between one tree another the ordinarie proportion is that afront and behind in case the ground be erable it beare fortie foot but aflanke or on the side twentie Marie if it be not well tilled and husbanded so much wil serue euery way to wit twentie foot and no more Commonly euery one of these trees maintaineth tenne Vines at the foot therof and a bad husband he is who hath
and grapes good for courriours 420. k Vine props and railes which be best 525. b Vine tendrils and burgens how to be ordered for the table 423. c. Vines afford most plants of all other trees 527. a Vine tree how to be graffed 520. h Vines draw into them the tast of herbes and plants growing neere vnto them 422. g Vineyard how to be bounded 529. b. how to be ordred with smallest expense ibid. f. ought to be exposed to the Sun 527. c. Vineyards Statanae 414. h Vinegre how it is made and the vses thereof 424 k Vinegre of Cypresse figs. 412. a Vinegre of Alexandrine figs. ibid. L. Vitellius stores his ferme with fig trees 445. a Vis maior what it is 599. a V L Vlysses ship turned into a rocke 79. d V N Vnedo the fruit of the Arbute tree 447. e V O Voluox a worme hurtfull to Vines 547. c Volta the name of a monster 26. k Vopisci who be so called 160. h Vortex the name of a stormie blast 25. b V R Vrchins of the sea 253. a Vrinum what kinde of addle egge 300. k V T Vtorus or loci in a woman what part 344. h V V Vulcans temple built by Romulus 495. a Vulturnus what wind 22. l Of Voices a discourse 353. a. b. c W A VVAgons and chariots who first made 188 l Walwort a weed naught for ground 508. g Walnuts emploied at weddings 445. e. and why ibid. Walnut trees brought out of Persia by commandement of kings 445. f. Walnut why called Persicon and Basilicon ibid. Walnut named in Greeke Caryon and why ibid. Walnut huskes and the young nuts how to be vsed 446. g Walnuts differ onely in the shell ibid. Walnut shels diuided in twaine ibid. Walnuts called Inglandes and why ibid. i Walnuts brought first into Italy by L. Vitellius ibid. k Walnut tree wood cracketh before it breaketh 492. m Water an element 2. l. the roundnesse thereof 31. e. the benefit it hath by the earth and the earth by it 32. h Water of what tast 449. a Waters fresh run aloft the sea and why 44. m Watering cherisheth corne and killeth grasse about Sulmo in Italy 544. m Water bringeth forth greater liuing creatures and more plentie than the earth 134. m Water verie materiall for corne fields 581. f ouerflowing corne fields as good as a weeding in some place 545. a Warden peares 439. d Wax made of all hearbs saue Dockes and Goosefoot 313. d W E Weauing whose deuise 188. i Weeding of corne 580. l Weeds choking corne and pulse 545. a Weights and measures whose deuise 188. l Weapons and armour whose inuention 189. a. b Wesps how to be kept from preserued fruits 441. f Wesps feed greedily vpon serpents 355. e Westerne wind Fauonius a husband to all plants and to certaine mares 471. d Wezando what it is 339. c W H Whales and Whirlepoles 235. b. c. as long as foure acres of land 235. c Wheat sold at Rome for one As by the Modius 551. b. c Wheat how it is spiked eared and ioynted 558. k Wheat of Italie best 559. e. other countries compared with ibid. Wheat of Bâ—…otia commended 559. e Wheat of Italie praised by Sophocles the Poet. 560. h Wheat esteemed by weight and so compared 560. h. i Wheat different in the straw or stalke 560. i Wheat of Thrace a three moneths corne ibid. m Wheat of Thrace a two moneths corne 561. a Wheat subiect to the mieldew 562. k Wheat of sundry kindes different in name 562. k Wheat what proportion it should yeeld in meale and floure 563. e. f. common Wheat Triticum exceeding fruitfull 564. m. the wonderfull and incredible encrease of wheat in Africke 565. a. Wheeles a kinde of fishes 236. g W I Wilding apples 438. m a wedded Wife turned to he a man and a husband and contrariwise 158. h Willowes of many sorts 484. l. their manifold vses in pearches trailes props and bindings ibid. red-Willowes good both to wind and bind 484. m Willowes fit for wicker workes ibid. as gainefull to the master as corne fields medowes and oliue rows 485. b. See more in Withies Wings of Bâ—…ts diuided into ioints 347. a Winds raigne in the region of the aire 19 c. how they arise and whence 21. c. their natures and obseruations 22. 23. c. Windpipe what it is 339. c the obseruation of winds good in husbandrie 608. i Winds who first distinguished 189. d Winds how they may be knowne distinctly one from another 608. g Wine a most pleasant liquor to be vsed inwardly 428. i of Wines 195 sorts 428. i Wine who first delaied with water 189. m Wine congealed into yee 425. d Wine lees maintaineth fire ibid. e Wine how it is knowne to decay ibid. b Wines how to be seasoned and medicined 425. a. b. how to be ordered prepared and seasoned 425. d Wines allowable for sacrifice and the seruice of the gods 423. c. Greeke wines reiected in sacrifice ibid. Wines when they grew in request at Rome 418. h Wines turne sower and recouer of themselues 423. b Wines reduced into 80 kindes 418. g of Wines foure principall colours 416. l Wine how to be tunned and kept 425. c. d Wine-cellers how to be ordered ibid. e Wine vessels how to be placed in the cellar ibid. Wine vessels how to be made and chosen 427. d drinking Wine fasting ibid. Wine of strange and wonderfull effects 422. l Wine causing women to be fruitfull ibid. procuring madnesse ibid. driuing women to slip their birth 422. m disabling for the act of generation ibid. Wines spiced and compound forbidden by Themison 422. k Wines of trees and shrubs ibid. h Wines of sundry hearbes and roots ibid. g Wine Phorinean 416. k Wine Cicibeliâ—…es ibid. l Wine Halyntium ibid. Wines sweet of diuerse sorts 417. a. b. c. d Wine Aigleuces 417. b Wine Dulce ibid. Wine Diachyton ibid. Wine Melitites 417. d. how it is made ibid. Wines alter according to the climat and soile where the Vines grow 415. b Wine spared among the Romanes 418. k. l. Forbidden in sacrifice ibid. h Women in Rome not allowed to drinke wine 418. k Women punished for drinking wine 418. k. l Wines aromatized 419. a Wines Greeke 419. f Greeke wine giuen in a congiarie by L. Lucullus at Rome 420. g. Wine of Chios prescribed for the Cardiaca passio 420. g left by Hortensius to the quantitie of 10000 barrels when he died ibid. Wines giuen in a congiarie by Iul. Caesar Dictatour 420. h Wines artificiall 420. i Wine Omphacium ibid. Wine Oenanthinum ibid. Wine Adynamon 420. l. how it is made ibid. the vse thereof ibid. Wine of Millet 420. l Date wine 420. m. how it is made ibid. Fig wine Sycites 421. a. wine of Lotus ibid. Wine of Carobs ibid. Wine Rhoites of Pomegranats ibid. of Gorneil or wild cherries ibid. of Medlers ibid. of Cervoises ibâ—…d of Mulberies ibid. of Pen-nuts ibid. Wine of Myrtles how it is made 421.
especially I say if it thunder much Secondly they wil not last aboue one yere Item The tenderest daintiest be those that breed in the Sprinâ—… and that indeed is the best time for them Item In some countries the ouerflow of riuers engender Mushromes and namely at Mitylene where by report they will not otherwise grow but vpon floten grounds and namely in such places whither the water hath brought from Tiara a certain vegetatiue seed to breed them And verily That Tiara is wonderfully stored replenished with such As touching the Truffles or Mushroms of Asia the most excellent of all others be neer vnto Lampsacum and Alopeconnesus but the best that Greece yeeldeth are in the territorie about the citie Elis. In this Toad-stoole or Mushrome kind are those flat Fusses and Puffes to be reckoned which the Greekes name Pezitae as they haue no root at all so they be altogether without either stele or taile In the next place to these I must needs speake of the most noble and famous plant Laserpitium which the Greeks name Silphium discouered and found first in the abouesaid prouince of Barbarie Cyrenaica The juice or liquor drawne out of this hearb they cal Laser a drug so magnified of such singularitie and vse in Physicke especially that it was sold by weight and a dram thereof cost commonly Romane denier For these many yeares of late there is none of this plant to be found in that country of Cyrenaica beforesaid for that the Publicans and Farmers of the pastures and grounds there vnder the people of Rome doe put in their cattell among these plants and eat al downe by that means finding thereby a greater gaine or commodity than by letting them stand for the juice or liquor aforesaid One only stalk or stem thereof hath bin found in our days which was sent vnto Emperor Nero as a present for a great nouelty If it chance at any time that either sheepe or goat which commonly bite neer to the ground do light vpon a yong plant thereof newly peeping forth and not euident to be seene you shall know it by these signes The sheepe presently so soone as she hath tasted it will drop asleep and the goat fal a neesing For these many yeres the merchants haue brought vs into Italy no other Laser than that which grows abundantly in Persis or Media and in Armenia but it is far inferior to this of Cyrenaica and commeth short of it for goodnes And this that we haue is no better than it should be for they sophisticate and corrupt it with gum with Sagapeum or else with bruised Beans In regard of which scarsity I canot chuse but remember that which befell at Rome in that yere wherin C. Valerius and M. Herennius were consuls when by great good fortune there was brought from Cyrenae thirtie pound weight of the best Laser and set abroad to be seene in open place of all commers As also I may not let passe another occurrent namely how Caesar Dictatour at the beginning of the ciuile war tooke forth openly out of the chamber of the citie with other treasure both of gold and siluer an hundred and eleuen pounds of the best Laser Moreouer this one thing more I canot forget the best and most renowned Greeke Authors haue left in writing That 7 years before the foundation of the citie Cyrenae which was built 143 yeres after our citie of Rome this plant Laserpitium that beareth the said Laser was engendered at one instant by occasion of a certain thicke grosse and black shewer of raine in manner of pitch which sodainely fell and drenched the ground about the hortyards or gardens of the Hesperides the greater Syrtis The which rain was effectual and left the strength thereof for the compasse of foure thousand stadia within Affricke or Barbarie They affirme moreouer That the herb Laserpitium there growing is of so sauage and churlish a nature that it canot abide any culture or good ordering by mans hand but if one should goe about to tend and cherish it it would rather chuse to be gon into the desart and vnpeopled parts of the countrey or else winder away and die Moreouer they set downe this description of it That it hath many roots and those bigge and thicke a stemme or stalke resembling the hearb Sagapeum or Fennell-geant howbeit not altogether so great the leaues of this plant which they termed by the name of Maspetum come very near in all respects to those of Smallach or Persely As touching the seed that it beareth flat and thin it is in maner of leaues but the leafe it selfe therof sheddeth in the Spring time The cattell that vse to feed thereupon and whereof they be very greedy first fall a scouring but afterwards when they be clensed and rid of il humors begin to wax fat and their flesh by this means becommeth wonderfull sweet and pleasant They report moreouer that after the leaues be fallen men also were wont in old time to eat the stem or stalk thereof either rosted and baked vnder the cindres or else boiled and sodden in water and their bodies likewise for the first 40 daies ensuing did nothing but purge til they were cleared of al diseases breeding by occasion of any Cacochymie or collection of ill humours within them Now concerning the juice or soueraigne liquor before said the manner was to draw it after two sorts to wit by scarification either out of the root or forth of the stem and maister stalke And hereof it came to haue two names Rhizias and Caulias But the later of these two to wit that which came of the stem was counted the worst fubiect to putrifaction and sold cheaper than the other To come now to the root of Laserpitium it hath a blacke rind or barke vpon it wherewith the merchants vse to sophisticat many of their drugs As for the manner of dressing and ordering the juice thereof it was no sooner drawne but they put it into certaine vessels together with brans among then euer and anone they plied it with stirring and shogging vntil it had lost the cruditie and verdure thereof and by that working came to the maturity and perfection for if it were not thus well followed soon would it catch a vinew begin to putrifie and so continue but a while In this worke of theirs they had an eye vnto the color how it changed for when they perceiued it to be high that they saw it once drie and haue don sweating breathing out the raw humidity and vapor within then they knew therby that it was wrought sufficiently and come to the full ripenesse Others there be who say that the root of Laserpitium beareth more than a cubit in bignesse and that out of it there swelleth an excresence aboue the ground out of which there was wont by way of incision to issue forth a certaine white juice in manner of milke vpon which grew the stalke
so defended against the frost and cold weather also during the spring insuing to be opened at the root sarcled and well weeded In the third yeare by his rule they ought to be burned in the spring time and the sooner that the ground is thus burned the better wil they come vp again and in greater plenty which is the cause that they like and prosper best in plots set with Canes and Reeds for such desire to be burnt betimes in the yere Moreouer he giueth another precept that they must not be sarcled nor haue the earth opened laid hollow about them before their buds or tops be aboue ground to be seen for feare least in the sarcling the roots take harm thereby either by rasing or shaking them vntill they be loose From which time forward if a man would gather any of the said buds or yong springs for salad or other vse they ought to be plucked and slipped from the root for otherwise if they be broken and knapt off in the mids the root wil presently put forth many vnprofitable sprouts which wil suck away all the heart and kill it in the end Sliue and pluck it you may in manner aforesaid vntil it spindle and run to seed which commonly beginneth to be ripe in the Spring then it must be set on fire as is before said and then once again so soon as new buds and tendrons appeare aboue ground from the root they must be sarcled bared and dunged afresh Now after it hath grown in this manner nine yeres so as by this time it is waxen old the roots must be taken vp and then replanted again in a piece of ground well digged and as throughly dunged Then I say ought the smal roots called Spongiae in Latine to be set again a foot distant one from another Furthermore Cato ordaineth expressely by name That sheeps dung should be vsed for that purpose because any other would breed store of weeds And verily there was neuer knowne any other thing practised or assaied afterwards to more gain and benefit about this Garden-herb vnlesse it were this That about the Ides or mids of February some haue let the seeds of Sperage lie well soked in dung and then sowed the same by heaps in little trenches or holes made for the purpose after which when the roots are wouen and knit one within another into a knot the spurns shooting from them they plant after the Aequinox in Autumne following a foot asunder by which means they wil continue bearing plenteously for ten yeres together For to breed and maintaine these garden Sperages there is no better soile than the gardens of Rauenna from whence we haue the fairest of all other As for the herb named in Latine Corruda I haue written heretofore of it and I vnderstand thereby the wild Sperage which the Greekes call Orminum and Myacanthon howbeit there be who giue it other names Finally I reade of certaine Sperages which will engender and grow of Rams hornes beaten or stamped and then put into the ground A man would thinke that I had discoursed already of all such Garden herbes as were of any price and regard but that there remaineth one thing yet behind whereof the greatest gaine of all other is raised and yet me thinks I cannot write thereof but be abashed to range it amongst the good herbs of the garden and that forsooth is our Thistle howbeit this is certaine to the shame be it spoken of our wanton and wasting gluttons that the Thistles about Carthage the great Corduba especially cost vs ordinarily six thousand thousand Sesterces to speak within compasse See how vaine and prodigal we be to bring into our kitchin and serue vp at our table the monstruosities of other nations and cannot forbeare so much as these Thistles which the very asses and other fourfooted beasts haue wit enough to auoid refuse for pricking their lips and muzzles Well since they be grown into so great request I must not ouer-passe the gardinage to them belonging and namely how they be ordered two maner of waies to wit replanted of yong sets or roots in Autumn and sowed of seed before the nones of March. As for the plants beforesaid they ought to be slipped from it and set before the Ides or mids of Nouember in any hand orels if the ground be cold we must stay vntil February and then be doing with them about the rising of the Western wind Fauonius Manured ywis it ought to be dunged I would not els so faire and goodly an herbe it is and so forsooth and it please you they prosper the better and come on trimly They are condite also and preserued in vineger or else all were mard in delicate liâ—…e honey seasoned also and bespiced I may say to you with the costly root of the plant Laser-woort yea and with Cumin because wee would not be a day without Thistles but haue them as an ordinary dish all the yeare long As for the rest of Garden-herbs behind they need no long discourse but a light running ouer them may serue well enough First and foremost men say That the best sowing of Basil is at the feast Palilia but some are of mind that Autumne is as good and they that would haue it done in winter giue order to infuse and soke the seed first in vineger Rocket also and garden Cresses are not dainty to grow but be it winter or Summer they will soon come vp prosper at al times But Rocket of the twain stands more at defiance with winter and scorns al his frowning looks and cold weather as being of a contrary nature to Lecture for it stirreth vp fleshly lust and therfore commonly it is ioined with Lecture in sallads both are eaten together that the exceeding heat of the one mixt with the extreme coldnes of the other might make a good mariage and temperature Cresses tooke the name in Latine Nasturtium a narium tormento as a man would say Nose-wring because it will make one writh and shrink vp his nosthrils which is the reason that the word is grown into a prouerb when we would signifie a thing which will put life into one that is dull and vnlusty In Arabia the Cresses by report proue to a wonderful bignesse Rue also is sowed vsually in February when the Western wind Fauonius bloweth and soon after the Aequinox in Autumne It cannot away with winter for it brooketh not cold or rain nor moist ground neither will it abide muck it liketh well to grow in dry places and such as lie faire vpon the Sun-shine but a clay ground which is good for bricke and tile that is alone for it and best of all other it delighteth in ashes and therewith is it fed and nourished insomuch as they vse to blend ashes the seed together for to keep away the canker worm and such like Certes we find that in old time Rue was in some great account and
forth from it certain huls or chaffe if I may so say of brasse Now the ground or floore to receiue this refuse as it falleth ought to be well paued There is another stuffe found in the said forges or bloom-smithies easily discerned from this Psegma which the Greeks for that it is as it were twise burnt or concocted call Diphryges And this is made three maner of waies For first they say it comes of the Marquesit stone burnt in a furnace vntill it be calcined and reduced in the red chalke Rubrica It is engendred also of the earth or cley within a certain caue in Cyprus first dried and soon after gently burnt in a fire round about it maintained with small sticks put therto by little little There is a third way of making it to wit of the grosse dregs or drosse of brasse settling downe to the battome of the furnace in which furnace a man shall perceiue these different matters to wit the brasse it selfe which being melted runneth into pans and vessels ready for to receiue it the refuse called Scoria which flies out of the furnace the florey that floteth aloft the Diphryges or drosse which remaineth behind Some yeeld another reason and making of Diphryges in this manner namely That there be certain round bals or pellets as it were of hard stones found within the mines of brasse which together with the Marquesit or brasse ore doth not melt in the furnace a man shall see the brasse it selfe boile about the same which round hard stones are vnited and soudered only one to another by this means but themselues resolue not nor melt perfitly vnlesse they be translated into other furnaces for they be the very heart as it were of the whole matter But in the second triall and boiling that which remaineth behind is called Diphryges Well be it what it will the same reason there is of it in Physicke as of the rest of this kind found in furnaces for by nature it is desiccatiue it consumeth besides all excrescences doth clense mightily The triall of it is by the tongue for if it bee good Diphryges no sooner toucheth it the tongue but it drieth it and withall tasteth of brasse But before I depart from these brasse mines and furnaces I cannot conceale from you one miraculous thing as touching this mettall There is you know a noble family in Rome of the Servilij well renowned as may appeare by the Roman Kalender and acts of record and these haue among them a certaine piece of brasse coine ealled a Triens i. The third part of a Roman Asse which they do keep and feed with siluer and gold For eat and consume it doth both the one and the other from whence it came first and what the reason in nature of this property is I know not yet But for my warrant I will set downe as touching this matter the very words of old Messala The house quoth he of the Seruilij hath a certain sacred Trient in the honor of which piece they do sacrifice yerely with great deuotion and solemnity omitting no magnificence nor ceremonies thereto belonging And this Trient the common speech is of them all that it seemeth one while to grow bigger and another while to diminish and be smaller according to which increase or decrease the said Servilij take presage That their family shall either rise to more honour or decay in credit and reputation CHAP. XIV ¶ Of Yron and Yron mines and the different kindes of Yron IT remaineth now in the next place to discourse of the mines of yron a mettal which we may well say is both the best and the worst implement vsed now in the world for with the helpe of yron we break vp and ear the ground we plant and plot our groues we set our hortyards and range our fruitful trees in rewes we prune our vines and by cutting off the superfluous branches and dead wood we make them euery yere to look fresh and yong againe by meanes of yron and steele we build houses hew quarries and cut in stone yea and in one word wee vse it to all other necessary vses of this life Contrariwise the same yron serueth for wars murders and robberies not onely to offend and strike therewith in hand but also to reach and kill afarre off with diuers sorts of darts and shot one while discharged and sent out of engines another while lanced and flung by force of the arme yea and sometime let flie with wings and this I take to be the wickedest inuention that euer was deuised by the head of man for to the end that death may speed away the faster to a man and surprise him more suddenly we make it to flie as a bird in the aire and to the arrow headed at one end with deadly yron we set feathers at the other whereby it is euident that the mischiefe proceeding from yron is not to be imputed to the nature of it but to the vnhappy wit of man For good proofe wee had already by many experiments otherwise that yron might be imploied and occupied without any hurt or harme at all to mankinde And verily in those capitulations of peace which after the expulsion of the kings Porsena king of the Tuscans tendred to the people of Rome I find this expresse article imposition that they should not vse yron but only about tillage of the ground And as our Chronicles of greatest antiquity haue left recorded it was not thought safe to permit writing and ingrauing letters with a style of yron Certes in the third Consulship of Pompey the great by occasion of a tumult and commotion raised within the city of Rome for the murder committed vpon the person of P. Clodius there was an edict come forth which now is extant vpon record after the manner of an inhibition in this form Ne vllum telum in vrbe esset i. That no man throughout all Rome should be seene to weare a weapon Neuerthelesse men did not forbeare and giue ouer to doe some honour vnto yron also in some other occasions of this life tending to the entertaining of civility and humanity for Aristonidas the cunning artificer minding to represent in an image the furious rage of Athamas beginning now to coole and be allaied together with his repentance for the cruell murdering of his owne sonne Learchus whom he flung headlong against the hard stones and thereby dasht out his braines made a temperature of brasse and yron together to the end that the rustie yron appearing through the bright lustre of the Brasse might liuely expresse a blushing red in the countenance beseeming a man confused and dismayed for so vnnaturall a fact This Statue is at this day to bee seene at Thebes Within the same Citie there is another image of Hercules all of hard yron or steele which Alcon the famous workman made of purpose to signifie the vndaunted heart of that deified Hercules who vnderwent
Nicander Homer Hesiodus Musaeus Sophocles and Anaxilaus Physicians Mnestheus and Callimachus who wrote both of Guirlands made of floures Phanias the naturall Philosopher or Physician Simus Timaristus Hippocrates Chrysippus Diocles Ophion Heraclides Hicesias Dionysius Apollodorus of Citia Apollodorus of Tarentum Praxagoras Plistonicus the Physician Dieuches Cleophantus Philistio Asclepiades Cratevas Pâ—…tronius Diodotus Iolla Erasistratus Diagoras Andreas Mnesicles Epicharmus Damion Dalion â—…osimenes Theopolemus Metrodorus Solon Lycus Olympias the midwife of Thebes Phillinus Petreius Miction Glaucias and Xenocrates ¶ IN THE XXII BOOKE ARE CONTAINED discourses as touching the estimation of Hearbes Chap. 1. Of certaine nations that vse herbes to beautifie their bodies 2. Of clothes died with the juice of herbes 3. Of the Chaplet made of the common medow grasse 4. How rare these Guirlands of grasse were 5. Which were the only men that had the honour to be crowned with the sad Chaplets 6. The onely Centurion allowed to weare the said Guirlands 7. Medicinable vertues obserued in the rest of herbes and floures that serue for Guirlands and first of Eringe or sea Holly 8. Of the Thystle or hearbe which they call Centum-capita 9. Of Acanus and Liquerice 10. Of Brambles or Thystles called Tribuli their kinds and vertues 11. The vertues and properties of the hearbe Stoebe 12. Of Hippophyes and of Hippope i. the Tazill and their properties 13. Of the Nettle and the medicinable vertues of it 14. Of the white dead Nettle or Archangell Lamium and the vertues of it 15. Of the hearbe Scorpius or Caterpillers the kinds and vertues thereof 16. Of Leucacantha or our ladies Thystle and the vertues of it 17. Of Parietarie of the wall called Helxine or Perdicum of Feuerfew or Motherwort Parthenium of Sideritis i. wall Sauge or stone Sauge and the vertues thereof good for Physicke 18 Of Chamaeleon the sundry sorts and properties that it hath 19. Of Coronopus i. Crow-foot Plantaine or Buckhorn Plantain and the vertues therof 20. Of Orchanet as well the right as the bastard and the vertues of them both 21. Another kind of Orchanet called Onochelis of Camomile of the hearbe Lotus or common Melilot of Lotometra which is a kind of garden Lotus or sallade Clauer of Heliotropia i. Turnsoll or Solcium and Tricoccum a kind thereof of Maiden haire called Adiantum and Callitricum 22. Of bitter Lectuce or wild Cichorie of Thesium of Daffodill of Halimus of Brankursine of Buprestis of Elaphoboscum or Gratia Dei of Scandix i. wild Cheruill or shepheards needle of the wild wort Iasione of bastard Persly Caucalis of Lauer or Sillybum of Scolimus i. the Artichoke or Limonia of Sowthystle of Chondrilla and of Mushromes 23 Of Toadstools of Silphium of Laserjuice 24. The nature of Hony of Mead or Hydromel how it commeth that the fashions are changed in certaine kinds of meat of honied wine of wax A discourse against the composition of many simples 25. The medicinable vertues of corne In summe here you shall find of medicines stories and obseruations 906 gathered out of The same Authours which were named in this booke before and besides out of Chrysermus Eratosthenes and Alcaeus ¶ IN THE XXIII BOOKE IS CONTAINED a Treatise of Hort-yard trees Chap. 1. The medicinable qualities of grapes fresh and new gathered of Vine cuttings and of grape kernils of the grape Theriace or Treacle Grape of dried Grapes or Raisins of Astaphus of Stauesacre called also Pituitaria of the wild Vine of the white Vine which is called Bryonie of the blacke Vine of new wines of diuerse and sundry sorts of wines and also of vinegre 2. Of the medicinable vertues of vinegre Sqilliticke of Oxymell or honied vinegre of cuit of the dregs or lees of wine vinegre and cuit 3. The vertue of Oliues of the leaues of the Oliue of the floure and ashes of the Oliue of the white and blacke fruit of the Oliue also of the dregs or grounds of oile 4. Medicinable properties obserued in the leaues of the wild Oliue of the oile made of the wild vine floures of the oile Cicinum the oiles of Almonds Baies and Myrtles the oile of Chamamyrsine or grand Myrtle also of Cypresse of Cytrons walnuts c. 5. The Aegyptian Palmetree that beareth Ben also of the Date tree called Elate and the vertues of them 6. The medicinable vertues of sundry plants namely in their floure leafe fruit boughs barke wood juice root and ashes 7. Of peares and the obseruations to them belonging of Figges both wild and sauage of Erineum and other sorts of plants with their vertues 8. Of Pine-nuts and Almonds of the Filbard and Walnut of Fistickes and Chestnuts of Charobs Corneiles Strawberrie trees and Baies 9. Of the Myrtle gentle of Myrtidanum and the wild Myrtle In summe there be noted in this booke medicines stories and obseruations a thousand foure hundred and nineteene Latine Authours cited C. Volgius Pompeius Lenaeus Sextius Niger and Iulius Bassus who wrote both in Greeke Antonius Castor M. Varro Cornelius Celsus and Fabianus Forreine Writers Theophrastus Democritus Orpheus Pythagoras Mago Menander the author of the booke Biochresta Nicander Homer Hesiodus Musaeus and Anaxilaus Physicians Mnestheus Callimachus Phanias the naturall Philosopher Simus Tamaristus Hippocrates Chrysippus Diocles Ophion Heraclides Hicesius Dionysius Apollodorus of Cittia Apollodorus the Tarentine Praxagoras Plistonicus Medius Dieuches Cleophantus Philistio Asclepiades Cratevas Petronius Diodotus Iolla Erasistratus Diagoras Andreas Mnesicles Epicharmus Damion Dalion Sosimenes Theopolemus Metrodorus Solon Lycus Olympias the midwife of Thebes Phyllinus Petreius Miction Glaucia and Xenocrates THE XXIIII BOOKE TREATETH OF Trees growing wilde Chap. 1. Medicinable vertues obserued in wild trees 2. The Aegyptian Beane tree Lotus 3. Mast and Acornes 4. The grain or berrie of the tree Ilex of Gals of Misselto of little bals and mast of trees the root of Cirrus and of Corke 5. Of the Beech the Cypresse tree the tall Cedar the fruit or berry therof and of Galbanum 6. Of Ammoniacum Storax Spondylium Spagnus the Terebinth tree of Chamaepitys or Iva Muscata of Esula or Pityusa of Rosins of the Pitch-tree and the Lentiske 7. Of stiffe Pitch of Tarre of Pitch twice boyled of Pissasphalt of Sopissa of the Torch tree and Lentiske 8. The vertues of the Plane tree the Ash the Maple the Aspe the Elme the Linden tree or Teil the Elder and Iuniper 9. Of the Willow the Sallow Amerina and such like good for windings and bands also of Heath or Ling. 10. Of Virga Sanguinea of the Oisier of the Priuet the Aller of Yvie of Cistus or Cifsus of Erythranum of ground Yvie or Alehoufe of Withwind of Perwinke or Lesseron 11. Of Reeds of Paper cane of Ebene of Oleander of Rhus or Sumach of Madder of Alysium of Sopeweed of Apaynum of Rosemarie and the seed thereof of Selago of Samulus of Gums and the medicinable vertues of them all 12. Of the Arabian thorne or thistle of Bedegnar of Acanthium
seene notwithstanding many times it hath deuoured cities and drawne into it a whole tract of ground and fields Sea coasts and maritime regions most of all other feele earthquakes Neither are the hilly countries without this calamitie for I my selfe haue known for certain that the Alps and Apenine haue often trembled In the Autumne also and Spring there happen more earthquakes than at other times like as lightnings And hereof it is that France and Egypt least of all other are shaken for that in Egypt the continuall Sommer and in France the hard Winter is against it In like manner earthquakes are more rife in the night than in the day time but the greatest vse to be in the morning and euening Toward day light there be many and if by day it is vsually about noon They fortune also to be when the Sun and Moone are eclipsed because then all tempests are asleepe and laid to rest But especially when after much raine there followes a great time of heate or after heate store of raine CHAP. LXXXj ¶ Signes of Earthquake comming SAilers also haue a certaine foreknowledge thereof and guesse not doubtfully at it namely when the waues swel suddenly without any gale of wind or when in the ship they are shocked with billowes shaking vnder them then are the things seen to quake which stand in the ship as well as those in houses and with a rustling noise giue warning before-hand The foules likewise of the aire sit not quietly without feare In the sky also there is signe thereof for there goeth before an earthquake either in day time or soon after the Sun is gon downe a thin streake or line as it were of a cloud lying out in a great length Moreouer the water in wels and pits is more thicke and troubled than ordinary casting out a stinking sent CHAP. LXXXij ¶ Remedies or helps against Earthquakes toward BVt a remedie there is for the same such as vaults and holes in many places do yeeld for they vent and breathe out the wind that was conceiued there before a thing noted in certain townes which by reason they stand hollow and haue many sinks and vaults digged to conuey away their filth are lesse shaken yea and in the same towns those parts which be pendant be the safer as is well seen in Naples where that quarter thereof which is sollid and not hollow is subiect to such casualties And in houses the arches are most safe the angles also of walls yea and those posts which in shaking will jog to and fro euery way Moreouer walls made of brick or earth take lesse harme when they be shaken in an earthquake And great difference there is in the very kinde and manner of earthquakes for the motion is diuers the safest is when houses as they rocke keep a trembling and warbling noise also when the earth seemeth to swell vp in rising and again to settle down and sink with an alternatiue motion Harmlesse it is also when houses run on end together by a contrary stroke and butt or jur one against another for the one mouing withstandeth the other The bending downward in maner of wauing and a certain rolling like to surging billowes is it that is so dangerous and doth all the mischiefe or when the whole motion beareth and forceth it selfe to one side These quakings or tremblings of the earth giue ouer when the winde is once vented out but if they continue still then they cease not vntill forty daies end yea and many times it is longer ere they stay for some of them haue lasted the space of a yeare or two CHAP. LXXXIII ¶ Monstrous Earthquakes seene neuer but once THere hapned once which I found in the books of the Tuscanes learning within the teritorie of Modena whiles L. Martius and S. Iulius were Consuls a great strange wonder of the earth for two hils encountred together charging as it were and with violence assaulting one another yea and retyring againe with a most mighty noise It fell out in the day time and between them there issued flaming fire and smoke mounting vp into the sky while a great number of Roman Gentlemen from the highway Aemylia and a multitude of seruants and passengers stood and beheld it With this conflict and running of them together all the villages vpon them were dashed and broken to pieces very much cattell that was within died therewith And this hapned the yeare before the war of our Associates which I doubt whether it were not more pernicious to the whole land of Italy than the ciuil wars It was no lesse monstrous a wonder that was knowne also in our age in the very last yeare of Nero the Emperour as we haue shewed in his acts when medows and oliue rowes notwithstanding the great publique port way lay betweene passed ouerthwart one into anothers place in the Marrucine territorie within the lands of Vectius Marcellus a gentleman of Rome Procurator vnder Nero in his affaires CHAP. LXXXIV ¶ Wonders of Earthquakes THere happen together with earthquakes deluges also and inundations of the sea being infused and entring into the earth with the same aire and wind or else receiued into the hollow receptacle as it setleth down The greatest earthquake in mans memory was that which chanced during the empire of Tiberius Caesar when twelue cities of Asia were laid leuell in one night But the earthquakes came thickest in the Punick war when in one yeare were reported to be in Rome 57. In which yeare verily when the Carthaginians and Romans fought a battell at Thrasymenus lake neither of both armies tooke notice of a great earthquake Neither is this a simple euill thing nor the danger consisteth only in the very earthquake and no more but that which it portendeth is as bad or worse Neuer abode the city of Rome any earthquake but it gaue warning thereof before hand of some strange accident and vnhappie euent following CHAP. LXXXV ¶ In what places the seas haue gone backe THe same cause is to be rendred of some new hill or piece of ground not seen before when as the said winde within the earth able to huffe vp the ground was not powerful enough to breake forth and make issue For firme land groweth not only by that which Riuers bring in as the Isles Echinades which were heaped and raised vp by the riuer Achelous and by Nilus the greater part of Egypt into which if wee beleeue Homer from the Island Pharus there was a cut by sea of a day and a nights sailing but also by the retiring and going backe of the sea as the same poet hath written of the Circeiae The like by report hapned both in the bay of Ambracia for ten miles space and also in that of the Athenians for fiue miles neere Pireaeum also at Ephesus where somtime the sea beate vpon the temple of Diana And verily if we giue eare to Herodotus it was all a sea from aboue Memphis to the Ethyopian
the taste I am besides of opinion that they be deceiued who thinke that bees gather not of Oliue trees For we see it ordinary that there be more casts and swarmes of Bees where Oliues grow in greater abundance These pretty creatures hurt no fruit whatsoeuer They will not settle vpon a floure that is faded and much lesse of any dead carkasse They vse not to go from their hiue about their busines aboue 60 paces if it chance that within the precinct of these limits they finde not floures sufficient out goe their spies whom they send forth to discouer forage farther off If in this expedition before they come home againe they be ouertaken by the night they couch vpon their backes for feare lest their wings should be ouercharged with the euening dew and so they watch all night vntill the morning CHAP. IX ¶ Those that haue taken a speciall pleasure in Bees SVch is the industrie of this creature that no man need to wonder at those two persons who delighted so much in them that the one namely Aristomachus of Soli for threescore yeares lacking but twaine did nothing else but keep bees and Philiscus the Thasian emploied the whole time of his life in Forrests and Desarts to follow these little animals whereupon hee was surnamed Agrius And both these vpon their knowledge and experience wrote of Bees CHAP. X. ¶ The order that they keepe in their worke THe manner of their businesse is this All the day time they haue a standing watch ward at their gates much like to the corps de guard in a campe In the night they rest vntill the morning by which time one of them a waketh and raiseth all the rest with two or three big hums or buzzes that it giues to warn them as it were with sound of trumpet At which signall giuen the whole troupe prepares to flie forth if it be a faire and calme day toward for they doe both foresee and also foreshew when it will bee either windie or rainie and then will they keepe within their strength and fort Now when the weather is temperate which they foreknow well enough and that the whole armie is on foot and marched abroad some gather together the vertue of the floures within their feet and legges others fil their gorge with water and charge the downe of their whole body with drops of such liquor The yonger sort of them go forth to worke and carry such stuffe as is beforenamed whiles the elder labor build within the hiue Such as carry the floures abouesaid stuffe the inner parts of their legs behind and those Nature for that purpose hath made rough with the help of their forefeet those again are charged full by the means of their muffle Thus being full laden with their prouision they return home to the hiue drawne euen together round as it were in a heap with their burden by which time there be three or foure ready to receiue them and those ease and discharge them of their lode For this you must thinke that they haue their seuerall offices within Some are busie in building others in plaistering and ouercasting to make all smooth and fine some be at hand to serue the workemen with stuffe that they need others are occupied in getting ready meat and victuals out of that prouision which is brought in for they feed not by themselues but take their repast together because they should both labour and eat alike and at the same houre As touching the maner of their building they begin first aboue to make arch-work embowed in their combs and draw the frame of their work downward where they make two little allies for euery arch or vault the one to enter in by the other to go forth at The combs that are fastened together in the vpper part yea and on the sides are vnited a little and hang all together They touch not the hiue at all nor ioin to it Sometime they are built round otherwhiles winding bias according to the proportion of the hiue A man shll find in one hiue hony combs somtime of two sorts namely when two swarms of bees accord together and yet each one haue their rites and fashions by themselues For feare lest their combs of wax should be ready to fal they vphold them with partition wals arched hollow from the bottom vpward to the end that they might haue passage euery way to repaire them The formost ranks of their combes in the forefront commonly are built void and with nothing in them because they should giue no occasion for a theefe to enter vpon their labours Those in the backe part of the hiue are euer fullest of hony and therefore when men would take out any combes they turne vp the hiues behind Bees that are emploied in carrying of hony chuse alwaies to haue the wind with them if they can If haply there do arise a tempest or a storm whiles they be abroad they catch vp some little stony greet to ballance and poise themselues against the wind Some say that they take it and lay it vpon their shoulders And withall they flie low by the ground vnder the wind when it is against them and keep along the bushes to breake the force thereof A wonder it is to see and obserue the manner of their worke They mark and note the slow-backs they chastise them anon yea and afterwards punish them with death No lesse wonderful also it is to consider how neat and clean they be All filth and trumperie they remoue out of the way no foule thing no ordure lieth in the hiue to hinder their businesse As for the doung and excrements of such as are working within they be laid all on a heap in some by-corner because they should not goe far from their worke and in foule weather when otherwise they haue nought to do they turn it forth Toward euening their noise beginneth to slacke and grow lesse and lesse vntill such time as one of them flieth about with the same loud humming wherewith she waked them in the morning and thereby giueth a signal as it were and commandement for to go to rest much after the order in a camp And then of a sudden they are all husht and silent CHAP. XI ¶ Of the drone Bees THe houses and habitations that Bees build first are for the Commons which being finished they set in hand with a pallace for their king If they foresee that it will be a good season and that they are like to gather store of prouision they make pauilions also for the Drones And albeit they be of themselues bigger than the very bees yet take they vp the least lodgings Now these drones be without any sting at all as one would say vnperfect bees the last fruit of such old ones as are weary and able to do no more good the very later brood increase and to say a truth no better than slaues to the right bees indeed And
neer to their hiues the very aire smel therof will kill them Ouer and besides Bees naturally are many times sick and that do they shew most euidently a man shall see it in them by their heauie looks by their faintnesse in their busines ye shall mark how some will bring forth others that be sicke and diseased into the warme sun and be readie to minister vnto them giue them meat Nay ye shall haue them to carie forth their dead and to accompanie the corps full decently as in a solemne funerall If it chance that the king be dead of some pestilent malady the commons subiects mourn they take thought and grieue with heauy cheere and sad countenance idle they be and take no ioy to doe any thing they gather in no prouision they march not forth onely with a certaine dolefull humming they gather round about his corps and will not away Then requisite it is and necessarie to seuer part the multitude and so to take away the body from them otherwise they would keep a looking at the breathlesse carcasse and neuer go from it but stil moan and mourn without end And euen then also they had need be cherished and comforted with good victuals otherwise they would pine away die with hunger To conclude a man may soon know when Bees be well in health by their cheerfulnesse and fresh hue that they carry CHAP. XIX Diseases of Beees THere be diseases also and imperfections in their worke and namely when they fill not their combs or bring not to perfection their yong Bees The first is called Cleros like as the other Blapsigonia Moreouer the sound made by reuerberation of the aire which men call Eccho is hurtfull vnto them for they feare mightily that resounding noise comming with a double stroke Mists fogs also trouble them much as for spiders they be their greatest enemies of all others in case they can preuaile so much as to enter into the hiue weaue a copweb within it for they kil all the Bees and there is no remedie against it Againe that Moth or Butterfly which vseth to fly about the snuffe of a candle burning a poore silly flie otherwise and of base account here doth much hurt and that in diuers sorts for not only it self eateth and gnaweth the wax of their combes but also doth blow and leaue behind them such excrements as afterwards proue other moths Also wheresoeuer he goes and flies within the hiue he leaues behind him a certaine substance comming most from the dusty downe of his wings with which he thickneth the threds as it were of copwebs There breed likewise euen in very wood certain worms which aboue all things make means to eat the combs What should I speake of their owne greedy feeding and glutting themselues with too much liquour of the floures in the Spring time especially whereupon ensueth a dangerous flux and loosnesse of their belly As for oile it is not bane to Bees only but also to all other Insects especially if a man dip their heads in it and then let them be in the Sun for presently they wil die of it Many times Bees are causers of their own death with getting a surfet by excessiue deuouring of hony namely when they see it ready to be taken out of the hiue for otherwise they are very thrifty ouer-great sparers and such as at other times will driue out those that wast prodigally and be gluttinous no lesse than such as be idle lusks and slow at work Nay euen their own hony doth them hurt for if they be anointed therewith in their hinderparts they will die vpon it Lo how many enemies this creature so liberall and bountifull hath see how many casualties it is subiect vnto and yet what be these I haue already rehearsed in proportion and comparison of those which are omitted Their remedies will we speak of in conuenient time and place for this present content I will my selfe to treat only of their natures CHAP. XX. ¶ How to keepe Bees to the hiue and the manner of repairing them BEes ioy in the clapping of hands and ringing of brasen basons at the sound thereof they will assemble and come together wherby it is plain that they haue the sence of hearing When they haue done their taske of worke when they haue brought forth their young ones and fully accomplished all their deuoir then they perform a solemnitie of exercise wherin after they haue flown abroad in the open aire at libertie fetched their compasse about on high gathered into rings and rounds in manner of tournament for their pleasure then at last when it is time of repast they return home again The longest time that they can liue say that they passe through all dangers and no misfortune light vpon them but euery thing that is aduerse fall out well and happily is not aboue seuen yeares And neuer was it knowne or heard of that an hiue continued aboue ten yeares Some Writers be of opinion That dead Bees if they be kept within a house all a Winter and when the Spring is come be laid forth in the hot Sun to fry and one whole day be kept couered all ouer with fig tree ashes they will reuiue and be quick again But suppose they be not only dead but their bodies also lost and gon some say they may be repaired and a new swarm ingendred by laying the fresh panches of oxen or kine newly killed with the dung garbage and all within a dunghill there to putrifie Virgil affirms that the carcasses of any yong steers will do the same like as dead horses will bred waspes and hornets and Asses carrion turne to be Beetle flies by a certain metamorphosis which Nature maketh from one creature to another And yet there be none of all these but are seen to engender howbeit the manner of their breed is much after the nature of Bees CHAP. XXI ¶ Of Wasps and Hornets WAsps vse to build them nests on high of earth and clay and therein make their roomes and cels of wax Hornets in caues and holes vnder the ground All these verily haue their chambers made with six corners and yet their nests consist of some barke and substance like cobwebs And as they be a barbarous and sauage kind of creatures so their yong is not vniforme one is ready to fly abroad while another is but yong not fledge and a third a meere worme and grub still All these breed in Autumne and neuer in the spring When the Moone is in the full they increase maruellously As for the little waspes called Ichneumones and lesse they be than others they vse to kill one kind of spiders called Phalangia and carry them into their nests they besmeare them all ouer with a liniment sit ouer them and so procreate their own kind Moreouer all the sort of these liue vpon flesh contrary to the manner of Bees which will not touch a dead carcasse But
is not like as wine is neither is there such difference in so many kinds of oliues as there is in wine for surely we cannot at the most obserue aboue three degrees in the goodnesse of oiles namely according to the first second and third running out of the presse Finally the thinner that oile is and the more subtill the finer and daintier is the smell thereof and yet the same same sent in the very best of them all continueth but a small time CHAP. IIII. ¶ The nature of Oile Oliue THe property of oile is to warm the body and to defend it against the iniuries of cold and yet a soueraigne thing it is to coole and mitigate the hot distemperature of the head The Greekes whom wee may count the very fathers and fosters of all vices haue peruerted the true and right vse thereof to serue for all excesse and superfluitie euen as far as to the common annointing of their wrastlers with it in their publick place of exercise Known it is for certain that the gouernors and wardens of those places haue sold the oile that hath beene scraped from the bodies of the said wrastlers for 80 Sesterces at a time But the stately maiesty of Rome contrariwise hath done so great honour to the Oliue tree that euery yere in Iuly when the Ides come they were wont to crowne their men of armes and gentlemen marching by their troups and squadrons in solemne wise with chaplets of oliue yea and the manner was of captains likewise to enter ouant in pety triumphes into Rome adorned with Oliue coronets The Athenians also honoured their conquerors with Oliue garlands But generally the Greekes did set out their victors at the games of Olympia with branches of the wild-oliue CHAP. V. ¶ The manner how to order Oliues NOw will I report the precepts and rules set down by Cato as touching oliues His opinion is that the greater long Oliue Radius of Salentum the big Orchites the Pausia the Sergiana Cominiana and the Albicera should be planted in hot and fat grounds He addes moreouer as hee was a man of singular dexterity and prudent spirit which of them in the neighbour territories and places adioining were taken for the best As for the Licinian Oliues he saith They would be planted in a weely and cold hungry ground for if it be a fat soile and a hot the oile wil be corrupt and naught and the very tree it self wil in short time be killed with ouermuch fertility and bearing too great a burden Moreouer they will put forth a red kind of mosse which eateth and consumeth the tree To conclude his mind is that Oliue hort-yards should be exposed to the sun yet so as they regard the West wind also in any case for otherwise he commendeth them not CHAP. VI. ¶ How to keep Oliues and the way to make oile of them CAto alloweth of no other means to keep and preserue oliues and specially the great ones made like cullions named thereupon Orchita and the Pausiae but either in brine and pickle when they are greene or else among Lentisk branches when they are bruised and broken The best oile is made saith he of the greenest and sourest oliues Moreouer so soon as euer they be faln they must be gathered from off the ground and if they be fouled and beraied with the earth they ought to be washed clean and then laid to dry three daies at the most Now if it fall out to be weather disposed vnto frost they should be pressed at 4 daies end He giueth order also to bestrew and sprinkle them with salt saying moreouer that if they be kept in borded sollors or garners the oile will be both lesse in quantitie worse withal So it wil be also if it be let lie long in the lees or together with the cake and grounds when they be bruised and beaten for this is the very fleshie and grosse substance of the Oliues which cannot chuse but breed filthy dregs And therfore he ordaineth that oftentimes in a day it should be poured out of one vessell into another so by setling clarified from the grounds then to put it vp afterwards into pans and panchions of earth or els into vessels or kimnels of lead for brasse mettall wil mar oile All this should be done within close presses and rooms and those kept shut where no aire or wind may come in that they might be as warm and hot as stouves He forbids also to cut any wood or fuel there to maintain fire for that the fire made of their stones and kernels is most kindly of any other To the end also that the grounds lees should be liquified and turn into oile euen to the very last drop the oile should be let run out of those vessels or kimnels aforesaid into a vat or cistern for which purpose the vessels are often to be clensed the ozier paniers to be scoured with a spunge that the oile might stand most pure clear But afterward came vp the deuise to wash oliues first in hot water then immediatly to put them whole as they are into the presse for by that means they squize forth lees all and then anon to bruise and crush them in a mil so presse them in the end Moreouer it is not thought good to presse the second time aboue 100 Modij which is the full proportion of one pressure it is called Factus That which after the mil comes first is named the floure of the oile or the Mere-gout Lastly to presse 300 Modij is thought to be foure mens work ordinarily in one night and a day CHAP. VII ¶ Of Oile Artificiall IN Cato his time there was no artificiall Oiles I meane no other but that of the Oliue and tâ—…refore I suppose it was that he made no mention thereof but now adaies there be many kinds First will we treat of those that are made of trees and principally before all the rest of the oile of the wild oliue thin it is and much more bitter than that of the other gentle true Oliue but good for medicines onely Very like to it is that which is made of Chamelaea an herb or shrub growing in stony places to the heigth of a span no more with leaues and berries resembling those of the wild oliue The next is that which commeth of Cici or Ricinus i Palma Christi a plant which groweth plentifully in Aegypt which some call Croto others Trixis or wild Sesam but long it hath not been there In Spaine likewise this Ricinus is found of late to rise suddenly to the heigth of an Oliue tree bearing the stalke of Ferula or Fennel-Geant clad with leaues of the vine and replenished with seed resembling the graines or kernels of small and slender grapes and of a pale colour withall we in Latine call it Ricinus of the resemblance that the seed hath to a ticke which is a vermin that annoies sheepe For
be sodden in wine and water they serue in stead of a broth or grewell so do no fruit els but Pome and Peare-Quinces CHAP. XVI ¶ The manner how to preserue Apples THe generall rules to keep and preserue Apples are these Imprimis That the solars be wel planked and boorded in a cold and drie place prouided alwaies that the windows to the North do stand open especially euery faire day Item to keep the windows into the South shut against the winds out of that corner and yet the North winds also where they blow doe cause Apples to shrink and riuell ill fauouredly Item That Apples be gathered after the Aequinox in the Autumne and neither before the full of the Moone nor the first houre of the day Moreouer that all the Apples which fell be seuered from the other by themselues and laid apart also that they be bedded vpon straw mats or chaffe vnder them that they be so couchedas that they touch not one another but haue spaces between to receiue equall aire for to bee vented To conclude this is well knowne that the Amerine Apples doe last and keepe good long whereas the honie Apples will abide no time CHAP. XVII ¶ How to keep Quinces Pome-granats Peares Sorvises and Grapes FOr the good keeping and preseruing of Quinces there must be no aire let into them where they are enclosed or else they ought to be confected in sodden honey or boiled therein Pomegranats should be plunged into sea-water boiling and so hardened therein and after that they be dried in the Sun three daies so as they be not left abroad in the night to take dew they would be hanged vp in a solar and when a man list to vse them then they must be wel washed in fresh water M. Varro sets downe the manner to keep them within great earthen vessels in sand And if they be not ripe he would haue the earthen pots bottomes broke off and so the Pomegranates to be put in and couered all ouer with mould but the mouth therof must be well stopped for letting any aire in prouided alwaies that the steele and the branch wherto the fruit groweth be pitched For so quoth he they will not giue ouer to grow still yea and proue bigger than if they had remained vpon the tree As for other Pomegranats i. that are ripe they may be wrapped and lapped one by one in fig-leaues such as are not fallen but plucked from off the tree greene and then to be put into twigge paniers of oisiers or else daubed ouer with potters blay He that would keep Peares long must put them in earthen vessels turned with the bottomes vpward well varnished or annealed within couered also with saw dust or fine shauings and so enterred As for the Tarentine Peares they abide longest on the tree ere they be gathered The Anitian Peares be well preserued in cuit-wine As for Soruisses they are kept also in trenches within the ground but the couer of the vessel whereinto they are put ought to be well plastered all ouer and so stand two foot couered with earth also they may be set in a place exposed open to the Sun with the bottome of the vessells vpward yea and within great barrels they may be hung vp with their branches and all after the manner of grape-clusters Some of our moderne writers handle this argument more deepely than others and fetch the matter farre off giung out rules in this manner saying That for to haue Apples or Grapes de garde that is to say fit to be preserued and to last long the trees that beare the one and the other ought to be pruned and cut betimes in the waine of the Moone in faire weather and when the winds blow drie Likewise they affirme That fruits to be preserued would be chosen from drie grounds gathered before they be full ripe and this would be looked vnto in any hand that the Moon at the gathering time be vnder the earth and not appearing in our hemisphaere And more particularly for Grape bunches they would be gathered with a foot or heele from the old hard wood and the Grapes that are corrupt and rotten among the rest be clipped off with a paire of sheers or plucked out with pincers then to be hung vp within a great new earthen vessell well pitched with the head or lid thereof thoroughly stopped and plastered vp close to exclude all aire After which manner they say Soruisses and Peares may be kept but so as in any case the twigs ond steeles whereby they hang be well besmeared with pitch Moreouer order would be giuen that the barrels and vessells wherein they are kept be far ynough from water Some there be again who keep Grapes together with their branch after the same maner in plaster but so as both ends of the said branch sticke in the head of the sea-Onion Squilla and others let Grape-clusters hang within hogsheads and pipes hauing wine in them but so as the Grapes touch not the wine in any case There be also that put Apples and such fruits in shallow pans or pancheons of earth and let them swim and flote aloft vpon the wine within their vessels for besides that this is a way to preserue them the wine also as they think will thereby get a pleasant odoriferous tast Others ye haue besides that chuse rather to preserue al these fruits as well Apples Pears c. as Grapes couered in Millet seed Howbeit the most part dig a trench or ditch two foot deep in the ground they floore it with sand in the bottome and lay their fruits thereupon then they stop the top with an earthen lid and afterwards couer al with earth Some there are which smeare their bunches of Grapes all ouer with potters clay and when they are dried in the Sun hang them vp in solars for their vse and against the time that they should occupie them steep them in the water and so wash off the foresaid clay But for to keep Apples that are of any worth they temper the same clay with wine and make a morter thereof wherein they lap the said Apples Now if those Apples be of the best kind and right soueraigne after the same sort they couer them with a crust of the like past or morter or else clad them within a coat of wax and if they were not fully ripe afore they grow by that means and break their crust or couer what euer it be But this would not be forgotten that they vse alwaies to set the Apple or fruit vpright vpon the taile howsoeuer they be kept Some there are who gather Apples and such like fruit with their slips and sprigs hide them within the pith of an Elder tree and then couer them in earth as is before written And others there are who for euery Peare or Apple haue a seuerall earthen pot and after that their lids be well closed and stopped with pitch then they enclose them again with great vessels
there is not a tree not so much as the very Vine that sheddeth leaues CHAP. XXII ¶ The nature of such leaues as fall from trees and what leaues they be that change colour ALl trees without the range of those before rehearsed for to reckon them vp by name particularly were a long and tedious piece of work do lose their leaues in winter And verily this hath bin found and obserued by experience that no leaues doe fade and wither but such as be thinne broad and soft As for such as fall not from the tree they be commonly thick skinned hard and narrow and therefore it is a false principle and position held by some That no trees shed their leaues which haue in them a fatty sap or oleous humiditie for who could euer perceiue any such thing in the Mast-holme a drier tree there is not and yet it holdeth alwaies green Timaeus the great Astrologer and Mathematician is of opinion that the Sun being in the signe Scorpio he causeth leaues to fall by a certain venomous and poysoned infection of the aire proceeding from the influence of that maligne constellation But if that were true we may wel and iustly maruell why the same cause should not be effectuall likewise in all other trees Moreouer we see that most trees do let fall their leaues in Autumne some are longer ere they shed continuing green vntill winter be come Neither is the timely or slow fall of the leafe long of the early or late budding for wee see some that burgen and shoot out their spring with the first and yet with the last shed their leaues and become naked as namely the Almond trees Ashes and Elders And contrariwise the Mulberry tree putteth forth leaues with the latest and is one of them that soonest sheddeth them again But the cause hereof lies much in the nature of the soile for the trees that grow vpon a leane dry and hungry ground do sooner cast leafe than others also old trees become bare before yonger and many of them also lose their leaues before their fruit be fully ripe for in the Fig tree that commeth and beaâ—…th late in the winter Pyrry and Pomegranate a man shall see in the later end of the yere fruit only and no leaues vpon the tree Now as touching those trees that continue euer greene you must not think that they keep still the same leaues for as new come the old wither fal away which hapneth commonly in mid-Iune about the Summer Sunne-stead For the most part the leaues in euery kind of tree do hold one and the same colour and continue vniform saue those of the Poplar Ivy and Croton which wee said was called also Cici iâ—… est Ricinus or Palma Christi CHAP. XXIII ¶ Three sorts of Poplar and what leaues they be that change their shape and figure OF Poplars there be found three sundry kinds to wit the white the blacke and that which is named Lybica or the Poplar of Guynee this hath least leaues and those of all other blackest but mow commendable they are for the fungous meazles as it were that come forth thereof As for the white Poplar leafe the leaues when they be yong are as round as if they were drawn with a paire of compasses like vnto those of Citron before named but as they grow elder they run out into certain angles or corners Contrariwise the Ivy leaues at the first be cornered and afterwards become round All Poplar leaues are full of downe as for the white Poplar which is fuller of leaues than the rest the said downe flieth away in the aire like to mossie chats or Thistle-downe The leaues of Pomegranats and Almond trees stand much vpon the red colour But very strange it is and wonderfull which hapneth to the Elme Tillet or Linden the Oliue tree Aspe and Sallow or Willow for their leaues after Midsummer turn about vpside downe in such sort as there is not a more certaine argument that the Sun is entred Cancer and returneth from the South point or Summer Tropicke than to see those leaues so turned CHAP. XXIIII ¶ What leaues they be that vse to turne euery yeare Of Palme or Date tree leaues how they are to be ordered and vsed Also certain wonderfull obseruations about leaues THere is a certain general and vniuersal diuersitie difference obserued in the very leaf for commonly the vpper side which is from the ground is of greene grasse colour more smooth also polished The outside or nether part of the leaf hath in it certain strings sinues or veins brawns and ioynts bearing out like as in the back part of a mans hand but the inside cuts or lines in maner of the palme of ones hand The leaues of the oliue are on the vpper part whiter and lesse smooth and likewise of the Ivy. But the leaues of all trees for most part euery day do turn and open to the Sunne as desirous to haue the inner side warmed therewith The outward or nether side toward the ground of all leaues hath a certaine hoary downe more or lesse here in Italy but in other countries so much there is of it that it serueth the turn for wooll and cotton In the East parts of the world they make good cordage and strong ropes of date tree leaues as we haue said before and the same are better serue longer within than without With vs these Date leaues are pulled from the tree in the Spring whiles they are whole and entire for the better be they which are not clouen or diuided Being thus plucked they are laid a drying within house foure daies together After that they be spred abroad and displaied open to the Sun and left without dores to take all weathers both day and night and to be bleached vntil they be dry and white which done they be sliued and slit for cord-work But to come again to other leaues the broadest are vpon the Fig-tree the Vine and the Plane the narrowest vpon the Myrtle Pomegranat and oliue as for those of the Pine and cedar they be hairy the Holly leaues and all the kindes of Holme be set with sharpe prickes As for the Iuniper in stead of leafe it hath a very pointed thorne The Cypresse and Tamariske carrie fleshie leaues those of the Alder be most thick of all other The Reed and the Willow haue long leaues the Date tree hath them double The leaues of the Peare tree are round but those of the Apple tree are pointed of the Ivie cornered of the Plane tree diuided into certaine incisions of the Pitch tree and the Fir cut in after the maner of comb-teeth of the wild hard Oke waued and indented round about the edges of the brier and bramble sharpe like thornes all the skin ouer Of some they be stinging and biting as of Nettles of others ready to pricke like pins or needles as of the Pine the Pitch tree the Larch the Firre the Cedar and all the
sorts of Holly The leaues of the Oliue tree and the Mast-Holme hang by a short stele the Vine leaues by a long The Poplar or Aspen leaues doe shake and tremble and they alone keep a whistling and rustling noise one with another Moreouer in the very fruit it selfe and namely in a certain kind of Apples ye shall haue small leaues breake out of the very sides in the mids in some single in others double and two together Furthermore there be trees that haue their leaues comming forth about their boughs and branches others at the very end and shoot of the twig as for the wild Oke Robur it putteth leaues forth of the trunk and maine stock Ouer and besides the leaues grow thicker or thinner in some than in others but alwlies the broad and large leaues are more thinne than others In the Myrtle tree the leaues grow in order by ranks those of the Box tree turn hollow but in the Apple trees they are set in no order at al. In Pyrries Apple trees both ye shal see ordinarily many leaues put forth at one bud hanging at one and the same taile The Elme and the Tree-trifolie are full of small and little branches Cato addeth moreouer and saith That such as fall from the Poplar or the Oke may bee giuen as fodder to beasts but he wils that they be not ouer drie and he saith expressely that for kine and oxen Fig-leaues mast Holm leaues and Iuie are good fodder yea and such kind of beasts may well brouse and feed of Reed leaues and Bay leaues Finally the Seruise tree looseth her leaues al at once others shed them by little and little one after another And thus much for the leaues of trees CHAP. XXV ¶ The order and course obserued in Nature as touching plants and trees in their conception flouring budding knotting and fructifying Also in what order they put forth their blossomes THe manner and order of Nature yeare by yeare holdeth in this wise first trees and plants do conceiue by the meanes of the Westerne wind Fauonius which commonly beginneth to blow about sixe daies before the Ides of Februarie for this wind is in stead of an husband to all things that grow out of the earth and of it they desire naturally to be conceiued like as the Mares in Spaine of which we haue written heretofore This wind is that spirit of generation which breathes life into all the world which the Latines call thereupon Fauonius à fauendo i. of cherishing and nourishing euery thing as some haue thought It blowes directly from the Aequinoctiall Sun-setting and euermore beginneth the Spring This time out rusticall peasants call the Seasoning when as Nature seemeth to goe proud or assaut and is in the rut and furious rage of loue desirous to conceiue by this wind which indeed doth viuifie and quicken all plants and seeds sowne in the ground Now of all them conceiue not at once but in sundry daies for some are presently sped in a moment like as liuing creatures others are not so hastie to conceiue but long it is first ere they retaine and as long againe before their vitall seed putteth forth and this is therupon called their budding time Now are they said to bring forth and be deliuered when in the Spring they bloome and that blossome breaketh forth of certain matrices or ventricles After this they become nources all the while they cherish and bring vp the fruit and this time also the Latines call Germinatio i. the breeding season When trees are full of blossomes it is a signe that the Spring is at the height and the yeare become new againe The blossom is the very ioy of trees and therein standeth their chiefe felicitie then they shew themselues fresh and new as if they were not the same then be they in their gay coats then it seemeth they striue avie one with another in varietie of colours which of them should excell and exceed in beautifull hew But this is not generall for many of them are denied this pleasure and enjoy not this delight for all trees blossome not some are of an heauie and sad countenance neither cheare they at the comming of this new season and gladsome Spring for the mast-Holme the Pitch tree the Larch and the Pine doe not bloome at all they are not arrayed in their robes they haue not their liueries of diuers colors to fore-signifie as messengers and vantcourriers the arriuall of the new yeare or to welcome and solemnize the birth of new fruits The Figge trees likewise both tame and wild make no shew of floures for they are not too soon bloomed if they bloom at all but they bring forth their fruit And a wonderful thing it is to see what abortiue fruit these Figge-trees haue and how it neuer commeth to ripenesse Neither doe the Iunipers bloome at all And yet some writers there be who make two kinds thereof and they say that the one flowreth and bears no fruit as for the other which doth not blossome it brings forth fruit vpon fruit and berrie vpon berrie which hang two yeres vpon the tree before they come to maturitie But this is false for in very truth all Iunipers without exception haue euermore a sad looke and at no time shew merie And this is the case and condition verily of many a man whose fortune is neuer in the floure nor maketh any outward shew to the world Howbeit there is not a tree but it buddeth euen those that neuer blossome And herein the diuersitie of the soile is of great power for in one and the same kind such as grow in marish grounds do shoot and spring first next to them those of the plaines and last of all they of the woods and forrests And generally the wilde Pyrries growing in woods doe bud later than any other At the first comming of the western wind Fauonius the Corneil tree buddeth next to it the Bay and somewhat before mid-march or the spring Aequinoctiall the Tillet or Linden and the Maple the Poplar Elme Willow Alder and Filberds or Hazell nut trees bud with the first The Palme also maketh hast and is loth to come behind All the rest at the point and prime of the spring namely the Holly the Terebinth the Paliurus the Cheston and the Walnut-trees or Mast-trees Apple trees are late ere they bud but the Corke tree longest of any other Trees there be that put forth bud vpon bud by reason that either the soile is exceeding battill and fat or else the weather faire and pleasant and this happeneth more to be seene in the blades of corne But trees if they happen to be ouer rancke in new shoots and buds they waxe wearie and grow out of heart Moreouer some trees there be that naturally do sprout at other seasons besides the spring according to the influence of certaine starres whereof the reason shall be rendred more conueniently in the third booke next ensuing after this Meane time this
determine all quarrels These shafts they arme with sharpe barbed arrow heads in manner of fish-hooks which wound with a mischiefe because they cannot be drawne out of the body againe and to make these arrowes flie the faster and kill more presently they set feathers vnto them Now say that a shaft be broken as it is set fast in the body that end without the flesh wil serue againe to be shot so inured are the people in those parts to these kind of weapons so practised withall in discharging of them so nimbly that a man seeing how thick the shafts flie in the aire would say they were a cloud of arrowes that shadowed the very Sun And therefore when they goe to battell they wish euer for faire weather and Sunne-shine daies Windes and raine as most aduerse vnto their warres they cannot abide then are they quiet and rest in peace ful sore against their wils because their weapons at such a time wil not serue their turne Certes if a man would fall to an exact reckoning and aestimate of Aethyopians Egyptians Arabians Indians Scythians and Bactrians of so many nations also of the Sarmatians and other East-countries together with all the kingdomes of the Parthians hee should finde that the one moietie or halfe of the world hath been vanquished and conquered by the meanes of arrowes and darts made of Reedes The Candiots aboue all others were so readie and perfect in this kinde of feat that the ouerweening of their owne skill and the confidence which they had in this manner of seruice made them too bold and was in the end their owne ouerthrow But herein also as in all other things else whatsoeuer Italie hath carried the name and woon the prize for there is not a better Reed growing for to make shafts than that which is found about the Rhene a little riuer running vnder Bononia very full of marrow or pith stiffe also it is and weightie withall it cutteth the aire it flyeth away most swiftly and last of all it will hold the owne and stand in the weather so counterpoised that no winde hath any power on it And those Reeds in Picardie and the Low-countries are nothing comparable ne yet of Candie how highly soeuer they be commended for warre-seruice And yet the Reeds that grow in India be preferred before them and beare the name which indeed some thinke to be of another nature considering they bee so firme and bigge withall that beeing well headed with yron they serue in stead of Speares and Iauelins In very truth the Indian Canes for the most part grow to the bignesse of Trees such as we see commonly in Temples standing there for a shew The Indians doe affirme that there is a difference amongst them also in regard of sexe and namely That the substance and matter of the male is more fast and massie but that of the female larger and of greater capacitie within Moreouer if wee may beleeue their words the verie Cane betweene euery ioint is sufficient to make a boat These great Canes do grow principally along the riuer Acesine All Reeds in generall doe shoot and spring in great number from one root and principall stocke and the more they bee cut the better they come againe The root liueth long and without great iniurie offered vnto it will not die it also is divided into many knottie ioints Those onely of India haue short leaues But in all of them the leafe springeth out of the ioint which embracing the Cane doth clad it round about with certaine thin membranes or tunicles as far as to the middle space between the ioints and then for the most part they giue ouer to claspe the Cane and hang downeward to the ground As well Reeds as Canes spread their leaues like wings round one after another on either side vpon the very ioints and that in alternatiue course alwaies very orderly so as if the one sheath come forth of the right side the other at the next ioint or knot aboue it putteth out on the left and thus it doth throughout by turnes From these nodosities otherwhiles a man shall perceiue as it were certaine little branches to breake foorth and those bee no other but small and slender Reeds Moreouer there be many kindes of Reedes and Canes for some of them stand thicker with ioints and those are more fast and solid than others small distance there is between the same there be again that haue not so many of them and greater space there is from the one to the other and such Canes for the most part are of a thinner substance Yee shall haue a Cane all full of holes within called therupon Syringias and such are very good to make whistles or smal flutes because they haue within them neither gristly nor fleshy substance The Orchomenian Cane is hollow throughout from one end to the other and this they call Auleticus or the pipe Cane for as the former was fit for flutes so is this better for great pipes Now you shall meet with Canes also that stand more of the wood haue but a narrow hole and concauity within and this is full of a spungeous pith or marow within-forth Some be shorter some longer than other and where you haue one that is thin and slender you shall spie a fellow to it more grosse and thicker That which brancheth most putteth forth greatest store of shoots is called Donax and is neuer known to grow but in marishes and watery places for herein also lieth a difference and preferred it is far before the Reed that commeth vp in dry ground The archers reed is a seuerall kind by it selfe as we haue shewed before but of this sort those in Candy haue the greatest spaces betweene euery ioint and if they be made hot they are very pliable and will bend and follow which way soeuer a man would haue them Moreouer Reeds are distinguished one from another by the leafe not for the number but the strength and colour The leaues of those about Lacedaemon are stiffe and strong growing thicker of the one side than of the other And such as these are thought generally to grow along standing pooles and dead waters far vnlike to those about running riuers and besides to be clad with long pellicles which claspe and climbe about the Cane higher aboue the ioint than the rest doe Furthermore there is another kind of Reeds that groweth crooked and winding trauers and not vpright vnto any height but creeping low toward the ground and spreading it selfe in manner of a shrub Beasts take exceeding great delight to feed thereof and namely when it is young and tender for the sweet and pleasant taste that it hath Some cal this Reed Elegia Ouer and besides there breedeth in Italy also among the fens a certain salt fome named Adarca sticking to the rind or vtmost barke of Reedes and Canes onely vnder the verie tuft and head passing good it is for the
among all good workmen That the best time to cut downe any timber is in the coniunction of the Moon with the Sun euen in the very day of the change before she sheweth new Certes Tiberius Caesar the Emperor gaue order to fel the Larch trees that came out of Rhoetia to repaire and re-edifie the bridge that serued to represent the shew of a naual battell vpon the water which fortuned to be consumed with fire iust at the change of the Moon Some say that we must precisely obserue the point of the conjunction and that the Moon withall be vnder the earth when such trees should be felled which cannot be but in the night But if it fall out besides that this conjunction or change of the Moone and the last day of the Winter Sun-stead meet together at one instant the timber then cut downe will last a world of yeares Next vnto it is that timber which is fallen in the daies and signes aboue rehearsed Others affirme moreouer that the rising of the Dog-star would be considered and chosen for this purpose for at such a time was that timber felled which serued for the stately hall or pallace of Augustus Moreouer for to haue good and profitable timber the trees would be cut down that are of a middle age for neither yong poles nor old runts are fit for durable building Furthermore there be that hold opinion that for to haue the better timber the trees should haue a kerfe to the very heart and pith round about and so let it stand an end still that all the humor by that means might run out before they be ouerthrowne and laid along And verily a wonderfull and miraculous thing is reported in old time during the first Punicke war against the Carthaginians namely that all the ships of that fleet which was conducted by Generall Duellius the high Admiral were shot into the sea and vnder saile within sixty daies after the timber whereof they were built was cut downe in the wood And L. Piso hath left in writing That against king Hiero there were 220 ships made furnished in 45 daies after the timber grew Also in the second Punick war the Armado which Scipio imploied was set aflote and bare saile forty daies after the fall of the timber See how forcible and effectuall in all things is the season and opportunitie of time duly taken especially when need driueth to make speed and hasten apace Cato the chiefe and only man of all others for experience and knowledge in euery thing in his treatise of all kind of timber to be imploied in building giues these rules following Make thy pressing plank especially of the black Sapine or Horn-beam tree Item Whensoeuer thou meanest to storke vp either Elme Pine Walnut tree or any other whatsoeuer for timber see thou dig it out of the ground in the wane of the Moon and that in the afternoon and take heed in any wise that the wind be not South Item The right season to fell a tree for timber is when the fruit is ful ripe Item Beware in any case that thou neither draw forth of the ground nor yet square a tree when the dew falleth And a little after Beware thou meddle not with timber trees but either at the change or full of the Moon And in no hand neither stork it vp then nor hew it hard to the ground But within foure daies after the full Moone plucke vp trees hardly for that is the best time Item Be well aduised that thou neither fell square nor touch with the ax any timber that is black vnlesse it be dry And meddle not with it if either it be frozen or full of dew Tiberius the Emperor aboue named obserued likewise the change of the Moon for cutting the haire both of head and beard And yet M. Varro gaue a rule That to preuent baldnesse and the shedding of haire the Barber should be sent for alwaies after the full Moon But to come again vnto our timber trees The Larch and Fir both but the Fir especially if they be cut down bleed a long time after and yeeld abundance of moisture Indeed these twain of all others be the tallest and grow most streight and vpright For Mast-poles and crosse saile-yards in ships the Fir or Deale is commended and preferred before all other for the smoothnes and lightnesse withall The Larch the Fir and the Pine haue this propertie common to them all To shew the graine of their wood running either parted in foure forked in twaine or single one by one For fine carpentry and Ioiners seeling within house the heart of the tree would be clouen or rent The quarter timber or that which runneth with foure grains is simply the best and more pleasant to be wrought than the rest They that be skilfull woodmen and haue experience in timber wil soon find at the first sight the goodnes of the wood by the very bark That part of the Fir tree which groweth next to the earth is without knots euen and plain the same is laid to soke and season in the water and afterwards the barke is taken off and so it commeth to be called Sapinus The vpper part is knotty and harder than the nether and the Latins name it Fusterna In sum what tree soeuer it be that side which regardeth the North is more strong and hard than the other And generally the wood of those trees that grow in moist and shadie places is worse contrariwise that which commeth from ground exposed to the Sun-shine is more fast and massie and withall endureth a long time And herupon it is that at Rome the Fir trees that come from the nether sea side out of Tuscane be in better request than those from Venice side vpon the coast of the vpper sea Moreouer there is great ods between Firre trees in regard of diuers Countries and Nations where they grow The best are those of the Alps and the Apennine hills Likewise in France there are excellent good Firs vpon the mountains Iura and Vogesus as also in Corsica Bithinia Pontus and Macedonia A worse kind of them grow in Arcadia and about the mountaines neare Aenea The worst be those of Pernassus Euboea for in those parts they be ful of boughs and grow twined besides they soone doe putrifie and rot As for Cedars the best simply be those that grow in Candy Affricke and Syria This vertue hath the oile of Cedar That if any wood or timber be thoroughly anointed therewith it is subject neither to worme nor moth ne yet to rottennesse The Iuniper hath the same propertie that the Cedar They proue in Spaine to be exceeding big and huge the Berries also greatest of all others And wheresoeuer it grows the heart thereof is more sound than the Cedar A generall fault and imperfection there is common to all wood When the graine and the knots run into round balls and such they call in Latin Spirae Also in some
odoriferous any wood is the more durable also it is and euerlasting Next to these trees aboue rehearsed the wood of the Mulberrie tree is most commended which in tract of time as it growes to be old waxes also blacke Moreouer some kinds of wood as they be more lasting than other so they continue better being emploied in one kind of work than they do in another The Elme timber will well abide the aire and the wind The wild Oke Robur loueth to stand within the ground and the common Oke is good in the water let it bee vsed aboue ground to take the aire and the weather it will cast warpe and cleaue too bad The Larch wood agreeth passing wel with water works and so doth the black Alder. As for the Oke Robur it will corrupt and rot in the sea The Beech will doe well in water and the Walnut tree likewise but to stand within the earth they are principall good and haue no fellow And for the Iuniper it will hold the owne being laid vnder ground but for building aboue in the open aire it is excellent good The Beech and the Cerus wood rot quickly The smal Oke called Esculus canot abide the water The Cherrie tree wood is firme and fast the Elme and the Ash are tough how beit they will soone settle downward and sag being charged with any weight but bend they will before they break and in case before they were fallen they stood a while in the wood after they had a kerfe round about for their superfluous moisture to run out vntill they were well dried they would be the better and sure in building It is commonly said that the Larch wood if it be put into ships at sea is subject to wormes like as al other kinds of wood vnlesse it be the wild and tame Oliue For to conclude some timber is more readie to corrupt and be marred in the sea and others againe vpon the land CHAP. XLI ¶ Of wormes that breed in wood OF vermine that eat into wood there be 4 kinds The first are called in Latine Teredines a very great head they haue for the proportion of the body and with their teeth they gnaw These are found only in ships at sea and indeed properly none other be Teredines A second sort there be and those are land wormes or mothes named Tineae But a third kind resembling gnats the Greeks tearme by the name of Thripes In the fourth place bee the little wormes whereof some are bred of the putrified humor and corruption in the very timber like as others againe engender in trees of a worme called Cerastes for hauing gnawne and eaten so much that he hath roume enough to turne him about within the hole which he first made hee engendreth this other worm Now some wood there is so bitter that none of these wermin will breed in it as the Cypresse others likewise so hard that they cannot eat into it as the Box. It is a generall opinion that if the Firre be barked about the budding times at such an age of the Moon as hath been before said it will neuer putrifie in the water Reported it is by those that accompanied Alexander the great in his voiage into the East that in the Isle Tylos lying within the red sea there be certain trees that serue for timber to build ships the which were known to continue two hundred yeares and being drowned in the sea were found with the wood nothing at all perished They affirmed moreouer that in the same Island there grew little plants or shrubs no thicker than would wel serue for walking staues to cary in a mans hand the wood whereof was massie and ponderous striped also and spotted in manner of a Tygres skin but so brittle withall that if it chanced to fall vpon a thing harder than it selfe it would breake into fitters like glasse CHAP. XLII ¶ Of timber good for Architecture and Carpentrie what wood will serue for this or that worke and which is the strongest and surest timber for roufes of building WEe haue here in Italie wood and timber that will cleaue of it selfe For which cause our Maister Carpenters giue order to besmeare them with beasts dung and so to lie a drying that the wind and piercing aire should not hurt them The joists and plankes made of Firre and Larch are very strong to beare a great weight although they bee laid in length ouerthwart Contrariwise the Rafters made of the wild Oke Robur and Oliue wood wil bend yeeld vnder their load whereas the other named before do resist mainly withstand neither will they easily break vnlesse they haue much wrong nay sooner do they rot than faile otherwise in strength The Date-tree wood also is tough and strong for it yeeldeth not but curbeth the contrarie way The Poplar setteth and bendeth downeward whereas the Date-tree contrariwise rises vpward archwise The Pine and the Cypres are not subject either to rottennesse or worme-eating The Walnut tree wood soone bendeth and is saddle-backt as it lieth for thereof also they often vse to make beames and rafters but before that it breaketh it will giue wâ—…ing by a cracke which saued many a mans life in the Island Antandros at what time as being within the common baines they were skared with the crack that the floore gaue and ran forth speedily before all fell Pines Pitch trees and Allar are very good for to make pumps and conduit-pipes to conuey water and for this purpose their wood is boared hollow lying buried vnder the ground they will continue many a yeare sound and good let them bee vncouered without any mould and lie aboue ground they will quickly decay But if water also stand aboue the wood a wonder it is to see how they will harden therewith and endure Firre or Deale wood is of all other surest and strongest for roufes aboue head the same also is passing good for dore leaues for bolts and barres also in all seelings and wainscot or whatsoeuer it bee whether Greekish Campaine or Sicilian it is best and maketh very faire worke A man shall see the fine shauings thereof run alwaies round and winding like the tendrills of a vine as the Ioyner runneth ouer the painels and quarters with his plainer Moreouer the timber of it is commendable for coaches and chariots and there is not a wood that makes a better and stronger joynt with glew than it doth insomuch as the sound plank will sooner cleaue in any other place than in the joynt where it was glewed CHAP. XLIII ¶ Of glewing timber of rent clouen and sawen painell GReat cunning there is in making strong glew and in the feat of joyning with it as well in regard of seelings and wainscot made of thin bourd and painell as of marquetry other inlaid workes and for this purpose Ioyners doe chuse the mistresse threadie grain that is most streight which some call the Fertill veine because ordinarily it breedeth others
swine is most commended only Columella condemneth it Some praise the mucke of any foure-footed beasts whatsoeuer so they were fed with Tree-trifolie called Cytisus Others prefer the doung of Pigeons before any other in the second place that of Goats thirdly of sheepe then of kine and oxen and lastly of cart-jades mules asses and such like Thus you see as well what difference there was in times past between this dung and that as also what were the rules so farre as I can guesse and learne whereby they went in the vse and ordering thereof for to say a truth the old way is best euen herein as well as in other matters Ouer and besides the practise hath bin already seen in some of our prouinces where there is so great store of cattell bred to riddle and sift their dung ouer their ground through sieues in manner of meale and so in processe of time it loseth not only the stinking sent and ill-fauored sight that it had but also turneth into a pleasant smel and looketh louely withall Of late found it hath been by experience that Oliue trees doe like and prosper very well if the ashes of lime-kills especially be laid to their roots Varro among many other precepts addeth and saith That corne grounds would be manured with hors-dung because it is the lightest but medowes require compost that is heauier and namely made by beasts that haue barley for their prouender for that such soile bringeth plentie of grasse Some there bee aâ—…so that preferre the dung made by horses before the mucke of kine and Oxen likewise sheeps treddles before Goats dung but Asses mucke before all other because they eat and chew their meat most leisurely But daily experience teacheth the contrary and testifieth against the one and the other And thus much as touching compost of mucke Furthermore all men are of opinion that nothing is better for the ground than to sow Lupines therupon prouided alwaies that before it cod it be turned into the ground by the plough spade or two-piked yron forke also when it is cut down to make it into wads or bottles and so to bury them at the roots of trees and vines especially In countries where there are no cattell to better the lands it is thought good to manure the same in stead of beasts dung with very hawme straw and ferne Cato hath a deuise to make an artificiall mucke or compost of litter lupine straw chaffe beane stalks leaues and branches both of Mast-holm and oke He saith moreouer to the same purpose Weed out of the standing corn Walwort otherwise called Danewort and Hemlock also from about oâ—…er-plots plucke vp ranke weeds or ground Elder also Reeke or Sea-grasse and dead leaues or branches lying rotten vnder trees when thou haste so done strew and lay a course of them vnder sheep where they be folded Item If the Vine begin to decay and wax leane burne the shreads and cuttings of the owne and turne the ashes vnder ground hard to the roots thereof Item where thou meanest to sow any wheat or such like bread-corn draw thy sheep thither and there fold them He saith moreouer that the sowing of some graine is as good as a dunging to the ground for these be his very words The fruit it selfe of the earth is a batling to the earth and namely Lupines Beans and Vetches for they muck the lands like as on the contrary side Chiches do burn the ground both because they are plucked and also for that they stand vpon salt Semblably doth Barley Foenigreeke Eruile and generally all kind of pulse which are pulled and not mowne downe Item Take heed quoth Cato that you set no pepins or kernels where you meane to sow corne As for Virgil he is of opinion that the sowing of Line-seed for flax likewise of Otes and Poppies do burne corne-ground and pill it out of heart He also giueth rules as touching mucke-hills That they should be made in the open aire within some hollow place where it may gather water that they be couered ouer with straw and litter for feare they should dry in the Sun and last of all that they haue a good strong stake of Oke pitched and driuen in about the mids thereof for so there will no snakes nor such like serpents breed and ingender therein Moreouer as touching the spreading of mucke and mingling it with the mould of a land it is exceeding good to do it when the winde setteth full West so that the Moon then be past the full and in the Waine But this rule many haue mistaken and not construed aright supposing that they should so do when the Western wind Fauonius beginneth to rise and namely in the moneth of Februarie only whereas indeed most cornlands require this point of husbandry in other moneths as wel But looke what time soeuer you list to do it be sure in any hand that the wind do then blow from the Equinoctiall point of the West and that the moone then be in the waine and drie withall Haue regard to these rules and obseruations you will wonder to see the effects thereof and what increase the earth thereby will yeeld CHAP. X. ¶ The planting and setting of trees the manner how trees do grow by a Sion sliued and plucked from the root NOw that we haue already sufficiently treated of the considerations as well of the aire and skie as of the earth belonging vnto plants and trees me thinks it were to good purpose to discourse of the industry and artificiall meanes that men haue vsed to make trees grow and verily we shall find no fewer kinds of them that come by mans hand than of such as nature it selfe hath brought forth so kind and thankfull we haue bin to her as to make recompence in this behalfe First and formost therefore this is to be noted That all trees do grow either of seed sowne or of branches growing to the tree and couched in the ground or of an old stocke from whence new imps may sprout also either of a slip or sprig plucked from another tree and so laid in the ground or of a young shoot twig impe or Sion engraffed in the very trunk of a tree slit and clouen for that purpose For I cannot chuse but maruell much at Trogus who was verily persuaded That about Babylon the leaues onely of Date trees beeing set or sowne would prooue trees Now whereas there be so many deuises abouesaid for to nourish trees this you must vnderstand that some trees there be which will grow by many of these waies before specified and others by them all And verily the most part of this knowledge hath beene taught by Nature her selfe for first of all we haue learned by her for to sow seed by occasion that we haue seen some to fall from trees which being receiued by the ground haue chitted taken root and liued And in very truth some trees there be that grow no otherwise as Chestnut and Walnut-trees excepting
onely those that being cut downe doe spring new again from the root Of seed also although the same be farre vnlike to others those also will grow that are vsually planted otherwise as for example Vines Apple trees and Pyrries for in these the stone and pepin within serueth in stead of the seed and not the fruit it selfe as in those before rehearsed the kernels whereof i. the fruit are sowne Medlars likewise may come vp of seed But all the sort of these that spring after this maner be late ere they be come forward and slow in growth they turn also to a degenerat and bastard nature and had need to be graffed anew ere they be restored to their owne kind which is the case of Chestnuts also otherwhiles Howbeit there be others for them againe which sow or set them what way you will neuer grow out of their owne kind and such be Cypresses Date trees and Lawrels for the Lawrell commeth vp by sowing by setting and planting after sundry sorts The diuers kinds whereof we haue described already Of all which the Lawrell Augusta with the broad leaues the common Bay tree also that beareth berries as also the wild kind named Tinus be ordered all three after one and the same sort The manner whereof is this the Bayes or berries thereof be gathered dry in the moneth of Ianuary when the Northeast wind bloweth they are laid abroad thin to wither one apart from another not in heaps for feare they should catch a heat This done some put them afterwards in dung and being thus prepared and ready for to be sowne they steep them in wine Others take and lay them within a large basket or twiggen panier trample them vnder their feet in a brook of running water vntill they be pilled and rid of their outward skins for otherwise their skin is of so tough and moist a substance that it would hardly or not at all suffer them to come vp grow After all this in a plot of ground wel and throughly digged once or twice ouer a trench or furrow must be made a hand full deepe and therein the berries ought to be buried by heaps to wit twenty or thereabout together in one place and all this would be done in the month of March. Lawrels also will grow if their branches or boughes be bended from the stocke and laid within the ground but the Triumphall Lawrell will come vp no other way but by setting a graffe or impe cut from it As for the Myrtle all the sorts thereof within Campaine come of berries sown but we at Rome vse to interre only the boughes of the Tarentine Myrtle growing still to the body and by that means come to haue Myrtle trees Democritus sheweth another deuise also to increase Myrtles namely to take the fairest and biggest berries thereof lightly to bruise or bray them in a mortar so that the grains or kernels within be not broken then to besmere with the batter or stamped substance thereof a course cord made of Spart or Spanish broome or els hempen hurds and so lay it along within the ground Thus there wil spring therof a maruellous thick hay or wall as it were of yong Myrtles out of which the small twigs you may draw which way you will yea and plant them elswhere After the like manner folke vse to sow thorns or brambles for to make hedges mounds namely by annointing such another hempen rope with bramble blacke-berries and interring the same As for Bayes thus sowne when they come once to beare a dark and blackish leafe Myrtles also when their leaues be of a wine color to wit of a deep red which commonly happeneth when they be three yeres old it wil be time to remoue and transplant Among those plants and trees that are sowne of seeds Mago maketh much ado and is foully troubled about those trees that beare nuts such like fruit in shels for to begin with almonds first he would haue them to be set in a soft clay ground that lieth into the South yet he saith again that Almond trees loue a hot and hard soile for in a fat or moist ground they will either die or els wax vnfruitful But aboue all he giueth a rule to chuse Almonds for to set or sow that be mo stâ—…oked and especially such as were gathered from a young tree also he ordaineth that they should be well soked or infused in soft beast sherne or thin dung for three daies together or at leastwise in honied water a day before they be put into the ground Item they ought by his saying to be set charilâ—… with the sharp and pointed end pitched downward and the edge of the one side to turne into the Northeast Also that they must stand three and three together in a triangle forsooth so as there be a handbredth iust between euery one Moreouer that euerie tenth day they ought to be watered till they be shot vp to a good bignesse Now to come vnto walnuts they be laid along within the earth with this regard that they do ly vpon their ioints As for pine nuts there would be six or seuen of their kernels put together into pots that haue holes in them and so buried in the ground or else they should be ordered after the manner of the Bay tree which commeth of berries bruised as hath been shewed before The Citron tree will grow of seed and may be set also of sprigges or twiggs drawne to the ground from the tree and so couched Servis trees come of the grains thereof sowed of a quick-set plant also with the root or of a slip plucked from it But as the Citron trees liue in hot grounds so these Servises loue cold and moist As concerning seminaries and nourse-gardens Nature hath shewed vs the reason and maner thereof by certaine trees that put forth at the root a thick spring of yong shoots or sions but lightly the mother that beareth these imps killeth them when she hath done with her shade and dropping together And this is euident to be seene in Lawrels Pomegranate trees Planes Cherry trees and Plum trees for standing as these imps doe a number of them without all order vnder their mother stocke they be ouershadowed and kept downe so that they mislike and neuer come to proofe Howbeit some few there be of this sort that are not so vnkinde to their yong breed as to kill them with the shadow of their boughs and namely Elmes Date trees This would be obserued by the way that no trees haue such yong imps springing at their feet but they only-whose roots for loue of the warm sun and moist rain spred aloft and ly eb within the ground Moreouer the manner is not to set these yong plants presently in the place where they must remaine and continue for altogether but first they are to be bestowed in a piece of ground where they may take nourishment to wit in some
nurse-garden for the nones vntil they are grown to a good stature and then they are to be remoued a second time to their due place And a wonder it is to see how this transplanting doth mitigate euen the sauage nature of the wildest trees that are whether it be that trees as well as men are desirous of nouelties and loue to be trauelling for change or that as they go from a place they leaue behind them their malicious qualitie and being vsed to the land become tame and gentle like the wild beasts especially when such yong plants are plucked and taken vp with the quicke root Wee haue learned of Nature also another kinde of planting like to this for we see that not only water shoots springing out of the root but other sprigs slipped from the stocke liue and doe full well but in the practise of this feat they ought to be pulled away with a colts foot of their owne so as they take a quicke parcell also of their mothers bodie with them in manner of a fringe or border hanging thereto After this manner they vse to set Pomegranate Filberd Hazell Apple and Servise trees Medlars also Ashes and Figge trees but Vines especially marie a quince ordered and planted in that sort will degenerate and grow to a bastard kinde From hence came the inuention to set into the ground yong sprigs or twigs cut off from the tree This was at first practised with foot-sets for a prick-hedge namely by pitching down into the earth Elder Quince-cuttings brambles but afterwards men began to do the like by those trees that are more set by and nourished for other purposes as namely Poplars Alders and the Willow which of all others may be pricked into the ground with any end of the cutting or sprig downward it makes no matter whether for the smaller end will take as wel as the bigger Now al the sort of these are bestowed and ranged in order at the first hand euen as a man would haue them and where he list to see them grow neither need they any remouing or transplantation at all But before we proceed any further to other sorts of planting trees it were good to declare the manner how to order seminaries seed-plots or nource-gardens For to make a good pepinnier or nource-garden there would be chosen a principal and special peece of ground for oftentimes it falleth out yea and meet it is that the nource which giueth sucke should be more tender ouer the infant than the owne naturall mother that bare it In the first place therefore let it be sound and drie ground how be it furnished with a good and succulent elemental moisture and the same broken vp and afterwel digged ouer and ouer with mattock and spade and brought to temper and order so as it be nothing coy but readie to receiue al manner of plants that shall come and to entertain them as welcome guests withall as like as may be to that ground vnto which they must be remoued at last But before al things this would be looked to that it be rid clean of all stones surely fenced also and paled about for to keep out cockes and hens and all pullen it must not be full of chinkes and cranies for feare that the heat of the sunne enter in and burne vp the small filaments or strings and beard of the new roots and last of all these pepins or kernels ought to stand a foot and a halfe asunder for in case they meet together and touch one another besides other faults inconueniences they will be subiect to wormes and therefore I say there would be some distance between that the ground about them may be often harrowed and raked to kill the vermin and the weeds pluckt vp by the heeles that do breed them Moreouer it would not be forgotten to proin these yong plants when they are but new come vp to cut away I say the superfluous springs vnderneath and vse them betimes to the hooke Cato giueth counsel to sticke forks about their beds a mans height and lay hurdles ouer them so as the Sun may be let in vnderneath and those hurdles to couer and thatch ouer with straw or holme for to keepe out the cold in winter Thus are yong plants of Peare trees and Apple trees nourished thus Pine nut trees thus Cypresses which do likewise come vp of â—…eed are cherished As for the grains or seeds of the Cypres tree they be exceeding small and so small indeed that some of them can scarce be discerned well by the eye Wherein the admirable worke of Nature would be considered to wit that of so little seeds should grow so great and mightie trees considering how far bigger are the cornes of Wheat and Barley to make no reckoning nor speech of Beans in comparison of them What should we say to Peare trees and Apple trees what proportion or likenesse is there between them and the pretty little pepins whereof they take their beginning Maruell we not that of so slender and small things at the first they should grow so hard as to checke and turne again the very edge of ax and hatchet that frames and stocks of presses should be made thereof so strong and tough as will not shrinke vnder the heauiest poise and weights that be that Mast-poles comming thereof should be able to beare saile in wind and weather and finally that they should afford those huge and mightie Rams and such like engins of batterie sufficient to command towers and bastils yea and beat downe strong walls of stone before them Lo what the force of Nature is see how powerfull shee is in her works But it passeth and exceedeth all the rest that the very gum and liquour distilling out of a tree should bring forth new plants of the same kind as we will more at large declare in time and place conuenient To returne then againe to the female Cypres for the male as hath bin said already bringeth forth no fruit after that the little balls or pills which be the fruit thereof be gathered they are laid in the Sun to dry during those moneths which we haue before shewed and being thus dried they will breake and cleaue in sunder Now when they are thus opened they yeeld forth a seed which Pismires are very greedy of Where another wonder of Nature offereth it selfe vnto vs That so small a creature as it should eat and consume the seed which giueth life and being to so great and tall trees as the Cypres Well when the said seed is gotten and the plot of ground â—…aid euen and smooth with cilinders or rollers it must be sowne of a good thicknesse in the moneth of Aprill and fresh mould sifted and strewed ouer with riddles an inch thicke and no more for if this grain be buried ouer-deep and surcharged it is not able to break through against the weight of the earth but in stead of rising vp the new chit turneth and bendeth
is meet for by reason of the foresaid bonds they need not feare the gaping of it too wide Some stocks there be that the very same day that they be graffed in the nource-garden are without any harme remooued to the place where they must grow If the stocke wherein you graffe be big and round the best way is to set the sion between the barke and the wood therof and to diuide the one from the other with a wedge of bone least in enlarging of the barke it channce to breake In graffing of a Cherry tree stocke the ouer rind or barke would be taken away before the clift be made Now these trees alone of all others may be graffed very well presently after mid-winter When the said rind is gone you shall see therein a certain down that if it chance to clasp about the graft it rots the same incontinently But to return again to our worke of graffing After the wedge is taken forth whole and sound at the point which is a token that no spill remaines within you may be bold to bind the head of the stocke all about Yet this would be considered by the way which I had like to haue forgotten that the best handsomest graffing is as neer the ground as may be in case the knots wil giue leaue and the stock beare it also that the grafts would not conueniently stand without the stock aboue six fingers breadth Now when al is done and sure work made as hath been said Cato willeth vs to take cley or the sandie grit of chalk mixed together with oxe or cow shearn to worke and temper all these together in maner of a tough past or cataplasme and then to lay the same within the clift round about to daube all And verily by this and other such rules which he hath left in writing it appears plainly that in those daies the manner was to graffe betweene the barke and the tree and not otherwise as also to set the sions in the stocke not aboue two fingers deepe As for Apple trees and Pyrries he prescribeth that they should be graffed in the Spring also 50 daies after the summer Sun-stead and again after vintage but Oliues and Fig-trees in the Spring only obseruing the age and disposition of the Moon when she is in the wane and thirstie that is to say drie moreouer after noonetide and when no Southern wind doth blow And I cannot chuse but wonder much at the curiositie and double diligence of Cato who not content to haue defended the graft with clay or past aforesaid yea and to preserue it with turfe and mosse against the injurie of rain and cold to haue bound it about also with little knitches of soft osier twigs sliued in twaine must giue charge besides to couer it with Oxe-tongue a kind of herb there is so called i. Buglosse and yet hee hath not done but the same must be bound with wispes and wreaths of straw and litter aloft Now adaies men make no more adoe but thinke it sufficient to stop and close vp barke and al with earth or cley and chaffe tempered together thinking it sufficient the graft beare out two fingers breadth aboue They that wait vpon the Spring season for to graffe are many times driuen to their shifts for want of time by reason that all trees make hast then to bud and do break out of a sudden vnlesse it be the Oliue the oilets or eies wherof be longest while in comming forth as hauing least sap of all other running vnder the barke the which if it were ouermuch would stifle and choke the grafts As for the Pomegranat and Fig tree howsoeuer otherwise they seem to be dry yet good it is not to defer and put off the graffing of them The Peare tree may well enough be graffed with the blossom on the head and it makes no matter if a man do stay and graffe it within the moneth of May. To be short if a man be constrained to fetch his sions or imps of Apple trees and such like far off it is thought that they will keepe their sap best if they be stuck or set fast in a Rape root Also if one would preserue them a certain time before they should be occupied it is passing good to lay them close betweene two erest tiles well stopped on euery side with earth and that neere to some riuers or fish-ponds CHAP. XV. ¶ The manner how to graffe a Vine tree AS for the cuttings or sets of vines they may be kept wel a long time couered all ouer with straw or litter in dry ditches and afterwards they are to be laid within the earth all hilled or couered saue only that their heads be seen aboue ground Cato graffeth a vine stock three maner of waies First he willeth that the mother stock should be cut ouerthwart then clouen through the very pith or heart in the mids wherin he would haue the yong imps thwitted and sharpened as is beforesaid to be set and ingraffed so as the marrow of the one and the other may ioyne and meet iust together The second maner is when two vine stockes doe reach one to the other for to cut byas or aslaunt after the manner of a goats foot two twigs or branches of either one with this regard that these cuts be of a contrarie side the one vnto the other and withall so deep as that they come vnto the pith or heart then to fit one to the other ioyning pith to pith and then binding them fast together so close that no aire may enter between vntill such time as the one hath adopted the other The third deuise is to bore holes in an old vine not directly but aslope as far as to the pith and then to put into them yong imps 2 foot long and to bind them fast which done to make a certaine batter or morter with clay beasts dung and sand together and therewith to dawbe the place but with this regard that the graft stand halfe vpright or somwhat leaning This manner of graffing hath bin checked and corrected of late daies by our countrymen who leauing the hand-piercer haue taken the French Vibrequin or brest-wimble which gently and quickely boreth a hole and hurteth not the wood for all chasing heate caused by the said piercer dulleth the vigor both of stock and imp Also they haue deuised that the said imp to be ingraffed be gathered from the tree when it begins to bud or burgen and when it is set into the stocke that it be left standing out with no more than two eies or buds out of the graffing place that it be well bound also with the winding rods of an Elme moreouer that on either side of it the mother stock be slit or cut in two places on both sides to the end that from thence rather than otherwise the waterish humour may distill and drop forth which of all things hurteth vines most After all this they would haue the
said graffe remain bound vntill such time as it haue put forth shoots two foot long and then the foresaid bands to be cut in sunder that they may burnish in thicknes and at ease accordingly The season which they haue allowed for to graffe vines is from the Equinoctial in Autumne vnto the time that they begin to bud forth Generally all trees that are tame and gentle may wel be graffed into stocks and roots of the wild which by nature are dryer contrariwise grasse the wild and sauage kind vpon the other you shal haue all degenerate and become wild Touching other points belonging to the seat of graffing all dependeth vpon the goodnesse or malignitie of the sky and weather In sum a dry season is good for all trees graffed in this maner and say that the drought were excessiue there is a good remedie for it namely to take certain earthen pots of ashes and to let water distill through them softly by little and little to the root of the stock As for inoculation it loueth small dewes otherwhiles to refresh both stock scutcheon and Oilet CHAP. XVI ¶ Of Emplastration or graffing with the Scutcheon THe manner of graffing by way of emplaistre or scutcheon may seeme also to haue come from inoculation and this deuise agreeth best with those trees that haue thick barks as namely Fig trees To goe therefore artificially to worke the mother stocke or tree to be graffed must be well rid and clensed from the branches all about the place where you mean to practise this feat because they should not suck the sap from thence and chuse the nearest and frimmest part which seems most fresh and liuely then cut forth a scutcheon of the barke but be careful that your instrument pierce no farther than the bark nor enter into the quick wood which done take from another tree the like scutcheon of the bark sauing the eye or bud thereon and set it in the place of the other but so equall this must be to the place and so close ioyned and vnited to it that a man may see no token at all or apparance in the ioynt of any wound or skar made to the end that presently they may concorporat that no humor of the sap may issue forth nor so much as any wind get between and yet to make sure work the better way is to lute it well and close with clay and then to bind it fast This deuice of graffing thus with the scutcheon was but lately found out by their saying that fauor all new and modern inuentions howbeit I find that the antient Greeks haue written thereof yea and Cato also our own Countryman who ordained to graffe both Oliue and Fig tree in that order and as he was a man verie diligent and curious in all things that he tooke in hand he hath set downe the iust measure and proportion of the scutcheon for he would haue the barks both the one and the other to be cut out with a chisell foure fingers long and three in bredth and so to close vp all in manner aforesaid that they might grow together and then to be dawbed ouer with that mortar of his making aforesaid after which maner Apple trees also may be graffed Some there be who haue intermingled and comprehended vnder this kinde of graffing with the scutcheon that deuise of making in the side a cleft and namely in vines for they take forth a little square piece with the bark and then set in an impe very hard close on that side where it is plain and euen to the very marow or pith Certes neere to Thuliae in the Tyburtines country I haue seen a tree graffed all these waies abouesaid and the same laden with all manner of fruits one bough bearing Nuts another berries here hung Grapes there Figs in one part you should see Peares in another Pomegranats and to conclude no kind of Apple or other fruit but there it was to be found mary this tree liued not long Howbeit let vs vse what diligence we can yet neuer shal we able with all our experiments to attain vnto the depth of Natures secrets For some Trees there be that come vp of themselues and by no art and industry of man wil be made to grow such also loue ordinarily to be in wild forests and in rough desarts where they prosper well wheras the Plane tree wil beare all manner of graffing best of any other and next vnto it the wild and hard Oke but both the one and the other corrupt and mar the tast of what fruit soeuer is graffed thereupon Some trees there be that refuse not to be ingraffed vpon any stock and what way soeuer they be graffed it skils not as fig trees and Pomgranat trees As for the Vine it will not beare the scutcheon neither any Tree besides that hath a thin barke or which doth pill and rift no nor such as be dry or haue small store of sap within them can away with inoculation Howbeit this maner of graffing is most fruitfull of all other and next vnto it that which is done by way of scutcheon or emplastre yet trees so graffed be of all others most tender and feeble as also such as rest and stay vpon the bark only are with the least wind that is soonest displanted and laid along on the ground The surest and strongest way therefore is to graffe imps vpon the head of a stocke yea and more plentifull by far than to sow them of seed or plant them otherwise CHAP. XVII ¶ An historie shewing the example and proofe hereof IN this discourse and question concerning grafts I cannot passe ouer the rare obseruation of one example practised by Corellius a Knight of Rome borne at Ateste This Gentleman of Rome in a ferme that he had within the territorie of Naples chanced to graffe a Chestnut with an imp cut from the same tree This graft tooke and bare faire Chestnuts and pleasant to the tast which of him took their name After the decease of this gentleman his heire who had bin somtime his bondslaue and by him infranchised graffed the foresaid Corellian Chestnut tree a second time and certainly between them both was this difference The former Corellian bare the more plenty but the nuts of the other twice graffed were the better As for other sorts of graffing or planting mans wit hath deuised by obseruing that which hath fallen out by chance thus are we taught to set broken boughs into the ground when we saw how stakes pitched into the earth tooke root Many trees are planted after that maner and especially the Fig tree which will grow any way saue only of a little cutting but best of all if a man take a good big branch thereof sharpen it at the end in manner of a stake and so thrust it deepe into the ground leauing a small head aboue the ground and the same couered ouer with sand The Pomegranate likewise and the Myrtles are set
of branches but the hole first ought to be made easie and large with a strong stake or crow of iron In sum all these boughs ought to be 3 foot long smaller in compasse than a mans arme sharpned at the one end and with the barke saued whole and sound with great care As for the Myrtle tree it wil come also of a cutting the Mulberry will not otherwise grow for to couch and plant them with their branches we are forbidden for feare of the lightnings And forasmuch as we are fallen into the mention of such cuttings I must now shew the manner of planting them also aboue all things therefore regard would be had that they be taken from such trees as be fruitfull that they be not crooked rough and rugged nor yet sorked ne yet slenderer than such as would fil a mans hand or shorter than a foot in length Item That the barke be not broken or rased that the nether end of the cut be set into the ground and namely that part alwaies which grew next the root and last of al that they be banked wel with earth about the place where they spring and bud forth vntil such time as the plant haue gotten strength CHAP. XVIII ¶ The manner of planting ordering and dâ—…essing Olive trees Also which be the conuenient times for graffing WHat rules by the iudgment of Cato are to be obserued in the dressing and husbanding of Oliues I think it best to set down here word for word as he hath deliuered them Thus he saith therefore The trunches or sets of Oliue trees which thou meanest to lay in trenches make them 3 foot long handle them gently and with great care that in cutting sharpning or squaring them the bark take no harm nor pill from the wood As for such as thou dost purpose to plant in a nourse-garden for to remoue again see they be a foot in length and in this manner set them Let the place be first digged throughly with a spade vntill it be well wrought lie light and brought into temper when thou puttest the said truncheon into the ground beare it downe with thy foot if it goe not willingly deepe enough by that means driue it lower with a little beetle or mallet but take heed withall that thou riue not the barke in so doing A better way there is To make a hole first with a stake or crow before thou set it into the ground and therein maist thou put it at ease and so will it liue also and take root the sooner when they be three yeares old haue then a carefull eye to them in any case and marke where and when the bark turneth If thou plant either in ditches or furrowes lay three plants together in the earth but so as their heads may stand a good way asunder aboue the ground also that there be no more seen of them than the bredth of foure fingers or els if thou thinke good set the buds or eyes only of the Oliue Moreouer when thou art about to take vp an oliue plant for to set again be wary and carefull that thou break not the root get as many spurres or strings called the beard as thou canst earth and all about them and when thou hast sufficiently couered those roots with mould in the replanting be sure thou tread it down close with thy foot that nothing hurt the same Now if a man demand and would gladly know what is the fittest time for planting oliues in one word I will tell him Let him chuse a dry ground in seed time i. in Autumne and a fat or battle ground in the spring furthermore begin to prune thy Oliue tree 15 daies before the Aequinox in the spring and from that time forward for the space of sorty daies thou canst not do amisse The maner of pruning or disbranching them shall be thus Looke where thou seest a place fertile if thou spy any dry or withered twigs or broken boughs that the wind hath met withall be sure thou cut them away euerie one but if the plot of ground be barren eare it vp better with the plough take pains I say to till it well to breake all clots and make it euen to clense the trees likewise of knurs and knots and to discharge them of all superfluous wood also about Autumne bate the earth from about the roots of Oliues and lay them bare but in stead thereof put good mucke thereto Howbeit if a man do very often labor the ground of an olive plot and take a deep stitch he shall now and then plough vp the smallest roots thereof so ebbe they will run within the ground which is not good for the trees for in case they spread aloft they will wax the thicker and so by that means the strength and vertue of the Oliue will turne all into the root As touching all the kinds of Olive trees how may they be also in what ground they ought to be set and wherein they will like liue best likewise what coast of the heauen they should regard we haue shewed sufficiently in our discourse and treatise of Oile Mago hath giuen order in his books of husbandry that in planting them vpon high grounds in dry places and in a vein of clay the season should be between Autumne and mid-Winter but in case you haue a fat moist or waterish soile he sets down a longer time namely from haruest to mid-winter But this rule of his you must take to be respectiue to the clymat of Africk only for in Italy at this day verily men vse to plant most in the Spring howbeit if a man hath a mind to be doing also in Autumne he may be bold to begin after the Equinox for during the space of 40 dayes together euen to the setting of the Brood-hen star there are no more but 14 days ill for planting In Barbarie the people haue this practise peculiar to themselues For to graffe in a wilde Oliue stock whereby they continue a certain perpetuity for euer as the boughs that were graffed and as I may say adopted first wax old and grow to decay a second quickly putteth forth afresh taken new from another tree and in the same old stock sneweth yong and liuely and after it a third successiuely and as many as need so as by this meanes they take order to eternise their Oliues insomuch as one Oliue plant hath bin known to haue prospered in good estate a world of yeares This wilde Oliue aforesaid may be graffed either with sions set in a cliffe or els by way of inoculation with the scutcheon aforesaid But in planting of Oliues this heed must be taken that they be not set in a hole where an Oke hath been stocked vp by the root for there be certain canker-wormes called Erucae in Latine or Raucae breeding in the root of an Oke which eat the same and no doubt will do as much by the Oliue tree Moreouer it is found by experience
Figge tree hath gotten some strength and is growne to sufficient bignesse for to beare a graffe which ordinarily is at three yeares end or at the vtmost when it is fiue yeares old the head thereof must be cut or sawed off and then the branch or bough of the Oliue beforesaid being well clensed and made neat and the head end thereof as is beforesaid thwited and scraped sharpe howbeit not yet cut from the mother stocke must bee set fast in the shanke of the Figge-tree where it must bee kept well and surely tied with bands for feare that thus beeing forced and graffed arch-wise it start and flurt not out againe and returne vnto the owne Thus beeing of a mixt and meane nature betweene a branch or bough growing still vnto the Tree and yet laied in the ground to take new root and an Impe or Sion graffed for the space of three yeares it is suffered to feed and grow indifferently betweene two mothers or rather by the meanes thereof two motherstocks are growne and vnited together But in the fourth yeare it is cut wholly from the owne mother and is become altogether an adopted child to the Fig-tree wherein it is incorporat A pretty deuise I assure you to make a Fig tree beare Oliues the secret whereof is not knowne to euery man but I my selfe do conceiue and see the reason of it well enough Moreouer the same regard and consideration aboue rehearsed as touching the nature of grounds whether they be hot cold moist or dry hath shewed vs also the manner of digging furrows and ditches For in watery places it will not be good to make them either deep or large whereas contrariwise in a hot and dry soile they would be of great capacity both to receiue and also to hold store of water And verily this is a good point of husbandry for to preserue not only yong plants but old trees also for in hot countries men vse in Summer time to raise hillocks and banks about their roots and couer them all therewith for feare lest the extreme heat of the Sun should scoreh and burne them But in other parts the manner is to dig away the earth and to lay the roots bare and let in the wind to blow vpon them The same men also in winter doe banke the roots about and thereby preserue them from the frost Contrariwise others in the winter open the ground for to admit moisture to quench their thirst But in what ground soeuer it be where such husbandry is requisit the way of clensing tree roots and ridding the earth from them is to dig a trench three foot round about And yet this must not be don in medows forasmuch as for the loue of the Sun and of moisture the roots of trees run ebbe vnder the face of the earth And thus much verily may suffice in generall for the planting and graffing of all those trees that are to beare fruit CHAP. XX. ¶ Of Willow and Osier plots of places where reeds and Canes are nourished also of other trees that be vsually cut for poles props and stakes IT remaineth now to speake of those trees which are planted and nourished for others and for Vines especially to which purpose their wood is vsually lopped to serue the turne Among which Willowes and Oisiers are the chiefe and to be placed in the formost rank and ordinarily they loue to grow in moist and watery grounds Now for the better ordering of the Oisier the place would be well digged before and laid soft two foot and a halfe deep and then planted with little twigs or cuttings of a foot and a halfe in length and those prickt in or else stored with good big sets which the fuller and rounder they be in hand so much better they are for to grow and sooner will they proue to be trees Betweene the one and the other there ought to be a space of six foot When they are come to three yeares growth the manner is to keepe them downe with cutting that they stand not aboue ground more than two foot to the end that they might spread the better in bredth when time serues be lopped shred more easily without the help of ladder for the Withie or Osier is of this nature that the nearer it groweth to the ground the better head it beareth These trees also as wel as others require as men say to haue the ground digged laid light about them euery yere in the month of April And thus much for the planting and ordering of Oisier willowes which must be emploied in binding and winding As for the other willow which affoordeth big boughs for poles perches and props those may be set likewise of twigs and cuttings and trenched in the ground after the same manner These lightly euery fourth yere will yeeld good poles or staues for that purpose would they then be ordinarily cut and lopped If these trees become old their boughs by propagation may still maintain and replenish the place to wit by couching them within the ground after they haue lien soone yeare and taken root by cutting them clean from the stocke-father An Oisier plat of one acre stored thus will yeeld twigs sufficient for windings and bindings to serue a vineyard of fiue and twenty acres To the same purpose men are wont to plant the white poplar or Aspe in manner following First a piece of ground or a quarter must be digged and made hollow two foot deep and therin ought to be laid cuttings of a foot and a half in length after they haue had two daies drying but so as they stand one from another a foot and a handbreadth be couered ouer with mould two cubits thick As touching canes and reeds they loue to grow in places more wet and waterish than either the Willows and Oisiers aboue said oâ—… the Poplars Men vse to plant their bulbous roots which some call their oilets or eies in a trench of a span depth and those two foot and an halfe asunder These reeds do multiplie and increase of themselues if a plot be once planted with them after the old plants be extirped destroied And surely this is found now adaies to be the better and the more profitable way euen to commit all to Nature rather than to gueld and weed them out where they seem to grow ouer thick as the practise was in old time for the maner of their roots is to creepe one within another and to be so interlaced continually as if they were twisted together The fit and proper time to plant and set these canes or reeds is a little before the calends of March to wit before the oilets or eies aboue said begin to swell They grow vntill mid-winter at which time they wax hard which is a signe that they haue done growing and this is the only season also for to cut them Likewise the ground would be digged about them as often as vines The order of planting them is two
euery two sets there be a foot an half one way to wit in breadth and halfe a foot another way to wit forward in length These plants being thus ordered after they haue growne to twelue moneths they should be then discharged of all their burgeons euen to the nethermost knot vnlesse haply it bee spared and let alone for some there be that cut it also after these commeth forth the matter of the oilets shew themselues and therewith at the third tweluemonth end the quick-set root and all is remoued to another place in the vineyard Besides all this there is another pretty and wanton deuise more curious ywis than needfull to plant Vines and â—…mely after this manner Take foure branches of foure vines growing together and bearing sundry kindes of grapes bind them wel and strongly together in that part where they are most ranke and best nourished being thus bound fast together let them passe along either through the concauitie of an Oxe shanke and maribone or els an earthen pipe or tunnell made for the nonce Thus couch them in the ground and couer them with earth so as two ioints or buds be seen without By this meanes they inioy the benefit of moisture and take root together and although they be cut from their owne stocke yet they put out leaues branches After this the pipe or bone aforesaid is broken that the root may haue libertie bo th to spread and also to gather more strength And will you see the experience of a pretty secret you shall haue this one plant thus vnited of foure to beare diuers and sundry grapes according to the bodies or stocks from whence they came Yet is there one fine cast more to plant a Vine found out but of late and this is the manner thereof take a Vine-set or cutting slit it along through the midst and scrape out the marrow or pith very cleane then set them together again wood to wood as they were before and bind them fast but take heed in any case that the buds or oilets without-forth be not hurt nor rased at all This done put the same cutting into the ground interre it I say wel within earth and dung tempered together when it begins to spread yong branches cut them off and oftentimes remember to dig about it lay the earth light certes Columella holdeth it for certain and assureth vs vpon his word That the grapes comming of such a vine wil haue no stones or kernels at all within them A strange thing and passing wonderfull that the very set it selfe should liue and that which more is grow and beare notwithstanding the pith or marrow is taken quite away Furthermore since we are entred thus far into this discourse and argument I cannot passe by but I must needs speake of such twigs and branches of trees as wil knit and grow together euen to a tree For certain it is that if you take fiue or six of the smallest sprigs of box binde them together and so prick them into the ground they will proue and grow to one entire tree Howbeit in old time men obserued that these twigs should be broken off from a Box tree which neuer had bin cut or disbranched for otherwise it was thought verily they would neuer liue but afterwards this was checked by experience and the contrary knowne Thus much as touching the order of Vine-plants and their nource-garden for store It remaineth now to speak of the manner of Vineyards and Vines themselues Where in the first place there offer vnto vs fiue sorts thereof For some traine and run along vpon the ground spreading euery way with their branches others grow vpright and beare vp themselues without any staies Some rest vpon props without any traile or frame at all others be bornvp with forkes and one single raile lying ouer in a long range and last of all there be vines that run vpon trailes and frames laid ouer crosse-wise with foure courses of railes in manner of a crosse dormant The same manner of husbandry that serues those Vines which beare vpon props without any other frame at all will agree well enough to that which standeth of it selfe without any staies For surely it groweth so for default onely and want of perches and props As for the vine that is led vpon a single range as it were in one direct line which they call Canterius it is thought better than the other for plenty of liquor for besides that it shadoweth not it selfe it hath the furtherance and help of the Sun-shine continually to ripen the grapes it hath the benefit also of the wind blowing through it by which means the dew will not long stand vpon it Moreouer it lieth more handsome to the hand for the leaues to be plucked away and for the clods to be broken vnder it in one word is readiest for all kind of good husbandry to be don about it But aboue all other commodities it hath this that it is not long in the floure but bloometh most kindly As for the frame aforesaid that is ranged in one line a length it is made of perches or poles reeds and canes cords and ropes or els lines of haire as in Spaine and about Brindis The other kind of frame with railes and spars ouerthwart beareth a vine more free for plenty of wine than the rest and called this is Compluviata vitis because it resembleth the hollow course of gutter tiles that in houses receiue all raine water and cast it off For as the crosse dormant in building shutteth off the raine by foure gutters euen so is this Vine led and caried foure waies vpon as many trailes Of this Vine and the maner of planting it we will only speak for that the same ordering will serue well enough in euery kind besides marie there be far more waies to plant this than the rest but these three especially The first and the surest is to set the Vine in a plot well and throughly delued the next to it is in the furrow the last of all in a trench or ditch As for digging a plot and planting therein ynough hath been written already CHAP. XXII ¶ Of furrowes and trenches wherein vines are planted also of pruning vines IT sufficeth that the furrow or trench wherin a vine is to be planted be a spade or shouels bit breadth but ditches would be three foot long euery way Be it furrow trench or ditch wherin a vine is to be replanted it ought to be three foot deepe and therefore no plant thereof should be remoued so little but that it might ouer and besides stand aboue ground and shew two buds at the least in sight Needful it is moreouer that the earth be well loosened and made more tender and gentle by small furrowes ranged and trenched in the bottom of the ditch yea and be tempered sufficiently with dung Now if the vineyard lie pendant vpon the hanging of the hill it requireth deeper ditches and
those raised vp well with earth and bedded from the brims and edges on the lower ground As for such which shall be made longer and able to receiue two vine-plants growing contrary one to the other they shall be called in Latine Alvei Aboue al the root of the vine ought to stand just in the midst of the hole or ditch but the head and wood thereof which resteth vpon the sound and firme ground as neere as possible is must beare directly into the point of the Aequinoctiall Sun-rising and withall the first props that it leaneth vpon would be of Reeds and Canes As touching the bounding and limitation of a vineyard the principall way which runneth streight East and West ought to carry 18 foot in breadth to the end that two carts may passe easily one by another when they meet the other crosse allies diuiding euery acre just into the mids must be ten foot broad but if the plot or modell of the vineyard wil beare it these allies also which lie North and South would be as largeful as the foresaid principal high way Moreouer this would be alwaies considered That vines bee planted by fiues i. that at euery fifth perch or pole that shoreth them vp there be a path diuiding euery range and course and one bed or quarter from another If the ground be stiffe and hard it must of necessitie bee twice digged ouer and therein quick-sets only that haue taken root must be replanted marie in case it be a loose mould light and gentle you may set very cuttings and sions from the stock either in furrow or in trench chuse you whether But say it be a high ground and vpon the hill better is it to cast it into furrowes ouerthwart than to dig it that by this meanes the perches or props may keep vp the ground better which by occasion of raine water would settle downeward When the weather is disposed to raine or the ground by nature drie it is good planting vine-sets or sions at the fall of the leafe vnlesse the constitution of the tract and qualitie of a country require the contrary for a dry and hot soile would be planted in Autumne or the fal of the leafe wheras a moist and cold coast may tarry euen vntill the end of Spring Let the soile be dry and hard bootlesse it will be to plant yea though it were a very quick-set root and all Neither will it do well to venter the setting of imps cut from the tree in a drie place vnlesse it be immediatly vpon a good ground shower but in low grounds where a man may haue water at will there is no danger at all to set vine branches euen with leaues on the head for they will take well enough at any time before the Mid-summer Sun-stead as we may see by experience in Spaine When you will plant a vine chuse a faire day and if possibly you can let it be when there is no wind stirring abroad for such a calme season is best and yet many are of opinion that Southern winds be good and they wish for them which is cleane contrarie vnto Cato his mind who expressely excepteth and reiecteth them If the ground be of a middle temperature there ought to be a space of fiue foot distance between euery vine and in case it be a rich and fertile soile there would bee foure foot at least from one to another but in a leane hungrie piece of light ground there should be eight foot at the most for whereas the Vmbrians and Marsians leaue twenty foot void betweene euery range of vines they doe it for to plough and sow in the place and therein they haue quarters beds and ridges called Porculeta If the place where you plant a vineyard be subiect to thicke and darke mists or to a rainie disposition of the weather vines ought to bee set the thinner but in a drie quarter it is meet they should bee planted thicke Moreouer the wit and industrie of man hath found out meanes to saue charges and in setting a nource-garden with vine-sions to goe a nearer way with small expence and no losse of ground for in replanting a vineyard with quicke-sets vpon a leuell plot onely digged and laied euen they haue with one and the same labour as it were by the way replenished the ground between euery such rooted plants with vine cuttings for store so as the quicksets may grow in his owne place appointed and the sion or cutting which another day is to be transplanted in the mean time take root between euery course and range of the said vine quick-sets before they be ready to take vp much ground Thus within the compasse of one acre by iust proportion a man may haue about 16000 quick-sets This is the difference only that such beare not fruit so soon by two yere so much later are they that be set of sions than those that were transplanted and remain stil on foot When a quick-set of a vine is planted in a vineyard and hath grown one yere it is vsually cut downe close to the earth so as but one eie or button be left aboue ground and one shore or stake must be stickt close to it for to rest vpon and dung laid well about the root In like manner ought it to be cut the second yeare By this means it gathereth strength inwardly and maintaineth the same in such wise as it may be sufficient another day to beare and sustain the burden both of branch and bunch when it shall be charged with them for otherwise if it be let alone and suffered to make hast for to beare it would prooue to be slender vinewed leane and poore for surely this is the nature of a vine That she groweth most willingly in such sort that vnlesse she be kept vnder chastised and bridled in this manner her inordinat appetite is such she will run her selfe out of heart and go all to branch and leafe As touching props and shores to support vines the best as we haue said are those of the Oke or Oliue tree for default whereof ye may take good stakes and forks of Iuniper Cypresse Laburnium and the Elder As for those perches that be of other kinds they ought to be cut and renewed euery yeare Howbeit to lay ouer a frame for vines to â—…un vpon the best poles are of Reeds and Canes for they will continue good fiue yeares being bound many of them together When the shorter branches of a vine are twisted one within another in manner of cording or ropes and strengthened with the wood of vine cuttings amongst thereof arch-worke is made which in Latine they call Funeta Now by the time that a vine hath growne three yeares in the vineyard it putteth forth apace strong branches which in time may make vines themselues these mount quickly vp to the frame and then some good husbands there be who put out their eies that is to say with a cutting hook turning the
edge vpward fetch vp the eies budding out beneath thus by pruning although they seem to do hurt and wrong vnto them yet they draw them to shoot out the longer by the meanes for in good faith the more profitable way it is thus to vse acquaint it with bearing branches lustily and far better and easier is it besides to cut away these yong imps as the vine lieth fast joined to the frame vntill such time as a man think it be strong enough of the wood Oâ—…hers there are who in no case would haue a vine touched or medled witâ—…all the next yeare after that it is remooued into the vine-yard noâ—… yet to feele the edge oâ—… the cutting â—…ooke vntill it haue fiue yeres ouer the head mary then they agree it should be pruned guelded of all the wood it hath saue only three burgeons You shal haue some againe that will indeed cut them the very next yere after they be replanted but so as they may win euery yere three or foure ioints and when they be foure yeres old and not before they giue them liâ—…erty to climbe vpon the frame But this I assure you is the next way to make the vine fructifie slowly and late besides it causeth it to seem scortched and full of knots yea and to grow like a dwarfe or wreckling The best simply is to suffer the stocke or mother to bee strong first and afterwards let the branches and yong imps hardly be as forward and audacious as they will Neither is it safe trusting 〈◊〉 which is full of cicatrices or skarres a thing that proceeds of great errour and an vnskilfull hand for surely all such branches grow of hurts or wounds and spring not one jot from the mother stock indeed for all the while that shee gathereth strength her whole vertue remaineth within her but when she is suffered to grow and fructifie she goeth throughly to worke and emploieth her forces full and whole to bring forth that which yeerely shee conceiued for Nature produceth nothing by halfes nor by peece-meale but is deliuered of all at once Well then after that a vine is once full grown and strong enough let it presently run vpon perches or be led in a traile vpon a frame but in case it bee yet with the weakest let it be cut againe and take vp her lodging hardly beneath vnder the very frame for in this point the question is not what Age but what Strength it hath for that is it which must rule all And verily great folly and rashnesse it were to put a vine to it and let her haue the will to grow ranke before she be as big full as a mans thumbe The next yere after that it is gotten to the frame there would be saued and let to grow one or two branches according to the strength and ability of the mother let the same the yere following also be preserued nourished and permitted to grow on end vnlesse her feeblenesse be against it but when the third yeare is come and not afore be bold to giue her the head with two branches more and neuer let her goe but with foure at the most In one word hold a vine downe as much as you can neuer cocker and cherish her but rather represse her fruitfulnesse for of this nature is the vine Rather than her life she would be alwaies bearing neither taketh she such pleasure to liue long as to beare much and therefore the more you take away of her ranke and superfluous wood the better will she imploy her radicall sap and moisture to fructifie and yeeld good store of grapes yet by her good will she would be euer putting forth branches for new plants rather than busie in bearing fruit for well woteth she that fruit will fall and is but transitory Thus to her owne vndoing and ouerthrow while shee thinketh to spread and gaine more ground shee spends her strength her selfe and all Howbeit in this case the nature of the soile will guide a man and advise him well in a lean and hungry ground although the vine be strong enough you ought to keep it downe with cutting that it may make abode vnder the head of the traile and frame aboue and howsoeuer she may haue some hope that her young branches may get vp to the top as being at the very point to mount aboue it and so neare as that they reach therevnto yet let her stay there and proceed no farther suffer her not I say to lay her head thereupon and couch vpon the traile nor wantonly to spread and run on at her â—…ase In this manner I say hold her head in with the bridle that she may in the end chuse rather to grow big in body strong withall than to shoot forth branches about her euery way far and neare The same branch now that is kept short of the frame ought to haue two or three buds to burgen at and to bring forth more wood in time and then let it be drawne and trained close vnto the traile and tied fast thereto that it might seeme to beare vpon it and be supported thereby and not to hang loosely thereupon Being thus bound to the frame it must likewise be tied anon three buds or joints off for by this means also the wood is reclaimed and repressed from running out in length beyond all measure and the burgeons in the way between will come thicker shoot vpon heigth to furnish the husbandman with store of new sets and sions for the next yeare The very top end in no wise must be tied Certes this property and qualitie hath the vine That what part soeuer of it is dejected and driuen downward or els bound and tied fast the same ordinarily beareth fruit and principally in that very place where it is bowed and bent in manner of an arch As for the other parts which be backeward and neerer to the old maine stocke they send out store of new branches indeed full of wood but otherwise fruitlesse that yeare by reason I suppose verily of the spirit or vegetatiue life and that marrow or pith where of wee speake before which findeth many stops and lets in the way How be it these new shoots thus putting forth will yeeld fruit the next yere Thus there offer vnto vs two kinds of vine branches for that which springeth out of the hard and old wood and promiseth for that yeare following nothing but sprigs and twigs onely is called Pampinarium whereas that which commeth more forward beyond the cup or cicatrice and beareth shew of grapes is named Fructuarium As for another springing from a yeare-old branch it is left alwaies for a breeder and kept short vnder the frame as also that which they terme Custos i. the Keeper or Watch a young branch this is and no longer than it may well carry three buds which the next yeare is like to beare wood and repaire all in case the old vine stocke should miscarry and
spend it selfe by carrying too great a burden Also another burgen there is close to him bearing out like a knob of the bignesse of a wart called he is Furunculus who must serue the turne and make supply if peraduenture the foresaid Watch or Keeper faile Moreouer a vine if it be suffered to beare before the seuenth yeare after it was first set of a cutting or sion decaieth sensibly and soon dieth neither is it thought good to let the old wood run on still in length vpon the frame as far as to the fourth forke that vnderproppeth it such old crooked branches some call Dracones others Iuniculos to make thereof huge and great trailes of vines termed Masculeta But worst of all it is to seeme for to propagate or draw in a long traile within the ground vines in a vineyard when they be growne hard with age When the vine is fiue yeares old a man may boldly wind and twine the very branches so as out of euerie one there be a twig let to grow at liberty thus he may proceed forward to the next cutting away the wood as he goeth that bare before The surer way euermore is supposed to leaue the Watch or Keeper behinâ—… marie he must be next vnto the vines maine bodie and nearest the root and no longer than is before set downe Now in case the branches prooue ouer ranke they must be writhed and twisted in maner aforesaid so as the vine stock may put forth no more than foure boughs at the most or twaine if so be it rest vpon one chanter or range of perches If you would order a vine so as it may stand alone without any props at the beginning it would desire and haue some supporter or other it makes no matter what to rest vpon vntill it haue learned to stand of it selfe rise vpright afterwards it is to be vsed in manner of all other vines when this training is past This regard would be had in pruning and cutting the twigs of these vines called Pollices That a man well guide and ballance his hand and go euen withall in euery part indifferently for feare lest one side be charged with fruit or branch more than the other where by the way he must also remember to keepe downe the head and not suffer it in any wise to run vp in height for if this kind of vine be aboue three foot high it wil hang the head downward As for others they may well grow to fiue foot and vpward so that they passe not in any case the full height of a man To come now vnto the other vines that creepe along and spread ouer the ground they be inuironed all the way as they run with pretty short hollow cages as it were to rest and repose their branches in They haue need moreouer of certaine trenches or ditches round about to run in to the end that as the said branches wander too and fro they should not incounter one another and striue together And verily in most parts of the world they vse to gather their vintage of vines thus growing low by the ground as we may see the manner is in Africke Aegypt Syria throughout all Asia and in many places of Europe For the good vsage and dressing of these vines a speciall care would be had to keepe them downe close to the earth and to fortifie the root so long and in the same manner as hath beene shewed before in those that are shored or beare vpon frames with this charge and regard besides to leaue alwaies the short twigs only called Pollices with three buds a piece in case the ground be fruitfull or fiue if it be light and lean And in one word better it is without all question that they be left many than long As for those points which we haue deliuered heretofore as touching the nature of the soile they will be more effectually seen to proue either the goodnesse or the contrary in the grapes of this vine by how much nearer they lie to the ground than others Wherein consideration is to be had of the sundry sorts of vines namely that they be seuered apart and nothing is better than to sort euery one with the tract or region that agreeth best with it and therein to plant them accordingly for these mixtures of diuers kindes are neuer good but alwaies discordant naught in old wines that come to our table much worse then you may bee sure in those that be new and not yet tunned vp But if a man will intermingle plants of sundry vines together yet in any case those would be ioined together and none els which ripen their fruit at one and the same time For frames and trailes wherein vines are to run the better and more battle that the ground of the vineyard is the plainer and euener that it lieth the higher they would be from the ground likewise if the place be subiect to dews fogs and mists and nothing exposed to the winds contrariwise if the ground be leane and dry hot and open to the winds they must be the lower and nearer the earth As concerning the rafters that lie ouer reach from prop to prop they ought to be tied and fastened thereto with as streight and sure a knot as is possible whereas the Vine would be bound vnto them but slacke Of the sundry sorts of Vines as also which were to be planted in this or that soile and what coasts climats each one of them loueth we haue shewed sufficiently in the particular treatise of their nature and of the wines that come of them Touching all other points of husbandry that remaine behind much doubt and diuers questions are made for many there be that feare not all Summer long to bee digging in the vineyard about vine-roots after euery little raine Others again forbid to meddle be lusty therin in the budding time for it cannot be auoided but that the yong oilets will either bee smitten off clean or els galled or bruised one time or other with their gate that go in and out between which is the cause that they would haue all kind of cattell to bee kept out that they come not neare and especially such as beare wooll on their backs for sheep of all others soonest rub off the buds as they passe by with their shag coats Moreouer they are of opinion that all manner of raking and harrowing is an enemy to vines when they bee in their floure and putting foorth young grapes and sufficient it is say they if a vineyard be delued thrice in one yere to wit first from the spring Aequinox to the apparition of the Brood-hen star secondly at the rising of the great Dog star and thirdly when the grape beginneth to change colour and turne blacke Others set out these times after this maner if the vineyard be old they would haue it once digged betweene vintage and mid-winter howsoeuer some be of this mind That it sufficeth them to
Date tree grew out of the base or foot of a Columne that Caesar Dictator caused there to be erected Semblably at Rome also twice during the war between the Romans and K. Perseus there was a Date tree known to grow vpon the lanterne or top of the Capitoll temple foreshewing those victories and triumphs which afterward ensued to the great honor of the people of Rome And when this was by stormes and tempests ouerthrowne and laid along there sprung vp of it selfe in the very same place a Fig tree at what time as M. Mâ—…ssala and Caius Cassius the two Censors held their Quinquennall solemne sacrifices for the assoiling and purging of the city of Rome From which time Piso a renowmed Historiographer and Writer of good credit hath noted that the Romans were giuen ouer to voluptuousnesse and sensuality and that euer since all chastitie and honest life hath bin exiled But aboue all the prodigies that were euer seen or heard there is one that passeth and the same hapned in our age about the very time that Nero the emperor came to his vnhappy end and fall for in the Marrucine territorie there was an oliue garden belonging to Vectius Marcellus a right worshipfull knight of Rome which of it selfe remoued all and whole as it stood ouer the broad highway to a place where lay tillage and earable ground and the corn lands by way of exchange crossed ouer the said causey againe and were found in lieu of the Oliue plot or hortyard aforesaid CHAP. XXVI ¶ The remedies for the maladies and diseases of Trees NOw that I haue declared the diseases of Trees meet it is that I should set down the cure and remedies thereto Where this one thing would be first noted That of Remedies some be common to all trees others appropriate to certain Common be these following To bare and clense the roots to hil and bank them again that is to say to giue aire vnto the roots let the wind into them and contrariwise to couer them keep both wind weather from them to water them or to deriue diuert water from them to refresh their roots with the fat liquor of dung to discharge them of their burden by pruning their superfluous branches Item to giue their humors issue and as it were by way of phlebotomie to let them bloud and to skice and scrape their bark round about in maner of scarification To take downe their strength and keep them vnder that they be not too lusty proud Also if the cold hath caught their buds or burgeons therby caused them to look burnt rough and vnpleasant to slick polish smooth them again with the pumy stone These verily be the diuers helps to cure trees howbeit vsed they must be with great discretion for that which is very good for one is not so good for another and some trees require this course others that to be taken with them As for example the Cypres tree canot abide either to be dunged or watered it hateth all digging and deluing about it it may not away with cutting and pruning it is the worse for all good physick nay all remedies to others are mischiefs to it and in one word go about to medicine it you kil it All Vines and Pomegranat trees especially loue alife riuer sides desire to be watered for thereby will they thriue and prosper The Fig tree also it selfe is nourished and fed in waterie grounds but the fruit that it beareth is the poorer by that means Almond trees if they be plied with digging will either not bloome at all or else shed their floures before due time Neither must any yong plants or trees newly graffed be digged about their roots before they haue gathered sufficient strength and begin to beare fruit Most trees are willing enough to be disburdened of their superfluous and ouer-â—…ank branches like as we men can spare our nails to be pared and bush of hair to be cut when they be ouergrowne As for old trees they would be cut down hard to the ground for vsually they rise again of some shoot springing from the root and yet not all of them Regard therefore must be had that none be so vsed but such as we haue noted before as are able of nature to abide it For trees to be watered at the roots in the heate of summer it is good but in winter it is as bad In the fal of the leaf it may be wholsom it may also be hurtfull and therefore the nature of the soile would be considered for the grape-gatherer in Spain meeteth with a good vintage notwithstanding the Vines stand in a marish and fennie ground howbeit in most parts of the world besides it is thought good husbandry to draine away from the roots the very rain water that falls from aboue in Autumne About the rising of the Dog-star trees desire most of all to be wel watered and yet they would not haue too much thereof euen in that time for in case their roots be ouer-drenched and drowned therewith they will catch harm Herein also the age of trees is to be respected which in this case prescribeth what is meet and sufficient for yong trees be lesse thirsty than others also Custome is a great matter For such as haue beene vsed vnto watering must not change their old woont but they require most of all others to be vsed so still Contrariwise Those Trees which grow vpon dry grounds naturally desire no more moisture than that which is needful In the territory about Sulmo in Italy and namely within the Liberties of Fabianum the Vines which doe beare the harder and sowrer Grapes must of necessitie be watered And no maruaile for the verie lands and Corne-fields vse to haue water let in vnto them And here a wonderfull thing is to be obserued This water cherisheth the Corne but killeth all the hurtfull Grasse among and the riuer ouer flowing the lands is as good as a weeding In the same countrey the maner is in midwinter to open a sluce or draw vp their floodgates for to ouerflow their vine roots with the riuer and so much the rather if either it be an hard frost or snow lie vpon the ground And why so because the pinching cold should not burne them and this they call there by the name of Tepidare i. to giue them a kindly warmth as in a stouve see the memorable nature of this only riuer to be warme in winter and yet the same in summer is so cold that hardly a man can endure his hand in it CHAP. XXVII ¶ Of caprification or scarifying trees also the maner of dunging them TOuching the remedies for blasting as well by heat as cold I will treat in the booke next following Meane while I cannot omit one manner of cure by way of Scarification For when the bark is poore and lean by reason of some disease or mislike so as it clengs together pressing and binding the quick wood
loueth well to be dropping and to distil gentle shoures of rain howbeit drier it is than the West wind Favonius which bloweth ouer-against him from the Equinoctial Sun-setting full West called in Zephyrus Vpon this Western wind Oliue rowes should stand according to Catoes mind This wind is he that beginneth the Spring this winde openeth the veins and pores of the earth and with his milde coldnesse is healthfull and wholesome for all plants for man also and beast This wind gouerneth this whole season and prescribeth the time for pruning Vines for sarcling and dressing corne for planting trees for graffing fruit for trimming and ordering Oliues and to say all in one word so kind he doth breath that he cherisheth and fostereth the earth and all things thereupon The fourth line in your quadrant or compasse reckoning from the North point which also reacheth next to the South point on the East side noteth the Sun-rising in mid-winter when the day is shortest and withall the Southeast wind called in Latine Vulturnus and in Greeke Eurus which as it is a drier wind than the two last named so is it also warmer In regard whereof it is good to set Bee-hiues and plant vines tending into this course I meane in other parts of Italy remote from the sea and also in Gaule Then shall you haue to blow full opposit vnto it the wind Corus directly from the sun-setting in mid-summer when the day is longest by-west from the North and this North-west wind the Greeks call Argestes one of the coldest he is like as all they be wich blow from any point of the North. No maruell therefore if he be as much dread and feared as the North winde Septentrio for commonly he bringeth with him haile stormes good store As touching the Southeast wind Vulturnus if the coast be cleare where and when he beginneth to rise it will not be long ere he lie and commonly hee is down before night but the East wind indeed continueth most part of the night But be the wind what he wil be if he blow sensibly hot you shall haue him hold many daies together And to conclude would you know when to haue a North-west wind marke when the earth drieth suddenly at one instant it will not be long but he wil be with you contrariwise when you see the ground moist and wet with a kind secret dew vnseen and vnknown reckon vpon it that shortly you shal haue a South wind to blow And thus much for winds CHAP. XXXV ¶ Signes to prognosticate what weather is toward HAuing thus set down sufficiently a discourse of the winds because I would not re-iterate one thing often what remaineth now but in good order to passe proceed to the prognostication and fore-knowledge of the weather and the rather for that I see that Virgil took great pleasure herein and stood much vpon this point for thus he relateth vnto the rude and ignorant men of the countrey That oftentimes in the very mids of haruest hee hath seene whirle-puffs and contrarie winds encounter and charge one another as it were in battell doing much harme to corne Moreouer it is reported that Democritus at what time as his brother Damasus was entred well into haruest worke taking the opportunity as he thought of a most hot season besought him earnestly to let the rest of his corne stand stil a while longer and to make hast to get that into the Barne vnder roufe which was cut and reaped downe and this he did without any reason by him made why and wherefore And what ensued hereupon Surely within few houres after there poured downe a mightie showre of raine and prooued Democritus to be a wise man and a true prophet Moreouer it is a rule commonly giuen and obserued That neither Reeds would be set planted but toward rain nor corn sowed but against a good showre And therfore since this skil is of such importance I am content briefly to touch those signes that foreshew what weather will be and make choise of such which by search and experience are knowne principall and make most for this purpose And first begin I will at the Sun the best prognosticator of all others When he rises cleare and not fiery red it is a signe that the day will be faire but if he shew pale and wan it presages a cold winter-like haile-storme that very day but in case he went downe ouer-night cleare and bright and so rose the next morning so much surer may you be of faire weather If the Sunne in rising seeme hollow he foretelleth rain and when before his rising the clouds be red the winds will be aloft that day but in case there be some blacke clouds intermingled among you shall haue raine withall If the raies and beames of the Sun be red both when he riseth and when hee setteth there wil fall good store of raine Are the clouds red about the Sun as he goes downe you shall haue a fair day the morrow after If when the Sun doth rise you see flying clouds dispersed some into the South and others Northward say all be cleer and faire otherwise about him make reckoning that day of wind and raine both Marke at his rising or going downe if his beames be short and as it were drawne in be sure of a good showre If at the Suns setting it raine or that his raies either looke darke and blew or gather a banke of clouds surely these be great tokens of tempestuous weather storms the morow after when in his rising the beams shine not bright and cleer although they be not ouer-cast with a cloud yet they portend rain If before he rise the clouds gather round together like globes they threaten sharpe cold and winter weather but in case he driue them before him out of the East so as they retire into the West we haue a promise thereby of a faire time If there appeare about the bodie of the Sun a circle of clouds compassing it round the nearer they come about him and the lesse light that they leaue him the more troubled and tempestuous weather wil follow but in case he be enuironed with a double circle so much more outragious and terrible wil the tempest be If peraduenture this happen at his rising so as the said clouds be red againe which compasse the Sun look for a mighty tempest one time or other of that day If haply these clouds enclose him not round but confront and seeme as if they charged vpon him look from whence they come from that quarter they portend great wind and if they encounter him from the South there will be raine good store and wind both If as the Sun riseth he be compassed with a circle marke on what side the same breaketh and openeth first and from thence look for wind without faile but if the said circle passe and vanish away all at once equally as well of one part as another you shal haue faire weather vpon
contains as some think fifteen drams which grow neere to two ounces of which capacitie our small saucers are but as others suppose it receiues two ounces and an halfe the measure of ordinary saucers Acrimonie i. Sharpenesse Actually i. sensibly and presently as fire is actually hot Aditiales or Adijciales epulae were great and sumptuous feasts or suppers held by the Pontifices or high Priests in testimony of publique ioy Almonds see Amygdals Amphora a measure in Rome of liquors only it seemes to haue taken that name of the two ears which it had of either side one it contained 8 Congios which are much about 8 Wine gallons or rather betweene seuen and eight so as in round reckoning it may go for a ferkin halfe kilderkin or half sestern with vs. Amygdals be kernils at the root of the tongue subiect to inflammations swellings occasioned by deflux or falling down of humors from the head they be called Antiades Paristhmia Tonsillae the foresaid infirmities also incident vnto them doe likewise cary the same denominations A Antidotes i. countrepoysons properly defensatiues or preseruatiues against poyson pestilence or any maladie whatsoeuer Antipathie i. contrarietie enmity and repugnancie in nature as between fire and water the vine and the Colewort c. S. Anthonies fire is a rising in the skin occasioned by hot bloud mixt with abundance of choler and such be the shingles and other wild fires called in Greek Erysipelas Aquosities be waterish humors apt to engender the dropsies called Ascites and Leucophlegmatia Aromatised i. Spiced Arthriticall griefes such as possesse the ioints as all the sorts of gout Astrictiue or Astringent be such things as bind the body or any part thereof Attractiue i. drawing as the loadstone draweth iron amber straws or bents Dictamnus arrow heads or spils out of the bodie and cupping glasses or ventoses humours and wind Austere harsh or hard as in fruits vnripe and hard wines of hedge grapes Axinomantie a kind of magicke diuination by an ax head red hot B BAsis in a compound medicine is that drug or simple which is predominant and carrieth the greatest force in it as the ground thereof whereupon the whole taketh the name as Poppy in Diacodion Quinces in Diacydonium c. Bole is the form of a medicine when it may be giuen in grosse manner at a kniues point to the quantitie of a nutmeg at a time vntill the whole receit be taken Browning a term vsuall in the mouths of mariners and winnowers of corne when they are calmed and do call for wind Bulbes although Pliny seemed to giue that name vnto some one speciall hearbe yet it signifieth generally all those as haue round roots as Onions Squilla Wake-robin and such like whereupon these and other of that kind are said to haue bulbous roots Cacochynne is that indisposition of the body in which there is aboundance of humors Calcining i. the burning of a minerall or any thing for to correct the malignitie of it or reduce it into pouder c. Callositie thicknesse and hardnesse of skinne in maner senslesse as in fistulaes and vnder our heeles to Carminat is to make more fine and thin the grosse humours by such medicines as by their heat are apt to cut and dissolue them wherupon they likewise be called Carminatiue a terme receiued by Apothecaries and borrowed from those that card wooll Cancer is a swelling or sore comming of melancholy bloud about which the vems appeare of a blacke or swe rt colour spread in manner of a Creifish clees whereupon it tooke that name in Latine like as in Greek Carcinoma And such vlcers as in that sort be maintained and fed with that humor are called cancerous and be vntoward to heal worse commonly for the handling Carnositie i. fleshly substance Cataplasm a pultesse or grosse maner of plastre Cartilage in man and beast is a gristle in roots and fruits that substance which we obserue in the radish root and the outward part of a cucumber as Pliny seems to take it which thereupon be called Cartilagineous Cataract is a dimnesse of sight caused by an humor gathered and hardned betweene the tunicle of the eye called Cornea and the Crystalline humour it is next cousine to blindnesse Caustick i. burning blistering or scalding to Cauterise is to seare or burne by a Cauterie Cauterie actuall is fire it self or scalding liquor and so a searing iron gold or other mettall made red hot is called an Actuall cauterie which without the help of our natural heat doth work presently Cauterie potentiall is that which will raise blisters and burn in time after it is once set on work by the heat of our body as Cantharides Sperewort c. Ceres the first inuentresse of the sowing vse of corne Cerote is of a middle nature betweene an ointment and a plaister not so hard as the one nor so soft as the other Cicatrices in eyes be whitish spots otherwise called pearls they be the skars also remaining after a sore is healed vp and so a place is said to be cicatrised when it is newly skinned vp and healed Circulation is the deuise of subliming or extracting water or oile by a stillatorie a lembick or such because the vapor before it be resolued into water or oile seemes to go round circlewise Clysterized i. conueyed vp by a clyster into the guts Caeliaci be those that through weakenesse of stomacke are troubled with a continuall flux of the belly Colature a thin liquour that hath passed thorow a strainer or colander Colliquation is a falling away and consumptiof the radicall humour or solid substance of the body Collyries are properly medicines applied to the eies in liquid forme whereas the dry kind be rather called Sief Alcohol especially in pouder howbeit Pliny attributeth this terme to all eye-salues whatsoeuer Also it seemeth that hee meaneth thereby tents to be put in a fistulous vlcer as in pag. 509 b. 510 k. Collution a liquour properly to wash the mouth teeth and gums withall Concocted i. altred to that substance by natural heate as either in health may serue to nourish or in sicknes is apt to be expelled Consolidat to knit vnite make sound again that which was broken or burst Concrete i. hardned and grown thicke Cond te i. preserued in some conuenient liquor to Concorporate i. to mix and vnite together into one masse Consistence i. substance or thicknesse Constipate i. to harden and make more fast and compact Contraction of sinews a shrinking or drawing of them in too short Contusions i. Bruises Convulsions painfull cramps Criticall daies be such as in short diseases those of quicke motion do giue light vnto the physitian of life or death Pliny obserues the od daies to be most significant and those vsually determinof health and the euen days contrariwise so that the seuenth is Rex i. a gratious prince the sixth Tyrannus i. a cruell tyrant Cruditie See Indigestion Cyath a small measure both of liquid
translate it into a warm sun-shine bank and there replant it then cut it off leauing not aboue 2 fingers breadth from the root aboue the ground but this must be don about the Spring Aequinox in mid-March then take a Cucumber seed set it within the soft pith of the said bramble bank it will round about with fine fresh mould dung blended together This is the way he assureth vs to make that the roots therof bearing such cucumbers or Melons will abide the greatest cold in Winter and neuer shrink at it of cucumbers the Greeks haue set down 3 kinds to wit the Laconick the Scvtalick the Boeotick Of which as they say the first sort only they be that loue waters so wel some there be who prescribe to take the seed of Cucumber or Melon to temper it in the juice of a certain hearb stamped which they cal Culix then to sow it persuading vs that we shal haue fruit therof without anyseed Of the like nature I meane for their manner of growing be the Gourds Winter and al cold weather they canot endure they loue also places wel watered dunged As wel Gourds as the cucumbers or Melons aboue said are commonly sowed between the Aequinox in March the Sunstead in Iune prouided alwaies that their seedly in a trench within the ground a foot a halfe deepe But in very deed the best and meetest time to sow them is about the feast Parilia howsoeuer there be some would haue the seed of gourds to be put into the ground presently after the Calends or first day of March but of cucumbers about the Nones i. the 7 day thereof or at farthest by the feast or holy-daies of Minerva named Quinquatrus They loue both alike to creep and crawle with their winding top branches or tendrels and gladly they would be clambering vpon walls and climbing vp to the house roofe if they can meet with any rough places to take hold by for naturally they are giuen to mount on high Howbeit their strength is not answerable â—…o their will and desire for stand they canot alone without the help of some props forks or railes to stay them vpright Exceeding forward and swift they be in growth They run on end when they are set on it and if they may be born vp sustained in maner aforesaid they will gently ouershade galleries walking places arbors frames allies vnder them in a garden and that right quickly In regard of which nature and behauior of theirs two principall kindes there be of them the one Camerarium as one would say the frame or trail Gourd and cucumber which climbeth aloft the other Plebeium i. the vulgar and common which creepeth along the ground beneath In the former kind it is worth the noting to see how the fruit heauy as it is hangeth stiffe poised as it were in the wind and will not stir notwithstanding the stele wherto it groweth be wondrous fine and smal Moreouer Gourds also may be fashioned in the head euery way as a man will like as the Cucumbers or Melons before named and specially within wicker cases made of pliable oisiers into which they are put for to grow to take their form so soon as they haue cast their blossom The nature of them I say is to receiue what figure a man will force and put them to but commonly shaped they are in their growth like to a Serpent winding and turnign euery way There haue bin known of them such I meane as were of the traile kind being led vpon a frame from the ground and permitted to run at libertie which grew to an incredible length for one of them hath bin seen 9 foot long As for cucumbers they bloom not all at once but by piece-meale floure after floure now one and then another yea and floure vpon floure one vpon the head of another Howsoeuer the Cucumber loueth waterish grounds yet can he abide drier places also Couered al ouer this plant and fruit is with a white down euen at the first but especially all the while he is in his growth Gourds are imploied sundry waies and to many more vses than Cucumbers For first their yong and tender stalks be very good meat and being dressed are serued vp as a dish to the table but the rind is of a cleane contrary nature Gourds of late time came to be vsed in stouves and baines for pots and pitchers but long before that they stood in stead of rundlets or small barrels to keep wine in The green of this kind hath a tender rind which must be scraped notwithstanding before a dish of meat can be made thereof And certes albeit Gourds be of digestion hard and such as will not throughly be concocted in a mans stomacke yet they are taken 〈◊〉 be a light mild and wholsom meat as they be handled and dressed diuers waies for that they 〈◊〉 not a mans belly to swel as some meats doe Of those seeds which be found within the gourd next â—…o the neck therof if they be set come the long gourds commonly such lightly you shall haue ingendred of those also that are in the bottom howbeit nothing comparable to the other Those that lie in the midst bring forth round ones but from the seeds that are taken out of the sides ordinarily there grow the shorter sort of Gourds such as be thicke and broad These grains or seeds would be handled in this manner First they are dried in the shadow and afterwards when a man list to sow them they ought to be steeped in water The longer slenderer that a Gourd is the better meat it yeelds and more pleasant to be eaten and therefore it is that they be thought more wholesome which grew hanging vpon trailes such indeed haue least store of seed within them Howbeit wax they once hard away with them out of the kitchen for then they haue lost all their grace and goodnes which commended them to the cooks dresser Such as are to be kept for seed the manner is not to cut vp before winter and then are they to hang or stand a drying in the smoake as proper stuffe and implements to be seen in a country house to keep as good chaffer seeds for the gardner against the time Moreouer there is a means deuised how to preserue them and cucumbers too for meat sound and good almost til new come that is by laying both the one and the other in a kind of brine or pickle Some say also that they may be kept fresh and greene interred in a caue or ditch vnder the ground in some darke and shady place with a good course or bed of sand laid vnder them and well couered afterward with dry hay and earth vpon the same in the end Ouer besides as in all plants and herbs in maner of the garden there be both wild and tame so is there of Gourds and Cucumbers both a certain sauage
afterwards be tied fast vnto them Of all Garden-hearbs Beets are the lightest The Greeke writers make two kinds thereof in regard of the colour to wit the black Beets and the whiter which they prefer before the other although it be very scant and sparie of seed these also they cal the Sicilian Beets and for their beautiful white hew and nothing else they esteeme them aboue Lectuce But our countreymen here in Italy put no other difference between Beets but in respect of the two seasons when they be sowed namely in the Spring and Autumne whereof we haue these two sorts the spring Beets and the Autumnall and yet they be vsually sowne in Iune also This herbe likewise is ordinarily remooued in the plant and so replanted or set againe it loueth besides to haue the roots medicined with muck as well as the other abouesaid yea and it is very wel content with a moist and waterish ground The roots as well as the leaues or herbage thereof vse to be eaten with Lentils Beans but the best way to eat them is with Senuie or Mustard for to giue a tast and edge as it were to that dull and wallowish flatnesse that it hath Physitians haue set downe their iudgement of this herb That the roots be more hurtfull than the leafe and therefore being set vpon the bourd before all persons indifferently as well the sound as the sick and crasie yet many a one maketh it nice and scrupulous once to tast therof and if they do it is but slightly for fashion only leauing the hearty feeding thereupon to those rather that be in health and of strong constitutions The Beet is of two diuers natures and qualities for the herbage or leafe hath one and the bulbs comming from the head of the stem another but their principall grace and beautie lieth in their spreading and breadth that they beare as they cabbage And this they come vnto as the manner is of Lectuces also by laying some light weight vpon the leaues when they begin once to gather into a stalke and shew their colour And there is not an hearbe throughout the Garden that taketh vp greater compasse with fuellage than doth the Beet for otherwhiles you shal see it to spread it selfe two foot euery way whereunto the goodnesse and nature of the soile is a great help The largest that be knowne of these Beets are those which grow in the territory about Circij Some hold opinion that the only time to sow Beets is when the Pomegranat doth blossome and to transplant them so soon as they haue 5 leaues A wonderfull thing to see the diuersitie in Nature of these Beets if it be true namely that the white should gently loosen the belly and make one soluble whereas contrariwise the black doe stay a flux and knit the body It is as strange also to obserue another effect thereof for when the Colewort hath marred the taste of wine within the tun or such like vessell the only sauour and smell of Beet leaues steeped therein will restore and fetch it againe As touching the Beets as also Colewoorts which now beare all the sway and none but they in Gardens I do not find that the Greeks made any great account of them yet Cato highly extolleth Coules and reporteth great wonders of their vertues and properties which I meane to relate in my treatise of Physick For this present you shall vnderstand that he putteth downe three kinds of them the first that stretcheth out broad leaues at ful and carieth a big stem the second with a crisped and frizled leafe the which he calleth Apiana the third is smooth plain and tender in leafe and hath but a little stalke and these are of no reckoning at all with Cato Moreouer like as Coleworts may be cut at all times of the yeare for our vse so may they be sown set al the yere long yet the most appropriat season is after the Aequinox in Autumn Transplanted they be when they haue once gotten fiue leaues The tender crops called Cymae after the first cutting they yeeld the Spring next following now are these Cymae nothing else but the yong delicat tops or daintier tendrils of the maine stem And as pleasant and sweet as these crops were thought to other men yet Apicius that notable glutton tooke a loathing of them and by his example Drusus Caesar also careth not for them but thought them a base and homely meat for which nice and dainty tooth of his he was well checked and shent by his father Tiberius the Emperor after this first crop or head is gone there grow out of the same colewort other fine colliflories if I may so say or tendrils in Summer in the fall of the leafe and after them in winter and then a second spring of the foresaid Cymae or tops against the spring following as the yeare before so as there is no hearb in that regard so fruitfull vntill in the end her owne fertility is her death for in this manner of bearing she spends her heart her selfe and all There is a third top-spring also at mid-summer about the Sunstead which if the place bee any thing moist affoordeth yong plants to be set in summer time but in case it be ouer-drie against Autumne If there be want of moisture and skant of muck the better taste Colewoorts haue if there be plenty and to spare of both the more fruitfull and ranke they are The onely muck that which agreeth best with Coleworts or Cabbages is Asses dung I am content to stand the longer vpon this Garden-wort because it is in so great request in the kitchin and among our riotous gluttons Would you haue speciall and principal Coleworts both for sweet tast and also for great and faire cabbage first and foremost let the seed be sowne in a ground throughly digged more than once or twice and wel manured secondly see you cut off the tender springs and yong stalkes that seem to put out far from the ground or such as you perceiue mounting too ranke and ouer-high from the earth thirdly be sure to raise other mould in maner of a bank vp to them so as there peep no more without the ground than the very top these kind of Coleworts be fitly called Tritiana for the threefold hand and trauell about them but surely the gaine will pay double for all the cost and toile both Many more kindes there be of them to wit that of Cumes which beareth leaues spreading flat along the ground and opening in the head Those of Aricia be for heigth no taller than they but rather more in number than for substance thinner and smaller this kind is taken for the best and most gainfull because vnder euery main leafe in maner it putâ—… forth other yong tendrils or buds by themselues which are good to be eaten The Colewort Pompeianum so called of the towne Pompeij is taller than the rest rising vp with a smal
stem from the root howbeit among the leaues it groweth to more thicknesse These leaues branch out but here and there and are in comparison of others narrower howbeit much set by for their speciall tendernesse wherby they are soon sodden and dressed and yet cold weather they cannot indure whereas on the other side the Coleworts of Bruzze or Calabria like the best in winter and be nourished with the hard season leaues they haue exceeding great and large but their stalks are but small and as for tast they be sharp and sower The Sabellian Coles what curled and ruffed leaues they carry it is a wonder to see so thick they are besides that they rob the very stem of their nutriment which therby is the smaller howbeit of al others they be reputed the sweetest Long it is not since there came from out of the vale of Aricia where somtimes there was a lake and a tower standing vpon it remaining yet at this day to be seene a kind of Cabbage-cole with a mightie great head and an infinite number of leaues which gather and close round together and these Coles we in Latin call Lacuturres of the place from whence they come Some Coleworts there be which stretch out into a roundle others againe extend in breadth and be very full of fleshy brawns None cabbage more than these settting aside the Tritian Coleworts beforenamed that are known otherwiles to bear a head a foot thick and yet none put sorth their Cymes or tender buds more than they Moreouer this would be noted That howsoeuer all kinds of Coleworts eat much sweeter for being bitten with the frost yet if there be not good heed taken in cutting off their head or tender crops and buds so that the wound come not neere the heart and pith and namely by cutting them aslope and byas in manner of a Goats foot they will take much harme thereby Such as be reserued to beare seed ought not to be cut at all They also are not without their grace and commendation which neuer passe the bignesse of a green and ordinary plant such small coles are called Halmyridia for that they grow not elsewhere but vpon the sea coasts and because they wil keep greene prouision is made of such for to serue in long voiages at sea for so soon as they be cut vp before they touch the ground they be put vp into barrels where lately oile hath been and those newly dried against the time and stopped vp close that no aire at all may enter in and therein be they preserued Some there be who in remouing the young plants lay vnder their roots Riek and Sea-weeds or els bruised and powdred nitre as much as a man may take vp with three fingers imagining thereby that they will the sooner come to maturity Others againe take the seed of Trifolie and Nitre stamped together which they strew vpon the leaues for the same purpose And as for Nitre it is of this nature to make them look green still although they were sodden or els they vse to boile them after Apicius his fashion namely to steep them wel in oile and salt mingled together before they be set vpon the fire for to be sodden Moreouer there is a way tograffe herbs also as well as trees namely by cutting off the yong sions that spring out of the stalk and therein to inoculate as it were the seed of another plant within the pith or marow thereof This also may be practised vpon wild Cucumbers Ouer and besides there is a kind of wild Woorts growing in the fields called Lapsana much named and renowned by occasion of the sonets carols chanted in the solemnitie of Iulius Caesar the Emperors triumph and especially of the merry times and licentious broad jeasts tossed by his soldiers who at euery second verse cast in his teeth â—…hat in Dyrrhachium they liued of nothing els but of those Woorts noting indeed by way of cauill and reproch his niggardise in rewarding them so sleightly for their good seruice now was this Lapsana a kind of wild Colewort which they did eat of instead of the fine and dainty tendrils and buds of the garden Coles As touching Sperages there is not an herb in the garden whereof there is so great regard and care taken as of them Concerning their first original beginning I haue spoken at large in the treatise Of the maner how to order the wild of that kind and to entertain them in our gardens as also how Cato willed vs to sow and plant them in plots of Reeds and Canes Now there is a middle sort of these Sperages not so ciuill and gentle as the Asparagi of the garden and yet more kind and mild than the Corrudae of the field these grow euery where abroad euen vpon the mountains and the champion countrey of high Aâ—…ain is ouerspred and full of them wherof there goes a pleasant speech and merry conceit of Tyberius Caesar the Emperour namely that there grew an herb in Almain very like to the garden Sperage for as touching that which commeth vp of it selfe in Nesis an Island of Campaine it is thought the best simply of all others without comparison The garden Sperages be planted from the knots bunching together within the ground named Spongiae which easily may be replanted for surely an hearb it is that carrieth a mighty head or cluster as it were of roots and the same putteth forth spurns euery way from it of a great depth into the ground They send out at first certaine greene spurts or buds peeping forth of the ground which growing to a stem in processe of time rise sharpe in the top and then are they chamfered diuided into certaine musculous branches that spread abroad This hearbe may be sowne also of seed Cato tooke not more paines about any other hearbe nor imploied greater diligence in the description thereof than he did in it It is the very last thing that he treateth of in his booke whereby it may appeare that the man came all vpon a sudden and newly to the knowledge of that hearbe and the ordering of it He giueth order Imprimis That the plot wherein they are to sowne be moist fat and well digged Item That they be set half a foot euery way asunder one from another in no wise the place troden down with ones foot moreouer that two or three seeds be put together in a hole made before with a dibble directly by a line for in those daies they set them onely of seed Item That this would be done about mid-March which is the proper season therefore Item That they haue their fill of dung That they be kept cleane with often weeding but in any case That great heed be taken in plucking vp the weeds that the tender buds or croppes new knit and appearing aboue ground be not knapt off For the first yeare hee would haue them in winter time to be couered with straw and litter and
especiall reckoning aboue other herbs for I reade in antient Histories That Cornelius Cethegus at what time as he was chosen Consul with Quintius Flaminius presently vpon the said election gaue a largesse to the people of new wine aromatized with Rue The fig-tree and Rue are in a great league amitie insomuch as this herbe sow and set it when and where you will in no place prospereth better than vnder that tree for planted it may be of a slip or sprig Now if the same be put into a bean which hath a hole pierced or bored through it will do far better by reason that the bean clasping the set close and vniting thereunto her own sap and moisture cherisheth it therewith and makes it come apace moreouer it will propagat and set it owne selfe for let the top of any of her branches be bent downeward so as it may but touch the ground it will presently take root Of the same nature it is that Basill but that Rue is somwhat later ere it come vp groweth not so fast When Rue is come to be of any strength there is vntoward sarcling and weeding of it for if it be handled it will raise blisters vpon a mans fingers vnlesse the hands be well gloued or defensed with oile The leaues also of Rue are kept and preserued beeing made vp into little knitches or bunches Now as touching Ach or Parsley the manner is to sow it immediatly after the spring Equinox in March but the seed would be first brused beaten a little in a mortar for some are persuaded that by this means it groweth thicker and more crispe or curled which it will doe likewise in case after a bed be sowed therewith it be troden vpon with mens feet or beaten downe with a roller or cylinder This peculiar property hath Parsley that it will change the colour It was an antient custome in Achaia to do honour vnto this hearbe by crowning those that went away with victory and wan the prize in the solemne tourneys and sacred games Nemei with a chaplet of Parsly As for Mint men vse to set it at the same time of a young plant so soone as they see it is spurt and come vp but if it haue not sprung yet they let not to plant the spurns of the root knotted into an head within the ground in manner of the Spongiae in Sperage before said This herb taketh no great ioy in moist grounds All Summer it looketh greene and fresh but in winter it hath a hempen hew A wild kind there is of Mint named in Latin Mentastrum which will increase by propagation or couching in the ground as well as vine branches and so willing it is to take that it makes no matter which end of a slip be set downeward for at the wrong end it wil come as well as at the other Mint in the Greeke tongue hath changed the old name by occasion of the sweet smel that it carieth whereas before time it was called Mintha whereof we in Latine deriued our name Mentha A pleasant herb this is and delectable to smel vnto insomuch as you shal not see a husbandmans bourd in the country but all the meats from one end to the other be seasoned with mints If it be once set or sown haue taken to a ground it will continue there a long time It resembleth much the herb Peny-roiall the nature wherof as I haue often shewed is to blow her floures again vpon the shortest day of the yere euen as it hangeth prickt vpon flesh in the butchery Much after one sort are kept and preserued for sauce as if they were of the same kind Mint Peni-roiall and Nep but aboue all to a weake and peeuish stomack Cumin agreeth most and is the best to get an appetite It hath a qualitie to grow with root very eb and scarsely taketh any hold of the earth coueting to be aloft In hot grounds and such especially as be rotten mellow it would be sown in the mids of the spring There is a second sort therof growing wild which some call Cumin Rustick others Thebaick which being bruised or beaten into pouder and drunk in water is singular good for the pain of the stomack The best Cumin in our part of the world which is Europe commeth from Carpetania for otherwise the greatest name goeth of that in Aethyopia and Africk And yet some here be who prefer the Cumin of Egypt before all But Alisanders which some Greekes call Hipposelium others Smyrneum is of a strange and wonderfull nature aboue all other herbes for it wil grow of the very liquor or juice issuing forth of the stalk It may be set also of a root and indeed they that gather the foresaid juice vse to say that it hath the very tast and rellish of Myrrhe by Theophrastus his saying it came first of Myrrh set into the ground The old writers ordained that Alisanders should be set or sowed in stony grounds without tending or looking to neer to some mud wall But now in our daies it is planted in places digged delued ouer once or twice yea and at any time from the blowing of the western wind Fauonius in Februarie vntill the later Aequinox in September be past Capers likewise are set sowed in dry places specially but the bed must be digged in some low ground and laid hollow inuironed round about with banks and those raised with a groundsell of stone worke otherwise it would be ranging abroad and ouerspread whole fields make the ground barren and vnfruitfull It flourisheth in Summer and continueth green vntil the occultation or setting of the Brood-hen star Virgiliae and sandy ground is most familiar and agreeable to it Touching the defects and imperfections of that kinde which groweth beyond sea I haue said enough among the shrubs and plants that be strangers The Caraway also is a stranger as may appeare by the name of Caria the natiue countrey therof it beareth one of the principal seeds that commeth into the kitchen It careth not much where it is sown or planted for it will grow in any ground as well as the Alisanders beforenamed howbeit the best commeth out of Caria the next to it in goodnes we haue from Phrygia As for Loueach or Liuish it is by nature wild and sauage and loueth alone to grow of it self among the mountains of Liguria whereof it commeth to haue the name Ligusticum as being the naturall place best agreeing to the nature of it Set or sowed it may be in any place wheresoeuer howbeit this that is thus ordred by mans hand hath not the like vertue as the other although it be in tast more pleasant some call it Panax or Panace howbeit Creteuas a Greeke writer calleth the wild Origan or Cunila Bubula by that name But all others in manner attribute the name of Conyza or Conyzoides to Cunilago i. Fleabane Mullet and of Thymbra i.
winter Sauory to Cunila i. garden Sauory which among vs hath another name in Latin to wit Satureia much vsed in sauces and seasoning of our meats This Sauory is commonly sown in the month of February and hath no smal resemblance of Origan insomuch as they are neuer both vsed at once in sauce or sallads their vertues operations be so like Andy et the Egyptian Origanum is preferred before the said Sauory To come now to Lepidium i. Dittander or Pepperwort it was somtime a stranger also with vs here in Italy It is vsually sown after mid-February when the Western wind Fauonius hath plaied his part afterwards when it hath put forth branches it is cut downe close to the ground and then it is laid bare and sarcled the superfluous roots cut away so in the end cherished with muck Thus must it be serued the two first yeres For afterwards they vse the same in branches at all times if the cruell and bitter winter kill them not for surely this herb is most impatient of cold It groweth a good cubit in heigth bearing leaues like to Lawrel the same soft and tender But neuer is it vsed in meat without milke Now for Gith or Nigella Romana as it is an herb that groweth for the pastrie to fit the Bakers hand so Annise and Dil are as appropriat to the kitchen for Cooks as the Apothecaries shop for the Physician Sacopenium likewise is an herb growing verily in gardens but is vsed in Physicke onely Certain herbs there be that accompany others for good fellowship and grow with them as namely Poppy for commonly sowne it is with Coleworts Purcellane Rocket and Lectuce Of garden Poppies there be three kinds first the white wherof the seeds in old time being made into Biskets or Comfits with hony were serued vp as a banketting dish The rustical peisants of the countrey were wont to guild or glaze as it were the vppermost crust of their loaues of bread with yolks of egs and then to bestrew it with Poppy seed which would cleaue fast to it hauing first vnderlaied the bottome crust with Ammi or Annise seed and Gith then they put them into the ouen beeing thus seasoned which gaue a commendable taste to their bread when it was baked There is a second kinde of Poppie called Blacke out of the heads or bolls wherof a white juice or liquor issueth by way of incision like milk and many receiue reserue it carefully The third kind which the Greekes name Rhoeas our countreymen in Latin call the wandring or wild Poppie It commeth vp verily of the owne accord but in corne fields among Barly especially like vnto Rocket a cubite high with a red floure that soon wil shed and fall off whereupon it tooke that name of Rhoeas in Greeke Touching other kinds of Poppie growing of themselues I purpose to speake in the treatise of physicke and medicinable hearbs Mean while this cannot be forgotten that Poppies haue alwaies time out of mind been highly regarded and honoured among the Romanes witnesse Tarquine the Proud the last king of Rome who when his sonnes Embassadors were come to him for to vnderstand his aduise how to compasse the seignorie ouer the Gabians drew them into his garden and there by circumstance of topping the heads of the highest Poppies there growing without any answere parole dispatched them away sufficiently furnished by this demonstration with a double design euen to fetch off the greatest mens heads of the citie the readiest meanes to effect his purpose Againe there is another sort of hearbs that loue for companie to be set or sowne together about the Aequinox in Autumne namely Coriander Dill Orach Mallowes Garden dockes or Patience Cheruill which the Greeks call Paederos and Senuie which is of a most biting and stinging tast of a fierie effect but nathelesse very good and wholsom for mans bodie this hearb will come of it selfe without the hand of man howbeit proue it will the better if the plant be remoued and set elswhere And yet sow a ground once withall you shall hardly rid the place of it cleane for the seed no sooner sheddeth vpon the ground but a man shall see it greene aboue ground It serues also to make a prety dish of meat to be eaten being boiled or stewed between two little dishes in some conuenient liquor in such sort as a man shal not feele it to bite at the tongues end nor complaine of any eagernesse that it hath The leaues besides vse to be sodden like as other pot-hearbes Now there be of this Senuie three kinds the first beareth small and slender leaues the second is leaued like Rapes or Turneps the third resembleth Rocket The best Mustard seed commeth out of Aegypt The Athenians were wont to call it Napy some Thlaspi and others Saurion To conclude as touching the running wild Thyme and Sisymbrium i. Horse-mint or Water-mint most hils are replenished and tapissed as it were therewith and especially in Thracia where a man shall see a mighty quantity of wild Thyme branches which the mountain waters or land flouds carrie away and bring it downe with their streame to riuers sides and then folke plant them Semblably at Sicyon there grows great store conueighed thither from the mountaines neere adjoining and lastly at Athens brought thither out of the hill Hymettus In like manner also the foresaid water-mint commeth from the hils with a sudden dash of rain and is replanted accordingly It groweth rankest and prospereth best in the brinks and sides of pits or wells also about fish-ponds and standing pooles CHAP. IX ¶ Of Finkle or Fennell and Hempe IT remaineth now among garden hearbes to speake of those that be of the Ferule kind and namely of Fenell in particular a hearb wherin Snakes and such serpents take exceeding great delight as heretofore I haue declared and which being dried is singular good to commend many meats out of the kitchin into the hall There is a plant resembleth it much named Thapsia wherof because I haue alreadie written among other forraine herbes I will proceed forward to Hemp which is so profitable and good for to make cordage This plant must be sowed of seed after the western wind Fauonius bloweth in Februarie The thicker that it groweth the slenderer and finer it is When the seed therof is ripe namely after the Aequinox in Autumn folk vse to rub it out and then drie it either in the Sunne the wind or smoke But the stalke or stem of the Hemp it selfe they pluck out of the ground after Vintage and it is the husbandmans night work by candle lightto pill and cleanse it The best Hempe commeth from Alabanda especially for to make nets and toile where bee three kinds thereof That part of the Hempe which is next to the rind or pilling as also to the inner part within is worst the principal of it lieth in the middest and called it is Mesa Next to the Alabandian
it odoriferous and senting well but the root Of which root as Aristophanes an auncient Comicall Poet testifieth in one of his Comoedies they were woont in old time to make sweet perfumes and odoriferous compositions for their ointments whereupon some there be who call the root Barbarica but falsly for deceiued they are The sauour that this root doth cast draweth very neere to the sent of Cinamon It loueth a leane and light soile and in no wise commeth vp in a moist ground As touching the hearb named Combretum it resembleth the same very much howbeit the leaues be passing small and as slender as threds but the plant it selfe is taller than Bacchar well rest we must not in the description of these hearbes and floures only but also we are to reforme and correct their error who haue giuen to Bacchar the name of Nard-rustick For there is anotheir hearbe properly so called to wit that which the Greeks name Asaron i. Asara-bacca or Fole-foot a plant far different from Bacchar as may appear by the description therof which I haue set down among the sundrie kinds of Nardus And verily I do find that this plant is named Asarum because it is neuer vsed in making of guirlands and chaplets Concerning Saffron the wild is the best To plant it within any garden in Italic is held no good husbandry for it will not quit cost considering there is neuer a quarter set therewith but it asketh a scruple more in expence than the fruit or increase commeth to when all the cards be told For to haue Saffron grow you must set the cloues or bulbous heads of the root and being thus planted it prooueth larger bigger and fairer than the other howbeit sooner far it doth degenerate and become a bastard kind neither is it fruitfull and beareth chiues in euerie place no not about Cyrene where the goodliest floures of Saffron in the world are to be seen at all times The principal Saffron groweth in Cilicia and especially vpon the mountain Corycus there next to it is that of Lycia and namely vpon the hill Olympus and then in a third degree of goodnesse is reckoned the Saffron Centuripinum in Sicily although some there bee who attribute the second place vnto the saffron of the mount Phlegra Nothing is so subject to sophistication as Saffron and therfore the only triall of true Saffron indeed is this If a man lay his hands vpon it he shall heare it to cracke as if it were brittle and readie to burst for that which is moist a qualitie comming by some indirect means and cunning cast yeeldeth to the hand and makes no words Yet is there another proofe of good Saffron If a man after hee haue handled it reach his hand vp presently to his mouth perceiue that the aire and breath therof smiteth to his face and eyes and therewith fretteth and stingeth them a little for then he may be sure that the saffron is right there is a kind of garden saffron by it self and this commonly is thought best and pleaseth most when there appeareth some white in the mids of the floure and thereupon they name it Dialeucon whereas contrariwise this is thought to be a fault and imperfection in the Corysian Saffron which is chiefe and indeed the floure of it is blacker than any other soonest fadeth But the best simply in any place whersoeuer is that which is thickest and seemes to like best hauing besides short chiues like hairs the worst is that which smelleth of mustines Mutianus writeth that in Lycia the practise is to take it vp euery 7 or 8 yere and remoue it to a plot of ground wel digged and delued to a fine mould where if it be replanted it will become fresh again and youg whereas it was ready before to decay and degenerate No vse thereis in any place of Saffron floures in garlands for the leaues are small and narrow in manner almost of threads Howbeit with wine it accordeth passing well especially if it be of any sweet kind and being reduced into powder and tempered therewith it is commonly sprinkled ouer all the theatres and filleth the place with a persume It bloometh at the setting or occultation of the star Vergiliae and continueth in floure but few daies and the leaf driueth out the floure In the mids of winter it is in the verdure and al green and then would it be taken vp and gathered which done it ought to be dried in the shadow and the colder that the shade is so much the better For the root of Saffron is pulpous and full of carnositie and no root liueth so long aboue ground as it doth Saffron loueth a-life to be trampled and trod vpon vnder foot and in truth the more injurie is done vnto it for to mar it the better it thriueth and therefore neare to beaten paths and wells much frequented it commeth forward and prospereth most CHAP. VII ¶ Of the floures vsed in old time about coronets and guirlands the great diuersitie in aromaticall and sweet smelling simples Of Saliunca and Polium SAffron was no doubt in great credit and estimation during the flowring estate of Troy for certes the Poet Homer highly commendeth these three floures to wit Melilot Saffron and Hyacinth Of all odoriferous and sweet senting simples nay of all hearbes and floures whatsoeuer the difference consisteth in the colour the smel and the juice And note this to begin withall that seldome or neuer you shal meet with any thing sweet in sent but it is bitter in tast and contrariwise sweet things in the mouth be few or none odoriferous to the nose And this is the reason that wine refined smelleth better than new in the lees and simples growing wild haue a better sauor far than those of the garden Some floures the further they be off the more pleasant is their smell come nearer vnto them their sent is more dull and weaker than it was as namely Violets A fresh and new gathered rose casteth a better smel afar off than neere at hand let it be somwhat withered and dry you shal sent it better at the nose than farther off Generally all floures be more odoriferous and pleasant in the Spring than at any other season of the yeare and in the morning they haue a quicker and more piercing sent than at any houre of the day besides the neerer to noon the weaker is the smell of any herb or floure Moreouer the floures of new plants are nothing so sweet as those of an old stock and yet I must needs say that floures smell strongest in the mids of Summer As for Roses and Saffron floures they cast the pleasanter smell if they be gathered in cleare weather when it is faire and dry aboue head and in one word such as grow in hot countries be euer sweeter to smell vnto than in cold Climats Howbeit in Aegypt the floures haue no good sent at all by reason that the aire
head it somwhat stuffeth and offendeth The floure is of a golden colour And say that it carrieth neither seed nor floure yet commeth it vp of it selfe in void and vacant places altogether neglected and without any culture for it doth propagat and increase by the tops and tips of the branches lying vpon the ground and so taking root And therefore it groweth the better if it be set of root or slip than sowed of seed For of seed much adoe there is to make it come vp and when it is aboue ground the yong plants are remoued and set as it were in Adonis gardens within pots of earth and that in Summer time after the maner of the herb and floure Adonium for as well the one as the very tender and can abide no cold and yet as chill as they be they may not away with ouer-much heat of the Sun for taking harme But when they haue gotten head once and be strong enough they grow and branch as Rue doth Much like vnto Sothernwood in sent and smell is Camomile the floure is white consisting of a number of pretty fine leaues set round about the yellow within CHAP. XI ¶ Of Marioram the greater and the lesse called in Latine Amaracus or Sampsuchum Of Nyctygretum Melilote the white Violet of Codiaminum and wild Bulbes of Heliochrysum and Lychnis or Rose Campain And of many other herbs growing on this side the sea DIocles the Physitian and the whole nation in maner of the Sicilians haue called that herb Amaracus which in Egypt and Syria is commonly named Sampsuchum It commeth vp both waies as well of seed as of a slip and branch It liueth and continueth longer than the herbs beforenamed and hath a more pleasant and odoriferous sent Marjoram is as plentifull in seed as Sothernewood but whereas Sothernewood hath but one tap root and the same running deep into the ground the rest haue their roots creeping lightly aloft and eb within the earth As for all the other herbes they are for the most part set and sowne in the beginning of the Autumne some of them also in the spring and namely in places which stand much in the shade which loue to be well watered also and inriched with dung As touching Nyctygretum or Lunaria Democritus held it to be a wonderfull herb and few like vnto it saying that it resembleth the colour of fire that the leaues be pricky like a thorne that it creeps along the ground he reporteth moreouer That the best kind therof growes in the lad Gedrosia That if it be plucked out of the ground root and all after the Spring Aequinox and be laid to drie in the Moonshine for 3 daies together it will giue light and shine all night long also That the Magi or Sages of Persia as also the Parthian kings vse this herb ordinarily in their solemn vowes that they make to their gods last of all That some call it Chenomychos because Geese are afraid of it when they see it first others name it Nyctilops because in the night season it shineth and glittereth afarre off As for Melilote it commeth vp euery where howbeit the best simply wherof is made the greatest account is in Attica but inwhat place soeuer it growes that is most accâ—…pted which is fresh new gathered not enclining to white but as like vnto Saffron as is possible And yet in Italie the white Melilote is the sweeter and more odoriferous The first floure bringing tidings of the springs approch is the white bulbous stock-Gillofre And in some warmer climates they put forth and shew euen in Winter Next vnto it for their timely appearance is the purple March Violet and then after them the Panse called in Latine Flammea and in Greeke Phlox I meane the wild kind onely Codiaminon bloweth twice in the yeare namely in the Spring and the Autumne for it cannot abide either Winter or Summer Somewhat later than those before rehearsed are the Daffodil and Lilly ere they flour especially in countries beyond sea in Italy verily as I haue said before they bloum not till after Roses for in Greece the Passe-floure Anemone is yet more lateward Now is this Anemone the floure of certain wild Bulbes different from that other Anemone whereof I will speake in the Treatise of Physick-hearbs Then followeth Oenanthe and Melanion and of the wild sort Heliochrysos After them a second kind of Passe-flower or Anemone called also Leimonia beginneth to blow And immediatly vpon it the pety Gladen or sword-grasse accompanied with the Hyacinth last of all the Rose sheweth in her likenes But quickly hath the Rose done and none so soone and yet I must except the garden Rose Of all the rest the Hyacinths or Harebels the stock-Gillo floure and Oenanthe or Filipendula beare floures longest But of this Oenanthe this regard must bee had that the floures bee often picked and plucked off and not suffered to run to seed This groweth in warme places It hath the very same sent that Grapes when they first bud and put out blossom whereupon it took the name Oenanthe But before I leaue the Hyacinth I cannot chuse but report the fable or tale that goeth thereof and which is told 2 maner of waies by reason that the floure hath certaine veines to be seen running in and out resembling these two letters in Greek AI plaine and easie to be read which as some say betoken the lamentable mone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Apollo made for his wanton minion Hyacinthus whome he loued or as others make report sprung vp of the bloud of Aiax who slew himselfe and represented the two first letters of his name AI. Helyachrysos beareth a yellow floure like to gold a small and fine leafe a little stalk also a slender but hard and stiffe withall The Magi or Sages of Persia vse to weare this hearbe and floure in their Guirlands and they be fully persuaded that by this meanes they shall win grace and fauour in this life yea and attaine to much honour in glorie prouided alwaies that their sweet compositions wherewith they annoint and perfume themselues be kept in a vessel or box of gold not yet fined nor purified in the fire which gold they call Apyron And thus much for the floures of the Spring Now succeed and comeafter in their rank the summer floures to wit Lychnis Iupiters flower or Columbine-and a second kind of Lilly likewise Iphyon and that Amaracus or Marjeram which they cal the Phrygian But of all others the flower Pathos is most louely beautifull whereof there be two kinds the one with a purple flower like vnto the Hyacinth the other is whiter and groweth commonly in churchyards among graues and tombs and the same holdeth on flouring better and liueth longer The flower de-luce also is a Summer flower These haue their time fade and are soone gone And then come other flowers for them in their place in
it to be an excellent remedy for to rid away the ringing end thumping within the ears And to conclude it is a generall speech That if dogs do lap and tast the milke of a woman which hath borne a maid child they will neuer run mad As touching the fasting spittle of a woman it is judged to be a proper medicine for bloud-shotten eies also for the rheum that hath taken a course thither if so be the corners of the eyes be euer and anone bathed and wet therewith when they be hot and inflamed but more effectually will this remedy work in case the woman forbeare all meat and wine the day before I read moreouer in some Authors That if the head be bound vp with a womans haire-lace or fillet it easeth the pain thereof And thus much in some good sort as touching the medicines proceeding from women As for the rest that are written and reported they exceed all reason and there is no end of them For first and formost it is said that if a woman whiles her monthly sicknesse is vpon her bee set into the wind abroad with her belly naked she will scar away hailestorms whirlewindes and lightenings yea and aâ—…ert any violence of the weather whatsoeuer And at sea verily any woman standing openly against the weather bare although she haue not her fleurs is enough to secure the sailers and passengers from all tempests As for the very monthly flux itself of women a thing in other respects and at all times as I haue shewed before of a monstrous nature there be writers who tell and presage wonders thereof such as be horrible abhominable and indeed not to be spoken and yet some of these things I hold it no shame to deliuer in writing namely If it fall out just in the eclipse of Sun or Moon that a woman hath her sicknesse come down the same is a pestilent quality and apt to breed diseases incureable Likewise if haply the time of the change when the Moon is in coniunction with the Sun and those things concurre together the man who medleth with her during that time shall not auoid his bane but it will bring vpon him some pestilent malaâ—…y remedilesse Moreouer the venome thereof is so strong at that time especially more than at any other that the presence or breath only of a woman then will infect and staine any purple cloth And yet bad enough it is at all times for whensoeuer they are in their fleurs it skills not in what quarter of the Moone if they goe about any field of corn with their nakednesse vncouered yee shall see the canker wormes caterpillers beetles and all such wormes and hurtfull vermine to fall from the corn as they passe along This inuention by the saying of Scepsius and Metrodorus came from the Cappadocians who being infested with a number of those green flies called Cantharides deuised this means to be rid of them for they caused their women at the time of their monthly terms sauing the reuerence of womanhood be it spoken to go through the standing corne with their cloths tuckt vp round about their wast and all bare beneath In other countries yet they are more mannerly and in a better respect to the honor of women put them only to go barefoot for this purpose with their haire hanging loose about their eares vngirt vnlaced and vnbraced Howbeit great heed must be taken that they walke not thus at the Sunne-rising for then surelv all the crop vpon the ground will wither and dry away to nothing Also if a woman during her natural courses doe but touch any yong vines it is enough to marre them for euer As for Rue and Iuie Plants otherwise of themselues most medicinable and indued with singular vertues against poison they will presently die with their touch Much I haue already said of this strong and pestiferous venome and yet I haue not written all For ouer and besides certaine it is that if a menstruous woman doe no more but touch a Bee-hiue all the Bees will be gone and neuer come to it againe Also if at such a time she handle any skains or slips of linnen yearn and set them ouer the fire to seeth they will in the boiling turn black Let her but take a barbers rasor in her hand the edge wil turn and become blunt nay if she do no more but touch any brasen vessel it is wonderfull what a strong sauor it wil cast and how it wil rust and canker therupon and the rather if this fall out to be in the decrease or wane of the moon Doth a woman at such a time touch a mare that is in fole it is enough to make her cast the same before due time And not onely so but the very sight of women in that case although they be a great way off is able to do much harm but principally the first time that they haue the said fleurs after the losse of their maidenhead or otherwise during their virginity when they first come down by course of nature of the owne accord The malignitie of this venomous humor is so great that the slime ingendred within the lake of Sodome in Iury as viscous as it is otherwise will forgoe all that tenacity and diuide in sunder by nothing els but a thred infected with the said menstrual bloud according as I haue declared heretofore So forcible it is besides that the very fire which is of power to ouercome all things and change their nature is not able to conquer and alter this for burne or calcine it to ashes and strew neuer so little thereof vpon any cloths that are to be washed or scoured in the Fullers mill it wil change their color though they were of purple and cause any die whatsoeuer to lose the fresh lustre And more than that so pernicious is the quality of this venome that as naturall otherwise as it is to women it is no better than a poison to those of their own sex for in case one woman with child be annointed about her naturall parts with the foresaid bloud of another or do but step ouer the place where it is she will immediatly fall to labour and slip an abortiue birth As for the famous curtizans Lais and Elephantis who haue written so contrary one to the other of this argument and namely as touching abortions and of what efficacy the cole of Colewort Myrtle or Tamariske root is after it hath bin quenched in the said bloud as also how she Asses will not conceiue for so many yeres as they chance to eat Barly corns infected therewith besides other strange deuises that they haue set abroach I think them incredible I would not haue any credit at all giuen vnto their writings considering the monstruosities contrarieties which they haue put down whiles the one prescribeth medicines for to make fruitful the other ordaineth the very same to hinder conception and cause them to be barren Moreouer Bythus
bare the roots only of the vines and lay dung thereto The second deluing they would haue to be from the Ides of Aprill and six daies before the Ides of May that is before they begin to conceiue and bud and thirdly before they fall to blossome also when they haue done flouring and also at the time when the grapes alter their hew But the more skilfull and expert husbands affirme constantly That if the ground be ouermuch laboured and digged too often the grapes will be so tender skinned that they will burst againe Moreouer these rules following are to bee obserued That when any vines do require such deluing and digging the laborers ought to goe to worke betimes before the heat of the day mary if the vineyard stand vpon a mirie clay it is not good then either to eare or dig it but rather to wait for the hot season for the dust that riseth by digging is very good by their saying both to preserue the vine and grapes from the partching Sun and also to defend them against the dropping mists As for disburgening of vines and clensing them of their superfluous leaues all men accord that it should be done once in the Spring to wit after the Ides of May for the space of eleuen daies following and in any hand before they begin to put forth floure And how much thereof must be thus diffoiled for the first time euen all that is vnder the traile or frame no more As for the second men be not all of one minde some would haue the leaues to be disbranched when the vine hath done flouring others expect vntill the grapes begin to be ripe But as touching these points the rules that Cato giueth wil resolue vs for we are now also to shew the maner of cutting and pruning vines Many men begin this worke immediatly after vintage when the weather is warm and temperat but indeed by course of Nature this should neuer be done before the rising of the Aegle star as we will more at large declare in the next booke where we are to treat of the rising and fall of the fixed stars and of their influences or rather in truth when the Westerne wind Fauonius beginneth to blow forasmuch as there might be danger in going ouer soon to work considering that hast commonly maketh wast For this is certain that if there come an after-winter and chance to bite the vines newly medicined as it were or rather fore with this pruning if it happen I say that when euery man makes reckoning that winter is gon it come vpon them againe and whiske with his taile their buds pinched with cold will lose their vigor their wounds will cleaue and make rifts in such sort that when the humidity is distilled and dropped forth the oilets wil be nipt and burnt away with the bitternesse of the vnseasonable weather for who knoweth not that in frost it is ticklish medling with vines and that they be in danger soon to breake and knap asunder To say therefore a truth by order of Nature there would not be such hast made But here is the matter they that haue a large domaine and much lands to look vnto they that must go through a great deale of work cannot wil nor chuse but begin betimes and make this computation and reckoning aforesaid And in one word the sooner that vines be pruned if the time wil serue commodiously the more they run into wood and leaues and contrariwise the later you go to work the more plenty of grapes they wil yeeld and therefore it is meet and expedient to prune vines that be poore and feeble very timely but such as be strong and hardy last of all As for the manner and fashion of the cut it ought alwaies to be aslant like a goats foot that no drops of raine may settle and rest thereupon but that euery shower may soon shoot off also that it turn downeward to the ground that it be euen and smooth made with a keen and sharpe edged bill or cutting hook Furthermore this heed would be taken that the cut be iust between two buds for feare of wounding any of the oylets neere vnto that part which is cut off and commonly this is supposed to be blacke and duskish and so long as it is so seen it ought to be cut and cut again vntill you come to that which is sound and cleare indeed for neuer shall yee haue out of a faulty and corrupt wood any thing come forth that will bee worth ought If the vine be so poore and lean that it affordeth no branches meet and sufficient to beare cut it down to the verie ground for best it is then to fetch new from the root and to see whether they will be more liuely Ouer and beside in disburgening and desoiling a vine you must beware how you pluck off those burgeons that are like to beare the grape or to go with it for that were the next way to supplant as it were the grapes â—…ea and kill the vine vnlesse it were a new and yong plant Will you then know which are vnprofitable and may be spared euen all those are deemed superfluous which are come not directly from the knot or neere oilet but grow out of the side and no maruell since that the verie branches of grapes which hang in this manner out of the hard wood are so stiffe and tough also that vnneth a man may plucke them off with his fingers but had need of a knife or hook to cut them away As for the pitching of props into the ground some are of opinion that the best way is to set them between two vines and indeed that were the easier way to come about the vines for to lay their roots bare when time serueth Also better it is far so to doe in a vineyard where the vines run vpon one single traile in case the said traile be strong enough and the vineyard not subiect to the danger of winds but where a vine runneth foure waies it must be relieued with prop and stayes as neer as may be to support the burden yet so as they be no hinderance when as men should come about the foot to lay the root bare and therefore they would be a cubit off and no more Moreouer this is a general rule that a vine be clensed about the root beneath before that it be pruned aboue Cato treating generally of all maters concerning vines writeth thus by way of rule and precept Let your vine quoth he be as high as possibly you can fasten it to the frame decently but take heed you bind it not too hard Dresse and order it after this manner After you haue cut away the tips and tops therof dig round about the roots and be in then to eare vp plow the vineyard draw furrowes and ridges too and fro throughout Whiles vines be yong tender couch the branches within the ground for propagation with al speed as for old