used such Water wherewith he watered his Trees and forced them thereby so strongly out that they blowed abundantly yet produced but little Wood and Fruit and the following Year the good Gentleman found that most of his Trees were spoiled and some quite dead We do then with Reason reject these Preparations which bring more Hurt then Profit to their Practitioners but deem it best to follow the ordinary Way leaving all artificial Preparation of Dung and Earth and use a Ground endowed with all good Properties which we may sufficiently distinguish by Feeling Smelling and Seeing from the mean and bad CHAP. XXXI Of the Sowing of Trees THE Sowing of Orange Kernels doth in these cold Countries require much time before they come to be Trees yet this is done by many Lovers with Advantage especially in Brabant where be divers Persons who by following this yearly have obtained great and fruitful Nurseries and hereby excited others to the same Inclination To do this Sowing well we must make Choice for it of the Seed of Oranges not of Limons much less of Citrons as being too tender according to the Testimony of Ferrarius the Limons Seeds are seldom sown in Italy because they cannot well resist the Hardships then is it much more Unimitable in these Climates He that will begin this must make Choice of the fullest best and ripest Seed of fair perfectly ripe Oranges as they come out of Italy Spain or Portugal wash the same with Rain-water and make them clean from all Corruption and Dirt and afterwards dry the same three or four Days in the Shade in the beginning of May and according to the saying of Ferrarius we must sow them two Days before the full of the Moon after this manner and fill to that end a Pot with good fat and sifted Earth put the Seed therein an Inch deep and two good Inches breadth asunder set the Pot to the South in an open airy Warm and to the Sun standing place and sprinkle this you have sown immediately with lukewarm rain-Rain-water and also every third Day yet this Earth must not be too wet but only moderately kept moist To further the springing out Glasses must be put upon the Pots which will exceedingly forward the Work In the springing up of the Seed it happens many times that the Shoots come forth double viz. two together these Twins must we part pull out the weakest that it may not hinder and take away the Nourishments of the other These young Seedlings are frequently troubled with Ear-wiggs Ants Snails Woodlice which eat the same off and hinder their Growth wherefore there must be Provision made against them At the third Year must every Seedling be transplanted particularly and singly by itself in a Pot in good Earth and put in a place as before where they may be free and safe from all bad Winds Without any Opposition or Hindrance they shall be at five Years old a Finger thick fit for Inoculation and in the twelfth Year or less also bring forth Fruit. This is the Ordinary and certainest Way of sowing whereby we may nurse up and raise these Trees and from their beginning use them to the enduring of Injuries and Hardships which may happen to them through the Inconstancy of the Climate By the art of Sowing in fresh Horse-dung may these Seeds be made speedily and strongly to sprout out When the Seed is first soaked in lukewarm Water wherein fresh Dung and a little Salt-peter hath lain asteep as we have seen at Nortwyok in Holland at Sieur Borels that he made Orange Trees grow in one Year from Seed to the height of two Feet and a Finger thick fit to Inoculate the next or second Year But assoon as the Sun did recide to the South and declared unto us the approaching Winter these tender Nurslings began to Mourn as unaccustomed to the usual Severity of our Harvest and Winter Showers which surprized them as being Unarmed and Unprovided against this Evil and withal spoiled them of all Health and Thriftiness whereupon Death at last followed This Forcing is good for all Forreign Seeds out of hot Countries to dry the Plants that come forth from them to an herbarium Vivum But is by no means advisable about the Sowing of Orange Trees in which we must keep to the Way and Manner above Mentioned CHAP. XXXII Of Ingrafting THE Propagation of Fruit is mostly done on a threefold way by Ingrafting Ablactation and Buding otherwise called Inoculating To do this well the Stock which is to be Grafted or Ingrafted must be strong and sufficient in Growth that the Cyon put in may not want Nourishment To which end a fit Bough or Branch is to be chosen to cut the Cyon from whether it be a Limon or Orange Tree which is neither too Old nor too Young for the Old is unfit and the Young too tender That we may not miss here we must chuse Wood of two years Growth because that of one year is too tender cut the Cyon in the Month of May to the length of two Buds part under the lowest Bud shall be cut with a sharpe Knife on both sides somewhat flat yet so that the most outward part of the Bark may not go off being it must again Unite with that of the Stock After the cutting of the Cyon the Stock must be sawed off at a convenient height and observe that the Bark be not bruised but be smooth and even Then make a Slit in the top of the Stock with a sharp Chissel and put therein a Box-Tree-wood-Wedg that the opening may not shut again put then the Cyon in from the Top downward to the lowest Bud so that the same sticks out a little above the Stock close the Work together so that the outmost Bark of the Cyon doth exactly answer to the outmost Bark of the Stock guard the Slit with good grafting Wax against the Inwatering and other Inconveniences On this manner may we Graft upon high Stocks and upon particular Boughs to make several sorts of Fruits as well Limons as Oranges to grow upon one Tree which may likewise be done by Inoculating Then at last Care is to be taken that the new grafted Cyon may have the full Nourishment and be not robbed by the wild Sprigs shooting forth By means of Grafting we have seen the wild Orange Tree bettered but it often fails But the Limon Tree grafted into the Orange Stock is more sure and will better Unite Grafting is seldom used in these Trees except out of Curiosity for it makes most unhandsom and ill-shapen Stocks and is therefore by the Practitioners but little used Besides the foregoing Grafting is Grafting by Approach or Ablactation or of Sucking so called because the young Shoot is sucked off from the Mother or principal Trees We have seen it with Hercules Patronus at Zutphen who was very experient in this Ordering and Managing and hath happily performed and executed both these Ways of
that of standing Lakes and Ponds also that which is thick saltish brackish sulphureous and of gross Parts which must be rejected for this Use and that only be chosen which is here above Approved viz. that VVater which hath a good Smell sweet Tast without any Slyminess which in the VVinter is somewhat Luke-warm and in the Summer moderately Cool for this is judged wholesom and pleasant as well for Men as for Trees but River and rain-Rain-VVater excelleth all other when enough may be had we shall keep to it There be Persons that prepare several Mixtures with Dung Saltpeter and VVater to water therewith but being we rejected that in the thirtieth Chapter and have spoken of it before we shall say no more to it now VVe must order our selves according to the Difference of the Seasons to water Orange Trees In hot and dry VVeather it must be done every second or third Day in the Evening when the Sun is going down and Shines no more upon the Trees for if they be watered in the heat of the Day it will cause a great Sickness wherefore we stay till the Evening by reason that the heat of the Sun having layn upon the Roots all the Day they may thereby in some measure be Refreshed This watering must be done with Care so that the Earth be kept moderately moist and not too wet and reduced to a dirty Myriness we must also beware of the Stocks lest they chill by the Water which comes against them grow foul mossy and come to a pining Sickness We must especially observe that the Water we shall use in watering must be warmed in the Sun before it be used because cold-cold-Water is very hurtful to the Trees therefore we use Casks and Tubs or wooden Troughs which stand all the Day long in the Sun and wherein the Water is put the Day before it is used The time when this watering begins and ends here in these Countries is commonly May to the latter end of August or somewhat longer according as the Days be Wet Hot or Cold. We must observe this general Rule in this Affair which is above in some measure touched upon viz. that we do not water these Trees too much for if they be kept too wet it cools and chills the Root and the Leaves grow Yellow too much driness is also hurtful so that Moderation must be observed here which we may sufficiently know by the Earth itself for these Trees must not be over-watered As long as the Trees stand in the Winter-Place or Green-House they are seldom watered except Necessity requires it which may be discerned by the shrinking in of the Leaves and the limberness of their Fruits and then the watering must be but little till the Faintness ceases and the Fruits and Leaves return to their former State When this watering is to be done we shall warm a Pot with Water over the Fire and so temper it with cold VVater that it is fitly lukewarm as if it had stood a Summers Day in the Sun for great Cold is very prejudicial to the Roots In the Spring from April to May we shall seek to cherish these Trees by a slowish Feeding or Refreshing with VVater which is set upon the Tubs in flat Pots or Pans wherein ly longish Pieces of woollen Selveges which by little and little suck it in and so thence distills again into the Earth which thus in time begins to moisten and give Nourishment to the Tree but if we do water much in the Spring the Fruit will Mourn and fall off which according to Ferrarius his Opinion comes to pass because the Trees have sufficient Moistness and Sap in them and ascends from the Root whereby the Fruits are as it were loosned and fall off Hitherto now what concerneth watering if it be well observed in the Blowing time and swelling of the Fruit we shall find that the Trees are Cheerly and Merry and shall richly Reward the Master's Labour and Pains with Blossoms Fruits and pleasant Leaves CHAP. XXXVIII Of Cutting or Pruning A Two-fold Cutting or Pruning is used about these Trees First That which is used yearly by taking away the dead VVood and superfluous Branches Secondly The taking or cutting of the whole Head First The Pruning which the Limon Tree requires is about the superfluous VVood which the Tree often makes and must needs be cut off as well in regard of the good Shape of her Head as of the common welfare of her Fruits for through want of this work the Limon Trees get irregular slender Heads which render them Ungraceful to the Eye Secondly VVe must also clear them of the dead VVood which discovers itself in the fore-part of the Year while they yet stand in the House and is caused through Moistness which falling down upon the Boughs and Leaves produces Stifling and Moldiness which by a sharp Property bites and eats out the Life of the tender VVood and Leaves and causes a pernicious Deadness and Infects the whole Bough in a short time if we be not careful about it to stop the Malady by cutting off therefore must this be taken away to the Quick and the VVounds covered up with grafting-VVax to prevent further Corruption The Orange Tree is likewise subject to the forementioned Evil wherefore he must be handled as the Limon Tree in this case But yet he hath this peculiar that he often produces at the fore-ends of the Boughs very Close Churlish and many small Shoots and they especially with curled and wrinkled Leaves which do the more strongly draw and suck away the Nourishment and hinder the farther shooting of young Branches and make the Trees to Blossom too much whereby at last a Consumption is caused To prevent which these superfluous Twiggs or little Shoots are in their beginning broken or taken off and but two or at most three left together or if you find that too many of these Shoots or Twiggs are left they are taken away at the ordinary time of Pruning to the end the next new coming may come forth the more strongly and lustily When we observe that the Limon and Orange Trees begin to leave Growing and fail to shoot new Branches which are Signs that the growing Virtue is decayed being caused by the abundant Blossoming and Fruit-bearing then shall ye cut the whole Head off within an Hands breadth and Transplant the Tree into fresh Earth as is taught before Cap. 8. after the Roots are well cleared Whereby the same obtains as it were a new Life and we get again likewise instead of Trees decayed young and flourishing ones This pruning Work must be taken in hand in the Spring viz. assoon as the Trees come out of the VVinter Place or Green House and according to Ferrarius his Lesson in the VVain of the Moon but for the cutting away of Sear or dead VVood no time is to be observed for the taking off of the whole Head we can prescribe
of Amsterdam and a great Lover of this Husbandry Further others have set their Trees upon little Benches or Frames of half a Foot above Ground whose Feet being made of little thick short pieces of Wood stand in little Troughs which are kept full of Water and keep these Pernicious Creatures from the Trees The Earwiggs which devour and spoil these young tender Shoots may be catcht with pieces of coarse Linnen laid in the Trees and so kept in and Curbed Spiders hurt the Limon and Orange Trees by Spinning the Leaves together and by pulling the young Shoots together whereby the Leaves become Black Foul and are hindred much in their Growth The only Remedy against this Evil is to catch the same and so chasing away these Tyrants to make these Plants free from such a filthy Crew Concerning other Mischances of Winds bad Airs thereof is taught before how they may be hindered and kept off When the Trees in the Winter are Housed they are often troubled with Mice and Rats because they cannot come by Water wherefore it is not amiss to provide the winter Place or green House with Traps and Pans of Water that this Vermine may either be catcht or their Thirst quencht to compel them to excuse and leave the Trees as we have seen that very much happened to Sieur William Vanden-Heuvell What concerneth Snails and Caterpillers it is not found in this Country that they bring any Harm to these Plants and therefore Unnecessary upon this Occasion to Admonish or Mention of them If they be found on them the best Means against them is to catch them CHAP. XL. Of the winter Place or green House and its Use BEcause it is impossible to Order these Outlandish Plants well in these Countries except we know how conveniently to defend them in the winter Season against the Frost and Cold which cannot be done if there be not a good winter Place provided We see that in Brabant and Flanders they use arched Cellars to avoid the inconveniency of making Fire But thereby they also commonly lose their fruit which through or by reason of the little air and moist Vapours which the Trees receive decay and fall off except they be again carried out of the Cellar into a lightsom room as soon as the frost is over which is not well to be done for any one that hath a great number of Trees by reason the labour would be too great and chargeable because of the multitude besides with the frequent removing we run the hazard to spoil the heads by hitting them against some thing or other To this Work is at least a lightsom Room required which is free from all Cold piercing Winds and hath Glass-Windows to the South that the Sun Shining in the Winter may refresh these tender Strangers with her pleasant and grateful Beam What manner of Winter-place or Green-house soever we prepare Care must be had that it stand with the open part as much as is possible to the South Here I might give the description and the dimention of several Green houses set down by the Author but think it needless because as the Author saith every one may and doth make them as he thinketh good and Convenient Yet the Use is one and the same Viz. for the preservation of tender plants which cannot endure and stand out against our Cold Winter storms and Tempests From the time that the Trees are set into the Green house or Winter place we must begin to take Care to watch against all Incident inconveniencies and unchanches for through carelessness more harm may be done in one night then we can again overcome and repair in an whole year but on what time such must be done cannot be well prescribed in regard of the Months because the Condition of the Weather must shew it For it happeneth many times here in this Country in some mild Winter that the Glass-Windows are whole days open and therefore it serves for a general rule that as long as it is fair Weather and doth not freeze the Wooden Shutters shall be left open day and night to the middle of November and then shall they be shut before the Sun goes down But when it is misty misly and frosty Weather they shall be kept close and it must not be tedious to a practitioner to open and shut the Windows though often in one day for the more the Trees are aired the better it is to prevent all stifling and moulding Now when it begins to freeze tho not so hard as that it freezeth within the house then open only the Wooden Shutters to the end that the Sun shining into the winter place or green house may refresh the Trees and the Fruits and against the evening before the Sun is set the same must be shut again that in the night they may not suddenly be surprized by the Cold. Now when the Frost begins to increase the Green house shall be wholly kepr shut and we must take Care there be no holes or chinks for the Wind to come in or through for where the same doth light it doth great harm and causeth Frost the sooner within doors Nevertheless when it is a fair Sun shine at noon day the same may be let in through the Glass-Windows and being gone Shut them again Close Now when it Freezeth so hard that there is no longer keeping within Doors without making Fire which we may observe by putting some Pans or Pots with Water here and there in the Green-House and when we see that Freeze then is it time to make Fire in the Stoves which is commonly done early in the Morning and at Night about nine of the Clock But if it comes to pass that these two Fires are not enough in the Day then also a Fire must be made at Noon-Day and in making this Fire keep also this common Rule As long as the Water doth not Freeze in the Pans we need not to make a Fire and when the Water doth Freeze we must make no greater Fire then that we see the Ice to grow loose and that the Frost can lay no hold thereon for if we make too hot a Fire it shall do more Hurt then if it came to Freeze once in the Green-House It once happened to me that the Frost took the Trees by Night and the Leaves and Fruits were stiff as if they had been white with the same which was caused by the Carelesness of the Gardiner To repair this Mischance there was a slow Fire made in the Stove and not an hot or great one at first through which Sweet pleasantly increasing VVarmth the frozen Leaves and Fruits began by Degrees to Thaw and to come to their former Condition yea I had never more ripe Fruits then in that same Year 1668. It comes also sometimes to pass that in the Green-House or VVinter-Place there hang many Drops of VVater at the Ceiling when many Days together a
may not lose its Scent You may also take instead of Sperma Caeti or Parma Cetie white clear Barrow's-Fat this Salve is good against Heats in the Brest when you Anoint the same therewith and also against the hot Inflammations of the Gout and such like Distempers which arise from Heats Orange Apples are likewise for many Uses and have many Virtues the Pills are dryed preserved Wet or Dry and Oyl is also Distilled from them The small green Apples of the bigness of a Pease are put upon Strings and worn by Gentlewomen for Necklaces and about their Wrists because of their good and sweet Scent The Pills of Oranges are of great Use in the Art of Physick and are of a warm Property dried and powdered they are very Useful against the Collick and other cold Distempers taken in a little warm Wine cause Urine and Sweat you may use this Pouder from a Scruple to a Dram. To Confite Orange-Pills or to Preserve them with Sugar You shall take Pills of fresh ripe Oranges take out the inside White and let them ly a-Soak some Days in fair rain-Rain-Water that the Bitterness may be most out of them then boyl them in other rain-Rain-Water till they be soft the Syrop must be conveniently boyled and after the Pills are well drained put them into it and keep them for Use Will you Confite them dry take the Pills after they have layn some time in the Syrop out of it again and put them into a warm place or Stove to dry And to Candy them you must only boyl the Syrop higher then if you would preserve them wet These preserved Orange-Pills strengthen the Heart against all Faintings warm the cold Stomach and resist all bad and pestilential Airs To make an Oyl take of fresh Orange-Pills fifty Pounds and put them all in a Vessel stamp them close together and let them rot well put them in a Limbeck and pour a good quantity of Water upon them and being Distilled with a moderate Fire there comes over with the Water a clear and strong-scented Oyl which you must part from the Water and keep for Use against all cold Ails as well of the Stomach as of other parts of the Body The same is also outwardly Applied against Cold and stifned Sinews by Anointing them therewith The Juice of Oranges hath divers Virtues according as they are either Sowre or Sweet the last are Warmest and are fitly Used in the hot Distempers of the Lungs as cooling moderately They that are of a moderate Tast are very Pleasant but the Juice of the Sowre is more cooling and there is a Syrop made of them to mix among all other Medicines against all malignant Feavers The Juice used with Meat gives it a pleasant Relish the same is put into Meat by the Turks instead of Verjuice It is also very good against the Scurvy causeth a sweet Breath as our Seamen can sufficiently Testify wherewith we shall conclude this and touch a little upon the Use of the Limon Tree CHAP. XLIII Of the Use of the Limon Tree IT may perhaps seem Strange to some that we place the Use of the Orange Tree before the Limon Tree though the last be Described first it is because the Orange Tree is more Beloved with us and commoner and therefore we give the same the Precedency We come now to the Limon Tree whose Fruits are not only known in the Art of Physick but also in the Housekeeping and doth wholly agree in Virtues with the Citron Apple as its Tast sheweth being also divers in Operation for the Sweet excel the Sowre in Warmth The Pills of the Limons are Preserved or Confited with Sugar after the same Manner as is heretofore said of the Orange Apples to use them for Physick and Dainties The outside of the Limon Pills is a very good Remedy for those that have eaten bad Mushrooms or Fungi as Franciscus van Sterbeeck writes Being Distilled with Brandy it is called in the Shops Limon-Water As they also do with Orange Pills is much drunk in the cold Northen Countries yet most out of Wantonness though it be not Unuseful against cold inward Ails And for this Drink are yearly many thousand of Pounds of Orange and Limon Pills used which are sent hither into these Countries out of Italy Out of these Pills is an Oyl made even as that out of the Orange Pills You may squeese a sweet smelling Oyl with your Hand out of the fresh Limon Pills which is exceeding good to strengthen the Heart and to amend the Sight The Seed is also used in many Medicines but the Juice is best known as well in the Cooks as the Apothecaries Shop and is experienced with great Benefit against the Scurvy and its Concomitants wherefore it is much used by Sea-faring Men against this Distemper Of the Juice is a good Syrop made with Sugar against hot burning Feavers The Water which is distilled out of the Juice of Limons through Balneum Mariae in a glazen Still is good to take away all Spots out of the Skin as also the Freckles of the Face and kills all Worms of the Body when it is Drunk which the Juice doth likewise when ye take an Ounce of it The Juice of Limons resists all Poison and venemous Creatures the Limons are kept in Pickle and stewed with Meat which is a pleasant Sawce The small Limon of Calabria is preserved and kept in its own Juice or Liquor to be eaten so And they are further on several ways Limonaded which affords a pleasant and cooling Drink for which Take Barley-Water one Quart Squeese therein the Juice of four or five Limons sweeten it with Sugar as much as is necessary This well stirred together is the most pleasant and cooling Drink which can be desired To make Pastilli of the Juice of Limons Take Of the Juice of small Calabrian Limons one Ounce Of clear white Sugar-Candy two Ounces Of Oyl of Cinnamon eight drops Let the Juice of the Limons drop through a close piece of Cloth or Strainer that it may be Clear and boyl it with the Sugar to a convenient Thickness that so it may be poured out for Pastilli putting the Oyl of Cinnamon last of all to it These Pastilli are a very pleasant Dainty and cause a sweet Breath Out of this Juice of Limons is a Syrop made on this manner Take of the Juice of Limons six Pounds Of white Sugar three Pounds Make hereof a Syrop by convenient Boyling This Syrop is much used in Physick in hot Distempers burning Feavers and Resists all pestilential Infections and is used with good Success and Benefit against the Worms in the Belly Further the Virtues of the Limons are altogether like those of the Citron and are without any Error Used promiscuously one for the other This is all what was in short to be said of this Matter leaving what may yet be brought to light by the
the Sun as then doth not cause any Soultryness in the Vessels whereby the Trees might be stifled and lose their Leaves and Fruits Secondly This time must be observed that the Trees may be at the place where ye would have them before they come to shoot out and secure them the better against all Dammage but if the Voyage be long by Sea the Removal must be sooner in the forepart of the Year that the Trees may be at the designed place before the warm Weather and not partake of the foresaid Harms In this Removing is yet another Danger besides the breaking and spoiling of the Boughs and stifling of them viz. that of Rats against which we must take Care that the Stocks and Heads may be kept whole and unspoiled for it may happen that this hurtful Vermine being pinched with great Thirst eat the Barks of these Trees and so spoil mangle and Kill them as hath happened to us The best means against this is to cause some Pots with fresh Water to be set in the Ships about the Room where the Trees stand that this Vermine may quench their Thirst and these tender Travellers be brought over in the most comely manner to their Master If this removal must be done by Land ye are to take Care only that they may be safe in the Waggons from breaking and hitting against something or against one another To this belongs the removing as into so also out of the winter Place or green House when the Summer begins to draw to an End and it is come to about the eight of October or the twenty eighth of September the Trees shall be brought under a Shelter or Cover in a fair a clear Day when the Leaves are well dry whether it be a Gallery made of Reed or Straw or otherwise as a Man hath the Conveniency letting them stand there some Days till ye see that it begins to be time to put them into the winter Place or green House which is ordinarily about the middle of October or somewhat later according as the Days are fair and the Weather good In the setting of the Trees you must observe that they stand Airy and as little as is possible into one another lest by the hanging of the Heads in one another the Leaves and Boughs stifle neither must they be placed too near the Stove or fire-Place to receive any Hurt by the Heat and ye must make the placing so that ye may easily come to the Trees to help them upon all Inconveniency In the Spring about the tenth of May when it is mild and rainy Weather remove the Trees again out of the winter Place or green House into the open Air but not at first into the hot Sun-shine because they cannot so suddenly endure the same but lose thereby their Leaves and Fruits therefore you must stay for a Day that it rains or otherwise you shall bring the Trees for some Days into a shady Place to use them again by degrees to the Air and Sunshine how you are further to Order them in the winter Place or green House shall be said afterward CHAP. XXXVI Of Dunging Refreshing and digging about the Trees THE dunging of Limon and Orange Trees is done according to the Diversity of Climates and because we intend to direct this Ordering according to the Condition of our Belgium Netherland this Work must be done in the Month of May as soon as the Trees come out of the Winter-Place or Green-House and that every two or three years according as Necessity requires Digg the old Earth one Hands breath or more round with a sharp Trowel or small Spade out of the Tub or Pot wherein the Tree stands as deep as you can come withal taking away the old fibrous Roots spent and worn out Earth this being done fill the Tubs up again with fatdunged light fine sifted Earth which hath been prepared some time before for it and often wrought together with old Cow and Horse-dung till the same be well mixed and rotten and after the said filling up make the uppermost Earth even letting the same ly lightly to further the Influence or soaking in of the Water which by Rain or Watering comes upon it By means of this Dunging and Refreshing can this noble Plant be Nourished in narrow close Vessels with great ease and maintained in Fruitfulness We have only propounded the most simple and plain Way as being the surest leaving the Artificial which some have Invented and Endeavoured to Recommend to the World for Wonders but deceiveth none more than those that use it most as we have touched upon before in part in the Description of the Dung. The digging about is done yearly in the Spring against the time that the Trees come out of the Winter-Place or Green-House and is nothing else but a taking away of the uppermost Earth of the Tubs two or three Fingers breadth deep and filling them up again with other Good instead of the spent and worn out Dung thereby by this maintaining as much as is possible to strengthen and bring Nourishment to the Earth in the Tubs and Pots CHAP. XXXVII Of Watering BEing the Nourishment of Trees and whatsoever Grows out of the Earth consists out of the finest Particles of the Earth and Water which spreads and disperses itself through small Pores along by little Strings like Veins through all their Parts and by the natural Warmth being strengthned with the Heat of the Sun which pierceth from without doth turn into the Shape and Form of those Parts to which it is brought and being Water is Necessary whithout which no Tree can Live for it serves to the loosening and thinning of the said Parts that the same may the more conveniently be drawn up through the opened Pores and carried to the Place where they are turned into Nourishment And seeing our Hesperial Strangers want the free Use of the Earth with us and must be contented with small and narrow close Tubs and Pots it is necessary we lend them the helping Hand by bringing Water to them which by the Rain except it be of long continuance cannot be sufficiently given or is hindred through the width and breadth of their Heads which cause the rain-Rain-Water to run most down by their Sides wherefore the help of watering is highly requisite here Among all the Parts of this Ordering this is none of the least and we must observe first the Choice of Water and secondly the time when we shall Water Ferrarius whom we here also follow puts sweet and constantly running Spring and River-Water for the best as being most Piercing and wholesomest and next to the Rain-Water which is gathered and kept in Cisterns or Tubs and thirdly Well or Pump-Water which is commonly Cold hath many Defaults and Properties which it carries with it out of the different Grounds whence it Springs Much less in Virtue is the Water which comes out of Moorish Places but worst of all is
must be bored or made in the Bottoms of the Tubbs and Pots and Boxes to empty the superfluous Moistness and to free the Roots of the Trees from rotting The Pots must be made of good Earth glazed within and without or not so according as every one pleaseth and desires the Form and Fashion must be almost like the Tubbs wider at the Top then at the Bottom the Foot broad to prevent the falling down Concerning the spuare Boxes they are not in all particulars held so good and are more chargeable wherefore we thought it not necessary to say any thing touching the same nor of the other things necessary to the Planting as Spade Shovel Trowel and the like in regard they are sufficiently known to every one as to their Form and Fashion Only this must be added that wooden Tubbs are counted better then earthen Potts because the Roots shoot round against the Sides of the Pots and Tubbs also upon the Bottoms of the same and so it is that the Earth being much colder then the Wood doth consequently hinder the Trees more especially in the Winter In the beginning of this Chapter is spoken of a twofold Planting we shall now treat of the first viz. Of Trees which are new brought over out of Italy or other Countries When we have got them in convenient time presently after the Unpacking shall all the Earth which is about the Roots be clean taken off washed and cleared from all stifled and dead Fibres and Stumps and the whole Head sawed off too within an Hands-breadth above the Inoculation and the remaining Tops covered with grafting Wax Take then further a great Tub with Rain-Water made Luke-warm in the Sun and let the Trees ly therein one or two Days that they may by sucking of the fresh Moisture in some measure Revive again after the long continued Draught and Hardships they have suffered in the Voyage and afterward Plant them in this following Manner Chuse Potts or little Tubs according as the Bigness of every Tree shall require fill them with good Earth two or three Hands Breadth deep put the Tree in the middle of it add more fine sifted Earth to it pressing the same a little down and in the filling up shake the Stock up and down to the end the Earth may the better sink in between the Branches of the Root and the Tree stand fast and firm When now the Pot is conveniently filled put the same for some Days in a shady warm place on which the Sun doth not shine let the same stand so long there till the Bud begin to come out On this manner shall we accustom the Trees to our Climate which by degrees are to be set further and further in the open Air and Sun in the mean while the Earth is but moderately and not overmuch to be watered to reduce these sick ones to new Strength again As soon as we begin to see the first shooting out it may be furthered by putting Glasses over the Oculation and taking care that no Cobwebs come to it It must be further observed to the Nursing up and raising that the Vermin do not eat off the tender and first Shoots that sprout out for hereby is caused not only a backwardness and retardation in their Growth but also after a long pining Consumption the Death it self of the Trees but if this Work be managed after the foresaid manner the Trees shall be fit at the fifth Year to bring forth Blossoms and Fruits There be several Reasons which force us to Transplant the Limon and Orange Trees Either because the Pots grow too little the Tubs rott or they must of necessity have fresh Earth or some Defects about the Roots do require it For this make choice of the Months of April the beginning of May or October and according to Ferrarius's Doctrine in the Wain of the Moon after that the holes in the Tubs or Pots are secured from being stopt which is prevented by laying over them some round raised pieces of a broken Pot yet so that the Water may have sufficient way to run out lay then beneath upon the Bottom old rotten Cow-dung three Fingers thick and then as much fat good prepared Earth sifted fine as is necessary to set the Tree upon press the same a little down with the flat of your Hand to prevent the sinking down for it is uncomly when the Earth is too much below the edge of the Tub or Pot. After the Tree is loosned round about in the old Tub or Pot and taken out then cut the superfluous Fibres off with a sharp Knife and see whether there be yet any other Defect or Fault to be found about it which then may be removed You must keep the Roots from Bruises for thereby they are hurt and are very prejudicial to the Tree because they easily cause rotting whence many times a pining and lingring Sickness arises After this done put the Tree then again right in the middle of the new prepared Place fill the same up with the foresaid Earth and press it down a little that the Tree may get firmness which also must not be set too deep After that the Earth is brought to a convenient height three Fingers breadth above the Root then put and set the new planted Tree some Days in a shady warm Place and secure the same against all Moving Shaking Winds Thrusting or any otherwise Neither must ye water this Earth the same Day but two or three Days after and that but moderately because otherwise it becomes sluddy and Miry and cling'd too close together which doth no good And thus must we endeavour to reduce the Trees to fresh Strength and Vigour which we may discern by the coming forth of new Shoots The right time to Transplant is in the end of April or in the beginning of October for at both times may this Work be done though in my Judgment the Spring or forepart of the Year is most fit When this Transplanting is done in Autumn ye must let the Tree stand still till the Spring and water the Earth but moderately till the time it is brought into the House and then water no more except Necessity requires it When a Pot or Tub becomes too little or is broken ye must take the Tree out with the Earth that cleaves to it in one Lump is the Tub perished or decayed cut off the Hoopes or Staves round about and after the impoverished Earth is taken away an Hands breadth next to the knitted Net of Fibres at the Root which are commonly at the Bottom then order your Business further as is said above CHAP. XXXV Of Removing of Trees TO Remove tender Trees which are in these Climates and maintained in narrow Tubs and Pots from one City to another or places farther remote it must be done in the Months of March or April If it be done by Water that is the fittest time First Because the heat of
no Years because the forementioned Signs about them must be only observed The Instruments we have need of for this VVork are a pruning Chissel a wooden Mallet small Saw a crooked pruning Knife grafting VVax to secure the made VVound from dripping Moisture and to further the Cure CHAP. XXXIX Of the Means against many Defaults and Vermine EVen as Men and Animals are subject to Sickness Ails and Enemies so also the Trees and Plants which must needs by Means be rid of them and defended against them if we will keep them in Prosperity and Health The common Distempers which we find here in these Countries are Gumms growing Yellow Lice Rottonness and Decay Concerning the first The same hath or takes its Original from some ill natured cold tough Matter which Nature seeks to throw off or cast out at one place or other in a tough and sharp Moistness which Cankers and Corrupts wheresoever it runs or flows therefore as soon as this Evil is perceived the gummy Place shall be cut out with a sharp Knife to the quick Wood and the outcut Wound rubbed with Lime and Ashes of Turf mixed together with Rain-Water to a convenient Thickness and then be covered over with Grafting Wax This hath been often used with good Advantage on this Occasion and is the same Means which Ferrarius Describes or Prescribes against the rotting of them Against the growing Yellow of the Leaves which takes its Original from the ill Disposition of the inward Parts or from the Rottenness of the Roots and sometimes also from too much watering whereby the Tree is Chilled or from the long continued Exsiccation of the Earth So is it that the same Author Recommends to bury a dead Dogg at the Roots of the Trees and being such cannot well be done with us because we must miss the Use of the free Earth and behelp our selves with narrow Pots and Tubs we have seen that instead thereof is used the Shavings or Scrapings of Neats Horns rotten before and scalded whereby these Trees seemed to live again anew But here Care must be taken that the Scrapings or Shavings of Horns be used moderately that the Trees may not be Damnified through the Sharpness they have in them But if it proceed from the Rottenness or Corruption of the Roots it is most fit to take the Tree up to put away the old Earth and to clear the Root of all corrupt Fibres and Branches and so Plant him again in new Earth whereby the same shall shoot to a more flourishing Growth If it be caused by too much Wett which Chills the Root then the best means is that we look to the Tubs and Pots for it happens sometimes that the Holes underneath are stopt whereby the Water cannot run out but keeps standing about the Root and causes this Evil to it therefore they must be opened that there may be a due Course for the Water Or if it happens through the Earths being too close cling'd together or for want of Air then the Transplanting is the next Means What hath here the name of Lice we find to be much rather a Distemper which hath its Original from the Trees being Foul which is often caused by Mildew too many moist Vapours in the winter Place or green House through the little airing and too close standing together of the Trees as well as an Enemy which comes upon them from without and is rightly called the lousy Disease for it is not enough that one Tree is tainted therewith but all that stand about it become Partakers of the same Evil. This Vermin or Creature if we may so call it is in its beginning of a white Colour of Shape longish Round when it is perfect it is of the bigness of an ordinary wall-Louse of a Chessnut Colour upon the Back beset with long Hairs but they perish in few Days within it is full of grayish Moisture which is of a sweet Tast wherefore the Ants are much about it and like of the Sweetness This Wet or Moistness seems to serve this Creature for Nourishment which it draws out of the Bark of the Tree But it sits most upon the Leaves and most flourishing Branches and we cannot easily observe that it moves from its Place though it doth so very slowly When now against the declining of the Summer this little Animal begins to dye and its Sap and Moisture dryeth up it voids a multitude of white Matter which are Eggs Nits or Seed whereby it is Propagated again We have Experienced that where this white Matter takes place yea even in Vines Peach Laurel and Myrtletree that they were the next Year tainted with this Evil and that instead of one hundreds came to light so that they by sucking the natural Nourishment from the Trees killed them as hath happened to several Trees This Vermine doth not dye through Cold but endures even the coldest Winter and what Means soever have been used to drive away this Distemper the only Means is found to be the making of the Trees clean from their Filth and Foulness with a Spunge wetted in Rain-Water wherewith we caused the Leaves and Boughs in the Spring to be washed and wiped before the same began to shoot out and hereby was this Evil quite overcome which otherwise was sufficient wholy to destroy the Infected Trees We being now freed of this have thought fit not to hide this easy and ordinary Means from others but have been therefore somewhat longer in relating so dangerous an Ayl and its Cure Against Rottenness in the Stocks or Boughs of the Trees nothing else is to be used but what is said above of the Gumms When the Trees begin to wax Old and they produce no young Branches but dye by little and little from the Top then the only Means is to take off the whole Head in the Spring within an Hands breadth above the Inoculation that they may sprout out again and come again by a new Growth to their first Lustiness and Vigour and fresh Strength as is shewed before Now we are to consider the outward Enemies which come to assault and disquiet these Hesperial Inhabitants viz. the Aunts Ear-wiggs and Spiders The two first endammage these Trees especially in their young Shoots and Blossoms Against which many Means are Invented Ferrarius will that we strow Ashes about the Stock or lay about it Cotton dipt in Oyl of Stone which by its stench doth drive away this Vermine But in our time we have seen better Weapons to keep off these ill natured Guests viz. Leaden or Latin Rings of an Hands Breadth which were made or set together round about the Stock and of an Inch or two deep which are kept full of Water wherewith the Tree being compassed about as it were with a Ditch this Vermin is hindred from climbing up and defended also against these Enemies This Invention was first brought to light by the Sieur John Roeters in his Life time Secretary
Tree as well for Delight as for necessary Use The Leaves are good for a broken or bruised Shin and heals it when they are laid on fresh twice a Day these Leaves chewed in the Mouth cause a sweet Breath There is a Water Distilled of Orange Blossoms which is of a pleasant Smell and is useful for many things in Physick chiefly to cause Sweating to strengthen the Heart and many Distempers more whereof the Writings of Physitians and Herbalists are full To make this Water the Orange Blossoms shall be gathered in the Morning before the Sun hath Shone on them and Distilled in a Pewter Still with a slow Fire that they may not in the least be Burnt for this Distilling must only be done by Steaming out whereby we shall get though but a little yet nevertheless a very Pleasant and strong Water Ye may likewise if ye desire a greater Quantity Distil them in a Limbeck but then the Water shall not smell so Sweet The Blossoms of Orange Trees are very good to be laid in a Chest of clean Linnen to give it a pleasant Smell But to draw Oyl out of the Blossoms by Distillation is not well possible here in these Countries because the abundance which is hereunto required is too great for six hundred Pounds do scarce yield two or three Ounces Yet that we may not be wholy deprived of this pleasant Smell here is afterward Taught how we shall Prepare this another way To make an Extraction with Brandy from the Orange Blossoms take to every Pint two Ounces of Blossoms set them in the Sun to Distil fourteen Days long and use thereof a spoonful together against many several cold Distempers and Aills and especially against the Cholick or shrinking of the Guts To Preserve these Blossoms in Sugar which is commonly called Confiting they shall be gathered just before they open and boiled in clean rain-Rain-Water till they be soft and have in part lost their Bitterness after boyl the Sugar to a convenient thickness of a Syrop and pour the same after it is well Purifyed with Whites of Eggs and thoroughly Clear warm upon the Blossoms and let them stand cooling together if the Syrop be too thin or becomes so afterwards ye must boil the same again to its convenient Thickness that the Blossoms may be kept and preserved the better This is a most excellent Remedy against bad Airs foul and stinking Vapours and also an excellent Dainty Furthermore of Orange Blossoms there are made Pastilli or little Balls after this following Fashion Take fifty Blossoms which are quite open pluck them off by the Stalk that ye may not touch the Leaves as little as is possible that the Sent may not be spoiled cut the Leaves with Scissers very small one by one To this take a pound of the best Loaf-Sugar-Candy that may be got beat the same fine and put them in a little brass Bason and add three Ounces distilled Water of Orange Blossoms thereunto stir it with a Spatula till it be mingled together which then set upon Coals thoroughly kindled and let it boil leisurly till when taken up between your Fingers it begins to stick to them as it were with fine small Threds then take it from the Fire and put the clean cut Orange Blossoms into the boyled Sugar stirring the same together with a Spatula till it be well mixed then take a Board of hard Wood which is full of little hollow Places and strow it thick with fine beaten Sugar then fill all the holes full with a silver Spoon of this mingled Syrop which when cold and then taken out the Sugar which hangs about them must be taken off with a Knife from these little Balls and then you have Pastilli which are very Good Pleasant and Useful for many things especially to strengthen the Heart and against all Faintings They are also a good Means against all bad unhealthful and pestilential Airs the same melted in Rose-Water or Sorrel-Water are very usefully Taken and Used with Benefit in all malignant Agues and other Sicknesses which have their Original from Cold. There is yet an Oyl made of these Blossoms on this manner Take Nuts of Egypt Pistaches or for want of them sweet Almonds the newer the better press the Oyl out of them but without Fire that it may keep Sweet the longer then take white and purified Cotton which is free from all Spots foul or musty Sent otherwise it must be made Clean on this manner following viz. It must be soaked in a Pot of strong Brine till all bad Scents be drawn out of it and being washed again in fresh Water wet it again in the forementioned Oyl yet so that the Oyl doth not drop out of it of it self take then a new Earthen Pot and cover the Bottom with new gathered Orange Blossoms lay thereon a Laying of this oyled Cotton and then Blossoms again and so on a Laying of the one and a Laying of the other till the Pot be filled which then cover close with a Bladder and put it in a dry Place not Cold nor yet too Warm these Blossoms shall be changed every Day taking away the Old and putting in fresh ones instead thereof and that five or six Days one after another and then Squeese or Press the oiled Cotton which Oyl gives a most sweet and pleasant Smell fit to be used in many Perfumes As soon as this hath stood some time the Dirt and Waterishness being setled and the Oyl Clarified from it and become clear you may use it as your Occasion serves This kind of Oyl of Orange Blossoms is taken out of Ferrarius who had Learned it of one Franciscus Dagus and hath been made several times by others according to this Prescript and is found very Good The same Author Relates yet another much shorter Way after this manner Take a Pound of Oyl of Nuts of Egypt Pistaches or of sweet Almonds new pressed a Pound of Orange Blossoms pick off the Leaves of them which only must be used beat them in a stone Mortar put them in a glass-Bottle and pour the Oyl on them and having stood three or four Days strain the Oyl from the Blossoms through an hairy Strainer and part it from the watry Moisture which is mixt therewith throw the old Blossoms away and put in fresh ones and that to the third time then separate and draw off your Oyl and make it clear to Perfume Gloves and other things The same may be done with the Blossoms of Gessamines There is also a Salve made of Orange Blossoms Take white Wax Sperma-Caeti of each an Ounce melt them over a soft Fire and being taken off put to it of our above mentioned Oyl of Orange Blossoms as much as is convenient which shall be stirred together with a Spatula or little Ladle till it be well mixt together and cold It shall be cooled as soon as is possible that through too much Heat the Oyl
diligent Scrutiny and Experience of others to them whose Desire and Mind tends to a farther Enlargement of this Affair whereof I have Treated FINIS A TABLE Of the CHAPTERS Chap. Pag. 1. OF the Cause and Order of this Work 1 2. Of the Fable of Hesperides 3 3. Of the Kinds of the Fruits in general 8 4. Of the first Practisers or Inventors 12 5. Of the Citron Tree 17 6. Of the Limon Tree 23 7. Of the ordinary white Limon 26 8. Of the Limon Sbardonius of Ferrarius 29 9. Of the Deformed or Ill-shapen Limon Sbardonius 31 10. Of the little Calabrian Limon of Ferrarius 35 11. Of the sweet Limon of Ferrarius 38 12. Of the Limon Tree of St. Remo 40 13. Of the Pear Fashion Limon of Ferrarius 43 14. Of the Lima. 45 15. Of Adam's Apple or the ordinary black Limon 47 16. Of the Orange Tree in General 50 17. Of the common Orange Apple of Ferrarius 55 18. Of the sweet Orange Apple 57 19. Of the Orange Tree with curled Leaves of Ferrarius 59 20. Of the Orange Tree with rosed Fruit. 61 21. Of the Orange Tree with speckled Fruit. 63 22. Of the Orange Tree with horned Fruit. 66 23. Of several Ill-shapen Fruits 68 24. Of the Sina Apple or the Lisbon Orange Tree 70 25. Of the Orange Tree with sweet Pill 73 26. Of the Orange Tree with small Fruit. 75 27. Of the Difference in the Ordering of the Limon and Orange Tree 78 28. How we get these Trees out of other Countries 81 29. Of the Placing of the Limon and Orange Trees 84 30. Of the Mold Earth and Dung 88 31. Of the Sowing of Trees 93 32. Of Ingrafting 99 33. Of Propagation by Inlaying 114 34. Of Planting and Transplanting 118 35. Of Removing of Trees 130 36. Of Dunging Refreshing and Digging about the Trees 135 37. Of Watering 138 38. Of Cutting or Pruning 146 39. Of the Means against many Defaults and Vermine 150 40. Of the Winter-Place or Green-House and its Use 162 41. Of Gathering the Blossoms and Fruits 172 42. Of the Profit and Use of the Orange Trees 176 43. Of the Use of the Limon Tree 189 FINIS Aeneid Lib. 4. Diod. Sicul Rer. antiq Lib. 2. Hesp Lib. 1. Hist Natur Lib. 37. C. 2. Strengel Hortor Hist l. 2. c. 8. Ferrarii Lib. Hesp 1. O. Dapper ' s Africa Ferrarii Hesp l. 9. de Cit. Cap. 49. A Lake in Italy not far from Brizia Citron Tree C. Bauhpin Libr. 11. Sect. 6. Ferrar. Hesp Libr. 3. Pinax Lib 11. Sect. 6. Hesp Lib. 4. Hesp Lib. 2. Cap. 17. The shape Hesp Lib. 2. cap. 3. Place Georg. Lib. 2. C. Bauhin pinax Lib. 2. Form Shape Ferrar. Hesp Lib. 3. cap. 1. Time Shape Hesp Lib. 3. Cap. 2. Hesp Lib. 3 Cap. 15. Shape Hisp Lib. 3. Cap. 6. Limon Sbardonius with Streaks or Furrows Hesp Lib. 3. Cap. 11. Idem Cap. 14. Hesp l. 3. cap. 5. Shape Second Sort. Shape Hesp Lib. 3. Cap. 19. Pinax Lib. 11. Sect. 4. The Shape Hesp l. 3. cap. 3. Hesp l. 3. cap. 11. Shape Shape Shape Hesp Lib. 3. Cap. 24. Shape Hesp Lib. 4. cap. 1. Original Name C. Bauhin Pinax l. 11. Sect. 4. Hesp Lib. 4. Cap. 3. Shape Shape Hesp l. 4. cap. 3. The Mixed Hesp Lib. 4. Cap. 5. Shape Shape Hesp Lib. 4. Cap. 6. Hesp Lib. 4. Cap. 7. Shape Shape Hesp l. 4. cap. 9. Hesp l. 4. c. 5. 8. 11 The brawny or thick skinny Orange Hesp Lib. 4. cap. 13. Shape Shape Hesp Lib. 4. Cap. 16. C. Bauhin Pinax l. 11. Sect. 6. Hesp l. 4. cap. 15. C. Bauhin Pinax l. 11. Sect. 6. Shape Above 1. Book â— Chap. 7. v. 15. Time Place Ordering Ferrar. Hesp l. 2. cap. 6. Cats Sorgh 2. part Ordering of Plants l. 11. c. 2. Ibid. Hesp Lib. 3. Cap. 29. Hesp Lib. 2. Cap. 8. Against the forcing of Orange Seed Time Which is most elegantly described by Virgil Georg. lib. 2. Of Ablactation or grafting by Approach Inoculatioâ— Opuscul de arborum insitione Ferrar. Hesp Lib. 2. Cap. 8. Lib. 1. Cap. 2. Hesp Lib. 2 cap. 11. Of Tubs Boxes Tubbs How we are to use those new got Trees Planting Watering Transplanting Hesp l. 2. cap. 12. Time of Transplanting Changing of Tubs or Pots Against Rats Of the time to bring them into and out of the winter Place or green House Ferrar. Hesp l. 2. cap. 13. Digging about De Meg. Haleluyah c. 4. What water is to be made choice of Hesp l. 2. c. 14. Time In winter time Hesp l. 4. cap. 21. Limon Trees Orange Tree The taking off of the Head The Time Hesp l. 6. c. 16. Gumms Hesp l. 4. c. 22. Yellowness of Leaves Lice Rottenness The growing or waxing Old Hesp l. 2. cap. 18. Spiders Against bad Winds Against Mice Rats Snails Caterpillars Use of the winter place or Green House The opening ag Shutting of the wooden windows or Shutters The time of making Fire The common Rule to make Fire Moistness in the Green-House The time to open the Glass-Windows again The time for opening again the Green-House The time to bring them out again Unloading of the Trees The time of gathering the Fruits The Leaves R. Dodoâ— Herb. l. 18. c. 2. Brandy Pastilli Oyl Hesp l. 4. cap. 24. Salve of the Oyl of Orange Blossoms Orange Apples Schrod in Pharmacop Med. Chimic l. 4. c. 45. Conf. of Orange-Pills Juice Pills Theat Fungorum p. 2. c. 3. Oyl S. Bauh Hist Plant. l. 1. â— 28. Seed and Juice Matthiol in Diosc l. 1. c. 231. Ferrar. Hesp l. 3. c. 1. Pharmacop Augustan Class 1.