Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

CHAP. XVII.

Of Chesnut-trees.

THe Chesnut-tree is a strong and mightie tree, much like vnto the Oake. It is a fast wood, and good to build withall, as also to vnderprop Vines, and make other workes, which are made of Oake. It groweth of the seed of the Chesnut, which is sowne after the manner of the Acorne, and so it groweth and putteth forth his shoots both sooner and more effectually, and ta∣keth commonly in all grounds, yea euen in the sandie or grauellie grounds: but yet it shunneth the grounds that lie open to the pearching heat of the Sun, affecting alto∣gether the little hils and mountaines that are cold and lie vpon the North. The seed or fruit thereof (called the Chesnut) is sometimes spoyled, and that after the same manner that the Acorne is, as by too much drinesse, vvhich maketh it that it cannot bud or blossome: or by too great store of vvater, putrifying both the Chesnut and Acorne, before it can spring out of the earth: or else by cattell, moules, field-mice, and such sorts of vermine, which eat or wound the Chesnut & Acorne within the ground. The nature of the young plants of Chesnut-trees and Oakes are much alike, and the manner of dressing them also: and if you would haue them to put forth store of boughes, you must cut them after they haue beene planted three or foure yeares, and not before, and that in the beginning of the Spring time, for so you shall make them put forth twice as much: and yet it is not without danger to vse any edge-toole in cut∣ting them, for thereby they oftentimes die. So then, if there put forth any branches or sprigs along the stem, in the first, second, or third yeare, you may at the beginning of such their putting forth crop them off, and breake them away with your hand whiles they are young and tender, and not to take any knife vnto them, and then you shall doe best.