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. XX.

Of the place and soile for Trees in generall.

THe principall point in growing of Trees, is to prouide them of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ayre and earth, because that these doe cheere and season the••, and are the proper subiect of their nourishment. And as concerning the earth, that is recommended into vs, as to be had in regard and loo∣ked vnto more than anie thing else, as that it be such as is verie murlie, temperate in cold and heat, and of a meane and middle sort of moisture and fatnesse, for such ground as exceedeth in anie one of these things, is not so fit for anie Fruit-tree. This is a rule to stand generall in and for all Fruit-trees: but as for particular kinds of Trees, it is verie well knowne, that euerie particular Tree craueth his seuerall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 particular soyle, whence it may gather fit and agreeable nourishment for it 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

as Theophrastus testifieth. In like manner, one desireth a diuers kind of placing and situation from the other. Wherefore the trees which craue the refreshment of hauing their stockes taken vp, doe commonly thriue better in valleyes than in high places, as well for that their seat must not be altogether so drained of moisture as the higher places be, as also for that the moisture which is in higher grounds conueyeth it selfe and distilleth into the lower and hollow, whether it be raine or anie spring rising from thence.

In watrie places you must not make your pit verie deepe, wherein you mean to plant your tree; but in drie grounds you must set them somewhat more deepe: nei∣••her yet must you heape too much earth in vpon those pits when you fill them vp a∣gaine, that so the raine may the better stay about them and water them.

That which is commonly receiued, as that in good ground there grow good fruits, must be vnderstood with respect had to the naturall goodnesse that the fruit hath in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selfe, if both the industrie and skill of man to husband and keepe it neat, and deli∣••••er it when anie inconuenience presseth vpon it, to drie and to season it so as that it may yeeld his fruit in due time, be not wanting▪ for these failing, the fruit will likewise greatly faile of his goodnesse, tast, and durablenesse, and so will falsifie the generall rule aboue named.

Set downe with your selfe, to remoue your trees into so good a ground, or rather better, than that from whence you tooke them vp, hauing respect to other especiall obseruations besides to be obserued, according as will be required of the particular natures of euerie one. And if it is be possible, remoue them into the like situation for the receiuing of the Sunne-shine, vnto they which they were first set and planted in: and that you may not faile hereof, marke their barke vpon such or such a quarter, and set 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon the same againe in remouing of it. But this obseruation (as I must confesse) is not alwaies kept, for the reasons aboue named.

Also plant those of a forward Spring in a late soyle, and a late soyle in a hot ••round.

The greatest part of trees doe delight in the South Sunne, and to be seated vpon ••ome Sunnie banke, from the Westerne wind, as being verie contrarie vnto them, ••specially to Almond-trees, Abricot-trees, Mulberrie-trees, Figge-trees, and Pome∣••ranate-trees, but principally from the North-east wind, because it is sharpe & swith∣••••ing, verie hurtfull for all sorts of plants, euen to all fruits, of what qualitie soeuer that ••hey be, but chiefely when they are in blossome, and that because it bloweth from off ••he Sea, as also for that it is halfe North, which is verie sharpe, but not so dangerous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the North-east: and some say, that this wind bloweth once a yeare, as in the Spring, ••nd that it spoyleth buds, especially those of the Vine: Vnde versus; Vae tibi Galerna, ••re quam fit clausa Taberna. On the contrarie, Chesnut-trees, Cherrie-trees that beare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sowre fruit, Quince-trees, and Plum-trees, doe not much affect or sport and delight ••hemselues either with cold or much heat.

In watrie places trees commonly grow great, and beare much fruit and leaues, but ••hey are not of anie commendable rellish, colour, or durablenesse: yea, they beare ••ruit commonly the yeare they are set, if they be accustomed to beare. Trees must be ••et the thicker in a fruitfull soyle.

If you meane to plant trees in a cold place, and that yet the tree should not be hurt of the cold, you must plant them on the Sunnie side of the banke, from the North, ••ut towards the South.