A booke of the arte and maner, howe to plant and graffe all sortes of trees howe to set stones, and sowe pepines to make wylde trees to graffe on, as also remedies and mediicnes [sic]. VVith diuers other newe practise, by one of the Abbey of Saint Vincent in Fraunce, practised with his owne handes, deuided into seauen chapters, as hereafter more plainely shall appeare, with an addition in the ende of this booke, of certaine Dutch practises, set forth and Englished, by Leonard Mascall.

[illustration]

¶Here followe certayne wayes of plan∣ting and graffing, with other necessaries herein meete to be knowne, translated out of Dutch by L. M.

¶To graffe one Vine on another.

YOu that wyll graffe one Vine vpon another, ye shall (in Ianuary) cleaue the head of the Vine, as ye doe other stockes, and then put in your Vine graffe or cyon, but first ye must pare him thinne, ere ye set him in the head, then clay and mosse him as the other.

¶Chosen dayes to graffe in, and to choose your cions.

ALso when so euer that ye wyll graffe, the best chosen tymes is on the last day before the chaunge, and also in the chaunge, & on the seconde daye after the chaunge, if ye graffe (as some say) on the thirde, fourth & fift day after the

chaunge, it wil be so many yeres ere those trées bring forth fruit. Which thing ye may beleue if ye will, but I will not. For some do holde opinion, that it is good graffing from the chaunge vnto the .xviij. day thereof, which I think to be good in all the increase of the Moone, but the sooner the better.

¶To gather your cions.

ALso such cions or graffs which ye do get on other trées the yong trées of thrée or foure yeares, or .v. or .vj. yea∣res are best to haue graffs. Take them of no vnder bo∣wes, but in the top vpon the East side, if ye can, and of the fayrest and greatest. Ye shall cut them .ij. inches long of the olde wood, beneth the ioynt. And whensoeuer ye will graffe, cut or pare your graffes taperwise from the ioynt two yn∣ches or more of length, which ye shall sette into the stocke: and before ye set it in, ye shall open your stocke wyth a wedge of yron, or harde wood, fayre and softly: then if the sides of your clefts be ragged, ye shall pare them with the poynt of a sharpe knife on both sides within and aboue, then set in your graffes close on the out sides and also aboue: but let your stocke be as little while open as ye can, and when your graffes be well set in, plucke forth your wedge: and if your stocke doe pinch your graffes much, then ye must put in a wedge of the same woodde for to helpe your graf∣fes: Then ye shall lay a thicke barke or pill ouer the cleft from the one graft to the other, to kéepe out the claye and rayne, and so clay them two fingers thicke rounde aboute the cliffes, and then lay on Mosse, but Wooll is better next to your clay, or else to temper your clay with Wooll or haire, for it shall make it byde closer and also stronger on the stocke heade. Some take Wooll next the clay and wrap∣peth it all ouer with linnen clowtes: for the Wooll béeing once moyste, will kéepe the clay so a long tyme. And other some doe take Woollen clowtes that haue béene layd in the iuyce of Wormewood, or such lyke bitter thing, to kéepe créeping Wormes from comming, vnder to the Graffes.

If ye graffe in winter put your clay vppermost, for sōmer your mosse. For in Winter the mosse is warme, and your clay will not cleaue. In Sommer your claye is colde, and your mosse kepes him from cleauing or chapping. To bind them, take of willow pilles, of clouen briers, of Oziers, or such like. To gather your graffe•• on the East part of the trée is counted best: if ye gather them belowe on the vnder boughes, they will grow flaggie and spreading abrode: if ye take them in the top of the trée, they will grow vpright. Yet some do gather their cions or graffes on the sides of y^e trées and so graffe them againe on the like sides of the stocks, the which is of some men not counted so good for fruite. It is not good to graffe a great stocke, for they will be long ere they couer the heade thereof.

Of wormes in trees or fruite.

IF ye haue any trées eaten with worms, or do bring wor∣my fruite, ye shal vse to wash al his body and great braū∣ches with two partes of Kowpisse, and one parte of Vine∣ger, or else if ye can get no Vineger, with Kowpisse alone, tempered with common ashes: then wash your trées ther∣with before the Spring, and in the Spring, or in Sommer. Annis seedes sowne about the trée rootes, driue away wor∣mes, and the fruite shall be the swéeter,

The setting of Stones, and ordering thereof.

AS for Almonde trées, Peach trées, Cherry trées, Plum trées, or others, ye shal thus plant or set them. Lay first the Stones in water thrée dayes and foure nightes, vntyll they sinke therin: then take them betwixt your finger and your thumbe, with the small ende vpwarde, and so set them two fingers déepe in good earth. And when ye haue so done, ye shal rake them al ouer and so couer them: and when they begin to grow or spring, kéepe them from wéedes, and they shal prosper the better, specially in the first yere. And with∣in

two or thrée yeares after, ye may sette or remooue them where ye list, thē if ye do remoue them againe after that, ye must proyne of all his twigges as ye shall sée cause, nigh the stocke: thus ye may do of all kind of trées, but specially those which haue the great sap, as the Mulbery, or Figge trée, or such like.

To gather Gumme of any tree,

IF ye list to haue the Gumme of the Almond trée, ye shall strike a great nayle into the trée, a good way, and so lette him rest, and the Gumme (of the trée) shall issue thereat: thus doe men gather Gumme of all sortes of trées, yea the common Gumme that men doe vse and occupie.

To set a whole Apple.

ALso some say, that if ye sette a whole Apple foure fin∣gers in the earth, all the Pepines or curnelles in the same Apple, wil grow vp togithers in one whole stock or ci∣on, and al those Aples shalbe much fayrer and greater than others: but ye must take héede, how ye doe set those Apples which doe come in a leape yeare, for in a leape yeare (as some doe say) the curnelles or Pepines are turned contra∣ry, for if ye should so set, as commonly a man doth, ye shall sette them contrary.

Of setting the Almonde.

ALmondes doe come forth and growe commonly well, if they be set without the shell or huske, in good earth, or in rotten hogges dung: if ye lay Almondes, one day in vine∣ger, then shall they (as some say,) be very good to plant, or lay him in milke and water vntill he do sinke, it shall be the better to sette, or any other nut.

Of Pepines watered.

THe Pepines and curnels of those trées which haue a thicke or rough barke, if ye laye them thrée daies in water, or else vntill they sincke therein, they shall be the better, then set them, or sowe them, as is afore mentioned, and then remooue them, when they be well rooted, of thrée or foure yeares growth, and they shall haue a thin barke.

To plant or set Vines.

IF ye plant or set Vines, in the first or second yeare they wil bring no fruit, but in the thirde yere they wil beare, if they be well kept, ye shall cut them in Ianuarie, & set them soone after they be cut from the Vine, and ye shal set two togither, the one with the olde wood, & the other with∣out, and so let them grow in plucking away al wéedes from about them, and when ye shall remoue them in the second or thirde yere, being well rooted, ye shal set them wel a foote déepe (in good fat earth) with good dung, as of one foote déepe or there abouts, & kéepe them cleane from wéedes, for then they will prosper the better, and in sommer when y^e Grape is knytte, then ye shall breake of his top or braunch, at one or two ioyntes after the grape, and so the grape shalbe the greater, and in the Winter when ye cut them, ye shall not leaue past two or thrée leaders on eche braunche, on some braunche but one leader, which must be cut betwixt two ioyntes, and ye shall leaue the yong vine to be the leader, also ye shall leaue therof thrée or foure ioyntes at al times, if a yong cion do come forth of the old braunch or side ther∣of, if ye doe cut him, ye shal cut him hard by the old branch, and if ye wil haue him to bring the grape next yere, ye shal leaue two or thrée ioynts therof, for the yong cion alwaies bringeth the grape: ye may at all times, so that the grape be once taken and knitte, euer as the superfluous cions doe

growe, ye may breake them of at a ioynt, or hardly by the olde braunch, and the grapes will be the greater: thus ye maye order your Vine all the Sommer long without any hurte.

To set or plant the Cherry.

CHerry trées, and all the trées of stone fruit, woulde be planted or sette of cions, in colde groundes and places of good earth, and lykewise in highe or hilly places, dry and well in the shade: if ye doe remooue, ye ought to remooue them in Nouember and Ianuary, if ye shall sée your Cherry trée waxe rotten, then shall ye make a hole in the mids of the body two foote aboue the ground, with a digge pearcer, that the humor maye passe forth thereby, then afore the spring, shutte him vp againe with a pinne of the same trée: thus ye may doe vnto all other sortes of trées when they beginne to rotte, and is also good for them which beare scant of fruit or none.

To keepe Cherries good a yeare.

FOr to kéepe Cherries good a yeare, ye shall cut of the stalkes, and then laie them in a well leaded pot, and fill the sayde potte therewith, then put vnto them of good thinne hony, and fill the saide pot therewith, then stoppe it with clay that no aire enter in, then set it in some fayre Seder, and put of sande vnder, and all about it, and couer the potte well withall, so let it stande or remaine: thus ye may kéepe them a yeare, as freshe as though they came fro the trée, and after this sort ye maye kéepe peares, or o∣ther fruite.

Against Pismiars.

IF ye haue cherry trées laded or troubled with Pismiars or Antes, ye shall rub the body of the trée, and all about

the roote with the iuyce of Purslayne, mingled halfe with vineger. Some doe vse to annoynt the trée beneath al a∣bout the body, with tarre and birde lyme, with wooll oyle boyled togither, and annoynt the trée beneath therewith, and doe laye of chalke stones all about the trée roote, some saye it is good therefore.

The setting of Chestnuttes.

THe Chestnutte trée, men doe vse to plant like vnto the Figge trée. They may be both planted and graffed wel, they waxe well in freshe and fatte earth, for in sande they like not: if ye will set the curnels, ye shal lay them in wa∣ter vntill they doe sinck, and those that do sinck to the bot∣tome of the water, be best to set, which ye shall set in the Moneth of Nouember & December, foure fyngers déepe, a foote one from another, for when they be in these two Moneths set or planted, they shall endure long, and beare also good fruite, yet some there be that plant or set them first in dung, like beanes, which will be swéeter than the other sort, but those which be set in the two moneths a∣foresayde, shall first beare their fruite: men maye prooue which is best, experience doth teach. This is another way to prooue and knowe, which Cheffnuts be best to plant or set, that is: ye shall take a quantitie of Nuttes, then laye them in sande the space of .xxx. daies, then take and washe them in water fayre and cleane, and throwe them into wa∣ter againe, and those which doe sinke to the bottome, are good to plant or set, and the other that swim are naught: thus may ye doe with all other curnels or nuttes.

To haue all stone fruit tast, as ye shall thinke good.

IF ye wil haue al stone fruit tast as ye shal fansie, or think good, ye shall first lay your stones to soke in such licor or moysture, as ye will haue the fruit taste of, and then sette them: as for the Date trée (as some say) he bringeth no fruite except he be a hundred yeares olde, & the Date stone

must soke one moneth in the water before he be sette, then shall ye set him with the small ende vpwarde, in good fat earth, in hote sandy ground foure fingers déepe, and when the bowes do beginne to spring, then shall ye euerie night sprinkle them wyth raine water, (or other if ye haue none) so long till they be come forth and growne.

Of graffing the Medlar and Misple.

FOr to graffe the Medlar or Misple: men doe vse to graffe them on the white Hathorne trée, they wil prooue well, but yet smal and sowre fruit: to graffe one Med∣lar vpon another is the better, some men do graffe first the wilding cion, vpon the Medlar stock, and so when he is well taken and growne, then they graffe thereon the Med∣lar againe, the which doth make them more swéete, verye great and fayre.

Of the Figge tree.

THe Figge trée in some country, bereth his fruit foure times a yere, the black figges are the best, being dried in the sunne, and then laid in a vessell in beddes one by another, and then sprinckled or strawed all ouer, euery laye with fine meale, then stop it vp, and so it is sent out of the land. If the Figge trée will not beare, ye shal digge him all about, and vnder the rootes in February, and take out then all his earth, and put vnto him the dung of a pri∣uie, for that he liketh best: ye maye mingle with it of o∣ther fat earth, as Pigeons dung mingled with Oyle and Peper stampt, which shall forwarde him much to noynte his rootes therewith: ye shall not plant the Figge trée in colde times, he loueth hote, stony, or grauely ground, and to be planted in Autumne is best.

Of the Mulbery tree.

IF ye wil plant the Mulbery trée, the Figge trée or others which bring no séede, ye shall cut a twigge or braunche (from the trée roote) of a yeres growth, with the old wood or barke, about a cubite long, which ye shall plant or set all in

the earth, saue a shaftment long of it, and so let it grow, in watering it as ye shall see néede. This must be done before the leaues begin to spring, but take héede that ye cut not the ende or top aboue, for then it shall wyther and dry.

Of trees that beare bitter fruite.

OF all such trées as beare bitter fruite, to make them bring swéeter, ye shal vncouer all the rootes in Ianua∣rie,) and take out all that earth, then put vnto them of Hogges dung great plentie, and then after put vnto them of other good earth, and so couer them therewithall well againe, and their fruit shall haue a swéeter taste: thus men may doe with other trées which bring bitter fruit.

To helpe barren trees.

HEre is another waye to helpe barren trées, that they may bring fruit: if ye see your trée not beare scantly in thrée or foure yeares good plentie, ye shall bore an hole with an auger or pearcer, in the greatest place of the body, (within a yarde of the grounde) but not thorow, but vnto or past the hart, ye shall bore him a slope: then take hony and water mingled togither a night before, then put the sayde hony and water into the hole, and fill it therewith, then stop it close with a shorte pinne, made of the same trée, not striken into farre, for pearcing the licor.

Another way.

IN the beginning of Winter ye shall digge those trées round about the rootes, and let them so rest a daye and a night, and then put vnto them of good earth, mingled well with good store of watered otes, or with watred barley or wheate, layde next vnto the rootes, then fill it with other good earth, and he shall boare fruit, euen as the boring of a hole in the mayster roote, and strike in a pinne, and so fill him againe, shall helpe him to beare, as afore declared.

To keepe your fruit.

ALl fruite may be the better kept, if ye lay them in drye places, in drye strawe or hey, but hey rypeth to sore, or in a barley mowe not touching one the other, or in chaffe, and in vessels of Iuniper, or Sypers wood, ye may so kéepe them well in dry salt or hony, & vpon bordes where as fyre is nighe all the Winter, also hanging nie fyre in the Winter, in nettes of yarne.

The Mulbery tree.

THe Mulbery trée is planted or sette by the Figge trée, his fruit is first sowre & then swéete, he liketh neyther dewe nor rayne, for they hurt him, ye is well pleased with fowle earth or dung, his braunches wil wax dry with∣in euery sixe yeares, then must he cut them of, as for other trées: they ought to be proyned euery yeare as ye shall sée cause, and they will be the better, and to plant him from mid February, to mid March is best.

Of Mosse on the tree.

OF the Mosse on your trées, ye must not let it to long be vnclensed, ye must rub it of with a grate of wood, or a rough heare, or such like, in Winter when they be moyst or wet, for then it will of the sooner, for mosse doth take away the strength and substance of the fruit, & makes the trées barren at length: when ye sée your trées begin to wax mossy, ye must in the winter vncouer their rootes, and put vnder them good earth, this shall helpe them and kéepe them long without mosse: for the earth not stirred aboue the roote, is one cause of mossynesse, and also the barren∣nesse of the grounde whereon he standeth, and your mosse doth sucker in winter, flyes and other vermin, and so doth therein hide them in Sommer, which is occasion of eating the blossomes and tender cions thereof.

To keepe Nuttes long.

FOr to kéepe nuts long, ye shal dry them and couer them in dry sande, and put them in a drie bladder, or in a fatte made of Walnut trée, and put of dry Iuie beries therin, and they shall be much swéeter. To keepe Nuttes gréene a yeare, and also freshe: ye shall put them into a pot with ho∣ny, and they shall continue fresh a yeare, and the sayd hony will be gentle and good for many medicines. To kepe Wal∣nuts fresh and gréene in the time of strayning of Veriuice, ye shall take of that pommis, & put therof in the bottome of a barrell, then lay your Walnuts all ouer, then pōmis ouer them, and so Walnuts againe, and then of the pommis, as ye shall sée cause to fill your vessell. Then stoppe him close as ye do a barrel, and set him in your Seller or other place, and it shall kéepe your nuts fresh and gréene a yeare. Some vse to fill an earthen pot with small Nuttes, and then put to them dry sande, and couer them with a lid of earth or stone, & then they clay it, setting the mouth of the pot downward, two foote within the earth, in their Garden or other place, & so they will kéepe very moyst and swéete vntill new come.

To cut the Peache tree.

THe Peache trée is of this nature, if he be cut (as some say) gréene, it will wither and drie. Therefore if ye cut any small braunch, cut it harde by the body: the withe∣red twigges euer as they wither, must be cut of hard by the great braunch or body thereof, for then they doe prosper the better. If a Peach trée doe not like, ye shall put to his roo∣tes, the Lées of Wine mingled with water, and also wash his rootes therwith, and likewise the braunches, then couer him againe with good earth mingled with his owne leaues, for those he lyketh best. Ye may graffe Peach vpon Peach, vpon Hasill, or Ashe, or vpon Cherrie trée, or ye may graffe the Almonde vpon the Peach trée. And to haue great Pea∣ches, ye must take Cowes milke, and put good earth therto, then all to strike the body of the trée therwith both vpwarde

and downewarde, or else open the roote all bare thrée dayes and thrée nightes, then take goates mylke, and wash all the rootes therewith, and then couer them againe: this must be done when they begin to blossome, & so shall he bring great Peaches.

To colour Peach stones.

TO colour Peache stones, that all the fruire therof shal haue the like colour hereafter, that is: ye shall lay or set Peache stones in the earth seuen dayes or more, vntill ye shall sée the stones beginne to open, then take the stones and the curnelles softly foorth thereof, and what colour ye wil, colour the curnel therewith, and put them into the shel againe, then binde it fast togither and sette it in the earth, with the small ende vpwarde, and so let him growe, and all the peaches which shall come of the same fruite (graffed or vngraffed) wil be of the same colour. The peach trée ought to be planted in Autumne, before the colde do come, for he cannot abyde the colde.

If Peache trees be troubled with wormes.

ALso if any peache trée be troubled with wormes, ye shal take two partes of Cowe pisse, with one parte of vy∣neger, then shall ye sprinkle the tree all ouer therewyth, and wash his rootes and braunches also, and it wyll kill the wormes, this may ye doe vnto al other trées, which be trou∣bled with wormes.

To haue the Peach without stones.

FOR to make the Peache grow without stones, ye shall take a Peache trée newly planted, then set a Willowe harde by, which ye shall bore a hole thorow, then put the Peache trée thorowe the sayde hole, and so close him on both sides therof, sappe to sappe, and let hym so grow one yeare,

then the next yeare ye shall cutte of the Peache stocke, and let the Willow féede him, and cutte of the vpper part of the Willowe also thrée fingers hye: and the next Winter sawe him of nigh the Peache, so that the Willowe shall féede but the Peache only: and this way ye may haue peaches with∣out stones.

Another way for the same.

YE shall take the graffes of Peaches, and graffe them vpon the Willowe stocke, and so shall your Peaches be lykewise without stones.

If trees doe not prosper.

IF that ye sée that your trées do not waxe nor prosper, take and open the rootes in the beginning of Ianuary or afore, and in the biggest roote therof, make a hole with an anger, to the pithe or more, then strike therein a pinne of Oke and so stop it againe close, and let it be well waxt all about the pinne, then couer him againe with good earth, and he shall doe well▪ some doe vse to cleaue the róote.

How to graffe Apples to last on the tree till Alhallowtyde.

HOwe ye maye haue many sortes of Apples vpon your trées vntill Alhallowtide, that is, ye shall graffe your Apples vpon the Mulbery trée, & vpon the Cherry trée.

To make Cherries and Peaches smell, and taste like spyce.

HOw to make that Cherries and Peaches shal be plea∣saunt, and shall smell and tast like spice, & that ye may kéepe them well, till the new doe come againe, ye shall graffe them on the Mulbery trée, as is aforesayde: but first ye shall soake them in hony and water, wherin ye shall put of the pouder of Cloues, ginger and Cinamon.

To graffe an Apple which shall be halfe sweete, and halfe sowre.

TO graffe that your Apples shalbe the one halfe swéete, & the other halfe soure: ye shall take two cyons, the one swéete and the other soure, some doe put the one cyon tho∣rowe the other, and so graffes them betwéene the barke and the trée: and some againe doe pare both the cyons fynelye, and so settes them ioyning into the stocke, inclosing sappe to sappe, on both the outsides of the graffes, vnto the out sides of the stocke, and so settes them into the heade as the other: and they shal bring fruite, the one halfe swéete, and the other halfe sowre.

To graffe a Rose on the Holly.

FOr to graffe the Holly, that his leaues shal kéepe al the yeare grene, some do take & cleaue the Holly, & so grafs in a white or redde Rose budde, and then puttes clay & mosse to him, & lets him growe, & some do put the rose bud into a flyt of the barke, & so putteth clay and Mosse, & binds hym feately therein, and lettes him growe, and he shall car∣rie his leaue all the yeare.

Of keeping of Plums.

OF Plums there be many sortes, as Damsons, which be all blacke, and counted the best: All maner of other Plums a man maye kéepe well a yeare, if they be ga∣thered rype, & then dryed, and put into vessels of glasse: if ye cannot dry them wel in y^e sunne, ye shal dry them on hur¦dels of Oziars made like Lettis windowes, in a hot Ouen after bread is drawne forth, and so reserue them. If a plum trée lyke not, open his roote, & powre in all aboute the dregs of Wine, mixt with water, and so couer him well agayne, or powre on them stale vrin or olde pisse of olde men, mixt with two partes of water, and so couer him as before.

Of altering of Peares, or stony fruite.

II a Peare do tast harde, or grauelly about the core, lyke small stones, ye shall vncouer his roote (in the Winter, or afore the spring) and take out all the earth thereof, & picke out all the stones, as cleane from the earth as ye can about his roote, then fift that earth, or else take of other good fat earth without stones, and fil al his rootes againe therwith, and he shall bring a soft and gentle Peare to eate, but ye must see well to the watering of him often.

The making of Cyder and Pyrry.

OF Apples and Peares, men do make Cyder and Pir∣rie, & bycause the vse therof in most places is knowne, I wyll here let passe to speake anye further thereof, but this (in the pressing your Cyder) I will counsell you to kéepe cleane your vessels, and the places whereas your fruit doth lye, and specially after it is brused or broken, for then they drawe fylthy ayre vnto them, and if it be nygh, the Cyder shall be infected therewith, and also beare the faste after the infection therof: therfore as soone as you can, tunne it into cleane and swéete vessels, as into vessels of whyte wine or of sacke, or clarette and such like, for these shall kéepe your Cyder the better and the stronger, along time after: ye may hang a smal bag of linnen, by a thred downe into the lower part of your vessell, wyth pouder of Cloues, Mace, Cyna∣mon, Ginger and such lyke, which wyll make your Cyder to haue a pleasant taste.

To helpe frosen Apples.

OF Apples that be frosen in the colde and extréeme win∣ter. The remedy to haue the Ise out of them, is this. Ye shal lay them first in colde water a while, & then lay them before the fire, or other heate, and they shal come to them∣selues againe.

To make Apples fall from the tree.

IF ye put of fiery coles vnder an Apple trée, and then cast of the power of brimstone therein, and the fume thereof ascend vp, and touch any Apple that is wet, that Apple shall fall incontinent.

To water trees in Sommer, if they waxe dry about the roote.

WHereas Apple trées be sette in drye drownde and not déepe in the grounde, in Sommer if they want moy∣sture, ye shal take of white strawe, or other, and euery eue∣ning (or as ye shal sée cause) cast theron water al about, and it will kéepe the trées moyst from time to time.

To cherrish Apple trees.

IF ye vse to throw (in Winter) al about your Apple trées on the rootes therof, the vrine of olde men, or of stale pisse long kept, they shall bring fruite much better, which is good for the Vine also, or if ye do sprinckle or annoynt your Ap∣pte trée rootes with the Gall of a Bull, they shall beare the better.

To make an Apple growe in a Glasse.

TO make an Apple growe within a glasse, take a glasse what fashion ye list, and put your Apple therein when he is but small, and binde him fast to the Glasse, and the Glasse also to the trée, and let him growe, thus ye may haue Apples of diuers proportions, according to the fashion of your glasse, thus may ye make of Coucombers, Gourdes, or Pomecitrons, the like fashion.

[illustration]

THese thrée braunches & figure of graffing in the shielde in Sommer is, the first braunch sheweth how the barke is taken off, the middle place sheweth, how it is sette to, and the last braunche, sheweth howe to binde him on, in sauing the oylet or eye from brusing.

To graffe many sortes of Apples on one tree.

YE may graffe on one Apple trée at once, many kinde of Apples, as on euery braunch a contrarie fruite, as is a∣fore declared, and of peares the like: but sée as nighe as ye can, that all your cions be of like springing, for else the one will out growe and shaddow the other.

To colour Apples.

TO haue colowred Apples, with what colour ye shall thinke good, ye shall bore slope a hole with an anger, in the biggest parte of the bodye of the trée, vnto the myddes therof, or there abouts, & then looke what colour ye wil haue

them of, first ye shall take water, & mingle your colour ther∣with, then stop it vp againe, with a short pinne made of the same wood or tree, then waxe it rounde about: ye may min∣gle with the sayde colour what spice ye list, to make them tast thereafter, thus may ye chaūge the colour & tast of any Apple: your colours may be of Saffron, tourne soule, brasel saunders, or other what ye shal sée good. This must be done before the spring do come: some doe say, if ye graffe on the Oliue stocke, or on the Alder stocke, they wil bring red Ap∣ples: also they say, to graffe to haue fruite without core, ye shall graffe in both the endes of your Cyon into the stocke, & when they be fast growne to the stock, ye shal cut it in the mids, & let the smaller end grow vpward: or else take a cion & graffe the smal ende of the stock downwarde, & so shall ye haue your apple trée on S. Lamberts day, (which is the .xvij of September) they shal neuer wast, consume, nor wax dry, which I doubt.

The setting of Vyne plantes.

[illustration]

THese figures doe shewe how ye ought to plant and sette your Vines, in two & two togither, the one to haue a∣parte of the olde trée, and the other maye be all of the last cyon: but when ye plant him with a part of the olde trée he shal commonly take roote the sooner than the new cion: ye must wéede them euery moneth, and let not the earth be too close aboue their rootes at the first, but nowe and then lose it with a spade as ye shall sée a rayne past, for then they shal enlarge, and put forth better. Further herein ye shal vnder stande after.

How to proyne or cut a Vyne in Winter.

[illustration]

THis figure sheweth, how all Vynes should be proined and cutte, in a conuenient time after Christmas, that when ye cut them, ye shall leaue his braunches very thynne, as ye sée by this fygure: ye shal neuer leaue aboue two, or thrée leaders at the heade of any principall braunch ye must also cut them of in the mydst betwéene the knots of the yung cions, for those be the leaders which will bring the grape, the rest & order ye shall vnderstand as foloweth.

Of the Vyne and Grape.

SOmewhat I intende to speake of the ordering of the Vine & grape, to plant or set the Vyne: the plants or sets which be gathered from the vine (& so planted) are best, they must not be olde gathered, nor lie long vnplanted after they be cutte, for then they wyll sone gather corruption, and when ye do gather your plantes, ye must take héede to

cut & choose thē, whereas ye may with y^e yong cion, a ioynt of the old wood with the new, for y^e old wood wil soner. take roote than the new, & better to grow than if it were al yong cion, ye shal leaue the old wood to y^e yong cion, a foote or half a foote, or a shaftment long, the yong cion ye shall cut the length of three quarters of a yarde or there abouts, and ye shall choose of those yong cions that be thickest ioynted, or nigh ioynts togithers, and when ye shal plant or set them, looke that your grounde be well digged in the Winter be∣fore, then in Ianuary ye may both cut and plant, but cut not in the frost, for that is daunger of al kind of trées, or ye may plant in the beginning of February, and when ye do plant, ye shall take two of those plantes, & set or lay them togither, a foote déepe in the earth, for two plants set togi∣ther wil not so sone faile, as one alone, and lay them a foote long wise in the earth, so that there may be aboue the earth thrée or foure ioyntes, ye may plant a yong cion with the olde, so that he be thicke or nigh ioynted, for then he is the better to roote, & also to bring fruite: then when ye haue set or layd them in the earth, then couer them wel therwith, in treading it fast downe vnto the plants, but let the ends of your cions or plantes be turned vpright, aboue the earth thrée or foure ioyntes, if there shall be more when they be set, ye shall cut them of, and ye shall cut them alwaies in the middes, betwéene the two ioyntes, and then let them so grow, and sée that ye wéede them alwaies cleane, and once a moneth loose the earth rounde about them, and they shall prooue the better: if it be very dry and hote in the Sommer after, ye may water them, in making a hole with a crow of yron to the roote, & there ye shal poure in water, in the eue∣ning. As for the proyning of them is, when the grape is ta∣ken and clustered, then ye maye breake the next ioynt or two after the grape, of al such superfluous cions as ye shal sée cause, which wil cause the grape to waxe bigger: ye may also breake awaye all suche superfluous buddes or slender braunches, which commeth about the roote, or on the vnder

braunches, which ye thinke will haue no grape, and when ye proyne or cut them in Winter following, ye shall not cut the yong cion nigh the olde, by thrée or foure ioynts, ye shall not cut them like oziars, to leaue a sort of heads togi∣ther on one braunch, which doth kil your vine, ye shal leaue but one head, or two at the most, of the yong cions, vppon the olde braunch, and to cut those yong cions thrée or foure knottes or ioynts of, for the yong cion doth carry the grape alwayes, and when ye leaue vpon a great braunch manye cions, they can not be wel nourished, & after ye haue so cut them in Winter, ye shal bind them with cziars, in placing those yong braunches as ye shall sée cause, and in the spring tyme, when the braunches are tender, ye shall binde them so, that the stormie tempest or winde do not hurt them, and to binde them withall, the best is, great soft rushes, and when the grape is clustered, then ye may breake of all such braunches as is afore declared, vpon one old braunch thrée or foure heads be ynough, for the more heads your braunch hath, the worse your grape shalbe nourished, & when ye cut of any braunch, cut him of hard by or nigh the old braunch, if your Vine ware olde, the best remedie is: if there grow any yong cion about the r•…•…te, ye shal in the Winter, cut of the old Vine hard by the ground, or as nigh as ye can, and lot the yong Vine lead, and he wil continue a long time, if ye couer and fill the place about the roote with good earth a∣gayne. There is also vpon or by euery cluster of grapes, a small cion like a pigges tayle, turning about, which doth take away the sappe from the grape, if ye pinche it of hard by the stalke of your grape, your fruite shalbe the greater: if your Vine waxe to ranke and thicke of braunches, ye shall digge the roote in Winter, and open the earth, and fill it vp againe with sande and ashes blend togither, & where as a Vine is vnfruitfull and doth not beare, ye shall bore a hole (with an anger) vnto the hart or pith, in the bodye or thickest part therof, then put in the said hole a small stone, but fill not the hole close therewith, but so that the sicknesse

of the Vine may passe therby. Thē lay al about the roote of good earth mingled with good dung, and so shal he not be vn∣fruitful, but beare wel euer after: or also, to cast of old mens vrine or pisse, all about the roote of the barren vine, and if he were halfe les•• or marde, he should grow againe & waxe fruitfull as before: this is to be done in Winter.

To haue grapes without stones.

FOr to haue grapes without stones, ye shall take yong plantes or braunches, and shall set or plant the toppe or small ende downewarde in the earth, and so ye may set two of them togithers for fayling, as I haue afore declared of the others, and those braunches shall bring grapes with∣out stones.

To make your Vine to bring a grape to taste like Claret.

TO make your Vine to haue a grape to tast like claret wine, and pleasaunt withall, ye shall bore a hole in the stocke vnto the heart, or pith therof, then shall ye make a lectuary with the pouder of Cloues, of Cinamon, mingled with a little fountayne or running water, and fill the sayde hole therewith, and stop it fast and close with waxe, and so binde if fast theron with a linnen cloth, & those grapes shall taste lyke claret wine.

Of gathering your grapes.

AL grapes that men do cut before they are thorow ripe, the wine shal not be natural, nor yet shall long endure good, but if ye will cut or gather grapes to haue them good, and to haue good wine thereof, ye shall cut them in the full, or soone after the full of the moone, when she is in Can∣cer, in Leo, in Scorpio, and in Aquarius, the moone being in the waine, and vnder the earth.

To knowe if your Grape be ripe ynough.

FOr to know if your grapes be rype ynough or not, which ye shall not onely know in the taste, but in sight and tast togither, as in taste if they be swéete and full in eating, and in sight if the stones will soone fall out being chafed or bruised, which is the best knowledge, and also whether they be white or blewe, it is all one matter: the good grape is he which commeth out all watry, or those which be al clammy as byrdlyme: by these signes shall ye knowe when to cutte, being thorow rype or not, and whereas you doe presse your Wine, ye must make your place swéete and cleane, & your vessels within to be clean also, and sée that they haue strong heddes, and those persons which doe presse the grape, must looke their handes, féete and bodie be cleane washed, when as they go to pressing the grape, & that no woman be there hauing there termes: and also ye shal eate of no Cheboles, Scalions, Onyons, or Garlike, Annyséedes, or such like, for all strong sauours your Wine will drawe the infection thereof, and assoone as your grape is cutte and gathered, ye shall presse your Wine after assoone as ye may, which will make your Wine to be more pleasant and stronger, for the grapes which taryeth long vnprest, maketh the Wine to be smal and yll, ye must sée that your vessels be new fayre and swéete within, and to be washed with swéete water and then well dryed againe, and to perfume them with Masticke and such swete vapour, & if your vessell chaunce not to be swete, then shall ye pitche him on the sides, which pitche will take away all euill and such stinking sauor therein.

To prooue or taste Wine.

ANd when soeuer ye will prooue or taste any Wyne, the beste tyme is, earely in the morning, and take

wyth you thrée or foure soppes of bread, then dippe one af∣ter another into the wyne, for therein ye shall finde (if there be any) sharpe taste of the wyne. Thus I leaue (at this pre∣sent) to speake any further here of the Vine and grape. If this my simple labour be taken in good part (gentle reader) it shall the more hereafter encourage me to set foorth ano∣ther booke more at large, touching the arte of planting and graffing, with other things necessary to be knowne.

Here followeth the best tymes howe to order, or chose, and to set or plant Hoppes.

[illustration]

IN this figure ye shall vnderstand the placing and making of the Hoppe hilles, by euery Sipher ouer his heade: the first place is shewed but one pole set in the middes, and the Hoppe beneath, the seconde sheweth howe some doth chap downe a spade in the mids of the hill, and therein layes his Hoppe rootes. The thirde place is shewed, howe other some do set out one pole in the middes, and the Hoppe rootes at holes put in rounde about. The fourth place sheweth howe some choppes in a spade crosse in the top, and there layes in his rootes. The fift place sheweth how some do set foure po∣les therein, and puttes the Hoppe round about the hill. The sixt place sheweth that some vse to make crosse holes in the sides, and there laies in the Hoppe rootes. Thus many prac∣tises haue ben proued good, prouided alwais that your hilles be of good fatte earth, specially in the mids downe vnto the

bottome. This I thought sufficient to shewe by this figure the diuersitie in setting, whereof the laying of the Hoppe is counted the surest way.

THe best and common setting tyme of Hoppes, is from mid Nouember, to mid February, then must ye digge and clense the ground of wéedes, and mixe it well with good molde and fat earth. Then deuide your hilles a yarde one from another orderly, in making them a yard asunder, and two foote and a halfe broade in the bottome, and when that ye plant them, ye shall lay in euery Hill thrée or foure rootes, some doe in setting of them lay them crossewyse in the mids of the hill, and so couers them againe, some settes the rootes in foure partes of the hill, othersome doe make holes rounde about the hilles, and puttes of the rootes there∣in, and so couers them againe light with earth: of one short roote in a yeare ye may haue many plants, to set and lay as ye shall sée it good, and it shall be sufficient for euery plant, to haue two knottes within the grounde, and one without, some doe chappe a spade crosse in the hill, and layes in crosse the Hoppe, and so couers it.

To choose your Hoppe.

YE shal choose your roots best for your Hop, in the Som∣mer before ye shall plant thē, for then ye shall sée which beares the Hop, for some there is that brings none, but that which beares, choose for your plants, and set of those in your hilles, for so shall ye not be deceyued, and they shall prosper well.

To sow the seedes.

SOme doe holde, that ye may sowe among other séedes, the séedes of Hoppes, and so will encrease and be good to sette, or else to make beddes and sowe them alone, wher∣by they may increase to be set, and when they be strong, ye may remoue and set them in your hilles, and plant them as the other before mentioned.

¶The setting your poles.

THe best time is in Aprill, or when your rootes be sprong halfe a yarde long or more, then by euery plant or Hop, in your Hilles, ye shall set vp a pole of .xiij. or .xiiij. foote long, or there aboutes as cause shall require, some doe vse to sette but foure poles in euery hill, which is thought suf∣ficient, and when ye shall set them, sée that ye sette them so fast that great windes doe not cast them downe.

¶How to proyne the tree.

YE shal marke when the Hoppe doth blossome, and knit in the top, which shall be perceyued to be the Hop, then take and cut vp all the rest growing there aboutes, (not hauing Hop thereon) hard by the earth, that al those which carrie the Hop, might be the better nourished: thus shall ye doe in Sommer, as ye shal sée them encrease and grow, vntill the time of gathering.

¶To gather the Hop.

AT such time afore Michelmas as ye shall sée your Hop waxe browne, or somewhat yellowe, then he is best to be gathered in a drye daye, in cutting your Hop by the ground, then pluck vp your pole therewith for shaking of your Hop, so carrie them into some drie house, and when ye haue so pluckt them, ye shall lay them on borded loftes, or on hurdels of clothes, that the winde may dry them, and the ayre, but not in the sunne, for the same will take away the strength therof, nor with fyre, for that will do likewise, and ye shal dayly tosse and turne them til they be dry: to try them when they are dry, hold them in your hand a space, & if they cleaue togither when ye open your hande, they are not then drie: but if they shatter a sunder in opening your hand, then ye may be sure they are dry ynough. If not, lette them remaine, and vse ye them as is before sayde.

Ye shal vnderstand the drinesse of them is to preserue them and long to last, but if néede be, ye may occupie them well vndryed, with lesse portion to sowe.

¶What Poles are best.

YE shal prepare your Poles of such wood as is light and styffe, and which will not bowe with euery winde, the best and méetest time to get them is in Winter when the sappe is gone downe, and as soone as ye haue taken of your Hop, lay your Poles in sundry places vntill the next spring, whereby they may endure the longer.

¶How to order and dresse your hylles.

AFter the first yeare is past, your Hop being increased to more plentie of rootes in your hilles, ye shall after Michelmasse euery yeare, open your hilles and cast downe the tops vnto the rootes, vncouering them, and cut awaye all the superfluous rootes, some doth plucke awaye all the rootes that spreades abroad without the hilles, then opens the hils and puts of good newe earth vnto them, and so co∣uers them againe, which shall kéepe them from the frost, & also make the grounde fatte, so shall ye let them remayne vnto the spring of the yere, in February or March, then a∣gaine if ye shall sée anye superfluous rootes ye maye take them awaye, and cup them vp, and your Hop shall be the better, then againe cast vp the earth about your hils, and clensing them from all wéedes and other rootes, which will take away their strength, if the herbs remaine, so let them rest till your Poles may be set therein.

¶Of grounde best for your Hop.

THe Hop delighteth and loueth a good and reasonable fatte grounde, not verye lowe, nor yet to moyst, for I haue séene thē prooue wel in Flaunders, in dry sandy

fieldes, the Hoppe hilles being of good fat earth, ye may (as some say for great néede, make your Hoppe growe and beare on any kinde of rockie grounde, so that your hilles be great and fatte earth, but the lower grounde commonlye proueth best, so that it stande well and hotte in the Sunne.

A note of the reast abouesayde.

YE shall marke and vnderstande, all this order aboue said, is to haue many hoppes and good, with a few rootes and plantes placed in a small plotte of ground. Ye shall vnderstande, the wilde hoppe that growth in the hedges, is as good to occupye as the other, to set or plant in any other place, but loke ye take not the barren hoppe to plant, some hoppe will be barren for want of good earth, & lacke of dres∣sing, which ye shall perceyue (as I haue tolde you) in the Sommer before, that when they shoulde beare they wylbe barren, which is for want of good fatte earth, or an vnkinde yeare, or lacke of wéeding and good ordering. Therefore such as are minded to bestow labour on the grounde, may haue as good hoppe growing in this countrey, as is in other countries: but if ye will not go to the cost, to make hoppe yardes, ye may with a light charge haue hoppes growe in your hedge rowes, to serue as well as the other, and shalbe as good for the quantitie as the other in all respects: ye may (for lacke of grounde) plant hoppe rootes in hedge rowes, when ye doe quicke sette vp poles by them when time shal require in the spring, and to bestowe euery winter after the gathering your hoppe, on euery hill heade, a shouel full of dung to comfort the earth, for thē will they beare y^e more plentie of hoppe the next yeare following: to conclude, you that haue groundes maye well practise in all thinges afore mencioned, and specially to haue hoppe in this ordering, for your selues and others, also ye shall giue encouragement for other to followe hereafter. I haue hearde by credyble persons, which haue knowne a hundreth hilles, (which is

a small plat of grounde, to beare thrée hundreth pounde of Hoppe, so that the commodity is much, & the gaynes great: and one pound of our Hoppe dryed and ordered, will go as farre as two pounde of the best Hoppe that commeth from beyond seas. Thus much I thought méete and necessarie to write, of the ordering and planting of Hoppe.

¶Howe to packe your Hoppes,

WHen your Hoppes be well tossed and turned on boor∣ded floores, and well dryed (as I haue afore shewed) ye shall put them into great sackes according to the quanti∣tie of your Hoppes, and let them be troden downe hard to∣gither, which will kéepe their strength longer, and so yée may reserue them, and take at your pleasure. Some doe vse, (which haue but small store) to treade them into drie fattes, and so reserue them for their vse, which is counted the better way and the lesse portion doth serue, and will longer kéepe their vertue and strength.

Wishing long life and prosperous health, To all furtherers of this common wealth.

FINIS.