The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XXIIII.

¶ The maner of keeping and preseruing Grapes. Also the maladies whereto Trees be subiect.

IT is holden for a rule, That the best Vine-plants which run vpon a frame of rails, ought to be pruned in mid-March about the feast of Minerua, called Quinquatrus: and if a man would preserue and keep their grapes, it would be done in the wane of the Moone. Also, that such vines as be cut in the change of the Moon, wil not be su•…•…iect to the iniurie and hurt of any noi∣som vermin. Although in some other respect men are of opinion, that they should be cut in the [unspec K] night, at the full of the Moon, when the signe is in Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Taurus: and generally it is thought good to set them when the Moon is at the full, or at leastwise when she is croissant. Moreouer, this is to be noted, that in Italy there need not aboue ten men for to look vnto a vineyard of an hundred acres.

And now that I haue discoursed at large as touching the manner of planting, graffing, and dressing of Trees, I purpose not here to treat again of Date Trees & Tretrifoly, whereof I haue sufficiently written already in the Treatise of strange and forrein Trees: but forasmuch as my meaning is to omit nothing, I will proceed forward to decipher those matters which concerne principally the nature of Trees, and namely their maladies and imperfections, whereto they al∣so as well as beasts and other liuing creatures, are subiect. And to say a truth, what creature is [unspec L] there vnder heauen freed therefrom? And yet some say that wild and sauage trees are in no such danger: only the hail may hurt them in their budding and blooming time. True it is also, that scorched they may be otherwhiles with heate, and bitten with cold black winds, comming late and out of season: for cold weather surely in due time is kindly and good for them, as hath bin said before. But let me not forget my self. See we not many times the cold frost to kill the very Vines? Yes verily: but this is long of the soile and nothing else; for neuer hapneth this acci∣dent but in a cold ground. So as this conclusion holdeth still, That in winter time we alwaies find frost and cold weather to do much good: but we neuer allow of a cold and weake ground. Moreouer, it is neuer seen, that the weakest and smallest trees are indangered by frost, but they are the greatest and tallest that feele the smart. And therefore no maruel if in such, the tops be∣ing [unspec M] nipped therewith, seem first to fade and wither; by reason that the natiue and radical moi∣sture being bitten and dulled before, was neuer able to reach vp thither.

Now concerning the diseases that haunt Trees: some there bee that are common vnto all;

others againe, that extend peculiarly to some certaine kind or other. As for the former sort ge∣nerall [unspec A] it is, that no trees are exempt from the worme, the blasting, and the joint-ach. Hereof it commeth, that we see them more feeble and weake in one part or member than in another; as if they did participate the maladies and miseries of mankind, so common are the names of disea∣ses vnto them both. For certes, we vse to say indifferently, That trees are headlesse, when they be lopt and topt, as wel as men who are beheaded: we tearme their eyes to bee enflamed, sendged, and bloud-shotten, when their buds be blasted: & many other infirmities, according to the like proportion. And therupon it is, that we say they be hungerstarued and pined: and contrariwise, that they be full of crudites and raw vndigested humors; namely, when moisture aboundeth in them. Yea, and some of them are said to be grosse and ouerfat, to wit, al such as bear rosin; when by the means of too much grease (as it were) they begin to putrifie and turn into Torch-wood; [unspec B] yea, and it falleth out, that they die withall, in case the said grease take once to the roots; euen as liuing creatures being ouergrowne with fat. Moreouer, ye shall see a kind of pestilence light amongst one peculiar kind of trees: like as it fareth sometimes with men in sundrie states and degrees: whereby one while slaues only die of a plague, another while the Commons, and those either artisans in a citie, or peasants and husbandmen of the countrey.

Now as touching the Worme, some trees are more subject vnto it than others: and to say a truth, in manner al, more or lesse; and that, the birds know well ynough, for with their bills they will job vpon the barke, and by the sound trie whether they be worm eaten or no. But what say we to our gluttons and belly gods in these daies, who make reckoning among their dainty di∣shes, of wormes breeding in trees; and principally of those great fat ones bred in Okes, which [unspec C] wormes they call Cossi, & are esteemed a most delicat meat? These forsooth they feed in mue, and franke them vp like fat-ware, with good corn-meale. But aboue al others, Pear trees, Apple trees, and Fig trees, are soonest worme-eaten: and if any trees escape, they be such as are of a bit∣ter wood in tast, and odoriferous in smell. Touching those wormes that be found in Fig trees, some are engendred of themselues, and of the very wood: others are bred of a bigger vermine called Cerastes. Howbeit, al of them (which way soeuer they come) are shaped in maner of the said Cerastes, and make a certaine small noise like the shrill and creaking sound of a little cri∣quet. The Seruise tree likewise is haunted and plagued with little red and hairie wormes, that in the end doe kill it. The Medlar trees also when they be old, are subject to this maladie

As for the misliking of trees [calsed Sideratio] wherby they consume, wither away, & crum∣ble [unspec D] to powder; it is a thing caused only of the weather and influence of some Planet. And ther∣fore in this ranke are to be raunged Haile, Blasting with some vntoward winds, and frosts that bite and nip them to the heart. And verily it falleth out, that in a mild and warme Spring, when plants bee too forward, and put foorth their soft buds and tender sprouts ouer-soone, the black wind taketh them on a suddaine, and a certaine rime settleth thereupon, sendging and burning the oilets of the Burgeons, whiles they be ful of a milky sap: which accident if it light in bloo∣ming time vpon the blossome, is called properly Carbunculus [i. a Mieldeaw.] As for the Frost at such a time, it is far worse than the blasting aforesaid, for when it falleth vpon any trees or plants, it there resteth and remains stil, it congealeth all into an yee, and no puffe of wind there is to remoue and dislodge it: for why? such frosts commonly are not but in time of a stil, cleer, [unspec E] and calm aire. Touching that manner of Blasting or misliking called Sideratio, as if they were smitten with the maligne aspect of some planet, this danger chanceth peculiarly by some drie and hote winds, which are busie commonly about the rising of the Dog star, at what time wee shall see vong trees and newly graffed▪ to die outright, especially Figge trees and Vines. The Oliue, ouer and besides the worme (whereto it is subject as wel as the Figge tree) hath another greefe and sorance called in Latin Clavus, Fungus or Patella [i. a Knur, Puffe, Meazil or Blister] chuse •…•…ou whether: and nothing is it but a very sendge or burne by the sunne.

Furthermore, Cato saith, That the red Mosse is hurtfull vnto trees. Oftentimes also wee find that as wel Oliues as Vines, take harm by ouermuch fertilitie and fruitfulnes. As sor scab and skurfe, what tree is cleare of it? The running mange or tettar, is a mischeefe peculiar vnto the Fig tree: as also, to breed certain Hoddy-dods or shell-Snailes sticking hard therto and eating [unspec F] it. And yet these maladies are not indifferent and alike in all parts of the tree. For thus you must think, that some diseases are appropriate to one place more than another. For like as men are troubled with the Arthriticall torments, or the Gout, euen so be trees▪ yea, and after 2 sorts

as well as they: for either doth the disease take the way to the feet, that is to say, to the roots, & [unspec G] there breaketh out and sheweth it selfe; or else it runneth to the exterior joynts and fingers, to wit, the smal branches and top twigs, which be farthest remote from the main body of the tree. Hereupon then begin they to drie, wither, and waxe blacke: and verily the Greeks haue proper names and tearms respectiue to the one infirmity and the other, which we in Latin want. How∣beit we are in some sort able to expresse the Symptones following therupon; and namely, when we say, first, That a tree is ill at ease, sicke, and in pain euery where: anon, that it falls away, looks ill, poore, and leane, when wee see the fresh green hew gone, and the branches fraile and brittle: last of all, that it is in a wast, consumption, or feuer hectick, and dieth sensibly, to wit, when it re∣ceiueth no nourishment (or not sufficient) to reach vnto al parts, and furnish them accordingly: and the tame Figge tree of al others, is more subject hereunto; as for the wild, they be exempt [unspec H] wholly from all these inconueniences hitherto named.

Now as touching the scab or scurfe incident vnto trees, it commeth of certain foggie mists and clammie dewes, which light softly and leisurely after the rising of the Brood-hen star Ver∣giliae, for if they be thin and subtile, they drench and wash the trees wel, and do not infect them with the scab: howbeit in case they fall down right, or that there be an ouer great glut of show∣ers and raine, the Fig tree taketh harme another way, namely, by soaking of too much moisture into the root.

Vines, ouer and aboue the Worme and the Blast, haue a disease proper vnto themselues, cal∣led Articulatio, which is a certain barrainesse of theirs when they leese their spring in the verie joynt. And this may come vpon three causes: the first, when by vnseasonable and ill weather, as [unspec I] frost, heat, haile, or other forcible impressions of the aire, they forgoe their young sprouts: the second (as Theophrastus hath well noted) if in pruning of them, the cut stand vpward and open to the weather: the third, when they be hurt by those that haue the dressing of them, for want of skill and taking good heed: for all these wrongs and inconueniences they feele in their joynts or knots. A seuerall kind of blasting or mortification there is besides in vines, after they haue done blooming, which is called Roratio; namely, when either the grapes do fall off, or before they come to their full growth, be baked (as it were) into a thick and hard callositie. It happens also that they be otherwhiles sick, in case after their pruning, their tender oilets or buds be ei∣ther bitten with the frost, or sindged with some blast. The same befalleth likewise to them vpon some vntimely or vnseasonable heat: for surely in all things, a certaine measure and moderate [unspec K] temperature doth well, to bring them to their perfection. To say nothing of the wrong that is done vnto them by the vine-masters themselues and husbandmen as they dresse and trim them, namely, when they bind them ouer-streight, as hath been said before, or when the labourer that diggeth about them, chaunceth to do them one shrewd turne or other by some crooked crosse blow; or else when the ploughman at vnawares doth loosen the root, or glance vpon it with the share, and so disbarke the bodie of it: finally, they haue injurie done vnto them, in case the pru∣ning-hooke bee ouer blunt, and so giue them a bruse. In regard of all these causes, they are lesse able to beare either cold or heat; for euery outward injurie is readie to pierce their fresh galls, and a skald head is soon broken. But the tenderest and weakest of al others, be the Apple trees, and namely, the hastie kind that bringeth sweet Iennitings. Howbeit some trees there be which vpon such feeblenesse and hurt done vnto them, become barren onely, and die not; namely, the Pine and Date tree: for if a man fetch off their heads, you shall see them faile in bearing fruit, [unspec L] but this hurt will not kill them quite.

Moreouer, it falleth out otherwhiles, that the Apples only or other such fruits, as they hang are diseased, when as the tree aileth nothing; to wit, if in due trme they wanted rain, warmth, or winds that were needfull; or contrariwise, if they had too much of euery one: for by such means they either fall from the tree of themselues, or els they are the worse for it, if they proue worth ought at all.

The greatest displeasure that can happen to Vine or Oliue tree, is, when in their very bloo∣ming they be pelted with violent showers of raine; for, together with the blossome, down goeth the fruit of them both. From the same cause, proceed the cankerwormes or caterpillars (a most [unspec M] daungerous and hurtfull kind of vermine to trees) which will eat out the greene bud, knot and all. Others there be that wil deuoure the blossome and leaues of Oliues also, as in Miletum: and thus hauing consumed all the greene leaues, leaue the trees bare, naked, and ill-fauored to the

eye. These wormes doe breed in moist and warme weather, and especially if there be thick and [unspec A] foggie mists. Of the same vermine, there is another engendred, namely, if there ensue vpon the former wet season, hotter gleames of the sunne more than ordinarie, which burne the foresaid wormes, and therefore change them into other vermine. Moreouer, there is a fault or imperfe∣ction besides, wherto Oliues and Vines especially are subject, and this they cal in Latine Ara∣neus, [i. the Spider] when cobwebs (as it were) doe enfold and wrap their fruit, keeping them from growing, and so in time killing them. Ouer and besides, there be certaine winds which sindge and burne Oliues and grapes principally, yea and all sorts of fruits whatsoeuer. In some yeres also ye shall see all •…•…uits worm-eaten, and especially Apples, Peares, Medlars, and Pome∣granats, without any such hurt and offence to the trees that bear them. As for Oliues, the worm sometimes doth them harme, otherwhiles good: for if the worme be engendred and formed be∣fore [unspec B] it take the Oliue, it consumes and spoileth the fruit; but in case they breed within the ker∣nel, it causeth the Oliue to thriue the better, by eating the said kernel that drew away and suc∣ked the humor which nourished it. The rain that falleth after the rising of the starre Arcturus, hindereth the generation of wormes, and preserueth fruits from being worme-eaten: and yet if the wind sit Southward in that time when it so raineth, such raines will breed worms in oliues especially, called Drupae; which beginning but then to ripen, are most readie to fall from the tree. And verily those trees that grow in waterie places or neer riuers, are more subject to haue worme-eaten fruit, which although it fall not so soone, yet it is as loathsome euery way.

Ouer and besides, there is a certaine kind of flie resembling the Gnat, which annoieth some trees and their fruits, and namely, Mast and Figs: and it seemeth that this flie is engendred of a certaine sweet humour that lyeth vnder their barkes. Thus much as touching all diseases to [unspec C] speake of, that trouble trees.

As for the impressions of the Aire at certaine seasons, as also of other accidents occasioned by the climat, they are not properly to bee called Maladies, because they kill trees sodainly: as namely, when a tree is blasted outright, or all at once doth wither and drie away: like as when some puffe of an vntoward wind peculiar vnto any region, doth smite them: such as in Apulia they call Atabulus, and in Euboea is named Olympias: For if this wind chaunce to blow in mid-winter, it biteth, burneth, and drieth vp trees with such cold blasts, as afterwards no heat of the Sunne is able to recouer againe. In this sort likewise, al trees growing in vallies or standing along riuers sides, bee endaungered: and aboue all others, Vines, Oliues and Figge trees. This [unspec D] death that they thus take, is soone after discouered and seene in the budding time when trees begin to put foorth, how soeuer it be later ere the Oliue shew it. Howbeit, a good signe it is in them all of their recouery, when they lose their leaues: for you shall see the leaues tarie on in many of them, and when you think they are past the worst, sodainly die. Otherwhiles also you shall haue the leaues to fade and seeme drie, yet afterwards the same trees to reuive againe, and become greene. Furthermore, in the Northerly regions, as in Pontus and Phrygia, some trees there are that be ordinarily frozen to death; namely, when the frost and yee continueth after mid-winter fortie daies. And not onely there, but also in other countries, if immediatly after that trees haue put forth their fruit, there follow a hard frost, they wil die vpon it, although the frost last not many daies.

In a second ranke of causes that may kill trees, are to be ranged the injuries and wrongs that [unspec E] come by mans hand, Pitch, oyle, and grease, are very enemies and hurtfull to them al▪ but espe∣cially to young trees. Againe, if trees be barked round about, they will die all, vnlesse it be the Corke tree; for it will thriue and prosper the better, if it be in that wise discharged of the out∣ward barke; for growing as it doth ouer thicke, it claspeth and clingeth to the tree so hard, that it choketh and strangleth it again. Neither doth the tree Adrachne find any hurt or offence by disbarking, vnlesse the very wood be cut also together with it. As for cherie trees, Lindens, and Vines, it is ordinarie with them to cast ther barke in some sort, and take no harme thereby; but it is not the vitall and liuely inner barke indeed which is next vnto the bodie, but that onely which by comming of another underneath fresh and young, is driuen forth and thrust out. [unspec F]

Some trees there be, which naturally haue their barke full of chaps and rifts, as the Planes for example. As for •…•…he Line or Linden tree, if it chance to leese the barke, it will come in man∣ner whole and entire againe. In such therefore the manner is, by way of cure to close vp againe with clay and dung, the naked and bare place, and so to bring it to a cicatrize: and, I assure you,

this practise somtimes speeds well, and doth the deed; prouided alwaies, that the naked place [unspec G] were not surprised before the cure, with extremity either of cold or heat. Certaine it is, that by this means both kinds of the Oke, as wel the Robur as the Quercus, liue the longer, and die no∣thing so soone as otherwise they would. And herein the time of the yeare ought to be conside∣red, when a tree is thus pilled and disbarked: for in case that a man pill the barke of the Firre or Pine tree, during those months wherein the sunne passeth thorough the signes of Taurus or Ge∣mini, which is the very season of their budding, there is no way but one with them, for present∣ly they die: but if this wrong should befall them in winter, they would abide it the better and longer liue, than being so misused either in Aprill or May. The same is the case of the mast-Holme, the wild Robur also, and the common Oke. Howbeit, take this note by the way, that if the void place where the tree hath beene barked round about, be but narrow, so as the brims of [unspec H] the barke remaining be not farre a sunder, the trees aforesaid will take no harme at all thereby. Mary in the tenderer sort, and such as a man may say are but of a weake complexion, and grow∣ing besides in a leane and hungrie ground, if the barke be taken away but of one side and no more, it is enough to kill them.

The like may be said of the topping or beheading the Cypresse, the Pitch tree, and the Ce∣dar: for let these haue their heads either cut off with an axe, or burnt by fire, they will die, there is no remedie. As much also is to be said, when beasts doe brouse and eat them. As for the Oliue tree, if a Goat chance but to licke thereof, it will thereupon proue barraine and beare no more Oliues; so saith Varro, as we haue noted heretofore, But as some trees vpon the like injury done vnto them, will die, so others againe will be but the worse for it, and such are the Almond [unspec I] trees: for where before they did beare sweet Almonds, they will euer after bring bitter. Moreo∣uer, you shall haue some trees, that wil thriue & do the better after this hard dealing, & namely a kind of peare tree called Phocis, in the Island Chios: for you haue heard by me already, which trees they be that lopping and shredding is good for.

Most trees, and in manner all (except the Vine, Apple tree, Fig tree, and Pomegranate tree) will die, if their stocke or bodie be clouen: and some be so tender, that vpon euery little wound or race that is giuen them, yee shall see them to die: howbeit, the Figge tree and generally all such trees as breed Rosin, defie all such wrongs and injuries, and will abide any wound or bruse whatsoeuer.

That trees should die when their roots are cut away, it is no maruell: and yet many there bee of them, that wi liue and prosper well neuerthelesse, in case they be not all cut off, nor the grea∣test [unspec K] master roots, ne yet any of the heart or vitall roots among the rest.

Moreouer, it is often seene, that trees kill one another when they grow too thicke; and that either by ouershadowing, or else by robbing one another of their food and nourishment. The Iuie also, that with clipping and clasping bindeth trees too hard, hastneth their death. Misselto likewise doth them no good; no more than Cytisus, or the hearbe Auro, which the Greekes name Alimus, growing about them. The nature of some plants is, not to kill and destroy trees out of hand, but to hurt and offend them only, either with their smell, or else with the mixture and intermingling of their owne iuice with their sap. Thus the Radish and the Lawrell doe harme to the Vine if they grow neare vnto it: for surely the Vine is thought to haue the sense of smelling, and wonderfully to sent any odours: and therefore it is obserued in her by experi∣ence, [unspec L] That if shee be neare vnto Radish or Lawrell, shee will turne away and withdraw her selfe backeward from them, as if shee could not abide their strong breath, but vtterly abhorred it as her very enemie. And vpon the obseruation of this secret in Nature, Androcides the Physitian deuised a medicine against drunkennesse, and prescribed his patients to eat Radish if they would not be ouercome with wine. Neither can the Vine away with Coleworts or the Cab∣bage, nay it hateth generally all worts or pot-hearbs: it abhorreth also the Hazell and Filberd tree; in such sort, as a man shal sensibly perceiue it to looke heauily and mislike, if those plants aforesaid grow not farther off from it. And now to conclude and knit vp this discourse, would you kill a Vine out of hand? lay to the root thereof nitre or salt-petre, and alumne, drench it with hote sea-water: or doe but apply vnto it Bean cods, or the shales or husks of the pulse Er∣uile, and you shall soone see the operation and effect of a most ranke and deadly poison. [unspec M]

Notes

• quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ i. cala∣•…•…itatem, aut 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inferens