The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Certain Rules to be observed for the better rasing the aforesaid Trees in way of Nur∣sery.

ALthough Trees may be raised by Suckers, Sets, Slips, and the like, yet the best and surest way is from the Seed; for they take Root

soonest, and thrive far faster, which is contrary to most Fruit-Trees, and make the streightest and fairest Trees.

The best time for sowing your Seeds is in the Spring, for then neither the Coldness of the Winter, nor the Mice and other Vermin will pre∣judice them; and for the better preserving them from drying, rotting or decaying, you may put them into Pots or Vessels, with a mixture of Earth or Sand not too dry, and at the Spring you [ 10] will find them sprouted, and be as forward as if sown in Autumn.

The Masts, or Seeds that you design to sow should be taken from good thriving Trees, with sound Stocks; also the Seed should be weighty, clean, and bright.

The Ground for your Nursery should be well fenced in, and sheltered from the North and East Winds, and of a Soyl something dry; for Trees will better thrive, being removed out of dry into [ 20] moist Ground, than out of moist into dry. The Ground must be well dug, and brought to a fine mellow Mould, and clear from Weeds. Being thus prepared, sow your Seeds in small Furrows or Trenches, about five Inches deep, and about two Foot broad, with a convenient distance be∣twixt, for the better wedding and dressing the young Sets, and cover them over with Earth with a Garden-Rake, and let every sort of Seed be sown apart. [ 30]

The place where you sow your Firs, Cypresses, Pines, and other tender Winter-Greens, should be sheltered from the cold Winds, and such Seeds should not be sown above an Inch deep, and finely covered over with sifted Mould; and for the more convenient removal of the Pine, you may set two or three Seeds in an Earthen Pot without a Bottom, filled with rich Mould, set∣ting them into the Ground up to the Brims. When they grow, leave only one, which in two [ 40] or three Years growth may be removed without hazard, and in time the Plant will rid it self of the Pot.

These young Plants must be carefully kept from Weeds, and in a dry Season water them. In the cold Winter Season you may lay over them some Bushes or Furzes, with Straw scattered over to preserve them from the cold Winds.

For the raising a Coppice from Masts or Seeds, let the Ground be well Ploughed, as if for Corn, and sow it with Winter Corn, mixt with your [ 50] Mast, Nuts, Berries, and Seeds that you intend to sow; Let the Corn be reaped high, for the Stubble is a great preservative of the young Shoots in the Winter, and so lay it up for a Coppice, fencing it about that Cattle annoy it not.