The Belgick, or, Netherlandish hesperides that is, the management, ordering, and use of the limon and orange trees, fitted to the nature and climate of the Netherlands / by S. Commelyn ; made English by G.V.N.

CHAP. XXVIII.

How we get these Trees out of others Countries.

IT will not be amiss to shew how those Hesperial Trees are come by in these Countries, for those that have not Patience to stay for them by Sowing of them.

Here is to be observed Time, and Place, and Manner how we are to handle them.

It is first necessary, that the tak∣ing them up and shipping be done in the Months of December, or at furthest in January; that in May, they may be Unpackt, and Plant∣ed; for if it be later in the Sum∣mer,

there is great Danger▪ and we run great Hazard of losing the Trees, or at least we are much behind-hand to make them Grow.

The place whence they must be fetched, is St. Remo, Situated by or upon the River Nervi, whence they are brought to Genoa.

We must bring no Trees out of any other Climates to Plant or Order here in our Netherlands, because the Condition of that place, doth, above all other pla∣ces in Italy, agree best with our Climate, as lying about forty three Degrees Altitude be-North the Equator.

Secondly, The best and most experienced Gardiners of all Italy are found there; neither come there streighter Stocks, nor fairer Fruits then out of this Hesperides.

If Trees be brought out of any other Countries, as Spain, or Por∣tugal,

it will certainly be in Vain and to no Purpose; because they cannot well endure our cold changeable and uncertain Air.

When now the Orange or Li∣mon Trees are taken up, at the said time, with a good lump of Earth about the Root, they must be provided with Turf, or earth Moss, that the Mass may conti∣nue whole, and no Earth fall off.

Let them be packt with the whole Head, eight or ten, more or less, according as they are in Bigness, in a sugar Chest, cove∣red and set into the Ship in an ai∣ry place; and so they may keep good six or eight Weeks; but the shorter the Voyage is, the bet∣ter.

Here must we be Cautious, that Care be taken, there be no opening, nor any Holes made in

the Chests, lest the Rats, which often are many in Ships, spoil the Stocks, for we have had the Ex∣perience hereof to our Sorrow, that the Barks have been eaten round about from off the Trees, whereby our long Expectation was frustrated: And this is what concerneth the Transportation out of Italy, whereby our Hesper••••••s hath taken her first Rise and Be∣ginning in Netherland.

Notes

• Time.
• Place.
• Orde∣ring.