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DIvers sorts of Earth may be used in the Ordering of them, as the daily Experience teacheth, that every one may help himself according to the Conditi∣on of his Habitation.
In Italy about St. Remo is found a yellow, fat, and heavy clay-Ground; the Brabanders have
sandy and gravelly clay Ground, and about Haerlem in Holland the Gardiners use a well dunged san∣dy Ground, wherein these Trees do bring forth their Fruit in too luxuriant a manner.
In short, we may at all times prepare a fit Mold, with Sand, Earth, and Dung, wherein these Hesperial Plants shall thrive most lustily and petulantly, if old rot∣ten Dung be not wanting therein.
It is certain, that the purer the Dung is, the better it is; we use a well dunged Earth, with white and soft Sand mixt together.
For the preparation and fitting of this Ground, all Earth or Sand is not alike fit; the toffe Clay, be∣cause of its Coldness, must be re∣jected, and another Earth chosen, which is brown, soft, lusty, sweet, fat, and of a good sweet Smell, which we may try by letting the
Earth stand some hours in sweet Water; now if the Water keep its sweet Tast and Smell, it is a sign of good and fit Earth, where∣as otherwise it is contrary; and Sand is necessary to it, according to this Prescript.
White fine and soft Sand duly prepared,* 1.1 Gives Fruits, when laid on with Reason.
The forementioned Earth, Sand and Dung, divers times digged together, must lye the whole Winter, to be frozen thorough: When the Frost is done, it shall be wrought together divers times, to use it; which then will be ser∣viceable and useful for the Work.
* 1.2The Preparation of the Sieur Munting is unnecessary to Re∣hearse, who makes his Mixture of sixteen Parts and Ingredients, because it can be done of less.
The Dung that is here required, must be of Cowes, Horses, or Sheep, according as it can be got; no Man needs to ty himself strict∣ly to it, one of the three is suffi∣cient; if it be but observed that the same be not too new and fresh, but old, the sharpness there∣of being well spent and rotten.
I know that there are yet other things used for Dung, as of Hens, Doves, Shavings of Horns, Lu∣pins, and the like; but to us the plainest way seemeth best, and Caution every one against the costly Preparation which some make, and use as one Species, Kind, of Dung to force the Orange Trees out; which is described by Munting in his Ordering of Plants in these Words.* 1.3
Take Pidgeons Dung, or Sheeps Dung, not too old, as much as you will, or of both a like Quan∣tity,
put it into a Glass, set it in the Sun, and pour Rain-water upon it; when the Strength there∣of is drawn and gon into the same, then pour off that Water, and put a little fresh Rain-water to it, wherein a little bit of Salt-peter hath been steeped or soaked four and twenty Hours: Water there∣with your Trees sometimes, and you shall find a wonderful force∣ing Power in the same, &c. Hi∣therto▪ Munting.
Certainly I can by no means judg such a forcing about this Work for good; Whereof we have seen an Instance at Amsterdam in the Year 1662, with the Sieur Paulo de Rageau, who also used such Water, wherewith he wa∣tered his Trees, and forced them thereby so strongly out, that they blowed abundantly, yet produced but little Wood and Fruit, and the
following Year the good Gentle∣man found, that most of his Trees were spoiled, and some quite dead.
We do then with Reason reject these Preparations, which bring more Hurt then Profit to their Practitioners; but deem it best to follow the ordinary Way, leaving all artificial Preparation of Dung and Earth, and use a Ground en∣dowed with all good Properties, which we may sufficiently di∣stinguish by Feeling, Smelling, and Seeing, from the mean and bad.
Cats. Sorgh. 2. part.
Order∣ing of Plants, l. 11. c. 2.
Ibid.