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. XXXVII.

Of Watering.

* 1.1BEing the Nourishment of Trees, and whatsoever Grows out of the Earth, consists out of the finest Particles of the Earth and Water, which spreads and disperses itself through small Pores along by little Strings, like Veins, through all their Parts, and by the natural Warmth, being strengthned with the Heat of the Sun, which pierceth from with∣out, doth turn into the Shape and Form of those Parts to which it is brought; and being Water is Necessary, whithout which no Tree can Live; for it serves to the loosening and thinning of the said Parts, that the same may

the more conveniently be drawn up through the opened Pores, and carried to the Place where they are turned into Nourish∣ment.

And seeing our Hesperial Strang∣ers want the free Use of the Earth with us, and must be contented with small and narrow close Tubs and Pots; it is necessary we lend them the helping Hand, by bringing Water to them, which by the Rain, except it be of long continuance, cannot be sufficient∣ly given, or is hindred through the width and breadth of their Heads, which cause the Rain-Water to run most down by their Sides; wherefore the help of wa∣tering is highly requisite here.

Among all the Parts of this Ordering, this is none of the least, and we must observe; first, the Choice of Water, and secondly,

the time when we shall Water.

* 1.2Ferrarius, (whom we here also follow) puts sweet and constantly running Spring and River-Water for the best, as being most Piercing, and wholesomest, and next to the Rain-Water, which is gathered and kept in Cisterns, or Tubs: and thirdly, Well or Pump-Wa∣ter, which is commonly Cold, hath many Defaults and Proper∣ties which it carries with it out of the different Grounds, whence it Springs.

Much less in Virtue is the Wa∣ter which comes out of Moorish Places; but worst of all is that of standing Lakes, and Ponds; al∣so that which is thick, saltish, brackish, sulphureous, and of gross Parts, which must be re∣jected for this Use, and that only be chosen which is here above Ap∣proved, viz. that VVater which

hath a good Smell, sweet Tast, without any Slyminess▪ which in the VVinter is somewhat Luke∣warm, and in the Summer mode∣rately Cool; for this is judged wholesom and pleasant, as well for Men as for Trees; but River, and Rain-VVater excelleth all o∣ther; when enough may be had, we shall keep to it. There be Persons that prepare several Mix∣tures, with Dung, Saltpeter, and VVater, to water therewith; but being we rejected that in the thir∣tieth Chapter, and have spoken of it before, we shall say no more to it now.

* 1.3VVe must order our selves ac∣cording to the Difference of the Seasons to water Orange Trees.

In hot and dry VVeather, it must be done every second or third Day in the Evening, when the Sun is going down, and

Shines no more upon the Trees; for if they be watered in the heat of the Day, it will cause a great Sickness; wherefore we stay till the Evening, by reason that the heat of the Sun having layn upon the Roots all the Day, they may thereby in some measure be Re∣freshed.

This watering must be done with Care, so that the Earth be kept moderately moist, and not too wet, and reduced to a dirty Myriness; we must also beware of the Stocks, lest they chill by the Water which comes against them, grow foul, mossy, and come to a pining Sickness.

We must especially observe that the Water we shall use in watering, must be warmed in the Sun before it be used, because cold-Water is very hurtful to the Trees; therefore we use Casks

and Tubs, or wooden Troughs, which stand all the Day long in the Sun, and wherein the Water is put the Day before it is used.

The time when this watering begins and ends here in these Countries, is commonly May, to the latter end of August, or some∣what longer, according as the Days be Wet, Hot, or Cold.

We must observe this general Rule in this Affair, which is above, in some measure touched upon, viz. that we do not water these Trees too much; for if they be kept too wet, it cools and chills the Root, and the Leaves grow Yellow; too much driness is also hurtful, so that Moderation must be observed here; which we may sufficiently know by the Earth it∣self; for these Trees must not be over-watered.

* 1.4As long as the Trees stand in

the Winter-Place or Green-House, they are seldom watered, except Necessity requires it; which may be discerned by the shrinking in of the Leaves, and the limberness of their Fruits, and then the water∣ing must be but little, till the Faintness ceases, and the Fruits and Leaves return to their for∣mer State.

When this watering is to be done, we shall warm a Pot with Water over the Fire, and so temper it with cold VVater, that it is fitly lukewarm, as if it had stood a Summers Day in the Sun, for great Cold is very prejudicial to the Roots.

In the Spring, from April to May, we shall seek to cherish these Trees by a slowish Feeding, or Refreshing with VVater, which is set upon the Tubs, in flat Pots or Pans, wherein ly longish Pieces

of woollen Selveges, which by little and little suck it in, and so thence distills again into the Earth, which thus in time begins to moist∣en, and give Nourishment to the Tree; but if we do water much in the Spring, the Fruit will Mourn, and fall off, which ac∣cording to Ferrarius his Opinion,* 1.5 comes to pass, because the Trees have sufficient Moistness and Sap in them, and ascends from the Root, whereby the Fruits are, as it were, loosned, and fall off.

Hitherto now, what concern∣eth watering; if it be well ob∣served in the Blowing time, and swelling of the Fruit, we shall find, that the Trees are Cheerly and Merry, and shall richly Re∣ward the Master's Labour and Pains with Blossoms, Fruits, and pleasant Leaves.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De Meg. Halelu∣yah. c. 4.
• * 1.2

  What water is to be made choice of. Hesp. l. 2. c. 14.
• * 1.3

  Time.
• * 1.4

  In win∣ter time.
• * 1.5

  Hesp. l. 4. cap. 21.