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. III.

Of the Kinds of the Fruits in General.

ACcording to the Number of the Hesperial Virgins are their Fruits Divided.

Aeglen, the Citron Tree; Are∣thusa, the Limon Tree; Hesperthu∣sa, the Orange Tree.

This Appellation is no other∣wise

used by the Modern Writers, then to Express the three distinct sorts of Fruits.

Ferrarius hath Divided his He∣sperides by these three Names; and the Reason why largely handled.

Under these three Sorts and Kinds are all the Hesperial Trees Comprehended.

The Citron Tree, brought out of Media by Palladius above twelve Hundred Years ago,* 1.1 and Planted and Ordered about Naples, is the first in Order, hath some of the same kind, consisting of Sowre and Sweet.

The Sowre are only different in the outward Form and Shape; for the one is Oval, Long, and Roundlike; the other Calabas Fashi∣on; and the other again of an ill∣shapen Form.

The Sweet Citron Tree hath not so much Variety; yet 'tis

to be Lamented, that the Intem∣perance of our Netherlandish Cli∣mate, doth not permit us to Set or Place Aeglen in our Hesperides: The Cruel Northern Storms she cannot resist, and the long Win∣ter causeth her merry Leaves to fall to the Ground, and loose all the Beauty of her Head Attire: and therefore it is better to leave this tender one in her own Coun∣try, then to make her dye for Sor∣row in this our hard Country, and severe Climate.

Arethusa, the Limon Tree, is stronger, and will with her Sister Hesperthusa, the Orange Tree, thrive better in this Netherland; and therefore we shall more large∣ly speak of their several kinds; because these two do above all o∣ther Plants adorn our Belgick Hesperides.

The Limon Tree hath many sorts;

Bauhinus reckons them nine,* 1.2 But above all Ferrarius makes them a∣bove fifty,* 1.3 all different from one another, and at this day known in Italy, and noted by none but himself; Only some few are but as yet and at this day known in our Gardens; which we shall hereafter decipher and describe in order.

The Orange Tree was unknown to the Ancients;* 1.4 and by Bauhinus distinguished into four sorts.

At this day is the same made known to us by Ferrarius under more kinds and are almost all found in Netherland,* 1.5 yet the one more fruitful then the other; We shall relate them orderly in their due place, and whatsoever shall be further necessary thereun∣to.

Here it might be useful to put down all the particular alterations,

changes and sorts which are obser∣ved by Ferrarius.

But being he makes many sorts of such, as are but faulty in their Growth, & we only purpose to de∣scribe those that are found here in our Netherlandish Gardens, we have judged such long and tedious rela∣lations unnecessary.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Citron Tree.
• * 1.2

  C. Bauh∣pin. Libr. 11. Sect. 6.
• * 1.3

  Ferrar. Hesp. Libr. 3.
• * 1.4

  Pinax. Lib, 11. Sect. 6.
• * 1.5

  Hesp. Lib. 4.