The manner of raising, ordering, and improving forrest-trees also, how to plant, make and keep woods, walks, avenues, lawns, hedges, &c. : with several figures proper for avenues and walks to end in, and convenient figures for lawns : also rules by M. Cook.

CHAP. XI. (Book 11)

Of raising and Ordering the Elm. (Book 11)

THere are several sorts of Elm, but the best sort (because it pro∣duceth the greatest Trees, and soonest comes to perfection) is that which hath its Leaves not much less than Line, or Lime-tree leaves, and shoots with a shoot not much less than a Sallow when it is lopped: it is called by some the Trench-Elm, by others the Marsh-Elm. Some other sorts there are that are not much inferiour to this for producing high and good Timber. One sort there is that hath on the young shoots great pieces like Cork, subject to spread in head much, and grow crook∣ed, this is not very good to make high Trees, but makes good Pollards: Another sort there is which I see in Essex, the sides are subject to have Wenns thick on them, which makes the Body hard to cleave: this is not very good to make a high Tree, but good Pollards.

All sorts of Elms doe increase from the roots much of themselves; and the more you take, the more they will give, provided you keep them from being taken from you; that is, from being spoyled by Cat∣tel, and though they be so kind of themselves, yet there are several wayes to increase them, but the way to have of the best Kinds, and to make the finest Trees, is by raising them of seeds.

Therefore about the beginning of March, or about the tenth, you shall find the broad things like Hops begin to fall, which have the seed in them; when you find these begin to fall, in a dry day (if conveni∣ently you can) gather what quantity you please to sow, then lay them thin in some place where they may drye four or five dayes, and then having prepared a Bed (in bigness according to the quantity of your Seeds) of fresh light Brick-earth, sow the seeds and their Vessels all over, then sift some of the same Mould all over the bed, for they will not well rake in; let them be covered about half an Inch thick; if the Summer prove drye, water them sometimes, and keep them clean from Weeds; let not weeds stand on your bed till they be great, lest in pull∣ing such up you spoyl their spearing, by breaking it off, or by letting in the drye Aire, and so kill it; therefore keep your Beds clean from weeds, and about the middle or latter end of August they will be come

up: About the midst of September sift a little richer Mould all over the Bed, but not so much as to cover them, thus doe the next Summer, and take off the side •• boughs though young, and when they have stood two years on that Bed, then plant them on beds in your Nursery, keeping them with digging and pruning up yearly, till you have got them to the stature you think convenient to plant abroad. In setting this or any sort of Tree forget not to top the ends of the tap-root▪ or other long ones, and also not to leave a bruised End uncut off. You may set them in streight lines in your Nursery, about a yard one Row from another, and about a foot and a half one Tree from another, in the Rowes; mind the Natural depth it first did grow at, and set it so when you remove it; have a care of setting any Tree too deep, and also keep not this Tree nor a Walnut long out of the ground, for their spongy Roots will in a little time grow Mouldy and be spoyled: There∣fore if you cannot set them, let them be covered with Earth, and then you shall find this Tree as patient in removing, and as certain to grow as any Tree I know.

The ground they like best is a light Brick-earth or Loom, as I said before; that they dislike most is, a rocky ground, or a stiffe clay; but if one have a mixture of Brick-earth, &c. and the other of small Gravel, Drift-sand, Sand, &c. then there they will do pretty well.

They naturally increase very much of themselves, and the more where they meet with natural ground: if you fell a thriving Tree, and fence in the place, you then may have a store to furnish your Woods and Hedge-rows with the worst; and the straightest to nurse up in your Nurseries, for to make VValks, Avenues, Glades, &c. with; for there is no tree more proper for the certainty of its growing, espe∣cially if you make good large and deep holes, and where the ground is not natural, there help it by some that is, and then you may hope for a stately high growing Tree, if you take care in pruning it up, as is before shewed of the Oak. You need not much fear its growing top-heavy; for it having such a thick bark, the sap is subject to lodge in it, and break out many side-boughs, and the Roots apt to break out with suckers, the more when pruned, therefore prune it up high, and often, but let the season be February, for then its fine dark, green∣coloured Leaf, and long hanging on it, is the more ornamental, and fit for walks.

As for the way to increase it from the Roots of another Tree, I doe referre you to the seventh Chapter, which will shew you fully how to perform the same; observing but them Rules▪ you may raise many fine

young Trees from the Roots of another, much better than naturally they will be produced from the Roots.

I advise you where you find your ground Natural in your Hedge∣rowes, there to plant some of this most usefull wood; for it will run in the Banks, and thicken your Hedges with wood, and is very cour∣teous to other sorts of wood growing by it.

Do not let ignorant Tradition possess you that it will grow of the Chips, or of Truncheons set, like Sallowes, though the Author of the Commons Complaint saith it will, for I assure you it neither doth nor will.

In Lopping of this, be carefull to cut your boughs close and smooth off, minding to keep them perpendicular to the Horizon, the better to shoot off the wet,

It will grow well of Laying, (as is before noted and also directed in the Chapt. of Laying) in which if you take but a little labour more than ordinary, from one Tree you may have (in a few years) many in your Hedge-rowes or elsewhere; therefore deferre not, but put this in practice, especially the great Kind: My Lord Bacon adviseth to bud it, to make the Leaves the larger, but that is needless.

Part of these Rules I wrote some years agoe, at the request, and for the use of the truely ingenious Planter, and Lover thereof, Sir Henry Capell; and I shall give you the same Conclusion now, that I did then to him, which take as followeth.

Since Gard'ning was the first and best Vocation, And Adam (whose all are by Procreation) Was the first Gard'ner of the World, and ye Are the green shoots of Him th' Original Tree; Encourage then this innocent old Trade, Ye Noble Souls that were from Adam made; So shall the Gard'ners labour better bring To his Countrey Profit, Pleasure to his King.