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. III. (Book 3)

The Shape of Seeds and their Weight do Inform you how to set them. (Book 3)

THe very Form and Shape of Seeds hath instructed me how to set them: as an Acorn falls to the ground most with its small End downwards: Thus if they fall upon Mold or Moss, you may observe the most of them to be on one side, with the small end tend∣ing most to the Earth. And I suppose that this posture is the best for to set any Stone or Nut, if you will be curious: For if you observe any Seed, of what Tree soever it be that grows in England, first it puts forth a Root at the small End, and when that Root hath laid hold of the Ground, then it puts forth the shot for the tree at the very same place where the Root came. Then seeing that both Root and shoot put out at the small End, if set with the small End downwards, the Body of the Stone or Seed may hinder the shoot; so that it is the best way to lay them on their sides in the Ground: if they be heavy seeds you may sow them the deeper, as Acorn, Peach, Apricock, Walnut, Chesnut, &c. about two or three Inches deep.

If light Seed, then cover them with but little Mold, as the Elm, &c. as ½ an Inch deep.

To conclude then, lay the flattest side of your Seed downwards; as if it be a Peach stone, set it as it will lye on a Table, or the like, and it will lie with the Crack where the shell parts uppermost, and the other crack lowermost to let out the water, as I judge; for Kernels in Stones or Shells do not love too much water at first.

Thus have I shewed you the several wayes to raise Trees: That is, how they may be raised, and how to know the time, at least to assist you to know the time to set them by their shapes, &c. as also how to set them the best way by their Form and Weight, which may be some as∣sisting to you, if you meet with far-Countrey seeds.

My Lord had thirteen sorts of strange seeds sent him, as I remember from Goa: I never saw the like, nor none that saw them here. By the help of those aforesaid Reasons, I raised ten of the thirteen sorts, though some of them lay almost a year in the ground: But I also must tell you I lost all my ten sorts the first Winter, but one sort, and that the second, for want of a Green-house: some of them I suppose were Annuels. I

shall give you one Chapter more of Seeds, and then I will shew you fully what as yet I have but named.

O great Jehovah, thee I doe adore, Thy works I do admire, and thee implore So to assist me, as that I may write With Solomon's Wisdom, that I may indite My few lines so that they may be Ʋsefull unto this Land, pleasing to thee.