CHAP. V. Of the Place and Order.
WE do seriously prefer a very wild Orchard, as mainly intend∣ed for the publick utility, and to our purpose of obliging the People, as with a speedy Plantation yielding store for Cider: Upon this it is that we do so frequently inculcate, how well they thrive upon Arable, whilst the continuing it so accelerates the growth in almost half the time: And if the Arable can be so levell'd (as commonly we see it for Barly-land) then without detriment it may assume the Ornament of Cyrus, and flourish in the Quin∣cunx.
If it be shallow Land, or must be rais'd with high Ridges, then 'tis necessary to have more regard of planting on the tops of those eminencies, and to excuse the unavoydable breach of the decussis, as my Lord Verulam excuseth the defect of our humane phansies in the Constellations, which obey the Omnipotent order rather than ours: Add to this the rigour of the Royal Society, which approves more of plainness and usefulness, than of niceness and curiosity; whiles many putting themselves to the vast charge of levelling their grounds, oftentimes make them but the worse; since where the pla∣ces are full of gastly inequalities, there may be planted some sorts of Cider-fruit, which is apt by the great burden to be press'd down to the ground, and there (whiles it hides Irregularities) to bear much better, and abundantly beyond belief; for so have been seen many such recumbent Pear-trees bear each of them two, three, yea, even to six or more Hogsheads yearly.
And for this Cider, whiles we prefer some sorts of Wildings which do not tempt the palate of a Thief, by the caution we shall not provoke any man to repent his charge from the necessity of richer and more reserv'd Enclosures; Though we have frequently seen divers Orchards successfully planted on very poor Arable, and even in stony Gleab, gravel and clay, and that pretty high, on the sides and declivities of Hills, where it only bears very short grass, like to the most ordinary Common, not worth the charge of Tillage: And yet even there the Tenants and Confiners sometimes enclose it for the Fruit, and find their reward, though not equally to such Orchards as are planted on better ground, and in the Vallies. Hence we suggest, That if there be no Statute for it, 'twere to be wished there were a Law which should allow endeavours of this nature out of the Common-field, to enclose for these Encouragements,Page 21 since both the Publick and the Poor (whatever the clamour is) are advantaged by such Enclosures, as Tusser in his old Rhimes, and all indifferent observers apprehend with good reason.
True indeed it is, That all Land is not fit for Orcharding, so as even where to form just Inclosures, being either too shallow and dry, or too wet and sterving: But this (saith the judicious Mr Buckland) we may aver, That there are few Parishes, or Hamlets in England where there are not some fat and deep Headlands capable of Rows of Trees; and that (as hath been said) the raised Banks of all Inclo∣sures generally by the advantage of the depth, fatness, and health of their Mould, yield ready opportunity for planting; (yea, and in ma∣ny Countrys multitudes of Crab-stocks fit to be graffed;) in which latter (saith he) I have frequently observed very goodly Fruit-bearing Trees, when in the same soil Trees in Orchards have been poor and worth nothing. To conclude,
If the soil be very bad and unkind, any other Fruit (which it may more freely yield without requiring much depth, and less Sun) may be planted instead of Apples.
