CHAP. XXI.

BUT notwithstanding all this, because some Trees may happen to die, and yet as far as 'tis possible, it is to be desired, our plantation should be compleated the very first year, I use to prepare a greater number of Trees than I have actually need of to fill up my plantation, that I may always have some as 'twere in a Body of Reserve, and for that purpose, it is my practise at the same time I am filling up my plantations, to plant some Supernumenary Trees of every kind in Osier Cases, or Baskets, but more of Stone, than of Kernel Fruits, because those former most commonly are in greater hazard of dying than the others.

Accordingly I chuse out some good place in the Garden, (the most shady parts of it being the most proper for this effect) and there I plant some Trees in Osier Baskets, well ticketed, or at least carefully set down in my Book according to the order both of their Ranks, and of the respective places allotted to them in those Ranks, that I may have recourse to them, when any Tree shall happen to die or languish in its place; Being desirous, if it be possible, that my plantation should continue finished and com∣pleat as well in its figure, as in the kinds of Trees, according to my first modelling of it.

In order to which, I keep in a leaning posture in the Reservatory Baskets those Trees * that are designed for the Wall, and in a straight and upright posture in the middle of the said Baskets, those that are intended for Dwarfs, that when I have occasion for either of them, I may the more commodiously remove and place them with Basket and all, so as the Tree may be every whit as well situated, as if it had been first planted there, which it would not be, if the Tree designed for a Wall-Tree, were placed bolt upright in the middle of the Basket, because we could not so easily bend the Tree towards the Wall; the same inconvenience almost happens if we be to plant for a Dwarf, a Tree that we find in a leaning posture in a Reservatory Basket, though of the two, that be easier to place well than the Tree designed for a Wall-Tree.

This operation of the Transporting of Reserve Trees, may be done till Mid-summer; and when we have a mind to go about it, we must first by way of preparation, water those Reserve Trees well that we design to remove, (which probably will be the fairest we have) and then move the Earth away neatly round about the Baskets, for fear of breaking the roots of the plants in case they have shot any beyond the compass of their Baskets; and we must ch〈…〉 rainy weather to do it in, or at least weather that is mild and temperate, and a time when the Sun is low, or a little after he is set, or a little be∣fore he rises; and he must be extreamly carefull not to shake or loosen the Tree in the least manner in the World, neither when we are taking it up, nor when we are carry∣ing it off, nor when we are replacing it in its designed station, the shaking and loosening of it being in this case, very pernicious and often Mortal.

Now when in removing these Reserve Trees, we perceive any roots of them to have begun to shoot out of the Basket, we must first in placing it, be very careful to preserve the points of those new Roots, place them well, and support them with good mold, cover them immediately, and ramm the Earth close against the Basket, and then water the Ground pretty plentifully round about the Basket, to make the Earth next to it, cleave the closer about it, so as there may remain no hollow, which may be known by the waters not sinking so hastily when you pour it on the place as before; And this water∣ing is indispensably necessary in what manner soever we remove our Reserve Trees: And lastly, on those days when the Sun shines hot, we must cover the head of the Tree with straw Screens, till such time as it begins to sprout, and then we may begin to take them off a nights; But this last precaution is not necessary but when we see any new roots Sprout out of the Basket, or when the Tree has been shaken and loo∣sened.

Page  183 The same care and caution we use in placing against Walls Trees thus brought up in Reserve Baskets: We must practise too in placing the same sort of Trees for Dwarfs or Standards, and above all, we must have a special care to leave those new roots as little as possible in the Air; otherwise they will presently grow Black, and consequently die.

I have nothing else to add about this head, but only directions how to make these * Baskets, which must be made purposely, and so loose wrought that you may see through them, as well because the roots of the plants may the more easily grow through them, as that taking up less stuff, they may cost so much the less, and besides when there is so much stuff as to make them too thick and impenetrable, it do's but harm. They must be made of the greenest and freshest gathered Oster that is to be had, that being put quite green into the Earth, they may last the longer without Rotting, that is, at least a whole Year; for those that have been made any time, rot sooner. They must not be very deep, because then they would be too troublesome to remove, eight or nine Inches depth is enough, that when they are set into the Ground as deep as till their brims be covered, we may have room enough to put into them first about four or five Inches depth of Mold, and then the Tree, and after that, cover their roots with a little quantity of Earth more; and we may in removing these Reserve Trees with their Baskets, take off some of the uppermost Mold, if we find them too cumbersome to carry; But as I told you before, we must be very careful to ramm down the Earth close about the Baskets, that there remain no chink or hollow.

As to the bigness of the Baskets, it must be proportionable to the length of the roots of the Trees we design to plant in them: They must be at least big enough to afford us room to put in three or four Inches depth of Mold between the ends of the roots, and the Brim of the Basket, so that for Trees designed for Wall Trees, the Baskets need not be so large as otherwise, because those Trees are planted in them in a leaning posture, and therefore lie so near one side, that all their roots are turned to the other, and so their new roots may find room enough provided the Basket be wide enough; But for Trees designed for Dwarfs, because they must be planted in the middle, and there∣fore shoot out roots round about them, the Baskets for them must be a little Lar∣ger.

The Baskets likewise for Standards, must be proportionably greater than for low Trees. I need not tell you, that the Baskets must be round, because every Body knows that, though they might be made Oval or Square too, but then they would cost more and be never a whit the better.

The Difference therefore of the Bigness of Trees obliges us to make Baskets of three different Sizes, viz. Little ones of about a foot Diameter, Midling ones, of about fifteen or sixteen Inches, and Great ones, of about eighteen or twenty. The principal Quality most to be look'd after in them, is, that their bottom be strong and solid e∣nough to bear without bursting, the weight of Earth to be charged upon them, and that the Edges both above and below be so well wrought as not to unravel; There must be also a Welt round about the middle for the same reason.

And I am not content to make use of this precaution of Reserve-Trees at the time of my first planting any great plantations, but I practise it every year, for a certain finall number of Trees, according to the bigness of the plantation I have to cultivate, that when there happens any accident to any of the Trees placed in it, as there may happen many, I may remedy it assoon as I am threat'ned with it, or assoon as ever the accident happens; for in fine we should always be in a condition to keep our plantation full and compleat without suffering any Tree in it that will not comply with our design.

A little cost will put our minds at ease in this respect; and for want of that, we may lose much time and pleasure too.

It is now time for us to proceed to the Master Work of Gard'ners, which is Prun∣ing.