CHAP. X.

IT is apparent, that by a Law Universally Establish'd, all Living Animated Beings are subject to some Accidents, which hinder them from enjoying a perpetual, and al∣ways equally Vigorous health; this is the reason that it is not only among Men, and other Animals, we find different Distempers: Vegetables, and more particularly Fruit-Trees, are likewise subject to certain Infirmities that destroy them, which we may very well term Distempers; yellow Leaves out of Season, new Shoots growing black, and dying on their Extremities in the Months of August, and September, Fruits remaining small, or dropping of themselves, &c. are, as the Physicians term it, so many speaking Symptoms, informing us of the indisposition of the Foot. Among those Infirmities, there are some that may be Cur'd with the assistance of some Remedies, and others which hitherto appear Incurable; since whatever can be done to them, has still prov'd Ineffectual, perhaps time may produce some Skilful Person, whose Knowledge and Experience may give us some light, in a Case which exposes us to scorn, or at least to pity. In the mean time, since it is but too true that our Trees are liable to different Distempers, Gard∣ners would certainly be blame-worthy, if they did not make it their Study to find out effectual Remedies for some, and to satisfie themselves as to the others; and if knowing those Remedies, they were not careful to apply them upon occasion: For it were vain for them to breed Trees in their Gardens, to be liable to see them perish in their prime, for want of knowing how to Cure them, and restore them to their pristine Vigour.

In Order not to omit any thing relating to those Accidents which our Trees are liable to, without including such as proceed from too long wounds, of great Heat, of great Cold, of Storms, of Whirlwinds, Hails, &c.

I think my self oblig'd to say, in the first place, that there are Distempers common to all Trees in general; Secondly, that there are some that are peculiar to every particular kind: The common Distempers consist either in a defect of Vigour, which makes the Trees appear in a languishing Condition, or else in a storm of large white Worms, which are sometimes form'd in the Earth, and there gnaw the Roots, or the Bark of the Neighbouring Stem; those mischievous little Insects which we call Tons, by degrees cause so great a disorder, that the Tree which is attack'd by them, and had always appear'd Vigorous before, all on a suddain dies without any Remedy.

Page  100 The Peculiar Distempers are, for Example, in Pear-Treees against a Wall, when their Leaves are attack'd with what we call Tigers: Cankers, and Scabs in other Pear-Trees, Viz. Robins, small Muscadins, &c. Gum on Stone-Fruit-Trees, especially Peach-Trees, which commonly destroys that part on which it fixes, either Branch, or Stem; and when, unfortunately it attacks the part where the Tree is graffed, which is often hid under ground, it insensibly spreads round about that Graff, without any bodies observing of it, for the Tree still continues in a good Condition, while there remains any passage for the Sap; but, finally, this Gum hindering this Sap from rising to the upper parts of the Tree, makes that Tree die suddenly, as if it had been suffocated by a kind of Apoplectick Fit.

Moreover, some Peach-Trees are also attack'd with Aemets, and a small kind of green Fleas, which sometimes fasten on the young Shoots, and hinder them from thri∣ving; sometimes on the new Leaves, and cause them first to shrink, next to dry, and fall: We have likewise North-East Winds which blast, in some Springs wither, and as it were burn all the new Shoots; insomuch, that the Trees on which this unlucky In∣fluence lights, appears dead, while others about them are green, full of fine Leaves, and continue to produce fine Shoots: Besides this, are not the most Vigorous Trees subject to have the end of their new Shoots intirely cut off by a little black round Insect, call'd Bud-Cutter.

Fig-Trees dread the great Colds of the Winter, which are capable of Freezing their whole head, unless they be extreamly well Cover'd, but it is not sufficient to have se∣cur'd them against Frost.

They are likewise subject in that Winter Season, to have the lower part of their Stems gnaw'd by Rats, and * Mulots which makes them pine, and die.

Those very Animals, together with * Laires, Ear-wigs, and Snails, likewise spoil the very Fruit on the Trees when they approach to maturity, especially Peaches, and Plums; have not Goosberry-shrubs their peculiar Enemies also, which are a kind of small green Caterpillars, which form themselves towards the Months of May, and June, on the back part of their Leaves, and eat them to that degree, that those little Shrubs remain altoge∣ther bare; and their Fruit no longer having any thing to cover and defend them from the great heats of the Sun, is destroy'd, without being able to Ripen.

I might run over all the Accidents which all the rest of Gard'ning is liable to, and cause abundance of Disorders in it: For Example, Strawberry-Plants in the prime of their Youth and Vigour, are as it were treacherously attack'd in their very Roots by those wicked * Tons which destroy them.

Kitchen-Plants, especially Lettuce, and Succory, &c. constantly have some of those * Tons, or other little reddish Worms which gnaw them about the neck, and kill them just as they come to perfection.

How much do Artichokes suffer by little black Flies which infest them towards the end of Summer, and Mulots, or Garden-Mice, which gnaw their Roots in the Winter.

Lettuce, and Succory are absolutely devour'd by Snails, some of which are long, and yellow, some blackish, and gray, and others little and white, especially in Rainy Weather.

Sorell is tormented in very hot weather with little Black Fleas, which gnaw all the Leaves, insomuch that it becomes of no use.

Even Cabbages are spoil'd by green Snails, which gnaw and spoil all their Leaves; but I am only to speak in this place, of those Distempers that may be Cur'd in Fruit-Trees, and not of such as are Incurable, nor of those that are incident to Kitchen-Plants; those commonly proceed, either from the defect of the Ground, which does not furnish nourishment enough, or from an ill Culture, or a defect in Pruning, or finally, from a defect in the Tree, which was not well-condition'd, either before it was Planted, or in Planting of it.

It therefore follows, in the first place, that the Soil may contribute to Distemper our Trees, which commonly happens when the Earth is not Fruitful in it self, or is perhaps become so by being exhausted, or when it is too dry, or too moist; or else when, tho' never so good, there is not a sufficient quantity of it.

In order to remedy all those kind of Inconvenients, I say, that when the Soil is in∣fertile, as it happens in many places, where there is nothing but clear Sand, the Master is to blame to have Planted any thing in it, the defect of it can never be Corrected, whatever quantity of Dung he puts into it; the only Expedient is to remove that Earth, and put better Mould in the room of it: Happy are those who can meet with it in their Neighbourhood, and thereby avoid the Trouble and Charge of fetching it at a distance. As to that which is worn out, it is likely that there may be some better a∣bout Page  101 it which may be us'd, unless People would allow it two or three years time to lie Fallow, in order to amend it by rest, but there is no pleasure in losing so much time: When we resolve to make this Exchange of Mould, and yet are unwilling to remove the Tree which is not Old, one half of the Roots must be Prun'd short again, which will suffice for the first Year, doing the same again at the end of two years, to the other half of the Tree: Nothing Exhausts the Ground more than the Roots of Trees lying long in the same place, especially the Roots of Neighbouring Trees, particularly Palli∣sado's of Elms; Fruit-Trees must of necessity Pine, or Perish, if that Neighbourhood subsists.

When the Ground is too dry, and light, the best Remedy is to soak it often with frequent Waterings, or by Artificial falls of Water, or else by ordering Spouts, or, Dreins in such a manner, that they may Conduct the Water of Rains into the Squares and Bordures, as I have explain'd it in the Treatise about Soils.

When the Ground is too moist, that part must be rais'd where the Trees stand, making lower Ridges to receive the Waters, and Conduct them out of the Gardens by Gutters, or Aqueducts, as I have done in the Kitchen-Garden of Versailles.

When there is not Mold enough, it must be augmented, either about the Roots, re∣moving all the ill Mould, to put better in the room of it; or else laying new Mould over the Surface of it; the Mould being thus amended, without doubt the Trees will thrive better in it, and grow more Vigorous.

When the distemper is only visible by a certain yellowness, as for Example; Pear-Trees Graffed upon Quince-Stocks, in certain Grounds, always grow yellow, tho' the Ground seems to be pretty good; it is a good and certain Advertisement to remove them, and to place others in their room upon Free-Stocks, which are much more Vigorous, and agree better in an indifferent Soil, than others.

When Peaches Graffed upon Almond-Stocks, cast too much Gum in moist Grounds, others must be Planted upon Plum-Stocks, and when they do not thrive upon Plum-Stocks in Sandy Grounds, only such must be Planted there, as are Graffed upon Al∣monds.

If, on the other hand, the Tree appears over-burthen'd with Branches, so as only to shoot very small ones, it must be eas'd, until it begins again to produce fine Shoots, always performing that Pruning, by lowering the uppermost Branches, or by removing part of those that cause a Confusion in the middle, observing the Maxims I have establish'd for good Pruning.

When the Distemper proceeds from the Trees being ill-Condition'd before its being Planted; as for instance, from its having a Scabby poor Foot, half dead for want, or from its being too weak, the best way is to pull it out, and place a better in the room of it.

If the Tree, being good in it self, has been Planted too deep, or too shallow, or with too many Roots, the best expedient is to take it up again, Prune the Roots a-new, and Re-plant it according to the Rules of Art.

And to all these Ends, it is very necessary to keep always some Dozens of good Trees in Baskets, to place new ones ready grown in the room of such as must be remov'd.

When the Trees are attack'd with some Cankers, you must with the point of a Knife remove the part so tainted to the quick, and then apply a little Cow-Dung to it, covering it with a piece of Linen, a kind of Rind will grow over it, which will cover the Wound, and so that Accident will be Cur'd.

When Catterpillars annoy a Tree, Care must be taken to remove them.

When Rats gnaw the Barks, Snares and Traps must be laid for them.

When the Distemper is suppos'd to proceed from Tons, the Foot of the Tree must be un∣cover'd to Extirpate them absolutely, putting new Mould in the room of the old, after ha∣ving shortned the Roots that are gnaw'd.

Among the Incurable Distempers of our Trees, I reckon first Old Age; when for In∣stance, a Pear-Tree, or Plum-Tree has serv'd for Thirty, Forty, or Fifty years, we may conclude that it has attain'd a decrepit Age, and consequently, that it has perform'd its part, and is out of date, there is no hopes of a return, it must be taken out, not leaving any of its Roots into the Ground, putting new Mould into the room of it, in order to Plant new Trees there, when People are desirous of seeing Trees in the same Place.

In the second place, I reckon the Tigers which stick to the back of the Leaves of Wall-Pear-Trees, and dry them up by sucking all the green Matter that was in them, among the Incurable Distempers; I have imploy'd all manner of strong, sower, corrosive, stink∣ing Lees, Viz. of Rue, Tabacco, Salt, Vinegar, &c. to wash the Leaves, and Branches: I have, by the Advice of some of the Curious, imploy'd Oyl; I have smoak'd them with Page  102 Brimstone by the Advice of others; I have burnt the Old Leaves, I have scrap'd the back of the Branches, and Stem, to which the Seed sticks: I daily endeavour to find out some new Expedient; and after all, I confess freely, and to my shame, that I have never suc∣ceeded in any of them; there still remains some of the Seed of that Cursed Insect, in some part or other: And in the Months of May, and June, this Seed is hatch'd by the heat of the Sun, and then multiplies ad Infinitum, and therefore one of these two things must be done; either no Pear-Trees must be suffer'd against a Wall, or in Espalier, which is a violent Remedy, especially for small Muscat-Pears, Burgamots, and Winter Bon-Chretiens, which seldom thrive from a Wall; or else we must resolve to see those Tigers upon them, contenting our selves with burning all the Leaves yearly, and with cleansing the Trees as much as is possible.

Thirdly, I reckon among the Incurable Distempers the Gum, which fastens to Peach-Trees, and other Stone-Fruits; when it only appears on one Branch, it is no great matter, 'tis but cutting the said Branch two or three inches below the part so Distemper'd; whereby this kind of Gangreen is hinder'd from extending farther, as it would Infallibly do, if it stuck about the Graff, or all over the Stem, or on most of the Roots, and then the sole Expedient is to lose no more time about it, and consequently to remove such a Tree out of the Ground, in the manner aforesaid:

The Gum sometimes proceeds from an external Accident, for instance, from a Wound which has been made by way of Incision, by a Scratch, and sometimes from an Evil inward disposition: In the first Case, that Gum is nothing but a spurted Sap, which is subject to Corruption, and Rottenness, from the time it ceases to be inclos'd in its Or∣dinary Channels, which lye between the Wood, and the Bark; in that Case the Remedy is easie, especially when it happens only on a Branch, as I have declar'd in the pre∣ceeding Article, when the Distemper affects the Stem, it often Cures it self by a knob, or a Continuation of new Bark, which extends over the part so Wounded; sometimes it is necessary to apply a Plaister of Cow-dung over it, cover'd with a piece of Linen, until the Wound be clos'd: When the Gum proceeds from the inside, I judge it Incurable on the Stem, or Roots.