Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books ... wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences.

THE THIRD BOOK OF Natural Magick: Which delivereth certain precepts of Husbandry; and sheweth how to intermingle sundry kinds of Plants, and how to produce new kinds. (Book 3)

The PROEME.

WE have rehearsed concerning divers kinds of new living Creatures; now shall I speak of Plants, which ravish with admiration the eyes and minds of those that contem∣plate on them, with their abundant pleasantnesse, and wonderful Elegancy. These bring more profit, and by these a natural Philosopher may seem more admirable. For use made with the earth, is more honest and honourable then with other things▪ and the ground never grows old or barren, but is everywhere naturally rank to receive new seed, and to pro∣duce new; and is ever unsatisfied in fruitfulnesse, and brings perpetual increase: and if nature be alwayes admirable, she will seem more wonderful in Plants. Copulation was but of one kind, here it is almost infinite; and not onely every Tree can be ingrafted into every Tree, but one Tree may be adulterated with them all. Living Creatures of divers kinds were not easily produced, and those that come from other Countries were hard to get: here is no difficulty at all; grafts are fetcht and sent, if need be, to any part of the world. And if diversity of Creatures are made in Africa, by their copulating when they meet at the Rivers, that so new creatures are alwayes produced; here in Italy, where the Air is alwayes calme, and the Climate very indulgent, strange and wilde plants find a good harbour, and ground to grow in, which is the mother and nourisher of all, and so fruitful to produce new and diversity of plants, that it can hardly be exhausted. And we can bet∣ter write of them, and know the truth more then others, because we have them still before our eyes, and an opportunity to consider of their effects. And if our Ancestors found ma∣ny new things, we by adding to theirs, have found many more, and shall produce more excellent things overpassing them, because daily by our art, or by chance; by nature, or new experience, new plants are made. Diodorus writes, that the Vine at first was but one, and that was wilde; but now by the help of Bacchus alone, from the quality of the ground, the nature of the climate, and the art of planting, it is varied into many kinds, that it were madnesse to number them up, and not worth our time. Nature brought forth but one kind of Pear-tree: now so many mens names are honoured by it, that one is called Decuma∣na, another Dolabelliana, and another is named from Decumius and Dolabella. The same thing is observed in Figges, of Livy and Pompey. Quinces are of many kinds; some called Mariana from Marius, Manliana from Manlius, Appiana Claudiana from Appius Claudius, Cestiana from Cestius: their varieties have made the Authers names immortal. What shall I say of Laurel cherries, found in Pliny his time? what of Citrons? which as Athenaeus saith, were too sharp to eat in the days of Theophrastus, and the ance∣stors of Plutark and Pliny; but Palladius made them to become sweet. What of the Peach, and Almond-peach Nuts, fruits our fore-fathers knew not, yet now are they eaten, being pleasant and admirable? what of Clove-gilliflowers, that the Gardrers Art hath made so dainty and sweet scented? and so of other plants I have everywhere set down in this work? Our Naples abounds so with them, that we would not go forth to see the Orchards of the Hesperides, Alcinus, Semiramis, and at Memphis, that were made to hang above ground. But I shall briefly and plainly relate the History.

CHAP. I.

How new kinds of Plants may be generated of putrefaction.

AS we have shewed before, that new kinds of Living Creatures may be generated of putrefaction; so, to proceed in the same order as we have begun, we will now shew that new kinds of Plants may grow up of their own accord, without any help of seed or such like. The Antients question∣less were of opinion, that divers plants were generated of the earth and water mixt together; and that particular places did yield certain particular plants. We rehearsed the opinion of Diogenes before, who held that plants are generated of water pu∣trified in it self, and a little earth tempered therewith. Theophrastus held, that the rain causeth much putrefaction and alteration in the earth, and thereby plants may be nourished, the Sun working upon it with his heating, and with his drying operation. They write also, that the ground when it is stirred, brings forth such kinds of Plants alwaies, as are usuall in the same place. In the Isle Creta, the ground is of that nature, that if it be stirred anywhere, and no other thing sown or planted in it, it will of it self bring forth a Cypresse-tree: and their tilled lands, those that are somewhat moist, when they lie fallow, bring forth thi∣stles. So the herb Laser in Africa, is generated of a kind of pitchy or clammy rain and thick dirt; and the herb will shew it self out of the earth presently after the rain is fallen. Pliny said, that the waters which fall from above, are the cause of every thing that grows upon the earth, nature shewing therein her admirable work and power: and many such things they report, which we have spoken of in the books of the knowledge of Plants. And I my self have oft-times by experience proved, that ground digged out from under the lowest foundations of certain houses, and the bottom of some pits, and laid open in some small vessel to the force of the Sun, hath brought forth divers kinds of Plants. And whereas I had oftentimes, partly for my own pleasure, and partly to search into the works of Nature, sought out and gathered together earths of divers kinds, I laid them abroad in the Sun, and watered them of∣ten with a little sprinkling, and found thereby, that a fine light earth would bring forth herbs that had slight stalkes like a rush, and leaves full of fine lit∣tle ragges; and likewise that a rough and stiff earth full of holes, would bring forth a slight herbe, hard as wood, and full of crevises. In like man∣ner, if I took of the earth that had been digged out of the thick woods, or out of moist places, or out of the holes that are in hollow stones, it would bring forth herbs that had smooth blewish stalkes, and leaves full of juice and substance, such as Peny-wort, Purslane, Senegreek, and Stone-croppe. We made trial also of some kinds of earth that had been farre fetcht, such as they had used for the ballast of their Shippes; and we found such herbs ge∣nerated thereof, as we knew not what they were. Nay further also, even out of very roots and barks of Trees, and rotten seeds, powned and buried, and there macecrated with water, we have brought forth in a manner the very same herbs; as out of an Oken root, the herb Polypody, and Oak-fern, and Splenewort, or at least such herbs as did resemble those, both in making and in properties. What should I here rehearse, how many kinds of toad-stools and puffs we have produced? yea, of every several mixture of putrified things, so many several kinds have been generated. All which I would here have set down, if I could have reduced them into any method; or else if such plants had been produced, as I intended: but those came that were never

sought for. But happily I shall hereafter, if God will, write of these things, for the delight, and speculation, and profit of the more curious fort: which I have neither time nor leisure now to mention, seeing this work is ruffled up in haste. But let us see

How Toad-stools may be generated.

Dioscorides, and others have written, That the bark of a white Poplar-Tree, and of a black, being cut into small pieces, and sowed in dunged lands or furrows, will at all times of the year bring forth mushromes or toad-stools that are good to be eaten. And in another place he saith, that they are more particularly gene∣rated in those places, where there lies some old rusty iron, or some rotten cloth: but such as grow neer to a Serpents hole, or any noisome Plants, are very hurt∣ful. But Tarentinus speaks of this matter more precisely. If, saith he, you cut the stock of a black Poplar peece-meal into the earth, and pour upon it some leaven that hath been steeped in water, there will soon grow up some Poplar toad-stools. He addeth further; If an up-land or hilly field that hath in it much stubble and ma∣ny stalks of corn, be set on fire at such time as there is rain brewing in the clouds, then the rain falling, will cause many toad-stools there to spring up of their own accord: but if, after the field is thus set on fire, happily the rain which the clouds before threatned doth not fall; then, if you take a thin linnen cloth, and let the water drop through by little and little like rain, upon some part of the field where the fire hath been, there will grow up toad-stools, but not so good as otherwise they would be, if they had been nourished with a showre of rain. Next we will shew

How Sperage may be generated.

Dydimus writes, That if any man would have good store of Sperage to grow, he must take the horns of wilde Rams, and beat them into very small powder, and sow them in eared ground, and water it, and he shall have his intent. There is one that reports a more strange matter; that if you take whole Rams horns not powned into small pieces, but only cut a little, and make a hole in them, and so set them, they will bring forth Sperage. Pliny is of Didymus opinion, that if the horns be powned and ••igged into the earth, they will yield Sperage; though Dioscorides thinks it to be impossible. And though I have made often trial hereof, but could not find it so to be, yet my friends have told me of their own experience, that the same ten∣der seed that is contained within the Rams horn, hath produced Sperage. The same my friends also have reported

That Ivy doth grow out of the Harts horn;

and Aristotle writes of an Husband-man that found such an experiment; though for my own part I never tried it. But Theophrastus writes, that there was Ivy found growing in the Harts horn; whereas it is impossible to think how any Ivy seed could get in there: and whereas some alledge, that the Hart might have rubbed his horn against some Ivy roots, and so some part of the horn being soft and ready to putrifie, did receive into it some part of the root, and by this means it might there grow; this supposal carries no shew of probability or credit with it. But if these things be true, as I can say or see nothing to the contrary, then surely no man will deny but that divers kinds of plants may be generated of divers kinds of living Creatures horns. In like manner, may plants be generated of the putrified barks and boughs of old Trees: for so is

Polypody, and the herb Hyphear generated;

for both these, and divers other plants also, do grow up in Firre-trees, and Pine-trees, and such other: for in many Trees, neer to the bark, there is a certain flegmatick or moist humour, that is wont to putrifie; which, when it abounds too much with∣in, breaks forth into the outward shew of the boughs and the stock of the Tree;

and there it meets with the putrified humour of the bark; and the heat of the Sun working upon it there, quickly turns it into such kinds of herbs.

CHAP. II.

How Plants are changed, one of them degenerating into the form of the other.

TO work Miracles, is nothing else (as I suppose) but to turn one thing into ano∣ther, or to effect those things which are contrary to the ordinary course of Na∣ture. It may be done by negligence, or by cunning handling and dressing them, that plants may forsake their own natural kind, and be quite turned into another kind; wholly degenerating, both in taste, and colour, and bignesse, and fashion: and this I say may easily be done, either if you neglect to dresse or handle them ac∣cording to their kind, or else dresse them more carefully and artificially then their own kind requires. Furthermore, every plant hath his proper manner, and peculiar kind of sowing or planting▪ for some must be sowed by seed, others planted by the whole stem, others set by some root, others graffed by some sprig or branch: so that if that which should be sowed by seed, be planted by the root, or set by the whole stock, or graffed by some branch; or if any that should be thus planted be sowed by seed; that which cometh up will be of a divers kinde from that which grows usually, if it be planted according to its own nature, as Theophrastus writes. Likewise if you shall change their place, their air, their ground, & such like, you pervert their kind; and you shall find that the young growing plant will resemble another kind, both in co∣lour and fashion; all which are clear cases by the books of Husbandry. Some ex∣amples we will here rehearse. If you would change

A white Vine into a black, or a black into a white;

sow the seed of a white Garden-Vine, and that which cometh of it, will be a black Wilde-vine; and so the seed of a black Garden-vine will bring forth a white Wilde-vine, as Theophrastus teacheth. The reason is, because a Vine is not sowed by seed, but the natural planting of it is by sprigs and roots. Wherefore if you deal with it otherwise then the kind requires, that which cometh of it must needs be unkind∣ly. By the like means

A white Fig-tree may degenerate into a black.

for the stone of a Fig, if it be set, never brings forth any other but a wilde or a wood Fig-tree, and such as most commonly is of a quite contrary colour; so that of a white figtree it degenerates into a black, and contrariwise a black fig-tree degene∣rates into a white. Sometimes also, of a right and noble Vine is generated a ba∣stard Vine, and that so different in kind oftentimes, that it hath nothing of the right garden-vine, but all meerly wilde. In like manner also are changed

The red Myrtle and the red Bay-tree into black,

and cannot chuse but lose their colour: for these likewise degenerate, as the same Theophrastus reports to have been seen in Antandrus; for the Myrtle is not sowed by seed, but planted by graffing; and the Bay-tree is planted by setting a little sprig thereof that hath in it some part of the root, as we have shewed in our discourse of Husbandry. So also are

Sweet Almonds and sweet Pomegranates changed into sowre ones.

for the stones or kernels of the Pomegranates are changed from their right blue, in∣to a baser colour; and the Pomegranate it self, though it be never so good, degene∣rates into a hard, and commonly a sharp fruit. The Almond degenerates likewise both in taste, and also in feeling; for of a soft one cometh a harder: therefore we are counselled to graffe him when he is prettily well grown, or else to change him, and shift him oft. An Oak likewise will become worse: and therefore whereas the best grows in Epyrus, and many have planted the same elsewhere, yet they could

never produce the like of that. In like manner, of the kernel of the natural Olive cometh a wilde Olive; (and they that say that the male Cypresse-tree for the most part degenerates into a female;) and in processe of time there is such a change, that it agreeth in nothing with the natural Olive, but is so stark wilde, that some∣times it cannot bring forth fruit to any perfection. Varro saith that

Coleworts are changed into Rape, and Rape into Coleworts.

Old seed is of so great force in some things, that it quite changeth the nature; for the old seed of Coleworts being sowed, brings forth Rape; and contrariwise, old Rape-seed degenerates into Coleworts. By labour also and dressing

The Corn Typha, and Spelt, are changed into Wheat, and Wheat into them;

for this may be done, if you take them being of a thorough ripenesse, and knead them, and then plant them; but this will not so prove the first nor the second year; but you must expect the proof of it in the third year, as Theophrastus sheweth. Pliny writeth, that the Corn Siligo is changed into Wheat the second year. So all seeds, either by reason that they are neglected, or because there is some indisposition either in the earth, or the air where they are, do oft-times degenerate from the excellen∣cy and goodnesse of their kind, and become worse. Virgil hath observed it: I have seen, saith he, the best and choicest things that were most made of, at length yet to degenerate, unlesse mans industry did yearly supply them with his help: so fatal it is for all things to wax worse and worse, and still to have need to be renewed. Galens father, a man very studious of Husbandry, especially in his old age, bestow∣ed great pains and diligence to find out, whether the annoyances of fruits, that which mars their pure goodnesse, did spring up of it self, or arise out of any seeds of the fruits themselves, which did degenerate into other kinds. Wherefore he took the purest, and the cleanest Wheat and Barley that he could get, and having picked out all other seed whatsoever, sowed them in the ground: and when he found much Tares growing in the Wheat, but very little in the Barley, he put the same experiment in other grain in practice; and at last found in Pulse a hard and round Fetch; and moreover, that the herb Axesceed did grow among Pulse, by a kind of degeneration of the Pulse into Axesceed. So, unlesse it be prevented by skill and pains,

The herb Ballamint will turn into a Mint.

Wherefore it must be often shifted and translated from place to place, lest it so de∣generate, as Theophrastus counselleth; for when a man doth not look to it and dresse it, the roots thereof will grow very large, and thereby the upper part being weakned, loseth the ranknesse of his savour; and that being lost, there remains in it but a weak smell, the very same in a manner that is in a common Mint. I my self have sowed Mint seed, and it hath been changed into wilde Peny-roial; I mean, in savour onely: for the fashion of the Mint remained still in it. Martial writes, That

Basil-royal degenerates into-wilde Betony,

if it be laid open to the Suns hotest and greatest force: for then it will bring forth sometimes purple flowers, sometimes white, and sometimes of a Rosie colour. And it will not only degenerate into Betony, but into Ballamint also. Likewise the boughs of the shrub Casia, as Galen reporteth, will degenerate into Cinamon. Likewise

Cloves, Roses, Violets, and Gilli-flowers, of purple, will become white,

either by reason that they are old, or else if they be not well looked unto. For Theophrastus records, that Violets, Roses, and Gilli-flowers, if they be not well heeded, in three years will wax white; and the experience thereof I my self have plainly seen. Neither yet will Plants degenerate one into another, only in such case as where there is a kind of vicinity and likenesse of nature, but also where

there is no such vicinity, one plant may be changed into another of a quite diffe∣rent kind: for

An Oak may be changed into a Vine.

Albertus reporteth, (if the thing be as true as it is strange; but let the truth there∣of lie upon his credit) he reports, I say, that Oaken or Beechen boughs being in∣graffed into the Tree Myrica, is quite changed into it; and so into the Tree called Tremisca, which is a baser kind of wood: and likewise if Oaken boughs be set in the ground of Alummum, a place so called, they will be quite altered into right Vines, such as their grapes yeeld good wine; and sometimes the old Oaks, if they be pared, degenerate into Vines. But we must not think that this change is made while those Trees or boughs last; but when once they are putrified, then the nature of the ground works into them, and changeth them into Vines.

CHAP. III.

How to make one fruit compounded of many.

AS we heard before of divers living Creatures, that they might be mingled in∣to one, by copulation; so now we will shew also how to contrive divers kinds of fruits, by graffing into one fruit: for graffing is in plants the same that co∣pulation is in living creatures: yet I deny not, but there are other means where∣by this may be effected, as well as by graffing. But above all other, graffing is most praise-worthy, as being the best and fittest means to incorporate one fruit into another, and so of many to make one, after a wonderful manner. And whereas it may be thought a very toilsome, and indeed impossible matter, here the excel∣lent effect of the work must sweeten all thy labour, and thy painful diligence will take away the supposed impossibility of the thing, and perform that which a man would think were not possible to be done. Neither must thou suffer thy self to be discouraged herein by the sayings of rude Husband-men which have attempted this thing, but for want of skill could not perform it, seeing experience teacheth thee that it hath been done. Wherefore against such discouragements, thou must arm thy self with a due consideration of such experiments as the Antients have recorded: as for example, that the Figge-tree may be incorporated into the Plane-tree, and the Mulberry-tree; and likewise the Mulberry-tree into the Chestnut-tree, the Turpentine-tree, and the white Poplar, whereby you mayest procure white Mulber∣ries; and likewise the Chestnut-tree into a Hasel, and an Oak; and likewise the Pomegranate-tree into all Trees, for that it is like to a common whore, ready and willing for all Comers; and likewise the Cherry-tree into a Turpentine-tree: and to conclude, that every Tree may be mutually incorporated into each other, as Columella supposeth. And this is the cause of every composition of many fruits into one, of every adopted fruit which is not the natural child, as it were, of the Tree that bare it; and this is the cause of all strange and new kinds of fruits that grow. Virgil makes mention of such a matter, when he saith, that Dido admired certain Trees which she saw, that bare new kinds of leaves, and apples that naturally were not their own. And Palladius saith, that Trees are joined together as it were, by carnal copulation, to the end that the fruit thereof might contain in it, all the excellencies of both the parents: and the same Trees were garnished with two sorts of leaves, and nourished with two sorts of juices, and the fruit had a double relish, according to both the kinds whence it was compounded. But now, as we did in our tract of the commixtion of divers kinds of living Creatures; so here also it is meet to prescribe certain rules, whereby we may cause those divers plants which we would intermingle, to join more easily, and to agree better together, for the producing of new and compounded fruits. First therefore, we must see that either of the Trees have their bark of one and the same nature: and both of them must have the same time of growing and shooting out of their sprigs; as was required in living creatures, that both of them should have the same time of breeding their

young ones: for if the graffe have a dry or a hard bark, and the stock have a moist or soft bark, or that they be any way contrary each to other, we shall labour in vain. Then we must see that the ingraffing be made in the purest and soundest place of the stock, so that it neither have any tumors or knobs, or any scars, nei∣ther yet hath been blasted. Again, it is very material, that the young graffes or shoots be fetcht from the most convenient place or part of the Trees; namely, from those boughs that grow toward the East, where the Sun is wont to rise in the Summer-time. Again, they must be of a fruitful kind, and be taken off from young plants, such as never bare fruit before. They must also be taken in their prime, when they are beginning first to bud, and such as are of two years growth, and likely to bear fruit in their second year. And the stocks into which they are to be en∣graffed, must likewise be as young as may be graffed into; for if they be old, their hardnesse will scarce give any entertainment to strange shoots to be planted upon them. And many such observations must be diligently looked into, as we have shewed in our book of Husbandry. But we must not here omit to speak of the lome, or that clammy morter, which makes

The Graffe and the stock to close more easily together;

for it is very helpful to glew or fasten the skins of both the barks one into the o∣ther: and if the barks be of a divers nature, yet by this lome they may be so bound into one, that they will easily grow together. And surely it is commodious in ma∣ny respects. First, because, as in mans body, the flesh being wounded or pierced into, is soon closed up again with stiffe and clammy plaisters applyed thereunto; so the bark or the boughs of Trees being cut or rent, will close together again very speedily, by the applying of this morter. For if you pill the bark off from a Tree, or slip off a little sprig from a bough, unlesse you close it up so cunningly, that it may stick as fitly every way in the graffing as whilst it grew, it will soon wither, and fade, and lose the natural juice and moisture; which inconvenience this lome will prevent, and fit them one into another. Moreover, if there be any open chink betwixt the bark and the Tree, presently the air getteth in, and will not suffer them to close; therefore to make it sure that they may close without fail, this lome is needful. And whereas there are some Trees which cannot away to be harboured in any of another kind, this lome knit them so strongly into the stock, that they cannot but bud and blossom. But here we must observe, that this glue or morter must be as neer of the nature of the thing engraffed as may be; for then it will perform this duty more kindly. If you be diligent herein, you may do many matters. We will give you a taste of some, that by these you may learn to do the like. Pill off the bark of Holly, and make a pit in some moist ground, and there bury your Holly rines, and let them there pu∣trifie, which will be done in twelve daies: then take them forth, and stamp them till you see they are become a clammy slime. This is also made of the fruit Se∣besten in Syria; and likewise it may be made of ordinary birdlime: but the best of all is made of the rines of Elm-roots stamped together; for this hath a special quali∣ty, both to fasten, and also to cherish. But let us return to graffing, which is of such great force, that it hath caused a new kind of a bastard fruit that was never heard of before, namely

An Apple compounded of a Peach-apple, and a Nut-peach;

which kind of compound generation, was never seen, nor heard of, nor yet thought upon by the Ancient. This is to be done by a kind of graffing which they call emplastering. Take off two young fruitful sprigges, one from a Peach-apple Tree, and the other from the Nut-peach Tree; but they must be well grow∣en, and such as are ready to budde forth. Then pare off the bark of them about two fingers breadth in compasse, so that the budde to be graffed may

stand fitly in the midst betwixt them both; but you must do it charily, lest you perish the wood. Then cleave them thorough the middle a little way, that they may be let one into another, and yet the cleft not seen, but covered with the bud. Then take off a bud from one of those Trees, with the bark round about the bud, and set it into the midst of the boughs which we spake of before; and so engraffe them together into the other Tree, having first cut out a round fit place for them therein. They must be engraffed in that part of the Tree, which is most neat and fresh-coloured; the sprigs that grow about that place must be cut off, lest they withdraw the nourishment from the graffe, which requires it all for it self. And when you have so done, binde it about gently, that you hurt it not; and cover it with somewhat, lest the rain fall down upon it; but especially take heed to the cleft, and the place where you pilled off the bark, that you plaister it up well with morter. Thus if you do, the graffe will very kindly prosper, and the bud grow forth into a fruit that is compounded of both kinds, and it shall carry the hue both of the Peach-apple and the Nut-peach by equal proportion, such as was never seen before. By this means also we may procure the bringing forth

Of a Figge halfe white and half black;

for if we take the buds of each of them, paring them off together with the bark round about them, and then cut them in the middle, and put the half of one, and the half of the other together, and so emplaister them into the Tree, as we spake before, the fruit thereof will be a Figge half white and half black. So also

Pomegranates may be brought forth, which will be sweet on the one side, and sowre on the other;

If you take either the shoots or the buds of each of them, and after you have divi∣ded them in the midst, put the half of each together, as before was spoken. But this may be done best upon the shoots or sprigs; for the bud can hardly be pared off, nor well divided, because the bark is so weak, and so thin, and slender, that it will not endure to be much or long handled. Likewise

Orenges compounded of divers kinds, and such as are half Limons; as also Limons half sweet, and half sowre, may be produced,

if we mix them after the same manner as we spake before; for these are very fit to be graffed by emplastering; and these kinds of compound Orenges and Limons are very commonly to be seen in many Orchards in Naples▪ In like manner we may mingle and compound

A Peach of the white and the red Peach,

if we put those two kinds together, by such emplastering: for there are of this compound fruit to be sold in Naples at this day. Likewise we may procure

A grape that hath a kernel or stone half black, and diversly coloured.

We must deal by the shoots of Vines, as we shewed before was to be done by the buds of other Trees; cleave them in the middle, and binde two shoots or more of divers sorts of Vines handsomely together, that they may grow up in one, and graff them into a fruitful Vine of some other kind. And the same which we have shewed concerning fruits, may be as well practised also upon flowers. As for example; If we would produce

Roses that are half white and half red;

we must take the sprigs of white Rose, and of a red, and pare off the buds of each of them; and having cut them asunder in the middle, put the halfs of each together, as we spake before, and engraffe them artificially into the bark, and then have a dili∣gent care still to cherish them, the compound bud wil in due season bring forth Roses which will be white of the one side, and red of the other. But if you would

make trial hereof in Clove-gilli-flowers, and desire

To produce some that are half red,

seeing they have no buds at all, you must practise this experiment upon their root; you must take two roots of them, and cleave them in the middle, and match them fitly together, that they may grow each to other; and binde them up well, and then will they yeeld compound Clove-gilli-flowers: of which kind we have great store, and they are common amongst us everywhere; and they do not onely bring forth party-coloured flowers, but the very same bough, and one and the same sprig, will bear white ones and red ones, and such as are wrought and as it were embroidred with divers goodly colours, most pleasant to be seen.

CHAP. IV.

Of a second means whereby fruits may be mingled and compounded together.

THere is also a second way of compounding divers kinds of fruits together; namely, by another manner of graffing. As for example; If we would produce

Pomegranates compounded of divers kinds,

Theophrastus sheweth us how to do it. We must take the young slips or branches of divers kinds, and bruise them with a Beetle, so that they may stick and hang together; and then binde them up very hard each to other, and set them in the ground: and if they be well laid together, all those slips will grow up jointly into one Tree; but so, that every one of them retains his own kind, and receives his several nourishment by it self, and severally digests it: and the chief community which they have all together, is their mutual embracing each of other. The same Theophrastus teaches us in the same place,

How one and the same Vine-branch may bring forth a black and a white grape both toge∣ther; and how in the same grape may be found a white and black stone hanging together.

Take the branch of a white Vine, and another of the black, and the uppermost half of either of them must be bruised together; then you must match them equally, and binde them up together, and plant them: for by this means they will grow up both into one joint; for every living thing may be matcht with another, espe∣cially where one is of the same or the like kind with the other: for then if they be dissolved, as these are in some sort when they are bruised, their natures will easily close together, and be compact into one nature: but yet either of these branches hath his several nourishment by it self, without confusion of both together; where∣by it cometh to passe, that the fruit arising from them is of a divers nature, accor∣ding as either of the sprigs requireth. Neither ought this to seem strange, that both of them concurring into one, should yet retain each of them their severall kind, seeing the like hereof may be found in certain Rivers which meet together by con∣fluence into one and the same channel, and yet either of them keeps his own seve∣ral course and passage; as do the Rivers Cephisus and Melas in Boeotia. Columella teacheth us to do this thing on this manner. There is, saith he, a kind of engraffing, whereby such kind of grapes are produced, as have stones of divers kinds, and sun∣dry colours; which is to be done by this means. Take four or five, or more (if you will) Vine-branches of divers kinds, and mingle them together by equal pro∣portion, and so binde them up. Afterward put them into an earthen pipe or a horn fast together; but so, that there may be some parts of them seen standing out at both ends; and those parts so standing forth, must be dissolved or bruised: and when you have so done, put them into a trench in the ground, covering them with muck, and watering them till they begin to bud. And when the buds are grown fast together, after two or three years, when they are all knit and closed into one,

then break the pipe, and neer about the middle of the stalk beneath the sprouts, there where they seem to have most grown together, cut off the Vine, and heal that part where it is so cut, and then lay it under the ground again about three fin∣gers deep: and when that stalk shall shoot up into sprigs, take two of the best of them, and cherish them, and plant them in the ground, casting away all the other branches; and by this means you shall have such kinds of grapes as you desire. This very same experiment doth Pliny set down, borrowing it of Columella. But Didy∣mus prescribes it on this manner. Take two Vine-branches of divers kinds, and cleave them in the middle; but with such heedful regard, that the cleft go as far as the bud is, and none of the pith or juice be lost; then put them each to other, and close them together, so that the bud of either of them meet right one with the other: and as much as possibly may be, let them touch together, whereby both those buds may become as one: then binde up the branches with paper as hard together as you can, and cover them over with the Sea-onion, or else with some very stiff clam∣my earth; and so plant them, and water them after four or five daies, so long till they shoot forth into a perfect bud. If you would produce

A Fig, that is half white, and half red;

Leontinus teacheth you to do it after this manner. Take two shoots of divers kinds of Fig-trees; but you must see that both the shoots be of the same age, and the same growth as neer as you can: then lay them in a trench, and dung them, and wa∣ter them. And after they begin to bud, you must take the buds of each, and binde them up together, so that they may grow up into one stalk: and about two years after, take them up, and plant them into another stock, and thereby you shall have Figs of two colours. So then by this means

All fruits may be made to be party-coloured;

and that not onely of two, but of many colours, accordingly as many kinds of fruits may be compounded together. And surely these experiments are very true, though they be somewhat hard to be done, and require a long times practice, as I my self have had experience. The like experiment to these is recorded by Palla∣dius, and by other Greek Writers, who shew the way

How a Vine may bring forth clusters of grapes that are white, but the stones of the grapes black.

If white and black Vines grow neer together, you must shred the branches of each, and presently clap them together so, that the bud of either may meet right toge∣ther, and so become one: then binde them up hard in paper, and cover them with soft and moist earth; and so let them lie three dayes or thereabouts: after that, see that they be well and fitly matcht together, and then let them lie till a new bud come forth of a fresh head: and by this means you shall procure in time, divers kinds of grapes, according to the divers branches you put together. I my self have made choice of two shoots of two divers Vines growing one by another; I have cleft or cut them off in that place where the buds were shooting forth, leaving the third part of the bud upon the branch; I fastened them together, and bound them up into one very fast, lest when the buds should wax greater, one of them might flie off from the other: I fitted them so well, branch with branch, and bud with bud, that they made but one stalk; and the very same year they brought forth grapes that had cloven kernels or stones. This shoot so springing up, I put to another; and when that was so sprung up, I put that also to another; and by this continual fitting of divers sprigs one to another, I produced clusters of divers-coloured and divers-na∣tured grapes: for one and the same grape was sweet and unsavoury; and the stones were some long, some round, some crooked; but all of them were of divers co∣lours. Pontanus hath elegantly shewed

How Citron-trees may bear divers kinds;

namely, by joining two sundry boughs together, after the bark hath been pared a∣away,

and fastning each to other with a kind of glue, that they may grow up one as fast as the other; and when they are engraffed into one stock, they must be very carefully covered and looked unto, and so one and the same branch will bring forth fruit of divers kinds. So you may procure

An Orenge-tree to bring forth an Apple half sweet and half sowre.

And this kind of commixtion was invented by chance; for there were graffed two boughs of Orenge-trees, one brought forth a sweet, and the other a sharp fruit. When occasion served to transplant and remove the Tree, it was cut off in the middle, according as Husband-men are wont to do when they plant such Trees af∣ter they are grown old; and by great chance, it was cut off there where the two boughs had been before engraffed: and so when the stock budded afresh, there arose one bud out of the sharp and sweet branches both together as they were left in the stock; and this one bud brought forth Apples or fruit of both relishes. Wherefore no question but such a thing may be effected by art, as well as it was by chance, if any man have a minde to produce such kind of fruits.

CHAP. V.

Of a third way, whereby divers kinds of fruits may be compounded together.

WE will also set down a third way, whereby we may mingle and compound divers kinds of fruits together. A way which hath been delivered unto us by the Ancients, though for my own part I think it to be not onely a very hard, but even an impossible matter. Notwithstanding, because grave An∣cient Writers have set it down, I cannot scorn here to rehearse it: and though I have put it in practice, but to no purpose, for it hath not so fallen out as they write, yet I will not discourage any man that hath a mind to make trial hereof; for it may be that fortune will second their endeavours better then she did mine. The way is this; to gather many seeds of sundry Trees and fruits, and wrapping them up together, so to sow them: and when they are grown up into stalks, to bind all the stalks together, that they may not flie asunder, but rather grow up all into one Tree; and this Tree will bring forth divers kinds of fruits, yea and one and the same fruit will be min∣gled and compounded of many. It should seem that the Authors of this experi∣ment, learned it first out of Theophrastus, who writes, that, If you sow two divers seeds neer together within a hands breadth, and then sow two other divers seeds a little above them, the roots which will come of all these seeds will lovingly embrace and winde about each other, and so grow up into one stalk or stock, and be incorporated one into another. But special care must be had how the seeds be placed; for they must be set with the little end upward, be∣cause the bud cometh not out of the low and hollow parts, but out of the highest. And there are four seeds required, because so many will easily and fitly close toge∣ther. A matter, which if it were true, it might be a very ready means which would produce exceeding many and wonderful experiments. By such a means

Berries that are party-coloured may be produced.

If you take a great many berries, white, and black, and red, one amongst another, and sow them in the earth together; and when they are shot up, bind all their stalks into one, they will grow together, and yeeld party coloured berries. Pliny writes, that this way was devised from the birds; Nature, saith he, hath taught how to graffe with a seed: for hungry birds have devoured seeds, and having moistened and warmed them in their bellies, a little after have dunged in the forky twistes of Trees, and together with their dung excluded the seed whole which erst they had swallowed: and sometimes it brings forth there where they dung it, and sometimes the wind carries it away into some chinks of the barks of Trees, and there it brings forth. This is the reason why many times we see a Cherry-tree growing in a Wil∣ow,

a Plane-tree in a Bay-tree, and a Bay in a Cherry-tree; and withal, that the berries of them have been party-coloured. They write also, that the Jack-daw hiding certain seeds in some secret chinks or holes, did give occasion of this Inven∣tion. By this self-same means we may produce

A Fig that is partly white and partly red.

Leontius attempts the doing of this, by taking the kernels or stones that are in a Fig somewhat inclinable to this variety, and wrapping them up together in a linnen cloth, and then sowing them, and when need requires, removing them into ano∣ther place. If we would have

An Orenge or Citron-tree bear divers Apples of divers relishes;

Pontanus our Country-man, in his work of Gardening, hath elegantly taught us how to do it. We must take sundry seeds of them, and put them into a pitcher, and there let them grow up: and when they come forth, bind the sprigs together, and by this means they will grow up into one stock, and shrowd themselves all un∣der one bark: but you must take heed that the wind come not at them to blow them asunder, but cover them over with some wax, that they may stick fast toge∣ther; and let them be well plaistered with morter about the bark: and so shall you gather from them in time very strange Apples of sundry relishes. Likewise we may procure

A Damosin, and an Orenge or Limon to be mixt together.

In our books of Husbandry, we shewed at large, by many reasons alledged to and fro, that sundry seeds could not possibly grow into one; but all that is written in favour of this practice, is utterly false, and altogether unpossible. But this expe∣riment we our selves have proved, whereby divers kinds of Damosins are mixt to∣gether. While the Damosin-trees were very tender and dainty, we fastened two of them together, which were planted neer to each other, as Sailers plat and tie their Cables: but first we pared off the bark to the inmost skin, in that place where they should touch together, that so one living thing might the more easily grow to the other: then we bound them up gently with thin lists, made of the inner bark of Elm, or such like stuff that is soft and pliable for such a purpose, lest they should be parted and grow asunder; and if any part of them were so limber that it would not stick fast, we wedged it in with splents; yet not too hard, for fear of spoiling it. Then we rid away the earth from the upper roots, and covered them with muck, and watered them often, that by this cherishing and tilling on, they might grow up the better: and thus after a few years that they were grown together into one tree, we cut off the tops of them about that place where they most seemed to be knit together; and about those tops there sprung up many buds; whereof, those which we perceived had grown out of both Trees, we suffered to grow still, and the rest we cut away; and by this means we produced such kind of fruit as we speak of, very goodly, and much commended. And concerning Limons, I have seen some in the Noble-mens Gardens of Naples, which, partly by continual wa∣tering at seasonable times, and partly by reason of the tendernesse and the rank∣nesse of the boughs, did so cling and grow together, that they became one tree; and this one Tree brought forth fruit compounded of either kind. We may also effect this featly by earthen vessels; for the plants that are set therein, we may very conveniently cherish up with continual watering, and perform other services to∣wards them which are necessary for their growth. And as it may be done by Limons, so we have seen the same experiment practised upon Mulberry-trees, which grow∣ing in moist and shadowed places, as soon as their boughs closed one with another, presently they grew into one, and brought forth berries of sundry colours. If we would procure that

A Lettice should grow, having in it Parsley, and Rotchet, and Basil-gentle,

or any such like commixtion, we must take the dung of a Sheep or a Goat; and

though it be but a small substance, yet you must make a shift to bore the Truttle through the middle, and as well as you can, get out the inmost pith, and in stead thereof put into it those seeds which you desire to have mingled together, packing them in as hard as the Truttle will bear it: and when you have so done, lay it in the ground about two handful deep, with dung and hollow geer, both under it, and round about it; then cover it with a little thin earth, and water it a little and a little; and when the seeds also are sprung forth, you must still apply them with wa∣ter and dung; and after they are grown up into a stalk, you must be more diligent about them; and by this means at length there will arise a Lettice, mixed and compounded with all those seeds. Palladius prescribes the same more precisely. If you take, saith he, a Truttle of Goats dung, and bore it through, and make it hollow cunningly with a bodkin, and then fill it up with the seed of Lettice, Cres∣ses, Basil, Rotchet, and Radish, and when you have so done, lap them up in more of the same dung, and bury them in a little trench of such ground as is fruitful and well manured for such a purpose, the Radish will grow downward into a Root, the other seeds will grow upward into a stalk, and the Lettice will contain them all, yeelding the several relish of every one of them. Others effect this experiment on this manner. They pluck off the Lettice leaves that grow next to the root, and make holes in the thickest substance and veins thereof, one hole being a rea∣sonable distance from the other; wherein they put the forenamed seeds, all but the Radish seed, and cover them about with dung, and then lay them under the ground, whereby the Lettice grows up, garded with the stalks of so many herbs as there were seeds put into the leaves. If you would procure

Party-coloured flowers to grow;

you may effect it by the same ground and principle. You must take the seeds of divers kinds of flowers; and when you have bound them up in a Linen cloth, set them in the ground, and by the commixtion of those seeds together, you shall have flowers that are party-coloured. By this means, it is thought that Daisies of divers kinds were first brought forth, such as are to be seen with golden leaves, reddish about the edge; nay some of them are so meddled with divers colours, that they resemble little shreds of silk patcht together.

CHAP. VI.

How a double fruit may be made, whereof the one is contained within the other.

THere is also another way of Composition, whereby fruits may be so meddled together, not as we shewed before, that one part of it should be of one fruit, and the other part of another kinde; nor yet that one and the same bough shall at once bear two or three several kinds of fruits; but that one and the same fruit shall be double, containing in it self two several kinds, as if they were but one; where∣of I my self have first made trial. But let us see how the Ancients have effected this: and first

How to make an Olive-grape.

Diophanes sheweth that the Olive being engraffed into the Vine, brings forth a fruit called Elaeo-staphylon, that is to say, an Olive-grape. But Florentinus in the ele∣venth book of his Georgicks, hath shewed the manner how to engraffe the Olive into a Vine, that so it shall bring forth not only bunches or clusters of grapes, but an Olive fruit also. We must bore a hole through the Vine neer to the ground, and put into it the branch of an Olive-tree, that so it may draw and receive both from the Vine, sweetnesse; and also from the ground, natural juice and moisture, where∣by it may be nourished: for so will the fruit taste pleasantly. And moreover, if, while the Vine hath not yet born fruit, you take the fruitful sprigs thereof, and plant them elsewhere, these sprigs will retain the mixture and composition of the

Vine and the Olive-tree together, and bring forth one fruit that shall have in it both kinds, which therefore is called by a name compounded of both their names, Eleo-staphylus, an Olive-grape. He reports that he saw such a tree in the Orchard of Marius Maximus; and tasting the fruit thereof, he thought with himself that he felt the relish of an Olive-berrie and a grape kernel both together. He writes also that such plants grow in Africa, and are there called by a proper name in their Country language Ubolima. But we must set props under them, to bear up the weight and burden of the boughs: though if we engraffe them any other way but this, we shall need no polls at all. I suppose also that by this self-same means it may be effected,

That a Grape should have Myrtle in it.

Tarentinus writes, that the Vine may be engraffed into the Myrtle-tree, and the Vine-branches thereon engraffed, will bring forth grapes that have Myrtle-berries growing underneath them. But the manner of this engraffing he hath not set down. If you engraffe the Vine-branches in the higher boughs or arms of the Mrytle, then they will bring forth grapes after their ordinary manner, not having any Myrtle in them: but if you engraffe them as she shewed before, neer to the ground, as the Olive-tree must be into the Vine, then you may pro∣duce Myrtle-grapes, though not without some difficulty. We may likewise produce

Damosins that shall be of the colour of Nuts;

for such kind of fruit were produced by the Ancients, and called Nucipruna, that is, Nut-Damosins, as Pliny reporteth. It is a peculiar property of these fruits that are engraffed into Nut-trees, that they are in colour like to their own kinde, but in taste like unto Nuts; being therefore called by a mixt name, Nuci-pruna. So there may be produced, as the same Pliny writes,

Damosins that have sweet Almonds within them.

There is, saith he, in this kind of fruit an Almond-kernel, neither can there be any prettier double fruit devised. The same Pliny reports also, that there is a kind of

Damosin that hath in it the substance of an Apple,

which of late was called by the Spaniards Malina, which cometh of a Damosin engraffed into an Apple-tree. There is also a kind of fruit called by the Apotheca∣ries Sebesten, or

Mixa, which hath in it a sweet Almond.

This same Mixa is a kind of Damosin, which differs from all others; for whereas others have a bitter Almond or kernel within their stone, this only hath a sweet ker∣nel. It is a plant peculiar to Syria and Egypt, though in Plinies time it was com∣mon in Italy, and was engraffed in the Service-tree, whereby the kernel was the pleasanter. They engraffed it into the Service-tree, likely for this cause, that where∣as the fruit of it self would make a man laxative, the sharp taste of the Service being mixed with it, might cause it to be more binding. But now we will shew

How to produce an Almond peach, which outwardly is a Peach, but within hath an Al∣mond-kernel.

The former means producing double fruits, which the Ancients have recor∣ded, are but vain fables; not only false matters, but indeed impossible to be so done: for, we shewed in the book of Husbandry, if you engraffe the Vine into the Myrtle, there will be no such fruit brought forth after that manner. Besides, it is impossible to engraffe the Olive-tree into the Vine; or if it were engraffed, yet

would it not bring forth any such grapes. Pliny speaks of Apple-damosins, and Nut-damosins; but he sheweth not the manner how they may be produced; happily, because it was never seen nor known. But we will demonstrate the manner of it to the whole world, by this example: this fruit is called an Almond-Peach by the late Writers, because it bears in it self the nature, both of the Almond and the Peach compounded together. And it is a new kind of Adultery or commixtion, wrought by skill and diligence used in graffing; such a fruit as was never heard of in former ages, partaking both of the shape, and also of the qualities of either parent: out∣wardly it resembles the Peach both in shape and colour; but inwardly it hath a sweet Almond within the kernel, that both looks and tastes like an Almond; and so is the Tree also a middle betwixt the Almond-tree and the Peach-tree, outwardly like the Peach-tree, and inwardly like the Almond-tree. The manner of engraffing is, by clapping the bud of one upon the bud of another; either upon one of the trees that bare one of the buds, or else setting them both into a third tree, as we have done when the Trees have been old. We may also go farther, and upon that branch wherein those two buds grow up together, we may set a third bud, and so the fruit will be threefold. These trees we had growing in our own Orchards many years together. By this self-same means we may produce a very strange Apple; the won∣derfulnesse whereof will ravish our senses and our thoughts; namely

A Citron that hath a Limon in the inner parts:

and this, I say, we may produce by laying the bud of a Citron upon the bud of a Limon. And the most of those kinds are to be found among the Brutii, a people dwelling neer Naples, and the Surrentines in Campania; and these fruits proceed from the tart juice that is within the branch. In like manner

A double Orenge may be produced;

which kind of fruit is common with us, wherein are double ranks of kernels in such rare proportion, that you would wonder and be amazed to see.

CHAP. VII.

Of another device, whereby strange fruits may be generated, and made either better or worse.

COncerning the praises and excellency of engraffing, we have spoken elsewhere more at large: Here it shall suffice onely to shew, that by engraffing, new fruits may be produced, some better, and some worse then their ordinary kinds. We will relate some experiments of our own, and some which the Antients have found out. And first

How to produce a Chest-nut of the best.

There is one rare example hereof not to be omitted. Corellius, a Noble-man of Rome, born at the City Ateste, engraffed a Chest-nut upon a Chest-nut branch, in the Country of Naples, and so produced a Chest-nut called Corelliana, after his name. After that, his Heir, whom he made a Free-man, graffed the same Co∣relliana upon another Tree: the difference betwixt them both is this, that the for∣mer is a larger Chest-nut, but this latter is a better fruit. These things have been done by the Ancients: and the good that cometh by engraffing is such, as that if any thing be engraffed into a stock or branch of its own kind, the fruit will there∣by be made better. The Cherry-tree is very kindly to be engraffed: and you shall scarce ever have a good and a sweet Cherry, unlesse it be by engraffing upon some other Tree, as Pamphilus reporteth. By the president of this example, we have en∣deavoured to change

The Barbery-Tree into the Tree called Tuber:

fo•• I take it, that the Oxyacantha, or the Barbery-tree, is nothing else but a bastard,

or a wild Tuber: and therefore if a man follow that example of Corellius, and en∣graffe the Oxyacantha oftentimes into the own branch or stock, it will be much bettered, and become the Tuber-tree: as also on the other side, the Tuber-tree, if it be not dressed and looked unto, doth degenerate into the Barbery-tree. I my self have engraffed it three or four times into the branches of its own kind, in my own Orchard; and if I live so long, I will still engraffe it so, till it do bring forth Tubers; for I find that it brings forth already, both greater and sweeter berries. Now we will speak of such fruits, as are engraffed not into their own branches, but into branches of another kind, which contain in them both the fashion and the properties of either kind: and we will teach the manner how to compound a new kind of fruit lately devised, namely

A Peach-nut, mixed of a Nut and a Peach.

There is a kind of Peach called a Peach-nut, which the Ancients never knew of, but hath lately been produced by pains taken in graffing, as I my self have seen. It bears the name and the form also of both the parents whereof it is generated, having a green colour like a Nut, and hath no mossie down on the out-side, but ve∣ry smooth all over; the taste of it is sharp and somewhat bitter; it is long ere it be ripe, and is of a hard substance like a Peach. That part of it which lies against the Sun is reddish; it smells very well; it hath within, a rough stone, and hard like a Peach-stone; it hath a pleasant relish; but the apple will not last so long as the Nut, or kernel within. Which kind of fruit cannot be supposed to have been otherwise brought forth then by divers engraffings of the Peach into the Nut-tree, one year after another. We may also better the fruits by engraffing them into better Trees. Diophanes produced

Citron-apples compounded of an Apple and a Citron.

for he engraffed an Apple into the Citron-tree, and that oftentimes; but it wither∣ed as soon as ever it did shoot forth: howbeit, at length it took fast hold, and be∣came a Citron-apple-tree. Anatolius and Diophanes made a compound fruit called

Melimela, of an Apple and a Quince mixt together;

for if we engraffe an Apple into a Quince-tree, the Tree will yield a very goodly apple, which the Athenians call Melimelum, but we call it a St. Johns Apple. Pliny writes, that an ordinary Quince, and a Quince-pear being compounded,

Produce a fruit called Milviana.

The Quince, saith he, being engraffed into a Quince-pear, yieldeth a kind of fruit called Milvianum, which alone of all other Quinces is to be eaten raw. Now as we have shewed how to make fruits better by engraffing, both for shew and for pro∣perties, we will declare also, how by engraffing

Fruits may be made worse.

We will shew it first by a Pear. Marcus Varro saith, that if you engraffe a very good Pear into a wilde Pear-tree, it will not taste so well as that which is engraffed into an Orchard Pear-tree. If you engraffe a Peach into a Damosin-tree, the fruit of it will be much less: if into a bitter Almond-tree, the fruit will have a bitter relish. Likewise if you graffe a Chest-nut into a Willow, and be somewhat a latter fruit, the taste of it will be more bitter. And so if you graffe an apple into a Damosin-tree, the fruit which it yields, will neither be so great, nor yet so good, as it is in the own kind.

CHAP. VIII.

How to procure ripe fruits and flowers before their ordinary season.

ARt being as it were Natures Ape, even in her imitation of Nature, effecteth greater matters then Nature doth. Hence it is that a Magician being fur∣nished with Art, as it were another Nature, searching throughly into those

works which Nature doth accomplish by many secret means and close operations, doth work upon Nature, and partly by that which he sees, and partly by that which he conjects and gathers from thence, takes his sundry advantages of Na∣tures instruments, and thereby either hastens or hinders her work, making things ripe before or after their natural season, and so indeed makes Nature to be his instrument. He knows that fruits, and flowers, and all other growing things that the world affords, are produced by the circuit and motion of celestial bodies; and therefore when he is disposed to hinder the ripening of any thing, or else to help it forward, that it may be more rare and of better worth, he effects it by counterfeiting the times and seasons of the year, making the Winter to be as the Summer, and the Spring-time as the Winter. Amongst other means, engraf∣fing is not a little helpful hereunto. Wherefore let us see, how we may by engraffing

Produce Grapes in the Spring-time.

If we see a Cherry-tree bring forth her fruit in the Spring-time, and we desire to have Grapes about that time, there is fit oportunity of attaining our desire, as Tarentinus writeth. If you engraffe a black Vine into the Cherry-tree, you shall have Grapes growing in the Spring-time: for the Tree will bring forth Grapes the very same season, wherein it would bring forth her own fruit. But this en∣graffing cannot be without boring a hole into the stock, as Didymus sheweth. You must bore the Cherry-tree stock through with a wimble, and, your Vine grow∣ing by it, you must take one of the next and goodliest branches thereof, and put it into the a••ger-hole; but you must not cut it off from the Vine, but place it in as it grows: for so the branch will live the better, both as being nourished by his own mother the Vine, and also as being made partaker of the juice of that Tree into which it is engraffed. This sprig within the compasse of two years, will grow and be incorporated into the Cherry-tree: about which time, after the skar is grown over again, you must cut off the branch from the Vine, and saw off the stock of the Cherry-tree wherein it is engraffed, all above the boring place, and let the Vine-branch grow up in the rest: for so shall neither the Vine be idle, but still bring forth her own fruit, and that branch also which was engraffed doth grow up together with it, being nothing hurt by that engraffing. We may also by the help of engraffing procure

A Rose to shew forth her buds before her time.

If we pluck off a Rose-bud from the mother, and engraff by such an emplastering as we spake of before, the same into the open bark of an Almond-tree, at such time, as the Almond-tree doth bud, the Rose so engraffed, will bring forth her own flowers out of the Almond bark. But because it is a very hard matter to en∣graffe into an Herbe, and therefore we can hardly produce flowers sooner then their time by that means, we will shew another means hereof; And namely,

How Cucumbers may hasten their fruits.

Columella found in Dolus Mendesius an Aegyptian, an easie way whereby this may be done. You must set in your Garden in some shadowy place well dunged, a rank of Fenel, and a rank of Brambles one within another; and after the aequi∣noctial day, cut them off a little within the ground; and having first loosed the pith of either of them with a wooden puncheon, to convey dung into them, and withal to engraffe in them Cucumber-seeds, which may grow up together with the Fenel and the Brambles: for by this means the seeds will receive nourishment from the root of the stalk into which they are engraffed, and so you shall have Cu∣cumbers very soon. But now let us shew how we may accomplish this thing by counterfeiting as it were the seasons of the year: and first, how we may pro∣cure that

Cucumbers shall be ripe very timely.

The Quintiles say you must take panniers or earthen pots, and put into them some fine ••••••ed earth mixed with dung, that it may be somewhat liquid, and preven∣ting the ordinary season, you must plant therein Cucumber-seeds about the be∣ginning of the Spring, and when the Sun shines, or that there is any heat or rain, they bring the panniers forth into the Air, and about Sun-setting they bring them into a close house; and this they do daily, still watering them as occasion serveth. But after that the cold and the frost is ceased, and the Air is more temperate, they take their panniers and digge a place for them in some well-tilled ground, and there set them, so that the brims there∣of may be even with the earth; and then look well to them, and you shall have your desire. The like may be done by Gourds. Theophrastus sheweth, that if a man sow Cucumber seeds in the Winter-time, and water them with warm water, and lay them in the Sunne, or else by the fire, and when seed-time cometh, put whole panniers of them into the ground, they will yield very timely Cucumbers, long before their ordinary season is to grow. Columella saith, that Tiberius the Emperour took great delight in the Cucum∣bers that were thus ripened, which he had at all times of the year; for his Gardners every day drew forth their hanging Gardens into the Sun upon wheels, and when any great cold or rain came, they straightwayes carried them in again into their close hovels made for the same purpose. Didymus sheweth

Roses may bud forth, even before Winter be past,

if they be used after the like manner; namely, if you set them in hampers or earthen vessels, and carefully look unto them, and use them as you would use Gourds and Cucumbers, to make them ripe before their ordinary season. Pliny sheweth

How to make Figs that were of last years growth, to be ripe very soon the next year after;

and this is by keeping them from the cold too, but yet the device and practice is not all one with the former. There are, saith he, in certain Countries, as in Mae∣sia, Winter Fig-trees, (a small tree it is, and such as is more beholding to Art then to Nature) which they use on this manner. After the Autumn or Fall, they lay them in the earth, and cover them all over with muck, and the green Figs that grew upon them in the beginning of Winter are also buried upon the Tree with them. Now when the Winter is past, and the Air is somewhat calmer the year following, they dig up the Trees again with the fruit upon them; which presently do embrace the heat of a new Sun as it were, and grow up by the temperature of another year, as kindly as if they had then new sprung up: whereby it cometh to passe, that though the Country be very cold, yet there they have ripe Figs of two years growth as it were, even before other Fig-trees can so much as blossom. But because we cannot so well practise these experiments in the broad and open fields, either by hindering, or by helping the temperature of the Air, therefore we will assay to ripen fruit and flowers before their time, by laying warm cherishers, as lime, or chalk, and nitre, and warm water, to the roots of Trees and herbs. If you would have

A Cherry ripe before his time,

Pliny saith, that you must lay chalk or lime to the root of the Tree before it begin to blossom; or else you must oftentimes pour hot water upon the root; and by either of these means you may procure the ripening of Cherries before their time: how∣beit afterward the Trees will be drie and wither away. If you would procure the ripening

Of a Rose before his time;

Dydimus saith you may effect it by covering the Rose-bush with earth, a foot a∣bove the root of it, and there pour in wam water upon it, whilst the slippe

beginneth to shoot up, and before any blossom appeareth. Likewise if you would have

A Vine to bring forth before her time,

you must take nitre, and pown it, and mix it with water, so that it be made of the thicknesse of hony; and as soon as you have pruned the Vine, lay good store of your nitre upon the Vine-buds, and so shall your buds shoot forth within nine days after. But to procure the Grapes to be timely ripe, you must take the mother of the wine before it is become sowre, and lay the same upon the root of the plants when you set them; for at that time it is best so to use them, as Tarentinus and Florentinus both affirm. Moreover, if you would have any thing to bud forth very timely, Theophrastus saith you may procure it by setting the same

Into the Sea-onion:

for if a Fig-tree be set but neer it, it will cause the speedy ripening of Figs. And to be brief, there is nothing set in the Sea-onion, but will more easily and speedily shoot forth, by reason of the strong inward heat which that herb is endued with∣al. Democritus sheweth another means, whereby you may cause

The Fig-tree to bring forth hasty Figs,

namely, by applying the same with pepper, and oyle, and Pigeons dung. Florenti∣nus would have the du••g and the oyle to be laid upon the Figs when they be raw and green. Palladius counselleth, that when the Figs begin to wax somewhat red, you should then besmear them with the juice of a long Onion mixed with pepper and oyle; and so the Figs will be the sooner ripened. Our practice is this; when the Figs begin to wax ripe, we take a wooden needle, and anoint it over with oyle, and so thrust it through both ends of the Figs; whereby in few dayes the fruit is ripened. Others effect this, by heaping up a great many Rams horns about the root of the Tree. Pliny shews

How to make Coleworts branch before their time;

and this is by laying good store of Sea-grasse about it, held up with little props; or else by laying upon it black nitre, as much as you can take up with three fingers, or thereabouts; for this will hasten the ripening thereof. We may also cause

Parsley to come up before his time.

Pliny saith, that if you sprinkle hot water upon it, as it begins to grow, it will shoot up very swiftly. And Palladius saith, that if you pour vineger upon it by little and little, it will grow up; or else if you cherish it with warm water as soon as ever it is sown. But the mind of man is so bold to enter into the very secret bowels of Nature, by the diligent search of experience, that it hath devised to bring forth

Parsley exceeding timely.

It grows up easily of it self; for within fifty or fourty daies it is wont to appear out of the earth, as Theophrastus and others affirm, as by their writings may be seen. Our Country-men call it Petroselinum. In the practising of this experiment, you must shew your self a painful workman; for if you fail, or commit never so small an error herein, you will misse of your purpose. You must take Parsley seeds that are not fully one year old, & in the beginning of Summer you must dip them in the vine∣ger, suffering them to lie a while in some warm place: then wrap up the seeds in some small loose earth, which for this purpose you have before meddled with the ashes of burned bean-straw: there you must bedew them oftentimes with a little warm water, and cover them with some cloth, that the heat get not from them▪ so will they in short time appear out of the earth: then remove the cloth away, and water them still, and thereby the stalk will grow up in length, to the great admiration of the beholders. But in any case, you must be painful and very diligent; for I have

assayed it; and by reason of some error and negligence, I obtained not my de∣sire: howbeit, many of my friends having made diligent trial hereof, found it to be a very true experiment. Likewise may

Lentiles be hastened in their growth,

if they be smeared over with dry Ox-dung, a little before they are sown; but they had need lie in that dung four or five daies before they be cast into the ground. So

Melons may be hastened in their fruit;

for if in the Winter-time you lay a parcel of earth in mixens that are made of hot dung, and in the same earth sow Melon-seeds, the heat of the dung will cause them soon to sprout forth: you must keep them warm with some covering, from the snow, and the cold of the night; and afterward when the Air is more calm, you must plant them in some other place: for by this means we have hastened the fruit hereof. And by this same device of preventing their seed-time, we may cause

Cucumbers to hasten their fruit.

But Theophrastus setteth down another practice. Cucumber-roots, if they be care∣fully lookt into, will live long. Therefore if a man cut off a Cucumber close by the ground, after it hath brought forth fruit, and then cover the roots over with earth, the very same roots the year following will bring forth very timely fruit, even be∣fore others that were most seasonably sown. Theophrastus also sets down an∣other way

Of hastening Cucumbers,

and that is by macerating the seed before it be sown; or else by supplying it with continual moisture after it is sown. So also we may procure

Pease or Vitches to be timely ripe;

If we sow them before their ordinary season in Barley time, as Florentinus sheweth. But Theophrastus saith this may be done by macerating them in the water before seed-time, but especially if you macerate them shales and all: for there is but a little of it will turn to putrefaction; and the shale feeds the kernel well at the first, howsoever afterward it turn to nothing. The same Theophrastus sheweth also

How the Rape-root may be hastened in growth.

If the Gardner, saith he, do hide the same in an heap of earth, it will cause it to bring forth very timely fruit the year following. There may other fruits also be timely ripened; as

A Quince may be hastened in ripening,

if you daily bedew them with continual moisture, as Palladius sheweth. And De∣mocritus saith, you may have

Roses growing in the moneth of January,

if you water the slip twice a day in the Summer-time. We may likewise pro∣cure that

Gourds shall bring forth very timely,

by underpropping and holding up their young tender sprigs. In like manner we may cause

The forward Fig-tree to hasten her fruit,

by renting or scarifying the body of the Tree, that the milky juice may there swell and find issue out of it, that when the superfluous humor is gone forth, that which is

left behind, may be the more easily concocted, and so the fruit will be sooner ripened. To be short, we may procure

The timely ripening of all kind of fruit.

If we sow or plant them in some place where they may lie still opposite against the Sun, or if we put them into certain vessels made for the same purpose, and still water them with warm water, and let them lie continually in the Sun. And if we would have them to hasten their fruit very speedily, we should have an Oven made under those vessels, that so by reason of a double warmth, one from above, and the other from beneath the fruit may more speedily be produced. And surely this is the only cause, why fruits and flowers are more forward and sooner ripe in the Country Puteoli, and the Island Inatime, then in all other places of Campa∣nia, because there they hasten the concoction and ripening of them, by cherish∣ing the roots thereof with fire and heat within the earth.

CHAP. IX.

How we may have fruits and flowers at all times of the year.

BY these wayes of procuring fruit to be timely ripe, it may be effected, that we shall have fruits and flowers at all times of the year, some very forward that come before their ordinary season, and some late-ward that come after: as for their own time, then, Nature of her self affords them unto us. Aristotle in his Pro∣blems sheweth

How we may have Cucumbers all the year long,

both in season and out of season. When they are ripe, saith he, you must put them into a waterish ditch, neer the place where they grew, and cover it over: for by this means the heat of the Sun cannot come at them to dry them, and the water∣ishnesse of the place will keep them supple and moist, so that they will still be fresh and green. And Theophrastus after him saith the like; that Gourds and Cucumbers must be taken when they are small, and in their tender growth, and must be hidden in some ditch, where the Sun cannot come to waste and consume their moisture, nor the wind to dry them, which two things would ma•• and hinder their growth, as we see it falleth out in Trees, that are so situate, as both the winde and the Sun have their full scope upon them. If you would have

Citron trees bear fruit all the year;

to have Citrons still growing fresh upon the Tree, you must observe that manner and custom which was first peculiar in Assyria, but is now usual in many places. When their season is to be gathered, you must cut off some of the fruit from the Tree, and prune those parts well where you have left no fruit; but you must leave some behinde, upon some other parts of the Tree: so shall you find a new supply of fresh fruit there where you cut off the former; and when these be ripe, then cut off those which you left upon the Tree before, and so fresh fruit also will come up in their stead. Pontanus hath set down the same experiment in verse; that part of the fruit is to be gathered, and the rest left hanging upon the Tree; for so it will come to passe, that the Tree will bud forth a fresh in those parts where it finds it self destitute of fruit, grieving as it were that one bough should be beauti∣fied with fruit, and the other should have none at all. We may also effect this by the help of engraffing: for if we desire

To have Apples all the year,

Dydimus in his Georgicks saith, that if we engraffe an Apple into a Citron-tree, it will bring forth for the most part continual fruit. And if we would have

Artichockes grow continually,

we may learn to do it out of Cassianus, who following the Authority of Varro, saith, that Artichocks always bring forth fruit about the same season that they are set in, and therefore it is easie to have them all the year long. The ordinary season of planting Artichocks is in November & September, and commonly they bear fruit in July and August: but they will bring forth also in March and April, if they be planted ac∣cordingly; for by that time they will have as perfect a soul, as at any time else. If you practise it three years together, to plant them in the moneths of November, December, January, February, and March, you shall have Artichockes of that kind, as will bring forth fresh fruit almost all the year long. Likewise, if you desire to have

Sperage alwayes growing fresh,

and fit to be eaten, you must take this course: as soon as you have gathered the fruit, you must dig round about the roots as they lie in their own place under the earth, and by this means they will shoot up into new stalks. In like manner, if you de∣sire to have

Roses growing all the year long,

you must plant them in every moneth some, and by dunging them, and taking good heed unto them, you shall have fresh Roses continually. By the like practice, you may also have

Lillies all the year long;

for if you take the roots or cloves of Lillies, and set them in the ground, some four∣teen, some twelve, some eight fingers deep, you shall by this means have Lillies all the year long, and so many several flowers of them as you have planted several roots. And as this may be done by Lillies, so Anatolius thinks the same pra∣ctice will take like effect in all other flowers. Theophrastus saith, that we may have

Violets alwayes growing,

if we set them in well-fenced places, and such as lie open to the force of the Sun: for commonly fruits and flowers will grow there, when they will grow no where else: but they must be very carefully lookt unto, and then they will come on the better. The best way is, to set them in earthen vessels, and keep them from vehe∣ment cold and heat, bringing them forth still when the Air is calm and temperate, and applying them with moisture, and muck, and carefull dressing. So we may pro∣cure also that

The Herbe Oenanthe shall flourish all the year;

for Theophrastus writes, that if we deal thereby, as in the procuring of Violets, we shall have flowers upon it continually.

CHAP. X.

How to produce fruits that shall be later and backward.

WE have already shewed how to produce forward fruits that will be very timely ripe; now it remaineth that we set down such cunning sleights and devices, as whereby we may procure fruit to grow very later, not to be ripe before the lowest of Winter. And this we may learn to effect by contrary causes to the former; and whereas we were to heat that which we would have to be timely ripe, we must here use coolers to make things ripen slowly; and whereas before we were to engraffe later fruits into forward Trees, here we must engraffe forward fruits into later Trees. Likewise we must sow or plant late, that we may receive later fruit: for as

beasts that are long ere they be perfectly bred, are long before they have their hair, and do not change their hair before the same time of the year come again, in which they were brought forth; so also in plants it cometh to passe, that if they be set late, they will grow late, and bring forth backward fruits. To begin with engraffing, we will shew how thereby

To produce later Cherries.

There is a kind of Tree that brings forth a very bitter fruit, so bitter that it is cal∣led Amarendula, that is to say, a bitterling; a branch of this Tree being engraffed into a Cherry-tree, after three or four several engraffings will bring forth at length Cherries that will be very later: and howsoever the fruit of its own kind be very bitter, yet in time it will forget the former relish, and yeeld a more pleasant taste. We may effect this also by that kinde of engraffing which we spoke of in the eighth Chapter; but that will be longer in working. Likewise we may procure that

A Pear shall grow exceeding later,

if we engraffe the same into a Willow; for we have declared before, that such an en∣graffing there may be; and certain it is, that thereby a very latter fruit may be pro∣duced. But we must see that the Willow grow in such a place, as where it may be nourished with continual moisture; and this engraffing must be done about the last dayes of the Moons last quarter; and it must be graffed betwixt the Tree and the bark. If any man would have

Roses grow later;

Florentinus shews how it may effected. When you have engraffed the Vine-branch into a Cherry-tree, as soon as ever the fruit cometh forth, you must set the bud of a Rose into the bark or pill thereof: for growing in another body, look what time the Tree wherein it is set, will fructifie, and at the same time will the Rose open it self, yielding a very excellent savour, and besides will be very pleasant to behold. To be short, all kinds of fruits may be made to grow later, by this kind of engraf∣fing. Now there is another way whereby we may procure the backward growth of fruits: and this is by shaking or plucking off the buds or blossoms that grow first upon the Tree; for while new buds are growing up in the room of the first, time wears away, and yet if the Air be seasonable, these latter buds will be good fruit, and well ripened, though they be slow. Thus we may produce

Figs that are very backward,

as Columella sheweth. When the green Figs are very small, shake them off, and the Tree will bring forth others that will not be ripe before the latter end of Winter. And Pliny following his authority, saith, that Figs will grow latter, if the first Green ones be shaken off when they are about the bigness of a bean; for then others will come up in their stead, which will be long a ripening. And by this means it is, that Tarentinus shews how to produce

Latter Grapes,

We must take away the bunches that grow first, and then others will grow up in their stead: but we must have an especiall care still to look to the Vine, that other clusters may grow, and at length be ripened. By this means likewise we may cause

Roses to open or blow very latter,

If we tuck off the buds that grow first, at such time as the flower begins to appear and shew forth it self. This practise will take best effect, if it be used upon musk-roses, especially such as are wont to be fullest of leaves; for thus we have in the Country store of Roses growing all the Winter long, as they stand in earthen vessels, and are set up in Windows. So if you would have

Clove-gilliflowers blow later;

you must tuck off the first stalks and slips about that time as they are ready to bud, and set them in the heat of the Sun all the Summer long; but you must water them continually, that they lose not all their moisture: for by this practice we have pro∣cured other stalks, and other slips which have yeelded flowers all the Winter long even to the Spring, so that we have continual Winter-gilliflowers, both at home and in the Country abroad. There is also another device whereby we may cause fruit to ripen very late; not by shaking or cutting off the buds, but by planting them late, and keeping away the cold from them. As for example, If we would

Produce later Cucumbers,

because we know that this kind of fruit cannot endure any frost, or showers, or cold storms, therefore we must sow the seeds in the Summer-time; and when the Win∣ter draws on, we must lay heaps of muck round about them, whereby no cold may come at them to destroy them, and they may be ripened through the heat and fat∣ness thereof. But the best way to have later Cucumbers, is, as we shewed before, either to set thereof into great Fennel stalks, or else to cast the Cucumbers into a pit for a certain season. If we would have

A Rose blow in the Winter;

we must watch the time when the tops of the sets begin to shoot up, as they grow on their beds; and then take away the sets, and plant them in another place, where the root afterward wil take, & so yeeld us a winter-rose. Likewise if we desire to have

Straw berries in the Winter or Spring,

as we have in the Summer, we must take them whiles they are white, before they are grown to their reddish hiew, and put them leaves and all into reeds or canes, stopping up the mouth thereof with some fat soil, and burying them in the earth till Winter come; and then if we would have them to be red of their own natural co∣lour, let them lie a while in the Sun, and we shall obtain our purpose. By the like device as this is, we may reserve

Lettice for a Winter sallet.

When she hath brought forth her leaves, that they grow up round together, you must bind the tops of them about with a little string, and keep them growing in an earthen vessel, in such a place as they may alwayes receive fit nourishment; and by this means you shall have them still white and tender. In like manner

Endive may be kept till Winter,

to have it still fresh for any use. Others take other courses that are less chargeable; as to cover them only with earth, or with straw and leaves. Gardeners with us co∣ver them in their Gardens with sand or such like earth, whereby they keep them very white and tender, and yet enjoy them all the Winter long.

CHAP. XI.

How we may cause fruit to grow bigger then their ordinary kinde.

IT remaineth now that we set down certain rules and wayes whereby fruit may be made greater, and far exceed the ordinary bigness of their own kind: and this may be effected divers wayes; for it may be done either by engraffing only (for indeed this is the chief priviledge that engraffing hath, to procure bigger fruit); or else by planting upon those Trees which bring forth greater fruit of their own kind; or else by gathering of the fruit here and there some, if the Tree be overladen, that so the juice may more plentifully bestow it self upon the fruit that is left behind; or else by dressing and trimming them; or by other devices, as hereafter shall be shewed. We will first begin with engraffing, and shew how we may procure thereby

That Apples or other like fruit shall grow bigger then they are wont.

A tree that is planted with a graffe of her own kinde, will alwayes bring forth greater fruit, then if it were not so planted. We brought an example hereof out of Pliny, that Corellius took a Scion of a Chestnut-tree, and engraffed the same into the tree again, and thereby produced a greater and a bet∣ter Chestnut. And for my own part; I have oft-times made the like proof in many other fruits, and by experience have found that all fruits may be made greater by engraffing, and caref•••• looking unto, but especially Citrons. Secondly, we may procure fruits to be greater then ordinary, by graf∣fing upon another Tree, whose kind is to bear bigger fruit. As for example, if we would produce

Pears that should be greater then ordinary,

especially the least sort of Pears called Myrapia, or Musk-pears, we may effect it by engraffing them into a Quince-tree; because the Quince tree, of all other, bears the greatest fruit: and thereby the least Pears that are may be so augmented, that they will become a very goodly fruit; experience whereof, we have in many places in our Country. So we may cause

The Medlar-tree to bear huge Medlars,

greater then any man would imagine, if we engraff it into the Quince-tree: the proof whereof both I have made my self, and seen it tried by many others; and the oftener we so engraff it, the greater Medlars we shall procure. Likewise

The small Apricock may be made greater,

whereas they are the smallest kinde of Peaches that are. I have oftentimes engraf∣fed it upon that kind of Damosin-tree which bears a Plum like a Goats stone both in shape and greatness, (it may be it is our Scag-tree) and by this means I procured great Apricocks: but if you ingraff it into any other Damosin-tree, it will yeeld but a bastard fruit: for the Apricock doth not endure kindly, to be engraffed into any other trees besides. In our Naples and Surrentine orchards, there is excellent fruit of this kinde; and I never saw any elsewhere. We may also

augment the fruit of the Myrtle-tree.

The Pomegranate-tree and the Myrtle-tree are each delighted with others compa∣ny, as Didy••••us writeth in his Georgicks; where he saith plainly, that the Pomegra∣nate-tree being engraffed into the Myrtle-tree, and likewise the Myrtle-tree into the Pomegranate-tree, do each of them bring forth a greater fruit. But I am per∣swaded that the Myrtle-tree brings forth greater fruit in proportion to her body when it is engraffed upon the Pomegranate-tree, because the kinde of this is greater then the kinde of that, then the Pomegranate-tree doth when it is engraffed upon the Myrtle-tree. By such a kinde of means we may also procure

Mulberries greater then ordinary,

if we engraff a Mulberry into a Fig-tree: for so Palladius hath written, That if the Mulberry be engraffed into a Fig-tree, the Fig-tree will cause it to change his colour, and will fill up the fruit thereof with a fat juyce, so that they shall be greater Mul∣berries then ordinarily their kinde is wont to yeeld. A third means whereby Ap∣ples or such-like fruit may be augmented, is, by plucking off some of the fruit here and there, and leaving some few upon the trees: for so shall the juyce of the tree be∣stow it self more liberally upon the fruit that is left, and make it greater: as a mother doth more bountifully feed one childe with her milk, then she can feed twain. Wherefore if we would procure

Citrons greater then their kinde,

Florentinus counselleth us, that when the fruit beginneth to weigh down the boughs, we should pluck off here and there some, and leave but a few behinde; so shall they that are left be thicker and bigger every way. P••ntanus also saith the same. If, saith he, you would have great Citrons, big enough to fill your hand, you must shake off a great many from all the boughs, onely leaving some few, (but you must leave both the greatest, and those also that grow in the chiefest and likeliest parts of the tree••) for, saith he, the heir which is left, will make himself merry and fat with his brothers milk, and thrive much the better. Palladius shews

How to make Apples greater then ordinary,

and it is by this same means. For when they hang thick upon the bough••, you must gather away the worst, that so the nourishing juyce may be converted to the best, and the fairest may thereby be the better augmented. There is yet another means whereby we may cause fruit to be the greater; and this by dressing and trimming, when we dig about them, and water them, and lay muck about them. And first, by this means

Citrons may be made greater:

for, as Palladius saith, they are much holpen and delighted with continual digging about them. And

Quince-pears may be augmented,

as the same Author sheweth, by watering them continually. And

Peaches may be augmented much,

if we plant them in moist places, and supply them with continual watering. But if you would have the Peach-trees

Bring forth very great ones,

you must watch the time when they blossom, and suckle them three days together with three pintes of Goats milk, as Palladius sheweth. We have practised to cause

The Pomegranate-tree to bear a mighty fruit;

and that by this means. We took a good portion of fat muck, whereunto we put an equal portion of Swines dung, and the lees of Wine and Barley-bran; and we kept all this in a dry place for a year together, every month manging them again one with another; and at last we put Vineger to it, and made it like an Ointment. Afterward in October and November, we digged away the earth from about some parts of the Pomegranate-tree-roots, and there wrapt in this Ointment round about them, and at length covered them again with earth; and by this Device I had greater Pome∣granates then ever the tree bare before. But now if you would go forward, and practise the same upon it the two next years following, questionless you might pro∣duce very huge Pomegranates, wonderful to be seen, as big as Gourds. Likewise we have caused

Beans to bring forth great cods,

by anointing them with this same ointment, and afterward sowing them in the earth: whereby we had great increase, both for the bigness of the Bean, and also of the cod. Also

Leeks and roots of Radish may be made greater;

if we translate them out of one place, and set them in another, as Theophrastus sheweth. If you would have

A Rape grow bigger and rounder,

you must sow it assoon as ever it is ready to be taken out of the husk: for by the ad∣vantage and benefit of the season wherein it is sowed, it will be the more augmented; because the root will thereby be the better filled, and the larger grown. Likewise Florentinus sheweth, how to make

Pease of a bigger growth.

If, saith he, you take Pease, and steep them in warm water the day before you sow them, they will grow the greater. Some men take more pains then needeth; who, because they would have a greater Pease growing, they steep them shells and all, and put Nitre into the water wherein they are steeped, and sow them in their shells.

Vitches may be made bigger,

if they be set with a little pole, to grow up thereby: for this will cause them to thicken, as Theophrastus saith. So also

Onions may be thickned,

as Sotion sheweth. About some twenty days before you translate them from the place where they first grew, you must dig away the earth about them, and let them lie a drying, that all moisture may be kept from them; and then plant them again, and they will grow much bigger. But if withal you pill of the top-skin, and so plant them, they will be far greater. Likewise we may cause

Artichocks to bear a fuller fruit,

as Varro sheweth. If you plant them in a well-soiled place, and cover them with old dung, and water them often in the summer-time, you shall by this means have a fuller and a more tender Artichock. We may also practise another Device whereby to make greater fruit, which Theophrastus hath set down; and he brings an Example, how to make

Pomegranates to grow greater then ordinary:

for Art may cause the greatness of Fruit. When the first buds be formed upon the boughs, they must be put into an earthen vessel that is made with a hole quite thorow; and the bough whereon they grow, must be swayed downward with∣out hurting it: then cover the pot with earth, and so you shall have exceeding great Pomegranates. The reason whereof is this: The pot preserves the fruit from the va∣pours that would otherwise annoy it: and besides, the earth ministreth some moi∣sture unto it; so that the bigness thereof is increased by the store of nourish∣ment. It receives no more help from the tree, then if it were out of the earth; and therefore the kernels are no greater then ordinary; but the pill is much

thicker: the proper juice of it is somewhat wasted and consumed; for which cause the taste of this fruit so handled, is waterish and worse then others: but the rine receives outward nourishment, and spends none; for which cause that is much thicker. The like practise Palladius and Martial use, thereby to procure

A great Citron.

They take a Citron when it is young, and shut it up fast in an earthen vessel: for the Citron will increase continually, till it come to be of the bigness and fashion of the vessel wherein it is put: but there must be a hole made thorow the vessel, whereby the air may get in unto it. By the like device, Theophrastus assays to produce

Cucumbers and Gourds greater then ordinary,

by hiding them while they are young, both from Sun and from Winde, that nothing may come at them to hinder their growth. Like to this Device, is the setting of them in Fennel-stalks, or in earthen Pipes; whereby the natural Juyce and Nou∣rishment is kept in, to the increasing of their growth. We will also shew, out of Theophrastus, a like Device, whereby the Herb

Alisander or Parsley may be made greater.

You must dig the Alisander round about the root, and cover it with Cachryl, and then heap earth upon it. For the roots spend all the moisture themselves, and suffer no nourishment to ascend into the buds. This Cachryl is hot and thick: and as by the thickness it draws nourishment to it, so by vertue of the heat it doth con∣coct and digest that which it hath attracted: and therefore seeing this doth both draw more nourishment to the Alisander, and also concoct it, there must needs be a greater augmentation of that herb. This practice he borrowed of Aristotle. This herb may also be made bigger by another means, namely, if when you plant it, you make a hole for it in the ground with a great stake: for the root will at length fill up the hole. So there is a means to make

A Radish-root grow bigger,

if it be planted in a cold ground, as Pliny sheweth. For Radishes are much cherish∣ed and delighted with cold; as in some cold places of Germany there be Radishes growing as big as a little childe. Some have reported, that if you drive a stake into the ground six inches deep, and put chaff into the pit which the stake hath made, and then put in the Radish-seed, covering it over with earth and muck, the Radish will grow up to the bigness of the pit. By a Device not much unlike to this, Florentinus sheweth how to

Make great Lettise.

You must remove them, and water them well; and when they are grown half a handful high, you must dig round about them, that the roots may be seen: then wrap them in Ox-dung, and cover them over again, and water them still; and when they are waxen bigger, cut the leaves cross with a sharp knife, and lay upon them a little barrel or tub that never was pitc••ed, (for Pitch will hurt the herb) that so it may grow not in height, but onely spread forth in breadth. So the herb

Beet may be made greater,

as Sotion sheweth. To make Beet grow in bigness, saith he, thou must cover the roots over with some fresh Ox-dung, and divide the leaves or buds, and lay a broad stone or a tyle upon it, to cause it to spread forth in bredth. You may also make

Leeks greater,

by removing them, and laying a great stone or a broad tyle upon them: but in no case must they be watered. By the very same Device, Anatolius sheweth how to make

Garlick greater,

by laying tyles upon the roots thereof, as upon Leeks. Theophrastus sheweth ano∣ther kinde of Device, whereby to make

Radishes greater;

and he saith that the Gardeners of his time were wont to practise it. They took away the leaves in the Winter-time, when they flourish most, and cast the Radishes into the ground, covering them over with earth; and so they lasted and grew till Summer came again, never shooting forth either into buds or leaves, except it were where the earth was gone, that they lay uncovered. The like Experiment doth Pal∣ladius teach, concerning the Rape-root, whereby to make

Rape-roots greater.

Assoon as you have plucked them up, you must strip off all the leaves, and cut off the stalk about half an inch above the root: then make certain furrows for them in the ground, for every one of them a several furrow; and there bury them asunder, about eight inches deep: and when you have cast earth upon them, tread it in; and by that means you shall have great Rape-roots. By the like means, Theophrastus thinks, we may procure

The herb Wake-robbin to grow greater.

When it is most full of leaves, and when the leaves be at the broadest, we must bow them downward, winding them round about the root within the earth, that so the herb may not bud forth, but all the nourishment may be converted to the head of the herb. So may we make

Onions to grow bigger,

as Theophrastus supposeth, if we take away all the stalk, that the whole force of the nourishment may descend downwards; lest if it should be diffused, the chief vertue thereof should spend it self upon the seeding. Sotion saith, that if a man plant Oni∣ons, he must cut off both the tops and the tails thereof, that so they may grow to a greater bigness then ordinary. Palladius saith, that if we desire to have great-head∣ed Onions, we must cut off all the blade, that so the juyce may be forced down to the lower parts. In like manner, if we would have

Garlick-heads greater then common,

we must take all the greenish substance thereof, before it be bladed, and turn it downward, that so it may grow into the earth. There is yet another Device, whereby to make herbs and roots grow bigger then ordinary; but yet I like not so well of it, howsoever many ancient Writers have set it down: and first,

How to make Leeks grow greater.

Columella hath prescribed this course: you must take a great many Leek-seeds, and binde them together in thin linen clouts, and so cast them into the ground, and they will yeeld large and great leeks. Which thing Palladius also confirms by his authority, in the very same words. But both of them had it out of Theophrastus, who putteth it for a general Rule, That if a man sowe many seeds bound up toge∣ther in a linen cloth, it will cause both the root to be larger, and the buds to be larger also; and therefore in his time they were wont to sow Leeks, Parsly, and other herbs after the same manner: for they are of more force when there be many seeds together, all of them concurring into one nature. Moreover, it makes not a little to the enlarging of fruits, to take the seeds which we would sow, out of some certain part of the former fruit. As for example: we shall procure

A Gourd of a greater or larger growth,

if we take the seed out of the middle of a Gourd, and set it with the top down∣ward. This course Columella prescribes, in his Hortulus: Look, saith he, where the Gourd swells most, and is of the largest compass, thence, even out of the middle

thereof, you must take your seed, and that will yeeld you the largest fruit. And this is experienced not in Gourds onely, but also in all other fruits: for the seeds which grow in the bowels or belly, as it were, of any fruit, are commonly most perfect, and yeeld most perfect fruit; wheras the seeds that grow in the outward parts, produce for the most part weak & unperfect fruit. Likewise the grains that are in the middle of the ear, yeeld the best corn; whereas both the highest and the lowest are not so per∣fect: but because Gourds yeeld great increase, therefore the experience hereof is more evidently in them then in any other. Cucumbers will be of a great growth, as the Quintiles say, if the seeds be set with their heads downward; or else if you set a vessel full of water under them in the ground, that so the roots may be drench∣ed therein: for we have known them grow both sweeter and greater by this De∣vice.

CHAP. XII.

How to produce fruit that shall not have any stone or kernel in it.

IT is a received thing in Philosophy, especially amongst those that have set forth unto us the choicest and nicest points of Husbandry, that if you take Quicksets, or any branches that you would plant, and get out the pith of them with some ear∣picker, or any like instrument made of bone, they will yeeld fruit without any stone, and without any kernel: for it is the pith that both breedeth and nourisheth the substance of the kernel. But the Arcadians are of a quite contrary opinion: for, say they, every tree that hath any pith in it at all, will live; but if all the pith be taken out of it, it will be so far from yeelding any stoneless fruit, that it cannot chuse but die, and be quite dried up. The reason is, because the pith is the moistest and most lively part of any tree or plant: for the nourishment which the ground sends up into any plant, is conveyed especially by the pith into all the other parts: for Nature hath so ordained it, that all the parts draw their nourishment, as it were their soul and their breath, thorow the marrow or pith of the stock, as it were tho∣row a Squirt or Conduit-pipe. Which may appear by experience, seeing any bough or stalk, so soon as the marrow is gone, returns and crooks backward, till it be quite dried up, as the Ancients have shewed. But I for my part must needs hold both against Theophrastus, and against others also that have written of Husbandry, both that trees may live after their marrow is taken from them, and also that they will bring forth fruit having stones or kernels in them, though there be no pith in the trees themselves, as I have shewed more at large in my books of Husbandry. Not∣withstanding, lest I should omit any thing belonging to this argument, I have thought good here to set down the examples which those Ancients have delivered in writing, that every man that lists may make trial hereof; and haply some amongst the rest using greater diligence in the proof hereof then I did, may finde better success here∣in then I have found. There be many means, whereby Plants may be depri∣ved of kernels; as namely, by engraffing, by taking out their pith, by soiling with dung, or by watering, and by other Devices. We will first begin, as our wonted manner is, with engraffing; and will shew how to produce

A Peach-apple without a stone.

Palladius saith he learned this new kinde of engraffing of a certain Spaniard, which he saith also he had experienced in a Peach-tree. Take a Willow-bough about the thickness of a mans arm; but it must be very sound, and two yards long at the least: bore it thorow the middle, and carry it where a young Peach-tree grows: then strip off all the Peach-tree-sprigs all but the very top, and draw it thorow the hole of the Willow-bough: then stick both ends of the Willow into the ground, that it may stand bending like a bowe; and fill up the hole that you bored, with dirt and moss, & bind them in with thongs. About a year after, when the Peach-tree and the Willow are incorporated into each other, cut the plant beneath the joyning place, and remove it, and cover both the Willow-bough and the top of the plant also with

earth; and by this means you shall procure Peaches without stones. But this must be done in moist and waterish places; and besides, the Willow must be relieved with continual watering, that so the nature of the wood may be cherished, (as it delights in moisture) and it may also minister abundant juyce to the plant that is engraffed in it. By the like experiment we may procure, as Avicenna shews, that

A Citron shall grow without any seed in it:

for, saith he, if we engraff it into a Quince-tree, it will yeeld such a fruit. Albertus promiseth to produce

A Medlar without any stones,

by engraffing it into an Apple-tree, or a Service-tree. But experience proves this to be false; yet surely, if it be so engraffed, it will have a softer kernel a great deal. The reason which brought the Ancients to think and write thus, was this: They saw that such fruits as have in them the hardest stones, do grow upon such trees as have in them the hardest pith; as the Dog-tree, the Olive-tree, the Damosin-tree, the Myrtle-tree, and the like: they saw also, that such trees as have a soft and a spungie kind of pith in them, as the Fig-tree, the Alder-tree, and such-like, bring forth fruit without any stones in them at all: and from hence they gathered and concluded, that it is the pith which nourishes the kernel. Which thing howsoever it hath some little shadow of truth in it, yet they should not have extended it generally to all plants, seeing experience proves it to fail very often. Now let us come to the se∣cond means whereby fruit may be prevented of their kernels; and this is by taking forth the pith or marrow. As for example: if you would procure the growing of

A Grape without any stone in it,

Democritus counselleth you to take a branch or twig of a Vine, and cleave it just in the middle, and either with a stone, or some instrument made of bone, fetch out all the pith, in that part which you will plant within the earth, or at least as far as you can hollow it without spoil: then presently bind up the parts together again with pa∣per stiffly and tightly wrapped about them, and make a trench for them in some moist and very fertile soil, where you must plant them in one, and fasten it to some sure prop, that it may not be wreathed nor bowed; so will they soon grow up together into one, as they were before: but it would be much better, if you would put the clove or head of a Sea-onion into that part which you have robbed of the pith: for this is as good as glue to fasten them together; and the moisture hereof will keep them supple, as also the heat hereof will cherish them much. Theophrastus saith, that you may procure Grapes without any stones in them, if you rob the Vine-branch of the pith that is in it, whereof the stones are wont to be gendred. And Columella saith, that if you would have Grapes without stones, you must cleave the Vine-branch, and take out all the pith; but so, that the buds be not hurt thereby: then joyn it together, and binde it up again, so that you crush not the buds; and so plant it in a well-soiled ground, and there water it often: and when it beginneth to shoot up into slips, you must dig deep about it oftentimes; and when it cometh to bear, it will yeeld you Grapes with our any stones. Palladius saith, there is a goodly kinde of Grape which hath no kernels in it, so that it may be swallowed down easily, and that with no small pleasantness, as if it were many Grapes stoned and supped up to∣gether. The manner of the procuring it is, as the Greeks record, by Art assisted with Nature, on this wise: The set which we would plant, must be cleft in the midst, so far as we mean to set it within the ground; and when we have picked and clean scraped out all the pith of those parts, we must close them togethe•• again; and when we have bound them hard up, set them in the earth: but the bond wherewith they are tied up, must be made of Paper or Parchment; and the ground where they are set, must be a moist place. Some go to work more precisely, and put the plant so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and made up again, into a Sea-onion, so far as the plant was cloven: for by the help thereof, all plants do sooner and easier take root. Pliny likewise saith, there is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 new••invented kinde of Grapes, when the Vine-branch that is to he planted, is

cloven in the middle, and all the pith scraped out, and the pieces knit up together again, with a special care that the buds receive no harm any way: then they set the Vine-branch in a well-soiled ground; and when it beginneth to shoot forth, they pru••e it, and dig often about it: the Grapes which it afterwards bears, will have no hard kernels in them, as Columella writes; howbeit, it is great marvel that there can be in them any kernels at all, though never so soft, seeing all the pith, which is the mother of the kernel, is quite taken away. But surely I for my part marvel at those who think it strange that a tree should live when this pith is gone, & are per∣swaded that a Vine-branch can bear fruit without kernels when the pith is taken out of it; seeing many men in the Country are eye-witnesses that there do many plants live without any pith in them; and seeing also it is impossible almost that any tree should bear fruit without kernels, because the kernel carries it self the very seed whereby one fruit may be generated of another. Likewise you may procure, as Democritus also sheweth,

Pomegranates and Cherries without any stones;

if in like manner you pick out the pith of the young plants that you set. And Afri∣canus saith, If you deal with these as with Vine-branches, plucking out the pith af∣ter you have cleft them, and then plant them; and after a while cut off the upper parts of the plants when they have budded forth, then the Pomegranate set, will yield fruit without any kernels. Palladius borrows this same experiment of Africa∣nus, and sets it down word by word as he doth. Likewise that

A Cherry-tree may bring forth fruit without any stone within;

Martial sheweth more distinctly. Cut off a young plant about two foot long, and cleave it as it stands in the ground, down to the root, and then fetch out the pith on both sides, and presently tie them up again fast, and cover the whole cleft both on the top, and on both sides, with muck; so shall they grow fast together again in one year: then engraffe some young sprigs of a Cherry-tree, such as never bare any fruit before into this stock, and by this means you shall procure Cherries with∣out any stones at all. Others, that they might accomplish their purpose more spee∣dily, did not cleave such tender young Cherry-trees, but bored a great hole tho∣rough Trees of good growth, so that it might pierce the whole pith, and cross it in the middle of the Tree; then they put a stake or a wedge into it, which might stop the passage of the pith, that none might be ministred into the upper parts. In like manner Africanus teacheth how to procure

A Peach without any stone.

You must, saith he, bore a hole beneath through the body of the Tree, and having so cut off the pith from passing upward, you must fill up the hole with a stake of Willow or Prick-wood; so shall you intercept the pith from ascending out of the root into the branches. Some Writers there are, which shew how to procure stone∣less fruit by diligence in dressing and trimming of plants. It is held for a rule in Husbandry, that soft, fat, and moist nourishment doth alter all wilde and unkindly fruit into that which is milder and more natural: It is a kind of mildeness in fruits, to have a little, soft and sweet kernel; as on the contrary, it is wildenesse to have a great and a hard kernel, for it cometh by reason of a kind of harsh and dry nou∣rishment that the earth sends up into them. Wherefore no doubt but we may pro∣cure the kernel of a fruit to be smaller and more tender, by diligence and skill in dressing them. To begin with a Vine:

How a Vine may bring forth grapes without a harsh and stony kernel.

At such time as Vines are pruned, you must take a fruitful sprig, somewhat neer the top as you can, and there, as it grows, you must pick out the pith at the highest end, never cleaving it, but hollowing it with some fit instrument as well as you can, and there uphold it with a prop that it bow not down: then take some Cyre∣nian juice, as the Greeks call it, and pour it into the place that is hollow; but first

you must steep this juice in water, to the thickness of sodden wine: and this you must do for eight dayes together every day once, till the vine-branch sprout forth again. Columella saith the very same; that the vine-branch as it grows upon the Vine must be cut, and the pith of it fetched out with some fit instrument, as well as you may, out of the top without the cleaving of the branch, but the branch be∣ing whole, and still growing on the Vine, you must put into it some Benjamin or Cyrenian juice steeped in water, as was shewed before, and set it upright with a prop, that the juice may not run forth; and this is to be done for eight dayes to∣gether. So if we would procure

A Myrtle without a kernel,

Theophrastus teacheth us how to do it. If you water the Myrtle-tree with hot wa∣ter, then, saith he, the fruit will be the better, and without any kernel. Some affirm, that this experiment was found out by chance: for whereas there stood neer to a Bath, a Myrtle-tree which no man regarded, the Commers by took off some of the fruit by chance, and found them without any kernels; then they car∣ried some home, and set them, and so this kind of fruit began first in Athens. Di∣dymus also saith, that if the Myrtle-tree be often watered with warm liquor, it will yeeld berries without any stones or kernels within. Theophrastus sheweth yet another way whereby this may be effected; take, saith he, the filth or shavings of skins, and put them in Urine, and so lay them about the root of the Myrtle-tree at such time as the buds begin to shew themselves, and so shall you have berries that have either none at all, or else very small kernels in them. Likewise the Pome∣granate may be produced without any kernels within it, if you lay good store of Swines-dung about the root of the Pomegranate-tree.

CHAP. XIII.

How fruit may be produced without any outward rines or shels.

THe very same helps and devices which we prescribed for the producing of fruits without their inner kernel, we may likewise use in the practice of producing Nuts, & such like fruits as are wont to grow in shells and rines, that they may grow naked as it were without any shel at all. And first this may be effected by taking away the pith out of the plants that bear them so.

A Nut without a shell,

may be produced, as Damageron teacheth. If you bore a hole quite thorough the Nut-tree, and put into it a stake of Elm to fill it up, you shall thereby stop the pith from ascending into the upper parts▪ and so no shells can grow because it is the pith only that causeth them. Palladius counselleth you to bore the hole through the root, and stop it up with a stake of box, or some wedge made of iron, or of cop∣per. But Theophrastus sheweth, how to procure

Almonds and Chest-nuts with a soft shell,

and this is by skill in dressing the Trees. If you would soften and alter the fruit, we must apply the root with Swins-dung: for this is a very forcible worker; likewise often digging will cause both the plants to prosper better, and the fruit to become better also: for the kernels will be smaller, in such fruit as have any stones in them; and such fruit as grow in shells or rines, as Almonds, and Chest-nuts, will have the softer shell without, and the larger kernel within: for the grea∣ter store of nourishment there is applyed to the Tree, the moister it is, and the substance of the fruit is so much the more encreased. But Palla∣dius would perswade us, that if we rid away the earth from the rootes

of the Almond-tree some certain daies before it begin to blossom, and all that while apply them with warm water, we shall hereby procure the Almond-shels to be very tender. If we would procure

That kinde of Nut which is called Nux Tarentina,

the same author Damageron hath shewed us how to do it. Every Nut and Almond will yeeld a mild fruit with a tender shell, if we continually apply the body and root of the tree with pouring ashes upon them; and likewise all other kind of fruits that grow in any shell or rine, may be so wrought upon, and will suffer the like alteration by the like means practised upon them. If you would procure a Tarentine Nut, Palladius saith, you must water the Tree with Lye thrice a moneth throughout a whole year, and so you may obtain your purpose. Others effect such alterations by correcting the plants; as, by cutting off the tops of the roots. If the Nut be too hard shelled, you may also remedy it by cutting and paring off the bark of the Tree, as Damageron sheweth; for by this means you draw down that harsh and wilde humour: The reason whereof is, because the bark of the Tree answereth to the shell of the fruit, as the pith of the Tree answereth to the kernel of the fruit: and therefore, as to amend the inner kernel we abated the pith, so to soften or amend the utter shell or rine of the fruit, we must abate the ut∣ter bark of the Tree. A thing which we have observed by another like example: for a Peach being engraffed upon a bitter Almond-tree, the pill of the fruit thence growing was so bitter, that it could not be eaten till the pill were pared off. This secret may stead you in many other experiments of the like kind. But this kind of Nut which we now speak of, I have growing in my own Orchard, and it hath such a tender shell, and so thin, that as soon as ever it is but touched, the shell falls off, and the fruit is bare and naked. Florentinus assayed to produce

An Almond without a shell,

on this manner: He break the shell very charily, so that the kernel was kept whole; then he took wool, and sometimes green leaves of the Vine or of the Plane-tree, and wrapt about the kernel, lest if he should have set it without my covering about it, the Emots or such like vermine should have gnawn it. Columella sheweth another device whereby we may procure

A Filberd to become a Tarentine Nut.

When you have made your pit wherein you purpose to set your Nut, put into it a little earth, about half a foot deep, and there plant the feed of Fennel-gyant; and when the Fennel is come up, cleave it, and within the pith of it put your Filberd without any shell upon it, and so cover it all over with earth: this if you practise before the Calends of March, or betwixt the Nones and the Ides of March, you shall have your purpose. They prescribe likewise another device, whereby

Gourds may bring forth fruit without any seeds within them:

The Gourd, say they, will grow seedless, if you take the first branch or sprig of a Gourd when it is a little grown up, and bury it in the earth as they use to deal by Vines, so that onely the head thereof may appear; and so soon as it is grown up again, to bury it so again: but we must have a special care that the slips which grow up out of the stalk be cut away, and none but the stalk left behind; so shall the fruit that grows upon it, whether it be Gourds or Cucumbers, be destitute of all seed within. Likewise they will grow without seeds in them, if the seeds which are planted, be macerated or steeped in Sea-famine oyle, for the space of three dayes before they be sowed.

CHAP. XIIII.

How to procure fruits, to be of divers colours, such as are not naturally incident to their kinde.

NOw we will shew how to colour fruits: to the effecting whereof there have been divers means devised; as waterings, and engraffings which can never be sufficiently commended or spoken of, and other like practises. To begin with en∣graffing; If we would colour any fruit, we must engraffe it upon a plant that flou∣rishes with the same colour which we would borrow. As for example, If we would produce

Red Apples,

we must engraffe them upon a Plane-tree, and the fruit will be red, as Dio∣phanes, Didymus, and Palladius affirm. So we may procure that the fruit

Rhodacen shall grow red,

if we engraffe it upon a Plane-tree, as Africanus witnesseth. Of whom Palladius learned that the way to make Rhodacens look red, is to engraff them into a Plane-tree. If you would have

Citrons of a red scarlet-colour,

Avicenna shews you may effect it by engraffing them into a Pomegranate-tree; for we shewed before that such an engraffing may well be made. But if you would have

Citrons to be blood-red,

Florentinus sheweth that you may effect this by engraffing them into a Mul∣berry-tree; which experiment Deophanes approveth. Likewise he that desires to have

Red Pears,

must engraffe them into a Mulberry-tree; for by this means the Pears will grow red, as Tarentinus and Diophanes do witnesse. So also you may pro∣cure

A white Fig to become red,

by engraffing it upon a Mulberry-tree, as the same Diophanes witnesseth. By the same means

Apples may be of a blood-red colour,

if they be engraffed into a Mulberry-tree, as Avicenna sheweth. But Beritius and Diophanes write, that the Mulberry-tree it self, which makes all other Apple-fruit to become red, may be caused to bring forth

White Mulberries,

if it be engraffed into a white Poplar tree; for this will alter the colour of the fruit. But Palladius procures this effect by another means; not by engraffing the Mulber∣ry into a white Poplar, but into the Fig-tree; for this also will alter their colour, and cause

White Mulberries,

as he shews in his verses; wherein he saith, that the Fig-tree doth perswade Mul∣berries to change their own colour and to take hers; whereof I my self have seen the experience. Likewise, of

A white Vine may be made red Wine,

if we engraffe a white Vine into a black: for the stock into which it is engraffed, will alter the colour much, as I have seen by experience in hony-grapes, those which we call Greek-grapes; for the Vines which have been engraffed upon those Greek-Vines, have yeelded a blackish juice or wine; and the oftner such engraffing hath been made, the blacker juice was yeelded. In the places about the Hill Vesuvius the white-wine grape, which grows upon her own stalk that is engraffed into the Greek-vine yeelds a more high-coloured wine then others do. Another way to make

Apples grow red,

is by diligent and cunning dressing, even by applying them with hot and fat receipts; for there are two chief Elements or principles of colours; white, and black, or dark coloured; now by dressing them, and applying fat things unto them▪ we may pro∣cure every flower or fruit that is blackish, to become brighter and fresher colour∣ed; whereas on the other side, if they be neglected, that we do not bestow pains and care in trimming them, their colour will not be so lively, but degenerate into a whiterish hew; for all colours that begin to fade, wax somewhat whitish. Beritius therefore, endeavouring to make Apples grow red, watered them with Urine, and so obtained his purpose. But Didymus

To procure red Pomegranates,

watered the Tree with Bath-waters sodden into Lye, and some other water mixed therewith. But there is yet another device, whereby we may procure

Apples to grow red,

by opposing them directly to the greatest force of the Sun-beams; for this will make them red. Beritius, that ••e might cause the reflex of the Sun-beams to be more forcible upon the fruit, used this sleight. He fastened certain stakes into the ground, and weighing down the boughs that had fruit upon them, he bound them charily without hurting the fruit to those stakes; and neer thereunto he digged certain ditches filling them with water, or else would place some other vessels full of water neer the boughs; casting this in his conjecture, that surely the heat of the Sun lighting upon the water, would cause hot vapours, which being reflected toge∣ther with the heat of the Sun into the places neer adjoyning where the fruit hangs, and so reflected upon the fruit, would procure them to be of a reddish and a goodly colour. Beritius assayed to procure

Red Apples,

by another devise, by a secret kind of operation. Under the Tree he was wont to set Roses, which did lend their goodly hew to the Apples that grow upon the Tree above them. Democritus practised the like device not upon Apples, but upon Rho∣dacens, and made

Red Rhodacens,

by planting Roses underneath the Tree, round about the roots. Likewise we may colour fruit by colouring the seeds of them; for look what colour we procure in the seed, either by steeping it in some coloured liquor, or by any other means, the fruit will grow to be of the same colour which the seed is, when it is set or sown. As for example, we may colour

Peaches,

with Sanguinary or Vermillion; If we bury a Peach-stone in the ground, and take it up again seven dayes after (for in that time the stone will open of it self) and then put into it some Vermillion, and bury it in the earth again, and afterward look care∣fully unto it, we shall thereby procure Vermillion-peaches. And Dsmocritus is per∣swaded, that if we should put into it any other colour after the same manner, the Peach would be of that other colour. It is a thing commonly reported among us, and it is not unlike to be true, that

Peaches may be of a sanguine-colour,

by another means. You must take a Peach-stone, and put it into a Carrot that is then growing, and the stalk which grows of that stone in the Carrot, if it be care∣fully nourished and preserved, will bring forth Peaches of a sanguine colour. In like manner, If you would have

White kernels growing in a Pomegranate,

Palladius sheweth how to do it, by the authority of Martial. If you take chalk and white clay, and with them mingle a quarter so much plastering, and apply the Pome∣granate-tree roots with this kind of soilage or dunging, for the space of three whole years together, you shall obtain your purpose. Likewise, if you desire

Mellons of a Sanguine colour,

you must take Mellon-seeds, and steep them in sanguine liquor for three or four daies together before you set them, you may easily have your desire. Or else, if you open a little the skin of the seed, and put within it the juice of red Roses, Clove∣gilliflowers, and Black-berries that grow upon Brambles, or of any other like thing, so that it be not hurtful to the seed, you may effect your purpose. And I suppose that the sanguine-coloured Mellons which are seen in these Countries, are thus used, that they may be of this colour. Consequent upon these devices is that sleight whereby

A Peach may grow with any writing upon it.

The Greeks affirm, that a Peach may be made to grow with a writing upon it, if you take out the stone and bury it in the earth for seven dayes; and then when it begins to open, pluck out the kernel, and write in it what you will, with Vermil∣lion-juice: then binde up the kernel into the stone again, and set it so into the ground, and you shall have growing a written fruit. Now as the Sun doth colour the herbs that it may well come at, as we have shewed; so by keeping the force of the Sun away from them, we may whiten them; for so

A Lettice may be made white,

as Florentinus sheweth. If you would, saith he, procure goodly white Lettice, then must you bind together the tops of the leaves, two dayes before they be gathered; for so they will be fair and white. Likewise you may whiten them by casting sand upon them. And with us

Artichocks are made white,

by the very same means which we speak of. And if you would cause

Beets to become whiter then ordinary,

you must cover the roots over with Cow-dung, and as we spoke before concerning Leeks, so here you must cleave the bud, and lay a broad stone or a tile upon it, as Sotion sheweth. So Columella teacheth how to make

Endive to grow white,

when the leaves are shot forth, you must tie them about the tops with a small string, and cover them over with an earthen vessel set fast into the ground, and the herb will be white. Others are at less charges, and cover them over with some earth our Gardeners lay them in sand, and so make them very white. If you would procure

White Sperage,

you must put the slips as soon as ever they appear out of the earth, into a broken reed; and there let them grow for a while, and afterward when you take away the cane or reed, the Sperage will be whiter then ordinary.

CHAP. XV.

How the colour of Flowers may also be changed.

IN transforming and meddling the colours of flowers together, we may procure such strange medleys, as nothing can be more delightful to be seen. Those which are of a ••eep purple colour may be meddled with azure blue; those which are as white as milk, may be meddled either with a duskish hew, or with a green, or crimson, or some other compound colours; in the beholding whereof, the minde cannot chuse but be affected with great delight, and be ravished with admiration, and as it were quite overcome with the excellent beauty of them. Wherefore we will set down certain Rules, whereby we may be able to alter the colour of flowers, as we prescribed certain rules before, whereby we shewed how to alter the colour of fruits. And first we will shew, how by engraffing

Gilliflowers that are of themselves purple, or else white, may become azure blue,

You must cut off (somewhat neer the root) a stalk of Endive or Blue-bottle, or Bug∣loss, but the old wilde Endive is best for this purpose, and let it be grown to an inch in thickness; then cleave that in the middle which is left growing in the ground, and plant into it a Gilliflower new pluckt up out of the earth, root and all; then bind up the stalks or slips with some sl••ght bond, and lay good store of earth and dung round about it: so shall it yield you a flower, that is somewhat blu∣ish, of a most delightful colour to behold. This, many of my friends will needs perswade me, though for my own part, I have often made trial of it, and yet never could see it effected. But this I have seen, that a white Gilliflower slip being en∣graffed into a red Carrot made hollow for the same purpose, and so buried in the earth, hath yeelded a Sea-coloured flower. Likewise you may procure the white Gilliflower to be of a skarlet-colour, if after the same manner you engraffe it into the root of Orchanet: by which means also you may turn a purple Gilliflower into a skarlet. If you would have

A Rose, as also the flower Jasmine to be of a yellow-colour,

you may procure it by engraffing either of them into a broom-stalk: for of all o∣ther, the broom-flower is most yellow: and though we cannot do it so well, by clapping the leaf or the bud of the one upon the leaf or bud of the other, yet it may be effected by boring into the stalk after this manner. You must set a Rose or a Jasmine neer to the broom, and when they are somewhat grown, take them up to∣gether with the earth that is about them; (for they will prove better when they are set again, with their own earth which is about them, being as it were their mother, then with any other earth that shall be as it were their step mother,) then bore a passage into the broom-stalk, and when you have cleansed the passage, prune the rose-stalk and plant it into the broom: and there cover them with ••oam where the engraffing was made, and so bind it up. Afterward when the set is grown into the stock, you must cut off all the head somewhat above the engraf∣fing place; so shall you have a Rose or a Jasmine there growing, of a lovely yellow∣ish colour. Which kind of flowers are very usual with us, and this their borrow∣ed colour is so orient and bright, that the eye is scarce able to endure the brightness thereof. There is another means also whereby we may colour flowers, and that is by pouring some colouring into the roots. If you would have

Lillies to be red,

we will shew how to do it, as Florentinus hath shewed us. Take a Lillie-clove or head, and when you have opened it well, pour into it some Sinoper, or any other colouring, and the Lillie-flower that grows out of the clove so dressed, will be of the same colour. But you must be very careful that you hurt not the clove or head, when you so open it; and besides, you must be sure to cover it with fat and well-soiled earth. By the like means you may procure

Lilly-flowers of a purple colour.

The manner whereof, Anatolius sheweth to be this. You must take ten or twelve Lilly-stalks, about such time as they be ready to yeeld flowers, bind them all to∣gether and hang them up in the smoak: then will there spring out of them some small roots, like unto a Scallion. Therefore when the time of the year serves to set them, you must steep the stalks in the Lees of red Wine, till you see they be throughly stained with that colour: then you must take them asunder, and set every one of them by it self, watering them still with the same Lees; and so you shall have Lillies that bear a purple flower. Cassianus attempted by the very like means

To produce white Ivy:

He steeped it in white Marle, and covered the roots of it with the same morter for eight dayes together, and it brought forth white berries. We may effect the like matters by careful manuring and dressing of fruits; for if we apply them with fat and fertile muck, the flowers will be a great deal the better coloured, and may be made blackish; as we have often proved in Clove-gilliflowers, which we have procured to be so deep coloured, that they have been even black. And on the contrary

Roses, Clove-gilliflowers, and Violets will wax of a whiterish colour,

if they be not carefully lookt unto, that either you do not water them well, nor transplant them, nor dig about them, nor feed them with muck; for by this means Theophrastus writeth, not only these kinds of flowers, but almost all other, that grow in Woods and Forrests unregarded, do become whiterish. But Didymus hath devised another kind of sleight divers from these, whereby to make Roses and Clove-gilliflowers to become white very suddenly; and this is, by smoaking and perfuming them with brimstone about the time that they begin to open.

CHAP. XVI.

How fruits and Flowers may be made to yeeld a better savour then ordinary.

AS it is pretty and delightsome to see fruits and flowers wear a counterfeit co∣lour; so it is worth our labour to procure in them a more fragrant smell, then their ordinary kind is wont to afford: which thing we may effect by divers wayes, by planting, by watering, and by other devices. And for example sake, we will first shew, how to make

Limons to become very odoriferous.

If we take that least kind of Limons which is called Limoncellum picciolu••, and engraff into a Citron-tree, the stock will inspire the fruit with a very goodly smell; and the oftner that you so engraffe it, the sweeter smell it will afford, as by daily experience we have tried in our Naples Gardens. So also we may procure

Very odoriferous Pears,

by engraffing them upon a Quince-tree, for the ••tock thereof will lend the fruit a grateful savour. Diophanes avoucheth, that

Apples may be made more odoriferous,

if they be engraffed into a Quince-tree; and that hereby are procured those good∣ly Apples which the Athenians call Melimela. And I suppose that the Apple cal∣led Appium malum, was produced by the often engraffing of an Apple into a Quince-tree: for the smell of it is somewhat like a Quince; and it is not unlike that Appius Claudius found it out, and first procured it by the same means. Likewise we have with us great red Apples, and some of them of a m••rry colour, which

yield the same smell; and questionless could never be produced but by the same means. So we have procured

The Centifole Rose to be more odoriferous.

If you would do so too, you must engraffe it into that kind of Rose, which, by reason of the sweet smell of Musk that it carries with it, is called Moschatula; but you must oftentimes reiterate the engraffing of it again and again: so shall it be more beautiful, and fuller of leaves, and smell sweeter. But it is best to engraffe it by Inoculation, by clapping the bud of the one upon the bud of the other; for so it will take soonest, and prove best. By a sleight not much unlike to this we may procure

Vines to smell of sweet ointments,

as Paxamus sheweth. If you would have the Vine to smell sweetly, and the place where it groweth, you must take the branches and cleave them, and pour in sweet ointments into them when you are about to plant them. But your labour will take the better effect, if you first steep the branches in sweet oyle, and then plant or engraffe them. I have practised an easier and slighter way, besmearing the bran∣ches that are to be engraffed, with Musk, or else steeping them in Rose-water, if the Musk did not stay upon them. So also we could make

Limons to be as odoriferous as Cinnamon,

by taking the sprigs that are to be planted, and besmearing them with oyle or the water of Cinnamon, and dressing them with much industry and diligence: And this kind of Limons is usual amongst us; and is termed by the common-people Limon∣cellum incancellatum. There is also another device whereby fruits may be made odo∣riferous, and to smell of Spices; and this is, by taking the seeds of them, and steep∣ing them in sweet water before they be sowed. As for example: If we would procure

Odoriferous Artichocks,

Cassianus hath declared out of Varro, the manner how to effect it. You must take Artichock-seeds, and steep them for the space of three dayes in the juice of Roses, or Lillies, or Bayes, or some other like, and so to set them in the ground. Also you may make Artichocks smell like Bayes, if you take a Bay-berry, and make a hole in it, and put therein your Artichock-seed, and so plant it. Palladius records out of the same Author, that if you steep Artichock-seeds for three dayes together in the oyle of Bayes, or Spikenard, or Balme-gum, or the juice of Roses, or of Ma∣stick, and afterward set them when they are dry, that then the Artichocks that grow out of those seeds, will yeeld the smell and savour of that which the seeds were be∣fore steeped in. Florentinus makes

Mellons of the fragrant smell of Roses,

after this manner▪ by taking Mellon-seeds, and laying them up amongst dry Roses, and so planting them one amongst another. I have procured Mellons to smell like Musk, by opening that part whereby the seed sprouts out, and steeping them in Rose-water wherein some Musk was distilled also, and so planting them after two dayes steeping. So we have procured

Odoriferous Lettice,

by taking the seed of Lettice, and putting it into the seed of a Citron, and so plan∣ting it. After the same manner, you may learn to make

Flowers grow that shall smell of Cloves;

if you take the seeds of those flowers, and lay them in Clove-powder, or the oyle of Cloves, or Clove-water distilled, and so set them: for by this means, the flowers will entertain the smell and savour of the Cloves. And this I take it, was the cun-ning

the cunning sleight whereby our ordinary Clove-gilliflowers were first produced; for questionlesse Gilliflowers do grow everywhere of themselves without any such pleasant smell; and besides, they are of a smaller assize, and of their own kinde somewhat wilde. But it should seem, that Gardeners did by their industry and trimming, bestow the smell of Cloves upon them, by steeping their seeds in Clove-water, or by suppling them with the oyle of Cloves, or else by sticking Cloves in the roots of them, and so planting them. We may adde to these sleights another device,

How to make Garlick grow that shall not smell rankly and unsavourily.

Sotion hath taught us the way. If, saith he, you do set Garlick, and pluck it up again, both, when the Moon is underneath the earth, it will not have any bad savour. And Theophrastus hath taught us a means

How we may procure Roses to yield a more odoriferous smell,

namely, if you take Garlick, and plant it neer your Roses.

CHAP. XVII.

How to procure fruits to be sweeter and pleasanter for taste.

THere are some trees, which cannot away with any scar, but if you cut their stock never so little, or make any other scar in them, presently the Air and the extrin∣secal heat get in, and so the Trees perish; for the corruption will fall downward to the root, and so make the Trees presently to wither and fade away. Now there are other Trees, which will abide not only a scar, but also to have their stock cleft, and to be bored into; yea, and by this means too, they will bear fruit more plen∣tifully; as doth the Pomegranate-tree, the Almond-tree, and the Apple-tree; of all which there is very great use. The reason hereof is this: Their nature and kinde is, to receive so much nourishment as is sufficient for them, and to void away hurtful and superfluous humours: for as those living creatures which sweat most, or have some other issue in their bodies, are most healthful and wont to live longest; so when these Trees have a cut or a scar in them whereby they sweat out, as it were, their hurtful and superfluous moisture, they do more easily digest that moisture which is left behind within them; and the better that the moisture is digested, the sweeter and pleasanter is their juice. And besides, they will live, if the parts have any continuation at all, though it be never so little, only if they may but hang together: and therefore they will easily defend themselves from any harm that may happen unto them by the cutting or mangling of any of their parts. We will shew how to procure fruits that shall be sweter in taste then ordinarily their kind is wont to afford, first by engraffing, secondly by boring or cutting, and last of all by other means. And first, by engraffing we may procure

Cherries that shall have in them the relish of Bayes,

For as we have shewed before, engraffing may amend those defects that are in plants and endue them with better qualities: so that if you have any fruit that is loath∣some, because it is too sweet, do but engraffe it into a bitter Tree, and there will be such a medley, that your fruit shall have a very savoury relish. Pliny saith, that if you engraffe a Cherry upon a Bay-tree, you shall have Cherries thence growing, that will have the smatch of the Bay. Palladius saith the same, engraffe a Cherry upon a Bay-tree, and the fruit that grows thence, will have the relish of the Bay. In my time, there have been seen certain Cherries in Naples, which they called Bay-cherries, somewhat bitter, but yet pleasant withal; a most excellent kinde of fruit, far better then any other cherries, of a very large assize, full of juice, of a very sanguine colour, that have a bitter-sweet taste, so that they are neither loathsome for their overmuch sweetnesse, nor yet to be refused for their overmuch bitterness. So likewise may be procured

Sweeter Apples by engraffing them into a Quince

For if you do engraffe an Apple into a Quince, the Apple will have a relish like honey: which kinde of fruit the Athenians do therefore call Melimela, because they taste like honey, as Diophanes sheweth. Now we will shew also, how by hus∣bandry and skilful dressing, fruits may be made sweeter in taste; namely, by pier∣cing or boring the stock, or scarrifying it round about, or by some other chastise∣ments, as the Husband-men are wont to call them; for by these means, the trees may purge themselves of their superfluous moisture, and so they will bear the swee∣ter fruit. As for example: If you would learn,

How to procure the Almond-tree to yield fruit without any bitterness.

Aristotle hath taught you the way. You must knock a great nail into the body of the Almond-tree, that the gum of the Tree, which causeth the bitternesse of the fruit, may drop out by that passage. And this is such a sleight that hereby you may tame, as it were, wilde Trees, and alter their nature into a milder kind. Theophrastus saith, that if you dig round about the stock of the Almond-tree, and bore thorough it about nine inches above the ground, the gum will thereby drop out, and so the fruit will become the sweeter by that chastisement. If you cut off a bough, or an arm of it, so that the gum may have egresse that way, and if you wipe away the gum still as it cometh forth, and observe this for two or three years together, you may by this means alter a bitter Almond-tree into a sweet one. For the bitternesse proceeds from no other cause, but onely from the superfluity of nourishment and moisture, which is abated by boring into the stock: and when once that which is superfluous is evacuated, then that which is left, is more easily concocted, and so the tree becomes fertile in bringing forth a sweeter and a better fruit. Africanus likewise affirmeth, that if you dig about the stock of a bitter Almond-tree, and make a hole into it some four inches above the root, whereby it may sweat out the hurtful moisture, it will become sweet. Pliny saith the same; If you dig round a∣bout the stock, saith he, and bore thorough the lower part of it, and wipe away the humour which there issueth forth, a bitter Almond-tree will become sweet. Some there are, who after they have made that hole, do presently put honey into it, that it may not be quite empty; for they are of opinion, that the relish of the ho∣ney is conveyed up into the fruit, through the pith, as thorough a Conduit-pipe. As for example sake; If we would procure

Sweet Citrons;

(for that kind of fruit was not wont to be eaten in Theophrastus time, nor in Athenae∣us time, as himself reports, nor yet in Plinies time:) Palladius hath shewed, how to alter the bitter pith of a Citron-tree into sweet. His words are these. It is re∣ported that the bitter pithes of Citrons may be made sweet, if you take the Citron-seeds, and steep them in honey-water, or else in Ewes milk, (for this is better) for the space of three dayes before you set them. Some do bore a hole sloaping into the body of a Tree, but not quite thorough it; by which passage the bitter humour drops away: This hole they make in it the about February, and leave it so, till the fruit is fashioned; but after the fruit is fashioned, then they fill up the hole with morter; and by this device the pith is made sweet. This hath Pontanu•• set down in his book called, The Gardens of Hesperides. What is it, saith he, that Art will not search into? Cut a thick Vine, and make it hollow on the the top, about thy hand breadth; but so, that the brims of the hole be brought round and something close together, so that the sides be about an inch thick and no more. Pour into it and fill it up with liquefied honey, and cover it with a broad stone that the Sun may not come at it. And when the Vine hath drunk in all that, then fill it up again with the like: and when that is soaked in too, then open the concavity wider, and let the Vine grow: but you must continually water the tender roots thereof with mans water: and you must be sure that you leave no buds or leaves upon the stock, that so there may be no other moi∣sture let into it, but the whole Vine may grow up as it were in a spring of honey. Palladius shews also

How to make sweet Almonds of bitter ones,

even by boring a hole in the middle of the stock, and putting into it a woodden wedge besmeared over with honey.

Sweet Cucumbers

may be procured, by steeping Cucumber seeds in sweet waters, till they have drunk them up: for they being planted, will produce sweet Cucumbers. Theophrastus shews how to make sweet Cucumbers, even by the same sleight; by steeping their seed in milk, or else in water and honey sodden together, and so planting them. Columella saith, that a Cucumber will eat very tender and sweet, if you steep the seed thereof in milk before you set it. Others, because they would have the Cucum∣ber to be the sweeter, do steep the seed thereof in honey-water. Pliny and Palla∣dius do write the same things of the same fruit, out of the same Authors. Cassianus hath declared out of Varro, how to procure

Sweet Artichocks growing.

You must take the Artichock-seeds, and steep them in milk and honey, and after you have dryed them again, then set them, and the fruit will relish of honey. So you may procure

Sweet Fennel growing,

For if you steep Fennel-seeds in sweet wine and milk, then will the fruit that grows of those seeds, be much sweeter. Or else if you put the seeds thereof in dry figs, and so plant them, the like effect will follow. So you may procure

Sweet Melons,

as Palladius shews; even by steeping the seeds thereof in milk and sweet wine for three dayes together: for then if you dry them, and set them being so dryed, there will grow up a very sweet fruit. Likewise you may procure

Sweet Lettice;

for if you water them in the evening with new sweet wine, and let them drink for three evenings together as much of that liquor as they will soak up, it will cause sweet Lettice, as Aristoxenus the Cyrenian hath taught out of Athenaeus. So

A sweet Radish may be procured,

by steeping the Radish-seeds for a day and a night in honey, or in sodden wine, as both Palladius and Florentinus have recorded. So you may procure the same, by steeping the seeds in new sweet wine, or else in the juice of Raisons. There is also another device, whereby to make sharp or bitter fruits to become sweet; and this is by art and cunning in dressing them; as, by pouring hot water, or the Lees of oile, or casting soil and such like about their roots. As for example: when we would make

A bitter Almond to become sweet,

we cast some sharp piercing matter upon the root, that by vertue of their heat, the Tree may the more easily concoct her moisture, and so yield a sweeter fruit. Theo∣phrastus saith, that if we apply hot and strong soil, as Swines-dung, or such like, to the root of the bitter Almond-tree, it will become sweet: but it will be three years before the Tree be so changed, and for all that time you must use the same husbanding of it. Africanus saith; If you uncover the roots, and apply them still with Urine, or with Swines dung, then will the fruit be the sweeter. The Quintils report of Aristotle, that, by covering the Almond-tree root with Swines-dung, in March, of a bitter one it becometh sweet. And Palladius useth the very same pra∣ctise. By the same device

Sharp and sowre Pomgranate-trees may be made to bring forth a sweet Pomegranate:

for these also may be changed from sharp and sowre into sweet. Aristotle shews in his book of plants, that Pomegranate-trees, if their roots be applyed with Swins-dung, and watered with soom cool sweet liquor, the fruit will be the better and the sweeter. Theophrastus saith, that the roots of a Pomegranate-tree must be ap∣plyed with Urine, or with the offals and refuse of hides, yet not in too great a quantity: for the roots of this kind of Tree have need of some sharp matter to knaw upon them, and most of all, every third year, as we said before of the Al∣mond-tree; but indeed the Pomegranate-roots are more durable. The reason is, because of a kind of softnesse in the roots, which is peculiar unto them alone. Now Swines-dung, saith he, or somewhat that is of the like operation, being cast upon the roots, doth sweeten the juice of the Tree: as also if you pour on good store of cold water, it will work some kind of change thereof. Paxamus prescribes this course, to dig round about the root of the Tree, and to lay Swins-dung upon it, and then when you have cast earth upon that, water it with mans Urine. Columella saith; If you have a Pomegranate-tree that bears a sharp and a sowre fruit, this is your way to amend it: You must cover the roots with Swins-dung and mans ordure, and water them with mans Urine that hath stood long in some vessel; and so it will yield you for the first years a fruit that tastes somewhat like wine, and afterward a sweet and pleasant Pomegranate. Pliny reporteth the very same thing out of the very same Authors. Anatolius shews

How to make an Apple-tree become sweeter;

and that is, by watering it continually with Urine, which is a thing very comfor∣table to an Apple-tree. Some do use Goats-dung and the Lees or dregs of old wine, applying them to the roots of the Apple-tree, and thereby cause it to bear a swee∣ter fruit. Theophrastus saith; If you water an Apple-tree with warm water in the Spring time, i•• will become better. The like applications being used to Herbs, will make them sweeter also. As for example sake; we may procure

Sweet Endive.

There be many things, which being watered with salt liquors, do forsake their bit∣ternesse, and become sweet. Of which sort Endive is one: and therefore if we would have sweet Endive, Theophrastus willeth us, to water it with some salt li∣quor, or else to set it in some salt places. The like practise will procure

Sweet Coleworts.

And therefore the Aegyptians do mix water and Nitre together, and sprinkle it up∣on Coleworts, that they may be sweet: And hence it is that the best Coleworts are they which are planted in salt grounds: for the saltnesse, either of the ground where it is set, or of the liquor wherewith it is watered, doth abate and take a∣way the tartnesse and natural saltnesse of the Coleworts. In like manner, if you would procure

Sweet Betony,

Theoph••astus counselleth you to water them with salt liquor, and so they will be bet∣ter. Which very same things Pliny reporteth out of the same Author. Likewise you may procure

Sweet Rochet,

such as will yeeld leaves that shall be more toothsome, if you water it with salt li∣quor. There is another sleight in husbanding of Pot-herbs, whereby they may be produced fitter to be eaten; and this is by cropping the stalks of them,

Basil will grow the sweeter,

if you crop the stalk of it: for at the second springing, the stalk will be sweeter

and pleasanter; a most evident reason whereof is assigned by Theophrastus. So

Lettice will be the sweeter

at the second springing. Theophrastus saith, that the sweetest Lettice springs up after the cropping of the first tops; for the first tops of their first springing, are full of a milky kind of juice, which is not so pleasant, because that it is not throughly con∣cocted; but they which grow at the second springing, if you take them when they are young and tender, will be far sweeter. He shews also, how

Leeks may be made sweeter;

by cropping them once or twice, and afterward let them grow: the cause whereof he hath assigned in his book of causes, namely, that their first shooting up is the weakest and the most unperfect. The like is to be thought and practised in other Pot-herbs: for the cropping or cutting off, doth make the second sprouts to be the swee∣ter, almost in all herbs. There are also divers other sleights in husbanding and dres∣sing of such Pot-herbs, whereby they may be made sweeter to be eaten. As for example,

Garlick may be made sweeter,

for Sotion is perswaded, that, if you break the Cloves of Garlick before you set them, or else supple them with the Lees of oyle, when you do set them, they will gather and yield a far sweeter relish. By another sleight far differing from this,

Onions may be made sweeter;

for we must consider, that divers things do exercise a mutual discord or agreement & concord of natures toward each other; whereby they either help one another, if their natures agree; or, if their natures dissent, they hurt and destroy one another. Nuts and Onions have a sympathy or agreement of nature; and therefore if you lay up Nuts amongst Onions, the Onions will cause the Nuts to last the longer: in liew of which kindness, Nuts do gratifie Onions with another good turn, for they ease the Onions of their sharpnesse, as Palladius hath observed.

CHAP. XVIII.

How fruits that are in their growing, may be made to receive and resemble all figures and impressions whatsoever.

MAny things do fall out by chance, and hap-hazard, as they say, which an in∣genious man lighting upon, doth by his great industry, and often experiments that he makes of them, turn and apply to very good use. Whence it is that the Poet saith, manifold experience, and much labour and practice, sets a broach to the world many new arts and rare devices. And because the most part are not acquainted with the cause of such things, thence it is, that they are esteemed to be miraculous, and to come to passe besides Natures rule. We have oftentimes seen in Citrons, di∣vers kinds of stamps and impressions, which were made there by chance; as by the hitting of some carved matter, or any stick, or such like, which hath caused the same impressions: whence, the wit of man hath devised to cause divers kinds of fruits, to grow up with divers kinds of figures on them. If you take an earthen vessel, and put-into it an apple that is very young, as it hangs upon the Tree growing, the Apple will grow to fill up his earthen case, and will be of any form whatsoever you would de∣sire, if you make the case accordingly. Also if you pown any colours and bray them together, and dispose of them in places convenient on the fruit, on the inside of the case, the fruits will wear and expresse the same colours, as if they were natu∣ral unto them. Whence it cometh to passe, that oftentimes the yellow Quince is made to grow like a mans head, having in it the lively resemblance of white teeth, purple cheeks, black eyes, and in all points expressing the form and colour of a

mans head, without any greenesse at all, which is the natural colour of that fruit whiles it is in growing. And this is the sleight that Africanus prescribes, whereby

A Citron may be made to grow in the likenesse of a mans head, or the head of an horse, or any other living Creature.

You must take some Potters clay, or soft morter, and fashion it to the bignesse of a Citron that is at his full growth: but you must cleave it round about with a sharp instrument, so that the fruit may be taken out of it handsomly; and yet in the mean space the sides of the case must be so closely and firmly joyned together, that the fruit growing on, may not break it open. If the counterfeit or case which you make, be of wood, then you must first make it hollow within; if it be of clay, you may clap it on, as it is, so that it be somewhat dry. But then when the fruit comes to be of a greater and stronger growth, you must prepare earthen vessels made for the purpose, with a hole in them at the lower end, that the stalk of the fruit may there be let in: Into these earthen vessels you must enclose the fruit, and binde them about with a strong band, for otherwise the growth of the fruit will break them open: And when you have procured the fruit to grow up into his counterfeit, or sheath as it were, that it is come to the just bignesse of a fruit of that kinde, it will bear the same shape and figure which you would have in it. The like we have shewed before out of Florentinus. Pontanus also speaks of the same device. If, saith he, you would have a Citron to grow in divers shapes, you must cover it being young, with some counterfeit of clay, or wood, or earth, wherein it may be swadled; as a tender infant in his Nurses bosom: and that counterfeit will fashion the fruit into any form; and when it is taken out, it will resemble any image that you have carved within the counterfeit. So also you may deal by

Pomegranates, Pears, or any kind of Apples, making them to receive any kinde of form,

for the same Author writes, that if you bestow the same pains and diligent care upon any other sort of Apples, you may frame them to every fashion; for so it is in brief, saith he, that all Apple-fruits may be made to grow up to the shape of any li∣ving creature, if you first carve the same shape into a counterfeit of wood or earth, and let the fruit be shut up into that counterfeit, that it may grow up within it. So may you make

A Quince grow in the shape of living Creatures,

as Democritus affirmeth, by putting them into some counterfeit that is carved within to the same proportion, and so let the Quince grow in it. But it is easiest to make

Cucumbers grow to any form;

for if you take earthen vessels of any fashion, and therewith cloath the Cucumbers when they are very young, and binde them very fast about, they will receive any shape or impression very easily, If you take a Cane, and make it hollow all along, and bind it fast about, and then put into it a young Cucumber or a young Gourd, it will grow so pliable within it, that it will fill up the whole length of the Cane. Pliny saith, Cucumbers grow to any fashion that you would frame them unto; inso∣much that you may, if you will, make a Cucumber grow in the shape of a Dra∣gon, winding himself many wayes. Likewise, a Gourd will be made to grow pick∣ed and sharp by many means, especially if it be put into a case that is made of such pliant twigs as Vines are bound withal; so that this be done as soon as it hath cast the blossom. But if you lay a Gourd betwixt two platters, or dishes, it will grow to the same plainnesse and roundnesse; and of all other fruit, this is the easiest and fittest to be formed to any fashion. You may make them to grow like a Flagon, or like a Pear, great at the one end, and small at the other, if you tye it hard in that part which you would have to be the lesse: afterward when it is come to full growth, dry it, and take out all that is in it, and when you go abroad, carry it about you, it

will serve for a cup to drink in. Hence we learn how it may be effected, that

An Almond should grow with an inscription in it.

Take an Almond, and steep it for two or three dayes; and then break the shell of it very charily, that the kernel receive no harm: then you must write in the ker∣nel what you will, but write it as deep in as you safely may: then winde it up in some paper, or some linen cloth, and overlay it with morter, and soil it with dung; and by that device, when the fruit cometh to be of full growth, it will shew you your handy work, as Africanus recordeth. So may you make

A Peach to grow with an inscription in it,

as Democritus sheweth. After you have eaten the fruit, you must steep the stone of it for two or three dayes, and then open it charily, and when you have opened it, take the kernel that is within the stone, and write upon it what you will, with a brazen pen, but you must not print it too deep, then wrap it up in paper, and so plant it; and the fruit which that will afterward bear, will shew you what was written in the kernel. But

A Fig will grow with an inscription in it,

if you carve any shape upon the bud, the fig will expresse it when it is grown: or else if you carve it into the fig when it is first fashioned: but you must do it either with a wooden pen, or a bone pen, and so your labour shall be sure to take effect. I have printed certain characters upon the rine of a Pomegranate, and of a Quince∣pear, having first dipped my pensil in morter; and when the fruit came up to the just magnitude, I found in it the same impressions. Now it remains that we shew how we may

Fashion Mandrakes,

those counterfeit kind of Mandrakes, which couzeners and cony-chatchers carry a∣bout, and sell to many instead of true Mandrakes. You must get a great root of Brio∣nie, or wilde Nep, and with a sharp instrument engrave in it a man or a woman, gi∣ving either of them their genitories: and then make holes with a puncheon in∣to those places where the hairs are wont to grow, and put into those holes Millet, or some other such thing which may shoot out his roots like the hairs of ones head. And when you have digged a little pit for it in the ground, you must let it lie there, until such time as it shall be covered with a bark, and the roots also be shot forth.

CHAP. XIX.

How fruits may be made to be more tender, and beautiful, and goodly to the eye.

NOw at length, that nothing may passe us, we will set down divers kinds of of sleights in husbanding and trimming of herbs and fruits, whereby they may be made not onely tenderer, sweeter, larger, and better relished, but also fresher coloured, and more sightly to the eye. And first

How an Apple-tree and a Myrtle-tree may be bettered,

we may learn out of Theophrastus, who counselleth to water their roots with warm water, and promiseth the bettering of the fruit by that means; nay it will cause the Myrtle fruit to be without any kernel at all. And this, saith he, was found out by chance, in certain of these Trees growing neer unto a hot Bath. If you would procure

Goodlier Figs then ordinary,

Columella shews, how you make them to grow more plentifully, and to be a soun∣der

fruit. When the tops of the Fig-tree begin to be green with leaves, you mu•••• cut off the tops of the boughs with an iron tool; and still as the leaves begin to bu•• forth, you must take red chalk, and blend it with Lees of oyle and mans dung•• and therewithal cover the roots of the Tree: and by this means, the Tree wil•• bear more store of fruit, and besides the fruit will be a fuller and better fruit. Pli∣ny and Palladius record the same experiment out of the same Author. When the Fig-tree begins to shew her leaves; if you would have it yeeld you more and bet∣ter fruit, you must cut off the very tops of them when the bud begins to shew it self; or, if not so, yet you must besure at the least to cutoff that top which grow∣eth out of the midst of the Tree. Palladius writes, that some have reported, that the

Mulberry-tree will bear more and better fruit,

if you bore thorough the stock of the Tree in divers places, and into every hole beat in a wedge; into some of the holes, wedges made of the Turpentine-tree, and into some of them, wedges made of the Mastick-tree. Didymus saith that

The Palm, or Date-tree, and the Damosin tree will grow to be of a larger and good-lier assize,

if you take the Lees of old Wine, and after you have strained them, water the roots therewith. And he saith, that it will take the better effect, if you cast up∣on it a little salt ever now and then. So

The Myrtle-tree will have a goodlier leaf,

and also yield a better fruit, if you plant it among Roses: for the Myrtle-tree de∣lighteth to be consorted with the Rose, and thereby becomes more fruitful, as Di∣dymus reporteth. So

Rue will grow tenderer, and more flourishing,

if it be engraffed into a Fig-tree: you must only set it into the bark somewhat neer the root, that you may cover it with the earth, and so you shall have excellent good Rue. Plutark in his Sympo••iakes, commends no Rue but that only which grows very neer the Fig-tree. Aristotle in his Problems, demanding the cause of this, at length concludes, that there is such a sympathy and agreement betwixt the Fig-tree and the herb Rue, that Rue never grows so fast, nor flourishes so well, as when it grows under the Fig-tree. If you would have

Artichocks grow without sharp prickles,

Varro saith, that you must take the Artichock-seed, and rub it upon a stone, till you have worn it blunt at the top. You may cause also

Lettice to grow tenderer and more spreading,

as Palladius shews, and Columella. Palladius saith, that if your Lettice be somewhat hard, by reason of some fault either in the seed, or place, or season, you must pluck it out of the earth and set it again, and thereby it will wax more tender. Columella shews, how you may make it spread broader. Take a little tile-sheard, and lay it upon the middle of the Lettice when it is a little grown up; and the burden or weight of the tile-sheard will make it spread very broad. Pliny saith, that it is meet also to besmear the roots with dung when they set them, and as they grow up, to rid away their earth from them, and to fill up the place with muck. Florentinus saith, when you have a Lettice growing that hath been transplanted, you must rid away the earth from the root after it is grown to be a handful long, and then besmear it with some fresh Oxe-dung, and then having cast in earth upon it a∣gain, water it; and still as the bud or leafe appears out of the earth, cut it off till it grow up stronger, and then lay upon it a tile-sheard that hath never been season∣ed with any pitch, and so you shall have your purpose. By the like device you may procure

Endive to be tenderer and broader.

When it is grown up to a pretty bignesse, then lay a small tile-sheard on the mid∣dle of it, and the weight of that will cause the Endive to spread broader. So also you procure

Coleworts to be more tender,

if you bedew them with salt water, as Theophrastus writes. The Aegyptians, to make their Coleworts tender, do water them with Nitre and Water mixt together. So

Cucumbers will be tenderer,

if you steep the seeds in milk before you set them, as Columella reporteth. If you would have

Leeks to grow Cloven,

the Antients have taught you, that first you must sow them very thick, and so let them alone for a while; but afterward when they are grown, then cut them, and they will grow cloven. Or else, you must cut it about some two moneths after it was set, and never remove it from the own bed, but help it still with water and muck, and you shall have your purpose, as Palladius saith. Now we will speak of some monstrous generations; as of the generation of the herb Dragon, and of a cloven Onion. And first

How to produce the herb Dragon.

It is a received opinion amongst Gardeners, that if you take Hemp-seed or Line-seed, and engraffe it into an ordinary Onion, or else into a Sea-onion as it grows neer the Sea, or else into the Radish root, thence will grow the herb Dragon, which is a no∣table and famous Sallet-herb. But surely, howsoever they boast of it that this hath been of entimes done, yet I have made sundry trials hereof, and still failed of my purpose. By the like setting of seeds, they shew

How to produce cloven Onions,

by making a hole into an Onion, and putting into it a clove of Garlick, and so plan∣ting it; for that will grow to be an Ascalonian, or a cloven Onion. Now let us see, how to make

Parsley to grow frizled or curled.

Theophrastus writes that Parsley will grow frizled, if you pave the ground where you have sowed it, and ram it in with a roller; for then the ground will keep it in so hard, that it it must needs grow double. Columella saith; If you would have Parsley to bear curled leaves, you must put your Parsley-seed into a morter, and pown it with a Willow pestle, and when you have so bruised it, wrap it up in linen clouts, and so plant it. You may effect the same also without any such labour; even by rolling a cylinder or roller over it after it is a little grown up, wheresoever or howsoever it is sowed. Palladius and Pliny record the same experiment out of the same Au∣thor. I have often-times seen

Basil growing with a kind of brush like hairs upon it.

The seed of withy-winde being planted neer to Basil, as soon as it shoots up, will presently winde it self round about the stalks of the Basil, and by often winding a∣bout them, will wrap them all into one. The like will be effected also, if the wi∣thy-winde grow elsewhere, and a twig of it be brought and planted neer to Basil: for by either of these means, the Basil will grow so bushy and so thick of hair, and that in a very short time, that it will be most pleasant to be lookt upon. So you may make the

Ivy to bear very sightly berries,

if you burn three shell-fish, especially of that kind which is called Murex, and when you have powned them together, cast the ashes thereof upon the Ivy-berries;

or else, if you cast upon them beaten Alome, as Cassianus teacheth. Theo∣phrastus mentions an experiment that is very strange, whereby to make

Cumin grow flourishingly,

and that is by cursing and banning of the seeds when you sow them; and Pliny reporteth the same out of Theophrastus: and he reporteth it likewise of Basile, that it will grow more plentifully and better, if it be ••owed with cursing and banning. If you desire to produce long

Cucumbers, and such as are not waterish,

you may effect it by this means. If you take a morter or any other like vessel filled with water, and place it neer the Cucumbers, about five or six inches distant from them, the Cucumbers will reach the vessel within a day or two, and extend them∣selves to that length; The reason is, because Cucumbers have such a great delight in moisture: so that, if there be no water in the vessel, the Cucumbers will grow backward and crooked. To make them that they shall not be waterish; when you have digged a ditch to plant them in, you must fill it up half full with chaffe, or the twigs of a Vine, and then cover them, and fill up the pit with earth; but you must take heed you do not water them when they are planted. By all these things which have been spoken, we may learn to procure

A Tree, which of it self may yield you the fruit of all Trees.

A thing which I have seen, and in merriment have oft-times called it, the Tree of Garden-dainties. It was a goodly height and thickness, being planted within a ves∣sel fit for such a purpose, the mould which was about it, being very fa••, and moist, and fruitful, that so every way, as well by the liveliness and strength of the plant it self, as also by the moistness and thriftiness of the ground, all things that were engraffed into it, received convenient nourishment. It was three-forked; upon one bough or arm, it bare a goodly grape, without any kernels in it, party colou∣red, very medicinable; for some of the grapes were good to procure sleep, and o∣ther some would make the belly loose. The second bough or arm, carries a Peach, a middle kind of fruit differing both from the ordinary Peach, and the Peach-nut, without any stone in it; and the smaller branches thereof bearing here a Peach, and there a Peach-nut. If at any time there were any stone in the fruit, it was com∣monly as sweet as an Almond; and it did resemble sometimes the face of a man, sometimes of other living creatures, and sundry other shapes. The third arm carries Cherries, without any stone, sharp, and yet sweet withal, and Orenges also of the same relish. The bark of this Tree was every where beset with flowers and Roses: and the other fruits, all of them greater then ordinary, and sweeter both in taste and in smell, flourishing chiefly in the Spring-time; and they hung upon the Tree, growing even after their own natural season was past: but there was a con∣tinual succession of one fruit after another, even all the year long, by certain de∣grees, so that when one was ripe, there was another budding forth, the branches being never empty, but still clogged with some fruits or other; and the temperate∣ness of the air served every turn so well, that I never beheld a more pleasant and de∣lightful fight.

CHAP. XX.

How divers kinds of fruits, and likewise Wines may be made medicinable.

THe Ancients have been very careful and painful in seeking out, how to mix Wine with divers kinds of Antidotes or preservatives against poison, and how to use it best in such receipts, if need should be. A thing that might very well be practised; for indeed there is nothing more convenient for that pur∣pose. And therefore they have tried and set down more curiously then need re∣quired, many things concerning this argument, strang to be reported, & yet easie to be

effected; which Theophrastus hath copiously set down. About Heraclia in Arcady, there is a kind of wine, which makes the men that drink of it to become mad, and the women to become barren. And the like Athenaeus recordeth of that wine which they have in Troas, a place in Greece. And in Thrasus there is a kind of wine which if it be drunk, will procure sleep; and there is another kind of wine made in that sort, that it will cause a man to be watchful: and there are divers con∣fections of wines which you may read of in the most exact Writers of Physick, and of matters of Husbandry, which are easie both to be learned, and also practised by those that are well acquainted with the operations of Simples; and they are such as a mans own conjecture may well lead him unto; and indeed they are nothing else almost, but such qualities operative as the property of the place where their Simples grow, doth endue them withal. And surely I would counsel that these kinds of confections should be ministred to those that are timorous and queazie in the ta∣king of any medicinal receipts, that so they may be swallowed down pleasantly, before they should seem loathsom. And first,

How a Vine may be made to bring forth grapes that shall be medicinal against the biting of venemous beasts.

Florentinus bids you in the first and second book of his Georgicks, to set a Vine-branch, and to cleave it in the lower part about the root, that the cleft may be some four inches long; there you must pluck out the pith, and istead of the pith put Hellebore into it, and binde it fast about with some pliant twig, and so cover it with earth; and by this means it will yeeld you grapes that being eaten, will make your body soluble. Or, if you would have the grapes to be more operative in this kind, you must supple the Vine-branches in some Antidote or counter-poy∣son, and then set them in the head of a Sea-onion, and so cover them with earth; but you must still poure upon it the juice of that counter-poyson, that the sets may drink their fill of it, and so the strength and vertue of the grape will last a great deal longer. If you would have a Vine to yield the grapes whereof the confections called Propomata are made, Palladius shews you. You must take the Vine-bran∣ches and put them in a vessel that is half full of Hippocras, or else of Conserves of Roses, or Violets, or worm-wood; and the earth that grows about the root, you must resolve into a kind of Lye as it were made of Ashes; then when the branch that grows up out of the bud beginneth to bear a leaf, you must take it away, & set it as you set other Vines, in any other place, and the fruit will be such a grape as you desire. Pliny saith, that if you plant Hellebore about the roots of the Vine, it will yield a grape fit for such a purpose. Cato saith, that the herb Scam∣mony hath a wonderful quality in drawing into it self the juice of the Vine. Pliny shews

How to make that kind of wine which is called Phthorium, and kills children in their mo∣thers wombes.

That Hellebore which grows in Thassus, as also the wilde Cucumber, as also Scam∣mony, are good to make Phthorian wine, which causeth abortives. But the Scam∣mony or black Hellebore must be engraffed into the Vine. You must pierce the Vine with a wimble, and put in certain withie-boughes, whereby you may binde up unto the Vine the other plants that are engraffed into it: so shall you have a grape full of sundry vertues. So you may procure

Figs that shall be purgative,

if you pown Hellebore and Sea-Lettice together, and cast them upon the Fig-tree roots: or else if you engraffe them into the same roots, for so you shall have Figs that will make the belly loose. Florentinus saith, that you may make a Fig to grow which shall be good against the biting of venemous beasts, if you set it after it hath been laid in triacle. So we may procure

Purgative Cucumbers.

You must take the roots of the wilde Cucumber, and pown them, and steep them in fair water two or three dayes; and then water your Cucumbers with that liquor for five dayes together; and do all this five several times. Again, you may make them purgative, if, after they are blossomed, you dig round about their roots, and cast some Hellebore upon them and their branches, and cover them over with earth again. So you may procure

Purgative Gourds,

if you steep the seeds of them in Scammony-water nine dayes before you set them, as the Quinti••es report. Now if you would procure a man to be loose bellied and sleepy withal, you may cause

Purgative Damosins that be good also to cause sleep.

You must bore thorough a bough, or through the whole stock of a Damosin-tree, and fill it up with Scammony or the juice of black Poppy wrapt up handsomely in paper, or some such covering: and when the fruit is ripe, it will be operative both for sleep and purgation. Cato shews also, how you may cause

A Vine to be purgative.

After the Vintage, at such time as the earth is used to be rid away from the roots of Vines, you must uncover the roots of so many Vines as in your opinion will make wine enough to serve your turn: mark them, and lop them round about, and prune them well. Then pown some Hellebore roots in a morter, and cast them about your Vines, and put unto them some old rotten dung and old ashes, and twice of much earth amongst them, and then cover the Vine-roots with mould, and gather the grapes by themselves. If you would keep the juice of the grape long that it may last you a great while for that purpose, you must take heed, that the juice of no other grapes do come neer it. When you would use it, take a cup full of it, and blend it with water, and drink it before supper, and it will work with you very mildely without any danger at all. Late Writers have taken another course: they rid and cleanse the Vine-roots, and then poure upon the juice of some purga∣tive medicine to water them withal; and this they do for many dayes together, but especially at such time as the bud beginneth to fill out: when they have so done, they cast earth upon the roots again, and they take special regard, that the roots never lie naked and open when the Northern winde bloweth; for that would draw forth and consume the juice of the medicine that is poured upon the roots. This if you diligently perform, you shall have grapes growing upon your Vines, that are very operative for loosing of the belly. I have effected

The same by another means;

I pierced the Vine with a wimble, even unto the very marrow, and put into it cer∣tain ointments fit for such an effect; (it will suffice, if you put them within the rine;) and this I did in divers parts of the Vine, here and there about the whole body of the Vine, and that about graffing time by Inoculation; for then the Vine is full of moisture; whereby it cometh to pass, that the moisture it self ascending at that time into the superior parts, doth carry up with it the vertue of the ointments, and conveys it into the fruit, so that the fruit will be operative either for purgation or for childe-bearing, either to hurt or help, either to kill or preserve, according as the nature and quality of the ointment is, which was poured upon the roots of the Vine.

CHAP. XXI.

How to plant Fruits and Vines, that they may yield greatest encrease.

THat we may conclude this whole book, with a notable and much desired ex∣periment, we will now shew in the last place, how we may receive a large en∣crease

from the fruits, and pulse, and Vines which we have planted. A matter surely that must needs be exceeding profitable, for a man to receive an hundred bushels in usury as it were, for one bushel that he hath sowed. Which yet I would not have to be so understood, as if a man should still expect to receive an hun∣dreth for one, precisely or exactly so much; for sometimes the year, or the air and weather, or else the ground, or else the plants may not perform their parts kindly; and in this case, the encrease cannot be so great; (but yet it shall never be so little, but that it shall be five times more then ordinary;) but if those things do perform their parts kindly together, you shall receive sometimes for one bushel, an hun∣dred and fifty by encrease. This may seem a paradox to some, and they will think that we promise impossibilities; but surely if they would consider all things rightly, they should rather think it a paradox, why half a bushel well sown or planted, should not yield two hundred bushels encrease, seeing that one grain or kernel that is planted and takes kindly, doth oft-times spread his root, as we see, and fructifie in∣to sundry and many stems, sometimes into fifteen, and in the ear of every one of those stalks, are contained sometimes threescore grains? I spare to mention here the ground that lies in Byzatium in Africa, whereof Pliny speaks, which, for one grain that was planted in it, did yield very neer four hundred stalks, and the Gover∣nour of that Country sent unto Nero three hundred and fourty stems growing out of one grain. But let us search out the cause whereby this comes to pass. Some think that the encrease commonly falls out to be so little, because the greater part of the fruit which is cast into the ground, is eaten up of worms, or birds, or moles, and of other creatures that live in the earth. But this appears to be false, because one bushel of Pulse being planted, never yields above fifteen. Now the Pulse or Lu∣pines, is of it self so bitter, that none of those devouring creatures will taste of it, but let it lie safe and untouched: and when they are grown up, you shall common∣ly finde about an hundred grains in the cods of every stalk. Others referre the cause hereof unto the weather, as if the fruit were annoyed with over much cold, or heat, or rain, so that the fields are sometimes frozen with cold, and sometimes parched with heat, whereby they are sometimes more fruitful, and sometimes more barren. But this cannot be the true reason, because that though the weather be never so kindly, ye that cannot make one encrease into thirty. But not to wan∣der or range any further about, we must know that all grains that grow within the ear or the husk, are not prolifical, that is, they are not all fit to yield encrease; for God hath appointed some of them for the food and sustenance of living crea∣tures, and others for seed. There are some grains in an ear, which are as it were abortives, such as degenerate from their natural kind, and will not fructifie at all, but rot and waste away into putrefaction. There are other grains in an ear, such as are easier to be stript out of their husk, which are fitter for propagation, and are better enabled by nature thereunto. Besides that, sometimes it falls out, that seeds or grains are not planted in due season; or if they be, yet sometimes the Husband∣man doth not bestow that due labour and industry in looking unto them, which the kind of the fruit requires. Wherefore if we can meet with all these impedi∣ments, we may procure encrease according to our hearts desire. For the seeds will be larger in the roots, and when they have spread their roots under the earth of a good length, then will they send up a greater number of stems, and bring forth good store of ears. Therefore you must make choice of your seeds or grains, not of the forwardest, nor yet of the backwardest, because they commonly are weakest, but of the middle sort: then wash them and cleanse them from all o∣ther seeds; and besmear them with fat ointments, and with the grease of old Goats; and let them be continually supplied with sufficient heat, and sufficient moisture; then lay them in soft and warm mould carefully manured; for the live∣lier that the heat of the mould is, the better will the seeds close with it, and become more eager to propagation, and emorace it more sweetly, as the male would do by this female. So shall your your seeds be more enlived, and bring forth a more legitimate and a larger encrease. Let them be planted in

the full of the Moon or thereabout; for the larger the Moon is, the more bounti∣ful encrease she will procure. Concerning the Vine, you must see that her leaves be not wanting, if you would have good store of Wine; for, if the leaves be away, the Vine hath little heart to bear; and besides, she should be without an issue for her superfluities, which commonly the leaves do receive into themselves: onely you must pare off those twisted curles that are wont to grow upon it; for so, her pride being taken away from her, the juice will be more delightful, and more pleasant.