Systema agriculturæ, the mystery of husbandry discovered treating of the several new and most advantagious ways of tilling, planting, sowing, manuring, ordering, improving of all sorts of gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, corn-lands, woods & coppices, as also of fruits, corn, grain, pulse, new-hays, cattle, fowl, beasts, bees, silk-worms, &c. : with an account of the several instruments and engines used in this profession : to which is added Kalendarium rusticum, or, The husbandmans monthly directions, also the prognosticks of dearth, scarcity, plenty, sickness, heat, cold, frost, snow, winds, rain, hail, thunder, &c. and Dictionarium rusticum, or, The interpretation of rustick terms, the whole work being of great use and advantage to all that delight in that most noble practice.

SECT. IV. Of taking great Fowl with Lime-twigs.

Besides the Art of taking Fowl with Nets, there is a very ingenious way of taking them with Bird-lime, which seems to be very Ancient; for Pliny, who lived above 1600 years since, not only mentions the use of it in liming of Twigs to catch Birds withal, but the manner how the Italians prepared the same, of the Berries of the Misseltoe, of Trees gathered in the Summer-time before they were ripe; and then macerating, pu∣trifying, pounding and washing it, until fit for use; which also they mix with Nut-Oyl, as in his Natural History, lib. 16. you may read. But seeing that that way of making Bird-lime is not in use with us, I shall not trouble you with the whole Process, especially seeing that we have here in England a more easie and effectual way of preparing it with the Bark of that common and so well known Tree, the Holly; which Preparation is thus: Take the Bark of that Tree about the end of June, at which time it is full of Sap, and fitter for your purpose; fill your Ves∣sel with it that you intend to boil it in, then add thereto of clear water as much as the Vessel will conveniently hold, and boil it so long, until the grey and white Bark rise from the

green; which will be about twelve or sixteen hours: Then take it off the fire, and gently decant or pour the water from the Barks, and separate the grey and white Barks from the green, which lay on a Stone, or Stone-floor, in some Cellar or moist or cool place, and cover it over with Fern, or other green weeds, to a good thickness, the better to accelerate its putrifaction; which will be accomplished in twelve or fourteen days time, and sometimes less, and it reduced to a perfect Mucilage: then pound it well in a large Morter with an wooden Pestle, until it be so tempered, that no part of the Bark be discerned unbruised. After which wash it exceeding well in clear water, by renewing the water and your pains so often, that no foulness or Motes re∣main in it; and put it into a deep Earthen Vessel, where it will purge it self for four or five days together: Then scum it clean as its filth arises; and when it hath done purging, put it into a clean Vessel, and keep it close for use.

The Bark of the Birch-tree is by some affirmed to make as good Lime, as that of the Holly, being the same way to be pre∣pared; so that you may try or use which is most easie to come by. Also you need not boil either of the Barks, if you give it longer time to putrifie; for the boiling is only to accelerate pu∣trifaction.

When you intend to use it, take as much of it as you think fit, and put it into an Earthen-pot, with a third part of Capons∣grease or Goose-grease well clarified, and set it over the fire, and let them melt together: Stir them until they are throughly in∣corporated; and so continue stirring off the Fire, till it be cold.

If you fear the freezing of your Bird-lime, add in your last mixture a quarter as much of the Oyl Petrolium, as you do of the Goose or Capons-grease, and no cold will congeal it.

When your Lime is cold, take your Rods and warm them; then a little besmear the Rods with your Line, and draw the Rods the one from the other, and close them again. Work them thus continually together, until they are all over equally besmeared.

If you lime Straws or Strings, you must do it when the Lime is hot, and at the thinnest, by folding and doubling them together before the fire; and fold and work them, till it be all over throughly limed: Put these in Cases of Leather until you use them.

When you intend to use your Bird-lime for great Fowl, take of Rods long, small and streight, being light, and yielding eve∣ry way; Lime the upper parts of them before the Fire, that it may the better besmear them.

Then go where these Fowl usually haunt, whether it be their Morning or Evening haunt, an hour or two before they come, and plant your Twigs or Rods about a foot distance one from the other, that they cannot pass them without being intangled; and so plant over the place where their haunt is, leaving a place in the middle wide enough for your Stale to flutter in,

without falling foul of the Twigs; which Stale you do well to provide and place there, the better to attract those of its own kinde to your snares: from which Stale you must have a small string to some convenient place at a distance where you may lie concealed, and by plucking the string, cause it to flutter; which will allure down the Fowl in view.

Prick the Rods sloap-wise against the winde, about a foot a∣bove the ground or water; and if you see any taken, surprize them not suddenly if any more are in view, for by their flutter∣ing others will be induced to fall in amongst them.

A Spaniel that is at command, will be necessary to re-take them that might otherwise escape out of your reach, these Fowl being very strong.

If you place your Twigs for the lesser Water-fowl, as Duck, Mallard, Widgeon, Teal, &c. you must fit your Rods according to the depth of the water, and your Lime must be such as no wet nor Frost can prejudice; the limed part must be above the water. Here also it will be necessary to have a Stale of the same Fowl you intend to insnare.

Notes

• To make Bird-time.
• For smaller Water-fowl.