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 Aquaticks, or Trees affecting Moist and Watry places.

The white Poplar delights in moist grounds, and near the Mar∣gins of Rivers, but not in the Water as the Willow doth.

They are usually encreased by the streght branches or pitchers set in the ground, but by no means cut off the top until they have stood two or three years, and then head them at eight, ten, or fifteen foot high or more, and they will yield in a few years a very considerable shrowd, which shrowds or branches may also be transplanted; you may also let them grow upright without topping them, they are then more Ornamental, but not so bene∣ficial.

Its White Wood is of singular use for the Turner, and also for [Use,] several Rustick Utensils, and for the Gardiner: It makes also Few∣el for the fire.

This Tree little differs from the Poplar, only it will grow not only in moist but in dry grounds, in Coppices, &c. is propagated by Suckers, but cut not off the tops of the young Cions the first year: its use the same with the Poplar.

The Abele-tree is a finer kinde of white Poplar, and is best propagated of slips from the roots; they will likewise grow of layers and cuttings.

In three years they will come to an incredible altitude; in twelve years be as big as your middle; and in eighteen or twenty arrive to full perfection.

This Plant of all other is the most faithful lover of Watery and boggy places.

They are propagated of Truncheons, and will come of Seeds; but best of roots being set as big as the small of ones leg, and in length about two foot; if you plant smaller Sets, cut them not till they have stood several years. They are a very great Improvement to moist and boggy Land.

The greater Alders are good for uses under the Water, where [Use.] it will harden like a very stone, but rots immediately where it is sometimes wet and sometimes dry: the Wood is fit for the Tur∣ner, and several Mechanick uses; the Poles, and also the Bark, are very useful.

The Withy is a large Tree, and fit to be planted on high banks, because they extend their Roots deeper than either Sallies or Willows.

Sallies grow much faster if they are planted within the reach of the Water, or in a very moorish ground, and are an extraordinary Improvement.

They are smaller than the Sallies, and shorter lived, and require constant moisture.

The Common Willow delights in Meads, and Ditch-sides, not over-wet.

They may all be planted by Pitchers, as the Poplar: those Sets or Pitchers are to be preferred that grow nearest to the stock, they should be planted in the first fair weather in February, and so till they bud: the Osiers may also be planted of slips of two or three years growth, a foot deep, and half a yard in length, in Moor∣ish ground, &c. The Willow may be planted of stakes as big as ones leg, and five or six foot long.

These Aquatick Trees yield a clean white Wood, fit for many [Use and benefit.] uses, like unto the Poplar; they also yield Poles, Binders, &c. for the Gardiners use: the Osier is of great use to the Basket-ma∣ker, Gardiner, Fisherman, &c. They are all good Fewel, and make good Charcoal, they are a very great Improvement to Moo∣rish and wet Lands; an Acre at eleven or twelve years growth may yield you near an hundred load of Wood: no Tree more profi∣table than some of these Aquaticks (according to the nature of the place) to be planted upon the edges of Rivers, and on Banks, Bounds, or Borders of Meads or wet Lands; they yield a consi∣derable head, and ready for shrowding in a few years. Mr. Evelin relates that a Gentleman lopped no less than two thousand yearly, all of his own planting.

Notes

• The Poplar.
• Propagation.
• The Aspen.
• The Abele.
• The Alder.
• Propagation.
• The Withy.
• The Sally.
• Osiers.
• Willow.