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. VII. Of such Trees that are necessary and proper for Fencing and Enclosing of Lands, Orchards, Gardens, &c. And the best way of raising such Fences.

Seeing that Fencing and Enclosing of Land is most evident to be a piece of the highest Improvement of Lands, and that all our Plantations of Woods, Fruits, and other Tillage are thereby secu∣red from external Injuries, which otherwise would lie open to the Cattle:

Texendae sepes etiam, & pecus omne tenendum est, Praecipue dum frons tenera, &c. Virgil.

And also subject to the lusts of vile persons, as old Tusser obser∣ved, where Fences and Enclosures were deficient.

What Orchard unrobbed escapes? Or Pullet dare walk in their Iet? But homeward or outward (like Apes) They count it their own they can get.

For which reason we are obliged to maintain a good Fence, if we expect an answerable success to our Labours. I shall therefore enquire out the most proper Trees for that purpose: And first, the White-thorn is esteemed the best for fencing; it is raised either of Seeds or Plants; by Plants is the speediest way, but by Seeds where the place will admit of delay, is less charge, and as succes∣ful, though it require longer time, they being till the Spring come twelvemonth ere they spring out of the Earth; but when they have past two or three years, they flourish to admiration.

Next unto the White-thorn, is the Holly, which claims a pre∣ference * 1.1 much before the White-thorn, were it not for its slow growth in its puberty; which may the better be born withal, if we consider the excellencie thereof, either for sight, ornament, or defence; for thickness and closeness it may compare to a Wall or Pale to defend your Inclosure from Winds, or the eyes of ill neighbours; and for its strength against man or beast is impregna∣ble; for height or thickness it will answer your desires.

It is raised of the Berries of the Sets, as is the White-thorn, but the Sets are more difficult of growth, unless they are planted late in the Spring, and well watered.

This Plant deserves a principal place amongst our Trees for * 1.2 Fences, it yielding a very strong and firm prickly branch, and ever-green leaves; is quick of growth, and easie of propagation; it is raised either of the bright Coralline berries, which hang most part of the Winter on the Trees, and lie as long in the ground

ere they spring, as the Haw-thorn berries, or else it is raised of Suckers or slips.

The Black-thorn (and Crab also) yield a very good Fencing * 1.3 branch, and are raised as the White-thorn.

A considerable Fence may be made of Elder, set of reasonable * 1.4 lusty Truncheons like the Willow, and may be laid with great curiosity; this makes a speedy shelter for a Garden from Winds, Beasts, or such-like injuries, rather than from rude Michers.

Furzes, Brambles, &c. are very necessary for the planting of * 1.5 dry Banks, where it is difficult to raise a better Fence, and in those places they will maintain the Bank against any Cattle. Furzes are also sown on barren Land, and esteemed a considera∣ble Improvement, the green tops are good food for Horses, the pricklines thereof being taken away by chopping.

Let your Plants be about the bigness of your thumb, if you can, * 1.6 and set almost perpendicular, and cut within four or five inches of the ground, and planted in a double row at about half a foot distance; they will prosper infinitely, and much outstrip the closest ranges of our trifling Sets.

The other way most followed for the planting of a quick * 1.7 Hedge, is on the Bank of a Ditch thus: Place the first row of Sets on the brink of the Ditch in the upper-mould, and cover them with the better part of the mould taken out of the Ditch, and raise the bank about eight or ten inches above them; then place another row of Sets, each Set against the spaces of the first row; then lay more of the best mould to the roots of the Sets, and raise the bank as before, and place another row of Sets opposite to the first, applying the best mould to the Roots, and finish the Bank with the bottom of the Ditch.

You may plant it as the White-thorn; but if you think that too * 1.8 tedious to wait its rise, you may plant it with the White-thorn, and let every fifth or sixth be an Holly-set, they will grow infallibly with the Quick, and as they begin to spread, make way for them by extirpating the White-thorn, till they quite domineer.

Also you may lay along well-rooted Sets a yard or more in length, and stripping of the leaves and branches, cover them with a competent depth of Earth, and they will send forth innumerable Suckers, which will advance into an Hedge. Holly is one of the slowest, though best Plant for a Fence.

All these Hedges being young should be carefully Fenced with * 1.9 a dry Hedge from the biting of Cattle on both sides, if need re∣quire, until the the tops are out of their reach; and where any fail, to supply them in time with new, or to plash the next to fill such vacant gaps.

Whilest they are yet young, they are to be constantly weeded, * 1.10 lest the Weeds prevent the thick-spreading of the Hedge at the bottom, as well as check the growth and prosperity of the Plant.

If your Hedge stand remote, or that you do not Annually keep * 1.11 it clipt whereby it should thicken, then at about six years age you may plash it about February or October. Some workmen are far more expert and judicious at this than others are, and can bet∣ter

do it than any pen can direct, therefore I shall not trouble you therewith, but leave you to the skill of the workman.

Whatsoever you plant or make your Fences withal, it is a piece of very good husbandry to plant at some convenient distance Set∣ters either of Timber proper for the Soil, or of Crabs whereon to graff Apples, or Perry-stocks for Pears, as you shall be advised or judge convenient; which will very much improve your Land for the future, and commend the industry of the Planter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Toe Holly.
• * 1.2

  Pyracautha.
• * 1.3

  Black-thorn.
• * 1.4

  The Elder.
• * 1.5

  Furzes, &c.
• * 1.6

  The speediest and best way of planting a Quickset-Hedge.
• * 1.7

  Another way more usual, and better for the Field.
• * 1.8

  Of planting the Holly-bedge.
• * 1.9

  Preserving of Hedges from Cattle.
• * 1.10

  Weeding of Hedges.
• * 1.11

  Plashing of Hedges.