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. VIII. Of raising and propagating Fruit-trees, by Layers, Slips, and Suckers.

There are also several sorts of Fruits that are to be raised with more advantage and facility from Layers, Slips or Suckers, than from Graffing, Inoculation, or from the Seed; and such are Cod∣lings, Gennet-Moyls, Quinces, Filberds, Vines, Figs, Mulberries, Goosberries, Currans and Barberries.

The Kentish Codling is very easily propagated by slips or * 1.1 suckers, and is of so good a nature as to thrive being set very near, that they make a very ornamental hedge, which will bear plentifully, and make a most pleasant prospect; the fruit whereof, besides the ordinary way of stewing, baking, &c. being very early, makes a delicate Cider for the first drinking.

These Trees ought not to be topt or plashed, as is usual, they growing tall and handsom, which if topt decay, and grow stub∣by and unpleasant; neither do they bear so well.

The Gennet-Moyl-Tree will be propagated by Slips or Cions, * 1.2 as is the Codling, but is not so apt to grow in a hedge as the o∣ther: Both of them bear sooner, if grafted, as other Apples are.

The manner of raising the Quince we have already discour∣sed, * 1.3 where we treated of raising Stocks to Graff on.

Filberds are generally drawn as Suckers from the old Trees, * 1.4 and will prosper very well, and sooner come to be Trees, than from the Nut.

Any shoot of the last year, more especially if a short piece of * 1.5 the former years growth be cut with it, will grow, being laid a∣bout a foot or eighteen inches within the ground long-ways, and not above two or three Buds at most out of the ground, about

the moneth of February, and watred well in the drought of Sum∣mer.

The Fig-tree yieldeth Suckers, which is the usual way to mul∣tiply * 1.6 them.

The Mulberry is a very difficult Tree to raise, and is best done * 1.7 thus: Cut a Bough off as big as a mans Arm, and cut it in pieces a yard long, or less: lay all these in the ground a foot deep, on∣ly one end out of the ground about a hands breadth; let it be in fat and moist ground, or usually watred; and after a year or two divers young Springs may be drawn with Roots, and plant∣ed at a distance, and the old Roots will yet send out more.

These three kinds of Fruits yield such plenty of Suckers, that * 1.8 you never need doubt of a supply.

But if you desire Plants from the same, or any other sorts of precious Fruits or Plants, and where you cannot obtain Suckers from the Roots, and where the branches will not easily take root, being separated from the Tree, you may obtain your desire by bending down some branch of the Tree to the ground; and with a hooked stick thrust into the ground, stay the same in its place, and cover the same branch with good Earth, as thick as you shall think fit, and keep the same well watred; or if you can∣not bring the branch to the Earth, you may have some Earthen pot, Basket, or such like, with a hole in the bottom, and fasten the same to the wall (if against a wall) or on some Post or Stake: Put the Sprig or Branch you intend to plant through at the hole, and fill the same with good Earth, and water it often as before: Some prick the Rinde that is in the Earth full of holes, that it may the better issue thereout small Roots; others advise to cut away the Bark. This may be done in the Spring, from March to May, and the Plant will be fit to cut off below the Earth the Winter following. By this means you may obtain the Plants of Vines, Mulberries, or any manner of choice Fruits or Plants.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Codlings.
• * 1.2

  Gennet-Moyls.
• * 1.3

  Quinces.
• * 1.4

  Filberds.
• * 1.5

  The Vine.
• * 1.6

  Figs.
• * 1.7

  Mulberries.
• * 1.8

  Gooseberries, Currans, and Barberries. To lay the Branches of Trees.