The country-mans recreation, or The art of [brace] planting, graffing, and gardening, [brace] in three books. The first declaring divers waies of planting, and graffing, and the best times of the year, with divers commodities and secrets herein, how to set or plant with the root, and without the root; to sow or set pepins or curnels, with the ordering thereof, also to cleanse your grafts and cions, to help barren and sick trees, to kill worms and vermin, and to preserve and keep fruit; how to plant and proin your vines, and to gather and presse your grape; to cleanse and mosse your trees, to make your cider and perry, with many other secret practises which shall appear in the table following. The second treateth of the hop-garden, with necessary instructions for the making and maintenance thereof, ... with some directions for tabaco. Whereunto is added, The expert gardener, containing divers necessary and rare secrets belonging to that art, ... hereunto is likewise added the Art of angling.

THE COVNTRY-MANS Recreation, or the Art of Plan∣ting, Graffing, and Gardening.

CHAP. I. This Chapter treateth of the setting of Curnels, young Plum-trees, And Pear-trees, of Damsons, and Service-trees.

FOR to make young trees of the Pepins of Ap∣ples, Pears, Plums, and Service. First, yee must prepare and make a great bed or quarter well replenished, blended or mixt with good fat earth, and placed well in the Sun, and to be well labored and digged a good time before you do occupy it: and if you can by any means, let it be dig∣ged very deep the winter before, in blending or mixting it well together with good fat earth, or else to be mixed almost the half with good dung: and so let it rot and ripe together with the earth. And see alwayes that plot be clean unto the pressing of Syder, that no wild Cions or Plants do spring or grow thereon. Then in the moneth of September, Decem∣ber, or there abouts, take of the Pepins, or Pomes of the said fruit at the first pressing out of your licour, before the Curnels be marred or bruised: then take out of them and rub a few at once in a cloth, and dry them betwixt your hands, and take so many thereof, as you shall think good: then make your bed square, fair and plain,

and sow your seeds thereon, then take and cover them with a rake lightly, or with earth, not putting too much upon them. This done, devide your beds into quadrants or squares, of foure foot broad or thereabout, that when ye list ye may clense them from the one side to the other, without treading thereon. Then shall ye cover your Seeds, or Pepins with fine earth, so sisting all over them, that then they may take the deeper and surer root, and will keep them the better in Winter following, and if ye list ye may rake them a little all over, so that ye raise not your P••pins above the earth.

Another way, how one may take the Pepins at the first comming of the licour or pressing.

WHich is, ye shall choose the greatest and fairest Curnels or Pepins, and take them forth at the first bruising of your fruit, then dry them with a cloth, and keep them all the winter untill St. Andrews tide: then a little after sow them in good earth, as thin as you doe Peason, and then rake them over as the other.

How one ought to use his earth to sow Pepins without dunging.

BUt in this manner of doing (in the Spring) it is not so great need for to raise or digge the earth so deep as that which is dunged in winter: but to devide your quarters, in covering your Pepins not so much with earth, as those which be sown with good dung, but when ye have sown them, a little rake all them over.

How ye ought to take heed of Poultrey for scraping of your beddes or quarters.

AS soon after as your Pepins be sown upon your beds or quarters, let this be done one way or other, that is, take good heed that your Hennes do not scrape your beds or quarters: therefore stick them all over light and thin with boughes, or thrones, and take good heed also to Swine, and other Cattell.

How to weed or cleanse your Beds and quarters.

ANd when the Winter is past and gone, and that ye see your pepins rise and grow, so let them increase the space of one year, but see to cleanse weeds, or other things which may hurt them as you shall see cause. And in the Summer when it shall waxe dry, water them well in the Evenings.

How one ought to pluck up the wilde Cions.

ANd when these wilde Cions shall be great, as of the growth of one year, ye must then pluck them up all in winter following, before they doe begin to spring again. Then shall ye set them and make of them a wild Orchard as followeth.

CHAP. II. Treateth how one shall set again the small wilde Trees, which come of Pepins, when they be first pluckt up.

FOr the Bastard or little wilde Trees incontinent assoon as they be pluckt up, ye must have of other good earth well trimmed and dunged, and to be well in the Sunne, and well prepared and drest, as it is said in the other part before of the Pepins.

How to dung your Bastard or wilde young Trees which come of Pepins.

ABout Advent before Christmas, ye must digge and dung well the place whereas ye will set them, and make your square of earth even and plain, so large as ye shal think good, then set your wilde trees so farre one from another as yee think meet to be graft, so that they may be set in even ranks and in good order, that when need shall require, ye may re∣move or renue any of them, or any part thereof.

How ye ought in replanting or setting to cut off in the middest, the principall great roots.

IN what part soever yee doe set any Trees, yee must cut off the great master root, within a foot of the stock, and all other big roots, so that ye leave a foot long thereof, and so let them be set, and make your ranks crosse-wise one from another half a foot, or thereabouts, and ye must also see that there be of good dung more deep and lower than ye doe set your Trees, to comfort the said roots withall.

How you ought to set your Trees in rank.

YE shall leave between your ranks, from one rank to an∣other, one foot, or thereabouts, so that yee may set them with good fat earth all over the roots.

How to make the space from one rank to another.

YE shall leave between your ranks, from one rank to an∣other, one foot, or thereabouts, so that ye may passe between every rank, for to cleanse them if need require, and also to graffe any part or parcell thereof when time shall be meet. But yee must note, in making thus your ranks, ye shall make as many allies as ranks. And if ye think it not good to make as many allies, then divide those into quarters of five foot broad, or thereabouts, and make and set four ranks (in each quarter of the same) one foot from ano∣ther as ye use to set great Cabbage, and assoon after as ye have set them in ranks and in good order, as is aforesaid, then shal ye cut off all the sets even by the ground. But in this doing, see that ye do not pluck up or loose the earth that is about them: or if you will, ye may cut them before ye doe set them in ranks. If ye do so, see that yee set them in such good or∣der, and even with the earth, as is aforesaid. And it shal suffice also to make your ranks as ye shall see cause. And look that ye furnish the earth all over with good dung, without ming∣ling of it in the earth, nor yet to cover the said Plants with∣all, but strowed betwixt; and ye must also look well to the

cleansing of weeds, grasse, or other such things which, will be a hurt to the growth of the Plants.

How to water plants when they wax dry.

IT shall be good to water them when the time is dry: in the first Year. Then when they have put forth of new Ci∣ons, leave no more growing but that Cion which is the principall and fairest, upon every stock one: all the other cut off hard by the stock, and ever as they do grow small twigs about the stock, ye shall (in the Moneth of March and Aprill) cut them all off hard by the stock. And if ye then stick by every Plant a pretty wand, and so bind them with Willow bark, Bryer, or Ofiers, it shall profit them much in their groweth. Th••n after five or six years groweth, when they be so big as your finger, or thereabouts, ye may then remove any of them whereas ye will have them grow and remain.

How one ought to remove Trees, and to plant them again.

THe manner how ye ought to remove trees, is shewed in the sixt Chapter following: then about two or three years after their removing, ye shall graffe them, for then they will be the better rooted. As for the others, which ye leave still in ranks, ye may also graffe them whereas they stand, as ye shall see cause good. When ye have plucked up the fairest to plant in either places (as is aforesaid) also the manner how to graffe them, is shewd in the fift Chapter following. But af∣ter they shall be so graft, in what place soever it be, ye shall not remove or set them in other places again, untill the Graffes be well closed upon the head of the wild stock.

When the best time is to replant, or remove.

WHen the head of the stock shall be all over closed about the graffs, then ye may, when ye wi••l, trans∣plant and remove them (at a due time) where they shall con∣tinue,

For with often removing, ye shall do them great hurt in their roots, and be in danger to make them dye.

Of negligence and forgetfulnesse.

IF peradventure ye forget (through negligence) and have let small Cions two or three years grow about the roots of your stocks unplucked up, then if you have so done, ye may well pluck them up and set them in ranks as the o∣ther of the Pepins. But ye must set the ranks more larger that they may be removed without hurting of each others roots: and cut off all the small twigges about as need shall require, though they be set or graffed. Order them also in all things as those small Cions of a years growth.

It is not so convenient to Graffe the Service Tree as to set

WHereas ye shall see young Service Trees, it shall be most profit in setting them, for if ye do graffe them, I believe ye shall win nothing thereby.

The best is onely to pluck up the young Bastard Trees when they are as great as a good walking-staffe: then proin or cut off their branches and carry th••m to set whereas they may be no more removed, and they shall profit more in set∣ting then in graffing.

Some Trees without graffing bring forth good fruit, and some other being graffed be better to make Syder of.

IT is here to be marked, that though the Pepins be sown of the Pomes of Peares and good Apples, yet ye shall find that some of them do love the tree whereof they came, and those be right, which have also a smooth bark and as fair as those which be graffed: the which if ye plant or set them thus growing from the master-root without graffing, they shall bring as good fruit, even like unto the P••pin whereof he first came. But there be other new sorts commonly good to eat, which be as good to make Syder of, as those which shall be graffed for that purpose.

When you list to augment and multiply your Trees.

AFter this sort ye may multiply them, being of divers sorts and diversities, as of Pears or Apples, or such like. Notwithstanding, whensoever ye shall finde a good Tree thus come of the Pepin, as is aforesaid, so shall ye use him. But if ye will augment trees of themselves, ye must take Graffes, and so graffe them.

Of the manner and changing of the fruit of the Pepin-tree.

WHensoever ye do replant or change your Pepin trees from place to place, in so removing often the stock, the fruit thereof shall also change; but fruit which doth come of graffing, doth alwayes keep the form and nature of the Tree whereof he is taken: for as I have said, as often as the Pepin trees be removed to a b••tter ground, the fruit thereof shall be so much amended.

How one ought to make good Syder.

HEre is to be noted, if ye will make good Syder of what fruit soever it be, bearing Pears or Apples, but specially of good Apples, and wild fruit, have alwayes a re∣gard unto the ryping thereof, so gathered dry, then put them in dry places, on boards in heaps, covered with dry straw, and whensoever ye will make Syder thereof, choose out all those which are black bruised, and rotten Apples, and throw them away, then take and use the rest for Syder: But here to give you understanding, do not as they do in the Countrey of Mentz, which do put their fruit gathered, into the mid∣dest of their Garden, in the rain and mislings, upon the bare earth, which will make them to lose their force and vertue, and doth make them also withered rough, and lightly a man shall never make good Syder that shall never come to any purpose or good profit thereof.

To make an Orchard in few Years.

SOme do take young straight slippes, which do grow from the roots, or of the sides of the Apple Trees, about

Michaelmasse, and do so plant or set them (with Otes) in good ground, whereas they shall not be removed, and so graffe (be∣ing well rooted) thereon. Othersome do take and set them in the Spring time, after Christmas, in like wise, and doe graffe thereon when they be well rooted: and both do spring well. And this manner of way is counted to have an Orchard the soonest. But these Trees will not endure past twenty or thirty years.

CHAP. III. Is of setting Trees of Nutts.

How one ought to set Trees which come of Nutts.

FOr to set trees which come of Nutts: when ye have eaten the fruit, look that ye keep the Stones and Cur∣nels thereof, then let them be dryed in the wind, with∣out the vehemency of the Sun, to reserve them in a box, and use them as before.

Of the time when yee ought to Plant or Set them.

YE shall plant or set them in the beginning of Winter, or before Michaelmass, whereby they may the sooner spring out of the earth. But this manner of setting is dangerous: for the Winter then comming in, and they being young and ten∣der in comming up, the cold will kill them. Therefore it shal be best to stay and reserve them till after winter. And then before yee doe set them, yee shall soke or steep them in Milk, or in Milk and water, so long till they doe stink therein: then shall ye dry them, and set them in good earth, in the change or increase of the Moone, with the small end up∣wards, foure fingers deep, then put some stick thereby to mark the place.

For to set them in the Spring time.

IF ye will plant or set your Nuts in the Spring time, where ye will have them still to remain, and not to be

removed, the best and most easie way is, to set in every such place (as ye think good) three or four Nuts nigh to∣gether, and when they do all spring up leave none standing but the fairest.

Of the Dunging and deep digging thereof.

ALso whereas ye shall think good, ye may plant or set all your Nuts in one square or quarter together in good earth and dung, in such place and time as they use to plant. But see that it be wel dunged, and also digged good and deep and to be well medled with good dung throughout, then set your Nuts three fingers deep in the earth, and half a foot one from another: ye shall water them often in the Sum∣mer, when there is dry weather, and see to weed them, and dig it as ye shall see need.

Of Nuts and Stones, like to the Trees they came of

IT is here to be noted, that certain kind of Nuts and Cur∣nels which do love the Trees whereof the fruit is like unto the Tree they came of, when they be planted in good ground, and set well in the Sun, which be the Walnuts, Chesnuts, all kind of Peaches, Figges, Almonds, and Apri∣cocks, all these do love the Trees they came of.

Of Planting the said Nuts in good earth, and in the Sun.

ALL the said Trees do bring as good fruit of the said Nuts, if they be well planted and set in good earth, and well in the Sun; as the fruit and Trees they first came of.

Why fruits shall not have so good savour.

FOr if ye plant good Nuts, good Peaches, or Figs in a garden full of shadow, the which hath afore loved the Sun as the Vine doth, for lack thereof their fruit shall not have so good savor, although it be all of one fruit: & likewise so it is with all other fruit and trees, for the goodnes of the

earth, and the fair Sun doth preserve them much.

For to set the Pine Trees.

FOr to set the Pine-tree, ye must set or plant them of Nuts in March, or about the shoot of the sappe, not lightly after, ye must also set them where th••y may not be removed after in holes well digged, and well dunged, not to be transplanted or removed again, for very hardly they will shoot forth Ci••ns, being removed, specially if ye hurt the master root thereof.

For to set Cherry-Trees.

For to set sowre Cherries, which do grow commonly in gardens, ye shal understand they may well grow of stones, but better it shall be to take off the small Cions which do come from the great roots: then plant them, and sooner shall they grow then the stones, and those Cions must be set when they are sm••ll, young and tender: as of two, or three years growth, for when they are great they profit not so wel and when ye set them, ye must see to cut off all the boughs.

Trees of bastard and wild Nuts.

THere be other sorts of Nuts, although they be well set in good ground, and also in the Sun, yet will they not bring half so good fruit as the other, nor commonly like unto those Nuts they came of, but to be a bastard wild sowr fruit, which is Filberd, small Nuts, of Plums of Cherries, and the great Apricocks; therefore if ye will have them good fruit, ye must set them in manner and form following.

How to set Filberd or Hasel-trees.

FOr to set Filberds or Hasels, and to have them good, take the small wands that grow out from the root of the Fil∣bird or Hasel-tree (with short hairy wings) and set them, and they shall bring as good fruit as the Tree they came of: it shall not be needful to proin or cut off the branches there∣of when ye set them, if they be not great, but those that ye

do set, let them be but of two or three years growth, and if ye shall see those Cions, which ye have planted, not to be fair and good, or do grow and prosper not well, then in the Spring time cut them hard off by the root, that other small Cions may grow there off.

To set Damsons or Plum trees.

IN setting Damsons or Plum-trees, which fruit ye would have like to the Trees they came of: if the said Trees be not grafted before, ye shall take onely the Cions that grow from the root of the old stock, which groweth with small twigs, and plant or set them: and their fruit shall be like unto the Trees they were taken of.

To take Plum Graffes, and graffe them on other Plum-trees

ANd if your Plum-trees be graffed already, and have the like fruit that you desire, ye may take your graffes there∣of, and Graffe them on your Plum-trees, and the fruit that shall come thereof, shall be as good as the fruit of the Cion, which is taken from the root, because they are much of like effect.

To set all sorts of Cherries.

TO set all sorts of great Cherries, and others: ye must have the graffes of the same Trees, and graffe them on other Cherrie trees, although they be of sowre fruit, and when they are so graffed, they will be as good as the fruit of the Tree whereof the graffe was taken, for the stones are good, but to set to make wild Cions, or Plants to graffe on.

The manner how one may order both Plum-trees, and Cherrie-trees.

FOr somuch as these are two kind of Trees, that is, to understand, the Cherry and the Plum-tree, for when they be so graffed, their Roots be not so good, nor so free as the Branches above, wherefore the Cions that doe

come from the roots, shall not make so good and frank trees of. It is therefore to be understood, how this manner and sort is to make frank trees, that may put forth good Cions in time to come, which is, when they be great and good, then if ye will take those Cions, or young springs from the roots, ye may make good trees thereof, and then it shall not need to graffe them any more after: but to augment one by the other, as ye do the Cions from the root of the Nut, as is aforesaid, and ye shall doe as followeth.

How to graffe Plum-trees and Cherry-trees.

YE may well graff Plum-trees and great Cherry-trees, in ••uch good order as ye list to have them, and as hereaftr shall be declared in the fifth Chapter following: for these would be graffed while they be young and small, and also graft in the ground, for thereby one may dresse and trim them the better, and put but one graffe in ••ach stock of the same. Cleave not the heart, but a little on the one side, nor yet d••ep, or long open.

How you must proine or cut your Tree.

FOr when your graffes be well taken on the stock, and that the graffes doe put forth fair and long, about one yeares growth, ye must proine, or cut the branch off com∣monly in winter, (when they proin their Vines) a foot lower, to make them spred the better: then shall ye mingle all through with good fat earth, the which will draw the better to the place, which you have so proined or cut.

The convenientest way to clense and proin, or dresse the roots of Trees,

ANd for the better clensing and proining trees beneath, it is thus: Ye shall take away the weeds, and graft about the Roots, then shall you digge them so round about, as ye would seem to pluck them up, and shall make them h••lf bare, then shall ye inlarge the earth about the Roots, and whereas ye shall see them grow fair and long, place or couch

them in the said hole and earth again: then shall ye put the cut end of the Tree where it is graft, somewhat lower than his roots were, whereby his Cions so grafted, shall spring so much the better.

When the Stocks are greater than the Graffs.

WHen as the tree waxeth, and swelleth greater beneath the Graffing than above, then shall ye cleave the roots beneath, and wreath them round, and so cover them again. But see you break no root thereof, so will he come to perfe∣ction. But most men do use this way: if the stock wax greater than the Graffes, they doe slit downe the barks of the Graffs above in two or three parts, or as they shall see cause there∣of: and so likewise, if the Graffes wax greater above than the stock, ye shall slit down the stock accordingly with the sharp edge of a knife, This may well be done at any time in March, April and May, in the increase of the Moon, and not likely after.

The Remedy when ane Bough or Member of a Tree is broken.

IF you shall chance to have B••ughs or M••mbers of Trees broken, the best remedy shall be, to ••lace those Boughs or Members right soon again (then shall ye comfort the roots with good new earth) and bind tast those broken boughs or Members, both above and beneath, and so let them remaine unto another yeare, until they may close, and put forth new Cions.

When a Member or Bough is broken how to proine them.

WHereas ye shal see under or above superfluous boughs, ye may cut or proin off (as ye shall see cause) all such boughs hard by the tree, at a due time in the winter follow∣ing. But leave all the principall branches, and whereas any are broken, let them be cut off beneath, or els by the ground and cast them away: thus must you doe yearly, or as ye shall

see cause, if ye will keep your Trees well and faire.

How one ought to enlarge the hole about the Tree roots.

IN proyning your Trees, if there be many roots, ye must enlarge them in the hole, and so to wreath them as it is a∣foresaid, and to use them without breaking, then cover them again with good fat earth, which ye shall mingle in the said hole, and it shall be best to be digged all over a little before, and see that no branch or root be left uncovered, and when you have thus dressed your Trees, if any root shall put forth, or spring hereafter out of the said holes, in growing ye may so proin them, as ye shall see cause, in letting them so remain two or three years after, unto such time as the said Graffes be sprung up and well branched.

How to set small Staves by, to strengthen your Cions.

TO avoid danger, ye shall set or strick small staves about your Cions, for fear of breaking, and then after three or foure years, when they be well branch••d: ye may then set or plant them in good earth, (at the beginning of Winter) but see that ye cut off all their small branches hard by the stock, then ye may plant them where ye think good, so as they may remain.

In taking up Trees, note.

YE may well leave the maister root in the hole (when ye digge him up) if the removed place be good for him, cut off the master roots by the stub, but pare not off ••ll the small roots, and so plant him, and he shall profit more thus, then others with all their maister roots. When as Trees be great, they must be disbranched, or boughes cut off, before they be set again, or else they will hardly prosper. If the Trees be great, having great branches or boughes, when ye shall digge them up, ye must disbranch them afore ye set them again, for when Trees shall be thus proined, they shall bring great

Cions from their Roots, which shall be frank and good to replant, or set in other places, and shall have also good bran∣ches and roots, so that after it shall not need to graffe them any more, but shall continue one after another to be free and good.

How to couch the Roots when they are not proyned.

IN setting your Trees again, if ye will dresse the roots of such as ye have proined, or cut off the branches before, ye shall leave all such small roots w^ch grow on the great root, & ye shall so place those roots in replanting again, not deep in the earth, so that they may soon grow, and put forth Ci∣ons: which being well used, ye may have fruit so good as the other afore-mentioned, being of three or foure years growth, as before is declared.

What Trees to proyne.

THis way of proyning is more harder for the great Chery (called Healmier) then for the Plum-tree. Also it is very requisite and meet for those Cions or Trees, which be graft on the wilde sowre Cherry-tree, to be proined also, for divers and sundry causes.

Why the sowre Cherry dureth not so long as the Healmier or great Cherry.

THe wild and sower Cherry, of his own nature will not so long time indure, (as the great Healme Cherry) nei∣ther can have sufficient sappe to nourish the Graffes, as the great Healme Chery is graft; therefore when ye have proined the branches beneath, and the roots also, so that ye leave roots sufficient to nourish the Tree, then set him.

If ye cut not off the under rootes, the Tree will profit more easier, and also lighter to be known, when they put forth Cions, from the root of the same, the which ye may take hereafter.

To graffe one great Cherry upon another.

YE must have respect unto the Healme Cherry, which is graft on the wild Gomire (which is another kind of great Cherry) and whether you do proin them or not, it is not materiall, for they dure a long time. But ye must see to take away the Cions, that do grow from the root of the wild Go∣mire, or wild Plum-tree: because they are of nature wild, and do draw the sappe from the said Tree.

Of deep Setting or shallow.

TO set your Stocks or Trees somwhat deeper on the high grounds, then in the Vallies; because the sunne in sum∣mer shall not dry the root: and in the low ground more shallow, because the water in Winter shall not drown or annoy the Roots. Some do mark the stock in taking it up, and to set him again the same way, because he will not alter his nature: so likewise the Graffes in Graffing.

CHAP. IV. This Chapter doth shew how to set other Trees which come of wilde Cions, pricked in the earth without roots: and also of proining the meaner Cions.

Trees take root prickt of Branches.

THere be certain which take root, being pricked of Branches proined of other Trees, which be, the Mul∣berry, the Fig-Tree, the Quince-Tree, the Service-Tree, the Pomgranad-Tree, the Apple-Tree, the Damson-Tree, and divers sorts of other Plum-Trees, as the Plum-Tree of Paradice, &c.

How one ought to set them.

FOr to set these sorts of Trees, ye must cut off the Cions, twigs, or boughes, betwixt Alhallontide and Christmas,

not lightly after. Ye shall chose them, which be as great as a little staff or more, and looke whereas you can find them fair, smooth, and straight, and full of sap withall, growing of young trees, as of the age of three or four yeares growth, or thereabouts, and look that ye take them so from the tree with a broad Chizel, that ye break not, or loose any part of the bark thereof, more than half a foot beneath, neither of one side or other: then proine or cut off the branches, and prick them one foot deepe in the earth, well digged and ordered before.

How to binde them that be weak.

THose Plants which be slender, ye must proin or cut off the branches, then bind them to some stake or such like to be set in good earth, and well mingled with good dung, and also to be well and deeply digged, and to be set in a moist place, or els to be well watered in Summer.

How one ought to digge the Earth to set them in.

ANd when that ye would set them in the earth, ye must first prepare to digge it, and dung it well throughout a 〈…〉〈…〉 ••eep in the earth. And then ye shall set them eve∣ry one in his place made (before) with a crow of Iron, and for to make them take root the better, ye shall put with your Plants watered Oates, or Barley, and so ye shall let them grow the space of three or four yeares, or when they shal be branched, then ye may remove them, and if ye break off the old stubby root, and set them lower, they will last a long time the more. If some of those Plants doe chance to put forth Cions from the root, and being so rooted, ye must pluck them up, though they be tender, and set them in other places.

Of Cyons without Roots.

IF that the said Plants have Cions without any roots, but which come from the Root beneath, then cut them not

off, till they be of two or three years growth, by that time they will gather roots, to be replanted in other places.

To plant the Fig-tree.

THe said Plants taken off Fig-trees graffed, be the best. Ye may likewise take other sorts of Fig-trees, and graff one upon the other, for like as upon the wild Trees doe come the Pepins, even so the Fig, but not so soone to prosper and grow.

How to set Quinces.

LIkewise the nature of Quinces, is to spring, if they be pricked (as aforesaid) in the earth, but sometime I have graffed with great difficulty, saith mine Author, upon a white Thorne, and it hath taken and born fruit to look on fair, but in taste weaker than the other.

The way to set Mulberries.

THere is also another way to set Mulberries, as follows, which is, if you doe cut in Winter certaine great Mul∣berry boughs, or stocks asunder in the body (with a Saw) in troncheons a foot long and more, then make ye a great furrow in good earth well & deep, so that you may cover again your troncheons, in setting them an end half a foot one from another, then cover them again, that the earth may be above those ends three or four fingers high, so let them remain, and water them in Summer, if need be sometimes, and clense them from all hurtfull weeds and roots.

Note one of the same.

THat then within a spa•• of time after, the said tronchions will put forth Cions, which when they be somewhat sprigged, having two or three small twigs, then ye may transplant or remove them where you lift, but leave your troncheons still in the earth, for they will put forth many motions, the which, if they shall have scanty of root, then dung your troncheons with good earth, and likewise above also, and they shall do well.

The tyme to cut Cions.

VNderstand also that all trees, which usually put forth, put forth Cions, if ye cut them in winter, they will put forth and spring more abundantly, for then they be all good to set and plant.

To set Bush-tees, or Gooseberries or small Raisins.

THere be many other kind of Bush-trees, which will grow of Cions prickt in the ground, as the Gooseberry-tree, the small Raifin-tree, the Berberrie-tree, the Black Thorne-tree, these with many other to be planted in winter, will grow without roots: ye must also proine them, and they will grow well enough, so likewise ye may prick in Marh of Oziers in moist grounds, and they will grow, and serve to many purposes for your Garden,

CHAP. V. IT is to be understood that there be many wayes of graf∣fings, whereof here I have onely put four sorts, which be good, both sure and well appoved, and easie to doe, which may very well be used in two parts of the yeare and more, for I have (saith he) graffed in our house, in e∣very moneth, except October and November, and they have ta∣ken well, which I have (saith he) in the winter begun to graffe, and in the Summer graffed in the Scutchion or shield according to the time, forward or slow; for certaine Trees, specially young fair Cions have enough or more of their sap unto the middle of August, than other some had at Midsum∣mer before.

The way to graffe all soris of Trees.

ANd first of all it is to be noted, that all the sorts of frank Trees, as also wild Trees of nature, may be graffed

with grafts, and in the Scutchion, and both do well take, but specially those Trees which be of like nature: therefore it is better so to graffe. Howbeit they may well grow and take of other sort of trees, but trees are not so good, nor will prosper so well in the end.

How to graffe Apple-trees, Peare-trees, Quince-trees, and Medlar-trees.

THey graffe the Peare-graffe upon other Peare-stocks, and Apple on Apple-stocks, Crab or Wilding-stock, the Quince and Medlar on the white Thorne, but most com∣monly they use to graffe one Apple upon another, and both Peares and Quinces they graffe on Hawthorne and Crab-stock. And other kind of fruit called in French Saulfey, they use to graffe on the Willow-stock, the manner thereof •••• hard to doe, which I have not seen, therefore I will let it passe at this present.

The Graffing of Cherryes.

THey graffe the great Cherry, called in French Heaubmi∣ers, upon the Crab-stock, and another long Cherry cal∣led Guiviers, upon the wild or sowre Cherry Tree, and like∣wise one Cherry upon another.

To graffe great Medlars.

THe Misple or Medlar, they may be graffed on other Med∣lars, or on white-thorne, the Quince is graffed on the white or black thorne, and they doe prosper well. I have grafted (saith he) the Quince upon a wild Peare-stock, the which hath taken and borne fruit well and good, but they will not long endure. I believe (saith he) it was because the graff was not able enough to draw the sap from the Peare-stock. Some graffe the Medlar on the Quince, to be great. And it is to be noted, though the stock and the graft be of contrary natures, yet notwithstanding, neither the graff or Scutchion, shall take any part of the nature of the wild stock so grafted, though it be Pear, Apple, or Quince, which is con∣trary

against many which have written, that if ye graft the Medlar upon the Quince Tree, they shall be without stones, which is abusive and mockery. For I have (saith he) pro∣ved the contrary.

Of divers kinds of Graffes.

IT is very true, that one may set a Tree, which shall beare divers sorts of fruits at once, if he be graffed with divers kind of graffes, as the black, white, and green Cherry toge∣ther, and also Apples of other Trees, as Apples and Peares together, and in the Scutchion (ye may graffe) likewise of divers kinds also, as on Peares, Apricocks and Plums toge∣ther, and of others also,

Of graffing of the Figs.

YE may graffe the Fig-tree upon the Peach tree or Apri∣cock, but leave a branch on the stock, and there must be according for the space of yeares, for the one shall change sooner than the other. All trees abovesaid do take very well being graffed one with the other. And I have not known or found of any others: howbeit (saith he) I have curiously sought and proved, because they say one may graffe on Coleworts, or Elmes, the which I think are but Jests.

Of the great Apricock.

THe great Apricock they graffin summer, in the Scutchi∣on or shield, in the sap or bark of the lesser Apricock, and be graffed on Peach-trees, Fig-rees, and principally on Dam∣son or Plum-trees, for there they will prosper the better.

Of the Service-trees.

OF the Service-tree they say and write, that they may hardly be graffed on other Service-tres, either on Ap∣ple-trees, Pear or Quince-trees: and I believe this to be very hard to doe, for I have tryed (saith he) and they would not prove.

The setting of Service-Trees

THerefore it is much better to set them of Curnels, as it is aforesaid, as also in the second Chapter of planting of Ci∣ons, or other great Trees, which must be cut in winter, as such as shall be most meet for that purpose.

Trees which be very fit to be graffed in the Shield or Scutchion.

ALl other manner of Trees aforesaid, doe take very well to be graffed with Cions, and also in the Shield, except Apricocks on Peaches, Almonds, Perciginiers, the Peach-tree do take hardly to be graffed, but in the shield in Sum∣mer, as shall be more largely declared hereafter. As for the Almonds, Perciginiers, and Peaches, ye may better set them of Curnels and Nuts, whereby they shall the sooner come to perfection to be graffed.

How a man ought to consider those Trees, which be commonly charged with fruit.

YE shall understand, that in the beginning of graffing, ye must consider what sorts of Trees doe most charge the stock with branch and fruit, or that doe love the Country, or Ground whereas you intend to plant or graffe them: for better it were to have abundance of fruit▪ than to have very few or none.

Of Trees whereon to choose your graffes.

OF such Trees as ye will gather your Gr••ffes to graffe with, ye must take them at the ends of the principall branches, which be also fairest and greatest of sappe, having two or three fingers length of the old wood, with the new, and those Cions, which eyes somewhat nigh together, are the best; for those which b•• long, are farre one from another, and not so good to bring fruit.

The Cions towards the East are best.

YE shall understand, that those which doe grow on the East, or Orient part of the Tree, are best: ye must not

lightly gather of the evill and slender graffes which grow in the middest of the Trees, nor any graffes which doe grow within on the branches, or that do spring from the stock of the Tree, nor yet graftes, which be on very old Trees, for thereby ye shall not lightly profit to any purpose.

To chuse your Trees for Graffes.

ANd when the Trees whereas you intend to gather your grafts, be small and yong, as of five or six years growth, do not take of the highest grafts thereof, nor the greatest, ex∣cept it b•• of a small Tree of two or three years, the which commonly hath too much of top or wood, otherwise not, for you shall but marre your graffing.

How to keep Graffes a long time.

YE may keep grafts a long time good, as from Alhallon∣tide (so that the leaves be fallen) unto the time of grafting if that they be well covered in the earth half a foot deep ther∣in, and so that none of them doe appear without the earth.

How to keep Graffes before they are budded.

ALso do not gather them, except ye have great need, un∣till Christmas or there-abouts, and put them not in the ground nigh any walles for feare of Moles, Mice, and water, marring the place and grafts. It shall be good to keep grafts in the earth before they begin to bud, when that ye will graft betwixt the bark and the Tree, and when the Trees begin to enter into their sappe.

How one ought to begin to Graffe.

ALso ye must begin to graft (in cleaving the stock) at Christmas, or before, according to the coldnesse of the time, and principally the Healme or great Cherry, Peares, Wardens, or forward fruit of Apples: and for Medlars it is good to tarry untill the end of January and February, untill

March, or until such time as ye shall see Trees begin to bud or spring.

When it is good graffing the wild stock.

In the Spring time it is good Graffing of wild stocks, (which be great) betwixt the bark and the tree, such stocks as are of later spring, and kept in the earth before, The Damson or Plum-tree tarrieth longest to be graffed: for they doe not shew or put forth sapp, as soon as others.

Mark if the Tree be forward or not.

ALso consider you alwayes, whether the Tree be forward or not, to be graffed soon or laterward, and to give him also a graffe of the like hast or slownesse: even so ye must marke the time, whether it be slow or forward.

When one will graffe what necessaries he ought to be furnished withall.

Whensoever ye go to Graffing, see ye be furnished with grafts, clay and mosse, cloths or barks of Sallow to bind likewise withall. Also ye must have a small Saw, and a sharp knife, to cleave and cut Graffes withall. But it wers much better, if ye should cut your Graffes with a great Pen-knife, or some other like sharp knife, having a small wedge of hard wood, or of Iron, with a hooked knife, and also a small mallet. And your wild stocks must be well rooted be∣fore ye do graffe them: and be not so quick to deceive your selves, as those which do graffe and plant all at one time, yet they shall not profit so well: for where the wild stock hath not substance in himself, much lesse to give unto the other grafts: for when a man thinks sometime to forward himself, he doth hinder himselfe.

Of Graffes not prospering the first year.

Ye shall understand, that very hardly your Graffes shall prosper after, if they do not profit or prosper well in the first year, for whensoever (in the first year) they profit well,

it were better to graffe them somewhat lower, than to let them so remain and grow.

For to graffe well and sound.

ANd for the best understanding of Graffing in the cleft, ye shall first cut away all the small Cions about the body of the stock beneath, and before ye begin to cleave your stock, dresse and cut your graffes somewhat thick and ready, then cleave your stock, and as the cleft is small or great (if need be) pare it smooth within, then cut your inci∣sion of your graffes accordingly, and set them in the cleft, as even and as close as possible you can:

How to trim your Graffes.

ALso ye may graffe your Graffes full as long as two or three trunchions or cut-graffes, which ye may likewise graffe withall very well, and will be as those which doe come of old wood, and oftentimes better, than to graffe a bough, for often it so happeneth, a man shall find of Oylets or eyes hard by the old slender wood, yet better it were to cut them off with the old wood, and choose a better and fair place at some other eye in the same graffe, and to make your incision thereunder as aforsaid, and cut your graffs in making the incision on the one side narrow, and on the o∣ther side broad, and the inner side thinn, and the outside thick, because the outside of your graff must joyn within the cleft, with the sappe of Barke of the wild, and it shall so be s••t in. See also that ye cut it smooth, as your clefts are in the Stock, in joyning at every place both even and close, and especially the joynts or corners of the graffes on the head of the stocke, which must be well and clean pared be∣fore, and then set fast thereon.

How to cut graffes for Cherries and Plums.

IT is not much requisite in the helme Cherry, for to joyn the Graffes in the stock wholly throughout, as it is in

others, or to cut the graffes of great Cherries, Damsons, or Plums, so thin and plaine as ye may other graffes, for these sorts have a greater sappe or pith within, the which ye must always take heed in cutting it too nigh on the one side or one the other, but at the end thereof chiefly, to be thin cut and flat.

Note also.

ANd yet if the said incision be straighter and closer on the one side than it is on the other side, pare it where it is most meet, and where it is too straight, open it with a wedge of Iron, and put in a wedge of the same wood above in the cleft, and thus may ye moderate your graffes as ye shall see cause

How in graffing to take heed that the Bark rise not.

IN all kind of cutting your gr••ffes, take heed to the bark of your graffes, that it doe not rise from the wood on no side thereof, and specially on the outside, therefore ye shall leave it thicker than the inner side: Also ye must take heed when as the stocks doe wreath in cleaving, that ye may joyn the graffe therein accordingly: The best remedy ther••fore is, to cut it smooth within, that the graffe may joyn the better: ye shall also for the greatest stocks make choice of the great∣est Graffes.

How to cut your Stock.

HOw much the more your stock is thin and slender, so much more ye ought to cut him lower, and if your stock be as great as your finger, or thereabouts, ye may cut him a foot or half a foot from the earth, and dig him about; and dung him with Goats dung, to help withall, and graffe him but with one graffe or Cion.

If the wild Stock be great and slender.

IF your wild stock be great, or as big as a good, staffe ye shall cut him round off, a foot or there-abouts above the

earth; then set in two good graffs in the head or cleft there∣of

Trees as great as ones Arme.

BUt when your stock is as great as your arme, ye shall saw him cl••an off and round, three or four foot, or therea∣abouts from the earth, for to defend him, and set in the head three graffes, two in the cleft, and one betwixt the bark and the Tree, on that side which ye have most space.

Great Trees as big as your Leg.

IF the stock be as big as your legge, or thereabouts, ye shall saw him f••ir and clean off, four or five foot high from the earth, and cleave him acrosse (if ye will) and set in four graffes in the clefts thereof, or else one cleft onely, and set two graffes in both the sides thereof, and other two graffes betwixt the bark and the Tree.

When the Graffes be pinched with the Stock.

YE must for the better understanding marke to graffe be∣tween the bark and the Tree, for when the sappe is full in, the wood or wild Stocks being great, they doe common∣ly pinch or wring the graffes too sore, if ye doe not put a small wedge of green wood in the cleft thereof, to help them withall against such danger.

How ye ought to cleave your Stock.

WHensoev••r you shall cleave your wild Stocks, take h••ed that ye cleave them not in the midst of the heart or pith, but a little on that si••e, which ye shall think good.

How to graffe the branch of great Trees.

IF ye would graft Trees, as big as your thigh, or bigger, it were much better to graffe onely the branch••s thereof, than the stock or body, for the stock will ••ot before the graffes shall cover the head.

How to cut Branches old and great.

BUt if the Branches be too rude and without order, the best shall be to cut them all off, and within three or four years after they will bring fair young Cions againe, and then it shall be best to graffe them, and cut off all the su∣perfluous and ill branches thereof,

How ye ought to bind your Graffes throughout for fear of windss

ANd when your graffes shall be grown, ye must binde them for feare of shaking of the wind, and if the Tree be free and good of himself, let the Cions grow still, and ye may graffe any part or branch ye will in the cleft, or betwixt the bark a••d the Tree, or in the Scutchion, if your bark be fair and loose.

To set many graffes in one cleft.

EVer when ye wi••l put many graffes in one cleft, see that one incision of your graffe be as large as the other, not to be put into the cleft so slightly and rashly, and that one side thereof be not more open than the other, and that these graffes be all of one length: it shall suffice also if they have three eyes on each graffe without the joynt thereof.

How to saw your stock before you leave him.

IN sawing your stock, see that you teare not the barke a∣bout the head thereof, then cleave his head with a long sharpe knife, or such like, and knock your wedge in the middest thereof, then pare him on the head round about, and knock your wedge in so deep till it open meet for your graffes, but not so wide, then holding in one hand your graffe, and in the other hand your stock, set your graffe in close bark to bark, & let your wedge be greater above at the head, that ye may knock him out fair and easily again.

If the Stock cleave too much, or the bark doe open.

IF the Stock doe cleave too much, or open the bark with the wood too low, then softly open your stock with your wedge, and see if the incision of your graffe be meet, and just, according to the cleft, if not, make it untill it be meet, or else saw him off lower,

How Graffes never lightly take.

ABove all things you must consider the meeting of the two saps, betwixt the graffe and the wild stock, which must be set in just one with another: for ye shall understand, if they doe not joyn, and the one delight with the other, being even set, they shall never take together, for there is nothing onely to joyn their increase, but the sap, recoun∣ting the one against the other.

How to set the Graffes right in the cleft.

WHen the bark of the Stock is more thick than the graff, ye must take good heed in setting of the graffe in the cleft, to the end that his sappe may joyn right with the sap of the stock on the in-side, and ye ought likewise to consider of the sappe of the stock, if he doe surmount the graffes in the out-sides of the cleft too much or not.

Of setting in the Graffes.

ALso ye must take good heed, that the graffes be well and clean set in, and joyn close upon the head of the stock. Likewise then the incision, which is set in the cleft, do joyn very well within on both sides, not to joyn so even, but sometimes it may do service, when as the graffes doe draw too much from the Stock, or the stock also on the graffes doe put forth.

Note also.

ANd therefore when the stock is rightly cloven, there is no danger in cutting the incision of the graffe, but a lit∣tle

straight rebated at the end thereof, that the sap may joyn one with the other better and closer together.

How you ought to draw out your wedge.

VVHen your graffes shall be well joyned with your stock, draw your wedge fair and so••tly forth, for fear o•• dis••lacing your graffes, ye may leave within the cleft a small wedge of such green wood as is aforesaid, and ye shall cut it off close by the head of your stock, and so cover it with a barke as followeth.

To cover your clefts on the head.

VVHen your wedge is dr••wn forth, put a green pill of the thick bark of Willow, Crab or Apple, upon the clefts of the stock, that nothing m••y fall between: then cover all about the clefts on the stock head, two fingers thick with good clay, or nigh about that thicknesse, that no Wind or Rain may enter, then cover it round with moss, and then wreath it over with clothes, pills of Willow, Bryar, or Oziars, or such like, then bind them fast, and stick cer∣tain long pricks on the graffes head amongst the Cions, to keep off the Crows, Jayes, or such like.

How you ought to see to the binding of your Graffes.

BUt all way••s take good heed to the binding of your heads that they wax slack or shaggie, neither on the one side or one the other, but remain fast upon the clay, the clay to re∣maine fast likewise on ••he stock h••ad under the binding thereof, wherefore the said clay must be moderated in such sort as followeth.

How ye ought to temper your clay.

THe best way is therefore to try your clay betwixt your hands for stones and such like, and so to temper it as ye shall think good, as it shall ••equire moistnesse or driness, and to temper it with the hair of beasts (for when it drieth, it holdeth not so well on the stock,) or knead Mosse there∣with,

or mingle Hay thin therewith: Some conceit that the Mosse doth make the Trees mossie. But I rather suppose it is occasioned by the disposition of the place.

To bush your graffe heads.

VVHen ye shall bind or wrap your graffe heads with you band, take small Thornes and bind them with∣in for to defend your Graffes from Kites, or Crows, or o∣ther danger of other Fowles, or prick sharp white stickes thereon.

The second way to graffe high Branches on Trees.

THe second manner to graffe, is strange enough unto many: This kind of Graffing is on the tops of branches of Trees, which thing to make them grow lightly, is not so soone obtained: certaine it is, that wheresoever they be graffed, they doe onely require a faire young wood, as also a great Cion or twig, growing highest on the top of the Tree, which Cions ye shall choose to graffe on of many sorts of Fruits, if ye will, or as ye shall think good, which order followeth.

TAke graffs of other sorts of trees, which ye would graff in the top thereof, then mount to the top of the tree which you would graff, and cut off the tops of all such branches, or as many as ye would graffe on, and if they be greater than the graffes which ye would graffe, ye shall cut and graffe them lower as ye doe the small wild stock afore∣said. But if the Cions that ye cut be as big as your graffe you graffe on, ye shall cut them lower betwixt the old wood and the new, or a little higher or lower: then cleave a little, and choose your graffes in like sort which you would plant, whereof you shall make your incision short, with the barke on both sides alike, and to be as thick on the one side as it is on the other, and also set so just in cleft, that the bark may be even and close, aswel above as beneath, on the one side as the other, and so bind them as is afore∣said.

It shall suffice that every graft have an oylet or eye, or two at the most without the joynt, for to leave them too long it shall not be good, and ye must dresse it with Clay and Mosse, and bind as it is aforesaid. And likewise ye may graffe these, as ye doe little wild Stocks, which should be as big as your graffes, and to graffe them, as you doe those with sap like on both sides, but then you must graffe them in the, earth, three fingers of, or thereabouts.

The manner of Graffing, is of Graffes which may be set between the Bark and the Tree

To graffe betwixt the bark and the Tree.

THis manner of graffing is good, when Trees doe begin to enter into their sap, which is about the end of Febru∣ry unto the end of April, and specially on great wild stockes, which be hard to cleave, ye may set in four or five graffes in the head thereof, which graffes ought to be gathered afore, and kept close in the earth till then, for by that time afore∣said, ye shall shall scantly find a Tree, but that he doth put forth or bud, as the Apple called Capendu, or such like.

Ye must therefore saw these wild stocks more charily, and more high, so they be great, and then cut the Graffes, which ye would set together, so as you would set them up∣on the wild stock that is cleft, as is before rehearsed. And the incision of your graffs must not be so long and so thick, and the bark a little at the end thereof must be taken away, and made in a manner as a Launcet of Iron, and as thick on the one side as the other.

How to dresse the head to place the Graffes betwixt the Bark and the Tree.

ANd when your graffes be ready cut, then shall you clense the head of your stock, and pare it with a sharpe knife round about the barke thereof, to the end your graffes may

joyn the better thereon, then take a sharp penknife, or other sharp pointed knife, and thrust it down betwixt the barke and the stock, so long as the incision of graffes be, then put your graffes softly downe therein to the hard joynt, and see that it doe sit close upon the stock head.

How to cover the head of your stock.

VVHen as you have set in your graffes, you must then cover it well about with good tough Clay, and Mosse, as is said of others, and then you must incontinent environ or compasse your head with small thorny bushes, and bind them fast thereon all about, for fear of great Birds, and likewise the wind.

Of the manner and graffing in the Shield or Scutchion.

THe fourth manne•• to graffe, which is the last, is to graffe in the Scutchion in the sap in Summer, from the end of the moneth of May until August, when as Trees be yet strong in sap and leaves, for otherwise it cannot be done; the best time is in June and July, some yeares when the time is very dry, and that some Trees do hold their sap very long; there∣fore ye must tary till it returne.

For to graffe in Summer so long as the Trees be full leaved.

FOr to begin this manner of graffing well, ye must in the Summer, when the Trees be almost full of sap, and when they have sprung forth new shoots being somewhat hard∣ned, then shall ye take a branch thereof in the top of the tree, which ye will have graffed, and choose the highest and prin∣cipallest branches, without cutting it from the old wood, and choose thereof the principallest oylet or eye, or budding place, of each branch one, with which oylet or eye, ye shall begin to graffe as followeth.

The big Cions are best to graffe.

CHiefly ye must know that the smallest & worst oylets, or buds of the said Cions be not so good to graffe: there∣fore choose the greatest and the best you can find, first cut off the leaf hard by the oylet, then trench or cut the length of a barley corn beneath the oylet round about the barke, hard to the wood, and likewise above: then with a sharp point of a knife, slit it down halfe an inch beside the oylet, or bud, and with the point of a sharp knife softly raise the said Shield or Scutchion round about, with the oylet in in the middest, and all the sap belonging thereunto.

How to take off the Shield from the wood.

ANd for the better raising the said Shield, or Scutchion from the wood, after that ye have cut him round a∣bout, then slit him down, without cutting any part of the wood within, you must then raise the side next you that is slit and then take the same Shield betwixt your finger & thumb, and pluck or raise it softly off, without breaking or bruising any part thereof, and in the opening or plucking it off, hold it with your finger hard to the wood, that the sap of the oylet may remain in the Shield, for if it goe off in plucking it from the barke, and stick to the wood, your Scutchions are nothing worth.

To know your Scutchion or Shield when he is good or bad.

ANd for the more easie understanding whether it be good or bad when it is taken from the wood, look within the said shield, and if ye shall see it crack or open within, then it is of no value, for the chief Sap doth yet remain behind with the wood which should be in the shield; and therefore ye must choose and cut another Shield, which must be good and sound as aforesaid, and when your Scutchion shall be well taken off from the wood, then hold it dry by the oylet or eye betwixt your lips, till you have taken off the barke

from the other Cion or branch, and set him in that place, and see that ye doe not foul or wet it in your mouth.

Of young Trees to graffe on.

BUt ye must graffe on such Trees as be from the bignesse of your little finger, unto as great as your arme, having their bark thin and slender, for great Trees commonly have their bark hard and thick, which ye cannot well graffe this way, except they have some branches with a thin smooth bark, meet for this way to be done.

How to set or place your Shield.

Ye must quickly cut off round the bark of the Tree that ye will graffe on, a little longer than the Shield that ye set on, because it may joyne the sooner and easier, but take heed that in cutting the bark ye cut not the wood within.

Note also.

AFter the incision once done, ye must then cover both the sides or ends well and softly with a little bone or horne made in manner like a thin skin, which ye shall lay all over the joynts or closings of the said Shield, somewhat longer and larger, but take heed ye hurt not or crush the bark thereof.

How to lift up the bark and to set your Shield on.

THis done, take your Shield or Scutchion by the oylet or eye that he hath, and open him fair and softly by the two sides, and put them straight way one the other Tree, where∣as the barke is taken off, and joyn him close barke to barke thereon, then plaine it softly above, and at both the ends with the thinne bone, and that they joyne above and be∣neath barke to barke, so that he may feed well the branch of that Tree.

How to bind your Shield.

THis done, ye must have a wreath of good Hempe, to bind the said shield on his place; the manner to bind it is this, ye shall make a wreath of Hemp together, as great as a Gose-quill, or thereabouts, or according to the bignesse or smallnes of your Tree; then take your Hemp in the middest; that the one half may serve for the upper half of the shield, in winding and crossing with the Hemp, the said shield on the branch of the tree, but see you bind it not too straight, for it shall let him from taking or springing, and likewise their sap cannot easily come or passe from the one to the other and see also that wet come not to your shield, nor likewise the Hemp that ye bind it withall. Ye shall begin to bind your Scutchion first behind in the middest of your shield, in com∣ing stil lower and lower, and so recover under the oylet and tail of your shield, binding it nigh together, without reco∣vering of the said oylet, then ye shall return again upward, in binding it backward to the middest where ye began. Then take the other part of the Hemp, and bind so likewise the up∣per part of your shield, & increase your Hemp as ye shal need, and so return ag••in backward, and ye shall bind it so, till the fruits or clefts be covered (both above and beneath) with your said Hemp, except the oylet and the tail, the which ye must not cover, for that tail will shed apart, if the Shield do take.

On one tree you may graffe, or put two or three Shields.

YE may very well if ye will, on every tree graffe two or three shields, but see that one be not right against ano∣ther, nor yet of the one side of the Tree, let your shields so remain bound on the Trees, one moneth or more after they be graffed, and the greater the Tree is, the longer to remain, and the smaller, the lesser time.

The time to unbind your Shield.

ANd then after one moneth, or six wkeks past, ye must unbind the Shield, or at the least cut the Hemp behind the Tree, and let it so remain until the Winter next following, and then about the moneth of March or April, if ye will, or when ye shall see the sap of the Shield put forth, then cut the branch above the Shield, three fingers all about all off.

How to cut and govern the Branches graffed on the Tree.

THen in the next year after that the Cions shall be well strengthened, and when they do begin to spring, then shall ye cut them all hard off about the Shield above, for if ye had cut them so nigh in the first year, when they begin first to spring or but, it should greatly hinder them against their increase of growing: also when those Cions shall put forth a fair Wood, ye must bind and stay them in the midst, fair and gently with small wands, or such like, that the wind and weather hurt them not. And after this manner of graffing, is practised in the Shield or Scutchion, which way ye may easi∣ly graffe the white Rose on the Red: and likewise ye may have Roses of ••ivers colours and sorts upon one branch or Root, This I thought sufficient and meet do declare, of this kind of graffing at this present.

CHAP. VI. Of transplanting or altering of Trees.

The sooner ye transplant or set them, it shall be the better.

YE ought to Transplant or set your Trees from Alhal∣lontide unto March, and the sooner the better, for as soon as the Leaves are fallen from the Trees, they be meet for to be Planted, if it be not in a very cold or

moist place, the which then it were best for to tarry untill Ja∣nuary, or February, to plant in the Frost is not good.

To Plant or Set towards the South or Sunny place is best.

A Fore you do pluck up your trees for to plant them, if ye will mark the South-side of each trees, that when ye shall replant them, ye may set them again as they stood before, which is the best way as some do say. And if ye keep them a certain time, after they be taken out of the Earth, before ye replant them again, they will rather recover there in the earth, so they be not wet with Rain, nor otherwise, for that shall be more contrary to them than the great Heat or Drought.

How to cut the Branches of Trees before they be Set.

WHensoever ye shall set or replant your Trees, first ye must cut off the boughes, and specially those which are great branches, in such sort that ye shall leave the small twigs or sprigs, on the stocks of your branch, which must be but a shaftment long, or somewhat more, or lesse according as the Tree shall require, which ye do set.

Apple-trees commonly must be disbranched before they be replanted or set.

ANd chiefly the Apple Trees, being Graffed or not Graf∣fed, doe require to be disbranched before they be set a∣gain, for they shall prosper thereby much the better: the o∣ther sorts of Trees may well passe unbranched, if they have not too great or large branches, and therefore it shall be good to transplant or set, as soon after as the graffes are clo∣sed, on the head of the wild Stock, as for small Trees which have but one Cion or twig, it needs not to cut them above, when they be replanted or removed.

All wild Stocks must be disbranched when they are replanted or set.

ALL wild trees or stocks, which ye think for to graffe on, ye must first cut off all their Branches before ye set them again: also it shall be good, alwayes to take heed in replan∣ting your Trees, that ye do set them again, in as good or bet∣ter Earth, than they were in before, and so every Tree, accor∣ding as his nature doth require.

What Trees love the faire Sun, what Trees the cold Ayre.

COmmonly the most part of Trees, do love the Sunne at Noon, and yet the South Wind (or vent d'aval) is very contrary against their nature, and specially the Almond-tree, the Apricock, the Mulberry-tree, the Fig-tree, and the Pom∣granade-tree. Certain other Trees there be which love cold Ayre, as these: the Chesnut-tree, the wild and eager Cherry-tree, the Quince-tree, and the Damson or Plum▪tree, the Wal∣nut loveth cold Ayre, and a stony white ground. Pear-trees love not greatly plain places, they prosper well enough in places closed with walls, or high Hedges, and specially the Pear called bon Christien.

Of many sorts and manner of Trees following their nature.

THe Damson or Plum tree doth love a cold fat earth, and clay withall, the (Healm) great Cherry doth love to be set or planted upon Clay. The Pine-tree loveth light earth, stony and sandy. The Medlar commeth well enough in all kinde of grounds, and doth not hinder his fruit, to be in the shadow and moist places. Hasel nut trees love the place to be cold, lean, moist and sandy. Ye shall understand, that every kind of fruitful Tree doth love, and is more fruitfull in one place, than another, as according unto their nature. Never∣theless, yet we ought to nourish them (all that we may) in the place where we set them in, in taking them from the place &

ground they were in. And ye must also consider when one doth plant them of the great and largest kind of Trees, that every kind of Tree may prosper and grow, and it is to be considered also if the Trees have commonly grown afore so large in the ground or not, for in good earth the Trees may well prosper and grow, having a good space one from ano∣ther, more than if the ground were lean or naught.

How to place or set Trees at large.

IN this thing ye shall consider, ye must give a competent space from one Tree to another, when as you make the holes to set them in, not nigh, nor the one tree to touch ano∣ther. For a good Tree planted or set well at large, it profit∣eth ofttimes more of fruit than three or four Trees set too nigh together. The greatest and largest Trees commonly are Wallnuts and Chesnuts, if ye plant them severally in ranks, as they do commonly grow upon high-ways, besides hedges and fields, set them xxxv foot asunder, one from another or thereabout, but if ye will plant many ranks in one place together, ye must set them the space of xlv foot one from a∣nother, or thereabout, and so far you must set your ranks one from another. For the Pear-trees and Apple-trees, and of other sort of Trees, which may be set of this largenesse one from the other, if ye plant onely in ranks by hedges in the fields or otherwise, it shall be sufficient of xx foot from one another. But if you will set two ranks upon the sides of your great allies in gardens, which be ten or twelve foot broad, it shall be then best to give them more space, the one from the other in each rank, as about xxv foot, also ye must not set your Trees right one against another, but entermed∣ling, or between every space, as they may best grow at large, that if need be, ye mae plant other small Trees between, but see that ye set them not to thick. If ye list to set or plant all your Trees of one bignesse, as of young Trees like rods, be∣ing Peare-trees or Apple-trees, they must be set a good distance one from another, as of twenty or thirty foot in

square, as to say one rank to another. But to plant or set of smaller Trees, as Plum-trees and Apple-trees, of the like bignesse, it shall be sufficient for them fourteene or fifteene foot space in quarters. But if ye will plant or set two ranks in your Allies in gardens, ye must devise for to proportion it after the largenesse of your said Allies. For to plant eager or lower Cherrie-trees, this space shall be sufficient enough the one from the other, that is of x or xii foot, and therefore if you make of great or large Allyes in your Garden, as of x foot wide or thereabouts, they shall come well to passe, and shall be sufficient to plant your Trees of nine or ten foote space, and for the other lesser sorts of Trees, as of Quince-trees, Fig-trees, Nut-trees, and such like, which be not com∣monly planted, but in one rank together.

Ordering your Trees.

WHen that ye plant or set ranks, or every kind of trees together, ye shall set or plant the smallest to∣wards the Sun, and the greatest in the shade, that they may not annoy or hurt the small, nor the small the great. Also whensoever ye will plant or set Pear-trees, and Plum-trees, in any place the one with another, better it were to set the Plum-trees next the Sun, for the Peares will dure better in the shade. Also ye must understand when you set or plant a∣ny ranks of Trees together, ye must have more space betwixt your ranks and Trees than when you set but one rank, that they may have roome sufficient on every side.

Ye shall also scarcely set or plant Peare-trees, or Apple-trees, or other great Trees upon dead or mossie barren ground unstirred; for they increase thereon to no purpose. But other lesser Trees very well may grow, as Plum-trees, and such like: now when all the aforesaid things above be considered, ye shall make your holes according to the space that shall be required of every tree ye shall plant or set, and also the place fit for the same, so much as ye may convenient, ye shall make your holes large enough, for ye must suppose

the tree you doe set, hath not the half of his roots he shall have hereafter; therefore ye must help him and give of good fat earth (or dung) all about the roots, when as ye plant him. And if any of the same roots be too long, and bruised or hurt, ye shall cut them clean off aslope wise, so that the upper side of each root so cut may be longest in setting, and for the small roots which come forth all about thereof, ye may not cut them off as the great roots.

How ye ought to enlarge the holes for the Trees when you plant them.

FOr when ye set the Trees in the holes, ye must then en∣large the roots in placing them, and see that they take all downwards, without turning any roots the ends up∣ward, and you must not plant or set them too deep in the earth, but as ye shall see cause. It shall be sufficient for them to be planted or set half a foot or thereabouts in the earth, so that the earth be above all the roots half a foot or more, if the place be not very burning and stony.

Of Dung and good Earth for your Plants and Trees.

ANd as ye would replant or set, you must have of good fat earth or dung, well mingled with a part of the same earth, out of which you took your plant,, with all the up∣per crusts of the earth, as thick as you can have it: the said earth which ye shall put about the roots, must not be put too nigh the roots, least the dung being laid too nigh, the roots should be put into a heat: but let it be well mingled with the other earth, and well tempered in the holes, and the smallest and slenderest Cions that turnes up among those roots ye may plant very well.

If you have wormes amongst the earth of your roots.

IF there be wormes in the fat Earth or Dung, that ye put about your roots, ye must also well mingle it with the

dung of Oxen or Kine, or slak'd Sope-ashes about the root, which will destroy those worms which would have destroy∣ed the Roots.

To dig well the Earth about the Trese Rootes.

ALso ye must dig well the earth, principally all round o∣ver the roots, and oftner if they be dry, than if they be wet: ye must not plant or set Trees when it raineth, nor the earth to be very moist about the roots. The Trees that be planted or set in Vallies, commonly prosper well by drought: and when it raineth, they that be on the Hills are better by watering with drops than others: and if the ground be moist by nature, you must plant or set your trees not so deep therein.

The nature of Places.

ON high and dry places, ye must plant and set your Trees a little deeper than in the Vallies, and ye must not fill the holes in high places so full as the other, to the end that the rain may better moisten them.

Of good Earth.

VNderstand also that of good earth commonly cometh good fruit, but in certain places (if they might be suf∣fered to grow) they would season the tree the better; other∣wise they shall not come to proof, or have a good tast.

With what ye ought to bind your Trees.

VVHensoever your Trees shall be replanted or set, ye must knock by the root a stake, and bind your trees thereto for feare of the wind, and when they doe spring, ye shall dresse them and bind them with bands that will not break, you may make them of strong soft hearbs, as Bulrush or such like, or of old linnen clouts, if the other be not strong enough, or else ye may bind them with Oziars, or such like, least you hurt or fret your Trees.

CHAP. VII. Of medicining and keeping the Trees when they are planted.

The first counsel is, when your Trees be but Plants, in dry weather they must be watered.

THe young trees that be newly planted, must sometimes in Summer be watered when the time waxeth dry, at the least the first year after they be planted or set. But as for the greater Trees which are both well taken and rooted a good time, ye must dig them all over the Roots after Al∣hallontide, and uncover them foure or five foot compasse a∣bout the root of the Tree: and let them so lie uncovered until the latter end of Winter. And if ye doe, then mingle about each tree of good fat earth or dung, to heat and com∣fort the earth withall, it shall be good.

With what Dung ye ought to dung your Trees.

ANd principally unto Mossie trees, dung them with Hogs dung mingled with other earth of the same ground, and let the dung of Oxen be next about the roots, and ye shall also abate the Mosse of the Trees with a great knife of wood or such like, so that ye hurt not the barke thereof.

When ye ought to uncover your Trees in Summer.

IN the time of Summer, when the earth is scantly halfe moist, it shall be good to dig at the foot of the Trees, all about on the root, such as have not been uncovered in the Winter before, and to mingle it with good fat earth: and so fill it againe, and they shall doe well.

When ye ought to cut and proine your Trees

ANd if there be in your Trees certain branches of super∣fluous wood that ye will cut off, tary til the time of the entring in of the Sap, that is, when they begin to bud, as in March and April: Then cut off, as ye shall see cause, all such superfluous Branches hard by the Tree, that thereby the o∣ther Branches may prosper the better, for then they shall sooner close their sap upon the cut places than in the win∣ter, which should not doe so well to cut them, as some doe teach which have no experience. But forasmuch as in this time the Trees be entring into the sap, as is aforesaid. Take heed therefore then in cutting off your great Branches hasti∣ly, that through their great weight, they doe not cleave or separate the bark from the Tree in any part thereof.

How to cut your great Branches, and when.

ANd for the better remedy, first you shall cut the same great Branches, halfe a foot from the tree, and after to saw the rest cleane hard by the body of the tree, then with a broad Chizel cut all clean and smooth upon that place, then cover it with Oxe dung. Ye may also cut them well in win∣ter, so that ye leave the trunke or branch som••what longer, so as ye may dresse and cut them again in March and April, as is before mentioned.

How ye ought to leave the great Branches cut.

OTher things here are to be shewed of certain graffs and old trees onely, which in cutting the great branches truncheon-wise doe renue again, as W••lnuts, Mulberry-trees, Plum-trees, Cherry-trees, with others, the bough•• whereof ye must disbranch even after Alhallontide, or so soon as their leaves be fallen off, and likewise before they begin to enter into the Sap.

Of Trees having great Branches.

THe said great Branches, when ye shall disbranch them, ye shall so cut them off in such Truncheons, to lengthen the Trees, that the one may be longer than the other, that when the Cions be grown good and long thereon, ye may graffe on them again as ye shall see cause, according as every arm shall require.

Of barrennesse of Trees, the time of cutting all Bran∣ches and uncovering the Roots.

SOmetimes a man hath certain old Trees, which be almost spent, as of the Pear-trees, and Plum-trees, and other great Trees, the which bear scant of fruit: but when as ye shall see some Branches well charged therewith, then ye ought to cut off the other ill Branches and Boughs, to the end that those that remain, may have the more S••p to nourish their fruit, and also to uncover their root after Alhallontide, and to cleave the greatest roots thereof (a foot from the trunk) and put into the said clefts a thin slate of hard stone, there let it remain, to the end that the humour of the Tree may enter out thereby, and at the end of Winter ye shall cover him again with as good fat earth as ye can get, and let the stone alone.

Trees which ye must help or pluck up by the Roots.

ALL sorts of Trees which spring Cions from the Roots, as Plum-trees, all kind of Cherry-tres, and small Nut-trees ye must help in plucking their Cions from their roots in Winter, as soon as conveniently ye can, after the leaf is fallen. For they do greatly pluck down and weaken the said trees, in drawing to them the substance of the earth.

What doth make a good Nut.

BUt chiefly to plant these Cions, the best way is to let them grow and be nourished two or three years from

the root, and then to transplant them, and set them in the Winter, as is aforesaid, the Cions which be taken from the foot of the Hasell-trees, make good Nuts, and to be of much strength and vertue, when they are not suffered to grow too long from the Root, or foot aforesaid.

Trees eaten with beasts must be graffed again.

WHen certain graffes being well in Sap, of three or four years, or thereabouts, be broken or greatly endammaged with beasts, which have broken thereof, it shall little profit to leave those Graffes so, but it were better to cut them, and to graffe them higher, or lower than they were before. For the Graffes shall take as well upon the new as old Cion being graffed, as on the wild stock: but it shall not so soon close, as upon the wild stock-head.

How your wild Stocks ought not hastily to be removed.

IN the beginning when you have graffed your graffes on the wild Stock, do not then hastily pluck up those Cions or wild stocks so graffed, untill ye shall see the graffes put forth a new shoot, the which remaining still, ye may graffe there∣on again, so that your Graffes in hasty removing, may chance to dye.

When ye cut off the naughty Cions from the Wood.

WHen your graffes on the Stocks shall put forth of new wood, or a new shoot, as of two or three foot long, and if they put forth also of other small superfluous Cion•• (about the said members or branches that ye would nourish) cut off all such ill Cions hard by the head, in the same year they are graffed in, but not so long as the wood is in Sappe, till the Winter after.

How sometimes to cut the principal Members.

ALso it is good to cut some of the principall Members or Branches in the first yeare, if they have too many, and then again within two or three years after, when they shall be well sprung up, and the graffs well closed on the head of the stock: ye may trim and dresse them again, in taking away the superfluous branches, if any there remain, for it is sufficient enough to nourish a young tree, to leave him one principall Member on the head, so that it may be one of those that hath been graffed on the tree before, yea, and the tree shall be fairer and better in the end, than if he had two or three branches, or precidence at the foot. But if the tree have been graffed with many great Cions, then you must leave him more largely, according as ye shall see cause or need, to recover the clefts on the head of the said graffe or ••••ocke.

How to guide and governe the said Trees.

WHen your trees doe begin to spring, ye must order and see to them well, for the space of three or four yeares or more, until they be well and strongly growne, in helping them above, in cutting the small twigs and superfluous wood, until they be so high without branches, as a man, or more if it may be, and then see to them well, in placing the the principall branches, if need be, with forks or wands pricked right and well about them at the foot, and to proin them, so that one branch approach not too nigh the other, nor yet the one fret the other, when as they doe enlarge and grow, and ye must also cut off certaine branches from them where they are too thick.

A kind of sicknesse in Trees.

LIkewise when certain trees are sick of the Gall, which is a kind of sicknesse that doth eat the bark, therefore you must cut it, and take out all the same infection with a

little Chizel, or such like thing. This must be done at the end of Winter, then put Oxe dung or Hogs dung upon the infected place, and bind it fast thereon with Clouts, and wrap it with Oziars, and so let it remaine a long time, un∣til it have recovered again.

Trees which have wormes in the Barke.

OF trees which have wormes within their Barkes, you shall know them when as you shall see a swelling or ri∣sing therein, therefore you must cut or cleave the said barke unto the wood, that the humour may distil out thereat, and with a little hook you must pluck or draw out the said wormes with all the rotten wood you can see, then shall you put upon the said place a plaister made of Oxe dung or Hogs dung, mingled and beaten with Sage, and a little un∣flaked Lime, then let it be well boyled together, and wrap it on a cloth, and bind it fast and close thereon so long as it will hold. The Lees of Wine shed or poured upon the roots of trees, which be somewhat sick through the coldnesse of the earth, which Lees do them much good.

Snayles, Ants and Wormes do marre the Trees.

ALso ye must take heed of all manner of young trees, and especially of those graffes, which are endammged and hurt in the Summer time by Wormes and Flies, those are the Snayles, the Pismires or Ants: the field Snaile, which doth hurt also all other sorts of Trees that be great, chiefly in the time the Cuckoe doth sing, and betwixt April and Midsummer while they be tender. There be little beasts called Sowes which have many Legs, and some of them be gray, some black, and some of them have a long sharpe snowt, which be very noysome, and great hurters of young Graffes, and other young trees also, for they cut them off in eating the tender top of the young Cions the length of a mans fin∣ger.

How you ought to take the said Wormes.

FOr to take them well, ye must take heed and watch in the heat of the day your young trees, and where you shall see any, put your hand softly underneath, without shaking the tree, for they will suddenly fall ere one thinketh to take them: therefore so soone as you can (that they flye not away nor fall) take them quickly on the Cion with your other hand.

To keep Ants from young trees.

FOr to keep the young trees from Snailes and Ants, it shall be good to take Ashes, and to mix unslak't Lime, beaten in powder therewith, then lay it about the root of the tree, and when it raineth, they will be beat downe into the ashes and die: but you must renue your ashes after every rain from time to time: also to keep them moist, ye must put certain small Vessels full of water at the foot of your said trees, and also the lees of wine to spread on the ground thereabouts. For the best destroying of the small Snailes on the trees, ye must take good heed in the Spring time, before the trees be leaved, then if ye shall see, as it were small warts, knobs or branches on the Trees, the same will be Snayles. Provide to take them away fair and softly before they be full closed, and take heed that ye hurt not the wood or bark of the said Tree, as little as ye can, then burne those Branches on the Earth, and tread them under your feet, and then if any doe remain or renew, look in the heat of the day, and if ye can see any, which will commonly be on the clefs or forks of the Branches, and also upon the Branches lying like toftes or Troops together, then wrap your hands all over with old clothes, and bind leaves beneath them and above them, and with your two hands rub them down therein, and im∣mediately fire it, if you doe not quickly with diligence, they will fall, and if they fall on the earth, ye will hardly kill them, but they will renew again: these kind of wormes are

noisome flies, which be very strange, therefore take heed that they doe not cast a certaine rednesse on your face and body, for whereas they be many of them, they be dangerous, it is st••ange to tell of these kind of Wormes, if ye come under or among the Trees where many be, they will cast your face and hands, your covered body (as your neck, breast, and armes) full of small spots, some red, some black some blu∣ish, which will tingle, and trouble you like so many nettles, sometimes for a day, or a day and a night after: they be most on Plum-trees and Apple-trees nigh unto moist places, and ill ayres: yet neverthelesse, by the grace of God there is no danger, that I understand to be taken by them, that if it be in the evening or in the morning, when it raineth, they will remain about the graffing place of the Tree, there∣fore it will be hard to find them, because they are so small: Moreover, if such branches doe remaine in the upper part of the boughs all under, then with a wispe on a Poles end, set fire on all and burne them.

A Note in Spring time of Fumigations.

HEre is to be understood and noted, that in the spring time onely, when trees begin to put forth leaves and blossoms, ye must then alwayes take heed unto them to defend them from the F••ost, if there be any, with Fumigations or smokes, made on the windy sides of your Orchards, or under your trees with Straw, Hay, dry Chaffe, dry Oxe-dung, Saw-dust dryed in an Oven, Tanners Oze dryed likewise, Galbanum, old shoes, Thatch of houses, haire and such like, one of these to be mixt with another: all these be good against the Frost in Spring time, and especially good against the East-wind, which breedeth (as some say) the Caterpiller worme.

To defend from the Caterpiller.

ANd some doe defend their Trees from the Caterpiller, when the blossoming time is dry (if there be not a Frost) by casting on water, or salt water, every second or

third day upon their trees, with instruments for the same purpose, as with Squirts of Wood or Brasse or such like, for in keeping them moist, the Caterpillar cannot breed there∣on; this experience I have known proved of late to be good. For to conclude, he that will set or plant trees, must not passe for any pains, but to tak•• pleasure and delight there∣in, considering the great profit that cometh thereby: Against scarcenesse of Corne, Fruit is a very good stay for the Poore, and often it hath been seen, one Acre of Or∣chard ground, worth 4 acres of Wheat ground. {inverted ⁂}

FINIS.