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.

[illustration] depiction of a man attaching a graft to a tree-stump, with two nearby trees already grafted

Here followeth certain waies of Planting or Graffing, with other necessaries herein meet to be known.

Translated out of Dutch, by L. M.

To graffe one Vine upon another.

YOu that will graffe one Vine upon another, ye shall (in January) cleave the head of the Vines, as ye doe other stocks, and then put in your Vine Graffe or Cion, but first you must pare him thin, ere ye set him in the head, then clay and mosse him as the other.

Chosen dayes to graffe in, and choose your Cions.

ALso whensoever that ye will graffe, your choicest time will be on the last day before the change, and also in the

Change, as also upon the second day after the change, if ye graffe (as some report) on the third, fourth, or fifth day after the change, it will be many years ere those trees bring forth fruit. Ye may believe it, but I will not. Some think it is good graffing from the change unto the xviii day thereof, this I think good the Moon increasing, the sooner the better.

To gather your Cions.

ALso such Cions or Graffs, which you get on other trees, the young Trees of three, four, five or six years growth are best to take graffs. Take them of no under boughs, but in the top on the East side, if ye can, and the fairest and greatest. Ye shall cut them two inches long of the old wood beneath the joynt. And when you graff, cut them taper-wise from the joynt two inches or more of length, which set into the stock, and before you set it in, open your stock with a wedg of Iron or hard wood softly; then if the sides of your clefts be rag∣ged, pare them on both sides with the point of a sharp knife within and above, then set in your graffes close on the out∣sides, and also above, but let your stock be as little while o∣pen as ye can, and when your graffs be well set in, pluck out your wedge, and if your stocks do pinch your graffs much, then ye must put in a wedge of the same wood to help your graffs: then lay a thick bark or peel over the cleft from the one graff to the other, to keep out the clay and rain, and clay them two fingers thick round about the clefts, then lay on mosse, but wool is better next your clay, or temper your clay with wool or hair, for it will abide closer and stronger on the stock head, some take wool next the clay, and wrap it all over with linnen cloths, for the wool being once moist will keep the clay so a long time. Others take woollen clouts, that have been laid in the juyce of Worm-wood or such like bitter thing, to keep creeping worms from coming under to the graffs. If ye graff or plant in the Winter, put your clay uppermost, for Summer your Mosse. For in Winter the Mosse is warme, and your clay will not cleave. In Summer

your clay is cold, and your Mosse keeps him from cleaving or chapping. To bind them take Willow peels, cloven B••y∣ars, Oziars and such like. To gather your graffe on the East part, of the Tree is counted best; if ye gather them below on the under-boughs, they will grow flaggie and spreading a∣broad: If ye take them in the top of the Tree, they will grow upright. Yet some doe gather their Cions or graffes on the sides of the Trees, and so graffe them againe on the like sides of the stocks, which by some men is not counted so good for fruit. It is not good to graff a great stocke, for they will be long ere they cover the head thereof.

Of Worms in Trees or Fruit

IF ye have any Trees eaten with worms, or bring wormy fruit, wash his body and great branches with two parts of Cow-pisse and one of Vinegar, and if you can get no Vine∣gar, with Cow-pisse alone tempered with common Ashes. This must be done before the Spring, in the Spring or Sum∣mer. Anniseeds sown about the Trees roots drive away worms, and the fruit will be the sweeter.

The setting of Stones and ordering of them.

AS for Almond Trees, Peach▪trees Cherry-trees Plum-trees, or other, plant or set them thus. Lay first the stones in water three dayes and four nights until they sinke therein, then take them betwixt your finger and your thumb with the small end upward, and so set them two fingers deep in good earth, and when ye have so done, ye shall rake them all over, and so cover them, and when they begin to gr••w or spring, keep them from weeds, and ••hey will prosper the bet∣ter, specially in the first yeare. And within two or three year after ye shall set or remove them where you list, if ye re∣move them after that, ye must proin off all his twigs, as ye see cause, nigh the stock: This ye may doe with all kind of Trees, chiefly such as have the great Sap, as the Mulberry or Fig-trees, or such like.

his twigs, as ye shall see cause, nigh the stock: this ye may doe of all kind of Trees, but especially those which have the great Sap, as the Mulberry or Fig-trees or such like.

Togather Gumme of any Tree.

IF ye list to have the Gum of an Almond tree, ye shall stick a great naile into the Tree a good way, and so let him rest, and the Gumme of the Tree shall issue out thereat, thus doe men gather Gumme of all sorts of Trees: yea, the common Gumme that men doe use and occupy.

To set a whole Apple.

ALso some say, that if ye set a whole Apple four fingers in the earth, all the P••pins or Curnels in the same Apple, will grow up together in one whole stock or Cion, and all those Apples shall be much fairer and greater than others: but ye must take heed how you set those Apples, which doe come in Leap-year, for in Leap-year (as some doe say) the Curnels or Pepins are turned contrary, for if ye would so set, as commonly a man doth, ye shall set them contrary.

Of setting the Almond.

ALmonds doe come forth and grow commonly well, if they be set without the shell or husk, in good earth or in rotten Hogs dung: If ye lay Almonds one day in Vine∣gar, then shall they (as some say) be very good to plant, or lay him in milk or water until he doe sinke, it shall be the better to set, or any other Nut.

Of Pepins watered.

THe Pepins and Curnels of those Trees, which have a thick or rough bark, if ye lay them three dayes in water, or else untill they sink therein, they shall be the better, than set them, or sow them, as is before mentioned, and then re∣move them when they be well rooted, or of three or four years growth, and they shall have a thin bark.

To plant or set Vines.

IF ye plant or set Vines, in the first or second year they will bring no fruit, but in the third year they will bear, if they

be well kept: ye shall cut them in January, and set them soon after they be cut from the Vine, and ye shall set two together, the one with the old wood, and the other without, and so let them grow, plucking away all weeds from about them, & when ye shall remove them in the second and third year, be∣ing well rooted, ye shall set them well a foot deep, (in good fat earth) with good dung, as of one foot deep or therea∣bouts, and keep them clean from weeds, for then they will prosper the better, and in Summer, when the Grape is knit, then ye shall break off his top or branch, at one or two joints after the Grape, and so the Grape shall be the greater, and in the Winter when ye cut them, ye shall not leave past two or three leaders on each branch, on some branch but one leader, w^ch must be cut betwixt two joynts, & ye shall leave the yong Vine to be the leader. Also ye shall leave thereof three or four joynts at all times, if a young Cion do come forth of the old branch, or side thereof, if ye do cut him, ye shall cut him hard by the old branch, and if ye will have him to bring the Grape next year, ye shall leave two or three joynts thereof; for the yong Cion alwayes bringeth the Grape: ye may at all times, so that the Grape be once taken and knit, ever as the superflu∣ous Cions do grow, break them at a joynt, or hard by the old branch, and the Grape will be the greater: thus ye may order your Vine all the Summer long without any hurt

To set or plant the Cherry.

CHerry-trees, and all trees of stone-fruit would be planted or set of Cions, and cold Grounds, and places of good earth, and likewise in high or hilly places, dry and well in the shade, if ye do remove, ye ought to remove them in Novem∣ber and January, if ye shall see your Cherry-tree wax rotten, then shall ye make a hole in the middest of the body two foot above the ground with a big Piercer, that the humour may passe forth thereby, then afore the Spring shut him up again with a pin of the same tree: thus ye may do unto all other sorts of trees when they begin to rot, is also good for them

which bear scant of fruit or none.

To keep Cherries good a year.

FOr to keep Cherries good a year, ye shall cut off the stalks, and then lay them in a well leaded pot, and fill the said pot therewith, then put into them of good thin Honey, and fill the said pot therewith, then stop it with clay that no aire enter in, then set them in some fair Sellar, and put of Sand under and all about it, and cover the pot well withall, so let it stand or remain; thus ye may keep them a year, as fresh as though they came from the Tree, and after this sort ye may keep Pears or other fruit.

Against Pismires.

IF ye have Cherry-trees laden or troubled with Pismires or Ants, ye shall rub the body of the Tree, and all about the root with the juice of Purslane mingled half with Vineger. Some do use to anoint the Tree beneath all about the body with t••rr and birds-lime, with wool, oyl, boiled together, and anoint the tree beneath therewith, and lay the Chalk stones all about the Tree root, some say it is good therefore.

The setting of Chesnuts.

THe Chesnut-tree men do use to plant like unto the Fig-tree. They may be both planted and graffed well, they wax well in fresh and fat earth, for in Sand they like not. If ye will set the Curnells, ye shall lay them in water untill they do sink, and those that do sink to the bottome of the water be best to set, which ye shall set in the Moneth of November, and December, foure fingers deep, a foot one from another, for when they be in these two Moneths Set or Planted, they shall endure long, and bear also good fruit, yet some there be that Plant or Set them first in dung like Beans, which will be sweeter than the other sort, but those which be set in these two Moneths aforesaid, shall first bear their fruit, men may prove which is best, experience doth teach.

This is another way to prove and know, which Chesnuts be best to plant or set, that is, ye shall take a quantity of nuts,

then lay them in Sand the space of thirty dayes, then take and wash them in water fair and clean, and throw them into water again, and those which do sink to the bottome, are good to plant or set, and the other that swim are naught; thus may ye do with all other Curnels or nuts.

To have all stone fruit taste, as ye shall think good.

IF ye will have all stone-fruit tast as ye shall fansie or think good, ye shall first lay your stones to soke in such liquor or moisture, as ye will have the fruit tast of, and then set them, as for the Date tree (as some say) he bringeth no fruit, except he be a hundred year old, and the Date-stone must soke one Moneth in the water before he be set, then shall ye set him with the small end upward in good fat earth, in hot Sandy ground four fingers deep, and when the boughs do begin to spring, then shall ye every night sprinckle them with rain water, or other (if ye have none) so long till they be come forth and grown.

Of graffing the Medlar and Misple.

FOr to graffe the Medlar or Misple: men do use to graffe them on the White Hathorn Tree, they will prove well, but yet small and sowr fruit, to graffe one Medlar upon a∣nother is the better, some men do graffe first the Wilding Ci∣on upon the Medlar stock, and so when he is well taken and grown, then they graffe thereon the Medlar again, the which doth make them more sweet, very great and fair.

Of the Fig-tree.

THe Fig-tree in some Country beareth his fruit foure times a Year, the black Figges are the best being dryed in the Sunne, and then laid in a Vessell in beddes one by another, and then sprinckled or strawed all over, every Lay with fine Meal, then stop it up, and so it is sent out of that Land. If the Fig-tree will not beare, ye shall digge

him all about, and under the roots in February, and take out then all his earth, and put unto him the dung of a Privy, for that he liketh best: ye may mingle with it other fat earth, as Pigeons Dung mingled with Oyl, and Pepper stampt, which shall forward him much to anoint his roots therwith: ye shall not plant the Fig-tree in cold times, he loveth hot, stony, or gravelly ground, and to be planted in Autumne is best.

Of the Mulberry-tree.

IF ye will plant the Mulberry-tree, the Fig-tree, or others which bring no seed, ye shall cut a twig or branch (from the tree root) of a years growth, with the old wood or bark, about a cubit long, which ye shall plant or set in all the earth saven shaftment long to it, and so let it grow, water∣ing it as ye shall see need. This must be done before the leaves be in to spring, but take heed ye cut not the end or top a∣bove, for then it shall wither and dry.

Of trees that bear bitter fruit.

OF all such Trees as bear bitter fruit, to make them bring sweeter, ye shall uncover all the roots in January, and take out all that earth, then put unto them of Hogs dung great plenty, and then after put unto them of other good earth, and so cover them therewithall well again, and their fruit shall have a sweeter taste. Thus men m••y do with other Trees which bring bitter fruit.

To help barren Trees.

HEre is another way to help barren Trees, that they may bring fruit, if you see your Tree not to bear scaree in three or four years good plenty, ye shall bore an hole with an Auger or Piercer in the greatest place of the body, (within a yard of the ground) but not through, but unto or past the heart, ye shall bore him aslope; then take Hony and water mingled together a night before, then put the said Ho∣ny

and water into the hole, and fill it therewith, then stop it close with a short pin made of the same Tree, not stricken in too far for piercing the liquour.

Another way.

IN the beginning of Winter, ye shall dig those Trees round about the roots, and let them so rest a day and a night, and then put unto them of good earth, mingled well with good store of watred Oats, or with watred Barley or Wheat, laid next unto the roots, then fill it with other good earth, and he shall bear fruit, even as the boring of a hole in the master root, and striking in a pin, and so fill him again, it shall help him to bear, as before is declared.

To keep your fruit.

ALL fruit may be the better kept if ye lay them in dry places, in dry Straw or Hay, but Hay ripeth too sore: or in a Barly mow, not touching one the other, or in Chaffe or in vessels of Juniper, and Cipresse wood: ye may so keep them well in dry Salt or Hony, and upon boards, whereas fire is nigh all the Winter, also hanging nigh fire in the Winter in Nets of Yarn.

The Mulberry-tree.

THe Mulberry-Tree is planted or set by the Fig-tree: his fruit is first sower and then sweet, he liketh neither Dew nor Rain, for they hurt him, he is well pleased with foul earth and dung: his branches will wax dry within every six years, then must ye cut them off, as for other Trees they ought to be proined every year, as yeshall see cause, and they will be the better, and to plant them from the midst of February to the midst of March is best.

Of Mosse of the Tree.

OF the Mosse on your Trees, ye must not let it too long be uncleansed, ye must rub it off with a grate of wood, or arough Hair, or such like, in Winter when they be moist

or wet, for then it will off the sooner, for Mosse doth take away the strength and substance of the fruit, and makes the Trees barren at length: when you see your Trees begin to wax Mossie, ye ••ust in the Winter uncover their roots, and put them under good earth, this shall help them and keep them long without Mosse: for the earth, not stirred about the root, is one cause of Mossinesse, and also the barrennesse of the ground whereon he standeth, and your Mosse doth succour in Winter flies and other Vermin, and so doth therein hide them in Summer, which is occasion of eating the blossomes, and tender Cions thereof.

To keep nuts long.

FOr to keep nuts long, ye shall dry them, and cover them in dry Sand, and put them in a dry Bladder, or in a Fatte made of Walnut-tree, and put of dry Ivie-berries therein, and they shall be much sweeter. To keep Nuts green a year and also fr••sh, ye shall put them into a pot with Honey, and they shall continue fresh a year, and the said Hony will be gentle and good for many Medicines. To keep Walnuts fresh and green: in the time of straining of Verjuice, ye shall take of the Pommis, and put thereof in the bottom of a Barrell, then lay your Walnuts all over with Pommis over them, and so Walnuts again, and then of the Pommis, as ye shall see cause to fi••l your Uessell. Then stop it close as ye do a Barrell, and set him in your Sellar or other place, and it shall keep your Nuts fresh and green a year. Some use to fill an earthen pot with small Nuts, and put to them dry Sand, and cover them with a Lidde of earth, or stone, and then they clay it, set∣ting the mouth of the Pot down-ward, two foot within the earth, in their Garden or other place, and so they will keep very moist and sweet, untill new come.

To cut the Peach-tree.

THe Peach-trree is of this nature, (if he be cut as some say) green, it will wither and dry. Therefore if ye cut any

small branch, cut it hard by the body: the withered twigs e∣ver as they wither, must be cut off hard by the great branch, or body thereof, for then they prosper the better. If a Peach-tree do not like, ye shall put to his roots the Lees of Wine mingled with water, and also wash his roots therewi••h, and likewise the branches; then cover him again with good earth, mingled with his own Leaves, for those he liketh best. Ye may graffe Peach upon Peach, upon Hasel, or Ash, or upon Cher∣ry-tree, or ye may graffe the Almond upon the Peach-tree. And to have great Peaches, ye must take Cowes milk, and put good earth thereto, then all to strike the body of the Tree therewith, both upward and downward, or else open the root all bare, three dayes and three nights; then take Goats milk and wash all the roots therewith, and then cover them again; this must be done when they begin to blossome, and so shall he bring great Peaches.

To colour Peach-stones

TO colour Peach-stones that all the fruit therof shall have the like colour here after, that is, ye shall lay or set Peach-stones in the earth seven dayes or more, untill ye shall set the stones begin to open, then take the stones and the curnells softly forth thereof, and what colour ye will colour the cur∣nell therewith, and put them into the shell again, then bind it fast together, and set it in the earth, with the small end up∣ward, and so let him grow, and all the Peaches which shall come of the same fruit, (graffed or ungraffed) will be of the same colour. The Peach-tree ought to be planted in Autumn, before the cold do come, for he cannot abide the cold.

If Peach-tree be troubled with Worms.

ALso if any Peach-tree be troubl••d with worms, ye shall take two parts of Cow-pisse, with one part of Vineger, then shall ye sprinkle the tree all over therewith, and wash his roots and branches also, and it will kill the worms; this may ye do unto all other Trees, which be troubled with Worms.

To have the Peach without stones.

FOr to make the Peach grow without stones, ye shall take a Peach-tree newly planted, then set a Willow hard by, which ye shall bore a hole through, then put the Peach-tree through the said hole, and so close him on both sides thereof Sap to Sap, and let him so grow one year, then the next year ye shall cut off the Peach-stock, and let the Willow feed him, and cut off the upper part of the Willow also three fin∣gers high, and the next Winter saw him off nigh the Peach, so that the Willow shall feed but the Peach onely: and this way ye have Peaches without stones.

Another way for the same.

YE shall take the Graffes of Peaches, and graffe them upon the Willow-stock, and so shall your Peaches be likewise without stones.

If Trees do not prosper.

IF ye see that your Trees do not wax nor prosper, take and open the roots in the beginning of January or afore, and in the biggest root thereof, make an hole with an Auger, to the pith or more, then strike therein a pin of Oke, and so stop it again, and let it be well waxt all about the pin, then cover him again with good earth, and he shall do well, some do use to cleave the root.

How to graffe Apples to last on the tree till Alhallontide.

HOw ye may have many sorts of Apples upon your Trees untill Alhallontide, that is, ye shall graffe your Apples upon the Mulberry-tree, and upon the Cherry-tree.

Many Apricot trees of one.

PLant an Apricot in the midst of other Plum-trees round about it, at a convenient distance; then in an apt season, bore through your plum-trees, and let into every one of them, one or two of the branches of your Apricot tree, through those holes, taking away the Bark on both sides of your branches, which you let in, joyning Sap to Sap, and lute

the holes up with tempered loam; and when they are well knit, the next year cut off the branch from the Apricot-tree: and so you have gotten many Apricot trees out of one. Take away in time all the head of your plum-tree, and all o∣ther branches, maintaining onely that which is gotten from the Apricot. But some commend rather the letting in of a branch of one tree, into the other workmanlike, for the more certain kind of graffing.

To graffe an Apple which shall be half sweet, and half sower.

TO graffe that your Apples shall be the one half sweet, and the other half sower, ye shall take two Cions, the one sweet and the other sower, some do put the one Cion through the other, and so graffe them between the Bark and the Tree; and some again do pare both the Cions finely, and so sets them joyning into the stock, inclosing Sap to Sap, on both the outsides of the graffes, unto the outsides of the stock, and so sets them into the head as the other, and they shall bring fruit, the one half sweet, and the other half sower.

To graffe a Rose on the Holly.

FOR to graffe the Rose, that his leaves shall keep all the year green; Some do take and cleave the Holly, and so graffe in a white or red Rose bud, and then put clay and mosse to him, and let him grow, and some put the Rose bud into a sli•• of the Bark, and so put Clay and Mosse and bind him featly therein, and let him grow, and he shall carry his leaf all the year.

Of keeping of Plummes

OF Plums there be many sorts, as Damsons which be all black, which be counted the best: All manner of other Plums a man may keep well a year, if they be gathered ripe, and then dryed, and put into Vessels of glasse, if ye can∣not dry them well in the Sun, ye shall dry them on hur∣dels of Oziers made like Lattice Windows, in a hot Oven after Bread is drawn forth, and so reserve them. If a Plum∣tree like not, open his roots, and pour in all about the dregs of Wine mixt with Water, and so cover him well again, or

powr on them stale Urine, or stale pisse of old men mixt with two parts of water, and so cover him as before.

Of altering of Pears and stony fruit.

IF a Pear tast hard or gravelly about the core, like small stones, ye shall uncover his roots (in the Winter or afore the Spring) and take out all the earth thereof, and pick out all the stones, as clean from the earth as ye can, about his root then sift that earth, or else take of other good fat earth with∣out stones, and fill all his roots again therewith, and he shall bring a soft and gentle Pear to eat, but you must see well to the watering of him often.

The making of Syder and Perry.

OF Apples and Pears men do make Cyder and Perry, and because the use thereof in most places is known, I will here let passe to speak any further thereof, but (in the pressing your Cyder) I will counsell you to keep cl••an your vessels, and the place whereas your fruit doth lye, and specially after it is bruised or broken, for then they draw fil∣thy air unto them, and if it be nigh, the Cyder shall be infected therewith, and also bear the taste after the infection thereof: therefore tun it as soon as you can into clean and sweet vessels, as into vessels of white wine, or of Sack or of Claret, and such like, for these shall keep your Cyder the better and stronger a long time after: ye may hang a small bag of linnen by a threed down into the lower part of your Vessel, with Powder of Cioves, Mace, Cinamon and Ginger, and such like, which will make your Cyder to have a pleasant t••ste.

To help frozen Apples.

OF Apples that be frozen in the cold and extream Win∣tyr, The remedy to have the Ice out of them, is this. Ye shall lay them first in cold water a while, and then lay them before the fire or other heat, and they shall come to them∣selves again:

To make Apples fall from the Tree

IF ye put of fiery coles under an Apple-tree, and then cast of the powder of Brimstone therein, and the fume thereof ascend up, and touch any Apple that is wet, that Apple shall fall incontinent.

To water Trees in Summer, if they wax dry about the root.

WHereas Apple-trees be set in dry ground, and not dead in the Ground, in Summer if they want moisture, ye may take of Wheat-straw or other, and every evening (or as ye see cause) cast thereon water all about, and it will keep the Trees moist from time to time.

To cherish Apple-Trees.

IF ye use to throw (in Winter) all about your apple-trees on the roots thereof, the Urine of old men, or stale pisse long kept, they shall bring fruit much better, which is good for the Vine also, or if ye sprinckle or anoint your Apple-tree roots with the Gall of a Bull, they will bear the better.

To make an Apple grow in a Glasse.

TO make an Apple grow within a Glasse, take a Glasse what fashion ye list, and put your Apple therein when he is but small, and bind him fast to the Glasse, and the Glasse also to the Tree, and let him grow, thus ye may have Apples of divers proportions, according to the fashion of your Glasse. Thus ye make of Cucumbers, Gourds, or Pomeci∣trons the like fashion.

[illustration] depiction of a grafted tree

THese three branches, and Figure of graffing in the shield in Summer is, the first branch sheweth how the Bark is taken off, the middle place sheweth how it is set too, and the last branch sheweth how to bind him on, in saving the oylet or eye from bruising.

To graffe many sorts of Apples on one Tree.

YE may graffe on one Apple-tree at once many kind of Apples, as on every branch a contrary fruit, as is afore de∣clared, and of Pears the like; but see as nigh as you can, that all your Cions be of like springing, for else the one will grow, and overshadow the other.

To colour Apples.

TO have coloured Apples, with what colour ye shall think good, ye shall bore a hole slope with an Auger, in the big∣gest part of the body of the Tree, unto the middest thereof,

or thereabouts, and then look what colour ye will have them of First ye shall take water, and mingle your colour there∣with, then stop it up again with a short pin made of the same, wood or Tree, then wax it round about; ye may mingle with the said colour what spice ye list, to make them taste there∣after: thus may ye change the colour, and taste of any Apple: Your colours may be of Saffron, Tourn sel, Brasel, Saun∣ders, or other what ye shall see good. This must be done be∣fore the Spring do come: Some do say, if ye graffe on the O••ive stock, or on the Ald••r stock, they will bring red Ap∣ples. Also they say, to graffe to have fruit without core, ye shall graffe in both the ends of your Cion into the stock, and when they be fast grown to the stock, ye shall cut it in the middest, and let the smaller and grow upward, or else take a Cion, and graffe the small end of the stock downward, and so shall ye have your Apple-tree on St. Lamberts day, (which is the xvii. of September) they shall never waste, consume, nor wax dry, which I doubt.

The setting of Vine Plants.

[illustration] depiction of three vines or vine plants set in the earth

THese Figures do shew, how ye ought to Plant and set in your Vines, two or two together, the one to have a part of the old Tree, and the other may be all of the last Cion, but when ye plant him with a part of the old Tree, he shall com∣monly take root sooner than the new Cion; ye must weed them every moneth, and let not the earth be too close above their roots at the first, but now & then loosen it with a Spade as ye shall see a rain past, for then they shall enlarge, and put forth better. Further herein ye shall understand after.

How to proin or cut a Vine in Winter.

[illustration] depiction of a pruned vine

THis Figure sheweth, how all Vines should be proined and cut in a convenient time after Christmas, that when ye cut them, ye shall leave his branches very thin, as ye see by this Figure, ye shall never leave above two or three Leaders at the head of any principal branch, ye must also cut them off in the middest between the knots of the young Cions, for those be the leaders which will bring the grape, the rest and order ye shall understand as followeth,

Of the Vine and Grape.

SOmewhat I intend to speak of the ordering of the Vine and Grape, to Plant or Set the Vine, the Plants or Sets which be gathered from the Vine (and so planted) are best, they must not be old gathered, nor lye long unplanted after th••y be out, for then they soon gather corruption, and when ye gather your Plants, take heed to cut and choose them, whereas ye may, with the young Cion take a j••ynt of the old

wood with the new, for the old wood will sooner take root than the new, and better to grow than if it were all young Ci∣on, ye shall leave the old wood to the young Cion a foot or half a foot, or a shaftment long, the young Cion ye must cut the length of three quarters of a yard or therereabouts, and choose of those young Cions that be thickess joynted or nigh joynts together, and when ye Plant or set them, look that your ground be well digged in the Winter before, then in January ye may both cut & Plant, but cut not in the Frost, for that is dangerous to all kind of Trees, or ye may plant in the beginning of February, and when ye do Plant, take two of those Plants, and set or lay them together a foot deep in the earth, for two Plants set together will not so soon fall, as one alone, and lay them a foot longwise in the earth, so that there may be above the earth three or four joynts: ye may plant likewise a young Cion with the old, so that it be thick or nigh joynted, for then he is better to root, and also to bring fruit, than when ye have set or layed them in the earth, then cover them well therewith, in trea∣ding it fast down unto the Plants, but let the ends of your Cions or Plants be turned upright above the earth, three or four joynts, if there happen to be more when they are set, ye may cut them off, and cut them alwayes in the middest be∣tween the two joynts, and then let them so grow, and see that ye weed them alwayes clean, and once a moneth loosen the earth round about them, and they shall prove the better, if it be very dry and hot in the Summer after, ye may water them, in making a hole with a Crow of Iron to the Root: and there ye may pour in water in the Evening. As for the proyning of them, thus, when the Grape is taken and clustered, then ye may break the next joynt or two after the Grape, of all such superfluous Cions as ye shall see c••use, which will cause the Grape to wax bigger: ye may also break away all superfluous buddes or slender branches, which cometh about the Root, or on the under branches, which ye think will have no Grape, and when ye proyn or

cut them in Winter following, ye shall not cut the young Ci∣on nigh the old, by three or four joynts, ye shall not cut them like Oziers, to leave a sort of heads together on the branch, which doth kill your Vine, ye shall leave but one head, or two at the most of the yong Cions upon the old branch, and to cut those young Cions three or four knots, or joynts off, for the yong Cion doth carry the grape alwayes, and when ye leave upon a great branch many Cions, they cannot be well nourished, and after ye have so cut them in Winter, ye shall bind them with Oziers, in placing those young branches as ye shall see cause, and in the Spring time, when the branches are tender, ye shall bind them so, that the stormy tempest or wind hurt them not, and to bind them withall great soft rushes are best, and when the Grape is clustered, then ye may break off all such branches as is afore declared: upon one old branch three or four heads be enough, for the more heads your branch hath, the worse your grape shall be nourished, & when ye cut off any branch, cut him off hard by or nigh the old branch; if your Vine wax old, the best remedy is, if there grow any yong Cion about the root, ye shall in the Winter cut off the old Vine hard by the ground, or as nigh as ye can, and let the young Vine lead, and he will continue a long time, if ye cover and fill the place about the root with good earth again. There is also upon or by every cluster of grapes, a small Cion like a Pigs Tail, turning about, which doth take away the Sap from the Grape, if ye pinch it off hard by the stalk of your Grape, your fruit shall be the greater. If your Vine wax too rank and thick of branches, ye shall dig the root in Winter, and open the earth, and fill it up again with Sand and ashes mingled together, and whereas a Vine is unf••uitfull and doth not bear, ye shall bore an hole (with an Auger) unto the heart or pith, in the body or thickest part thereof, then put in the said hole a small stone, but fill not the hole close therewith, that so the sicknesse of the Vine may passe there∣by, Then lay all about the root of good earth mingled with

good dung, and so shall not be unfruitfull, but bear well e∣ver after: or also to caste of old mens Urine or pisse all about the root of the barren Vine, and if he were half lost or mard, he should grow again and wax fruitfull as before: this is to be done in Winter.

To have Grapes without stones.

FOr to have Grapes without stones, ye shall take young Plants or Branches, and shall Plant or set the top or small end downward in the earth, and so ye may set two of them together for failing, as I have afore declared of the others, and those branches shall bring Grapes without stones.

To make your Vine to bring a Grape to taste like Claret.

TO make your Vine to have a Grape to taste like Claret Wine, and pleasant withall, bore a hole in the stock unto the heart or pith thereof, then make an Electuary with the powder of Cloves, and Cinamon, mingled with a lit-Fountatin or running water, and fill the said hole therewith, and stop it fast and close with wax, and so bind it fast thereon with a Linnen cloth, and those Grapes will taste like Claret-Wine.

Of gathering your Grapes.

ALL Grapes that men do cut, before they are through ripe, the Wine will not be natural, neither shall it long endure good: But if ye cut or gather Grapes, to have them good, and thereby to have good Wine, ye must cut them in the Full, or soon after the Full of the Moon, when she is in Cancer, in Leo, in Scorpio, and in Aquarius, the Moon being in the Wain, and under the earth.

To know if your Grape be ripe enough.

FOr to know if your Grape be ripe enough, or not which ye shall not truly know in the taste, but in sight and taste together, as in taste if they be sweet, and full

in eating, and in sight, if the stone will soon fall out being chafed or bruised, which is the best knowledge, and also whe∣ther they be white or blue, it is all one matter: The good Grape is he which commeth out all watry, or those which be all clammy as Bird-lime: by these signes ye shall know when to cut, being through ripe or not, and whereas you do presse your Wine, ye must make your place sweet and clean, and your Vessels within to be clean also, and see that they have strong heads, and those persons, which do presse the Grape, must look their hands, feet and body be clean washed, when as they go to press•• the Grape, and that no woman be there having her terms. Neither ought ye to eat any Chebols, Scalions, Onions, Garlike, Anniseeds, or such like: For all strong savours, your Wine will draw the infection thereof, & as soon as your Grape is cut and gathered, you may presse your Wine very speedily, which will make your Wine to be more pleasant and stronger, for the Grapes, which tarry long unprest, make the Wine to be small and ill; ye must see that your Vessels be new, and sw••et within, and to be washed with sweet water, and then well dryed again, and to perfume them with Mastick, and such sweet vapour, and if your Vessel chance not to be sweet, then shall ye pitch him on the sides, which pitch will take away all evill, and such stinking savour therein.

To prove or taste Wine.

ANd whensoever ye will prove or taste any Wine, the best time is early in the morning, and take with you three or four sops of bread, then dip one after another into the Wine, for therein ye shall find (if there be any) sharp taste of the Wine: Thus I leave (at this present) to speak any further here of the Wine and Grape.

If this my simple labour be taken in good part (Gentle Reader) it shall the more hereafter encourage me, to set forth another book more at large, touching the Art of Planting and Graffing, with other things necessary to be known.

Here followeth the best times how to order, choose, and to Set or Plant Hops.

[illustration] diagram of planting schemes

IN this Figure ye shall understand the placing and making of Hop hills, by every Cypher over his head. The first place is shewed but one Pole set in the middest, and the Hop beneath: The second sheweth how some do chop down a Spade in the middest of the Hills, and therein layes his Hop roots. The third place sheweth, how other some do set out one Pole in the middest, and the Hop roots at holes put in round about. The fourth place sheweth how some chops in a Spade crosse in the top, and there layes in his roots. The fifth place sheweth, how some do set four Poles therein and put the Hop round about the Hill. The sixth place sheweth that some use to make crosse holes in the sides, and there lays ••n the Hop roots, Thus many practises have been proved good: provided alwayes that your hills be of good fat earth, specially in the midst down unto the bottom. This I thought sufficient to shew by this figure, the diversity in setting, where∣of the laying of the Hop is counted the surest way.

THe best and common setting time of Hops, is from the middest of November, to the middest of February, then

must ye dig and cleanse the ground of weeds, and mix it well with good mold and fat earth. Then divide your Hills a yard one from another orderly, in making them a yard asun∣der, and two foot and a half broad in the bottome, and when ye plant them, lay in every Hill three or four Roots: Some do in setting of them lay them crosse-wise in the midst of the Hill, and so cover them again: Some set the Roots in four parts of the Hill, others likewise do make holes round about the Hills, and put of the Roots therein, and so cover them again light with earth: of one short root in a year ye may have many Plants, to set and lay as ye shall see it good, and it shall be sufficient for every Plant to have two knots within the ground, and one without, then some do chop a Spade crosse into the Hill, and lay Hop in crosse, and so cover it.

To choose your Hop.

YE may choose your roots best for your Hop, in the Sum∣mer, before ye plant them, for then ye shall see which bears the Hop, for some there is that brings none, but that which bears choose for your Plants, and set of those in your Hills, for so ye shall not be deceived and they shall prosper well.

To sow the Seeds.

SOme do hold, that ye may sow among other Seeds, the Seeds of Hops, and they will increase and be good to set, or else to make beds, and sow them alone, whereby they may encrease to be set, and when they be strong, ye may remove and set them in your Hills, and Plant them as the other be∣fore mentioned.

The setting your Poles.

THe best time is in April, or when your roots be sprung half a yard long or more, then by every Plant or Hop in your Hills, set up a Pole of xiii. or xiv. foot long, or thereabouts, as cause shall require. Some do use to set but

four Poles in every Hill, which is thought sufficient, and when ye shall set them, s••e that ye set them so fast that great Winds do not cast them down.

How to proyn the Hop-tree.

Observe when the Hop doth blossome, and knit in the top, which shall be perceived to be the Hop, then take and cut up all the rest growing thereabouts (not having Hop thereon) hard by the earth, that all those which carry the Hop might be the better nourished: thus do in Summer as ye shall see them increase and grow untill the time of ga∣thering.

To gather the Hop.

AT such time before Michaelmasse, as ye shall see your Hop wax brown or somewhat yellow, then he is best to be gathered in a dry day, in cutting your Hop by the ground, then pluck up your Pole therewish for shaking off your Hop; so carry them into some dry house, when ye have so pluckt them, lay them on boarded ••ofts, or on hurdl••s of cloaths, that the wind may dry them, and the air, but not in the Sun, for the same will take away the strength thereof, nor with fire, that will do the same, and ye must daily tosse and turn them till they be dry: to try them when they are dry, hold them in your hand a space, and if they cleave together when ye open your hand, they are not then dry; but if they shatter asunder in opening your hand, ye may be sure they are dry enough. If not, let them remain, and use them as is before said. Ye shall understand the drynesse of them is, to pre∣serve them long to last, but if need be, ye may occupy them well undryed, with lesse portion to sow.

What Poles are best.

YE shall prepare your ••oles of such Wood as is light and stiffe, and which will not bow with every Wind, the best and meetest time to get them is in Winter, when the Sap is

gone down, and as soon as ye have taken off your Hop, lay your Poles in sundry places untill the next Spring, whereby they may endure the longer.

How to order and dresse your Hills.

AFfter the first year is past, your Hop being increased to more plenty of roots in your Hills, ye shall after Micha∣el••masse every year open your Hills, and cast down the tops unto the roots, uncovering them, and cut away all the super∣fluous roots, some do pluck away all the roots that spread abroad about the Hills, then opens the Hills, and puts good new earth unto them, and so cover them again, which shall keep them from the Frost, and also make the Ground fat, so shall ye let them remain unto the Spring of the year in February or March, then again if ye shall see any super∣fluous roots, ye may take them away and cut them up, and your Hop shall be the better, then again cast up the earth about your Hills, and cleansing them from all weeds and other roots, which will take away their strength, if the herbs remain, so let them rest till your Poles may be set therein,

Of Ground best for your Hop.

THe Hop delighteth, and loveth a good and reasonable sat ground, not very cold, nor yet too moist, for I have seen them prove well in Flanders, in dry sandy fields, the Hop-hills being of good fat earth, ye may (as some say) for great need make your Hop grow and bear on any kind of Rocky ground, so that your hills be great and fat earth, but the lower ground commonly proveth best, so that it stand well and hot in the Sun.

A note of the rest abovesaid.

YE shall mark and understand, all this order abovesaid is to have many Hops and good, with a few roots and Plants placed in a small plot of ground. Ye shall understand, that wild Hops, which grow in the hedges, is as good to oc∣cupie as the other to set or Plant in any other places, but look

that ye take not the barren Hop to Plant, some Hop will be barren for want of good earth, and lack of good dressing, which ye shall perceive (as I have told you) in the Summer before, that when they should bear, they will be barren, which is for want of good fat earth, or an unkind year, or lack of weeding and good ordering. Therefore such as are minded to bestow labour on the Ground, may have as good Hop growing in this Countrey, as in other Countreys: but if ye will not go to that cost to make Hop-yards, ye may with a light charge have Hops grow in your Hedge-rows, to serve as well as the other, and shall be as good for the quantity as the other in all respects: ye may (for lack of ground plant Hop roots in hedge-rows, when you do quick-set, set up poles by them, when time shall require in the Spring, and bestow every Winter after the gathering your Hop, on every hill head a shovel-full of Dung to comfort the earth, for then they will bear the more plenty of Hops the next year following. To conclude, you that have Grounds may well practise in all things afore mentioned, and specially to have Hops in this ordering for your selves, and others: also ye shall give encouragement for others to follow hereafter, I have heard by credible persons which have known a hun∣dred Hills, (which is a small plat of ground) to bear three hundred pounds of Hops, so that the commodity is much, and the gains great: and one pound of our Hops dryed and ordered, will go as far as two po••nd ••f the best Hops that cometh from beyond the Seas. Thus much I thought meet and necessary to write, of the ordering and planting of the Hop.

How to pack your Hops.

WHen your Hops be well tossed and turned on boarded floores, and well dryed, (as I afore have shewed) ye may put them into great Sacks, according to the quantity of your Hops, and let them be trodden down hard together, which will keep their strength Ionger, and so ye may re∣serve

them, and take at you•• pleasure, some do use (which have b••t small store) to tread them into dry Fattes, and so serve them for their use, which is counted the better way, and the lesse portion doth serve, and will longer keep their vertue and strength.

Wishing long life and prosperous Health, To all furtherers of this Common-Wealth.