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Agricultura quid sit,
MIHI videtur nihil aliud esse Agriculturam quam inspectâ Plantae naturâ & Coeli & terrae eiidoneum cultum tribu∣ere, & (ut ita dicam) coelum cum terra maritare, vel societatem perquirere Coeli & terrae ad Arbores: Sed quum Coelum nullo modo queat flecti, oportet ut sedulus Agricola sitûs varietate u∣tatur, ut Coelo facilè Planta associetur.
Agricolae ad duas metas intendere debent, ad utilitatem, & voluptatem. Agricultura est Ars quae docet usuram cum terra facere. Inter omnia enim quae utilitatem simul & jucunditatem pariunt, ut ambiguum sit utilitatisne an amaenitatis plus ha∣beat. Variis fructibus delecteris, non tēpore uno, sed diversis alio renascente, alio decidente, ut unusquisque ex industriâ jucundita∣te te afficere sataget: Rami fructibus onerati pondere incur∣vantur, ac se infra decumbenti offerunt.
Asspice curvatos Pomorum pondere ramos: Ʋt sua quod peperit vix ferat Arbor onus.O quam dulcissimum est fructus ex Arboribus quas sevisti, in∣seruisti, & coluisti, propriis manibus colligere, & Amicis, agna∣tisque jactabundus largiri. Est & alia in Arboribus delectatio, Avi∣um scilicet modulatio, ac ex variorum multitudine dulcissimus efficitur concentus: Auresque cantibus demulcent suis: Aves canoros garrulae fundunt sonos: Et semper Aures cantibus mulcent suis.
Theophrastus Hortum juxta aedes collocavit, quem moriens testamento Philosophantibus reliquit: Democritus Abderites prope hortum Cellam habuit. Palemon Atheniensis in hortis do∣cebat Laidis Cyrenei in hortis schola fuit, quos Attalus Rex ae∣dificavit. Quid enim hoc opere innocentibus vacantibus, & quid plenius magna consideratione prudentibus; quid majus mira∣biliusque spectaculum est, quam cum positis seminibus, Planta∣tis surculis, translatis Arbusculis, insitis malleolis, tanquam in∣terrogatur quaeque (vis radicis & germinis) quid possit, quid∣ve non possit, unde possit, unde non possit; cum rerum natura hu∣mana ratio quodammodo lòqui potest quid in ea valeat nume∣rorum invisibilis interiorque potentia: quid extrinsecùs adhibi∣ta diligentia, & in ipsa consideratione perspicere: quia neque qui plātat est aliquid ne{que} qui rigat, sed Deus qui dat incrementum. Mira est & inexplicabilis horti commoditas: nam si necessitatem considero Agriculturae tanto est humano generi emolumento; ut eá carere nullo modo possis; si utilitatem, inter primas non po∣strema, aut quaenam illi poterit comparari: si voluptatem dig∣nitati commistam, ea est excellentia &c.
Much more they speake in praise of this worke, which here (for brevitie sake) I shall omit.
Now that the husbandman (and every one) may understand what has been said by these Authors, and others, I will give more plainly the summe of all.
They define husbandry to be an Art teaching men lawfull u∣sury with the earth, And that it seemes cheifly to be the search∣ing, and finding out the nature of Plants and Trees, and of the Heavens and the Earth, and then to give unto Plants fit place and ordering; according to the nature of the Soyle and Climate; And, (as they say) to marrie and match together Heaven, and earth, or to procure a society, and neere fellow∣ship between heaven and earth, for the increase and benefit of Trees and Plants: But seeing that the heavens can by no means be bowed, or brought neerer to us, therefore it must be the skill, and diligence of the husbandman to place and set his Trees in such sort that the heavens may give their influence and warmth, for encrease and refreshing of them: Husbandmen ought to make Accompt of two harvests yearly, the one of Profit the other of Pleasure, for when a man hath done what is necessary for his life, and thence proceeds profit; besides all that, great Pleasure springs from that Profit: and what great∣er pleasure can there be then that which is Accompanied with Profit. Now of all estates of life the husbandman may cheifly challenge this to himselfe, yea it is questionable whether the Profit or Pleasure of his life be the greater: God when he would make the life of man Pleasant unto him, he put him in∣to an Orchard or Garden of delights, that he might labour therein with pleasure of mind: There a man is delighted with variety of Fruits of Trees, not in one season only, but in di∣verse seasons of the yeare, some young and springing forth while diverse other kinds are ready to fall with ripenesse. So that a man doth even busy himselfe with the choice of such va∣rieties. The Boughs burthened with the weight of Fruits, do bow to thee, and in a lowly manner offer their Fruits as the Poet notes.
Behold the bending Boughes, with store of Fruits they teare. And what they have brought forth, (for weight) they scarce can beare.
Oh how sweet and pleasant is the fruit of those Trees which a man hath Planted and ordered with his own hand, to gather it, and largly, and freely to bestow, and distribute it among his kindred and freinds.
Yea it is a delight to heare the pleasant tunes, and singing of Birds which with their variety of notes, make a sweet harmony and concent, and much please and allure the sence: So the Poet,
Melodious Ditties chirping Birds indite. Whose pleasant songs, our ravisht eares invite.
Theophrastus planted an Orchard close to his dwelling house, which when he died he left to students and lovers of Philosophy and wisdome, Democritus, had his Chamber neere to a garden. Many Philosophers have taught their schollers in Orchards and Gardens.
What worke is more innocent then Planting of Fruit-trees, and what more full of high speculations to wise men then it is: What is more wonderfull to behold then (in sowing seeds, in planting sprigs, in removing young Trees, in grafting new shoots or grafts) as it were to aske and demand with a mans selfe what by the nature and virtue of the Roots and branches may be done, or what may not be done, for what reason it may be done, or not done (seeing the nature of things may af∣ter a sort be declared by reason) what of many things is of force, and effect, by an invisible and inward power, and nature, what diligence is outwardly to be used, &c. In which consideration and search, we may see and understand these things. Yet for all that, neither he that Plants is any thing, nor he that waters, but God that gives the en∣crease.
They accompt this course of life free from many mischeifes, and and vexations, that necessarily attend other affaires: great and many cares, and troubles are found in honours, and high places, but this course of life, about Orchards and Gardens, is full of sweet rest, ho∣nest businesse, and modest pleasures, which many famous and learned men have had recourse unto for refreshment after study and other la∣bours: It is full of honest profit and gaine, and brings and administers all necessaries, here a man enjoyes pleasant quietnesse and tranquility of minde, which is seldome attained by those that follow State-Imploy∣ments: This is worthy the exercise of wise men, of good men, of lear∣ned men, of Kings and Emperours: they have taken great delight in the study and practise of these things: This course of life is farre off from covetousnesse, and even tyed and married to all Offices of love, and friendship: This is a quiet and pleasant life, worthy to be preferred be∣fore all honours and dignities: This culture of the ground, and plan∣ting and ordering of Fruit-trees, Occasions search and inquiry into many secrets profitable to men, which brings unto them ample satis∣faction
yea the excellency and worthinesse of Husbandry is surpas∣sing, it excells all other Arts, and appeares as the Lady or Mistris, they as Servants attending her. Many of the Ancients have largely declared to us the nature, and use of Plants and Trees before all o∣ther living creatures. The profit of a Garden of Fruit-trees is won∣derfull, and cannot well be declared. And if Antiquity can adde any noblenesse and worth to a thing, what imployment then before this, what more ancient then the labour of the Husbandman, Husbandmen are called Honest and good men, because of their innocent and just life. Cicero esteemed it best of all other labours, nothing more rich and profitable, nothing more delightfull, nothing more worthie a generous spirit then it: In former times those that were honoured and carried in triumph, they were not honoured with Gold, Pearles, or other such pretious things, but with the Boughs and Branches of Trees. And in their Games and exercises, who so got the Prize were crowned with Branches of certaine Trees, as the Olive, Palme, &c. Such as got the Conquest and victory of their enemies were crowned with the Lawrell, which was to them a signe of Victorie. And in their feasts they gave Crownes and Garlands of Leaves, and Branches of trees in token of mirth and pleasure: Besides, if this labour receive honour from the persons that have been conversant in it, then it is a kingly Art, and chiefest of all other, Cyrus King of Persia (who had all the Kingdomes of the earth given to him) was diligent and most exact in the handling of it: He planted Orchards & Gardens of Fruitt-rees with his owne hand; which when Lysander saw, he admired to see the excellent and singular order, and disposition of them: saying, O Cy∣rus, right blessed shall all men call thee, because to thy dignity, and Crowne thou hast joyned this care, and course of life.
Telephanes tilled the ground and planted Trees among his sub∣jects Elizeus Spartanus planted spacious and large Orchards, and used therein to feast and Banquet with his children and friends. Kings, Emperours, and highest powers were not ashamed to perform the workes belonging to an Orchard with their own hands: Divers Emperours of Rome had Gardens of Fruit-trees, and performed the works therein with delight: Dioclesian Emperour of Rome after he had reigned Twenty yeares, betooke himselfe to a private life and Planted Orchards and Gardens with his own hand, wherein he tooke such delight that he could not be intreated to take upon him againe the Goverment of the Empire: Solomon (the wisest of all Kings)
had Orchards and Gardens of Fruit-trees, and tooke pleasure in them, and spake of all Trees from the Cedar even to the Shrub.
Mascall sets out this Art with admirable praises, he saies among all sciences, and goodly exercises for men, there is none doe more refresh the spirits, nor cause more admiration in the effects of Nature, or is more profitable for mans life then is the skill of Planting and Graf∣ting. Many great Lords and Noble Personages have left their Theaters, and goodly exercises, and have given themselves to Plan∣ting and Grafting, and such like imployments, and have commended nothing more then this imployment. The Senators, Dictators, and Consuls of the Romans have commended Planting and Grafting to be one of the most florishing labours in the world for the Common wealth. Yea they did so much esteeme it, that they did hang Tables thereof in divers places, never thinking the time more aptly spent then in Planting and Grafting. Many worthy and learned men both an∣cient and of late daies have written for their Country and Common∣wealth of the fruitfull Art of Grafting and Planting.
M. Bolton saies, Vineyards, Orchards, Gardens, & such inclosed Plats, are (as it were) the Flowers, Starres, & Paradises of the Earth.
And the Lord Bacon (in his Essaies pag. 266.) saies Gardens are the purest of humane pleasures, the greatest refreshments of the spirits of man: without which Buildings and Pallaces are but grosse handiworks.
Thus have I shewed (briefly) what some of the Ancients, and some late writers have said, and esteemed of Fruit-trees, and of the Husbandmans course of life, and imployments about them.
I will now say something more of the dignity and value of Fruit-trees, and of the Art of Planting from Divine and humane Arguments and Testimonies, and after that I shall enter upon the worke it selfe.
Though it be absurd for a man to commend himselfe, yet he may commend his Calling, and profession: Paul would not boast of himselfe, yet saith he Rom: 11.13. I magnifie myne Office. Suffer me therefore (for Encouragment to all in the worke,) to say something in praise of Fruit-trees, and of the imployment a∣bout them, it being a worke so full of Profits and Pleasures in the life of man: The works of God are laudable, & have a Dignity upon them, & ought to be taken notice of, praised, & admired, not for themselves, but for the Author, that he through, & by them, may have the more praise. Psal. 111.3. His worke is worthy to be praised, and had in honour.
August.
Reges & Im∣peratores sum∣mos{que} Magi∣stratus non puduit Hor∣tensia colere: propriis mani∣bus.
Augustine,
See the worthie Acts of Cyrus King of Persia. Ezra 1.1.2.3. &c.
Of this, See Sir Rich: Barkley of the felicity of man. pag. 162.