A treatise of fruit-trees shewing the manner of grafting, setting, pruning, and ordering of them in all respects: according to divers new and easy rules of experience; gathered in ye space of twenty yeares. Whereby the value of lands may be much improued, in a shorttime [sic], by small cost, and little labour. Also discovering some dangerous errors, both in ye theory and practise of ye art of planting fruit-trees. With the alimentall and physicall vse of fruits. Togeather with the spirituall vse of an orchard: held-forth [sic] in divers similitudes betweene naturall & spirituall fruit-trees: according to Scripture & experie[n]ce. By Ra: Austen. Practiser in ye art of planting

Diseases incident to Fruit-Trees.

FRuit-trees are subject to divers Diseases. Baptist. Port. saies,* 1.1 Affliguntur Plantae omnes, veluti Animalia, diversis morbis. All Trees or Plants are afflicted with divers Diseases as sensible crea∣tures. And therefore we should apply our selves to Cure them, not for pitty to the Trees (as the indulgent compassionate Ma∣nichees) but for our own profit.

I shall (at present) mention only three Diseases that sometimes happen to Fruit-trees. Mossinesse, Bark-bound, and Canker.

Concerning Mossinesse of Fruit-trees, the way to cure that (and other Diseases) is to take away the Cause, sublatâ causâ,* 1.2 tol∣litur effectus. If the spring be stopt, the streames cannot runne. Some to cure this, only scrape off the Mosse, not indeavouring to take away the Cause, so that in a few yeares they are as bad a∣gaine, that's but like endeavours for cure of the Tooth-ach, or Gout, or the like, with some outward applications (which though they may give some ease for a while, yet they strike not at the root, they remove not the Cause, and therefore they returne a∣gaine. So that it must be considered what the Cause of Mossinesse is, sometimes it is caused by over coldnesse of the ground, as in wa∣terish, and clay grounds, likewise by Barrennesse of the soyle.

If it be Coldnesse through moysture, then use all means to lay it dryer, by trenching the ground: or if it be Clay-ground, then bring in some warmer soyls to mixe with it, as Sand, Ashes, Sheeps-dung, Pigeons, or Hens-dung, or the like: If the soyle be too bar∣ren, then help it by mixtures of good soyles, round about the Roots.

But withall take away the Mosse that is already upon the trees, in this manner; after Raine rub it off with a Haire-cloth: else scrape it off with a piece of hard wood in the forme of a knife.

Another is the Barke-bound disease:* 1.3 This exceedingly hinders the growth of trees: it makes them live lingringly and poorly: This happens when there is but a dull, and slow passage up of sap, and in small quantity, either by reason of barrennesse of soile or want of due culture, to the Branches, therefore if the soile be barren it must be mended, and likewise some of the Bran∣ches cut off, and the rest scored downe all along

to the Root, through the bark, on each side, with some crosse cuts, and nicks in the bark: let this be done in the spring time, & the sap will arise more plentifully.

Another disease is the Canker,* 1.4 naturall to some, but accidentally hapning to others by bruises &c. This hurts many, and spoiles some. To cure it, cut it out, if it be upō the body, or great Boughs of trees, & then cover the place with clay mixed with horse-dung and cut off the small Branches that are dead, but withall endea∣vour to stop the fountaine, and cause of it, (being a sharp and vi∣rulent sap) by laying Cole Ashes, or ashes of burnt wood, Nettles, Ferne, and such like vegetables to the Roots, but if the Trees grow upō gravell ground they'l hardly be cured, without altering the soile in a great measure.

Secondly, concerning Mischiefes incident to Fruits:* 1.5 by Cater∣pillers, Ants, Erewigs, Snailes, Wasps, Birds; and cold, and strong Winds.

In the spring time Caterpillers* 1.6 breed (and devour many buds, blossomes, and young fruits, especially in a dry season:) of the Dew and Leaves (as one saies) when the East Winds blow much, which causeth that moist and slimy matter to vivifie.* 1.7 They breed also (as is observed) of the Spawne of Butterflies. Now how to to destroy them. I know no better way then to pluck off those leaves which have the Cobwebs made upon them, (in which they breed) and tread them under foot, for one of them con∣taines multitudes.

And for those that escape, being upon the Trees, some smoake them with straw or such like, which makes them fall off. They may be destroied also by squirting water up into the Trees a∣mong the Boughs, which washeth them off.

Secondly, Ants* 1.8 and Pismires, hurt Fruits, multitudes creep up into some Trees, and eat the Fruits. Therefore seek out their hils where they breed, and lye, and powre in scalding water, amongst them till they be destroied.

Or else anoint the bottome of the Trees neere the Root with Tarre round about, that so these little theeves may be taken Pri∣soners by sticking in it.

Thirdly, Fruits (growing ripe) are sometimes eaten with Ere∣wigs.* 1.9 One way to destroy them is by setting Oxe hoofes, Canes or any hollow thing neere the Roots of the Trees, and among the

Boughs, upon the ends of sticks, and they'l creep in, and lye there, then take off these hoofes quickly, and shake them into a boule of water, or crush them with your foot upon the ground.

These Creatures doe most mischiefe to Wall-trees,* 1.10 especially upon old walls. Pick them off betime in the morning & destroy them. But if you keep the wall well pointed with lime, that they have no harbour there, and the Roots cleane from weeds you'l not be much troubled with them.

Another mischiefe incident to fruit,* 1.11 is by Wasps and Hornets sometimes, some find out their nests, & are so bold as to destroy them there, by scalding water, or some other way. Another way to destroy them is by hanging Earthen Pots halfe full of water in Trees, dawbed in the innerside with hony, and they will leave the fruits and fall to the hony, and having suckt of it, they fall into the water, and perish. This way destroys multitudes.

Birds also spoyle Buds and fruits:* 1.12 the Bul-finch and Lennet in the Winter time and Spring eate up multitudes of Buds of Cher∣rie-trees, and Plum-trees, which are prepar'd for blossomes and fruits, being ripe they peck and eat many: You may destroy them by setting lyme-twigs (with baits) in the Trees, & kill some with a Peece or Cros-bow, and hang them in the Trees? Also Clack-Mills may be set in divers places in the Orchard which wil affright them.

But the greatest mischiefe incident to fruits is by cold winds: and Frosts in the spring time, & by strong winds in sommer,* 1.13 & Au∣tumne: which shake off the Fruits: against the hurt of cold winds, & frosts, wall-trees may be covered, for a certaine time while they are knitting (being exceeding tender) and great standard trees may be smoked in knitting time, setting on fire some moist straw, (or any thing that will make a smoke) under, and among the Trees.

Also against strong winds, the Orchard must be defended (if it be possible) with some high Trees, on the North, East, and West, sids, or so planted that they may have houses, hils, or something, or other, to break off these winds, from the Fruit-trees.

Soe much concerning Diseases, and Mischeifes, incident to Fruit-trees, and fruits: with their Cures, and Remedies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De cultu & insit. l. c. 35.
• * 1.2

  1 Mossinesse.
• * 1.3

  2 Bark-bound.
• * 1.4

  3 Canker.
• * 1.5

  2 Mischiefes incident to fruits.
• * 1.6

  1 Caterpillers
• * 1.7

  L. Bac nat. hist. pag. 182.
• * 1.8

  2 Ants.
• * 1.9

  3 Erewigs.
• * 1.10

  4 Snailes.
• * 1.11

  5 Wasps.
• * 1.12

  6 Birds.
• * 1.13

  7 Winds.