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

Concerning their Physicall use.

Gallen ascribes heat to some kind of Apples, he speaks of their Physicall propertie in relaxing the belly, & saies the acid & acrid performe this: but with some difference. Haec cum calefactione, Illa autem cum refrigeratione. The Acrid doe it with heat, the o∣ther with cold. Sweet Apples relax the belly more then other kinds. A good Author saies, every sweet thing detergeth & relax∣eth And therefore Peares (which are generally more sweet then Apples) loosen the body more then Apples.

Apples also help Concoction. So Gallen, post cibum statim dare ipsa, &c. taken after meat. Nonnunquā autem cum pane, ad ventri∣culum & stomachum roborandum eaten with bread they strengthē the stomach. So Avicen: confortant debilitatem stomachi.

Galen saies pleasant Apples are profitable in hot diseases. Saepe in morbis afferunt praesidium: So Matth: Pomum coctivum non so∣lum sanis competit, sed etiam aegris: He saies they are Cordiall to persons in hot diseases: Calidis cordis affectibus succurrunt. Being rosted, and eaten with Rosewater and Sugar; and that the plea∣santer kinds are helpfull against Melancholy, & are good against the Plurisie, if rosted and eaten Glycyrrhizae succo, & saccharo, mi∣rifice juvant. With juyce of Liquorice, and sugar, morning and evening two houres before meat, they wonderfully help.

Observe one speciall Physicall propertie more of Apples, set down by a Learned and experienced Author. These be his words.

The pulp of rosted Apples foure, or five (if Pomewaters) mixed in a wine, Quart of faire water, laboured together, and drunk at night last, within an houre, doth in one night cure those that pisse by drops, with great anguish, and dolour, the strangury, and all other diseases, proceeding of the difficulty of making water, but in twice taking, it never fayleth in any: also the running of the Reines: which I have often proved, and gained thereby both Crownes, and credit. So the Author.

Concerning Peares:a Galen saies they have like properties with Apples, and what is said of Apples, if we attribute the same to Peares, there needs nothing anew to be said of them, Quae de Malis diximus, si ad Pira transtuleris, nihil erit quod nos de ipsis novum dicere oportet.

Avicen saies:b sedant Choleram, they mitigate Choler.c Do∣donaeus commends them above Apples, for their nourishing pro∣pertie: Alimenta Pira omnia amplius & copiosius quam Mala conferunt.

So Avicen: Humor eorum plurimus, & laudabilior est, humore pomorum.

Peares make an excellent Wine being well ordered. A late Author saies we might have wine of Peares and other of our Fruits, not inferior to French Wines. And another tells us, that a famous Physitian of his time was not content to equall them with Wine of Grapes, but preferred them before it in every thing.

I need not tell Herefordshire, and Worcestershire men, the good properties of Perry & Syder, they know by experience it is both Alimentall and Physicall, that it is profitable not only for Health, but also for long life, and that Wines made of the best kind of

Apple, and Peares, is a spetiall Cordiall, chearing and reviving the spirits, making the heart glad, as wine of Grapes.

And it has beene observ'd that those who drinke Syder and Perry daily, or frequently, as their common drinke, are gene∣rally healthy persons, and long-lived.

And that it will begger a Physitian to live where Syder, and Perry, are of generall use.

Quinces are speciall fruits, and of manifold use, not only for daily nourishment, but also for Physicall respects, either of themselves, or mixed with other fruits. Matthiolus commends them both for meate, and medicine, boyled with hony. Ex melle tantum & Cotoneorum carne confecta, tam ad cibi quàm medica∣menti commodum.

So Rovilius: And that many dainties for Banquets are pre∣pared of them: Multa ex Cydoniis malis parata ex iis sectis & diutius in aqua elixis donec tabescant &c.

There are divers waies of making Marmalade of Quinces, which is knowne to be a good Cordiall. strengthning the Sto∣mack, and Heart, both of the sick, and sound.

Galen saies being made with Hony it will last seaven yeares, and loose none of it's properties, diu duret, si quis ipsum cum mel∣le coctum asservare velit, post annos septem invenimus nihil in qua∣litate immutatum.

Dodonaeus saies: they bind strongly, of their owne nature; and stay vomiting. Valde astringunt, ventriculum roborant, vo∣mitum sedant.

Quinces may be kept good a yeare or (as some have said) two yeares, thus: put them in a Barrell, cover them with Penny Ale, and once in 10 or 12 daies draw it off, but stirre not the Quinces, then put in fresh Ale againe, from time to time, this is accompted far better then usuall Pickle. Others keep them thus: Boyle the parings and Cores of Qinces with salt and Gin∣ger, and in this pickle they'l keep divers Monthes, A late Au∣thor saies there's no fruit in this Land of so manifold use as Quinces.

Cherries are a healthfull and pleasant fruit, Ruelius saies Ce∣rasa bonum succum creant, they breed good humours in the body; so another: bonum sanguinem generant.

Dodoneus accompts the tart, and sharp Cherries best, Inter Ce∣rasa optima sunt acidula.

There is a pleasant and refreshing wine, made of Cherries, in Countries where they have great store, both of their Lyquor only: and the same mixed with Grapes. Ʋvis maturis admiscen∣tur, & deinde vinum ex his paratur gustatu gratissimum: Doubt∣lesse Cherry wine in sommer is a pleasant and healthfull lyquor, more proper for that season then hot wines.

Cherries boyled in brothes, and drinks, give a pleasant relish, and are good for hot, and feverish bodies. And in Countries where there are great store their custome is to eat their break∣fasts of Bread, butter, and Cherries.

The Schoole or Universitie of Salerne, gives them great commen∣dations, and tells us divers commodities they afford:

Cerasa si comedas tibi confert grandia dona, Expurgant Stomachum, nucleus lapidem tibi tollit, Et de carne suâ sanguis erit{que} bonus.

By eating Cherries great good doth arise, To such as use them, for the learned wise Say, that they purge the Stomack, and beside The broken stones and kernels have beene try'd, To breake the bladder-stone, breed wholsome blood, To fat and feede the body they be good.

Another saies, they increase and comfort the Liver, and that the tart and sharp close the mouth of the stomack, and make the better and speedier digestion.

Matthiolus saies: Omnia refrigerant, roborant, & tibi appeten∣tiam excitant, ideoque febricitantibus, ac sitientibus facile conce∣duntur à medicis Germanis.

All Cherries do coole, strengthen and stirre up appetite to meate, and therefore they are readily allowed by the Germane Physitians to such as have feverish, hot, and thirsty diseases; other Authours say the like which for brevities sake I omit.

Matthiolus saies, Pruna bilem dejiciunt, proinde ea utiliter, me∣dici ad febres, aliosque biliosos affectus reddant. Plums cast out cholerick humours, and are good in fevers, and other cholerick and hot diseases.

A late Authour saies, out of damsons and other sweete Plums,

may be made a drinke not inferior to some good wines, and a∣bundance of Aquavitae.

Schol. Sal. saies:

Infrigidant, laxant, multum prosunt tibi Pruna:

Plums coole, and loose the belly very kindly:

No way offensive, but to health are friendly.

Many good dishes for the Table, and delicates for Banquets, are made of Plums, with hony, and sugar, to use all the yeare, and profitable both for the sick and healthfull.

Gallen accounts Aprecocks, better then Peaches, Non in ven∣triculo, ut illa corrumpuntur: because they are not so soone cor∣rupted in the stomack. Avicen saies, Infusio siccorum confert foe∣bribus acutis: The infusion of dryed Aprecocks, is profitable in sharpe feavers. Matt. tels us, that the Oyle of the Stones, is very profitable to anoint the heat, and swelling of Ʋlcers, and Sores, and Paines in the Eares. And that the oyle mixed with wine, and drunke, drives stones and gravell out of the bladder and kidneys; and helps the collicke.

They are ordered many wayes and all pleasant to the Body, and healthfull.

Dioscor. sayes, Persica mala stomacho utilia sunt, alvum quoque bonum praestant. Peaches are good for the stomach, and keep the belly soluble: so Avicen: Matura sunt bona stomacho.

Lonicerus saies, Persica mala in ardentibus faebribus sumi pos∣sunt. Peaches may be eaten in burning fevers.

Pliny comends Peaches as much as any fruit even for the sick, with wine or Vineger, Poma Persica innocua expeti aegris, utiliora{que} cum vino aut aceto, &c:

Peaches eaten moderately (for so wee are to use all fruits) are no doubt profitable to coole and loosen the belly, especially for hot constitutions, but with all take the advice of scho: Sal: Persica cum musto, vobis datur ordine iusto: take a cup of wine, or strong drinke with them.

Some make a drink or wine of Mulberries as Albert: Magnus tells us: De Moris fit potus, qui Moretum vocetur. A spoonefull or 2: of this will colour a quart of white wine or Syder. Ruel: saies, succus siccato pomo expressus, multum obsoniorum sapori confert, & miram gratiam commendat: the juyce of Mulberries, prest out, and dryed, & put into meats, gives them a very pleasant taste & relish.

The Juyce of Mulberries is known by experience to be a good remedy for a sore mouth, or throat, such as are perfectly ripe re∣lax the belly, but the unripe (especially dry'd) are said to binde exceedingly, and therefore are given to such as have Lasks, and Flixes. Dodonaeus saies they stir up a languishing appetite, espe∣cially in hot bodies, appetentiam calore languentem excitant.

So Avicen: appetitum cibi faciunt. They are used by Apothecaries for many other purposes.

Figgs are said to nourish much, and to breed store of blood. Dodonaeus preferres them above other Fruits in respect they nou∣rish very much: Alimenti amplius quam caeteri praebent: So Mat. Ficus & uvae inter fructus autumnales principatum obtinent.

We have a sort of Figgs that come to perfect ripenesse in England, which are eaten (being newly gathered) with Pepper, Salt, and Bread, and may be dry'd to last all the yeare. And (doubtlesse) nourish exceedingly.

Lonicerus saies: Naturam confortant. Dioscor: commends them as profitable to those who have lost their colour by long sick∣nesse.

Figgs according to Pliny are restorative, and the best thing that they can eat, who are brought low by languishing sicknesse and on the mending hand, they help (as another saies) an old continuall Cough (being boyled with Hysop and drunk) also Obstructions, and other faults of the Lungs. Scho: Salern: com∣mends them for divers things: Scroba, tumor, Glandes,

Ficus cataplasmata cedit. Junge papaver ei, confracta foris tenet ossa.

Kings Evill, Swellings, Kernells, Figgs by a plaister cure: Adde Poppie to 't, Then broken bones it sets them sure.

Condiuntur hi cum saccaro, aut melle (as Dodonaeus) quo modo ap∣parati ori, ac palato grati sunt. Ordered with hony, or sugar they are acceptable and pleasant to the tast, they fortifie digestion, and preserve the humours from putrefaction. They stay vomi∣tings and loosnesse of the stomack or belly. Valentius astringunt, proinde ventri fluenti cibus est utilissimus: as Gallen: Another saies: Mespilorum ossicula in pulverem contrita calculos è renibus valen∣ter pellunt. The kernells bruised to dust, and drunk in liquor (es∣pecially

where Parsley roots have been steeped) doe mightily drive out stones, and gravell from the Kidneyes.

A late Author saies Medlers are singular good for women with child, seeing they strengthen the stomach, and stay the loos∣nesse thereof.

Another saies, they are very effectuall for women with child against abortion.

A late Author saies the profit of Wallnuts is infinite: They are usually eaten after meales to close up the stomach, and help di∣gestion. And according to Avicen, recentes sunt meliores stoma∣cho. Bread or Bisket may be made of the meale being dried. The young nuts peeled are preserv'd, and candid for Banquetting stuffe: and being ripe the Kernells may be crusted over with su∣gar, and kept long.

Avicen saies: Juglans ficubus, & Rutâ medicina omnibus vene∣nis: Wallnuts, with Figs, and Rue, is a preservative against all poison.

Schol: Sal: reckons Wallnuts for one of the six things that resist poyson.

Allia, Nux, Ruta, Pyra, Raphanus cum Theriaca: Haec sunt Antidotum contra mortale venenum.

Garlicke, Rue, Peares, Radish, Treacle, and Nuts: Take these, and then no deadly poyson hurts.

Mithridates the great: his preservative was (as is recorded) Two Wallnuts, two Figs, 20 leaves of Rue, and a grain of Salt stam∣ped together: which taken, no poyson that day could hurt him.

Greene Walnuts about Midsommer distilled and drunk with vineger, are accounted a certaine preservative against the Pesti∣lence.

The milk of the Kernells (as Almond milk) doth cool and re∣fresh the appetite of the languishing sick body.

So much for the Alimentall, and Physicall use of Fruits.

Notes

• De Aliment. facul. l. 2. p. 20.
• D Alim. facult. l. 2.
• L. 2. c. 569
• In Com. pr. l. Dioscor.
• Ger. Herb. pag. 1270.
• Of Peares.
• a

  Lib. 2. de A liment. fa. p. 20.
• b

  Lib. 2. ch. 548.
• c

  Hist. stirp. 3.
• Li. 2. Ch. 548.
• Ma. Rust.
• Of Quinces.
• Com: in lib. 1 Dioscor: pag. 201.
• Hist: plant: lib. 3. pag. 290.
• De Aliment. facul: lib. 2. pag. 20.
• Hist: stirp: lib. 3. pap. 784.
• Of Cherries. De Nat. stirp ch. 64. lib. 1.
• Com: in l. 1. Dioscor. pag. 198.
• Of Plums.
• Com: in l. 1. Dios. p. 216.
• Of Aprecocks De Facult. Ali men. l. 2. p. 20.
• Can. l: 2. c. 146.
• Of Peaches: L pag, 80. &:
• L. 2. •• 571: Nat hist. p. 15.
• L 15. c. 12. & l: 23. c. 7.
• Of Mulber∣ries. De veget, & Plant. c. 26. p. 157. De nat. stirp. c. 102. p 265.
• Can. l. 2 c. 498.
• Of Figgs. Nat. hist. l. 3. p. 800. Com. in l. pr. Dios. p. 230.
• Li. 23. c. 7.
• Of Medlers. Hist. stirp. l. 3. p. 789.
• De Al. facul. l. 2. p. 21.
• Of Wallnuts.
• Can. l. 2. c. 501.
• Can. l. 2. c. 501.
• Plin: nat. hist. l. 23. c. 18.