YOur industrious endeavours for the benefit of all men, and particularly for the good of this Nation, hath well deserved the gratefull acknow­ledgement of all good men, and of my self in speciall: for that in my ru­rall retirement I have received some profit, and very much innocent and refreshing delights in the perusall of those treatises, which are by your di­ligent hand communicated to the publick.

My education was amongst Scho­lars in Academyes, where I spent many yeares in conversing with va­riety of books only. A little before our wars began, I spent two summers in travelling towards the South, with [Page 2] purpose to learn to know men and forreign manners. Since my return, I have been constantly imployed in a weighty office, by which I am not disengaged from the care of our pub­lick welfare in the peace and pro­sperity of this Nation; but obliged to be the more sollicitous and tender in preserving it, and promoting it. Wherefore, taking notice that this County is reputed the Orchard of England, and (in the generality of good husbandry) excelleth many o­ther places; I offer it (as my duty) to give you some plain and unpolished account of our Agriculture in He­refordshire: which I do the more willingly undertake, for that I do not yet know of any other addresse is made unto you from this County. Here I observe the wisest and best of our Gentry to be very carefull in set­ting forward such kind of husban­dry, as best agrees with the nature of the soyl where he inhabiteth. From [Page 3] the greatest persons to the poorest cottager, all habitations are encom­passed with Orchards and Gardens; and in most places our hedges are inriched with rowes of fruit-trees, pears, or apples, Gennet-moyles, or crab trees. Of these, the Pears make a weak drink fit for our hindes, and is generally refused by our Gentry, as breeding wind in the stomack; yet this drink (till the heat of Summer hath caught it,) is most pleasing to the female palat, having a relish of weak wine mixed with sugar. If mingled with some harsh kind of ap­ples, it makes a happy mixture; and our observant house-keepers know how to mix them to the best advan­tage. Some peares are apt to incline 2the drink to be roapy, and they are known by giving a wheyish colour to the liquor. I know a good husband that cuts down and destroyes such peare-trees from off his ground, cal­ling them the worst kind of weeds. [Page 4] For others are so nice as to refuse the drink, and women love it best, as sweetest, till it be roapy. Most other kinds of perry are of a more water­ish colour, then apple-cider, and more lushious. The white-horse­peare yields a juyce somewhat neer to the quality of cider; and the neighbourhood of Bosbury is famous for a peculiar perry, which hath ma­ny of the masculine qualities of cider. It is as quick, strong, and heady, high-coloured; and retaineth a good vigour two or three Summers, yea in great vessells and good cellars ma­ny yeares, before it declineth. The fruit is so hard and course, that a man cannot endure to bite a morsell of it, and a pig will refrain it. This Bosbu­ry peare is there called the Bareland peare: and as the liquor approach­eth to apple-cider in colour, strength, and excelleth in durance; so the bloom cometh forth of a damask­rose colour, like apples, not like o­ther [Page 5] peares. Our Gennet moyles are commonly found in hedges, or in our worst soyle, most commonly in Irchinfield, or towards Wales, where the land is somewhat dry and shal­low. This fruit is nice, and apt to be discouraged by blasts, and we do or­dinarily expect a failing of them eve­ry other year, especially in dry soil; and the reason is apparent and neces­sary. But this fruit makes the best cider in my judgement, & such as I do pre­fer before the much-commended red-strak't must. For this Gennet moyle, if it be suffered to ripen upon the tree, not to be mellow but to be yellowish and fragrant, and then to be hoorded in heapes under the trees, a fortnight or three weeks be­fore you grind them; it is (at distance) the most fragrant of all cider-fruit, & gives the liquor a most delicate per­fume. So, for tarts and pyes, it is much commended. The Crab is commonly ground for Verjuice, [Page 6] and sometimes hoorded till neer December, and then mingled with cider, or washings of cider, to make a mordicant cider, which doth well please our day-labourers; and would surely well agree with a French pea­sants palat. And, for a fresh wonder, I assure you, that we have lately found out, that one of our most delicate kinds of Cider is made of a kind of Crab, called a Bromsbery Crab, thus hoorded: it being much like a sto­mack wine, of a very pleasing sharp­nesse. This experiment is not yet known to many of our Countrey­men, it being reserved to few as a no­vell mystery. I have sometimes tryed the Cider of Pippins only, well ripe­ned, not green windfalls, nor over­ripened, and somewhat hoorded: and I find it to be a very pleasant drink, and do conceive it to be the most wholesome, and most restora­tive of all sorts of Cider.

I need not tell you how all our [Page 7] villages, and generally all our high­wayes (all our vales being thick set with rowes of villages) are in the spring-time sweetned, and beautyfied with the bloomed trees, which con­tinue their changeable varietyes of Ornament, till (in the end of Au­tumn) they fill our Garners with pleasant fruit, and our cellars with rich and winey liquors. Few cotta­gers, yea very few of our wealthiest yeomen do tast any other drink in the family, except at some speciall festivalls, twice or thrice in the year, and that for variety, rather than with choice.

Orchards being the Pride of our Countrey, and the Scene of my pre­sent discourse, I will offer unto you two Observations upon that argu­ment, as properly directive to them that can affect the pleasure or profit, which must needs be, in many re­spects, very much: As, for that they do not only sweeten, but also purifie [Page 8] the ambient aire, (which I conceive to conduce very much to the con­stant health and long lives, for which our County hath been alwayes fa­mous;) and for that they fence our habitations and walks from the stroke of winds and storms in the Winter, and afford us shelter & shade in the heat of Summer; and (if I may acknowledge gratefull trifles) for that they harbour a constant aviary of sweet singers, which are here retai­ned without the charge or violence of the Italian Wiers.

My first Observation is this; I con­ceive that, if other Countreys would submit to the same patience and in­dustry, as is usuall amongst us, they might partake of a great measure (at least) of the same blessings. As we see in our borderers of Shropshire, Worce­stershire and Glocestershire, and also in Somersetshire; and much more in Kent and Essex, &c. My reason I take from the wonderfull difference [Page 9] of soyles where we abound with rich Orchards. About Bromyard, a cold air, and a shallow barren soyl, yet store of Orchards of divers kinds of spicey and savoury apples. About Rosse and Webley, and towards the Hay, a shallow, hot, sandy or stony rye-land, & expos'd to a changeable air from the disgusts of the black mountain; yet here, and all over Ir­chinfield, and also about Lemster, both towards Keinton, and towards Fayremile (which makes a third dif­ference of shallow and starvy land,) in all these barren provinces, as good store of undeceiving Orchards, as in the richest vale of the County, even by Frome banks. Only, as I fore-no­ted, where the dryest fruit-trees are planted in a very hot, shallow, and dry soyle, there we must be content with a full and certain blessing every second year. This being also allow­ed, that some soyle and some air is more agreeable for some kinde of [Page 10] fruit, than for other: as for example, Worcestershire is more proper for peares and cherryes, than Hereford­shire, and Herefordshire more proper for Apples. The reason of the diffe­rence may in part appear by this fol­lowing illustration. Where the turf is very shallow, the rough starvy ground (which in this countrey we wrongfully call Marle) hinders the tender root of the apple-tree from descending deep enough for due nourishment, and fit shelter. There (as in the ground which we esteem the most barren) the root of the pear-tree, having a more piercing vi­gour, breaks his way through this course Marle, as it will also cleave through some veins of rocks and stones; and, under this starvy ground, it finds a more congeniall and richer nourishment; as appears by the store of fruit, fair and juicy, and also by the rinde of the tree, smooth, bright-coloured, and free [Page 11] from moss. This we also note, that in a deep soyl, that is most kind for apples, if the root of a pear-tree de­scends deep into a soft clay ground, the tree spends all his strength in growing downwards, and becomes lesse spacious, lesse beautifull in the head, and lesse fruitfull. And where some peares find great difference of soyle, whether grafted or planted by the stock, there it differeth some­times in bulk, and oft times in other qualities very much. Which seem­eth to me to explain, why there is such different kinds of pears in every Countrey: their shape and their na­ture, and therefore also their names, being changed so often, and so easily.

Also I have frequently noted, that the richest Cider, and the best-tasted apples for the table, do grow in the soyle that is lesse deep and lesse com­mended for other uses, as in a high ground, or dry land. And you shall find the better-tasted fruit to be more [Page 12] wrethed or wrinckled, or spotted with warts, moles, or freckles, or of a more russet, or yellow colour. The other apple, that comes from the richer and lower ground, is more pallid, more plump, but more wate­rish and insipid. I conclude this ob­servation with this direction, That since no kind of soyle should whol­ly discourage us, and yet much re­gard must be had of fitting the fruit to the soyle, therefore we must em­ploy our first care in the plantation of a nursery, where our experiences may daily increase, and the plants also be educated, prepared and fitted for the neighbouring soyle. For what Columella saith of Vines, I may as truely say of Fruit-trees; Quod ex lon­ginquo petitur, parum familiariter no­stro solo venit, propter quod difficilius convalescit alienum exterae regionis. Optimum est ergo eodem agro quo vi­tem dispositurus es, vel certe vicino, facere seminarium: idque multum re­fert [Page 13] loci natura &c. de arbor. cap. 1.

My second observation is inten­ded to encourage the plantation of a Nursery, by directing the sure way how to fit the soyl with the greatest variety of fruits, and also to obtain the speediest reward together with a yearly delight in novelties, & a like growth in experiences.

But because I must now imbark ninto some paradoxes, which will not easily obtain belief, & least of all amongst our own Countreymen here in He­refordshire, for some reasons which hereafter will occurr, I will make my entrance with a plain and true story.

Some years ago I read a small trea­tise of Orchards and Gardens writ­ten by VVilliam Lawsone, Note: Printed 1626. a North-countrey man. In it I found many assertions which seem­ed to me so strange, so contrary to our generall opinion, so discordant from our daily practice, and so incre­dible, that I could not forbeare my [Page 14] smiles. I related the particulars to all our best Artists. Every man con­firmed me, that the treatise wa [...] wholly ridiculous, and in no respec [...] worthy to be examined and weigh­ed: yet I thought I found many signes of honesty and integrity in the Man, a sound, clear, naturall wit, and all things attested and affirm'd upo [...] his own experiences. This raised m [...] wonder the more. Amongst many particulars, some were as followeth.

1. That the best way to plant a [...] Orchard were to turn the groun [...] with a spade in February, and to se [...] from February till May, every month [...] some kernels of the best and sounde [...] apples, or peares &c. finger deep, a [...] a foot distance: And by removing the rest (as time and occasion should advise) to leave the likeliest plant to reside in the naturall place unremo­ved. Ch. 7. pag. 17.

2. That the kernels of every ap­ple would bring forth apples of the like kind. Chap. 7. pag. 18.

[Page 15]3. That by the leaves of each spi­ring plant you might distinguish each kind of fruit, whether delicate or harsh, &c. Ch. 7. pag. 18.

4. That trees thus raised might be preserved or continue for a thou­sand years, &c. Chap. 14. pag. 47.

5. That apples either grafted, or any time removed, could never be sound, durable, or otherwise perfect.

1. The first of these Assertions was rejected, as dilatory, and retarding our hopes & reward for half an age.

2. The second was contradicted by daily experience, which vouch­eth that many apple-kernels will de­generate to crabs, at least if taken from apples planted on a crab-stock: and that crab-kernels are better for a plantation, than any apple-kernels.

3. The third note was wholly unknown and unobserved in our Countrey.

4. The fourth, like an unreasonable phansy.

[Page 16]5. The fifth, as refuted in all our Orchards every where.

Notwithstanding these oppositi­ons, I still retained my good opinion of the mans honesty and experience. Therefore I resolved to make exact triall with patience. I dig'd holes of three foot breadth in a parcell of or­dinary clay-ground. [Note that the whole piece of clay-ground was tur­ned somewhat deep with the spade before, that the setlings might gather root as well in that vulgar ground, as also in the finer mold.] I enquired slips of severall trees that grew with­out graffing, and bore severall fruits of their naturall kind: these I placed each kind round about the verges of the severall holes. By diligent en­quiry the first Spring I found four­teen severall sorts of these naturall apples, the fruit much differing in tast, shape and colour; some only green and sowrish, some red-straked, some party-coloured, and very pleasant, [Page 17] some table-fruit in Summer, some Winter fruit, some cider fruit. Of all these the Kentish codling was by odds the worst: not many better then the French Cornell. Having placed these slips in the border of the hole at a foot distance, I filled up the hole with a fine kind of garden-mould, carryed thither in barrows. This I raised not in Tumps, for I fore­saw the inconvenience, that it would be a harbour for ants or pismires. I kept it also at an equall levell, that the rain might not lodge there, and cor­rupt the young roots. In the midst of this fine mold, in the most tempe­rate weather, I did monethly, from Autumn to the next Spring, set ker­nels of the finest sort of apples, with delineating in a sciograph the several kinds in severall places. I now find that the kernells of apples grafted on crab-stocks prove not all crabs, nor (as I guesse) altogether of the kind of that apple, whence the kernell was taken.

[Page 18]2^ly, That, as the mold is [...]ner where they first grow, so the fruit seemeth more civil, and in course ground they degenerate towards the crab. Our neighbours, for a nurse­ry, sow the drosse or must (as we call it) of apples ground in a cider-mill. But I have noted the fairest kernells to be bruised in the mill, the remain­der being small, and sown in course land, become a kind of crabs.

And that the kernells of naturall apples do very much propend to the kind of which they are descended. This was neglected, and therefore unknown to our neighbours, who had no need of this curiosity, as be­ing so addicted to graffing, that they take not notice of any naturall apple, except the Gennet moyle, the Ky­doddin, the Sweeting, and the French Cornell; which are found in all places. Tis sure that kernells of the same apples, in a far differing soyl, do produce a different apple; [Page 19] but (as I said) still with some inclina­tion to the originall, if it be the kernell of an ungrafted apple. And this may advertise the best season of designing variety; namely, in applica­tion of choice compost to the very kernel, as Gab. Plat prescribeth Exp. 14. pag. 210. of the Additions to the excellent Legacy. All other stories, of powring liquors into the bark, or bulk of the tree, are effete and idle phansies, for nine dayes wonder.

3ly, I find the truth, & that much more might be added to Lawsons rules, of distinguishing the hopeful­nesse of the fruit by the first leaves of the yearling plant. For a short and dark-green leaf prognosticateth a crabbed fruit. With a larger leaf and thick, but also dark-green, I have found a good Winter-apple, but the stock hardy to endure a stiffe clay-ground. A fady willowish broad leaf noteth a flat, insipid apple, as the Kentish Codling, which holds out [Page 20] well against blasts. A paler green, as the Poppinjay, or barbery leaf, speci­ally if the leaf be limber also, noteth a delicate fruit: and the broader the leaf, the fairer that fruit. A wrink­led leaf, neither very dark, nor very light, proves red-strak't crab-stocks have reddish tops. More particulars will occurr by ordinary observation.

4ly, For the incredible durance of apple-trees to a thousand years, I have upon much experience & ma­ny reasons much abated the presum­ption of my censure. 'Tis certainly true (as Gabriel Plat in the foresaid place noteth,) that if a man aime at his present profit, then graffing is his way: but if he aime at the profit of his posterity, then it is best not to graft at all. This I add, that most ungraffed apples are apt by the overweight of their fruit to leane towards the ground: and I have seen many of them quell'd quite to the ground; where they do renew their strength, [Page 21] and get up again into many Trunks, in a continued order, answerable to the old fable of the Giant Antaeus. Every aspiring Trunk of some of these naturall apples, is much more lasting than any grafted fruit-tree: and many very aged people have as­sured me, that they have discerned no difference either of their growth or decay, in their whole age from their childhood. I will tell you up­on my credit the wonders of one tree of this kind, now growing in Ocle Pitchard: the fruit is not very sap­py, nor pleasant; the leaf dark-green, and stiff. My known friend (for try­all) made of that tree five of our large hogsheads, consisting of sixty four Statute gallons of cider, with­out the mixture of any water. It or­dinarily yieldeth four hogsheads, and seldome or (as they assure me that dwell there) never faileth of three. Yet few of our Countreymen have heard of it, or take notice of it. This [Page 22] tree hath had very many uprisings, so that I conceive it hath been many hundreds of years making this pro­gresse. My dear alliance, Mr. Thomas Taylor, was owner of it many yeares, and dwelt alwayes in that parish. He is now past eighty yeares old, of firm strength and fresh memory: yet he affirmeth, that he never could dis­cern any change in the tree. And his wife for many years tried to plant the branches, but was utterly discoura­ged by their slow motion. I have for three yeares tried some branches, which seem only to keep a faint life, with very little progresse. The ground on which this great tree growes, is pasture, and seems not in the age of man to have been broken up, or relieved with compost, or fresh mold; which may shew, that it is a very hardy plant. So much up­on the adventure of mine own cre­dit, which may be examined by a thousand witnesses, to confirm the [Page 23] credit, or rather guesse and propo­sall, of Mr. Lawson.

5ly. For duration of the fruit-tree, much care must be had in the remo­vall, which should be soon after the leaf is faln, when the Autumnall rains have softned the earth at the roots, that the roots be not bruised or wounded in the removall: and then the tree should keep the same positi­on towards the heavens; the roots layd also in the same posture, the smal­ler fibers or bearded roots rather cut at the ends, then crumpled up: and the earth in which the stock is laid, somewhat of the same kind, but bet­tered, and mellowed, not with un­digested muck, but with fine mold, and shovellings of the fold. If the roots are cut or bruised, to the same proportion the branches must be lopped. In a grafted plant every bow should be lopped, at the very tops, in apples and peares; not in cherries and plums. In a naturall plant, the [Page 24] bowes should not at all be lopped, but some taken off close to the trunk; that the root at first replantation be not engaged to maintain too many suckers. And this must be done with such discretion, that the top-branch­es be not too close together; for the naturall plant is apt to grow spiry, & thereby failes of fruitfulnesse. There­fore let the reserved branches be di­vided at a convenient roundnesse. The branches that are cut off, may be set, and will grow, but slowly. If the top prove spiry or the fruit un­kind, then the due remedy must be in graffing.

Neither is graffing to be used on­ly as a remedy. For it doth most cer­tainly improve the kind of the fruit: insomuch that a graft of the same fruit doth meliorate the fruit, as is lately much observed by our Welsh neighbours, who do graffe the Gen­net-moyle upon the same stock, and thereby obtain a larger apple, more [Page 25] juicy, and better for all uses: and some triplicate their graffings (for a curiosity) upon the same account.

And it is noted amongst us, that a pearmain or any other pleasant fruit either for cider, or the table, is much sweeter, if grafted upon the stock of a Gennet-moyle, or Kydoddin, than if grafted on a crab-stock; though much lesse lasting upon the stock of the Gennet-moyle: the Gennet-moyl being also lesse lasting, especially a­mongst us, where they are generally planted of large setlings, which must needs wound them in their very be­ginnings, and therefore hinder their duration.

Also graffing doth much precipi­tate, or at least expedite the reward, especially if the graffe be taken from a branch that hath some yeares con­stantly born sound fruit plentifully. Trust not to one yeares triall. Potest e­nim vel anni proventu, vel aliis de cau­sis, etiā naturaliter infoecunda semel ex­uberare: [Page 26] sed ubi plurimis velut eme­ritis annorum stipendiis fides surculo constitit, nihil dubitandum est de foe­cunditate: nec tamen ultra quadrien­nium talis extenditur inquisitio, saith Columella in a like case; lib. 3. c. 6.

1. Thus we see how to hasten the reward both by graffing, and in the choice of the graffe.

2. And how to sweeten the fruit and better it, both by the choice of a pleasing stock and also of a kind graffe.

3. And how to multiply variety in the diversity of compost, especially at the first plantation of the kernell; and I add, with frequent application of pleasant infusions, and liquids, as in which annise seeds, fennel, rosemary, or other agreeable aromaticks have been steeped: yet beware of giving too much juice to a young plant; for that may drown it, or make it lesse gustfull: And I never saw an Orchard prove, where the ground was wet­ted [Page 27] with a water-gall, or where the moisture did for some time lye there, and could not be drained away. Yet near a running sink of soyled water, I have seen the approaching trees ne­ver fail of their fruit.

4. And hence we see how to plant an Orchard that may probably re­main to the worlds end. And in this point I have insinuated some part of my paradoxes, by the way of a story, and in pretence of defending ano­ther against the opinion & common practise of mine own Countrey-men. Mr. Lawsons book I have not now at hand, neither can I record his judgement verbally, but I think I have stuck close to his sense.

He addeth, that the fruit of the na­turall plant doth grow better and pleasanter by time, as better at thirty yeares growth than at twenty yeares growth. This I know not. See Chap. 7. pag. 18, 19.

Also he requireth much more [Page 28] distance of the trees than we observe as sixty foot at least. Our com­mon Orchards are at twenty foot di­stance; our best Orchards at thirty at least, by alternative rowes per quin­cuncem. In large crofts of arable, re­served for constant tillage, which is a necessary help to fruit-trees, our best husbands graft high, and preferre Lawsons utmost distance, even sixty yards, that the teames may not an­noy the trees; and then the trees bear a full load of fruit, and spread to the naturall perfection. This I adde, that if you would have the trees grow tall, and shadow more in Summer, and keep off winds better in Winter, and the fruit the sweeter, then you should plant the closer together, yet never nearer then twenty foot.

To conclude my paradoxes; He that is provided of a nursery, need not be very nicely provident for the lon­gevity of his trees. A small parcell of ground will furnish store for all his [Page 29] grounds, and for all his neighbour­hood, to play away upon graffings and novell experiments. And to en­courage this nursery, I now summ up all with my last paradox, That for these four last yeares, whereof two were very dry Summers, I laid the fruitfull sprayes of naturall apple-plants in the ground, some very small, not two foot above ground, all thereabout; and from the first Summer to this present Spring, they never failed to bear as thick as traces of onyons. But it is better for the plant, if you pull off the young apples soon after they be knitted, the first year at least. Some I laid also of four yards length under ground, the sprayes lying slope above ground: these grow and bear incredibly. Others I slope, and pare away the bordering turfe, that the reflected Sun may give me the early benefit of a dwarf Orchard; and these against Midsummer, are as big as a Ladies [Page 30] fist. I present them to store of wit­nesses. If I dwelt neer Cheapside, I should make my new-planted Nur­sery as rich as an Orchard. All natu­rall apples are not of this precocity: the more durable (as I said before) are much more sullen. Some require a knot for the root, others not: all three the better for it. To some a small slice from the bark is as good. Before December, whilst the spray growes on the tree, by the bluntness of the bud you may discover what branch will bear fruit the next Sum­mer immediately following, if you cut off the branch, and set it before the buds be sprouted too far forward, (as you may in February, or the be­ginning of March.) This (with some) will passe as a prophesy. A sore blast or May-Frosts may deceive you. Of these naturall apples there are not past six or seven kinds distinguished by proper names amongst us. I con­ceive they can never be distingui­shed, [Page 31] for that every individuall al­wayes assumes a peculiar nature from the infinite variety of compost. In this nursery, 'tis the same pains, and no charge, to try the seeds of firres, pines, cypres, pitch, &c. which prove better for replantation than in hote beds.

Of the Art of graffing either with the ciens, bud or leaf, I shall say no­thing, because every village amongst us yieldeth store of Artists: and ma­ny books shew the rules; but in these things an Artist can teach more in a day, than a book in a moneth.

One reason why fruit do so abound in this County, is, for that no man hath of late years built him a house, but with speciall regard to the proxi­mity of some ground fit for an Or­chard, which should be of some depth, as is commonly towards the foot of a descending ground, and fre­quently with a proclivity towards the South; and the land not too fri­able [Page 32] or hollow, but somewhat tough, binding and tenacious, least the winds root up the stocks. And ma­ny times servants when they betake to marriage, seek out an acre or two of ground, which they find fit for Orchard: for this they give a fine, or double value for years or lives; and thereon they build a Cottage, & plant an Orchard, which is all the wealth they have for themselves, and their posterity.

For Gardens, we have little en­couragement to designe more than is for the necessary use of our own families, except our River Wye may be made navigable for transporta­tion. And by defect of transportati­on, our store of cider is become a snare to many, who turne Gods bles­sings into wantonnesse & drunken­nesse. The credit of Cider being of few late years much advanced in the estimation of our best Gentry, who have sought out the right method of [Page 33] ripening and hoording the choicest fruits, and of finding the right season of drawing it, and some also of bot­tling it. But I am confident that much more may be added to the perfection of it, when they shall also apply to it the due subtleties of the mysterious art of fermentation.

I found it much amended, by put­ting pure cider upon the fresh lees of a butt of sack, newly drawn.

In Vines our Gentry have lately contended in a profitable ambition to excell each other: so that the white muscadell is vulgar, the purple and black grape frequent, the pars­ly-grape and Frontiniack in many hands.

Wall-nuts belong to our high-way sides, and are fittest for dry and stony grounds. I find them for the dryest ground of the Nursery a never-fail­ing companion. In Columella we may find many excellent rules how to ascertain and hasten their [Page 34] growth, and to mend their qua­lity.

The large Chestnut being such a masculine food for lustie rusticks, and so much used at the best tables in France, and so savoury in the condi­ment of our strongest cider with salt, I much blame our Countreymen, that we have no more use of a food that would soon become cheap, common, and lasting.

All these nuts and filberts do acce­lerate growth, (as I have proved,) by the rules of Columella: In aqua mulsa, nec ninius dulci macerato, it a jucundio­ris saporis fructum, cum adoleverit, praebebit, & interim melius & celerius frondebit, lib. 5. cap. 10. and again, de arb. 22. I cannot tell whether it should not be read, nec nimis dulci; but I tryed it in milk, and also in stale urine steep'd in sheeps-dung, with good successe. He adds for an im­provement, Et in medulla ferulae sine putamine nucem Graecam vel avella­nam [Page 35] abscondito, & ita adobruito. A worthy person tryed the kernells of cherry-stones and plum-stones, ha­ving first broken and cast away the shells, and setting them in Summer time, assoon as they were ripe; and he assureth that they got a yeares ad­vantage in celerity.

I do much wonder that such a singular honest man as Gabriel Plat should write, that it is found by expe­rience, that a chesnut in ten or twelve yeares will grow into a fair tree, able to be the master-post of a fair build­ding. And the like of the Wallnut, Exp. 13. pag. 269. Addit. to the Legacy.

I am at the like wonder at honest Cap. Blithes precedent of small quick­set oaks, that at eleven yeares growth made sparrs and small building-tim­ber, Chap. 25. pag. 158. Edit. 1652.

Our elme is of speediest growth, all timber, alwayes shredded to be the tallest of English trees; and found [Page 36] in rowes on our high-wayes, and at every cottagers dore, except they be compell'd to give place to fruit-trees.

In many journeys through Shrop­shire, I have scarce seen two elmes of the right kind. The crust of the earth there is too shallow. But the root of the oaks cleaves through the harder earth, and surely finds a mar­ly substance for his plentifull suste­nance to the full depth of his stature,

All our hills have sometimes born oaks, or few failed, and I conceive most are very apt for it. But of late the Iron-mills have devoured our glory, and defloured our Groves.

We are generally noted to excell in al kinds of husbandry: our ploughs are light, but we listen after further di­rections which come to us through your hands. The rye of Clehanger [Page 37] and of some parts of Irchinfield is as good as the Muncorne or Miscel­lane of many other Countreys; and our wheat is upon the ground farre richer than I saw any in the fair vale of Esome in Worcestershire and War­wickshire, as in my travells, I some­times examin'd it in the company of other more skilfull husbandmen.

For pastures we add improve­ments daily, and as a stranger pas­seth by our habitations, by our fen­ces, Orchards, pastures, arable, he may distinguish a well-ordered house­keeper and a freeholder, from an o­ver-wracked Tenant, and an un­thrift.

This is the Countrey where Row­land Vaughan began his Water­works; and I can name you a great number of admirable contrivers for the publick good.

The Lord Scudamore may well be­gin to us; a rare example, for the well-ordering of all his family, a great [Page 38] preserver of woods against the day of Englands need, maintaining lauda­ble hospitality regularly bounded with due sobriety, and alwayes keep­ing able servants to promote the best expediencies of all kinds of A­griculture. And Sr. H. L. hath heart­ily prosecuted the same encourage­ments. Our learned Mr. B.H. drives on the same design, as far as the glan­ces of a most sedulous imployment will permit. Mr. R. of L. is excellent­ly apt, and constantly diligent in the pursuit as well of delicacies, as neces­saries. Mr. S. of W. hath in few yeares raised an under-tenement, from 8^l. yearly, & so rented, to be well worth 60^l. yearly, and so rented, or therea­bouts. He never failes in any point of good husbandry. Mr. F. of B. hath raised his poor pastures from the va­lue of 2^s. — 6^d. to be better worth than 20^s yearly. C. M. hath metamor­phosed his wildernesse to be like the Orchards of Alcinous; herein also a [Page 39] hearty patriot. I must cease to name men, since in every village there is some excellent republican.

With one sad note I must now con­clude this discourse. I wish this sore proverb, Bona terra, mala gens, may not belong to us. The most High hath filled us with his blessings, but we fail so much in returning due thanks, that we many times turn his blessings into heavy curses, and make his liberall gifts the prevailing cause of our hasty ruine. And whereas the rurall life should in all reason be the most humble, tame, and innocent: yet daily experience sheweth, that where any Trade of Manufacture is driven on, there the word of God beares a price: Where Trade thrives not, there the word of God is at the best but as a pleasant song: if some­times they hear it, yet seldome they obey it. And all doors and high­wayes are oppressed with idle and sturdy vagabonds: and it is more ea­sy [Page 40] for an honest Iusticiary to do the work of Hercules in cleansing the Augaean stable, than to remedy such a customary and prevailing evil. Our fresh expectation is, that some wor­thy Patriot will break through the difficulties of an obstructive people, and force open a way for trade and commerce. Let our prayers and importunities press on all true-heart­ed patriots thus to advance the pub­lick. For this adventure is, without dispute, sure of a reward in heaven, and not only free from the envy of men, but also alwayes acknowled­ged to deserve everlasting Monu­ments of glory. And thus also in the person of another (as under a fit vail of modesty) I briefly hint unto you, what esteem we do truly ow un­to your labours. I pray the Lord to remember your diligence in the great day of his appearance in glory.

HAving imployed one day upon a long letter to you concern­ing Orchards and the Culture of He­refordshire, and the Messenger being not yet gone, I shall now add some­what, or at least summe up the result of my former discourse.

The ground for an Orchard should rather incline towards the South than towards the North: yet no necessi­ty of nicenesse in that point. They prove well towards the North. So rather towards the rising Sun, than towards the West. Yet the West wind is the best, and the Western Sun best ripening. And the blasts commonly come from the full South, and about Noon: wherefore we pray with the Psalmist, to be de­livered from the evil that flieth at Noontide.

Yet a diligent observer may find that the hurtfull winds are apt to ga­ther [Page 42] into channels upon the surface of the earth, as the streams of water do: and a man may find by his eye and reason, and see it confirmed by anniversary experience, that at a miles distance one point of the hea­vens is far more agreeable, or more hurtfull than another, either by the conduct of hills and vales in the neighbourhood, or at distance, or by vapours arising from lakes, rivers, or moorish grounds, which by frosts are turned into blasts. For we have confirm'd it into a proverb, that dry frosts do not blast, but moist frosts, and frosts following after rain do: and dampy grounds make frosts that would be drie in other places, be­come moist in the neighbourhood. Also sometimes in a very bottome the air is penn'd so close, and the Suns heat so multiplyed by reflecti­ons, that it is apt to gather the South­ern blasts (which, as I said, are the more frequent, and more hurtfull to [Page 43] the nicer fruit, and to hops,) as in a furnace or oven.

If the crust, or richer surface of the earth be near a foot deep, it is fully enough: and if the crust of the earth be deeper, yet I have seldome seen any of our stocks set more than a foot deep, except they be great stocks, which should keep their for­mer depth.

If the ground be equable, that is, in any proclivity relating towards a levell, then it is pity to stock it with naturall plants. The more expedite way were in October to settle crab-stocks at thirtie foot distance in the forementioned best order, per quin­cuncem: and after three yeares, the next following Spring, send for an Artist to graft them with the best fruit.

The Crab-stocks should not be a­bove the bignesse of a mans hand-wrist: if bigger, 'tis lesse apt to close with the graft, and then the rain finds [Page 44] hole, to the danger of the stock. Our usuall custome was, upon the plain stock to set two or three grafts, which (for variety) might be different, with­out any hazzard or dammage. Of late many do slope the stock for one onely grafte conceiving this the more certain way to unite the stock and graft fully and speedily. In a Nursery, if the stocks be as small as twigs, the surest and speediest way is by the joynt-graft, where no lesse than eight sides are engaged, and this is an improvement of the last stamp.

We cannot trust to any Artist, but have need to use a true and carefull friend in the choice of grafts from the fruitfull branch of a sound and fruitfull tree. And an errour in this point (besides the mistake of the fruit,) may prorogue the reward for five yeares or more, which is a sad losse. Columella's former note is worthy to be remembred in this point.

[Page 45]If the ground be very unequall, 'tis a great charge, and a very grosse va­nity to levell it. For there is a kind of beauty, and a sure refreshment in a wildernesse; at least it is a good soyl if appendant to a pleasant garden. And it may be better, more kind, and more fruitfull, most certainly more fit for variety, and for all change of seasons by inequality, than by equali­ty. And this is the ground that is fit­test for the naturall apple, who is then wronged, maymed or wound­ed, when he is hindered from his na­turall course, or forced into order. Yet I should not plant him in such bottoms, where the water cannot passe away: the descent were best for his situation.

The apples we commend for grafts, are the Stockin-apple, the Iellyflower-apple, the Well-apple, the Eliot, the Queen-crab, the Quince-apple, the Winter-quining, the Harvey, the William, the Lenard, the [Page 46] Iohn-apple, the Snouting, not for­getting the pearemain, and pippin, & leather-coat. These, and many more that are namelesse, are for the Table.

For cider, the streak't must is most commended; but tis but a kind of shrub or hedge-plant, not apt to grow to a large tree, and spending strength so thick and so constantly, that the planter commonly survives to see the decay of his own work. There is a white must, much com­mended for a strong lusty cider, the tree long lasting. Another white must hath this fault; they abide not on the tree, to be gathered together, but are alwayes dropping one after another.

I need not note such cautions as may affoord choice for all seasons, early and late, and in the first stock­ing of the ground to plant peares and apples alternatively, at least if we have no certainty of the nature of the ground; and there is a beauty as [Page 47] well as profit in variety: and peares grow long before they take up much room, and for the most part begin to be in perfection, when the grafted apple is decayed. Or a Winter-ap­ple, which lasts longer, and growes slower, may be alternative to a cider-apple.

The clay-land binds the tree faster from wind-strokes, the sandy-land hasteneth the growth more. By rowes of Elmes every Orchard and Village is generally fenced from the North and North-East wind: yet no necessity.

For Hops, we make hast to be the chief hop-masters in England; our Countrey having store of Coppice-woods, and many provident men within these three yeares planting a­bundance of the fairest & largest sort of hops. All about Bromyard in a base soyl there is great store. At first we adventured only upon deep, low, rich and moorish grounds: now we [Page 48] climbe up the hills with wonderfull successe. We find also that the bot­toms are apt to gather heat as an o­ven (as is abovesaid) and that begets hony-dewes, when the more open air escapes it.

Our Poets new and old, and all best judgements do highly com­mend the pleasure of a Grove, Note: Horat. l. 2. Epist. 2. Scri­ptorum chorus omnis amat Ne­mus, & fugit urbes. We do commonly devise a shadowy walk from our Gardens through our Or­chards (which is the richest, sweetest, and most embellisht grove) into our Coppice-woods or Timber-woods. Thus we approach the resemblance of Paradise, which God with his own perfect hand had appropriated for the delight of his innocent Master­piece. If a gap lyes in the way be­tween our Orchard and Coppice, we fill up the vacancy with the arti­ficiall help of a hop-yard. Where a busy weed gives the shape of a wood. [Page 49] This must content us, 'till we can gain the credit of a Vineyard, which as yet hangs between hope and fear. The late dry Summers did swell us with hopes; the later fickle Spring & moist Autumn did blast, or drown our expectation.

Some sow acorns, and ash keyes, and other seeds for Woods, in wild and hilly grounds. Others count it much better to plant quick-sets, which make more hast, and may be more reducible to the beauty of or­der.

Before we adventure for Woods upon untryed ground, 'tis not amiss to make use of Sr. Hugh Plats his au­gur. My self having bought a small tenement, thought it worth the while to see the nature of mine own land, for nine foot depth, which was soon done. By that I found where sand, where stone, and where marle of the best sort were neerest at hand: I found the reason why [Page 50] one piece of arable was more cold and moist, and lesse fruitfull than a­nother.

We have a belief, that the most barren surface hath the richest en­trailes, not only of metallick Mine­ralls, but also of stone, yea of marle, or some other rich materiall. And this is certain, that which we esteem the richest land, & buy it at the dear­est rate by far, that is in many respects the poorest land: as for example, our richest land is esteemed to be on Frome banks, the pasture very rich, the arable a stiff clay bearing the best wheat; yet this clay is very unkind for Gardens, it does devour much compost. It is a slow ground for Orchards; the arable is much incli­nable to mildewes: if we have need to turn it into pastures, though we have great advantages of land-flouds, or other fat waters, and the ground seem very likely for pasture, yet it is almost as good to give it away, as to [Page 51] go about to turn it into pasture. I have seen, that in twenty yeares it ga­thers not a turf, or sward. Yea lately, the want of winter-flouds two years together left the best pastures as bare, hard, starvy, chapt and cheany, as the basest land on the Welsh mountains. And if the arable be there once out of heart, or misse of one course of plow­ing, it is costly work to recover it.

On the contrary, in many places of the hot rye-land, where the pa­stures have a course sea-green blade, or short and poor, and where the fields refuse wheat, pease, and fitches, there sheep thrive best, and their dung suddenly recovers the arable, which is light, and easie for a weak team: in three or four yeares 'tis at the best for such pasture as it proves. The pastures quickly improved by fatting sheep there, that may ly upon it night and day. The land quick for Orchards, or any sort of trees, as well the tallest Elmes, as the Ash: easi­ly [Page 52] sitted for Gardens, for hemp, flax, turneps, parsnips, &c. Hence you may judge which of these were more worthy to be called the richer land: if the rich water-flouds did not give the rich pastures the advantage on one side. And hence you may see what a prevalency there is in the ad­vantage of pasture onely.

I have seldome seen pastures for­ced by Compost in this Countrey, as I have seen it elsewhere. Onely in the Winter we feed our cattel on the higher pastures, and in the hazzard of a rot, some follow the directions of Gabriel Plats, in putting out their sheep all nights; which hath proved a safeguard to the sheep, and a great help to the pasture. Other helps of pasture we do not omit, every rill of water is carefully conducted to the best use. If it runs from a fat stream, land-floud, or lime-stone, we finde benefit in it, if withall we let it passe over and away, before it exchangeth [Page 53] it's fatnesse into a cold hunger, which falls out in very few dayes. Some water we find so hungry, that we dare not receive it, but at seasons of ne­cessity. Lime we have seldome try­ed upon pasture. Ashes we find ex­cellent to beget the white and pur­ple hony-suckle, if sifted on the ground in February, till it hath half candyed the ground, like a hoare-frost. Our best English hay-seed is by experience found to be our more na­turall friend.

Our grasiers, which are butchers, do find this fault in the excellent pa­stures stored with gilt-cups, which is a kind of crowfoot, that it makes the fat of their beef look yellow, as if it were of an old beef.

The hony-suckle and delicate grasse we sort for cowes, the sowrer for the breed of young cattel, the harder and stronger for labouring Oxen; and if it be rough, and little better than sheep-pasture, tis the bet­ter [Page 54] for Horses, to mend the breed of them for the saddle. In an hyperbo­licall excesse, for the suller illustrati­on, I may say, that a Nag fed upon high grounds and dry grounds is, for travell, as much beyond a Nag I bred in the lower medows, as a lion ex­ceedeth a cow in activity. For a bag to market, or a cart, you may breed them in the lower meadows, & you shall see them big-limm'd, well-truss't, & apt to tire themselves with their own bulk and weight. The o­ther that are bred on dry-ground, are airy and sinewy, full of spirits and vi­gour, in shape like the barbe: they rid ground, and gather courage and delight in their own speed. Thus colts well chosen, and sheep well or­dered, may be a rich help to repair the distresses of dry pasture.

For sheep we are skill'd beyond the rules of Gab. Plats. Our wooll be­ing the finest of England, and our sheep small, and not bearing above [Page 55] 16. ounces ordinarily, (yet I have seen our fairest Weathers bear thirty ounces of wooll) being small and nice, they are generally housed by night, Summer and Winter. And are therefore liable to two kinds of rot: the one is onely of the liver at first, and if it be discerned, tis cured by the butchers knife, without much losse to the owner; the other rot prevails over the whole body of the sheep, & makes the flesh sit for nothing but dogs. I know some places, in which there hath not been a rot in the me­mory of any of the inhabitants; but there they change often, because the ground is very stony, and in two or three years wears out their mouthes: And nothing preserves sheep better than change of soyl. Our common husbandmen keep their small flocks at all adventure without much care or caution. But for larger flocks our shepheards of Lemsters-oer and Ir­chinfield are most incomparably ex­pert.

[Page 56]Whilst this letter is under my hand, by a conference with Mr. S. concerning Orchards, I am assured, that upon a long trial (as in a way of contestation) it was found experimen­tally, that some apples raised of ker­nels did exceed the best that could be found of grafted apples in delicacy of tast.

That he tried to meliorate the Kentish Codling, by a graft of the same kind, and it proved worse.

That a near neighbour made a hogshead of cider of Kentish Cod­lings onely: he tasted it this very week. It had a tast far differing from all our other cider, not bad, nor very excellent. That it looks like perry, of a wheyish colour.

He also gave me at his own house a most pleasant drink, which I thought to be cider, and preferr'd it before red-strak't cider, which was of the best, and, for triall, brought out to me and others at the same time. [Page 57] This commended drink was com­pounded of crabs never hoorded, but shaken from the tree, and immedi­ately ground together with perry of that lushious kind, which at this time of the year is alwayes wont to be roapy. This drink was not clear, but had some resemblance of roapy perry. But he assures, that the crab does by this composition alwayes preserve the perry from being roapy. If so (as of all men I can best believe him, who will not break his word to save his life) this is an excellent art, at one time to make Crabs, which grow naturally in all wild, dry, and barren soyl, a rich fruit; and by them also to make a rich benefit of those peares, which in the language of a­nother good husband were called a Cumbersome Weed.

He prescribeth, that the more lushi­ous the peare be, the more crabs be added to it. By the tast in the mill, you may fit it, generally more peares [Page 58] than crabs. He noteth that these crabs were not of the fore-mentio­ned Bromsbury crabs, but common crabs: of which common crabs he advertiseth there are two sorts. The first soon ripe, and yellowish, and fit to be mingled with the peares that are first ripe. And of this kind was the cider that he gave to us. The o­ther is a more sullen crab, green about the end of Autumn. This agrees with it's contemporary peares. Or to make a kind of Scythian wine, fit to quicken the palat of a sturdy hinde, they may be laid in heaps, for a months hoording, and then ground by themselves, or with Winter-ap­ples. We know how welcome to forreign peasants, and also to our sea­men, a rough vinegar or verjuice would be, either to mingle with pot­tage, or with water for drink. We have not yet felt so much want in England, as were necessary to teach us the use of crabs, or other generall [Page 59] branches of frugality. The Bromsbu­ry Crab, so often mentioned, is far larger than either of the other sort, and in shape like an apple.

Sir, 'Tis time I should now give you rest. In this you may see my hearty desires towards the improve­ment and wellfare of our Native Countrey. If we must be hindered of Trade with Spain, I wish our En­glish indignation would scorn to feed at their tables, to drink of their li­quors, or otherwise to borrow or buy of them, or of any of their con­federates, as long as our native soyle did supply us with necessaries. I pray God to strenghthen us all in a firm love to his holy truth, and in a mutu­all love to each other, under the shel­ter of his everlasting Mercies.