The Discovery of Silke-wormes; with their benefit, and implanting of Mulberry trees.
THE Mulberry tree, yielding the sole food of this exellent Worme, must first bee provided for, whereof there are Myriads dispers [...] in the wide Continent of Virginia, which may bee collected by transplanting, grafting, or nursering.
For transplantation there are infinite advantages both of well-growne and springing Mulberry trees, which may with much facility be removed, and with great felicity thrive upon such a removall, of which experience can afford frequent examples.
The Grafts must bee chosen from excellent good Plants which expresse a large fertility, and bee something large of themselves, by which election there will bee a greater certainety of the goodness [...], and a more speedy expectation of g [...]owth in those Grafts, which thrive better when grafted one upon another, then upon the Chesnut, Apple-tree, Elme, White [...]ople [...], or any other, which if they are not mortally opposite, are however praeternaturall to the Silke [...]worme.
The Nu [...]series have so much of tediousnesse and difficulty, that I shall hardly advise to put it in practic [...]; yet to those who have a stronger [...]dulity then my reason ca [...] perswade mee to [...] I shall offer the [...]ol [...] [...]xpedient of effecting it, if that may bee ca [...]led aptly an exp [...], which hath so little of expedi [...]ion in it.
Let [...]h [...] [...] to make a Nursery, observe, and gather such [...] will suit with his necessity [...] of the ripest Fruit [Page 2] growing upon those Trees which beare the fairest and roundest leaves: These thus gathered, you must wash in two or three waters, pressing them with your hands, by which meanes you shall fi [...]de the expressed seede in the botto [...]e of the water: I [...]cced [...] more to the sowing of the Mulberries whole without such expression, how ever, either the Mulberry entire, or the seede may bee sowed after the manner following.
A b [...]d of fa [...] earth being digged, husbanded, and the Mo [...]ld brought into a small Powder [...] must have strait Rowes or Lines in Furrowes [...] all ha [...]fe a foot equally distant every Furrow two inches deepe, and f [...]u [...]e broad, this distance may bee something larger that an in [...]ervall may bee made to the Weeder in the weeding of such things [...]s may hinder the Mulberries growth by participating in its aliment.
A great care must bee had to water it often for the first yeare, i [...] the weather b [...] dry, the succeeding yeare you may pul up and transplant your Mulberry trees int [...] another ground more at large, viz. at two or three f [...] distance, which must bee not retransplanted till the growth arise to some six inches in the circumference [...] at which bignesse you m [...]y remove them to the ground designed for their constant fixation, leaving betwixt each Tree a distance of sixteene or twenty foot, that the too muc [...] [...]i [...]inity may not make the extending branches mutually inconvenience either by exclusion of a full Sunne, or wound themselves by intertangence of one another [...] In such warme Countries as that of Virginia, the Root must bee preserved coole and moy [...]t, by a deeper implantation then is usuall in colder Regions.
For the election of your Plants or Sciens you may take notice of two Families, or Races, of Mulberry trees, the black, and the white, discordant in Wood, Leafe, and Fruit; onely having this in common to spring later then other trees, as never emitti [...]g their leaves till all apprehension of cold is vanished, the black Mulberry is not subdivided into any other species having the wood solid and strong, the leafe large, and rud [...] in the handling, the fruit black, great [...] and acceptable to the Palate: B [...]t there are three app [...]rently di [...]ferent species in the white, distinguishe [...] onely by the colour of the fr [...]it, namely, white, black, and red: Yet is this fruit by [Page 3] much lesse gratefull to the palate then that of the black Mulberry. No other distinction besides, the colour of the fruit discernes them one from the other, the Leaves of all three being of the same meane greatnesse of the same smooth feeling, the wood of the same internall yellownesse, almost as firme as that of the black Mulberry.
But the silke taking his quality from the leafe make us lay a [...]ide the black Mulberry tree, since the bottomes from thence are too grosse and heavy, whereas the white Mulberry makes silke fine and light, to temper which many feed the Wormes with two [...]orts of meats by dictinction of times, viz [...] at the beginning with white leaves, that the silke may bee fine, in the closing, with black to fortifie it, and make it weigh: Yet this though it have an appearance of reason [...]t the first inspection, rarely answers the expectation, the very alteration of the meate as from that which is more delicate, to that which is more grosse, being disagreable to the nature of the Worme, who must shew that diminution in the quality of his silkes which hee feeles in the impairing of his n [...]triment. Others make a contrary application of leaves by a more (imaginative solid foundation [...]) which is to begin their dieting with black, and conclude with white; which cannot succeed better, for the black having disposed the matter of the silke, the white leaves after administred have no power to alter that seminall disposition.
Wee shall therefore fixe upon it as a Principle of Nature, not to vary the nourishment of this industrio [...]s Creature. If wee begin with the black Mulberry, the continuance of it will bee necessary. If the Ground you possesse bee already planted with black Mulberries, it is so much losse of time and expences to replant white: But if wee are to commence a thing de Novo, every mans reason leading him to chuse the most profitable, and common exp [...]rience telling us that the white antecede the black ones so incredibly in the poynt of Maturation, that six years of growth advance not so much the latter as two the first; it were an act declaring Bethlem for Dic [...]ator, not to prefer the most speedy and profitable before the tedious and improper commodity. Besides which Em [...]lument the Branches which by that speedy shoot they bring [Page 4] forth will bee usefull for propagation of that tree to infinite Numbers.
There is yet experimentall election amongst the white Mulberries. Some affirming that the Leaves of those trees which emit the white fruit are fittest to bee assigned for this nourishment, which they fortifie by this reason; That Pullen and Swine doe most delight in the white, and never eate the red and black but by constraint, a conjecture not altog [...]ther irrefragable; for why may it not bee controverted that Pullen and Swine being a greedy Generation, may rather ballance that which is most grosse and fulsome, as b [...]st adapted for their Palate, then that which is nice, and subtle, and best according to the delicate tendernesse of this Creature? Others who have their owne experience to fortifie their ass [...]rtion, commend the white Mulberry bearing the black fruit, the colour demonstrating a better concoction in the fruit, and consequently in the leafe then the others.
But (which wee must bee extreamely curious in) wee must expell from our yard all Muberry trees bearing leaves too much indented, which, besides that it is an apparent signe of small subsistence and [...]ncompleated nature, is more defective in quantity and quality of nourishment, then that which is lesse interruptedly circular: Yet this may easily bee remedied [...] if you inoculate such tr [...]es in the Bud, or Eseuch [...]on, having neede of such freedome; the profit thence arising being very con [...]iderable for this kinde of nourishment: For by this course that inconsiderable quantity of worthless and famelick leaves receives a happy melioration into an abundant plenty of substantiall and nutritive nature. Nor is this transmutation improper, for any other Orchard Plants which will succeede to yo [...]r most advantagious expectation, and all indomestick and wild trees may by this bee made capable of a most happy cultivation. This infranchizing may bee practised to the answer of your desires in Mulb [...]rries of all Ages: In the older, on their new shoots of the antecedent yeare then lopped; in the yonger upon the smallest trees of the Nursery. But to graft these trees in the first season, th [...]t their growth will permit it [...] is most opportune and profitable [...] for by this meanes your Groves of Mulberry will bee in [...]irely delivered from all apprehension of jejune sterility, or insub [...]tantiall [Page 5] deficiency [...] Nor can ever you feare a want of supply, if you constantly maintaine a Nursery of such Graf [...]s, not f [...]om the seede, but from the shoots and branches of your best trees thus propagated to an unperishable infinity by couching them in the ground, and the trees encreasing by their reimplanting are constantly furnished with Leaves of an excellent sweetnesse and greatnesse, exquisitely abundant in nourishment, and consequently exempt from all the inconveniencies which walke hand in hand with [...]n ingratefull wildnesse. Having described what Trees, Grafts, and Nurseries are best conducent to our mystery; let us next dilate of their most proper soyle, and best order in planting.
The best soyle and order for planting the Mulberry.
FOr the soyle it must bee chosen in particular much like that of the Vines, inclining rather to dry then moyst, light then heavy, sandy then [...]layie; for those which opinionate themselves that a f [...]t ground is inconvenient t [...] Mulberries [...] as supplying leaves of too grosse and unsubtile aliment; The Objection is pritty, but under pardon scarcely solid, neither am I capable of any reason to the contrary, why a rich soyle should not emit the growing Tree [...] with a greater maturation and bignesse, then a leane Plantation, where the tender Plants are even starved with the sparenesse of distributive moysture and aliment: Yet to prevent the too grosse substance of the leafe after the tree by the advantage of a rich nourishment, hath arrived to a competent greatnesse; the order which wee shall prescribe in their planting will admit the Plough amongst them, where cultivation will easily take off the soyle from all exuberancy of fullsome ranknesse. The soyle which is full of Springs, Lakes, Rivers, or (which is worst of all) Marshes, is particularly to be avoyded.
The manner of implanting them would require a distance of foure fathomes or more, which in Virginia where wee labour not under a penury of ground, may bee something more spaciously enlarged [...] the Reasons why this extent of distance are: First, the intermixture of spreading Branches, where by their contingency they violate and mutually wound themselves will bee avoyded. [Page 6] Next, the Sunne hath a more unimpeached immi [...]ion and distrib [...] tion [...] his Beames, with which this tree is most particularly delighted. Lastly, this largenesse of intervalls permits a free passage for the Plough, to take off all luxuriancy of ranknesse, which t [...]o much inspissate [...] the leafes, which must feede this admirable Creature.
But of such Graines as may with least impairement bee sowen under the Mulberry trees, Oats and Pease are the most proper, which during the collection of the leaves may with very small detriment bee trodden upon (the season commonly falling in April and May, when their blades are backward) nay the very compressure of the Earth makes them afterwards arise more strongly.
I approve much more of interplanting the Vine; but (which I conceive the most convenient for Virginia i [...]) the setting of the Indian Potato hath the most inestimable benefit; the Potato having such a happy multiplica [...]ion of and in it selfe, that whilst there is but a string of the Root left behinde in the earth, the species will bee renewed. Besides the excellency of the food, whether for man, or (where such a vast abundance may soone introduce a satiety) Cattle will bring alone with it an inestimable advantage; whereas Corne may too strongly impoverish a Ground, and the Vine it selfe when it comes to its ripest excellency, will want the compleat comfort of the Sunne beames to give fruit a well concocted maturity, the Mulberry like an Ambitio [...]s Grandee, e [...] grossing all that favour to himselfe by his prevalency of height and greatnesse.
Nor should wee bee too curious to plant the trees one over against the other exactly opposite; but still observing for beauties [...]ake to set them in a right line) rather one against the Intervall of the other, that so th [...] Sunne may have no interposition from any Angle, to warme, comfort, and enrich this tree, which aides the production of so many incomprehensible Miracles.
The order for collection of the Leaves.
THe order to bee observed for collecting the leaves should bee precisely insisted upon, that the trees may bee of longer and [Page 7] flourishing duration, and the food of a more curious and unsoyled nourishment: It is a truth not to bee denyed, that the disleaving of trees is extreamely prejudiciall, and in some irrecoverably deadly; the reason is their extraordinary scorching, by being left without any shade of protection: But the Mulberry being (as it were) destined to this worke which it naturally supporteth, more inprejudicially endures this temper of disleaving then any other trees whatsoever. But for the obviation of this inconvenience, it will bee absolutely necessary for our Master of the silkeworme, to have such a proportionable number of trees, that the halfe may alternately repose unpluckt every second yeare. This diligently put into practice will make your trees continue verdant and vigorous for many Generations.
To gather them with both hands leafe after leafe, is confessedly the most proper, but yet withall the most expencefull; for the multitude of hands which such a circumstantiall labour would exact.
The other way of gathering them with stripping them from the branches, is without doubt extreamely n [...]cent to the tree, and worm: to the tree by unbarking, wounding, and perishing its branches. Nor is it lesse detrimentall to the Worme seeing this disorderly collection corrupts and sullies the leaves, which this delicate nice Creature perceiving, either rejects them, or sickens upon their reception by bruising the leaves, and expressing that which is the life of its substance, the juice, and this commonly with unwasht hands, which leave the ill odour unremoveable upon them.
The removall of these inconveniences is easily effected by following the course they practice in some parts of Spaine, which is by clipping the leaves from the branches with a sharpe instrument, like a Taylors sheares; by this way you disleave many stalkes at once, which falling into a cleane sheete spread under that tree for the purpose, seperating afterwards the leaves also, such as are sound from unsound, such as peradventure have much of the stalke, from those which are nothing but leafe, (the stalke being hurtfull to this tender Creature) and administred to them the Sunny side of the leafe upward is the most commendable practise of gathering and feeding that hath hitherto been delivered.
[Page 8]The leaves of the old Mulberry are to bee much prefer'd before those which are not come to an absolute perfection; the age of perfection in the Mulberry, we reckon to be accomplished in seven or eight yeares, as to soundnesse of nourishment; not that they grow not after, but by that time it is growne powerfull to conc [...]ct such succulency as might before over master it.
The trees disleaved must by a diligent hand be pruned immediatly after the last collection; what ever is broken, wounded, or made unprofitable must bee carefully cut off. The extreames of all the branches must be top'd a little with a sharpe pruning knife, which is an invitation to nature to send forth the next yeare more vigorously. But whether it be in gathering the leaves, or pruning the trees, it must bee our principall care that they be intirely beared [...] the omission of which, by not taking all the leaves off, turnes back the liberallity of the repeating Spring. This observation hath been grounded upon practise, made so successefull by experience, that it hath been found, that trees after such culture and disleaving, have within a month attired themselves with such a new border of leaves, that the former imbalding them hath been imperceptible.
Which induces me to believe a former assertion, that it is possible to have a second silke harvest by this meanes, and why not equall with the first, I know not, since the seed is more youthfull and vigorous then that of the yeare preceding growne feeble by its continuance.
The raines if they fall about the time this noble creature drawes unto her perfection and period, is by much more strangely prejudiciall, then when they are in the greatest of their feeding, the wet leaves occasioning them many desperate diseases: the usuall way of prevention is to have a provision of leaves before hand, when there is any jealousie of rainy weather; but this provision must be laid in a cleane dry place which is fresh aired, and th [...]t w [...] may remove all dangers of contracting too much heat, to be turned o [...]ten, which course, although the Raine should not oppr [...]sse us, yet is it of great conveniency, not so much out of apprehension [...]o be necessitated [...] as for the quality of the food, it being much better after fourteen or fifteen houres resting in a place cleane and drie, then [Page 9] when fresh from the tree. But if you are surprized by an unexpected season of wet, take those Mulberries which you intend to [...]op the next yeare, (and the Mulberry would be lop'd every ten or twelve yeare, which revives and strengthens the tree with a new youth) and [...]ut their branches which hung up in a drie corner, either of your house or barne, or any other coverture in airy places, will soone have their leaves drie, better condition'd, and of more efficacy then any leaves set to a fire, which is too suddaine, or to winnowing by a winde artificiall and unnaturall.
The Mulberries chiefe profit consisting in the leafe, we must be carefull to lose nothing of this revenue; which considered, wee should delay the disheading or lopping of them till the Wormes have done feeding, which would be about the latter end of May, or the beginning of Iune [...] and alt [...]ough by the disbranching of them in such a season, we cannot expect such l [...]rge returning shoots as those which were cut in February or March, the distance of time being materiall in their growth, yet the profit of the leaves being double, very well answer such in [...]quality. The Mulberry being of so [...]ranke and plyable a disposition [...] that notwithstanding its amp [...]ation in unseasonable Moone and w [...]ather, no injuries shall hinder him from Regermination.
Yet are not these advantag [...]s (no necessity obstructing them) to be omitted by any which are not enemies to their owne profit. The Mulberries in the increase of the Moone pou [...]ed, or lopt, bring forth their young shoots long without spread [...]ng Bra [...]ches; in the Wane short, with many little Branches crossi [...]g the principall. To reco [...]cile this (the election of the time being i [...] our power) the Mulberries seated in leane grou [...]ds, are [...]ost properly disheaded in the new Moone: those whic [...] are pl [...]nted in [...]ich ground, in the last quarter; so will those in the leane soyle emit shoots as long as the barrenn [...]ss [...] of the place will afford them: and those of the fa [...]er, th [...]ough the benefit of thei [...] seat, co [...]veniently [...]gaine that which they would not easi [...]y have done, cu [...] in the inc [...]ase [...] Fo [...] those aspi [...]ing branches, we [...]e they not r [...]st [...]ai [...]d by the counte [...] shoots who participate with th [...]m in nou [...]hme [...]t would by reason of thei [...] unweldy length, be fo [...]ced to b [...]nd downew [...]ds to the deforming of the tree f [...]om the shape of a Muiberry into that of a Palme-tree, [Page 10] which is not to bee feared in the rest, by reason of the leanenesse of th [...] ground, forbidding all abundance of shooting: Wee have provided for the feeding of this little and great Artificer, let us now expresse an equall care in his lodging.
The lodging of the Silke Wormes.
TIS a vanity to expect emolument from this mysterious Creature, if wee sort him not with a lodging proper and agreeable to his nature, who c [...]n with no lesse disprofit bee ill accommodated in his habitation, then in his nourishment; who to show a particular affinity with the noblest of Creatures, Man, makes his affection of habitation equall to his. Spaciousnesse, pleasure, healthfu [...]lness, distance from off [...]nsive vapours, damps and humidities, warmth in the extreames [...]f colds, coolenesse in the extreames of warmth. Wh [...]t ever wee naturally desire and abhorre, does this Creature by the prosperity or i [...]f [...]licity of his labou [...] show a most experimentall r [...]s [...]ntment [...]f
His [...]tation there [...]ore [...]ust bee i [...] the meane twixt the top and bottom [...] of a foundation, the first being too much obnoxious to h [...]ats or wi [...]des, the second to colds and D [...]mps. The Platforme ther [...]fore of your building his station must be so contrived, as to have his Basis three or foure foot above the g [...]ound, nor ascending within an e [...]ll distanc [...] of the Til [...]s. A Fab [...]ick (saith De Serres) of seven fathome in length, three in breadth, and two in height, will entertaine with ease the Worm [...]s enlivened from ten ounces of seed: this pr [...]portion may be raised acco [...]ding to your seed. In VIRGIN [...]A these may be of very sudden erection; Nature hath furni [...]h [...]d [...]hat excellent Countrey with materials, to invite all who have the desire to attempt it.
Th [...]t the aire a [...]d winde (if coole and dry) may have free passage to refresh these laborious spinners, who near upon the perfection of their worke are upo [...] the point of stifling [...] (the season, and th [...] [...]bund [...]ce of [...] silke wherewith they are filled, both coop [...]rating ther [...]u [...]to) W [...]e must h [...]ve windowes opening to all Angles to receive u [...]susp [...]ted inf [...]igi [...]tions in extreamiti [...]s of heat, and wa [...]m [...]ng transpiratio [...]s in immod [...]ate colds; Y [...]t with this [Page 11] Proviso, that these windowes bee fit not onely to receive any favourable aire, but to expell all noxious vapou [...]s; and because this Creature loveth any thing that is white and luminous, it will sort excellently well with his disposition and safety, to p [...]rget or plaster the inside of the house very well and smooth, bo [...]h to satisfie the eye and preserve him from the danger of Rats, which cannot clime up such a wall, though a principall care ought to bee used that the severall stations on which they are lodged, bee remote from all fixures to walls, which might give Rats and Mice advantage.
To build the S [...]affolds containing these Wormes: Many Pillers of Carpenters worke di [...]ectly squared, shall bee pe [...]pendicularly erected, from the ground to the seeling, to support the Tables which crossing the pillars upon little joynts sixteene inches di [...]tant one from the other (exc [...]pt that from the g [...]ound which must bee 36 inches.) Upon these Tables doe wee l [...]y our Wormes [...] but their boards must not bee equall in breadth, ev [...]ry table as it exceeds in height, being to bee narrower then the next below by foure inches, and the highest approaching the [...]eeling to bee narrowest of all. This Pyramidicall forme is of most beau [...]y and safety to the Wormes; when wandring upon the Edges from one end of the Scaffold to another, seeking a fit place [...]o [...]omi [...] their [...]ilke, they fall in such a precipice from the higher scaffold to the ground, that they break themselves in pieces: But by this means fal [...]ing but from one scaffold to another, the smallnesse of the distance contributes to their preservation. The breadth of the most low [...]st table shall bee limited even to this proportion, that easily of one side a man with his hand may reach the middle to a [...]tend the Wormes; as for the ascending scaffolds their continuall diminution makes the serving of them of greater easinesse.
A Roome of any capacity will admit severall of these scaffolds (distinct from the wall for reason before recited of Rats) and also that the attender may come on either side of the scaffold, such space being alwayes to bee left betweene their position.
These scaffo [...]ds must bee made of an unsuspected fi [...]menesse, to prev [...]nt the falling downe of a [...]y [...]art of it, or th [...] whole either by the ladder which the Keeper ascends, or the weight of th [...] Worms [Page] themselves, when once growne great and hea [...]y.
To ascend these sc [...]ffolds, some make boards about the [...], [...]s it were by Galleries [...] others have their getting up to them by little staires appropriated to this; others by formes. I approve of none more co [...]venient then a light ladder which fits all, and poss [...]sses but one place.
The timber fitt [...]st to employ in the tablure of this scaffolding is usually firre or such light wood: In VIRGINIA [...] I apprehend none fitter then Cedar or Cypresse, because o [...] their delicious odours.
Wee h [...]ve already spoken of such meanes as may refresh the overheated worme; r [...]sts now to d [...]liver an experiment to wa [...]me the Aire, this Creature b [...]ing no l [...]s [...]e Enemy to cold in the beginning of his apprentissage, then to hea [...]e when [...]ee is ready to goe out [...]f this W [...]ld M [...]st [...]r workeman.
Aft [...]r [...]aving built your house for worm [...]; let there be a hole pierced through your wall, where you must make an Oven, the mou [...]h whereof must be on the o [...] side of the hous [...] Then before you make it off, take pots like flower pots, but such a [...] will indure the fire [...] and lay them with the mouth side of these pots tending inwards towards the house [...] and the bottome within the Oven, lay these [...]u [...] sidelong at an equall distance [...] and work [...] up the Oven with the po [...] incorporate ther [...]unto. This done you may make a fire in the Oven, which by the benefit of the pots conv [...]y [...]s a [...]l the heate to you without any inconvenience of smoake. To make this heate the more agreeable to the Wo [...]mes, and to keepe the house in a temperate and inoffensive warmth, you may put into these [...] branches of Rosemary, Time, Roses, Juniper, &c.
The election and use of the seed of the Silke-Worme.
THere is a great deale of Reason, that we should be curious in the election of ou [...] [...]eed; and tis not more Poetick then Philosophick, that of HORACE:
What can we expect of generosity in that which has a disposition to degenerate before produced: of all the seeds proper for the vivifying this animall, there is none more exc [...]llent, as yet a [...]rived to our knowledge, then that of Spaine: this De Serres [...]ffirmeth, though he seeme to be in a kinde of haesitation, whether that of Calabria march not in a higher degree of reputation, as yielding more abundance, and of equall hardn [...]sse with the Cod of Spaine; yet this is certaine in nature and reason, that seed transported in [...]o other colder Regions, can no way lay claime to a parity of [...]hriving with that continued in its owne Climate; and I doubt not but if the South of VIRGINIA, where the Silke-worme is a [...]o [...]iginally native, were duely inquired after, the Seed of that would have a particular excellency, to which all the Europaean Na [...]ions must give the glory, the right hand of preheminence.
But leaving this to the scrutiny wh [...]ch shall be made by time, and experience, we must grant the prim [...] opinion to the Sp [...]nish, which however it thrive in France for foure yeares [...] yet afterwa [...]ds it degenerates extreamely, so that it must every foure yeares be renew'd, for within that circle it suffe [...]s a m [...]nif [...]st d [...]clension in goodnesse. Comming from Spaine it is of a dark taw [...]y colour, after certaine generations, gray.
To prove whether the seed b [...] dead or not, you must expe [...]iment it upon your naile, that which breaks in cr [...]cking, c [...]sting forth [...]umor and moisture, you may [...]ssuredly [...]steem for good, the other is to be rejected. The smalln [...]s [...] of the Sp [...]nish se [...]d incr [...]as [...]s the number of Wormes, for which it deserves [...] p [...]rticular p [...]ae [...]ation.
No seed of above a yeare old is any fu [...]ther profitable, till you [Page 18] put them to Ha [...]ch, you may preserve them in Boxes thrust amongst wo [...]llen cl [...]athes in a Trunke or Chest, and let the Chamber where such Trunkes or Chests are, be now and then aired with a fire, to the intent they being rather warme then cold, may be praedisposed for a hasty production when the season of the yeare shall invite you to put into practise.
To imbibe or steep the seed of Silke-wormes in the most generous Wine you can procure, is an experiment that hath alwayes answered with a happy successe; for this not onely discriminates betwixt the good and bad, (the good alwaies subsiding, and the other floating) but addes legitimation and strength to the approved ones, making them come forth free and fortified, and causeth them to hatch almost all at one time. After the good are taken out, they must be set to drie in the Sunne, or before the fire, layd upon very clean paper, covered with white linnen, or smooth paper, lest the [...]eat might bring it prejudice.
The vivification of the Seed.
THE Spring being come, and the Mulberries budding, it will be seasonable to put them to hatching, which (all other wayes [...]mitted, as the keeping them in a Boxe, in ones pocket, between a womans Brea [...]s, &c.) sorts b [...] with Reason and convenience, performed thus, viz. That the seed removed from its first vessell, shall b [...] committed into a Box lined with Cotton, over which you must put a white paper, which must seperate the seed from the Cotton, then cover the seeds (being not above halfe an inch thick) with a little bed of sow, over which Tow you are to lay a paper pierced very thick with small holes, much about the bignes [...]e of the tag of a point; over this paper you shall lay some Mulberry leaves. And this is the preparative to hatch them.
To bring them forth, lay your Boxe so prepared between two Pillowes, which moderately warmed with a Pan every two houres, and after the first three and foure dayes visiting the Box at every such warming, to the end to seperate such as you shall see hatched, who will not faile to creep through the Tow, and pierced paper to the Mulberry leaves, to which they will cleave: which to remove, [Page 19] you must draw them out of the Boxe by taking hold of the Mulberry leaves with a needle, and removing them and the Wormes adherent into a bigger Boxe or si [...]ve; with paper at the bottomes, distinguish those of a hasty production from those of a more slow, that the worke may arise more equall. These thus brought forth must by gradations be accustomed to indure the coolenesse of the Spring, diminishing dayly something from his accidentall warmnesse: the first foure daies let them in the sieve covered with cleane linnen continue upon the bed, the curtaines closely drawne, then removed into a warme chamber, close from all penetrations, layd upon ranks close together, that they may give and receive mutuall warmth, allowing them a larger proportion of roome, as they increase in bo [...]y.
But the most assured way to preserve the Wormes untill their second change in warmth and security from Vermine, dust, or other hostilities of nature, is by a great Presse or Cubbord made with many stages, pargetted or pasted for the agreeablenesse of the odout with Oxe dung, made of firre, or mats, and to draw out at will seperately, equally distant foure inches, compassed round about with Linnen tackt to the doores, with paper w [...]ndowes on the sides and formost doore, to admit or exclude aire after the exigency of the occa [...]ion; and h [...]ere vacant places being left at first to enlarge them, as they increase in growth may they bee distinguished according to the Dates of their first appearance upon the Mulberry, rejecting all that seed, which is not enlivened before the fifth day [...] as unprofitable for working by confu [...]ion of times, and uselesse by their weaknesse.
Foure times doth this excellent Artist change his skinne, which is the cause of his so many sicknesses. The first sicknesse arriving within eight dayes from the beginning of his life, is knowne by these symptomes; the head growes bigge and white, and hee [...]des himselfe under the leaves: To administer any food were needlesse; but that they are not all sick at one instant, so that some must bee given to nourish th [...]m which have not arrived to, or past over their sicknesse, which you shall know by their change of colour and creeping upon fresh leaves.
The second sicknesse arising within eight dayes, or thereabouts, [Page 20] [...]rom thence is knowne by the same accidentalls, and must have the s [...]me appl [...]cations, onely now they would bee removed into new, cleane, and more spacious places: The third is in all like the two o [...]her, though something more dangerous; heere you must carefully prevent the accession of all cold ayres whatsoever: It may happen that some of these Wormes may grow yellow, which is almost incurable in themselves, and deadly contagious to all the rest; th [...]se must bee carefully selected from the rest and ejected. Remove, enlarge & cleanse as before. Eight or ten dayes after appears the 4. change or sicknes [...] & now the recovered Wor [...] being increased to their full growth, must be removed, enlarged, & cleansed, as before.
At appoynted houres morning and evening must this Worme bee f [...]d from their hatching to their fi [...]st change or sickness [...]; from the second chang [...] to the third or fourth, they must bee fed three times the day at the l [...]st, taking this for an assured max [...]me, that after the recovery from their last siknesse, The very cloying of them with leaves even to the satiety of their [...]ppetite, accelerates th [...] to the perfection of their taske; for these curious V [...]ssells will the sooner discharge themselves of their precious inclosed substance, by how much they are the sooner replenished. Nor is there any p [...]odigall improvidence in this; for it hath beene observed that Worm [...]s have eaten neare as much in eight dayes when more sparingly distributed, as in foure when liberally handed to them; so that by such wary disp [...]nsa [...]ion they save no leaves, and lose foure dayes in point of time.
But a particular eye of care must bee had to the quality of the leav [...]s you feede with. No goodn [...]sse of a selected tree being capable to secure it selfe against [...]ccidentall diseases arising from the unnaturalinesse of se [...]sons, whe [...]ein by extreames of drought or moisture mildewes, heat drops, and other distempers, all the leaves oftentimes becomming yellowish, spotted, or speckled, declare the nature of that food highly unwholesome and pernicicus: Such as grow out of the [...]unne in the interior umbragious parts of thick trees are almost as dangerous: Nor are the leaves of the second Spring which shoot afresh on trees already disleaved of lesse guilt, through the inequality of their Ages. One banquet of those gives the last repast that your Wormes shall have neede of, a [...]iuxe thence [Page 21] arising killing them, and easing you of further trouble, if you [...] count it so to be vigilant over your own [...] pro [...]it.
The most agreeable to all Wormes is to bee fed with leaves of their owne age, and by this the feeble Creatur [...] shall meete with tender leaves, then growne strong with leaves, fu [...]l growne correspondent to bo [...]h their complexions. The fault of the wet leaves may bee corrected by patience, attending the serener season; but of dry leaves you ought at no time (if you regard your owne profi [...] with a sober p [...]ovidence) to bee unprovided, and [...]he way how to prep [...]re hath beene already delivered in this Treatise.
T [...]s [...] preciou [...] creatures exact no great expence or laborious care during the first three or foure weekes, being satisfied with little, as most agreeeble to the tendern [...]ss [...] and smalln [...]s [...] of bodies, and are very w [...]ll entertained with the leaves of the [...]uccours or other branches, from whence for the profit of the tree one should n [...]c [...]s [...]rily cu [...] th [...]m. At the beginning we go to gather leaves with H [...]nkerchiefs, then with little baskets, la [...]tly with sacks & maunds, as growing to a bignesse to require it, and a p [...]rfection to discern it.
That the Gathere [...]s of these leav [...]s sho [...]ld handle them with pure and washt hands, wee have already decla [...]ed absolutely necessary: But the Governour of these chast and magnificent [...]reatures must bee Master of an exact purity. The smell of Tobacco is deadly to them: Let his observance forbeare it: Let him have a watchfull eye, that none of an offensive smell approach them; all ill breathings upon them [...] whether contracted by fu [...]some foode or nature make this innocently noble Creature expresse her resentment by her owne death, or sicknesse Let him pu [...]ifie the rankn [...]sse of his owne breath (when fasting) with good Wine ere he approach them, with the odour whereof the worme is highly cherish [...]d. Let the Lodging be swept ev [...]ry day, and pr [...]served so by sp [...]inkling the flou [...]e with vinegar, and afterwards strawing it with Lav [...]nder, Spike, Rosemary, Time, and such like of well comforting Odours. To these we may sometimes adde a perfume composed of Frankincense, Benioin, Storax, and other quickning aromaticks burned in the lodging.
Let the Tables be often made cleane and shifted, by often, I meane eve [...]y [...]rd o [...] fourth day at the furth [...]st, at which time the [Page 22] litter begins to bee offensive to this curio [...]s natured Creature; especially with the increase of the heate, let his diligence increase, that no uncleanesse (at that time more then ordinary maligne) cut him from the benefit of his labours.
The litter must not bee taken away by degrees to the trouble of our curious Creature, but all at once; which may bee effected, if you leave at the end of each Scaffold an empty station to place the adjoyning Wormes on, whose left station being made cleane is fitted for the next neighbourhood, and thus may all bee removed and shifted by degrees, and a vacant table at the other end of the scaffold r [...]maines to begin againe (as afore) within two, three, or foure dayes at the longest. And thus without carrying far, the Wormes shall bee removed with ease and security, not once laying the finger upon their tender bodies; for giving them fres [...] leaves at the time of their replacing, the Worme will fasten to the leafe, and the leafe may bee removed with his precious burthen, with no lesse safety then convenience.
It will bee requisite to dispose the tables in such a fashion that they may bee seperately taken from the scaffold like tills out of drawers; for this the easiest and lesse nocent way of cleansing, as preventing the falling of any stench upon the lower tables [...] and by which they are more suddenly discharged of their filth and ordure, meerely by striking them gently on the floore, which done, let them bee swept and brushed perfectly well; Let the tables on which you put your Wormes after their first sicknesse bee sprinkled with Vinegar or Wine, then rubbed over with sweete Hearbes to delight and encourage them to labour. Some have made tryall, which hath succe [...]ded happily of the smell of Garlick and Onions to refresh them; I dare not absolutely assent to this experiment; but it is cleare as Sunne-shine, that the Worme not onely rejoyces in agreeable odours, but is succoured thereby in his greatest maladies: of which we now intend to discourse.
The causes of extraordinary maladies in Wormes, and their c [...]re.
THe extreames of colds and heates, the too sparing, or too abundant administration of victualls in their severall ages, and a maligne disposition of the leaves are the principle causes of all extraordinary maladies which afflict this Creature. If the inclemency of Cold hath benummed or diseased this innocent Artist, the stove or oven formerly mentioned will recover it (the stopping of all windowes, and other admi [...]sories of aire cooperating:) To the greater complement of the cure, let the lodging bee perfumed with redolent Gummes, with Wine, strong Vinegar, or Aqua vitae [...] If on the contrary, the torrid violence of heate have wasted the strength of this suddaine and excellent spinner: The fresh aire admitted at the doores and windowes some brave artificiall Fannes or Ventalls to raise this breath, if too little, or at the last the exposing them upon their t [...]bles out of their lodgings to enjoy an uncontrouled and liberall communion of the aire, some halfe an houre before S [...]nne rising are the proper meanes of their recovery. Those which by a wastfull liberality of their keeper in the tendernesse of their age have injured themselves with over feeding, must bee cured by a two dayes abstin [...]nce, and for some two succeeding dayes di [...]ted with a moderation. Those who famished by the negligence of their keeper are almost languishing to death, must bee restored by giving them meate in slender proportion, but frequently repeated, by such a dyet regaining their forfeited appetite. Those which by having fed on yellow spotted, or too yong leav [...]s have contracted a fluxe, and f [...]om thence a jaundice and spotted colour, accompanied with black bruisings, must upon the first inspection bee immediately removed into seperate chambers, that the change of ayre and dyet may labour for their almost desperate cure, and to prevent a contagion, which from thence would universally domineere. But s [...]ch Wormes which as [...]n accession to this last disease you should behold bathed on the belly by a certain humour flowing in that part of their bodies, are as incurable, good for nothing but to repast your Poultry.
[Page 24]Indeed excepting this last inexpugnable malady perfumes and change of chambers are generally conducing to overcome all diseases and to res [...]ore a new health and vigour. But this noble Creature is by nature sufficiently priviledged from these diseases, if the unskilfullnesse or negligence of the keeper did not violate this priviledge, and by that violation increase his owne trouble.
Nor is this care of the keeper to bee onely limited to the day, the night too must require a part of his vigilance; Mice and Rats then take advantage, and grieved that any Creature should labour for man without their participation or obstruction devoure them by Troop [...]s, and the Cat her selfe enters in [...]o a league with these her usuall prey [...] to prey upon these poore things, whose in [...]ocency and excellency makes them the more obnoxious to their cruell avarice. To remedy this, the house must not bee without contin [...]all Lampes, Bells, and other vaine terr [...]u [...]s to aff [...]ight them: The keeper himselfe also, or his Depu [...]y must frequently walke round about his little Army. And le [...]t the Oyle (which occasions divers indispositions, if it fall [...]ut in a drop upon these nice Artists) might bee p [...]ejudiciall, the Lamp [...]s should bee aff [...]d on the wall, and the portable lig [...]ts with which hee visits his curious charge of Waxe, Tallow, firre tree, or any other of innoxious, but illuminative substance.
These things well observed, within se [...]ven or eight dayes at the most, succeeding their four [...]h and last exuviall sickness [...]; The Wormes dispose themselves to pay the exp [...]nce of their Diet. T [...] make prepa [...]ation for them, there must bee accommodations of [...]ods necessary for these Wormes [...]o c [...]me up to vomit their silke, and fasten their W [...]bs by. To ass [...]mble these Wormes (the terme assigned to this worke) the most proper matters are Rosemary, cutting of Vines sho [...]ts, of Chestn [...]ts, O [...]es Osiers, Sallow [...]s, Elmes Ashes, and in gen [...]rall of all flexible shrubs, not having a [...]y disagreeing od [...]ur. The feet of these rods [...]v [...]n [...]d for the better fixure shall bee joyned at 15 inches distant to the table below, and the tops of them [...]rched together at that above. W [...]ich Epitomall Amphitheater is Maste [...] of as much beauty a [...] those of the CAESARS in the great [...]t volume of their lustre and magnificence; the [...]pper part of the Arch must bee plenti [...]ully interwoven with [Page 25] sprigs of Lavender, Spike, Thyme, and shrubs delectable to the smell. By this intermixture the Wormes shall have ample satisfaction to their restlesse curio [...]ity, where firmly to fasten their rich matter, having an election of such delectation of Perfumes, & variety of shoots: But these twigs must by no means be green, the moisture extreamly offending the Cattell, and not suddenly withering, if the aire be moyst.
The Wormes being removed to these Amphitheatrall Trophies, you may easily discover their gratefull inclination to spinne, by their bignesse of body, brightn [...]sse, and clearenesse of belly and neck, neglect of meat, and irregular wandring through the Troope; and a little after to fulfill these promises they ascend their branche [...] to vomit, or rather spinne out their silky substance. Here you must diminish their Ordinary, dayly, for they will in short time have united themselves to those shoots or twigs, quite forsaking the table. Those Wormes which clime not before the others union to the branches, are of a latter hatching; and to prevent all [...]nseasonable intertextures in generall, to the retarding and perishing of the whole worke, must be assembled two other tables arched as these, that they may worke together at one time.
The knowledge (when these Wormes have perfected their Cod [...] or bottoms) may be obtained by an eare that is but the leastwaies curious, these creatures making both a pleasant humming in feeding and continuing it in fashioning their bottoms, give that noise and their compleated worke over both together. That which falls next is the propagation of the seed to be preserved till the next Harvest.
The Propagation of the Silke-Worme seed.
HAppy creature, which livest onely to doe mankinde service, and dyest when thou hast accomplished it! Miracle of N [...]ture! a Worme shut up in his owne monument, breakes through his silky grave, transformed into a Butterflye! employes ten dayes to erect himselfe a sepulchre, and an equall proportion of time to leave it! disimprisoning himselfe from his owne interment, by perforation of his bottome, he returnes to the view of Mankinde in the figure [Page 26] of a Butterflye, with wings, as if he had already tryumph'd over his Mortality; which done, he and his co-triumphall Females, coupling together perpetuate their species by dissolution of their bodies; and that which compleats the miracle, may arise from the long abstinence of this living three and twenty dayes imprisoned without any sustenance or fruition of that which he takes a particular delight in, day light.
Removing your branches from the Tables, and your silke-balls or bottomes from the Branches 5 dayes after the worke is perfected, the Balls are then to be made election of, for such seed as you wil preserve for the year following. Bono [...]ill, & De Serres do both agree that there should be proportioned 200 Balls for one ounce of seed,he Balls Male and Female (the description of which hereafter.) But whereas Bon [...]ill is of opinion that a hundred double or trebble Bottomes which two or three Wormes have spunne and made up in common, will produce so many Wormes as Bottom [...]: I demand his pardon if I accede rather to the judgement of De Serres: for from every double or triple Bottome there come [...] forth but one Butterflye, though it hath more within: the Reason is, it being not probable that they should be all ripe together, that which is most mature by perforation of the Balls, exposes the other to the assault of the aire, which giving them cold, they dye imperfect.
To distinguish the sexes.
THE Male of the worme, when grown great, is knowne from the Female, by a wrinkled head, and a great appearance of eyes; the Female hath the head round without any such appearance. In the Bottomes of Balls the Male is knowne, as having work'd himselfe into a Bottome, long, slender, and by much sharper at one end then the other: the Bottomes of the Female are bigger, softer, round at one end, halfe poynted at the other.
The Sex in those Butterflyes is thus distinguished: the Male is lesser of body then the Female, stirring the wings more often and more strongly.
Selecting then two hundred bottomes (male & female included in the number) you must passe a thread through the first and outward [Page 27] Downe, called the Sleave of the Ball (using a wary hand that you pierce not into the silke, lest the cold getting in you should quite abortive your Wormes) of which you must make severall connexions composed of an equall number of both Sexes; these (to prevent Rats and Mice) must be hang'd upon some hooke in a chamber of middle temper, but something inclining to coolenesse, yet however not subject to moysture, that the Butterflyes may come out with the more facility,
Having pierced through their confinement, though nature her selfe infuses in them disposed applications to finde out their opposite Sexes, it will be necessary to couple such as yet are disjoyned: all which, after you shall perceive them in conjuncture, must bee set either upon Say, Piropus, Tammey, Chamlet, the Backside of old Velvet, (in generall vpon any stuffe which has no woolly Downe, wherein the graine may be lost, or where it may get betweene the threads, as is linnen) hang'd upon the wall close by their Balls, or in defect of such stuffe, take Walnut-tree leaves one handfull, or more as you shall see occasion, tye them by dozens backsides together, hang them at severall nailes or pinnes, and set the coupled Buterflies thereon. Take the Chamlet, or other stuffes, receiving the seed, and rub it gently between your hands, and the seed will come out with great facility.
The principall time of the Butterflyes issuing out from the Cod, is in the morning about eight of the Clock: the seed collected must be put into a Boxe very cleane pasted with paper, to exclude all aire or dust, kept in a Chest in a drye temperate place where it may be preserved till the Spring following, avoyding to make any continuall fires in such Chambers, lest the warmth untimely hatch the Wormes, which being brought forth at such a season must perish for want of food.
The Spaniard takes commonly the double and triple Balls for seed, not that he conceites every double Ball should produce two Butterflyes, or which is a conceit of more fondnesse, Male and Female; but because the multiplicity of creatures spinning their silk in common, make the worke so confused that they cannot well winde it off, which makes them be put in the ranke of the pierced ones for sleave, and I must ingeniously acknowledge my self to [Page 28] accede to his opinion; for these double and triple balls are not unapt for this purpose, since they commonly, as De Serres observes, come rather from a lustinesse and supplenesse of the Worme, then any naturall debility: Which sure are so much fitter to bee culled out, that the best balls may bee made into silke, which will easily winde, and the seede of these which is fully as proper for seed, but lesse apt for silke: neither doe I know why they should not bee preferred, since the Spanish seed proceeding from these double and triple Balls carries a particular preheminence above the rest; which if wee shall make use of, the use is the same with others, except that they must bee clipped at the smaller end with the poynt of a paire of scissors, with a regard that you cut not cleane through the bottome, which would by admission of wind destroy the Worm, and this they doe that the Butterflies, if more then one, may finde an easie passage; the best bottomes (if you will preserve them) for Graine, are great, hard, weighty, and of carnation or flesh colour.
The balls preserved for seed being made choice of, the next thing wee are to fall upon is, how to winde off the bottomes designed for silke: Which would bee of much more advantage for purity and plenty of silke, and facility of labour, if they could immediately bee wound off. The silke so freshly taken unwinding without any losse or violence: But this delayed, the Gumme, by which the Worme fastens her threads becomming dry, doth so harden the bottome, that without difficulty and losse, the winding cannot bee accomplished.
This expeditious winding prevents the enclosed Worme of her full metamorphose into a Butterflye, and the bottome from perforation: But then where shall wee finde so many workemen if the designe were generall, as could in seven or eight dayes winde off so many millions of bottomes? Not excluding therefore such as can have that conveniency, the next best course to kill the Butterflyes in those bottomes which wee cannot winde off, is by exposing and laying them in the Sunne, the heate of which in its owne worke stifles this Creature: But let this bee two or three dayes successively (not all at one exposure, lest your silke be burned instead of stifling its spinner) two houres before, and two houres afternoone [Page 29] each day respectively. Let the bottomes, spread upon sheets, be turned often, that the heate may destroy equally, no one excepted from this sharpe insolation; but this must not bee done with a rude hand, which instead of turning them may bruise the Worme, the slimy matter of whose body, being thus bruised, is very prejudiciall both for staining the silke, and gluing it so together, that no Artist can ever unwinde them.
Removing them ther [...]fore oftentimes during such sunning with a gentle hand, wrap them thus warmed in sheets, and let them lye in a fr [...]sh dry chamber.
But if the Sunne should faile, an Oven of such moderate heate a [...] is usuall after two houres drawing the bread, or heated to such a degree of wa [...]mth (laying it over with boards, and the bottomes in sacks upon those boards, there remaining each time an houre and a halfe, repeating it till your experience by opening the most suspected bottome finde the inclosed Worme consumed) will bee of equall operation.
But that which is the best and least practised course is this: Take your bottomes, and fill such a Furnace or Copper as your Brewers use, halfe full of Water: Within three fingers breadth of this boyling water, lay a lid or planke or board within the Copper, bored through as thick with holes as a Cullender, and so fit to the side of the Furnace, that it by no meanes may sinke into the water: Upon this cover lay a thin Carpet of Darnix or the like, and upon the Carpet the silke bottomes, which must bee often stirred, with care not to use too much violence. The mouth of the Copper, except when you stir the bottomes, must bee constantly covered, that the heate may smother the Wo [...]mes: Your Wormes being dead, lay your bottomes in some roome, where there is aire to dry their moysture. This is an assured (though not vulgar) experiment, and by it your silke becomes as easie in the winding, and as pure in colour and substance, as if it had beene spunne the same moment the Worme had given it perfection.
To wind [...] [...]ff the Silke fr [...]m the Cod, or B [...]ttome.
THe winding off the [...]ilke from the Cod or bottome, is thus effected: fill a Caldron full of very faire water [...] and s [...]t it upon a Furnace, heate it to such a degree that the wate [...] becomes bubbled, [Page 30] as though there were small Pearles in the middle, being ready to seeth; then cast in your Cods' or bottomes, still stirring them up and downe with broom [...] or other small bushes, if yo [...] shall see that the heate is not capable to make your bottomes winde, augment your fire, otherwise abate it.
The bottomes winding the threads will take hold of the broome or brushes; draw those threads so affixed the length of halfe a yard and more out with your fingers, till all the grossenesse of the bottome bee wound off, which cutting off and laying aside, take all the threads of your bottomes united into one and according to the bignesse of thread you intend to make (as whether sowing or stitching) chose the number, not letting the other threads fall into the water againe, which must bee reserved to succeede) which you must runne through an Wyer Ring, appoynted for to ranke the threads which (as you shall see in the draught or Picture,) must be fastened upon the fore part of a piece of wood set directly upon a forme before the round or circle, which wee call a Bobin, in the top of which piece in a little space that there is, are fastned two Bobin [...], distant from one another two fingers; from this wyer [...]ing the thread must bee drawne and crossed upon the bobins, whose onely use there is to twist the silke through a ring which is fastned in the middest of a staffe; above the Bobins you must continue the draught of your thread; this staffe which moves with the wheele is called a Lincet set a crosse beneath the wheeles, from that Ring you must fasten your thread upon the wheele it selfe, which must bee still turned till the skeyne of silke bee wound up, the Representation see in the next figure.
Observe, when any thread disconti [...]ues, his bottome being wound off, to repaire your number from another bottome, this you shall perceive when your full number of bottomes stir not altogether.
Bee sure that you artificially cut the knots which will bee in your threads, that your silke may bee more pure and uniforme.
Those which cast Gumme Arabick in the water under pretence to make the silke winde more p [...]re and glossey, are but impostours, it being a meere cheate to make the silke weigh the heavier.
Basins, or Caldrons, wherein you p [...]t your bottoms to winde, if [Page 31] of Lead re [...]tore the silke more pure then those of Copper, this Mettall being subject to a rubiginous quality, from which Lead is wh [...] ly exe [...]pt. Let th [...] wheeles be large for the better speeding of the worke, that two skeines may be wound off together. That the fire of the Furnace may be pure, and without smoake, let it be made of Charcoale.
The difficulty of their winding may be mollified by sope, put in the Basin or Caldron; the old Cods or bottoms hardened by time, will have the naturall Gumme which glues their threads dissolved, and the silke come off much more easie.
Those bottomes of silke preserved for seed, and pierced by the Butterflyes, may be made of good use, if washing them in water you throwe them into a Caldron ready to boyle, with sope in it, which must be dissolved before the bottomes are cast in: thus let them boyle a quarter of an houre, or thereabouts, which done, take them out, wash them in cleane water and d [...]ye them [...] being dyed you must beat them with a round st [...]ffe of a good bignesse upon a stone or some block which is better, which will make them become white, and smooth as wooll. The way to spinne them after is this.
They must with the fingers be pul'd one from one another, and opened as wooll uses to be in such preparations, let it then bee put on a Distaffe and spunne as small as you can, or please.
Treatise of the Vine.
THat the use of the Vine is really intended by nature for VIRGINIA, those infinite s [...]ore of Grapes which crowne the forehead of that happy Country are so many speaking testimonies: But what fate hath hitheto diverted our English there inhabiting from the publick undertaking a Commodity of so inestimable benefit, I doe not say for a publick Staple (though it would bee as rich as any other one species of Traffick whatsoever) but even from private Vineyards, where they might sit under their owne Vine, drinke of their owne Grapes, satisfie even the most irregular desire of their, voluptuous appetites, and all this de suo, without entring [Page 32] into the Merchants book [...]s for Wines, peradventure adulterate, without paying the sweat of their browes for the exudation of the Grape, I dare not determinately judge, lest I might bee forced to ascribe it either to a strange nonchalency or sluggishnesse to their owne prof [...], or which is worse an inveterate contempt of all other wayes of improvement (of what ever returne) in comparison of Fume of Tobacco.
But that they may not bee ignorant of the profit of the Vine, they will bee pleased to know that the Vine requires (once planted) little more labour then the Hoppe. To attend upon foure Acrees of Hops is the ordinary undertaking of one man in ENGLAND, who besides this, neglects not many other labours. If one man in VIRGINIA bee not sufficient to doe as much as another in ENGLAND, [...] shall either imagine him to bee lame or idle; nor let them o [...]j [...]ct to me the heat of the Countrey; if the mid-dayes be hotter, the mornings are much colder, and the Labourer in VIRGINIA hath this advantage of being full of bread to [...]atie [...]y, whereas oftentimes the Hireling in ENGLAND having a family to feed, and sometimes no imployment, comes to worke with a famish'd body, and courage, lives meerly de die in diem, with as little hopes of ever changing the copy of his fortune, as renewing the lease of his Cottage with his Landlord: those are but leane encouragements. In VIRGINIA the meanest servant (if he have any spirit) is still in expectation of improving his condition, and without any presumption may cherish his hopes, which promise him (his time expired) a present happinesse and future possibility of a Fortune equall, if not outgoing his Master, the encouragement being greater, the care lesse, and his provisionall subsistence by much better: why the Laborer in VIRGINIA should not [...]e (I do not say superiour) but equall in strength of body and resolution of minde, to the miserable day-Hireling in ENGLAND, needs an OEDIPUS to unriddle.
By this I hope it granted, that the VIRGINIAN may without any extraordinary efforts of sweat and spirits, labour equally with those of ENGLAND, and upon this accompt I shall assigne a Vignard of four Acres to his tillage, an easie taske; let us compute the profit with the labour, and see what may be the proceed of this [...]portion well husbanded.
[Page 33]That an acre of Vines in VIRGINIA (when once growne to perfection) will yield an equall increase to a common Acre of Vines in FRANCE, there being as great a difference between the soyles as the Acres, and much greater) will I believe be denyed by none, who pretend to modes [...]y or reason: yet the Acre of Vines in FRANCE, one with another, very few excepted, will yield yearely ten or twelve Muyds of Wine, a measure containing seventy two gallons (a very famous Frenchman LIEBAULT, is my Author:) what the common Acre, or Arpent, is in FRANCE, the same man informes us: an Arpent (the common Arpent or Acre of FRANCE) is 100 Pole in the square, the Pole being longer then ours by eighteen inches; so that one French Acre yields three Tun of Wine and upwards; Our Acre being near upon 50 Pole more, we doubt not of profit equall.
The excellent VIRGINIA will pardon me, if for dilucidation of an argument, I make her pure and unexhausted browes descend to weare a Gyrlond of fertility equall to that laborious and over-teeming Mother, the French Kingdome, nay to her common Vineyards: yet let us compute the profit arising from the foure acres, being but one mans labour, we shall finde the product even by that estimate, to be twelve Tunne of Wine, as the recompence of his particular toyle: let us imagine this but at ten pounds the Tunne, and the profits of this single person amounts to 120 pounds per annum.
Here they will object the dearenesse or difficulty of Caske; but this objection must be made by those who know not VIRGINIA, where there is such an excellent convenience, and abundance of peculiarly proper Timber, that the Winter will afford the other Labourers together with our Vigneron leasure, to cleave Pipe-staves sufficient for private use of Caske, and to sell to the publique; one man (during that little season) being easily able to make foure thousand.
But our acre being a third part bigger, the soyle ½ better, why we may not promise to ou [...] selves this profit, is an incredulity in ENGLAND, w [...]rth a b [...]and of misunderstanding, in SPAINE would deserve the Inquisition,
What soyle is most proper for the Vine.
HEE which will goe to p [...]ant the Vine without the twinne co [...] sideration of the qualyty of the soyle, and the disposition of the aire, hath much affinity with him who goes to Sea without Lead or Compasse: the one seldome attaines his Port, nor the other his Harvest.
The quality of the ground whereon the Vine thrives best, is a fine small Mo [...]ld, of a subsistance rather inclining to a gentle lightnesse, then a churlish stubbornesse: they which would not have it to be very fat, are ignorant that while the Vine is yong, the soyle where you plant may be imployed to other tillage, and by such expence of its native richnesse, reduced to that which they commend so highly, mediocrity. But if the fitnesse of the ground transmit a rich and never-failing sap into the nascent Vine, making it grow speedy and strongly, if the Vine participate of this fatnesse, which it may be they call grossenesse, as desiring to have it more subtile, there is small question to be made, but that this Wine so imbodied and Fortified by nature, must have extraordinary spirits to preserve it, and that age will have resined all that grossenesse into more pure and noble spirits; that if transported, the Sea will contribute to its melioration: whereas this Wine which they call subtile and delicate spirits, if either preserved long or transported far, will with so much applauded subtilty and delicacy lose all his spirits by age and evaporation.
Scruple therefore at the richnesse of your ground no more then at the ranknesse of your purse; tis in your power to correct either if there were necessity: let it have the qualities of gentle, easie, fine and light, to be stirred, seated (if possible) on the decline of a Hill, not neare to any Marish ground, nor having any springs gliding through it; these Marish grounds you must avoyd as you would doe Levell in a Valley. And the reason is, that the Vine growing in these parts has a crude and [...]ndige [...]ted bloud, quickly soures, and has neither strength to commend or preserve it, and the Frosts in the winter time sinking to his ro [...]ts, by the moyst passage of his scituation, kills it; the Grapes plumpe and breake, and when as [Page 35] an additionall judgement to your inj [...]dicious election, a Rainy yeare comes to afflict, the Kernells breake out, the true juice of the Grape accompanying it, and though it fall out that the Grape swell againe, yet let not your expectation swell upon it, for instead of good Wine proceeding from thence, you will receive nothing but Viny water.
The gentle, easie, fine, and light ground being the best, does not so wholly arrogate all excellency, as to deny an accession, a neighbourhood of goodnesse to other soyles. The gravelly ground yieldeth Wine of a great delicacy, but a small quantity; besides the infant Plants are in danger of being wash'd away in any extraordinary surfeit of raines, such grounds being not able to give them a deep rooting. The like may be said of sandy ground which notwithstanding in some places especially where it is of a nitrous substance, will not yield the Palme to any ground o [...] whatever richnesse; other grounds may have an enforced richnesse, but because usually all such enfatning compost consists of Dung and Urine, which spoyle the purity of the Vine: If my advice were of any weight, they should never be used for Vintage, till necessity commanded my obedience.
For the disposition of the aire, as particularly whether inclining to a Meridian, or Oblique to the South, South-East, or South-West; If we contemplate the nature of the Vine, that it by instinct, prefers places rather hot then cold, drye then moyst; that it [...]areth stormes and tempests, it affecteth a gentle breathing winde, or a serene calme; we may presently collect that it is neither to be placed open to the North, North-East [...] nor (in VIRGINIA especially) to that Nursery of storms, the North-West quarters, nor up [...]n the tops of Hills, where it lyes equally assailable to all: the deare place then for the Vines imbraces, is a Descent, towards, not in a Valley (except never subject to inundation [...]) that being sheltred f [...]om the more blustring Domine [...]rers in the aire, it lye open to the South, South-West, South-East, or any part of the East and West, within the South quarter, for such a gratefull mansion, and acceptable soyle assigned him, doubt not, but he will returne you a rent which shall s [...]tisfie your most unbounded wishes.
But le [...]t the eye in the option of your Vineyard, may impose upon [Page 36] you, considering that every gr [...]und hath some arcane quali [...]y which the sight is not able to discover: to make a most certaine experiment, let me propose this way of Examen. Make a pit in the ground (where your intentions are to plant) two foot deep, take a clod of the earth so cast up, powder it, and infuse it in a glasse full of cleare Raine-water, do your best to incorporate it with the water by frequent agitation and mixture: let it repose till the subsided earth have made his perfect residence and settlement in the bottome, and the water recovered her native clearenesse; taste the water, and arrest your judgement upon this, that such a tast as the water delivers to your pallate, will that earth transmit to your wine: if of an inoff [...]nsive or acceptable relish, you may confidently promise your selfe a Wine pure, and consequently (if the soyle be rich very noble, nor is a salt taste an ill argument: but if it be a bitter aluminous, or su [...]hury gust, this place is not fit for your planting, you lose your Wine and your labour.
But VIRGINIA has a more certaine assurance; God and nature have pointed them a soyle ou [...] with their owne finger; let them therefore fix their eyes upon those places where either the Vine or Mulberry grow conjoyn'd, or seperate, and let them assure themselves of the excellency of the soyle, a diffi [...]ence in this being an affront to Nature: yet this caution is to be used that though Valleyes are Marshy places [...] may sometime have them by nature, yet their florescence would be much more excellent and healthfull if removed to such a ground as formerly we have made choice of.
To make election of Plants.
CUriosity about the choise of your Vine Plants will commend your Husbandry; let the Vine therefore from whence you take your Plant be of as little Pith as may be, such unpithy Vines being both fruitfull and fortified by nature, bearing a remarkable abundance of substantiall Grapes and strongly resists the violence of the weather, and of this fertility and firmenesse will your Plant also participate. Let not the Vine you meane to plant from, be above the middle of his strength, or age, and observe ab [...]ut September th [...]se which are most laden with Grapes, fullest of eyes in their [Page 37] branches, and have been least wounded by the unseasonablenesse of Weather. Take not a Vine growing on a South side to transplant him to a Northerne: and set this downe for a principle in Nature, that all plants removed to a better scituation and soyle, answer your largest hopes, by their fruitfulnesse: but transplanted to a worse, assure your selfe that without an extraordinary cultivation, there cannot be the least probability of its thriving.
Let your Plant (if you may with conveniency) immediatly be planted after its seperation from its originall; for while it yet retaines any vitall vigour, it will the sooner apply it selfe to the desire of life and nourishment. If your necessity will not admit of this festination, wrap it tenderly in its owne earth; and when your leisure will permit you to plant it, let it soake some foure or five dayes in water, and (if possible) running water: this immerging is a very strong preparative to its sudden taking root.
If you apprehend a necessity of keeping him long or transporting him, (imagine it the Cyprian or Calabrian Grape thus to bee transportable into Virginia,) put him into a close Barrell fil'd up with earth; and that no aire may mortifie him, let both ends of the Plant be put into Onions or Garlick, or (which is better) made up with wax, and now and then watred, but not more then to keep the earth from resolving into a dry dust; for too much moysture might (instead of preserving him) make him fructifie, and your Plant would become all root.
Wee have already spoken how we must chuse, but not what we must make choice of: Let your Plants therefore be of those which grow between the highest and lowest, (the lowest having too much of earthy juice, and the high [...]st too little) let them bee round, smooth, and firme [...] having many eyes, and about one foot and a halfe of old wood cut off with the new.
The manner, and way to [...]lan [...] Vines.
HUman curiosity plungeth us in so many unnecessary toils, that it would almost take a person off from necessary labour: Look into Columella, the Countrey Farme, the Du [...]ch Husbandry and all those supercilious Writer [...], and you shall see them stand upon such [Page 38] impertinent Puntillos; one while the dependance upon starres benights a man, another while the ground which should produce this or that, must be cast after this forme, or else it will be barren in spight of the bounty of the Divine Providence.
Not enumerating therefore all their wayes of Planting, I dare lay my life that if the Vine were but set on foot in VIRGINIA, the ground prepared for it as they doe their Tobacco there, by a right line, holes made instead of their Hillocks, but larger, deeper, and at greater distance, that there might something grow betwixt them which might be inoffensive to it by nature, and cleare it from being choak'd with weedes, or something drawing a contrary juice, (peradventure Onions and Garlick) or something requiring small nourishment, (as Lupins) which turn'd into the earth againe (distance of five foot being left for a Plough, with caution not to come too neare the Roots, which must be bared with a stowe, the Plough running first the length, and then the traverse of those rowes, which therefore must bee lineally straight) would both fatten the earth, and cultivate the Vine all at one moment. Yet submitting my selfe to judgements of greater experience then my modesty or natu [...]e can ever hope for, I shall deliver the severall way of planting the Vine, with as much brevity as the matter, and my first resolution rather to contract then inlarge, will permit mee.
The first preparing of the earth to receive the Vine must bee done in Spring or Summer, where the ground you digge or cast must bee cleansed from all manner of superfluities whatsoever; n [...]mely, Roots, Weedes, Stones, &c. this digging must bee severall times repeated, that the earth by alternate changing its place of top and bottome may bee throughly tempred, the dry refreshed, and the moyst qualified: Thus cleansed, cast in into many [...]urrowes (the sides whereof the French call Chevaliers or Guides, because it should guide you in the planting) the depth of eighteene inch [...]s or more; let the mould cast up above, bee so disposed, that [...]t may answer to the depth below.
Note that these furrowes in a sandy, [...], or wet ground must not bee so hollow as in that which is rough and crabbed: In the bottome of the first you may put stones about the bignes [...]e of an [Page 39] ordinary brick (but round) not bigger, which in the heate of Summer refreshes, in violence of Raine opens a passage to the water, that it dwell not at the root to rot it.
The best season for planting of Vines is in October, the Moone increasing, the Furrowes must bee made in August, that the exposed earth may have time of digestive preparation.
If your plant have Roots, you must when you plant it cut them of [...] all, except it bee newly gathered, if it bee a slip or cut, which though it bee not so swift of growth the first yeare, yet is of much longer continuance, you must soake it in water, if it bee possible in running water five or six dayes.
Hee which plants the Vine, the ground thus prepared, and haveing a line with him, that hee may observe a just evennesse and streightnesse, both in the Row, and to the opposite Plant, that so every foure may make a regular quadrangle, must bow his plant, the bigger end forward one foot into the earth of the Ditch, letting first some of the Mould from the sides fall into it; let him tread upon the Mould the better to fixe the plant, and with his hand (the foot still pressing upon that part of the plant which is inearthed) gently raise or bow the top of the plant that it may grow erect: this done, let him cast some more Mould on it, to the thicknesse of six inches, and cut the top of the Plant, so as not to leave above three knots or joynts above the earth: Let him proceede in planting of the rest, observing the prescribed order: some set two plants together in this order, that if one shou [...]d faile, the other might recompence the default.
If you will have your Vine to grow without stakes or props, cut it so, that you let it no: increase above two or three joynts in the yeare, which will make it to stand firme against all stormes, i [...] but naturally violent.
It will bee extreame ill husbandry to plant Vines of different kindes or qualities together, such diversity there is in their season of ripenesse; some preventing your expectation by the suddainenesse of their maturity, others deceiving it by their late ripenesse. Wee have spoken of the planting, let us now handle the culture and dresse of it, that his fertility may in some measure requi [...]e the labour of his impl [...]nting.
The manner of dressing the Vine.
MId May will bee a season which will best informe you, whether your Plants have taken so good root, that it expresses a verdure and germination in his Branches; when therefore the shoot is able to indure dressing, let it bee cut within two or three knots of the old Wood, and if any other slips spring from the Root, cut them away (with care however that it wound not the Root, or the maine stock, which are wonderfully offended by the too neare approach of any toole that is edged) that the whole strength of the Vine may unite into one common stock or pillar, to support and convey the sap into the permitted branches, of which you may not let any flourish the first yeare of its growth. It is observed, that to cut the Vine in the decrease of the Moone, makes the fleshy part of the Grape of a more substantiall grossenesse and feeding, and is a peculiar remedy for those Vines which are given to bee over-ranke with wood: Let it bee the care of the Vigneron to remoove all obstructions of Weedes which uninvited participate of the Vines nourishment: the surest way to kill which, is, to turne them in towards the earth, which is not onely a destruction to the thiefe of its moysture, but a r [...]stitution of the robbery [...] for the Weedes so inverted enrich the ground to the great encouragement of the Vine, and the no lesse profit of the Vine dressers. Let your knife with which you cut your Vine bee very sharpe, and let your Vine bee cut sloping at one cut, if possible, and not far from the old Wood, that the growth of the Vine may the more speedily cover the wound.
The Vines must bee dressed or husbanded [...]hree times the yeare, the first culture of it must bee in March, at which time you are to digge about the Root three quarters of a foot deep, or thereabouts: The next season must be in April, wherein you must digge about the Roote, within a third of the former depth, then you must also prune it by cutting all the branches, and leaving some three knobs or joynts of the new wood in your Vine of the first yeares growth, and cutting off all dead or superfluous branch [...]s of the old, whose permitted branches must also bee pruned, lest they [Page 41] should spend that aliment decreed for the Grape in elongation of the branches, all succors also must bee plucked away. In August the like course is to bee used in the Wine of the precedent Autumne leaving two or three joynts or knobs of new wood: againe the old ones may bee onely digged, if at that time, and at all other times you perceive any dead or wounded branches, you must cut them off something further then the mortification or hurt extends; and in all prunings let no Vine bee cut in the knob or joynt, but in the space betwixt; there following usually nothing but absolute and irremediable decaying, where they are cut in the articula [...] knitting [...] If in Aprils dressing, the Vine h [...]ve no branched but onely budded, which is most usuall (but more especially in March) you must nip the bud off with your fingers, to the end that the juice which would ascend to hasten the germination, may bee stopped to strengthen and engrosse the store.
The third yeare the Vine will beare you Grapes in these Countries, but I am confident that in VIRGINIA it wou [...]d beare at the second; and this my confidence is grounded upon the hasty perfection all things receive in VIRGINIA [...] by much prec [...]ding all our neighbour Countries. The P [...]ac [...]tree arrives not to that viri [...]ity of growth in eight yeares, in th [...]s [...] r [...]gions, which it obtaines at foure there. The like is verified in Apples and Cherries: and if it be que [...]tioned how such men which peradventure b [...]ing in a necessity, are not able to attend two yea [...]es for a retu [...]ne, shall in the meane while subsist: it is easi [...]y answered [...] that the intervalls betwixt the dressings of the Vines will [...]fford space enough for a reasonable Crop of Tobacco; and ther [...] is much mo [...]e labour in looking to 5000. Plants of Tobacco then the like number of Vines, especially if the intersp [...]ces be pl [...]ughed, and [...]ow [...]d with Turnips or Lupines, which both add [...] to the fatnesse and unwilding of the ground, and choake up all weeds and grasse which might afflict it. Contrariwise, Tobacco will admit nothing in the Vacant s [...]aces, and must be perpetually weeded. Further, though other Vine-Masters prescribe the digging about the roots of their Plant in August [...] which is the busie s [...]son of inning th [...] Tobacco, yet I am driven by divers reasons to wish such culture om [...]tted at that time of the yeare, since it layes the root by so much the nearer [Page 42] to a violently torrid Su [...] which is so far from cherishing of it, that it burnes it; by whic [...] meanes his C [...]op of Tobacco need not at all to be neglected: but these Vines steale into such perfection by that time [...]hey are arrived at fou [...]e yeares growth, that twenty thousand Plants of Tobacco, though sold at 6 pence per pound, (a great rate in VIRGINIA) will not returne you a like profit, which though it m [...]y be something sp [...]ringly believed, yet may be made apparent. For admitting our Vines by th [...]t time of 4 foot high, by their so often cutting of the shoots, nourished u [...]to a stock strong enough to support it self; of B [...]anch [...]s, by the like tillage, equall in vigour, yield but a gallon of Wine per pi [...]ce, yet here is 20 Tun of Wine yearely, for 30 yeares together, (so long will the Vine thus husband [...]d, last fruitfull, and vigorous, if Planted with the slip rather then the Root) without any interruption but that which sets bounds and limit to all things, the divine providence in his dispensation of seasons.
Of the D [...]seases of Vines, and their Remedy.
BEfore we can justifie our expectations of a good Harvest, we must providently foresee and prevent (as much as in us lies) such casualties as may make our hope abortive; let us therefore cast our eye upon such Diseases which m [...]y make the Vine unfruitfull, or after the fruit produced, destroy its desired fertility.
To prevent the Frost from benumming, or absolutely destroying your Vines, let there be layd up in divers places heaps of drye du [...]g, with an i [...]term [...]xture of ch [...]ff [...] and straw, and when you conjecture the appro [...]ch of the Fro [...]t, set this combustible stuffe on fire, and the smoake arising from thence will so temper and qu [...]lifie the aire that your Vine for that season will be secured from D [...]m [...]n [...]ge: yet if (before you have applyed th [...]s preventive remedy) the fruit of your Vine be destroyed, cut it off very short, and the strength continuing in the rem [...]inder will so fortifie it, that the next yeare it will recompence you double in the quantity of your fruit; for what it hath been rob'd of by the present.
To provide against the blasting of your Vine: When you perceive it upon the point of budding, cut it as late as may be; for [Page 43] this late cutting it will make your Vine something later [...] and by consequence, bloss [...]me or flower at such time as the Sunne is ascended to his greatest degree of heat and fervor.
To breake off such Mists and Fogs as are already gathered in the aire, and give probable menaces to fall upon your Vines, you must apply your selfe to this remedy: let a smoake round about your Vineyard be made with Go [...]ts du [...]g, kindled and set on fire. Such Fogges as have outstripped your care and already fallen upon, and endammaged your V [...]nes, must have the malignity of their vapors taken off, or at least asswaged by irrigation of Vines, with the water in which the leaves or roots of wilde Cucumbers, or Coloquintida have been layd some time to infuse: this must be applied immediatly after the mists. Some are of an opinion that Bay-trees (which by the way are dangerously sociable to the Vine) planted round, but not too near the Vineyard, wil priviledge the Vine from this di [...]taster, by attracting all the ill disposed mallice of those Fogs [...]nto it selfe. This till experimented will hardly be worthy beliefe.
It is an opinion no way contradicted, that fertility is restored to a Vine become barren, if humane Urine kept a long while stale, to make it the more salt and ranke, be dropt by degrees upon the Vine stock, which must immediately after be laid about with dung and earth mixt together: the season for the application of this Cure must be in Autumne. Another way I should conceive to be altogether as effectuall, namely, to leave it nothing but the stock, bare the roots, and lay there either Acornes, Chesnuts, or rotted straw; and if the bignesse of the root will permit it, to cleave it a little way, and to thrust into the [...]issure a piece of Vine wood, cut small for the purpose; it being certaine that trees themselves sometimes groane under the sicknesse of being hide-bound: Vines are perceived to want moisture, when their leaves turne of a deep red colour: this Disease is cured by watring them with Sea-water, or stale Urine.
The Bleeding of the Vine.
THE Vine sometimes is troubled with an extraordinary Efflux, or emanation of its juice; some call it the weeping, others the ble [...]ding of the Vine, and this Disease is commonly so violent, [Page 44] that if not stopped it leaves the Vine without blood and life. Th [...] remedy is to breake the barke of the Vine upon the body thereof, and to anoynt the wound with oyle boyled to the half, or else with the Lees of Wine not salted; this done, let it bee watered with Vinegar, which by how much the stronger it may bee, is so much more effect [...]all.
The scattering Vine.
THE Vine sometimes is oppressed with an unretentive scattering dis [...]ase, as unable to maintaine the fruit sh [...]e hath produced, which shee therefore discharges, and let [...] fall from her; the symptomes by which you are to judge of this disease, are an unnaturall palenes [...]e and drynesse of the leaves, the branch it selfe l [...]nguid, broad, and of a more pithy softn [...]sse then usuall. The cure to this, is to rub Ashes beaten and mixed with strong Vinegar abou [...] the foot of the Vine, and to water all tha [...] is round about the stock: Quaer [...], whether fissures in the Barke made with a sharpe knife some fixe inches long may not bee an additionall Receit to the former prescription. The tree peradventure having contracted this malady by too close imprisonment in the barke, being in a manner hide bound [...]; how ever the foregoing Medicine cannot in this case but sort to better effect, if the tree and barke joyntly be rubbed over then the barke onely, unlesse this Medicine could give a relaxation to the barke, which I have no faith in.
The Vine too full of branches, or luxur [...]ant.
THE V [...]ne expending it selfe too wastfully in overmany branches, must bee cut very short. If this overcome not that luxury, the usuall remedy is, let it bee bared at the Roots, and River gravell layd round about the stock, together with a few Ashes or else some stones. The reason I apprehend not, except it bee to check its fertility [...] which I conceive may more prosperously bee effected, if onely the branches being cut, and the stock low, you suffer that exubrancy to waste it selfe in adding more corpulency to the stock, which will of it selfe bee a sufficient spender to restraine [Page] and confine the former liberality of juice.
The withering Vine.
IF the Grapes languish and dry away as they hang upon the Vine, before you apply a remedy you must cast away all that are already affected with this contagion; then water the rest with Vinegar, in which Ashes of Vine branches have beene infused [...] The most assured remedy is to water the Root of the Vine, from whence the disease cometh with the stalest Urine; the former Remedy being something irregular, as if it were easily feisible to remove a malady by application to the effects, without considering the efficient.
The rotting of Grapes upon the Vine.
THere are of Vines whose fruit putrifie upon the Branches before they come to maturity: this disease is remedied by laying old Ashes to their Root, or Gravell, or Barley meale mixed with the seed of Purcellane about the body; Quaere, whether this disease proceed from a Plethorick rankn [...]sse or em [...]ciate debility: if from rankenesse all application of ashes hurt it: the symptomes of rankenesse are, when a tree lavishes his moysture into too many branches, which may make him neglect to feede the fruit, as unable to maintaine two spenders; and I am confident the naturall remedy for this is to bare him (as much as possible) of wood, that it may divert the nourishment to the Grape; if from debility, which you shall perceive by a flaccid palenes in the leaves, the same remedy which wee prescribed to the withering Vine, vi [...]. to water the Root with Urine of a long stalenesse, will bee the most proper.
The biting of the Cow or Oxe.
INdeede the best way to prevent this disease, is to have your ground either well paled or quicksetted, or both: But that the biting or breathing of Kine may not endamage the Vine (which [...]rdly recovers af [...]er such wound or infection) water the f [...]t stock [Page 46] of your Vine with such water as the Tanners have used in dressing and mollifying their raw Hides, and you may promise your selfe to bee secured from them, they as mortally hating such sents, as the Vine abhors their bite or breathing.
Against Caterpillars.
THe opinion is [...] that Caterpillars and other noysome, though little Vermine, will not molest the bud or leafe of the Vine, if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut off the superfluous branches of the Vine be anoynted over with the blood of a Male Goat, or the fat of an Asse, or of a Beare; or with the Oyle wherein Catterpillars or brayed Garlick have beene boyled, or if you anoynt and rub them with the purse or sheath of a Badgers stones, after your hooke has beene ground: These are curious rather then apparently approved Medicines, and for their reason I must demurre to give it, Quaere, whether the Oyle wherein Catterpillars or brayed Garlick have beene boyled well, rubbed about the stock of the Tree, may not make those Reptilia ab [...]or the a [...]cending, or whether the [...]uce of Rew so applyed, have not the like vertue.
The driving Locu [...]ts from the Vine is done by fumigation, as either fi [...]ing of old Oxe dung, Galbanum, old shooe soles, Harts- [...]orne, womens haire; but that which they propose las [...], I conceive to bee the best, namely, to plant Pionie neare them.
To prevent Pismires.
PIsmires, who divers times fret in sunder the wood of the Vine, even to the very marrow, will not at all approach it, if you anoynt and rub the slock with the dung of Kine, or grease of Asses.
The Bay-tree, Hasell-tree, and Col [...]worts beare a particular enmity to t [...]e Vine, and expresse it by effects when pl [...]nted neare; this I cannot believe to bee out of any Magicall Antipathy, but rather that these (as the Plum-tree) are great and strong succors of juice, and happily drawing of the same, by which the Vine is [Page 47] more particularly nourished, of which being cheated, it is no wonder if she expresse a decadency.
The manner of the Vintage.
AND now wee are come to that which is most acceptable to mankinde, the successefull fruit of his labours reaped in his Vintage, which wee must not of a naturall g [...]eedinesse precipitate, till the Grapes bee of such a kindely ripeness [...] of age, that to let them continue on the Vine longer were to lose them; this ripenesse is visibly understood by a mutation in the Branch and Grape; in the Branch you shall perceive a manifest mutation by an incline to rednesse in the Grape; if it bee white it alters towards a yellow, if red towards a black colour; nor are the ta [...]te and touch les [...]e discerners of such full maturity; for if they bee sweete in taste, and the liquor of a glutinous substance, cleaving to the finger; wee may conclude that both they, and the time to gather them are of full ripenesse. There are also other signes, if the kernell expressed out of the grape betweene your fi [...]gers, come out cleane, and altogether seperate from the flesh or pulpe of the Vine, if after such expression (gently performed) the Grape diminish nothing from his bignesse, &c. These all, or the most of them concurring, prepare for your Harvest.
Yet in VIRGINIA, where the Harvest is more abundant then the Labourers, to prevent a glut of worke flowing upon few hands, and consequently not possible to bee throughly equalled: It will no [...] bee amisse to use both anticipation by accelerating nature with artificiall meanes in some, and retardation by arresting the speede of growth in others, to accelerate Ashes layd to the foot of Vines, and those Vines planted to something more advantage of an am [...]rous Sunne, will make them antecede the others, at the least by their advance of foureteen [...] d [...]yes; the other in their naturall course following that spice after, and the others more particularly retarded (which may bee easily effected by the pruning of them later then the rest just upon their prep [...]rative to b [...]d; which arresting the sap m [...]kes it afterwards (though later) returne with a greater abundance) staying foureteene dayes later, there [Page 48] will be [...] compleately sixe weekes time [...] gathering in of your Vintage. And by this meanes you [...] Vineyard tilled or manured every third yeare all over, which [...] no ingratefull accession to its duration in fertility and [...]: Those of the most forward ripenesse this year, being retarded the next, and those of the naturall maturation husbanded in that manner, the next Winter.
The fittest season to gather them must bee in a serene unclouded sky (the Grapes having any Raine or Dew upon them when gathered, losing much of their perfect strength and goodn [...]sse;) for the Wine made of Grapes throughly dryed in their collection, hath a greater priviledge of force and continuance: But before this collection bee attempted, all things fitting to receive y [...]u [...] Vintage must bee prepared in cleanlinesse and order, viz. Baskets, Caske, and Fatts strongly hooped, Tubs great and small, Stands, Pre [...]es, &c. and all scoured, washed, and furnished with th [...]ir necessary instruments and conveniencies.
The Grape gatherer must distinguish and seperate the leane, green, sower, withered, or rotten Grapes, from those which are of absolute ripenesse and soundnesse. That the Wine by such an uncomely confusion or mixture may not bee lesse pure, sprightly, and healthfull, then it was intended by nature, such inconfiderate Gatherers are sayd to bee of the Divells sending, to spoyle Gods provisions. Nor should they con [...]usedly mixe good with good, if of different quality, as to mingle that which is strong and rich, with which is small, but delicate. They prescribe that the Grapes so gathered should bee left in the ground at least a day or two, and that [...]ncovered, provided it raine not, by which meanes, say they, they will become much better, since the Sunne, dew, and earth, by this exposure taking from them what ever they have of bad unprofitable moysture, refine and purifie them. A cou [...]se as far as my span of reason can extend, so far from this promise of refining and purifying, that it absolutely tends to their corruption. Have they wanted the Sunne and Dew when upon the stalke? Could not the same Sunne and Dew which enripened them, refine and purifie them there? As for the earths meliorating them, if melioration bee understood by putr [...]faction, 'tis easily granted; Apples that [Page 49] lye on the ground are so meliorated, that is to say rotted, and shall the Grape a more delicate and tender fruit avoyd it? This is by way of digression, but it is necessary [...] for without this caution a modest man which re [...]des with an obedient judgement any booke [...] of these men, taking the Authour for an [...], subscribes to it, observes the prescription, and gaines a doctrine of future providence, by the losse of his present Vintage.
But after the Grapes have rema [...]ned a day or two in the house, it will bee time to put them into the F [...]tt to bee trodden out equally. Those which tread the Grapes should before they go into the Fatt have their feete and legges washed extreamely, and themselves covered with a shirt as well [...]s drawers, that their sweat may not mixe with the Wine, and that nothing in the act of eating fall from their mouths into it, they must bee punctuall in abstaining from eating of the Grapes, while they are at this their labour.
Surely this way of treading the Grape is derived from some abstenious man, who devised this stratagem under a pretence of expediting the worke; but indeede to deter men from drinking that which is so uncomely prepared. I know they will alledge that by tre [...]ding it flowes more naturally, and withall more pure forth, then that which is pressed; but withall give mee leave, say that the very Presse it selfe if it bee not too violently and greedily laboured, makes it glide forth altogether as naturally and purely, and which is more with greater equality; for in the Presse, all the Grapes feele the impultion at once, and if the Owner bee not too covetous to bring the drosse and gros [...]e parts of the Grape to a second squeezing [...] and mixing with the fi [...]st [...] without dispute the Wine so expressed is altogether as good and strong as that which is trodden, but I am certaine much mor [...] clea [...]ly.
The Wine (however [...] being expressed must be poured, drosse, Huskes, and all, into a Fat to worke or boyle in, which it must doe for the space of foure and twenty houres at the least, if you will h [...]ve it fine, delicate, and subtile; but if you desire to have it strong and noble, let it worke in the Fat foure or five dayes, with a Covering over it, that so the vapour thereof may not exhale, or his force waste it selfe.
The Fat, or Tub prepared, must have immediatly before his reception [Page 50] of the Wine, a little bunch of Vine branches laid before the Tap-hole, which (that it may not heave up with the Wine) must be kept downe with a cleane stone or Brick, or which is better and l [...]s [...]e off [...]nsive, a ring of Lead wound about it: this when you draw the Wine will hinder the Huskes or Grapes from comming out with the liquor. Your Fat must not be full by halfe a foot or more, that the Wine may have the more space to boyle or worke in.
Your Wine in vessel'd must not be filled up to the Bung, nor the Bung closed, that the Wine may have the greater liberty of despumation, and rejecting whatever it findes reluctant to its owne nature.
Every day you must fill up what is expurged, and something more, till you [...]inde the Wine throughly appea [...]ed, and discharged of whatever might be obstructive to its generosity: nor must this Caske be in the Cellar, but either in the open aire, or in some B [...]rne where it has a liberall respiration; besides the defects in Caske cannot be so easily discovered when the Wine is in the Cell [...]r, [...]s in open places. When it is so throughly settled, that it hath given over all appetite or signe of boyling, you may have it committed to your Cellar, which should stand upon the North here, (in VIRGINIA upon the North-west as the coolest and driest Angle) paved wit [...] gravell or drye earth, which is lesse subject to moysture or ex [...]dations then Brick, or especially stone, absolutely remote and unmo [...]ested by any ill odours of Stables, Sinkes, Bathes, Marshy places, &c. neither should it have any thing shut up or kept in it, which have any sent of acrimony or harshnesse, as Cheese, Garlick, Onions, Oyles, (Trane, Neatsfoot, Linseed, and others, not the Salade-Oyle) it being observed, that nothing is more open or obnoxious to contagion then Wine, especially when new.
Your Vessells must be so rank'd in order that they touch not one another, by this meanes to leave a liberty of sight to foresee a misfortune, or prevent it when happened. They must be so close stopped in the Bung with Clay, that not the least irreption of aire may be capable to taint it, to which it is very subject.
To cause new wine to bee quickly purged, put (after this proportion [Page 51] in the rest:) to 15 quarts of new Wine, halfe a pint of strong Vinegar, and within the space of three dayes it will bee fined.
To preserve Must or new Wine all the yeare, take that Vine which voluntary distilleth from the Grape; before is suffer the presse, and put it into a Vessell pitch'd within and without the same day: let the Vessell be halfe full, and very well stop'd with plaster above; and thus the new Wine will continue a long while in his sweetnesse. But to adde to this experiment and the continuance of the Wine, you must hinder it from working, which you may well doe, if you put the Vessell into some Well or River, there to remaine thirty dayes; for not having boyled it will continue alwayes sweet, and is preserved by the heat of the Pitch. Others prefer the burying of this Vessell in moist gravell: and (which in my opinion is the best) others cover the Vessell first with the drosse of the Wine presse, then heap upon it moyst gravell; by which meanes, something interposing betwixt the extraordinary moysture and cold of the gravell, which might have some influxe upon the Wine, your Must preserved in an excellent meane of temper.
To know if there be any water in the Wine.
THE Malice of servants sometimes swallowing downe their Masters Wine, and fearing to be discovered if the quantity be diminished, or the basenesse of the Dealer to impose upon the Merchant, makes both of them adulterate it with water, which not being discernable to the eye, may be made familiar to your knowledge by this experiment: Take a withered Rush, immerge it in the Wine; after a small space draw it out againe: if the Wine have been thus bastarded, you shall perceive the water cleaving to it. Otherwise, take raw and wilde Peares, cutting, and cleansing them in the midst, or in lieu of them, Mulberries, cast them into the Wine, if they float, the Wine is neat and cleare from such sophistication; if they subside there is water in it. Some doe anoint a Reed, a piece of wood, or paper, hay, or some other little bundle of herbs, or strawes with Oyle, which if they drye, put into the [Page] Wine [...] and after draw them out, if the Wine have been embased with water, drops thereof will gather unto the Oyl [...]. Another sure tryall is to cast un [...]laked Lime into the Wine; if there be any adulteration, the Lime dissolves, if the Wine be undevirginated, the Lime collects thereby a harder cementation. Others take of the Wine, and inject it into a Frying-pan wherein there is boyling Oyle, and the Wine (if depured) declares it with a loud noise, and frequent Bubbles. To make another tryall, lay an Egge into the Wine, the Egge descending, manifests the abuse, not descending, the Wine is as the Grape bled it.
To seperate Wine from Water.
BUT as the miserable man in the pit desir [...]d his friend not to question how he fell in, but to advise how he should get out: We will not be satisfied that there is water in the Wine, but how it may be sepe [...]ated from it; which if we may believe the deliverers of it, who have published it to the World in their names, you must put into the Vessell of Wine melted Allum, then stop the mouth of the Vessell with a spunge drenched in Oyle, which done, turne the mouth of the Vessell so stopped, downewards, and the water onely will come forth, leaving the Wine pure: the reason of this I cannot give, and have onely read (not seen) the expeririment.
The way to correct [...]ver much waterishnesse in Wine.
IF gluts of raine have made the yeare so unseasonable, that the Grape hath contracted a watry quality to the diminution of his Winy goodnesse: or if it fall ou [...] that after the time of gathering them, there fall such store of raine, that the Grapes instead of Dewes are too much wetted; (such is the profit of exposing the gathered clusters into the open aire for 48 houres) the remedy is to tread them quickly, and finding the Wine weake, by tasting it after it hath been put into the Vessell, and begun to boyle there, it must presently be changed, and drawne out into another Vessell, for so the watr [...] parts that are in it will stay behinde in the bottome, [Page] yet the Wine standing still charged, will be totally corrected, if you put to every fifteen quarts of Wine, a pint and a halfe of Salt.
To make Wine of an acceptable odour.
IF you will perfume your Wine with a gratefull odour, by which the braine may be strengthened, as well as the heart exalted: take a few Myrtle-berries dry, bray them, and put them into a little Barrell of Wine; let it so rest, close stopped, ten dayes afterwards use it at pleasure. The like effect will follow, if you take the blossoms of the Grapes (those especially which growe upon the shrubby Vines) when the Vine is in flower, and cast them into the Wine, the brimmes of the Wine-vessell being rub'd over with the leaves of the Pine and Cypresse tree, and this will give it a fragrancy delightfully odorate: Or which is of equall facility, you may hang an Orenge, or Pomecitron, (being of a convenient greatnesse) and prick it full of Cloaves, and that in such sort as it may not touch the Wine, shut up in all these Applications, the Vessell very close. If this like you not, take the simples of such matter as you would have your Wine to smell of, infuse them in Aqua vitae, the infusion may be repeated by percolation of the old herbs, and addition of new, till it have gotten a full and absolute perfection of th [...]se odours you desire, then poure the Aqua vitae (the herbs [...]trained from it) into the Vessell of Wine.
To make Cute.
YOU may make the boyled Wine called Cute, if you boyle new Wine that is good, lovely, and very sweet untill the third part thereof bee consumed; when it is growne cold put it into a Vessell and use it. But to make this Cute, that it may continue all the yeare, gather your Grapes whole, and let them lye spread three dayes in the Sunne, on the fourth about noone tread them. The liquour or sweet Wine which shal runne out into the Fatt before the dro [...]ey substance come under the presse, must bee boyled one third as before; then to every nineteene quarts of Wine adde [Page 54] an ounce of Irees or Corne flag well brayed, straine this Wine without the Lees, which being done, it will continue sweet, firme, and wholesome.
To cause troubled Wines to settle.
TO cause troubled Wines, and such as are full of Lees to settle, poure into thirty quarts of Wine, halfe a pint of the Lees of Oyle boyled, till the third part bee wasted, and the Wines will immedi [...]tely returne to their former settlement. Otherwise, which is better and more easie, cast into the Wine-Vessell the whites of six or seven Egges, and stirre them together very well with a stick.
To know whether the Wine will keepe long.
THE knowledge whether the Wine will continue long or not in a good condition, is thus made apparent: When your Wine is tunned up, you must within some time after change it into another Vessell, leaving the Lees behinde in the first; which you must diligently stop from taking any vent whatsoever; after some time you may looke into the Lees with carefull animad version, whether they change or contract any ill sent or not, or whether they breed any Gnats, or other such Creatures; if you espye none of these mutations or corrupt generation, repose your selfe with all confidence that your Wine will continue pure to the longest: But t [...]se symptomes discovered, will bee so many admonitions to dispose of that Wine with the soonest, which is already by nature inclined to [...]urne bad and corrupt; others take a pipe of Elder, or such other wood as may bee hollowed through, with which they receive the sent of the Lees, and by them informe themselves how the Wine is conditioned.
A good pallate will divine of Wines by the taste, namely that if the new Wine bee sharpe and quick, they repose confidence in its goodnesse and continuance; but if flat and heavy, then they expect nothing but the contrary to good qualities: againe, if the new Wine (when put into the Vessells) be fat and gl [...]wy, the sign is prosperous; but if contrariwise, it be thinne and weake, it is [...]n [Page 55] argument that it will easily be turned,
To keepe Wine at all times.
TO effect this, you may cast Roch-Allum (very finely powdred) into the, Vessell which you meane to put your new Wine in, or bay Salt very finely powdred: or pibble stones, and little flints taken out of some Brooke, or which will retaine the spirits of the Wine from evaporating; more certainly Salade Oyle, so much as will cover the superficies of the Wine.
To make that Wine sh [...]l not Flowre.
VVIne will have no Flower, if you put into it the Flowers of the Vine, gathered, and dryed, or the meale of Fetches, changing the Wine into another Vess [...]ll, when the meale or Flowers are settled downe to the bottome.
To prepare Physicall Wines.
NEither is this digression impertinent; Physitians are not so frequent in VIRGINIA, as in PADUA, or LONDON, and were there more, yet the vast space of ground, those people take up in their scattred dwellings, makes the addresses to them very difficult: that therefore they may (in absence of the Physitian) have some common remedies for common diseases; I have thought fit to give them this accompt of Medicinall Wines out of LIE [...]AULT, all of them of excellent Virtues, and easie preparations: the first shall be
To make Wines of Wormewood.
TO which effect, take of Sea-Wormewood, or in default of that, common Wormewood, especially that which hath the small stalke, and short leaves, eight Drammes; stamp them, and binde them in a cloath which is not woven too thick, cast it into the Vessell, pouring new Wine upon it, making this accompt, that to [Page 56] every three pints of Wine there must bee eight drams of Wormewood; continue this proportion in the filling of your Vessell, which you must leave with the vent open, that the Wine fall not a new to boyling. The use of this Wine is good for the paine of the stomack and liver, and to kill Wormes.
To make Wine of Horehound.
THis Wine being very soveraigne for the Cough, must bee made in the time of Vintage, to which purpose you must gather of the Crops and tender stalkes of Horehound, of that [...]specially which growes in leane untilled places; afterwards cause them to bee dryed in the Sunne, make them up into bundles, tying them with a Ru [...]h, sinke them in the vessell to 65 quarts of new Wine; you must put eight pound of Horehound to boyle therewith, after the Wine is settled the Horehound must bee taken out, and the Wine stopt very diligently.
The Wine of Anise and Dill very good against the difficulty of the Urine: The Wine of Peares against the flux of the belly; the Wine of Bayes against the ach and wringings of the belly; the Wine of Asarum Bace [...]r against the J [...]undise, Dropsies, and Tertian Agues; the Wine of Sage against p [...]ines and weakenesse of the sinewes, are all made as the Wine of Wormewood.
To make Wine of Betony.
TAke Betony, the Leaves and Seedes about one pound, put it into twenty quarts of Wine, and at the expi [...]atio [...] of the seven moneth, change the Wine into new Vessells. This most excellent Wine aswageth the paine of the Reines, breaketh the stone, and healeth the Jaundise.
To make the Wine of Hysop.
TAke the leaves of Hysop well stamped, tye them fast in a very fine cloth, and cast about one pound of th [...]m into twenty quarts of new Wine; this Wine is peculiarly excellent against the [Page 57] diseases of the lungs, an old Cough, and shortnesse of breath.
Wine of Pomgranates, made of Pomgranates that are scarce ripe, being throughly bruized, and put into a vessell of thick red Wine, serveth of singular use against the fluxe of the belly: to which end also serve the Wines made of Services, Mulberries, and Quinces.
The Ancients had a very high opinion of Treacle Wine, from consideration of its extraordinary vertue in asswaging and healing the bitings of Serpents, and other venemous Beasts. Nor had the Vine solely this virtue in its Grape, but in the leaves also stamped and applyed unto the grieved part. This Vine is thus prepared: cleave three or foure fingers breadth of the Plant you intend to set, take out the pith, and replenish the vacant part with Treacle, afterwards set the cloven part covered and wrapt in paper. Thus Vines may bee made soporiferous, if you prepare them in the same manner with Opium, as before with Treacle, laxative by preparing it with some soluble purge. By this meanes you may have Wine to taste like the Greeke Calabrian Frontignac, or any other noble for its excellency; if the Lees purified and preserved bee inserted into the pith of the branch, Aromatick, if to these Lees you adde compounds of Cynamon Cassia, Cloves, o [...] what ever shall bee most agreeable to the nostrill and pallate.
To remedy Wines inclining to corrupt; and first of Wine beginning to soure:
IF you perceive Wine beginning to waxe soure, put into the bottome of your Vessell a pot of water well stopt, close the Vessell, yet so as at a vent hole to receive and transmit a little aire: the third day draw out the pot, and you shall s [...]e a noble experiment of attraction, for the water will be stinking [...] and the Wine sound & neat.
At what time, and by what accidents Wine is most apt to corrupt, with its remedy.
THE season when Wines are subject to turne or bee troubled, is about the Summer sol [...]tice, viz. the 11. of June, at the same [Page 58] time that the Vine emits her blossome; nor then alone, but sometimes about the Dog-dayes [...] by reason of the variety of heates: generally the Wine is in some sort of commotion, when a constant S [...]uth winde disturbes the aire, whether it bee in Winter or Summer, in great and continued raines also, and windes in Earthquakes or mighty Thunders. To keepe them f [...]om turning is by the injection of pan salt, when they boyle or worke, or else o [...] the seed of smallage, Barley-bran, the leaves of Bay-trees, or of Fennell seed brayed with the Ashes of the Vine brayed. The like effect have Almonds cast into the wine [...] or the Ashes of the Oake [...] the Meale of the [...]hite Fetch both defends the wine from turning, and keepeth it in his soundnesse. Allum broken in pieces the same, the worst application is of Brimstone, Lime, Plaister, &c. To r [...]cover the wine when turned, must bee effected either by changing the Vessell, by beaten pepper; or take whites of Egges, beate them very well, and take the froth from thence arising of them, poure them into the Vessell, which you must immediately roule after its infusion: Or else take twelve Kernells of old Walnuts (the Virginian Walnut I conceive exceeding proper) rost them under the Ashes, and while they [...]re yet hot, draw a thread through them, hang them in t [...] wine, where they must bee till the wine (which will not fail) recover its former colour.
If the wine become troubled, either the Kernels of Pine Apples, or Peaches, or the whites of Egges, and a little salt will not faile to cleare and refine it: Others take halfe a pound of Allum, as much Sugar, make a very small powder thereof, and cast it into the Vessell.
To helpe Wine that beginnes to wast and die.
IF you by manifest Symptomes apprehend your wine suddenly inclining to degenerate and corrupt, this course is prescribed: If it bee Clarre [...], take the Yelke of an Egge, if white, the white adde to it three ounces of cleare bright stones taken out of a running River, make them into a small powder, together with two ounces of Salt, mingle all together, and (the wine shifted into another Vessell neat and cleane, not tainted with any smell beforehand) [Page 59] cast in this Compound; mingle it with the wine five or sixe times the day, untill three or foure dayes bee past. This remedy is not prescribed when wine is absolutely spoy [...]ed, for then it would bee applyed to no purpose; but that the carefull Master should by his observation of it to such a disposition, prevent it by this experiment.
To restore Wine growne musty, unto his former purity.
CAst into the Vessell Cowes milke salted [...] Some (but to the infinite unhealthfullnesse of him that drinkes it) attempt this restauration with Allum, Lime, and Brimstone, a more undangerous way is to infuse in it Juniper-berries, and Irees Roots: Yet if the wine should continue this ill senting qu [...]lity, by having taken winde: Let it bee rouled too and againe to awaken the spirits thereof, that they may the better disperse the strength of its infu [...]ion: afterwards set it againe upon his cantling, replenish the Vessel and shut it close to prevent winde for the future.
To preserve Wines from sowring, may bee performed by your disposing of your Vessell in a place that is very coole and dry (the Vessels being very well filled and well stopped) to prevent as well the emission of the spirits, by which the Wine continues vigorous, as the admission of aire. But in regard all men are not the masters of such opportune conveniencies, being fo [...]ced sometimes to make uses of places obnoxious to heate, and drawing one Vessell a long time, cannot hinder the secret invasions of aire; yet if you perceive in time that your Vine begines to harbour an acid or soure quality, you shall preserve it from falling into a full degree of sourenesse; if you take a good piece of L [...]rd, wrap it well in a Linnen cloath, tye it to a small cord, and let it downe by the Bunghole into the middle of the Wine, still letting it lower as the Wine decreaseth. Some advise, and not without a great apparence of reason, to put into the Vessell, Oyle Olive, or Salade, in such quantity, that it may onely cover the sup [...]rficies of the Wine: Which Oyle when the Wine is drawne off from the Lees, may bee seperated from them, and preserved.
To take away the waterishnesse and crude moisture of the wine, [Page 60] put into the Vessell the leaves of the Pomgranate-tree, though in my opinion such Wine being easily knowne in the Fatt, when first trodden, should be corrected by boyling, as afore.
The remedy against venemous Beasts falling into the Wine, as Adders [...] Rats, &c. is, so soone as the dead body is found, to burne it and cast the Ashes into the same Vessell, s [...]irring it about with a wooden stick: Others give advice to put hot bread into the Vessel which will attract all the venemous qualities to it selfe, and cleare the Wine.
Of the Olive.
THE Vine and Olive being such delightfull associates as to expresse a mutuall emulation for the Glory of fertility when planted together. This Treatise shall not divide them, they are both exhilaratives, the Vine rejoyces the heart, the Olive glads the countenance; and that VIRGINIA may expresse the delight she affords to mankinde by being reinforced with this second Sister of laughter, the Olive; this discourse particularly designed to her improvement, showes its planting and culture when planted.
The Olive tree, though it delight in a rich fat ground; yet if he have a warme aire, and a South, or South-East wind to refresh him, will in all places testifie a bounteous gratitude for its scituation in an almost unlaboured for fertility: Yet to prepare a place for this rich plant to prosper on, his prosperity being no small part of your owne, you must digge the pits where you intend to plant them, a yeare before such implanting; in this pit burne some straw, or which is better castings of Vine or Brambles (but no part of Oake, there being such a particular enmity betwixt this tree, and the Oake, that the Olive not onely refuses its neighbourhood, but dies if planted in the place where the Oake has beene rooted up) or you may leave it to the Sunne and Raine, which will without such adustion exhale and purifie all infectious vapours: The place being provided to plant upon, we must next select our Plant.
Select your Plants from the Shoots or Branches of those Olive trees which are yong, faire, and fertile: Let them bee in thicknesse the circumference of an ordinary wr [...]st, in length eighteene inches; plant it the bigger end downewards into the earth, prepared as before, [Page 61] and ramme the Mould, mingled with Dung and Ashes close about it: Let it be digged every yeare in Autumne. The time to plant it is in April or May, it must not be transplanted for the first five yeares, nor the Boughs cut or pruned till it have attained eight. Graft it not but upon it selfe, so will it beare fruit better in the species and number; in its transplantation you must take up as much of the soyle with its roots, as you can possible, and when you reset it, give it the like scitu [...]tion for Coast and Quarter that it had before.
Olives are intended for two uses when gathered; either to be [...] served up at the table in collation, or to make Oyle of the largest sort of Olive, is most proper for the table, the lesser more particularly convenient for Oyle: They must bee gathered with the least offence to the tree that may bee, the bruising of the branches with Poles as some use it in striking downe the fruit, makes the tree barren: The best way therefore is to ascend the tree by a Ladder, in faire weather (not so much for conveniency of the Gatherer; as for the profit comming from the Olive, which is not to bee taken from the tree, but when it is exceeding dry) and pulling them with your hand put them into a Wicker Basket, which you shall have carryed up with you to that purpose. Those Olives you inten [...] to preserve or pickle, must not have that full ripenesse which is requisite for those you purpose to make Oyle of. The Olive [...] whic [...] you keepe for Banquets must be full of flesh, firme, fast, large, and ovall; if you will pickle them, put them into an earthen pot, and cover them with salt brine or verjuice, or else with Honey, Vinegar, Oyle and Salt smally beaten. If you intend to keepe them long, by changing your salt brine constantly every two or three Moneths, you may effect it.
For the Olives whereof you are to expresse your Oyle, you must gather no more at one time then what may be made into Oyle that day, and the day following: before you bring them to the Presse let them be spred upon hurdles, well pick'd, and cul'd; let the hurdles not be too thick set with twigs, that the Lees and watry humor of the Olive (which if [...]xpressed with Oyle would make it extreame full of faeculency, and corrupts it both in the nostrill and Palate) may expend, waste it selfe, and drop through; some therefore [Page 62] that this malignant humor may have a full defluxion before they bring the fruit to the Presse, make a high and well-raised floore, with provision of partitions to keep every dayes gathering seperate; (which is, if your abundance be such that your Presse is not able to discharge you of them dayly) the bottome of these partitions must be paved with a decline descent, that the moistnesse of the Olives may flow away, and be received into gutters or little channels there provided for their transfluxe.
The Olives being thus prepared for the Presse, and the Presse readily provided of all things necessary, viz. of Fats, V [...]ssels to receive your severall Oyles, scoopes to draw, and empty out the Oyle, Covers great and small, spunges, pots to carry out the Oyle, tyed about by bands or Cords of Hemp, or Broome-barke; the Mill-stones, Oyle-mills, Pressers, and all other instruments serving thereunto being very well cleansed, and the aire having been before as well heated by a plentifull fire; (if it be not warme enough by its naturall scituation) for the assistance of heat makes all Oyly Liquors resolve and runne more gently and freely, whereas cold astringes, and detaines it. This Presse-house therefore should be so seated, that it may enjoy a full admission and benefit of the South Sunne, that we may stand in need of very little fire, if any at all, such heat being no more assistant to the expression, then accessary to the corruption of the Oyle.
Carry your Olives thus cleansed to the Presse, under which put thē whole in new willow baskets (the willow adding a beauteous and innocent color to the Oyl;) the Willow also something staving off the rude strokes of the Presse, that the Olives may be bruised with as little violence, and as much leisure as possible: Nor would it be inconvenient if their skin and fl [...]sh were a little broken at the first with a Milstone, so set, that it should not breake the Kernels, which would utterly spoyle the Olive, taking them from the Mill thus prepar'd: let them be stronglier bruised in the Presse, and put foure pound of Salt to every Bushell of Olives. The Oyle which comes first is by much th [...] best, and the [...]efore called Virgin Oyle: the second which comes with more violent expression is fitter for Liniments then the Table: but the last, which is extorted from the drosse, and stones, is of no use but for Lampes; or such sordid employment.
[Page 63]The Tuns and Vessels wherein the Oyle is to be put, must be well dressed with pitch and gumme, made very clean with warme Lees, and carefully dryed with a spunge, into which you may powre your Oyle within thirty dayes after the expression of it, so much time being necessarily allowed for the settling the Lees, which by that will have grounded upon the bottome. The Cellars where the Vess [...]ls of Oyle are to be conse [...]ved, must be in a place of constant drynesse and coldnesse, heat and moysture being corrupters of the Oyle; provide ther [...]fore a Cellar on the North coast of your house: and for the better and more neat preservation of your liquor, poure it [...]ather into glasse Vessels or earthen pots, which (if they be made capacio [...]s) are far more convenient then the pitcht retainers we formerly spoke of.
Accidents befalling Oyle [...] with their Remedies: and first to rec [...]ver frozen Oyle.
IF (in the time of Winter) Oyle doth freeze together with his Lees, you must put into it twice boyled salt, which dissolves and clears your Oyle from all further apprehension of danger; nor need you entertaine a jealousie that it will be salt, since unctuous matters (and especially Oyle) have seldome any relish of it.
To keepe Oyle from becommimg ranke.
VVHen the Oyle begins to change from his first purity of taste to a disposed rankenesse; the r [...]medy is to melt an equall proportion of wax and Oyle together, to which you are to mingle salt fried in Oyle before; this you must poure into the Vessel, which composition above the prevention of it, when beginning to grow ranke, effects an entire restitution to its simple purenesse, when already affected. Anniseeds cast into the Vessell by a particular attraction, performe the same operation.
To purifie troubled Oyle.
SOme are of advice, that the applying it to the fire or Sun recleares it. Others, if the Vessell be strong, ca [...]t into it boyling water: how these remedies agree with their former assertions, (wherein they declare heat so unnaturall to Oyle) is beyond my reconciling: I for my part, should rather make an experiment of Vineger, which being cast into the Oyle by degrees, hath such a penetrating and inquirent faculty over all the parts, that it would without doubt recompose it.
To recover Oyle corrupted in the Sent.
TO performe this, take green Olives, pound them, free them from their stones, and cast them into the Oyle: or else cast the crums of Barley bread mixed with corne salt: otherwise, infuse in your Oyle the flowers of Melilot: or else hang in the Vessell a handfull of the herb Coriander, and if you finde the putrifying quality yet unexpelled, cast in divers times of the same herbe, and which is better, change his Vessell; this ill odour others drive away thus: They take Grapes, pick out their Kernells, stampe them, and with Salt make them into a lumpe or lumpes, which you must cast into the Vessell, and after ten dayes faile not to change it: Which must necessarily be done after the application of any remedy to Oyle growne ranke and putrified, the Vessell still impairing what the remedy recovers.
Wee have done with the Oyle Olive, after the manner of whose expression may bee extorted any unctuous matter of fruits, plants, or seeds [...] namely, Wal [...]uts, Filberds, Almonds (both sweete and bitter) Nutmegs, the Kernells of Peaches, Pine-Apples, Abricots, Cherries, Plums, Pistach [...]s, the seede of Line, Rape, Cole, Mustard, Hempe, Poppy, Henbane, the seeds or Pipins of Apples, Pears, Cucumbers, Gourds, Melons, and other such like: But that wee may give the Reader a more cleare dilucidation of the manner of preparation, Wee shall briefely discover the method used in the expression of Oyle from Almond and Nutmegs, which will easily [Page 65] make him apprehend all the rest; the particu [...]ar reason which perswades mee to introduce the example of Almonds, is b [...]caus [...] I have purposed b [...]fo [...]e I finish this concluding Treatise, to discou [...]se particularly of th [...] pla [...]ng the Almond. Whose Oyle i [...] [...]o bee taken inwa [...]ds, is to bee thus expressed.
Pill the Almonds after they have steeped some time in warme water, pound them in a Mortar of Stone or Marble with a wooden pestle, make them up in little Lumpes or Loaves, which you may kne [...]d with your hands against the vapour of warme water, or put them in a glasse ves [...]ell of a large content [...] for some foure or five houres: (let the seate and Glasse bee so contrived, that it may rather bee above the water to receive the vapour on its sides and bottome, then in it) the Almond being thus mollified by the disposition of the moisture, must bee put into a haire cloth or hempen bag, and laid in a presse, whose bottome must be wel heated, hollow, and bending downewards to give the better delabency for the Oyle thus expressed, you may bake the drossy part of the Almonds under the Ashes, which in time of necessity will serve for bread, of plenty for a dainty and fatning food to your Poultry. This Oyle is of soveraigne, excellency to mitigate and remove the throwes and gripes of women newly delivered, and to aswage the paines of the Colli [...]k or Reines, taking it in two ounces of white Wine, or one of Aqua vit [...]; the Line, Cole, Rape [...] Wallnut, and other need not these curiou [...] preparations, and their Cakes are of unmatchable nourishment to fatten Kine and other Cattle.
Oyle of Nutmegs.
OYle of Nutmeg (which in the South part of VIRGINIA not subject to any inconveniences of cold would undoubtedly flourish) is thus made: bray them with a wooden stamper, afterwards presse them out, the plankes being very well heated; to extract it more rich, divide them into little heapes, and steepe them three da [...]es in very good Wine, after dry them in the shaddow of the Sunne two whole dayes, then heate them reasonably in a frying pan upon the fire, sprinkling them with Rose-wa [...]er, and presently presse them. This I judge conveniently sufficient for Oyles: [Page 66] Let us descend to the planting of the Almond-tree, which as it hath a peculiar excellency, so without dispute returnes as ample profit.
Of the Almond tree.
THough the Almond tree delight particularly in gravelly places, of which VIRGINIA is too rich to afford a conveniency; yet there is no dispute, but if the Mould wherein you plant them bee mingled with Oyster-shels, or [...]ch like, of which there is to bee found inexhaustible Quantities, they will have a greater virtue then gravell to the quickning and ingerminating of this tree; having the perplexed hardne [...]e of gravell and unctuousnesse of marle united. The soyle thus prescribed; let the seat of your Almond be in a hot place fully exposed to the South or South-West, and it will not onely flourish to your expectation, but its fruit will bee excellently qualified, and in vast abundance: it groweth very well of the stone, which because it cannot bee procured new should be kept close in a Vessell of earth; to be transported, set i [...] as you would your Peach; it thrives very well too of the branch o [...] scien, which must bee cut from the top of the tree, and planted as the Olive, the earth rammed very hard about it, and prepared as before, both the stone and the scien should bee steeped for the space of twelve or foure and twenty houres in homed w [...]ter; the best season to set or plant it in VIRGINIA, is in October and November. This tree will bee of admirable use there, in regard that both that and the Olive will hinder no undergrowing Corne; let neither this tree nor your Olive grow above ten foot in the stock, and in this as in Olives, if you see any branch aspiring higher then his neighbours, represse such ambition by cutting him off, o [...]herwise hee will divert all the sap of the tree into his owne body [...] an [...] leave his fellowes in a starving and perishing condition; amongst which if you maintaine equality, they will altogether consent in gratitude to returne you a plentifull Harvest.
The barren Almond tree will become fruitfull if you lay o [...]en his Roots in Winter, or else if you pierce some part of the stock close to the earth, and put through the hole a wedge of Oake, watering it about with stale Urine.
[Page]The bitter Almond will bee capable of bul [...]oration, if you lay round about his bared Root Swines dung tempered with Urine, casting afterwards much mould upon it, this must bee practised yearly, till hee bee perfectly reclaimed, you will finde the same effect if you bore a hole in the stock of the tree, and put therein a wedge wrapped about with cloth dipped in Hony. Beasts by brousing and cropping of the first and tender branches, change the nature of sweet Almonds into bitter Almonds, are gathered when their Huskes through the heate of the Sunne begin to divide; (I should therefore advise that those made choice of to set, may bee taken before such exact ripenesse, that the heate of the Sunne may not exhale their generating vigour) if when you have beaten them downe you shell them altogether, and wash them in brine, they will become white, and bee preserved a long time; cautionarily that you dry them in the Sunne; their repository or granaries must have good open admissories for an unmoist aire, and lye upon that Coast that is most open to the North-West, being the driest winde in that Country.
The Medicinall excellency of Almonds, is, that they are good for those which are troubled with a clammy fleame in their throat, with weake lungs, and such as are subject to the gravell in the Reines or difficulty of Urine, they are great restorers to nature, and fortifie the parts tending to generation; nor is it onely beneficiall in its fruit, for the Gumme also of the Almond tree arrests the spitting of blood.
Of the Fig tree.
THE Fig tree groweth with an unusuall celerity, as beginning to beare the second yeare from his planting, and is of that nature, that during a moneth or five weekes when Grapes are ripe and good to eate, the Figge also is at that season dayly mature, and fit for the pallate, it may bee planted as the Vine, and effects the same soile; such as have roots grow sooner, but without doubt the branches continue longer; the order you observe in planting the Vine adheare too in this, and it will prosper. The fittest season to plant it is in October, and the succeeding Moneth to the 15. or [Page 68] twentieth: You shall cause them in planting the better to take root, if you loosen the barque, or which is better bruise it gently at the nether end of the stemme about halfe a foot. To cause them to bee fertile, and bring forth fruits remarkable for fullnesse and verdure, put to his root rich Mould beaten and tempered with the setlings of Oyle Olive, and mans dung, or which I like better then this stercoration if it have already a benine soyle, crop the tops and ends of the branches when they first spring.
To reclaime a wild Fig-tree, water him at the roots with Wine and Oyle mixed together.
If you make a composition of an equall quantity of salt brine and water bestow this irrigation in a small trench round about the body of the tree, your Figges are prevented from unripe fallings.
To have ea [...]ly Figs, water the tree with Oyle and Pigions dung, if your ambition be not only to have the earliest, but the latest, take away the fi [...]st Buds, when they are about the bigne [...]se of a Beane.
To keepe or preserve them, lay them in a pot of Honey full and well stopped, but so that they neither touch the sides of the pot, nor one another. Or take an [...]arthen pot (the Figs being put in) stop it close, and immerge this Vess [...]ll to another full of Wine, no taint or corruption will possesse your Figges so inclosed, while the Wine retains his goodn [...]sse.
The plant steeped in brine, or the end thrust into a Sea Onion, becomes much more fruitfull when planted.
This fruit is of great vertue in making the belly soluble in abundance of nourishment and provocation of sweat, dryed and mingled with the flower of Linseed or Fenugreeke, it resolveth and killeth all Impostumes, and hard tumours, in decoctions it assists much in driving away of the Co [...]gh, and difficulty of breath, which last vertue the fruit also expresseth very happily, if steeped in Aqua vitae, the night precedent, and taken every morning during the dominion of this disease after you, the Milke of the Fig-tree dropt into the eare killeth the Wormes in it, the Leaves of the Fig-tree rubbed doe provoke the Hemorrhoides: the juice of Figs is of equall felicity in opening them, which to increase his excellency amends all roughnesse, ill conditioned scabs small pocks, purples, freckles, ringwormes, and other [...]ye [...]sad blemishes of the [Page 69] face or body therewith anointed, being first tempered with the flower of parched Barley, a little Cotten wool dipped in this juice, and layd upon the aking tooth asswageth the paine.
Of the Pomeganate tree.
THE Pomegranate tree, which may be planted either from the Branch or succour, is one of the most absolute encouragers of an idle person in the world; provided, it be exempt from the intemperate operation of the cold, neither the torrid heat of the Sun, nor the barrennesse of the Soyle, shal make him forgoe his glorious Rubies; no culture or dressing is required by it: yet if it be set in a rich soyle, it will be sure to make an advantage of it to his owne flourishing, and your profit: the wine thereof (for it affordeth Wine as wel as excellency of fruit) may be made after this manner [...]
Take the ripe kernels, freed and cleansed from their skins, put them into the Presse, and exact the Wine, keep it in Vess [...]ls till it is fully fined from all working, which finished, distribute such a quantity of Oyle as may float over all the top of the Vessel, and this preserves it from sowring or corruption.
The Pomegranate apple put in a pot of new earth, well covered, and Luted with clay, and set into an Oven so long, till the Fruit may be resolved into powder, is of very Princely vertue; for (taking the weight of half a crown thereof in red Wine) it miraculously stops the Bloudy flux. It is also good in divers diseases of women, which (because they are more arcanely peculiar to that Sex) I shal forbear to speak of.
Of the Quince tree.
THE Quince tree groweth much sooner from the Root then Branches: it delighteth in a soyle of a moyst and cold nature, and would therefore be planted towards the more umbragious and coole corners of your Garden. The Garden, or reclaimed Quince, beareth two sorts of fruits, to which curiosity hath assigned Sexes, and they are called the Quince and Quincesse; the Male, which is the Quince, is of a more wrinkled, drye, redolent F [...]uit, and golden colour then the Quincesse. If you graft the Male upon the Female, or E convers [...], the Quinces thence proceeding will be tender, [Page 70] and may be eaten raw, which without such an Hermaphroditisme must of necessity have beene prepared, to which nature, rather then to eate it, crude hath de [...]igned it. The use of Marmalade, and its preparation is so publickly known, that it is unnecessary to repeate it.
It is not enough to enjoy the delight of these fruits for the Summer onely: The Winter too in reason should claime a part of our Summer contentments, which cannot bee better expedited then by [...]ying such f [...]uits as are capable of a refaction, and agreeable when dryed, the principall whereof are the Vine or G [...]ape, the Fig, the Peach, and Abricot.
How to dry Grapes, that they may bee kept.
YOur Grapes being at their just ripenesse, select the fairest out of your Vineyard, for such quantity as you shall use, let them lye thin spread while you prepare a Lye for them, made of faire water and Ashes, proceeding onely from the cuttings of the Vine without any other mixture of wood whatsoever: seeth this lye till you have made a strong and clea [...]e liquor, then taking or straining away the Ashes, put the liquor into a cleane Caldron, set it againe over the fire till it bee ready to seeth; then tying the stalkes of your Grapes with thread, and fastening the thread to such sticks and in such order bunch by bunch, as Chandlers use to dip their Candles, which dip them into this lye foure or five severall times: Which done, let them dry in the Sunne, either so hanging on their sticks, o [...] which is better upon Lattices or Hurdles of Rods, or the like, untill they bee conveniently dry; then barrell them, pressing them very hard and flat in the Vessell, others dry them upon such Lattices or Hurdles without steeping them even as they come from the Vine, and peradventure more successefully.
How to drie [...]igges.
LET them (as the Grape) bee gathered very ripe; then lay and spread them upon Hurdles or Lattices of Reeds or Osier joyned together, with rifts or vacancies betwixt the covering of [Page 71] those Osiers, that the aire transpiring through those voyd spaces may assist the Sunne in the drying them; but you must bee cautious that during their exposure to the open aire no Raine or Dew incommodate them: When they are dry barrell with the same poise of pressure used to the Grapes. Others take a bigge Reed or Cane of two or three foot in length, boring little holes all the length of it, through which they put little sticks of two foot extent, being the small and [...]harpe upon which they thread the Figs, till they are very full of them, and so hang the Cane in the Sunne, which dryed they barrell up using the same course as before.
How to dry Peaches a [...]d Abricots of all sorts.
VVHen they are very ripe, pare off the upper skin, cleave them into foure quarters, dry them as you did your Figs, barrell them and keepe them for the Winter.
The manner how you shall prepare them to eate is this; provide an earthen pot, and after you have washed your Peaches in faire water, put them into the pot with as much Wine as will cover the Peaches, then seeth them halfe a quarter of an houre. They may be [...] made ready without boyling thus; let them infuse three or fo [...]re dayes in Wine, (which way they are much better) put to them beaten Cynamon, and thus they will last a Moneth in the Wine, eaten every morning they are very wholesome, and provoke a good appetite.
The fittest seasons for sowing of seeds.
TO prescribe Rules according to our Climate, to tha [...] of VIRGINIA, may have much of affection, but without all peradventures, little of Wisdome. Wee must therefore seeke for a nearer correspondence in parallells. Having therefore seene some letters of an ancient date written by Frenchmen, then employed in VIRGINIA [...] to their Intrusters, wherein they conf [...]ss [...] that of all the Provinces of FRANCE: None came so neare to that noble Countrey, as LANG [...]EDOCK and PROVENC [...], two of the Eyes of that Kin [...]dome, abounding withall the d [...]lights and delicacy [Page 72] that ITALY can pretend to, or SPAINE boast of; I could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition, of planting and replanting, might in some measure correspond with that place where the English are now seated, and having seene a regular di [...]tribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing, grafting [...] and other offices belonging to the industrious Lovers of Agriculture; I should both unsatisfie my owne conscience [...] and disoblige that Countrey, and its Christian Inhabitants [...] if I did not publish it with the same resentment of affection I received it; not that any should bee so pinioned to these Precepts, that neither weather, inconveniency, or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them: But I speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the seasons according to these prescriptions will sort well with VIRGINIA in generall, and the Planters in particular, to whom it is intended, and indeed it is as exact a Directory as any yet published.
I am not ignorant that Criticks will laugh at this; much good doe it them, and why so many Moneths for the same seed? Why so many Repetitions? My Exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early, but their continuance: Will it offend him that wee have Artichokes in May? and July both? Because wee may have Cabbage, Lettuse in April, shall wee bee forbidden to have any in May: the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen, and in what Moneth and Moone, if hee apprehend it not; I can send him to no Moneth, but that of June, nor Moone, but that of Midsommer.
[Page 73]He that will sow seed, must know that,
- Some may be sowen at all times of the Moneth and Moone, as,
- Asparagus,
- Colewort of all sorts,
- Spinage,
- Lettuse,
- Parsnips,
- Reddis [...].
- Other [...] would be sowed in a certaine Moneth and Moone, as there must bee sowen in February, the Moone being —
- New
- Spike
- Garlike
- Borage
- Buglo [...]se
- Cheruse
- Coriander
- Gourd [...]
- Water cre [...]ses
- M [...]jorane
- Palma Chri [...]ī
- Flower gentl [...]
- White Poppy
- Pu [...]stane
- Radish
- Rocket
- Rosemary
- Sorrell
- Double Marigold
- Thyme.
- Full
- Anise
- Violet [...]
- Blites
- Skirworts
- White Succory
- Fennell
- Parsley.
- Old
- Holy Thistle
- Cole Cabbage
- White Cole
- Green Col [...]
- Cucumber [...]
- Harts-horn [...]
- Sampier
- Diers graine
- Spinage
- Cabbage-Lettu [...]
- Melon [...]
- Onion [...]
- Larkes-heel [...]
- Burnet
- Le [...]kes [...]
- New
[Page 74]So [...] in March the Moone being,
- New
- Garlick
- Borage
- Chervile
- Coriander
- Gourds
- M [...]jorane
- White Poppy
- Pursl [...]ine
- Radish
- Sorr [...]ll
- Double Marigold
- Th [...]me
- Violets.
- Full
- Anise
- Bleets
- Skirworts
- Succory
- [...]nn [...]ll
- Apples of Love
- Marvellous Apples.
- Old
- Artichoke [...]
- Ba [...]il
- Thi [...]le [...]
- Bl [...]ss [...]d This [...]le
- Cole Cab [...]age
- White Cole
- Greene Cole
- Ci [...]rons
- Cu [...]u [...]bers
- Hart [...] horne
- Sa [...]pire
- Dier [...] graine
- Spinage
- Gilly flower [...]
- [...]y [...]sop
- Ca [...]age Let [...]use
- Melon [...]
- Onyon [...]
- Fl [...]wer [...]
- Burnet
- Leeke [...]
- Savory.
So [...] in April the Moon being
- New
- Majoran [...]
- Flower ge [...]e
- Thyme
- Violet [...].
- Full
- Apples of Love
- Marvellous Appl [...]s.
- Old
- Artichokes
- Cabbage Cole
- Citrons
- Harts-horn [...]
- Sampire
- Gilly flowers.
In May in the old of the Moon Blessed Thi [...]le [...]
In June the Moone
- New
- Go [...]rds
- Radishes.
- Old
- Melons
- Cucumbers.
In July the Moone
- [...]ll White [...]cc [...]ry
- Old Cabbage Let [...]u [...]e.
In August the Moone being Full White S [...]ory [...]
[Page 75]Herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted [...]t all times, except Chervils, Arrage, Spinage, and Persely, which are nothing worth when they are transplanted; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist, rainy weather, otherwise they must bee very diligently watered.
You may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is double, in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe, full, heavy, firme, grosse, and of a good colour, not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises.
Some grow bettter of new seedes, as Leeks, Cucumbers.
Others grow better of old seeds, as Coriander, Persley, Savory, Beets, Origanum, Cre [...]ses, Spinage, Poppey.
Further observe, that you must preserve from cold, Lettuses, Artichokes, Basill, Cabbage Cole, Diers graine, Melons, fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth.
Make account that seedes thrive and prosper much better, when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the extreames of cold and heate, then in hot, cold or dry dayes.
Bee pleased to remember, that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather, in the Wane of the Moone.
They must be kept
- some in
- Boxes of wood, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- Bagges of Leather, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- Ve [...]els of Earth, Dry, and not layd upon the ground, but kept very cleane.
- others, as
- Onions, In their Huske.
- Chibols, In their Huske.
- Leek [...] In their Huske.
To do regularly, w [...] s [...]ould
- Plant in the last of the Moone [...]
- Gather Grafts in the last but one of the Moone [...]
- Graft two dayes after the change of the Moone [...]
An Explication of the Saw-mill, an Engine, wherewith force of a wheele in the water, to cut Timber with great speed.
THIS Engine is very common in Norway and Mountaines of Sweden, wherewith they cut great quantity of Deal-bords; which Engine is very necessary to be in a great Towne or Forrest, to cut Timber, whether into planks or otherwise. This heer is not altogether like those of Norway: for they make the piece of Timber approch the Sawes on certaine wheels with teeth; but because of reparations which those toothd wheeles are often subject unto, I will omit that use: and in stead thereof, put two weights, about 2. or 300. pound weight a piece, whereof one is marked A. the other B. The Cords wherewith the sayd weights doe hang, to be fastned at the end of the 2. peeces of moving wood, which slide on two other peeces of fixed wood, by the meanes of certaine small pulleys, which should be within the house, and so the sayd weights should alwayes draw the sayd peeces of moving wood, which advancing alway towards the Sawes rising and falling, shall quickly be cut into 4. 5. or 6. peeces, as you shall please to put on Saws, and placed at what distance you will have for the thicknesse of the planks or bords ye will cut: and when a peece is cut, then let one with a Lever turne a Rowler, wherto shall be fastned a strong [Page] Co [...]d which shall bring backe the sayd peece of wood, and lift again the weights: and after put aside the peece already cut, to take againe the Sawes against another peece of wood. Which once done, the ingenious Artist may easily convert the same to an Instrument of threshing wheat, breaking of hempe or flax, and other as profitable uses.