Thefixteenth Bookeof 



and then the Greeks call tliem Zcugitse. Cotitrariwifcjifthe Water hold not fo long, but doe fall G 

 and retnrne back within the year, then the Reeds be fmall and flendsr, naiiied Bombycia^. How- 

 beit the females of this kind, have a broader and whiter leafe, little or no down at all upon them, 

 and then they are knowne by a pretie name and called Spadones,as one would fayjgiielded. Of 

 thefe Reeds were made the inftrumentsfor the excellent dole muficke within-houfe: wherein, I 

 cannot pafle with filcnce^what a wonder full dealeof painesand care they tooke to fit them for 

 their tune,and make them to accord : infomuch^as wee are not to be blamed but borne widiall, 

 if now adaies we chufc rather to have our pipes and hautboies of filver . And in truth, unto the 

 time of Antigems (that excellent minftrell and plaier upon the pipe)all the while that there was 

 no ufe but of theplaine muficke and fingle inftrument , the right time of cuttingdown and ga- 

 thering thefe Reeds for this purpofcjwas about September, when the figneAr«^urus isinforce : H 

 thenwerethey to have a feafoning and preparation for certain yeares, before they would ferve 

 the turne : yea and then alfo much adoe there was with themjand long pradifc and exercife they 

 askedjbeforc they could be brought into frame and good tune : fo as a man might well fay, that 

 the very pipes were to be taught their found and notejby means of certain tongues or quils that 

 ftrucke and preffed one upon another 5 and all to give contentment and fhew pleafure unto the 

 people aflembled at Theatres, according as thofe times required . But after that muficke came 

 once to be compound, and that menfungand plaiedin parts with more varictie and delight, 

 they began to gather thefe Reeds before mid-Iune,and in three yeares fpace they had their per- 

 fedionand grew to their proofe : then were thofe tongues or holes made more wide and open, 

 for to quaver and chaunge the note the better ; and of fuch are the flutes and pipes made, which j 

 beufedatthisday * But in thofe times men were perfuaded , that there was a great difference in 

 theparts of any Reedsfor to ferve thele or thofe inftruments: in fuch fort, as that joy nt which 

 was next unto the root,they held to be meeter for the Bafe pipe that was fitted for the left hand ; 

 and contrariwife for the Treble of the right hand, thofe knots that were toward the head and top 

 of theRced.Howbeitof all others, by many degrees were thofe preferred which grew in the ri- 

 ver Cephifus.Now adaies the Hautboies that the Tufcanes play upon at their facrifices, bee of 

 Box- wood I but the pipes iifed in plaics for pleafure only, are made of the Lotos, of affes ihank- 

 bones, and of filver. ThebeflFaulconers Reeds wherewith they ufe to chafe fbulcs,came from 

 Panhormus : but the Canes for angle-rods that fifhers occupie,3re brought out of Africk from 

 Abaris.The Italian Reeds and Canes be fitteft for to make perches to lay over frames, &props ^ , 

 for to bear up vines. Finally, as touching the letting of Reeds, Cato would have them to be plan- 

 ted in moifl grounds, after they have been firfl delved and laid hollow with a fpade ; provided al- 

 waies that the oeletS^ fland three foot afunder, and that there be wild Spatages among, whereof 

 come the tender crops for fallads 3 for thofe like well and fort togithet with the Canes. 



Chap, xxxvii, 



of the Willow or Sallow y eight kinds thereof: and what trees heftdes the Willow 

 are good for hmdings, Afo of Briers and Brambles, 



Moreover (after the opinion of the faid Cato^ it is good to plant Withies alfo about river j 

 fides,and neare to Reeds : for furely there is not more profit arifing from any other tree 

 of the watersjthanfromitj howfoever the Poplars are well liked and loved of the vines, 

 and doe nourifli the good wines of Ca^cubum : howfoever the Alders ferve in flead oframpiers 

 and flrong fences againft the inundation and overflowing of rivers, withflanding their forcible ' 

 eruptions 5 howfoever they fland in the waters as mures and walls to fortifie the banks, or rather 

 as fentinels to watch and ward in the borders of country farmesjand being cut down to the root^ 

 doe multiply the rather, and put forth many fhoots and imps as heirs to fucceed. And to begin 

 withall,of Sallows there be many kinds : for fome there be,that in the head beare pearches of a 

 great length to prop and make traiies for vines to run upon: and the rind or skin as it were pilled 

 from the wood, is as good as a belt or thong to bind or gird any thing withall. Others againe 

 there arc,and namely the red Willowes, which carie twigs and rods that are pliable and gentle 

 to wind as a man would have them ;fit alfo for buildings. Ye fhall have of thefe Ofiers,fomc that 

 arc very fine & paffing flender, wherof are wrought pretie baskets and many other daintie devi- 

 fesiothers alfo that are more tough and firongjgood to make panicrs^hampcrsjand a thoufand 



othes 



