ThefeventeendiBooke of 



trees when they begin to put forth leaves. Among wild Fig trees.the bcft are the black and thok G 

 that grow in ftonie grounds : for their Figgcsareiulleft oi comes or graines within. And as for 

 caprification^it would be pradifed after rainCi And take this for a gcner all rule jiiatyee beware 

 in any hand in curing bf trees, leaft yce ufe a niifcheefc for a remedie, a thing that commonly 

 happcneth by over many mcdicines,or the fame not applied m due feafon.For as it is very good 

 for treesjto lop and cut off their boughs where they grow too thickc ; fo to be hacking and man-' 

 gling of them every yeare,hurtcth them as much . As for the Vine^it requireth pruning once a 

 yearerbiitthe Myrtle trees, Pomgranate, and Olive trees, every two yeares j becaufe they will 

 quickly fpring againe and (hoot forth branches thicke. Other trees would not bee lopped fo of- ' 

 ten. Neither is it good to cut or prune any whatfocver it be^at the fall of theleafe. Nay,they are 

 not fo much as to bceicraped,but in the pruning timcj that is, in the Spring. All wounding of n 

 trees goeth to the very heart,and hurt the quicke,unlelic it be of thofe parts that are fupcrHuous. 



As great confideration there would be had in the manner of mucking them. No doubtjthey 

 love dung well : but carefull heed would be taken firft, that none bee laid to their roots in the I:^o- 

 teft feafon oftheycare^ //(r»»,That it be not greene, but throughly rotten ; Iaftly,that it bee not 

 over ranke nor flrongcr than is needfull. Swines dung butnes the roots of Vines, unlefle it bee 

 five ycares old,or the Vines ftand in fome place where water is at commaundement, for to cook 

 the excefiive heat thereof. Alfo the filth of Tanners oofe and C urriersfcrapings doe the like, if 

 they be not well delaicd with w^ter.Likewife it muft not be laid too thicke.The ordinarie propor- 

 tion is thought to be for every tenne foot fquare,threeModij of dung.But herein no cercainede 

 can be fct downc : for the nature of the foilc muft rule all. With Swines and Pigeons dung,they 

 ufe to Ibulder the cuts and wounds that are given to trees. In cafe the Pomgranates grow to bee i 

 tart and foure, the manner is to dig about the root and lay it bare, and then to put Hogs dung 

 thereto : for that yeare the Pomgranates will be full of a wine juice 5 and the next yearc following 

 prove fweet. Some good husbandmen there be,that thinkc it meet a nd requiiite foure times a 

 yearc to water their roots with mans urine and flierc water together, and upon every one they 

 beftow a whole Amphore. Or elfe to bedeaw and fprinckle the top-braunches of the Pomgranac 

 trees with winc,wherein Lafer hath.beene fteeped. When the Pomgranate doth cleave and open 

 upon the tree,it is good to wreath the ffeale thereof. If Figges doe the likc/herc would bee oile 

 lees caft upon them.Ocher trees when they are amide or doe miflike, ought to be drenched with 

 wine lees : and Lupines if they bee fet about their roots, will heipe them.The water alfo or deco- 

 dion wherein Lupines were (bdden, poured about the roots of Apple trees or fuch like, dooth K 

 them much good. If it happen to thunder about the feaft Vulcanalia, Figgeswill fallfrom the 

 trce.Theremediethereofis to ftrew the plots before with Barley iiraw. Would you have haifie 

 Cherries ? Lay lime to the roots of the tree,it will caufe them to ripen their fruitVpeedily. Of all 

 fruits thefe half ie Chcries would bee plucked and gathered as they ripen, to the end that thoie 

 which be left behind,may thrive and grow big and faire. 



Chap, xxviii. 



^ Maffy 4rid fwdrie medicines ferving for trees : to wit Remedies AgainflvenGmeus 



vermine md Pifmtres^ Itktwife agaiftjl all hurt full kafls, t* 



SOme trees there bee which are the better for wrong and injlirie done unto them : yca,3nd if 

 they be pinched or bitten,they fhoot up the rather,as Daic trees and the Lcniisks5 for even 

 the very fait water nourilheth them. And true it is, that afhcs hath the like nature and ver- 

 tuc that faitjhowbeitjmore mild and gentle.Hereupon it commeth alfb,that Fig trees ufe tobec 

 ftrcwed therwith,yea,and to be wet with the juice otRue,to the cnd,ihat neither their fruit fhould 

 prove worme- caten,nor their roots putrifie and rot. Moreover5if Vines bee 100 full of moifture, 

 and apt to bleed overmuchjit is an ordinarie thing to pourc fait water to their roots. AIfo_,in cale 

 their grapes be apt to fall,folke ule to take afhes and belprinckle them with vinegre,and fo to be- 

 fmeare the roots therewith: or elfe with red Orpimcnt5in cafe the grapes be given to putrifadlion. M 

 Say that Vines be barren and will not beare grapes, their roots ought to bee well drenched and. 

 dawbed with fharpe vinegre and afhes incorporate together . But what if a Vine bring not hes: 

 fruit to full maturitic, before it begin to waxedric and to wither ? the fuperfluous wood oughtto 

 bee cut away about tfacroot, and the cuts together with the fmall itrings or beard of the root to 



be 



