A NEW ORCHARD AND GARDEN TEXT

Produced by Louise Pryor, Jonathan Ingram and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net {Transcriber's note: This etext contains 1. A New Orchard and Garden, by William Lawson 2. The Country Housewifes Garden, by William Lawson 3. A Most Profitable new treatise, from approved experience of the Art of Propagating Plants, by Simon Harwood 4. The Husband Mans Fruitful Orchard The first edition of "A New Orchard and Garden", which included "The Country Housewifes Garden" appeared in 1618; many further editions appeared over the period to 1695. The "Art of Propagating Plants" and "The Husband Mans Fruitful Orchard" appeared in all editions from 1623. This transcript is taken from the 1631 edition. The transcriber used a modern facsimile of the 1657 edition to clarify some doubtful readings. The spelling and hyphenation in the original are erratic. No corrections have been made other than those listed at the end of the etext. The formatting of the original tables of contents has been normalised. Sidenotes are enclosed in braces, prefixed with "SN" and placed before the paragraph in which they appear. Transcriber's notes in the text are enclosed in braces and prefixed with "TN". } A NEVV ORCHARD AND GARDEN OR The best way for planting, grafting, and to make _any ground good, for a rich Orchard: Particularly in the North,_ and generally for the whole kingdome of _England_, as in nature, _reason, situation, and all probabilitie, may and doth appeare_. With the Country Housewifes Garden for hearbes of common vse: _their vertues, seasons, profits, ornaments, varietie of knots, models_ for trees, and plots for the best ordering of Grounds and Walkes. AS ALSO, _The Husbandry of Bees, with their seuerall vses and annoyances_ being the experience of 48 yeares labour, and now the second time corrected and much enlarged, by _William Lawson_. Whereunto is newly added the Art of propagating Plants, with the true _ordering of all manner of Fruits, in their gathering, carrying home, & preseruation._ {Illustration: Skill and paines bring fruitfull gaines. _Nemo sibi natus._} _LONDON_, Printed by _Nicholas Okes_ for IOHN HARISON, at the golden Vnicorne in Pater-noster-row. 1631. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR HENRY BELOSSES, Knight and Baronet, _Worthy Sir_, When in many yeeres by long experience I had furnished this my Northerne Orchard and Countrey Garden with needfull plants and vsefull hearbes, I did impart the view thereof to my friends, who resorted to me to conferre in matters of that nature, they did see it, and seeing it desired, and I must not denie now the publishing of it (which then I allotted to my priuate delight) for the publike profit of others. Wherefore, though I could pleade custome the ordinarie excuse of all Writers, to chuse a Patron and Protector of their Workes, and so shroud my selfe from scandall vnder your honourable fauour, yet haue I certaine reasons to excuse this my presumption: First, the many courtesies you haue vouchsafed me. Secondly, your delightfull skill in matters of this nature. Thirdly, the profit which I receiued from your learned discourse of Fruit-trees. Fourthly, your animating and assisting of others to such endeuours. Last of all, the rare worke of your owne in this kind: all which to publish vnder your protection, I haue aduentured (as you see). Vouchsafe it therefore entertainement, I pray you, and I hope you shall finde it not the vnprofitablest seruant of your retinue: for when your serious employments are ouerpassed, it may interpose some commoditie, and raise your contentment out of varietie. _Your Worships most bounden_, WILLIAM LAVVSON. THE PREFACE to all well minded. _Art hath her first originall out of experience, which therefore is called the Schoole-mistresse of fooles, because she teacheth infallibly, and plainely, as drawing her knowledge out of the course of Nature, (which neuer failes in the generall) by the senses, feelingly apprehending, and comparing (with the helpe of the minde) the workes of nature; and as in all other things naturall, so especially in Trees; for what is Art more then a prouident and skilfull Collectrix of the faults of Nature in particular workes, apprehended by the senses? As when good ground naturally brings forth thistles, trees stand too thicke, or too thin, or disorderly, or (without dressing) put forth vnprofitable suckers, and suchlike. All which and a thousand more, Art reformeth, being taught by experience: and therefore must we count that Art the surest, that stands vpon experimentall rules, gathered by the rule of reason (not conceit) of all other rules the surest._ _Whereupon haue I of my meere and sole experience, without respect to any former written Treatise, gathered these rules, and set them downe in writing, not daring to hide the least talent giuen me of my Lord and Master in Heauen: neither is this iniurious to any, though it differ from the common opinion in diuers points, to make it knowne to others, what good I haue found out in this facultie by long triall and experience. I confesse freely my want of curious skill in the Art of planting. And I admire and praise _Plinie_, _Aristotle_, _Virgil_, _Cicero_, and many others for wit and iudgement in this kind, and leaue them to their times, manner, and seuerall Countries._ _I am not determined (neither can I worthily) to set forth the praises of this Art: how some, and not a few, euen of the best, haue accounted it a chiefe part of earthly happinesse, to haue faire and pleasant Orchards, as in _Hesperia_ and _Thessaly_, how all with one consent agree, that it is a chiefe part of Husbandry (as _Tully de senectute_) and Husbandry maintaines the world; how ancient, how profitable, how pleasant it is, how many secrets of nature it doth containe, how loued, how much practised in the best places, and of the best: This hath already beene done by many. I only aime at the common good. _I_ delight not in curious conceits, as planting and graffing with the root vpwards, inoculating Roses on Thornes, and such like, although I haue heard of diuers prooued some, and read of moe._ _The Stationer hath (as being most desirous with me, to further the common good) bestowed much cost and care in hauing the Knots and Models by the best Artizan cut in great varietie, that nothing might be any way wanting to satisfie the curious desire of those that would make vse of this Booke._ _And I shew a plaine and sure way of planting, which I haue found good by 48. yeeres (and moe) experience in the North part of _England_: I preiudicate and enuie none, wishing yet all to abstaine from maligning that good (to them vnknowne) which is well intended. Farewell._ Thine, for thy good, _W. L._ A Table of the things Contayned in this Booke CHAP. 1. _Of the Gardner his labour and wadges._ _pag. 1_ CHAP. 2. _Of the Soyle._ _p. 3_ _The kinds of trees._ _p. 3_ _Of barren earth._ _p. 4_ _Of Grasse._ _p. 5_ _Of the Crust of the earth._ _p. 6_ CHAP. 3. _Lowe & neere the Riuer_. _p. 6_ _Of Windes._ _p. 8_ _Of the Sunne._ _p. 8_ _Trees against a wall._ _p. 8_ CHAP. 4. _Of the quantity._ _p. 10_ _Orchards as good as a Corne-field._ _p. 10_ _Good as the Vineyard._ _p. 11_ _What quantity of ground._ _p. 11_ _Want no hinderance._ _p. 12_ _How Land-lords by their Tenants may make flourishing Orchards._ _p. 12_ CHAP. 5. _The forme of the Orchard._ _p. 12_ CHAP. 6. _Of Fences._ _p. 14_ _Effects of euill Fencing._ _p. 14_ _The kinds of Fencinge._ _p. 15_ _Of Pales and Rayles._ _p. 15_ _Of Stone-walles._ _p. 15_ _Of Quicksets and Moates._ _p. 16_ CHAP. 7. _Of Setts._ _p. 17_ _Of Slipps._ _p. 17_ _Of Burknots._ _p. 17_ _Of Small Setts._ _p. 18_ _Tying of Trees._ _p. 19_ _Signes of diseases._ _p. 19_ _Of Suckers._ _p. 20_ _A Running plant._ _p. 20_ _Of bought Setts._ _p. 21_ _The best Sett._ _p. 22_ _Times of remouing._ _p. 23_ _The manner of setting._ _p. 26_ CHAP. 8. _Of the distance of trees._ _p. 28_ _The hurts of too neere planting._ _p. 28_ _All touches hurtfull._ _p. 29_ _The best distance._ _p. 29_ _Of wast ground in an Orchard._ _p. 30_ CHAP. 9. _Of the placing of trees._ _p. 31_ CHAP. 10. _Of Grafting._ _p. 33_ _The kinds of Grafting._ _p. 34_ _How to Graft._ _p. 34_ _What a Graft is._ _p. 34_ _The eies of a Graft._ _p. 34_ _Time of Grafting._ _p. 35_ _Gathering of Grafts._ _p. 36_ _Of Incising._ _p. 37_ _Of Packing._ _p. 38_ _Of Inoculating._ _p. 39_ _Grafting in the Scutcheon._ _p. 39_ CHAP. 11. _The right dressing of trees._ _p. 40_ _Timber-wood euill drest._ _p. 41_ _The cause of hurts in wood._ _p. 42_ _How to dresse Timber._ _p. 43_ _The profit of dressing._ _p. 43-45_ _Trees will take any forme._ _p. 44_ _How to dresse all Fruit-trees._ _p. 44_ _The best times for proyning._ _p. 47_ _Faults of euill dressing and the remedies._ _p. 48_ _Of water-boughes._ _p. 49_ _Barke-pyld._ _p. 49-56_ _Instruments for dressing._ _p. 50_ CHAP. 12 _Of Foyling._ _p. 51_ _Time fit for Foyling._ _p. 53_ CHAP. 13 _Of Annoyances._ _p. 54_ _Two euills in an Orchard._ _p. 54_ _Of galls cankers, mosse &c._ _p. 55_ _Of wilfull annoyances._ _p. 60_ CHAP. 14. _Of the age of trees._ _p. 60_ _The parts of a trees age._ _p. 61_ _Of Mans age._ _p. 62_ _The age of timber-trees._ _p. 64_ _To discerne the age of trees._ _p. 65_ CHAP. 15. _Of gathering and keeping Fruit._ _p. 65_ CHAP. 16. _The profit of Orchards._ _p. 67_ _Of Cydar and Perry._ _p. 67_ _Of Fruit, Waters and Conserue._ _p. 68_ CHAP. 17. _Of Ornaments._ _p. 68_ _Of the delights._ _p. 69_ _The causes of delights._ _p. 70_ _Of Flowers, Borders, Mounts &c._ _p. 70_ _Of Bees._ _p. 72_ THE BEST, SVRE AND READIEST VVAY to make a good _Orchard_ and _Garden_. CHAPTER. 1. _Of the Gardner, and his Wages._ {SN: Religious.} Whosoeuer desireth & endeauoureth to haue a pleasant, and profitable Orchard, must (if he be able) prouide himselfe of a Fruicterer, religious, honest, skilful in that faculty, & therwithall painfull: By religious, I meane (because many think religion but a fashion or custome to go to Church) maintaining, & cherishing things religious: as Schooles of learning, Churches, Tythes, Church-goods, & rights; and aboue all things, Gods word, & the Preachers thereof, so much as he is able, practising prayers, comfortable conference, mutuall instruction to edifie, almes, and other works of Charity, and all out of a good conscience. {SN: Honest.} Honesty in a Gardner, will grace your Garden, and all your house, and helpe to stay vnbridled Seruingmen, giuing offence to none, not calling your name into question by dishonest acts, nor infecting your family by euill counsell or example. For there is no plague so infectious as Popery and knauery, he will not purloine your profit, nor hinder your pleasures. {SN: Skilfull.} Concerning his skill, he must not be a Scolist, to make shew or take in hand that, which he cannot performe, especially in so weighty a thing as an Orchard: than the which, there can be no humane thing more excellent, either for pleasure or profit, as shall (God willing) be proued in the treatise following. And what an hinderance shall it be, not onely to the owner, but to the common good, that the vnspeakeble benefit of many hundred yeeres shall be lost, by the audacious attempt of an vnskilfull Arborist. {SN: Painfull.} The Gardner had not need be an idle, or lazie Lubber, for to your Orchard being a matter of such moment, will not prosper. There will euer be some thing to doe. Weedes are alwaies growing. The great mother of all liuing Creatures, the Earth, is full of seed in her bowels, and any stirring giues them heat of Sunne, and being laid neere day, they grow: Mowles worke daily, though not alwaies alike. Winter herbes at all times will grow (except in extreame frost.) In Winter your young trees and herbes would be lightned of snow, and your Allyes cleansed: drifts of snow will set Deere, Hares, and Conyes, and other noysome beasts ouer your walles & hedges, into your Orchard. When Summer cloathes your borders with greene and peckled colours, your Gardner must dresse his hedges, and antike workes: watch his Bees, and hiue them: distill his Roses and other herbes. Now begins Summer Fruit to ripe, and craue your hand to pull them. If he haue a Garden (as he must need) to keepe, you must needs allow him good helpe, to end his labours which are endlesse, for no one man is sufficient for these things. {SN: Wages.} Such a Gardner as will conscionably, quietly and patiently, trauell in your Orchard, God shall crowne the labours of his hands with ioyfulnesse, and make the clouds drop fatnesse vpon your trees, he will prouoke your loue, and earne his wages, and fees belonging to his place: The house being serued, fallen fruite, superfluity of herbes, and flowers, seedes, grasses, sets, and besides all other of that fruit which your bountifull hand shall reward him withall, will much augment his wages, and the profit of your bees will pay you backe againe. If you be not able, nor willing to hire a gardner, keepe your profits to your selfe, but then you must take all the pains: And for that purpose (if you want this faculty) to instruct you, haue I vndertaken these labours, and gathered these rules, but chiefly respecting my Countries good. CHAP. 2. _Of the soyle._ {SN: Kinds of trees.} {SN: Soyle.} Fruit-trees most common, and meetest for our Northerne Countries: (as Apples, Peares, Cheries, Filberds, red and white Plummes, Damsons, and Bulles,) for we meddle not with Apricockes nor Peaches, nor scarcely with Quinces, which will not like in our cold parts, vnlesse they be helped with some reflex of Sunne, or other like meanes, nor with bushes, bearing berries, as Barberies, Goose-berries, or Grosers, Raspe-berries, and such like, though the Barbery be wholesome, and the tree may be made great: doe require (as all other trees doe) a blacke, fat, mellow, cleane and well tempered soyle, wherein they may gather plenty of good sap. Some thinke the Hasell would haue a chanily rocke, and the sallow, and eller a waterish marish. The soile is made better by deluing, and other meanes, being well melted, and the wildnesse of the earth and weedes (for euery thing subiect to man, and seruing his vse (not well ordered) is by nature subiect to the curse,) is killed by frosts and drought, by fallowing and laying on heapes, and if it be wild earth, with burning. {SN: Barren earth.} If your ground be barren (for some are forced to make an Orchard of barren ground) make a pit three quarters deepe, and two yards wide, and round in such places, where you would set your trees, and fill the same with fat, pure, and mellow earth, one whole foot higher then your Soile, and therein set your Plant. For who is able to manure an whole Orchard plot, if it be barren? But if you determine to manure the whole site, this is your way: digge a trench halfe a yard deepe, all along the lower (if there be a lower) side of your Orchard plot, casting vp all the earth on the inner side, and fill the same with good short, hot, & tender muck, and make such another Trench, and fill the same as the first, and so the third, and so through out your ground. And by this meanes your plot shall be fertile for your life. But be sure you set your trees, neither in dung nor barren earth. {SN: Plaine.} {SN: Moyst.} Your ground must be plaine, that it may receiue, and keepe moysture, not onely the raine falling thereon, but also water cast vpon it, or descending from higher ground by sluices, Conduits, &c. For I account moisture in Summer very needfull in the soile of trees, & drought in Winter. Prouided, that the ground neither be boggy, nor the inundation be past 24. houres at any time, and but twice in the whole Summer, and so oft in the Winter. Therefore if your plot be in a Banke, or haue a descent, make Trenches by degrees, Allyes, Walkes, and such like, so as the Water may be stayed from passage. And if too much water be any hinderance to your walks (for dry walkes doe well become an Orchard, and an Orchard them:) raise your walkes with earth first, and then with stones, as bigge as Walnuts: and lastly, with grauell. In Summer you need not doubt too much water from heauen, either to hurt the health of your body, or of your trees. And if ouerflowing molest you after one day, auoid it then by deepe trenching. Some for this purpose dig the soile of their Orchard to receiue moisture, which I cannot approue: for the roots with digging are oftentimes hurt, and especially being digged by some vnskilfull seruant: For the Gardiner cannot doe all himselfe. And moreouer, the roots of Apples & Peares being laid neere day, with the heate of the Sun, will put forth suckers, which are a great hinderance, and sometimes with euill guiding, the destruction of trees, vnlesse the deluing be very shallow, and the ground laid very leuell againe. Cherries and Plummes without deluing, will hardly or neuer (after twenty yeares) be kept from such suckers, nor aspes. {SN: Grasse.} Grasse also is thought needfull for moisture, so you let it not touch the roots of your trees: for it will breed mosse, and the boall of your tree neere the earth would haue the comfort of the Sunne and Ayre. Some take their ground to be too moist when it is not so, by reason of waters standing thereon, for except in soure marshes, springs, and continuall ouerflowings, no earth can be too moyst. Sandy & fat earth will auoid all water falling by receit. Indeed a stiffe clay will not