RIght honorable , among all sciences that may bee lightly obtayned , and among many goodly exercises and experiences for men , there is none ( among the reast ) more meete and requisite , or that more doth refresh the vital spirits of men , nor more engender admiration in the effectes of nature , or that is cause of greater recreation to the wearie and traueyled spirite of man , or more profitable to mans life , than is the skil of planting and graffing , the which not only we may see with our eyes , but also feele with our handes in the secret workes of nature : yea , nothing more discouereth vnto vs the great & incomprehensible worke of god , that of one litle Pepin sede , Nut or small plant , may come the selfesame herb or tree , & to bring forth infinite of the same fruit , which also doth shine and shew forth it selfe vnto vs , especially in the spring time , by their diuersitie of shootes , blossoms & buds , in diuers kindes of nature , by the goodnesse and mightie power of the great Lorde and Creator towardes his people , in such thinges as commeth forth of the naturall earth , to nourishe , to sustayne and maintaine our lyues . What greater pleasure can there be , than to smell the sweete odour of herbes , trees , and fruites , and to beholde the goodly colour of the same , which in certaine tymes of the yeare commeth foorth of the wombe of their mother and nourse , and so to vnderstande the secrete operation in the same . And to be short , of this labour ( in our lyues ) we do take part therof with great gaines and reuenues that come therby , where as through ydlenesse there commeth none : therefore to augment the same , it shall be good to appease and mittigate all fond delightes and vaine pleasures , with such lyke vanities , and cleane put out and abolish the delightes of all vices . Wherefore the Poet sayth : let vs prayse the true labouring houre of the true labourer . Therevpon many great Lordes and noble personages , haue left their theatres , pleasant stages , goodly pastimes , forsaking and despising their pleasures , not much regarding rich Diademes , and costly perfumes , but haue giuen themselues to Planting and Graffing , and such like . In such sort , that if we should diligently search , and recite all the discourse of auncient Histories , as of late dayes we should finde , that the most noble personages through their vertue , hath shewed many goodlye examples , as in one Theatre a supreme degree honorable : nor haue had nothing more deare , more requisite , or more greatly in commendation , than Planting & Graffing of fruit . Cyrus a great king of the Persians ( as witnesse Xenophon , ) did so much delite in the Art of planting & graffing , ( which did shew a great prayse and glorie vnto his personage , ) that he had no greater desire or pleasure , than when he might occupy himselfe in Planting & Graffing to garnish the earth , to place and order thereon certaine number of trees . The Emperour Dioclesian , ( as doth recite , Sextus Aurelius Victor , ) of his owne good will without any constraynt , did leaue the scepter of his Empire for to remain continually in the fieldes . So much pleasure did he take in planting of fruit , in making of Orchardes & Gardens , which he did make , garnish , and finishe with his owne handes . The Senatours , Dictatours , and Consuls of the Romaynes , among all other things haue commended Planting and Graffing to bee one of the most flourishing labours in this worlde for the common wealth , the which was celebrated and counted a great vertue : yea , they did so much esteeme it , that they did hang tables thereof in diuers places , neuer thinking the tyme more aptly spent , than in Planting & Graffing , nothing more contenting themselues , nothing more delighted in any other affayres for the common wealth , than in setting , sowing or planting on the earth . How much we may prayse of late dayes and commend our trauailers from other countreys , it is easie to be perceyued and knowne , but of Lords , Gentlemen , & Merchants , which haue had ( as it doth appeare ) a great regarde in these latter dayes , howe they might folow the example of others : Wherby it hath replenished this our realme with diuers straunge Plants , Herbes , and Trees , very good and necessarie for the common wealth , not heretofore commonly knowne . And beholde , aboue all labours ( for the common wealth ) we ought to giue a sure and certaine iudgement , that Planting and Graffing is more highly to be commended and praysed , than many other worthie and noble things in this worlde : for this Art hath not onely from tyme to tyme , beene put in vse and practise of labour through kings and princes : but also it hath bene put in writing of many great and worthie personages , in diuers kinde of languages , as in Greke by Philometor , Hieron , Acheleus , Orpheus , Musceus , Homer , Hosiode , Constantine , Cesar : and in Latin , by Verron , Caton , Columella , Paladius , Virgill , Amilius Macer , and in the Portingall tongue by king Attalus and Mago , ( the which reciteth the Historyes ) that after their death , the bookes of planting and graffing were brought to Rome , soone after the destruction of Carthage . Likewise howe many since haue written onely of zeale and loue for their countrey and common wealth , of the fruitfull arte of planting and graffing : yea of late dayes howe many worthie men by their learning haue written likewise thereof , shoulde seeme that it hath come from their auncesters , as the greatest honour , through the noble inuention of the same . Lykewise I dare boldely affirme , not onely the learned haue written , but also haue bene practisers and inuenters of the same , ( as witnesseth diuers hystories ) in diuers and many secrete thing , wherein I dare boldly say , they haue not so learnedly , nor so exactly written , but they haue more exactly taught and left in writyng things so certaine , that their successours may easily marke , obserue , and keepe the same : for euery one hath written according to the nature of his countrey . The Greekes for Greece , the Barbarians for Barbarie , the Italians for Italy , the French men for Fraunce ▪ &c. which writing without the order and practise , doth very small profite for this our Realme of England , the which I can blame nothing more than the negligence of our nation , which hath had small care heretofore in planting and graffing , in some places of this realme ( as I haue knowne ) where as good and well disposed haue graffed , the euill and malicious person hath sone after destroyed them againe : but if we would endeuor our selues thervnto ( as other countreys doe , ) we might florish , and haue many a straunge kinde of fruit ( which now we haue oftentimes the want thereof ) that might greatly pleasure and serue manye wayes both for the rich and poore , as well as in Grece , Barbarie , Italy , or Fraunce , if our nation were giuen so well that way as they are .

Right honourable , for so much as I haue bene long in declaring of our predecessours , I will nowe leaue , ( troubling your honour any further ) and rest from the other things accomplishing my desire , beseching your Lordship to take this my simple traueile in good part , requesting no other recompence for my paine herein , but wishing it might be put in a generall practise thorow this realme , whereby in small tyme it would grow vnto a great profite and commoditie both to the riche and poore , wherein I should thinke my selfe not onely happie , but also to haue a iust tribute for my desertes , and also this Realme might thereby receyue no small benefite , with prayse of other countreys , in folowing our predecessours in this arte of planting and graffing : some places of this Realme are greatly commended and praysed among others , as Kent for the chiefest , which vertue ( notwithstanding ) can not be cleane put out or forgoten , specially , when such as your honour shall seeme to fauour the same , and also to see the forwarde doyngs thereof , in such groundes and Lordships as ye doe possesse , the which at this time hath onely mooued me to attempt vnto your honor this my simple trauaile , which is not the only dutie that I owe vnto your honour , but as a dewe desert , not thinking my selfe halfe able to recompence your vertuous liberalitie , nor shewing otherwayes howe to recompence the same , hath boldned me at this time to commende this my simple and rude worke vnto your Lordship , not according vnto your estate and honour , the which had bene more mete & requisite to haue had the finishing of some better worke . Therfore beseching your honor to wey and accept this mine intent & good will herein , which thing so doing , I shall thinke my selfe not onely happie , but it shall encourage me the more hereafter to take in hande the like or better worke . Thus I beseech the almightie God and creator , to encrease your prosperous honour , with long lyfe in health .

GEntle reader thou shalt vnderstande , I haue taken out of diuerse Authors this simple worke , into our Englishe tongue , praying thee for to accept it in good part : in so doyng thou shalt bolden me to trauail further therin : & thus shewing my good will in declaring of diuers wayes of planting and graffing , & how in the meetest times of the yeare , with shewing of diuers commodities and secretes herein , howe to set or plant with the roote , and without the roote . Howe to sow or set Pepines or curnelles , with the ordering thereof . Also howe to clense your graffes and cions , howe to helpe barren and sicke trees , howe to kill wormes and vermin , and to preserue and keepe fruit : how to plant and proyne your Vines , and to gather and presse your grape : how to clense & mosse your trees , how to make your Syder and Perry , howe to set , choose , order and kepe Hoppes , with many other secrete practises , which shall appeere in the table following , that euery person may easily perceyue in these our dayes more largely of the art of planting and graffing than heretofore hath bene shewed . Which thing is not an exercise only to the minde , but likewise a great profit many wayes , with maintenaunce of health vnto the bodie . Therefore spare not the bodie to shewe so great goodnesse therevnto , & also to the common wealth . In these dayes ( among the rest ) ye may see many , whiche be of the base and abiect sort of the common wealth , as those which wil not stick to say . Fie on thee slaue , what thing is now counted more filthy in these days ( among faire personages ) than labooring of the earth which we must al liue by . Wel , these be dainty persons : yet thervnto , what thing is more beautifull to the eye , more profitable to the purse , or more healthful vnto the body ? & herein to put away all nourishing of vice and idlenesse , it is easie to recite infinite & many worthy Lordes and Gentlemen , which haue had a greate care to followe the example of others . Wherefore gentle Reader , let vs nowe leaue of from al wanton games and idle pastimes , and be no more as children whiche seeke but their owne gaine and pleasure , let vs therfore seeke one of vs for another in all good woorkes for the common wealth , whereby those that doe come after vs may so enioye our workes and trauell herein , as we haue done of our predecessours , that therein God may be glorified , praysed and honored in all our workes of planting and graffing : and we therefore maye be thankefull , from age to age , during this mortall lyfe .

ALwayes before ye do intend to plant or graffe , it shal be meete to haue good experience in thinges meete for thys Arte , as in knowing the Natures of all trees and fruites , and the differences of Clymates , which be contrarie in euery land : also to vnderstand the East and West windes , with aspectes and Starres , to the ende yee maye beginne nothinge that the winde or rayne may oppresse , that your labour be not lost , and to marke also and consider the disposition of the elements that present yeare , for all yeares be not of lyke operation , nor yet after one sorte , the Sommer and Winter doe not beare one face on the earth , nor the spring time alwayes rayny , or Autumne alwaies moyst : of this none haue vnderstanding , without a good and liuely marking spirit , fewe or none ( without learning ) may discerne of the varieties & qualities of the earth , & what he doth aske or refuse . Therefore it shall be good to haue vnderstanding of the ground where ye do plant , either Orchard or garden with fruite , first it behooueth to make a sure defence , to the end , that not only rude persons and children may be kept out , but all kinde of hurtfull cattell indomaging your plantes or trees , as Oxen , kyne , Calues , Horse , Hogges & shepe , as the rubbing of Sheepe doth greatly burne the sappe , and often doth kyll yong trees and plantes , and where they are broken or brused with cattel , it is doubtful to grow after . It shal be good also , to set , plant or graffe trees all of lyke nature and strength togither , that the great and hye trees , may not ouercome the lowe and weake , for when they be not lyke of heyght , they growe , nor rype not your fruit so wel at one time but the one before the other : that earth whiche is good for Vynes , is good also for other fruite . Ye must digge your holes a yeare before ye plant that the earth may be better seasoned , mortifyed and waxe tender , both by rayne in Winter , and heate in Sommer , that therby your plants may take roote the sooner , if ye will make your holes , and plant both in a yeare , at the least , ye ought to make your holes two monethes before ye plant , and as soone as they be made , then it shal be good to burne of strawe or such lyke therin , to make your grounde warme : the further ye make them asunder , the better your trees shall beare : make your holes lyke vnto a fornayce , that is , more straight in the mouth than beneath , whereby the rootes may haue the more roome , and by straightnesse of the mouth , the lesse raine or colde shal enter by in Winter , and also lesse heate to the roote in Sommer . Loke also that the earth ye put to the rootes , be neyther wet , nor layde in water : they doe commonly leaue a good space betwixt euery tree , for the hanging bowes , for being nyghe togyther , yee cannot set rootes , nor sowe nothing so well vnder your trees , nor they wyll not beare fruite so wel : some loweth fourtie foote , some thirtie betweene euery tree : your plantes ought to be greater than the handle of a shouell , and the lesser the better : see they be straight , without knottes or knobbes , hauing a long straight graine or barke , which shall the sooner be apt to take graffes , and when ye set braunches or boughes of old trees , choose the yongest and straytest braunche therof , and those trees which haue borne yearely good fruite before , take of those which be on the sunny side , soner than those that grow in the court or shadowe , and when ye take vppe or alter your plantes , ye shal note to what winds your plant is subiect , and so let them be sette agayne , but those which haue growne in dry groundes , let them be set in moyst ground : your plantes ought to be cut of three foote long . If ye will sette two or three plantes togither in a hole , ye must take heede the roote of one touche not one another , for then the one will perishe and rot the other , or dye by wormes or other varmen , and when ye haue placed your plantes in the earth , it shall be good to strike downe to the bottom of euery hole two short stakes as great as your arme , on either side your hole one , & let them appeare but a little aboue the earth that ye may ( therby in Sommer ) giue water vnto the rootes if neede be . Your yong plantes , and rooted trees are commonly set in Autumme , from the first vnto the .xv. of October , yet some opinion is , better after Alhollowtide vnto Christmasse , than in the spring , bycause the earth wyll dry to soone after , and also to set plantes wythout roote after Michaelmasse , that they may the better mollifie and gather roote against the spring , wherof ye shall finde hereafter more at large . Thus much haue I thought meete to declare vnto the Planter●●nd Graffers , whereby they may the better auoyde the occasion and daungers of planting and graffing , which may come oftentymes through ignoraunce .

1572.