Euerie plant will haue foure things .

FIrst moistnesse , so that the seedes or stumpe be moist and greene .

Secondly a conuenient place , which hath such earth as will lightly be rubbed to pouder , and that the sunne may come to it : for where there is filthy lome ▪ a leane ground , or fandie , or drie burnd , or salt ground , there is nothing good to be planted , to haue anie continuance : Neuerthelesse where the ground is leane , there you must giue him more dung . In a fat ground not so much . You must take heede , that the ground be not too moist nor to drie . You must not mucke the trees with hogs dung .

Thirdly , A mediate water or nourishing moystnes , therfore be those orchards best which are scituated between two waters , for those that are placed by a waterside , remaine still yoong and fruitfull , and haue commonly the barke smoother and thinner than the others . And those trees are more fruitfull than others which are planted in a valley , or in the lower part of a deepe hill : for from those hiis may come to them nourishment and moistnesse , and the ground which is so scituated , is much fruitfull : but he that can not get for his trees such a ground , must with all diligence seeke , if he may bring to his trees a little spring or pond , of which the trees may sometimes finde some reuiuing , and if you may not haue any of those , and haue a garden , who by it self is naught : the trees will grow with thicke rootes , which hindereth the growing of them , and drieth them at length .

Fourthly , The aire is required , which must be agreeable to them , and of complexion to beare , for there be some trees that doe prosper in all aires : to wit , apple and peare , cherrie and plumtrees . Some will haue a cold aire , to wit chesse-nut trees : and some a very warme aire , as the palme and pepertrees : therefore they be rare with vs. That plant which hath these foure things shall prosper : and if they want one or more of these foure thinges , they will decay and their prospering perish .

At what time trees ought to be planted and set .

ALl kind of trees may be planted , transported , and cut in March , but it is better they be turned in October , for then the frost hurteth them not so much as at other times : for learned men say , that in drie townes and warme countries they plant in October or Nouember , and that in moist townes and cold vallies they plan in Februarie or March : in none other time may you plant or graffe . When you will plant or set againe wild stumps , if there be anie thing broken at the roote , cut it off . Euerie plant must be set two foot one from another , or at the least one foote , especially when they should beare strong fruits : likewise when thou wilt set strong seeds , as nuts , almonds , and peathes . When a man will plant two stumpes , so must they be of two yeare old , except the vine .

These thinges you must vnderstand of those plants or stumps which are planted with rootes .

How the stumps and plantes must be prepared and dressed , which you will plant .

THe plant or sprout you must cut round about , so that you leaue the verie end of it , and put it then into a hole : but if the stumpe be great , cut it cleane off , and then put onely the vndermost part into a hole , long or short as you will : but if you find two stumps growen togither , you may cut the lesser away . And aboue all thinges you must take heede that the sprout growe vpright , and if it will not , you must constraine it , and tie it to a sticke .

Here follow certaine instructions how the trees must be kept , and how you must labour them .

SOme trees wil haue a fat ground , as figge trees and mulberrie trees ; and some leane ground , but all trees be in that point equall , that they will haue in the top drie ground , and in the bottome moist earth .

2 In haruest you must vncouer the rootes of the trees so deep , that they may partlie be seen , and lay dung vpon them , which dung must be dissolued of raine in the ground , that it may come to the rootes , which mucking giueth good encrease to the rootes .

3 If the ground wherin the trees stand be too sandie , then mixe among it faire and new lome : and if it be too lomie then mixe amongst it sand in place of mucke , the which you must not onely do hard by the tree , but also foure or fiue foote off from it round about the tree , according as the tree is in bignes , or that the rootes are large and great .

Such diligence giueth to the trees great helpe , for their nourishment and strength is therby renewed . Hereafter you shall vnderstand , wherby to know the fruitfull soile .

4 In the fat ground the stumpes wherupon you will graffe , must bee left long , but in leane ground short .

5 The plants of trees from their youth , till three years must not be cut nor shred , but they may be transported , and if they be too wake you may prick sticks next vnto them .

6 Diligent regard must be taken , that no sprouts spring out of the stumpe , which might take the nourishment from the tree sprouts , and those boughes which spring from the root of the tree , at the first planting .

7 When thou perceiuest the yoong trees to waxe weake , then vncouer the rootes and put other fresh ground to them .

8 If the ground be neither too soft nor too hard , then may you choose al kind of stumps ( in Februarie ) for to plant , when the green iuice is dispersed in the bark , but when the ground is too hard , then the sweat holes or pores of the root do remain closed & stopped , so that they cannot draw to them their nourishment : such hardnesse of the ground or earth , hindereth the aire , and moistnesse which commeth from beneath vpward , for it cannot be pearsed of the soft sprouts , with the small heat which is beneath , therfore you must come to helpe them with a spade , for with a plough you wil neuer come to an end , because of the root .

9 There is great diligence to be taken for preseruing of the trees , when they beginne to grow great , to scrape from the bark al rudenesse , which is done , when you take from them all superfluitie , and sprouts which come out of the tree . You may cut them in Februarie .

10 It is good for the trees to mucke them often , and moderatlie to water their roots .

Also to cleaue the roots , and lay stones into them , to the end they may reuine againe , of the drinesse which they haue suffered , or of the barrennes of the ground , or when the yong planted trees for the great heat will perish . Also when immoderate heat is , then you must helpe them with turning of the ground , and with watering , but the water wherwith you should water them , must not be altogether fresh , nor cold , or newlie drawen out of a spring : but out of a ditch , pond , or wel , or anie other foule ditch water , or with spring water , which hath stand long in the sunne , or put a little dung in the water , and stir it once or twice well about , and the water will be fat , wherewith water your Trees . You may also keepe them with shadows and straw from the heat : or els put ( in great heat ) fat greene hearbs at the stumpe , tempered with lome : some anoint the stump ( toward the South , or Mid-day ) with chalke , some with oile , or with anie other ointment that cooleth .

11 When you would transpose a plant , or haue wild stumps digged out to plant again , then marke the part which standeth towardes the South or Mid-day , and put it so againe when you graffe it .

How to keepe plants , stumps , or trees , from the wild beastes , that they hurt them not .

WHere the path of the beasts is free and remedilesse , there must be put poles , and with thornes the same yong trees must be inclosed .

The the Deares spoyle them not .

TAke the pisse of a Deare and annoint the Tree therewith .

The the Hares doe not hurt them .

SPit in thy hand , and annoint the sprouts therewith , and no Hare will hurt them .

Heere follow some instructions of graffing .

FIrst you must know that imping , graffing , and setting , is all one thing .

The imping sprouts must be yong and new with great bodies , and manie eies : for where many and great buddes be , that is a token , that is of a strong fruit .

2 The imping sprouts must be broken off at the sunne rising , although that those of the other side broken off grow likewise : yet those of the other side are most naturall and temperate of heate : Some countrie clownes beleeue , that if you in cutting of the sprouts turne them vpside downe , that they wil neuer grow right , but be crooked .

3 All grafting and imping is done by putting one into another by a fast binding , that the little sprout may spread his boughes to the stumpe or tree , wherein it is graffed , that so it may become one tree .

4 Ouer-yong impes ( which are so weake that they will breake before they be put into the earth , or into the stumpe ) are naught , and therefore they may not be imped or set .

5 When you impe vpon a house , or fruit tree , the fruit will be far better : But if you cut off a Garden tree a branche , and impe into it one of his owne sprouts , it will bring forth fruite of another tast , forme and bignesse : for imping maketh all the diuersities in peares , apples , and other fruits .

6 It is farre better to impe low in the stumpe than in the top in the high branches : yet neuerthelesse if you will make of wilde apple trees garden trees , you may impe them vpon the top .

7 In great trees which haue a great barke , it is not so good to impe : for they take not to them so easily the vaines of the rootes which grow out of the yong sprouts , because of her hardnesse , and especially when the imping sproutes are too weake . Wherefore they which graffe trees must seeke small and yong stumps , wherin they find much liquor and little hardnesse , & which may endure the binding .

8 It is best imping or graffing when the liquor is in the barke , if you haue a great tree vpon the which you would impe , and hath manie branches , you may cut them all off , and impe into the stumps all kind of boughes , such as you please : but if the tree be ouer old , so that her boughs be ronkeled , and her moistnes consumed , then cut the tree cleane off , and let the stumpe stand a whole yeare : afterward take the sprouts which are sprong out of that stumpe , and graffe them , and cast the others away . Such a stumpe is like to beare , and therefore nourish as manie sprouts as you please : but if it be a wild stumpe graffe garden sprouts vpon it .

9 If you graffe a sprout or bough vpon a Hawthorne tree , that same bough will grow great , and the stumpe wil remaine small , therefore he that wil impe vpon such a tree , see he cut it est by the roote , then will the imped sprout and the stumpe grow al of one thicknesse : but you must haue still regard that you impe kind vpon kind , as apples vpon apples , peares vpon peares : for he that graffeth strange vpon strange ; as peares vpon apples , and apples on peares , and such like , although it be done often for pleasures sake , yet will it not last : for the naturall nourishment is so that it will hardlie nourish a strange kind of fruit .

10 The tree which is graffed in Februarie , in his fruits grow no wormes nor maggets .

11 When the imping sprouts begin to prosper , and wil not grow straight and leuell , then you must constraine them perforce , that they may grow orderly . Furthermore you must haue a care to keepe the prospering sprouts well with stickes from the wind , if they stand anie thing high , and especiallie when they haue stoode a yeare or two , and where they are pricked in the stumpe , it is most needfull as shall after appeare . And because there be manie and diuerse waies to graffe and know howe wild stumps and trees are to be made garden trees : we thought it good to set some of them here downe .

Diuerse fashions and waies of graffing there be .

HE that will extraordinarily graffe all manner of trees , he must know that the more one tree is liker another , the better it will prosper .

The first sort of graffing is , when the sprout is pricked betweene the barke and the wood of the stumpe , which must be done in May , or Aprill , when the barke may easily be loosed from the tree , and is done after this sort .

First take a stumpe or tree , and cut him off with a sharpe Saw , knife , or such like instrument , where he is smoothest and cleerest , and full of iuice , and polish the place with the barke of the same tree which was cut off . Afterward tie the stumpe with a peece of barke , and then pricke a hole betweene the barke of the tree with a pricke of bone , elder wood , or iron , so that it cleaue not , and then put in the place of the pricke , the sprout , which you must haue broken off a plaine and euen tree , of a good kinde , and one yeare old , which you shall know by this : eurie branch haue runckled knots like the ioynt of a mans finger , cut it at one side vnder the knot , so that you touch not the heart of the Tree : and at the other side , you must softly lose the barke that the sprout may ioyne verie close to the stumpe , then pul out the pricke , and take the sprout and turne the green barke to the bark of the stump , so that it may stand streight .

The sprout may be foure or fiue fingers , or eight at the most , high aboue the stumpe .

Of this sort of imping , you may set two , three , or more , according to the bignesse of the stump , or as he can beare , prouided alwaies that they stand at the least the length of a finger one from another .

Afterward tie it fast ( with barke ) togither , and put ouer it good mucke , and tie oeur it a cloth , that no raine , or aire , may come between it and hurt it . This sort of imping is commonly vsed in stumps , which are great and old trees , whose barke is thick and strong , as apple trees , pear trees , cherrie trees , and willow trees , on which are imped often times apples , also on figge-trees , and chestnut trees .

Such grafting is also done in high stumps , and braunches , which be great , but they must be well kept from the wind , that it do not breake them .

After this sort you may graft manie sortes and kindes of peares vpon one tree , but if you bring peares vpon apples , or apples vpon peares stumps , it will not last long , as afore is said .

The first way of grafting prospereth best , and hath a good continuance , there be many other sorts of grafting , as followeth .

An other way of grafting is , when the stumps are clouen , and the sprouts afterwards are put in , the which doe as followeth .

Take a young tree which is scant of the bignesse of a finger , and cut it smooth and euen , and cleaue it in the midst , then take the sprout which you will impe , and cut it three square , and at the one side leaue the bark vncut , and then turne the same bark outward at the slumpe , and tie it fast as I haue taught , that the wind nor raigne hurt him not .

Otherwise .

When the slumpe is vncoured & cleane burnisht at the soft place , then tie him fast , that he cleaue no further than to the length of your sprout , which you must graffe vpon him , and then leaue the prick in it , then make your sprout pointed like a prick , so that the middle be not touched , then put it into the cleft hauing clensed the hole first with the point of a knife , so that one bark may touch the other , and outward one wood another , to the end the moisture may haue the more easier his course , then pull out the prick , and that which remaines open and bare between the cleft and the sprout , that binde well euery where with the barke of the tree , or with hard pressing with a little sand , or with dung of an oxe , or with waxe , or with a linnen cloth washed in waxe , that no raine , wind or woormes may hurt it . This helpeth much to keep the moistnesse in , which commeth from the roote , that it cannot break out , but nourisheth the better the new plant : but when the slumps are great they be cleaued after two waies . The first is , that you cut or cleaue the tree with a knife at one side onelie , til vnto the heart , & that you graft into it , but one sprout . The other is , that you cleaue it all ouer , and that you prick or graft on euerie side one sprout , or one alone , and leaue the other side without .

When the stump is but a little bigger , then the sprout must necessarilie be clouen in two , and you must graft but one sprout into it , as is said in the beginning .

This cleauing may be doone in Februarie , March , and April , then it is good to cut them before they be greene , for to keepe them the better , vnder the ground , in cold or moist places .

The third way of grafting .

This sort of grafting is verie subtil , wittie , and readie , and is done as followeth .

Go to a smooth apple or peare tree , in Aprill , when the trees get liquor , and seeke a braunche which hath greene eies , and see that the same be lesse than your little finger , and teare it from the tree , and where you see that the green sprouts will come off , there cut them off wholie , and clense the middle therof , that the little red at the wood may turne about , and draw it not off , vntill you come vnto another good peare or apple tree , and seeke there another branch of the same bignesse that the other was , and cut it off , and take from it likewise the red , as farre as you will put them againe , & looke where the braunches ioyne , that they may well fit togither vpon the toppe , and tie the same place gentlie and well with a litle barke , behind and before , that the water may not hurte them , and in the first yeare it bringeth foorth leaues and braunches , in the second , flowers , which you may breake off , for the sprout is yet too tender , so that it may beare no fruit , and in the third yeare it bringeth flowers and fruit , and by this means you may graft diuers kindes of peares and apples vpon one tree . I haue likewise set such sprouts vpon wilde stumpes , and they haue prospered .

The fourth way of grafting is .

HOw buddes are transported and bound vpon another tree , like as a plaister is tied to a mans bodie , this sort of grafting is called in Latin Emplastrum . We read of such a sort of grafting which is called in latin Abducellum , and it is much like vnto this sort , wherfore we will onelie speak of it , and is done after this sort .

When you see vpon a great fruitfull bough , a bud which will prosper without doubt , and wouldest faine plant it vpon another tree , take a sharpe knife and lift the bark vp two fingers breadth , that the bud be not hurt , then go to another tree , vpon the which you will graft , and cut into a conuenient place , a like hole into the bark , & put the same bud with the barke into it , and tie it with dung or with a clout which hath lien in a dunghill ouer the cut , that it may be kept from the outward domage of weather , & for an especiall nourishment and keeping of the inner iuice : then cut off the braunches round about it , that the mother may the better nourish the new son : within twenty dais after take away the band , so that you see that the strange bud hath prospered and ioined himselfe with the tree . This may be done in March when the bark commeth easily from the tree . Also in Aprill . May , and Iune , and yet she prospereth both before and after a time , when you may conueniently find such buds .

This sort of planting prospereth best in a willow tree or such like , which is pierced through , and is done after this sort .

The fifth way .

WHen you pierce a willow stick with a sharp piercer , see that between euery hole be left the space of one foot , and pricke therein branches a a litle scraped , and put the sticke into a ditch , so that the branches stand vpright , and one part of the stick must remaine ouer the earth ; and within a yeare after take it out of the ditch , and cut the sticke asunder , so find you the branches full of roots , and put euerie one into a hole in the ground , and it would not be hurtfull that the holes were stopped with lome , or with waxe .

Some doe take in March a fresh beech-tree , which is of a mans thicknesse , and pearce him ouerthwart with maine and great holes and small holes til vnto the lowermost bark , or quite through : then take sprouts or boughes , which be as big and small , that they may fit into the holes : and when you will put them into the Beech stumpe , you must scrape the vppermost barke off , vntil the greene and no further : then the bough must remaine into the beech , the sprouts must stand a foot or somewhat lesse asunder ; then keepe your beech stump with the sprouts in a fresh ground , and skant a foote deepe , you must first maime the sprouts , that they may not flourish , then the next March ensuing , dig it out with the sprouts , and cut it asunder with a Saw , and euery blocke which is cut off with his branch , you must set in a fresh ground , and so they wil bring forth the fruit the same yeare .

The sixt way .

THis way teacheth how to graffe , that they may bring forth fruit the first yeare , the which do as followeth .

Pare an old stumpe of what kind soeuer it be , the vppermost bark til to the lower green barke , a span long or somewhat lesse , which doe in haruest in the wane of the moone , and annoint it with Or-dung and earth , and tie it with bark , and after in March when trees are transposed from one place to another , then cut the same branch from the tree , and put it into the ground , and it will bring fruit the same yeare . I haue seene that one hath prickt stickes on Alhallow eue , in the earth , and hath pulled them out againe vpon Christmas eue , and put boughes in the holes , and they haue prospered and come out .

The seuenth .

PIerce the top of a stump , which is not ouer small , and draw a bark through it , and maime it with a knife as far as it standeth on the top , and in eight daies after poure water vpon it , that the top of the stumpe may close . This must be done in haruest , and in the March following cut it off from the tree , and bruse the top , and put it with the same earth in another ground .

The eight way .

WIl you graffe a tree , that the fruit be without stones . Take a sprout and graffe it into a great stumpe , with the thicker and lower part of the sprout , then take the vpper or thinner end of the sprout , and cut it also fit to be graffed , and turn it downward and graffe it into the said stumpe ; and when the sprout of both sides prospereth , cut it in the midst asunder , so that which is growen right vpward with the tree , the fruit of it hath stones , but that which was the top of the sprout that groweth contrarie , bringeth forth fruit without stones . And if so be the turned sprout prosper , you must breake off the other , to the end that the furned sprout doe not perish , which you may trie after this sort : for oftentimes it commeth and prospereth , and manie times it is perished and spoyled .

How Cherries are to be graffed , that they may come without stones .

WIll you make that Cherries growe without stones ? pare a litle Cherrie tree of one yeare old at the stumpe , and cleaue it asunder from the top to the roote , which doe in May , and make an Iron fit to draw the heart or marrow from both sides of the tree ; then tie it fast togither and annoint it with Oxe dung or lome , and within a yeare after , when it is growne and healed go to another little tree which is of the same kinde , and which hath not yet brought fruite , and graffe that same on the little tree , so shall that same tree bring his fruit without stones .

How a Vine is to be planted vpon a cherry-tree .

PLant a Vine tree next vnto a Cherrie tree , and when it groweth high , then pierce a hole into the Cherrie tree right aboue it , that the hole be no bigger than the Vine is thicke , & pare the vpper barke of the vine branch till vnto the greene , so farre as it must go through the tree , and looke well to it that the branch of the Vine be not brused and well annointed . You must not suffer any sprouts to come out of the Vine from the ground vp , but vnto the tree onely , that which commeth out of the other side , let that same grow and bring fruit . Then the next March following , if the vine prosper and grow fast into the tree , then cut the Vine from the tree off , and annoint the place with diligence , and it will bring fruit .

How a grape of a Vine may be brought into a glasse .

WIll you make that a grape grow into a narrow glasse ? take the glasse before the grape cast her bloud , or while she is little , and put her into the glasse , and she will ripen in the glasse .

To graffe Medlers on a Peare-tree .

IF you graffe a branche of a Medler vpon a Peare tree , the Medlers will besweete and durable , so that you may keep them longer than otherwise .

How apples or other fruits may be made red .

IF you will graft vpon a wild stump ; put the sprouts in pikes blood , and then graft them and the fruite will be red .

Otherwise .

TAke an apple braunch and graft it vpon an alder stumpe , and the apples wil be red . Likewise if you graft them vpon cherry trees .

Of the Quince tree .

THe Quince tree commeth not of any grafting , but you must pluck him out by the roots , and plant him again into a good ground or earth .

Otherwise .

THe Quince tree requireth a drie & sweet ground ; and he prospereth therin .

HOw to make that Quinces become great

TAke a braunch of a Quince tree when it hath cast his blood where a Quince groweth at , and put it into a pot , and set it into the ground , and let the quince grow in it , and it will be verie great .

And if you wil shew some cunning therwith , cause to be made a pot , which hath a mans face in the bottome of it , or anie other picture whatsoeuer , and when the quinces haue blossomed , then bow the branch , and put the quince into the pot , and she wil grow very bigge , in the shape of a man , which may also be done pompous , mellons , cucumbers , and other earthly fruits .

The conclusion of grafting .

OUt of all the forewritten causes ( gentle reader ) is euidentlie showen that although euery planting or grafting , be better from like to like , & from kinde to kinde , yet neuerthelesse it agreeth also with contrarie kindes , as now is said , wherfore he that will excercise and vse the same , and trie diuers kinds , he may see and make manie woonders .

What ioy and fruit commeth of trees . The first .

THe first is , that you plant diuers and manie kindes : for euerie housholder who hath care to his nourishment , with all dilligence causeth often times , such trees to be brought from forraigne countries .

The second .

THe second is , when the trees be planted and set orderlie and pleasantlic , they giue no small pleasure to a man , therfore euerie one should cut his trees orderlie , and he that can not , should procure other men to doe it , which know how to do it .

The third is of well smelling and spiced fruit .

CLeaue a tree asunder , or a braunch of a fruitfull tree , to the heart or pith , and cut a piece out of it , and put therin poudered spices , or what spice soeuer you will , or what colour you will desire , and tie a bark hard about it , and annoint it with lome and oxe dung , and the fruit will get both the sauour and colour according to the spice you haue put in it .

How sower fruits be made sweet .

WHich tree beareth sower fruits , in the same pearce a hole a foote or somewhat lesse aboue the root , and fill that with honie , and stop the hole with a haw thorne braunch , and the fruit will be sweet .

How trees ought to be kept when they waxe old .

WHen trees loose their strength and vertue for age , & the braunches break off for the weight of the fruit , or when they waxe barren for lacke of moisture , that they beare not fruit euerie yeare , but frant euerie other or third yeare , you must cut some of his heauie braunches , which he can little nourish , which is done to the end that he might keepe some moistnesse to himselfe for his nourishment , for els the moistnesse would go all into his branches .

Wherby you may marke whether you must giue them or take away from them , branches , according to their nourishment , and as the earth where shee standeth can abide , that is , you must leaue them so much as will nourish them , and no more , which if you do not , the trees will bring so little fruit , that your labour will not be recompensed .

Which cutting of trees may be done from the beginning of nouember till to the end of march , in warme countries . But it is more naturall to be done , from the time that the leaues fall , till the time that they beginne to grow greene againe , except where the frost is verie great and sharp .

How trees must be kept from diuerse sicknesses , and first how to keep them from the Canker .

WHen the Canker commeth in any tree , hee becommeth barren and drie , for it mounteth from the stumps , into the top , and when it taketh a peare or apple tree , the bark wil be blacke and barren thereabouts , which must be cut off with a knife , to the fresh wood , and then the place must be annointed with oxe dung , and tie it with barke , so that neither wind nor raine may hurt it .

Against woormes which must be driuen out of the tree .

IT hapneth oftentimes , that the superfluities of moistnesse in the trees breaketh out like as sometimes to a man or beast betweene the flesh and skin : and when that beginneth to rot , wormes grow out of it , which taketh his strength away , wherefore marke .

When the barke of a tree at any time swelleth , cut it presently open that the poyson may runne out , and if you finde alreadie wormes in it , draw them out with a little iron hooke .

How the wormes are to be killed if they be alreadie growne into the tree :

IF you will kill the wormes which growe in the tree , take pepper , lawrell , and incense , and mingle all well togither with good wine , and pierce a hole into the tree downward , till to the pith or heart of the tree , and poure this mixture into it , and stop it with a hawthorne , and the wormes will die .

Otherwise ,

TAke ashes or dust and mingle it with sallet oile , annoint the trees therewith , and the wormes will die .

Otherwise ,

TAke poudered incence when you graffe , and bring it between the barke of the stump , which you will graffe , and no wormes will eat the fruit .

When a tree in many places becommeth changeable because of wormes , or superfluous humours , Cleaue the tree at some end from the top of the stumpe to the earth , that all the foule liquors may come out and drie . Also when a tree becommmeth sicke because of euill humours or fault of ground , so that he becommeth worm-eaten or bringeth no fruit , take the earth away from the root , and put other sweeter in the place , and pierce a great hole in the stumpe , and put therein a pinne of oake , and it helpeth .

A remedie against Caterpillers .

ALl kinde of Caterpillers which eat the greene , and blossomes of the tree , doe hurt them verie much , so that thereafter may come no fruit .

Therefore their egges which lie hidden , as it were in a cobwebbe , must diligently be searched , and burned from the boughes , before they bring forth other caterpillers , which do in December , January , and Februarie .

Some were wont to breake them off , and tread them with their feete , but therewith they be not wholly killed . The fire consumeth all things , and therefore it is best to burne them .

Against the Pismires or Ants , when they will hurt the yong trees .

CUt the leaues off which are eaten or poysoned of the Ants or Pismires , and where there is any thing made vncleane in the top of the tree of those little wormes , that rub in peeres with your hands , that it may not staine the other leaues , and that the yong sprouts may grow vp without any hinderance .

How to keepe the Pismires from the Trees .

FIrst make a iuice of an herbe called Portabaca , and mixe it with vineger , and sprinckle the stump therewith , or annoint the stumpe with wine dregs . Some take a little weake pitch , but verie thinne , that it may not hurt the tree .

Another instruction .

TAke a little bundle of cotten , wooll , flaxe , or towe , and lay it about the stumpe , and tie likewise a bundle aboue , about the stumpe , and draw it out a little , and the Pismires can do no hurt , or put about the stumpe bird-lime .

In what time of the haruest the fruit must be gathered .

THe fruits are not altogither at one time gathered , for they are not ripe all at once , as some Peares which shewe the ripenesse by the colour , those should be gathered in sommer , and if you let them stand too long , they will not last long .

Peares which are ripe in haruest , those may be gathered in October , when the weather is cleare and drie ; in haruest in the increase of the moone , fruits may be gathered .

FINIS .