The English Husbandman (The Second Booke) /

by Gervase Markham

Of Planting the Ash.

Now for the replanting or remouing the Ash, though not much, yet there is some difference, for it is not at the first so spéedie a putter forth, and flourisher, as the others be: but for the first yeare laboureth more to bestow and fixe his roote in the earth, then to spread forth his vpper branches, and although some Woodwards are of opinion, that so much as the Ash is aboue the ground, so much hée will be vnder before he begin to flourish outwardly, yet experience doth find it erronious, for though it be for the first yéere a little slower then other Trées, yet when it beginneth to flourish, it will ouer-take the spéediest grower. Therefore when you do intend to plant Ashes for a spéedy profit, you shall not according to the olde custome chuse the smooth, small, long Plants, which are hardly thrée inches in compasse, and haue put out hardly any branches, and are such as grow from the rootes of elder Ashes cut downe before, which our auncient Woodwards haue vsed to slip or cleaue from those rootes, no, these are the worst sorts of Plants: but you shall take the true ground-Ash, which springeth from his owne proper roote, being smooth, euen, sound, and straight without bruise, canker, or other impediment. This you shall digge vp by the root, being as is before said almost twenty inches in compasse, and hauing cleansed the roote, you shall leaue each spray not aboue halfe a foote, or eight inches in length; but for the small thréeds or tassels of the roote, those you shall cut cleane away close by the wood, and so plant it in euery point, as was shewed you for the planting of the Elme, onely the top thereof you shall by no meanes cut off, because it is a trée of pith, which to deuide or lay bare, were very dangerous; and the best season for the planting of this Trée, is euer in the encrease of the Moone, at the fall of the leafe, which is from the beginning of October till midde Nouember, and at no other time, for it would euer haue a whole Winter to fasten his roote, and to gather strength, that it may bud forth his leafe the Summer following. Thus you sée how you may plant Groues or Copses at your pleasure, and make vnto your selfe high Woods according to your owne pleasure. Obiection. But you will obiect vnto me, that you liue in such a champaine Countrey, that albe these Plantations might bréede vnto you infinite pleasure, yet the pouerty thereof in wood is such that these Plants are not there to be found for any money. Answere. To which I thus answere, That in this Kingdome there is not any Country so barraine, or farre off remote from wood, being a soyle fit to receiue wood: But his next neighbour-Country is able to furnish him, especially with these Plants at an easie reckoning: as for example, I hold Northampton shire one of the barrennest for Wood, yet best able to beare wood, and hath not he his neighbour Huntington shire and Leicester shire about him, where nurceries of these Plants are bred and preserued for the sale onely: Nay, euen in Holland, in Lincolne shire, which is the lowest of all Countries, and most vnlikely to holde such a commodity, I haue séene as goodly Timber as in any Forrest or Chase of this Kingdome: and thus much for the planting of high Woods.

Chap. IIII.

Of the preseruation, and sale of high Woods.

Of Trees which take wet inwardly.

It is not sufficient for the Husbandman to sowe, plant, and encrease wood about his grounds, conuerting his earth to the vttermost and extreamest profit that may spring from the same: but he must also be diligent to preserue and nourish his timber trées from all inconueniences that may any way annoy or afflict them: and to this end hée shall daily walke into his Woods, and with a searching eye suruay euery Trée which is of any account, and sée if he can finde any fault or annoyance about the same, and if casting his eye vp to the top, where the maine armes shoote forth themselues, he perceiue that by the breaking off of some arme or other riuen boughes, the wet and droppings of the leaues is sunke and fretted into the Timber, which in time will corrupt the heart, and make the Trée hollow. In this case he shall presently mount the Trée, and with his Bill, either cut the place so smooth that the wet may not rest thereon, or else hauing smoothed it so much as he may with conuenience, mixe stiffe clay and fine hay together, and with the same couer the place, in such manner, that it may put off the wet till it haue recouered new barke.

Of Barke-bound.

If hée shall perceiue any of his younger Trées to be Barke-bound, that is, so stiffe and straitly tied within their owne ryndes, that they cannot encrease or prosper: in this case he shall with a sharpe drawing knife, made in the proportion of a narrow C draw and open the barke euen from the top of the bole of the Trée downe to the roote, and then clap Oxe dung into those slits, let the Trée rest, and in short space you shall sée it mightily encrease.

Of Hornets and Dores.