_How to make Grapes grow as bigge, full, and as naturally, and to ripen
in as due season, and be as long lasting as either in Fraunce or Spaine._
Diuers of our English Gardiners, and those of the best and most
approued'st iudgements, haue beene very industrious to bring Grapes, in
our kingdome, to their true nature and perfection: and some great
persons I know, that with infinit cost, and I hope prosperous successe,
hath planted a Vineyard of many Acres, in which the hands of the best
experienced french-men hath beene imploied: but for those great workes
they are onely for great men, and not for the plaine English Husbandman,
neither will such workes by any meanes prosper in many parts of our
kingdome, especially in the North parts: and I that write for the
generall vse, must treate of vniuersall Maximes: therefore if you desire
to haue Grapes in their true and best kinde, most earely and longest
lasting, you shall in the most conuenient part of your garden, which is
euer the center or middle point thereof, build a round house, in the
fashion of a round Doue-coate, but many degrees lower, the ground worke
whereof shalbe aboue the ground two or three brickes thickenesse, vpon
this ground-plot you shall place a groundsell, and thereon, fine, yet
strong studs, which may reach to the roofe: these studs shalbe placed
better then foure foote one from another, with little square bars of
woode, such as you vse in glasse windowes, two betwixt euery two studs,
the roofe you may make in what proportion you will, for this house may
serue for a delicate banqueting house, and you may either couer it with
Leade, Slate or Tile, which you please. Now, from the ground to the top,
betweene the studs, you shall glase it, with very strong glasse, made in
an exceeding large square pane, well leaded and cimented. This house
thus made, you shall obserue that through the bricke worke there be
made, betweene euery two studs, square holes, cleane through into the
house; then on the out-side, opposite against those holes, you shall
plant the roote of your Vine, hauing beene very carefull in the election
and choise thereof: which done, as your Vine groweth you shall draw it
through those holes, and as you vse to plash a Vine against a wall, so
you shall plash this against the glasse window, on the in-side, and so
soone as it shall beginne to beare Grapes you shall be sure to turne
euery bunch, so that it may lye close to the glasse, that the reflection
of the Sunne heating the glasse, that heate may hasten on the ripening,
& increase the groath of your Grapes: as also the house defending off
all manner of euill weather, these Grapes will hang ripe, vnrotted or
withered, euen till Christmas. Thus haue I giuen you a tast of some of
the first parts of English Husbandry, which if I shall finde
thankefully accepted, if it please God to grant mee life, I will in my
next Volumne, shew you the choise of all manner of Garden Hearbes and
Flowers, both of this and other kingdomes, the seasons of their
plantings, their florishings and orderings: I will also shew you the
true ordering of Woodes, both high and low, as also the breeding and
feeding of all manner of Cattell, with the cure of all diseases incident
vnto them, together with other parts of Husbandry, neuer before
published by any Author: this I promise, if God be pleased: to whom be
onely ascribed the glory of all our actions, and whose name be praised
for euer. Amen.
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