way the tawes and tangles, that lap and
fret and grow superfluously and disorderly, (for euery thing _sublunary_
is cursed for mans sake) the tops aboue being answerably dressed, we
should haue trees of wonderfull greatnes, and infinite durance. And I
perswade myselfe that this might be done sometimes in Winter, to trees
standing in faire plaines and kindly earth, with small or no danger at
all. So that I conclude, that twenty foure yards are the least space
that Art can allot for trees to stand distant one from another.

{SN: Waste ground in an Orchard.}
If you aske me what vse shall be made of that waste ground betwixt tree
and tree? I answer: If you please to plant some tree or trees in that
middle space, you may, and as your trees grow contigious, great and
thick, you may at your pleasure take vp those last trees. And this I
take to be the chiefe cause, why the most trees stand so thicke. For men
not knowing (or not regarding) this secret of needfull distance, and
louing fruit of trees planted to their handes, thinke much to pull vpp
any, though they pine one another. If you or your heires or successors
would take vp some great trees (past setting) where they stand too
thicke, be sure you doe it about _Midsummer_, and leaue no maine root. I
destinate this space of foure and twenty yards, for trees of age &
stature. More then this, you haue borders to be made for walkes with
Roses, Berries, &c.

And chiefly consider: that your Orchard, for the first twenty or thirty
yeeres, will serue you for many Gardens, for Safron, Licoras, roots, and
other herbs for profit, and flowers for pleasure: so that no ground need
be wasted if the Gardiner be skillfull and diligent. But be sure you
come not neere with such deepe deluing the roots of your trees, whose
compasse you may partly discerne, by the compasse of the tops, if your
top be well spread. And vnder the droppings and shadow of your trees, be
sure no herbes will like. Let this be said for the distance of Trees.

CHAP. 9.

_Of the placing of Trees._

The placing of trees in an Orchard is well worth the regard: For
although it must be granted, that any of our foresaid trees (Chap. 2.)
will like well in any part of your Orchard, being good and well drest
earth: yet are not all Trees alike worthy of a good place. And therefore
I wish that your Filbird, Plummes, Damsons, Bulesse, and such like, be
vtterly remoued from the plaine soile of your Orchard into your fenc