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Whoever traverfes a foreft, with the eye of cu- 

 riofity awake, muft remark, that almoft every thorn 

 becomes a nurfe for timber. Acorns, or beech- 

 mafts, or fometimes both, dropped by birds or 

 fquirrels, vegetate freely ttnder the fhade and pro- 

 te(fbion of the bnfhes, till they rife above the bite 

 of cattle. Small groupes and fingle trees are thus 

 produced ; their guardian thorns when overpowered 

 perifh. Then, having open fpace for their roots to 

 range in, their growth becomes rapid, their bodies 

 bulky, their limbs large and extenfive j cattle refort 

 to them for Ihelter, enrich the ground with their 

 droppings, the timber derives advantage from the 

 manure, becomes produ6tive of knees, crooks, and 

 compafs pieces, the chief requifites in naval archi- 

 tedure. Vide No. I. 



If lords of manors, and men of landed property, 

 would purfue the hint which nature here throws out, 

 and employ the aged and infirm, to colledt and dib 

 among the thorns (with which the wailes, furzy 

 commons, and aukward corners of their eflates 

 abound) fuch tree-feeds as thd foil is bed adapted 

 to ; how foon would the face of the country be 

 improved ! What varieties of flourifhing trees would 

 in a few years prefent themfelves ! What provifion 

 made for pofterity hereafter ! 



Parks 



