JOHN 



OF FENCES AND QUICKSETS. 

 From " Silva." * 



OUR main plantation is now finished, and 

 our forest adorned with a just variety. 

 But what is yet all this labor, but loss of time 

 and irreparable expense, unless our young and 

 (as yet) tender plants be sufficiently guarded 

 with munitions from all external injuries? For, 

 as old Tusser, 



" If cattle or coney may enter to crop, 

 Young oak is in danger of losing his top." 



But with something of a more polished style, 

 though to the same purpose, the best of poets : 



Texendez sepes etiam, et pecusomne tenendum est : 

 Prcecipu dumfrons tenera, imprudensque laborum : 



* A discourse delivered before the Royal Society on the 

 isth of October, 1662. The notes to this selection are 

 those appended to the edition of 1777. 



