CHAP, i S Y L V A 5 



are prodigious devourers of winter-sowing) and will 

 not be much concern'd with the increasing heat of the 

 season, as such as being crude, and unfermented, are 

 newly sown in the beginning of the spring ; especially, 

 in hot and loose grounds ; being already in so fair a 

 progress by this artificial preparation ; and which, 

 (if the provision to be made be very great) may be 

 thus manag'd. Chuse a fit piece of ground, and 

 with boards (if it have not that position of it self) 

 design it three foot high ; lay the first foot in fine 

 earth, another of seeds, acorns, mast, keys, nuts, 

 haws, holly-berries, &c. promiscuously, or separate, 

 with (now and then) a little mould sprinkled amongst 

 them : The third foot wholly earth : Of these pre- 

 paratory magazines make as many, and as much lar- 

 ger ones as will serve your turn, continuing it from 

 time to time as your store is brought in. The same 

 for ruder handlings, may you also do by burying 

 your seeds in dry sand, or pulveriz'd earth, barrelling 

 them (as I said) in tubs, or laid in heaps in some 

 deep cellar where the rigour of the winter may least 

 prejudice them ; and I have fill'd old hampers, 

 bee-hives, and boxes with them, and found the like 

 advantage, which is to have them ready for your 

 seminary, as before hath been shew'd, and exceeding- 

 ly prevent the season. There be also who affirm, 

 that the careful cracking and opening of stones which 

 include the kernels, as soon as ripe, precipitate growth, 

 and gain a years advance ; but this is erroneous. 

 Now if you gather them in moist weather, lay them 

 a drying, and so keep them till you sow, which may 

 be as soon as you please after Christmas. If they 

 spire out before you sow them, be sure to commit 

 them to the earth before the sprout grows dry, or 



