CHAP, ii SYLVA 19 



as they pretend, which is to cut them shorter ; 

 though I forbid not a very small toping of the 

 stragling threds, which may else hinder the spreading 

 of the rest, &c. Not at all considering, that those 

 tender hairs are the very mouths, and vehicles which 

 suck in the nutriment, and transfuse it into all the 

 parts of the tree, and that these once perishing, the 

 thicker and larger roots, hard, and less spungy, signifie 

 little but to establish the stem ; as I have frequently 

 experimented in orange-trees, whose fibers are so 

 very obnoxious to rot, if they take in the least excess 

 of wet : And therefore Cato advises us to take care 

 that we bind the mould about them, or transfer the 

 roots in baskets, to preserve it from forsaking them ; 

 as now our nursery-men frequently do ; by which 

 they of late are able to furnish our grounds, avenues 

 and gardens in a moment with trees and other plants, 

 which would else require many years to appear in 

 such perfection : For this earth being already applied, 

 and fitted to the overtures and mouths of the fibers, 

 it will require some time to bring them in appetite 

 again to a new mould, by which to repair their loss, 

 furnish their stock, and proceed in their wonted 

 ceconomy without manifest danger and interruption: 

 nor less ought our care to be in the making, and 

 dressing of the pits and fosses, into which we design 

 our transplantation, which should be prepar'd and 

 left some time open to macerating rains, frosts and 

 sun, that may resolve the compacted salt, (as some 

 will have it) render the earth friable, mix and qualifie 

 it for aliment, and to be more easily drawn in, and 

 digested by the roots and analogous stomach of the 

 trees : This, to some degree may be artificially done, 

 by burning of straw in the newly opened pits, and 



