34 S Y L V A BOOK i 



of oaks, and generally of all other trees of the same 

 kind, (by some infallible characters) notice should be 

 taken of the manner of their spreading, stature and 

 growth, shape and size of the acorn, whether single 

 or in clusters, the length or shortness of the stalks, 

 roundness of the cup, breadth, narrowness, shape, 

 and indentures of the leaf ; and so of the bark, 

 Tpaxvs-, asperous, or smooth, brown or bright, fc. 

 Tho' most (if not all of them) may rather be imputed 

 to the genius and nature of the soil, situation, or 

 goodness of the seed, than either to the pretended 

 sex or species. And these observations may serve to 

 discover many accidental varieties in other trees, 

 without nicer distinctions ; such as are fetch'd from 

 profess'd botanists ; who make it not so much their 

 study, to plant and propagate trees, as to skill in 

 their medicinal virtues, and other uses ; always 

 excepting our learned countryman, Mr. Ray, whose 

 incomparable work omits nothing useful or desirable 

 on this subject ; wanting only the accomplishments 

 of well-design'd sculps. There is likewise a kind of 

 hemeris or dwarf-oak (like the robur VII. clusii] 

 frequent in New-England ; and the white one of 

 Virginia^ a most stately tree, which (bearing acorns) 

 might easily be propagated here, if it were worth 

 the while. 



3. I shall not need to repeat what has already been 

 said Cap. 2. concerning the raising of this tree from 

 the acorn ; they will also endure the laying, but never 

 to advantage of bulk or stature : It is in the mean 

 time the propagation of these large spreading oaks, 

 which is especially recommended for the excellency 

 of the timber, and that his Majesties forests were well 

 and plentifully stor'd with them ; because they require 



