36 S Y L V A BOOK i 



this laudable pride into fashion, forests and woods 

 (as well as. fields and inclosures) will present us with 

 another face than now they do. And here I cannot 

 but applaud the worthy industry of old Sir Harbotle 

 Grimstone, who (I am told) from a very small nursery 

 of acorns, which he sow'd in the neglected corners 

 of his ground, did draw forth such numbers of oaks 

 of competent growth ; as being planted about his 

 fields in even, and uniform rows, about one hundred 

 foot from the hedges ; bush'd, and well water'd till 

 they had sufficiently fix'd themselves, did wonderfully 

 improve both the beauty, and the value of his demeas- 

 nes. But I proceed. 



4. Both these kinds would be taken up very 

 young, and transplanted about October ; some yet 

 for these hardy, and late springing trees, defer it till 

 the winter be well over ; but the earth had need be 

 moist ; and though they will grow tolerably in most 

 grounds, yet do they generally affect the sound, 

 black, deep, and fast mould, rather warm than over- 

 wet and cold, and a little rising ; for this produces 

 the firmest timber ; though my L. Bacon prefers 

 that which grows in the moister grounds for ship- 

 timber, as the most tough, and less subject to rift. 

 But let us hear Pliny : This is a general rule, saith 

 " he ; " What trees soever they be which grow 

 " tolerably, either on hills, or valleys, arise to greater 

 " stature, and spread more amply in the lower ground: 

 " But the timber is far better, and of a finer grain, 

 " which grows upon the mountains, excepting only 

 " apple and pear-trees. " And in the 39 cap. lib. 16. 

 " The timber of those trees which grow in moist 

 " and shady places is not so good as that which 

 " comes from a more expos'd situation, nor is it so 



