38 SYLVA BOOK i 



abundance, 'tis a promising mark of it. If I were 

 to make choice of the place, or the tree, it should be 

 such as grows in the best cow-pasture, or up-land 

 meadow, where the mould is rich, and sweet, 

 (Suffolk affords an admirable instance) and in such 

 places you may also transplant large trees with 

 extraordinary success : And therefore it were not 

 amiss to bore and search the ground where you 

 intend to plant or sow, before you fall to work ; 

 since earth too shallow, or rocky is not so proper for 

 this timber ; the roots fix not kindly, and though for 

 a time they may seem to flourish, yet they will 

 dwindle : In the mean time, 'tis wonderful to con- 

 sider how strangely the oak will penetrate to come 

 to a marly bottom ; so as where we find this tree to 

 prosper, the indication of a fruitful and excellent 

 soil is certain even by the token of this natural 

 augury only ; so as by the plantation of this tree and 

 some others, we have the advantage of profit rais'd 

 from the pregnancy, substance and depth of our 

 land ; whilst by the grass and corn, (whose roots are 

 but a few inches deep), we have the benefit of the 

 crust only. 



5. But to discourage none, oaks prosper exceed- 

 ingly even in gravel and moist clays, which most 

 other trees abhor ; yea, even the coldest clay-grounds 

 that will hardly graze: But these trees will frequently 

 make stands, as they encounter variety of footing, 

 and sometimes proceed again vigorously, as they 

 either penetrate beyond, or out-grow their obstruct- 

 ions, and meet better earth ; which is of that conse- 

 quence, that I dare boldly affirm, more than an 

 hundred years advance is clearly gain'd by soil and 

 husbandry. I have yet read, that there grow oaks, 



