54 S Y L V A BOOK i 



admir'd at the sudden failing of most goodly timber 

 to the eye, which being employ 'd to these uses, does 

 many times most dangerously fly in sunder, as wanting 

 that native spring and toughness which our English 

 oak is indu'd withal. And here we forget not the 

 stress which Sir H. Wotton, and other architects 

 put even in the very position of their growth, their 

 native streightness and loftiness, for columns, support- 

 ers, cross-beams, 6?c. and 'tis found that the rough- 

 grain'd body of a stubbed oak, is the fittest timber 

 for the case of a cyder-mill, and such like engines, as 

 best enduring the unquietness of a ponderous rolling- 

 stone. For shingles, pales, lathes, coopers ware, clap- 

 board for wainscot, (the ancient 1 intestina opera and 

 works within doors) and some pannells are curiously 

 vein'd, of much esteem in former times, till the finer 

 grain'd Spanish and Norway timber came amongst 

 us, which is likewise of a whiter colour. There is 

 in New-England a certain red-oak, which being fell'd, 

 they season in some moist and muddy place, which 

 branches into very curious works. It is observed 

 that oak will not easily glue to other wood ; no not 

 very well with its own kind ; and some sorts will 

 never cohere tolerably, as the box and horn-beam, 

 tho' both hard woods ; so nor service with Cornell, 

 Gfc. Oak is excellent for wheel-spokes, pins and pegs 

 for tyling, G?c. Mr. Blith makes spars and small 

 building-timber of oaks of eleven years growth, 

 which is a prodigious advance, &c. The smallest and 

 streightest is best, discover'd by the upright tenor of 

 the bark, as being the most proper for cleaving : 

 The knottiest for water-works, piles, and the like, 

 because 'twill drive best, and last longest; the crooked, 



1 And therefore were joyners called intestinary. See Leg. 2. Cod. Theodos. 



