72 S Y L V A BOOK i 



in the little garden near to Her Majesty's the Queen- 

 Mother's Chappel at Somerset-House, which were 

 (I suppose) planted there, by the industry of the 

 F. F. Capuchines, that would have directed you to 

 the incomparable use of this noble tree for shade and 

 delight, into whatever figure you will accustom them. 

 I have my self procured some of them from Paris, 

 but they were so abused in the transportation, that 

 they all perished save one, which now flourishes with 

 me : I have also lately graffed elms to a great improve- 

 ment of their heads. Virgil tells us they will join 

 in marriage with the oak, and they would both be 

 tryed ; and that with the more probable success, for 

 such lignous kinds, if you graff under the earth, upon, 

 or near the very root it self, which is likely to enter- 

 tain the cyon better than when more exposed, till it be 

 well fixt, and have made some considerable progress. 

 14. When you would fell, let the sap be perfectly 

 in repose ; as 'tis commonly about November or 

 December, even to February, after the frost hath 

 well nipp'd them : I have already alledged my reason 

 for it ; and I am told, that both oak and elm so cut, 

 the very saplings (whereof rafters, spars, G?c. are made) 

 will continue as long as the very heart of the tree, 

 without decay. In this work, cut your kerfe near to 

 the ground ; but have a care that it suffer not in the 

 fall, and be ruined with its own weight: This depends 

 upon your wood-man's judgment in disbranching, and 

 is a necessary caution to the felling of all other 

 timber-trees. If any begin to doat, pick out such 

 for the axe, and rather trust to its successor. And 

 if cutting over-late, by floating them 2 or 3 months 

 in the water, it prevents the worm, and proves the 

 best of seasons. 



