CHAP, v S Y L V A 77 



roots into the bowels of those seemingly impenetrable 

 places, not much unlike the fir it self, which with 

 this so common tree, the great Caesar denies to be 

 found in Britanny ; Materia cujusque generis^ ut in 

 Gallia^ prater fagum 6? abietem : But certainly from 

 a grand mistake, or rather, for that he had not tra- 

 velled much up into the countrey : Some will have it 

 fagus instead of ficus^ but that was never reckon'd 

 among the timber-trees : Virgil reports it will graff 

 with the chesnut. 



2. The beech serves for various uses of the 

 housewife ; 



1 Hence in the world's best years the humble shed, 

 Was happily, and fully furnished : 



Beech made their chests, their beds and the joyn'd-stools, 

 Beech made the board, the platters, and the bowls. 



With it the turner makes dishes, trays, rimbs for 

 buckets, and other utensils, trenchers, dresser-boards, 

 G?c. likewise for the wheeler, joyner, for large screw r s, 

 and upholster for sellyes, chairs, stools, bedsteads, fc. 

 for the bellows-maker, and husbandman his shovel 

 and spade-graffs ; floates for fishers nets instead of 

 corks, is made of its bark ; for fuel, billet, bavin and 

 coal, tho' one of the least lasting : Not to omit even 

 the very shavings for the fining of wines. Peter 

 Crescentius writes, that the ashes of beech, with 

 proper mixture, is excellent to make glass with. If 

 the timber lie altogether under water, 'tis little 

 inferior to elm, as I find it practised and asserted by 



1 Hinc olim juvenis mundi melioribus annis, 

 Fortunatarum domuum non magna supellex 

 Tota petebatur ; sellas, armaria, lectos, 

 Et mensas dabat, & lances & pocula fagus, &c. 



Couleij PI. 1. 6. 



