CHAP, vii S Y L V A 89 



slowly. In South-Spain, (where, as we said, are the 

 best) after the first dressing, they let them grow till 

 they are so big, as being cleft into four parts, each 

 part is sufficient to make a pike-staff: I am told there 

 is a Flemish ash planted by the Dutchmen in Lin- 

 colnshire, which in six years grows to be worth twenty 

 shillings the tree ; but I am not assur'd whether it be 

 the ash or abeele ; either of them were, upon this 

 account, a worthy encouragement, if at least the latter 

 can be thought to bear that price, which I much 

 question : From these low cuttings come our ground- 

 ashes, so much sought after for arbours, espaliers, and 

 other pole-works : They will spring in abundance, 

 and may be reduced to one for a standard-tree, or for 

 timber, if you design it ; for thus hydra-like, a ground- 

 cut-ash, 



1 By havock, wounds and blows, 

 More lively and luxuriant grows. 



Ash will be propagated from a bough slipt off with 

 some of the old wood, a little before the bud swells, 

 but with difficulty by layers. Such as they reserve 

 for spears in Spain, they keep shrip'd up close to the 

 stem, and plant them in close order, and moister 

 places. These they cut above the knot (for the least 

 nodosity spoils all) in the decrease of January, which 

 were of the latest for us : It is reported that the ash 

 will not only receive its own kind, but graff, or be 

 inoculated with the pear and apple, but to what 

 improvement I know not. 



3. It is by no means convenient to plant ash in 



1 Per dainna, per caedes, ab ipso 

 Ducit opes anhnumque ferro. 



Hor. 



