136 SYLVA BOOK i 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 Of the Basel. 



1 . Nux sihestris^ or corylus^ the hasel, is best rais'd 

 from the * nuts, (also by suckers and layers) which 

 you shall sow like mast, in a pretty deep furrow to- 

 ward the end of February, or treat them as you are 

 instructed in the walnut ; light ground may im- 

 mediately be sown and harrow'd-in very accurately ; 

 but in case the mould be clay, plow it earlier, and 

 let it be sufficiently mellow'd with the frosts ; and 

 then the third year cut your trees near to the ground 

 with a sharp bill, the moon decreasing. 



2. But if you would make a grove for pleasure, 

 plant them in fosses, at a yard distance, and cut them 

 within half a foot of the earth, dressing them for 

 three or four Springs and Autumns, by only loosning 

 the mould a little about their roots. Others there 

 are, who set the nuts by hand at one foot distance, to 

 be transplanted the third year, at a yard asunder : 

 But this work is not to be taken in hand so soon as 

 the nuts fall, till winter be well advanc'd ; because 

 they are exceedingly obnoxious to the frosts ; nor 

 will they sprout till the Spring ; besides, vermin are 

 great devourers of them : Preserve them therefore 

 moist, not mouldy ; by laying them in their own dry 

 leaves, or in sand, till January. 



2 Hasels from sets and suckers take. 



1 De nucum generilnts, vide Macrob. Sect. L. n. c. 14. 

 * Plantis & durae coryli nascuntur Georg. 2. 



