138 SYLVA BOOK i 



hedge-rows. Such as are maintain'd for copp'ces, 

 may after twelve years be fell'd the first time ; the 

 next, at seven or eight, 6fc. for by this period, their 

 roots will be compleatly vigorous. You may plant 

 them from October to January, provided you keep 

 them carefully weeded, till they have taken fast 

 hold ; and there is not among all our store, a more 

 profitable wood for copp'ces, and therefore good hus- 

 bands should store them with it. 



5. The use of the hasel is for poles, spars, hoops, 

 forks, angling-rods, faggots, cudgels, coals, and springs 

 to catch birds ; and it makes one of the best coals, 

 once us'd for gun-powder ; being very fine and light, 

 till they found alder to be more fit : There is no 

 wood which purifies wine sooner, than the chips of 

 hasel : Also for with's and bands, upon which, I 

 remember, Pliny thinks it a pretty speculation, that 

 a wood should be stronger to bind withal, being 

 bruis'd and divided, than when whole and entire : 

 The coals are us'd by painters, to draw with like 

 those of Sallow : Lastly, for riding switches, and divin- 

 atory rods for the detecting and finding out of miner- 

 als ; (at least, if that tradition be no imposture) is 

 very wonderful ; by whatsoever occult virtue, the 

 forked-stick (so cut, and skilfully held) becomes im- 

 pregnated with those invisible steams and exhalations ; 

 as by its spontaneous bending from an horizontal 

 posture, to discover not only mines, and subterraneous 

 treasure, and springs of water, but criminals, guilty 

 of murther, &c. made out so solemnly, and the effects 

 thereof, by the attestation of magistrates, and divers 

 other learned and credibile persons, (who have critic- 

 ally examined matters of fact) is certainly next to 

 miracle, and requires a strong faith : Let the curious 



