CHAP, xvi S Y L V A 139 



therefore consult that philosophical treatise of 1 Dr. 

 Vallemont ; which will at least entertain them with 

 a world of surprizing things. But now after all the 

 most signal honour it was ever employ'd in, and 

 which might deservedly exalt this humble and com- 

 mon plant above all the trees of the wood, is that of 

 hurdles, (especially the flexible white : the red and 

 brittle) ; not for that it is generally used for the 

 folding of our innocent sheep, an emblem of the 

 church ; but for making the walls of one of the first 

 Christian Oratories in the world ; and particularly in 

 this island, that venerable and sacred fabrick at Glas- 

 tenbury, founded by St. Joseph of Arimathea ; which 

 is storied to have been first compos'd but of a few 

 small hasel-rods interwoven about certain stakes driv- 

 en into the ground ; and walls of this kind, instead 

 of laths and punchions, superinduc'd with a course 

 mortar made of loam and straw, do to this day inclose 

 divers humble cottages, sheads and out-houses in the 

 countrey ; and 'tis strong and lasting for such purposes, 

 whole, or cleft, and I have seen ample enclosures of 

 courts and gardens so secur'd. 



6. There is a compendious expedient for the thick- 

 ning ofcopp'ces which are too transparent, by laying 

 of a sampler or pole of an hasel, ash, poplar, Gfc. of 

 twenty or thirty foot in length (the head a little 

 lopp'd) into the ground, giving it a chop near the 

 foot, to make it succumb ; this fastned to the earth 

 with a hook or two, and cover'd with some fresh 

 mould at a competent depth (as gardeners lay their 

 carnations) will produce a world of suckers, thicken 

 and furnish a copp'ce speedily. I add no more of 



1 Valleinont, Physique occult ou traite de la baguet divinitoire, &c. But concern- 

 ing the exploration, and superstitious original, see Sir Thomas Brown, Vulg. 

 Err. cap. xxiv. sect. 17. and the commentators upon 4. Hosea. 12. 



