CHAP, xix S Y L V A 167 



their sprouting ; but as the work would consume 

 time, so have I never seen it succeed. 



22. Some do also plant oziers in their eights, like 

 quick-sets, thick, and (near the water) keep them not 

 more than half a foot above ground ; but then they 

 must be diligently cleansed from moss, slab, and ouze, 

 and frequently prun'd (especially the smaller spires) 

 to form single shoots ; at least, that few, or none 

 grow double ; these they head every second year about 

 September, the autumnal cuttings being best for use : 

 But generally 



23. You may cut withies, sallows and willows, at 

 any mild and gentle season, between leaf and leaf, 

 even in Winter ; but the most congruous time both 

 to plant and to cut them, is crescente luna vere, circa 

 calendas Martias ; that is, about the new moon, and 

 first open weather of the early Spring. 



24. It is in France, upon the Loire, where these 

 eights (as we term them) and plantations of oziers 

 and withies are perfectly understood ; and both there, 

 and in divers other countries beyond seas, they raise 

 them of seeds contain 'd in their yW/, or catkins, which 

 they sow in furrows, or shallow trenches, and it 

 springs up like corn in the blade, and comes to be so 

 tender and delicate, that they frequently mow them 

 with a scyth : This we have attempted in England 

 too, even in the place where I live, but the obstinate 

 and unmerciful weed did so confound them, that it 

 was impossible to keep them clean with any ordinary 

 industry, and so they were given over : It seems 

 either weeds grow not so fast in other countries, or 

 that the people (which I rather think) are more 

 patient and laborious. 



Note, that these ju/i, are not all of them seed- 



