170 SYLVA BOOK i 



the better. Let this be done in February, the mould 

 as well clos'd to them as possible, and treated as was 

 taught in the poplar. If you plant for a kind of 

 wood, or copp'ce (for such I have seen) set them at 

 six foot distance, or nearer, in the quincunx^ and be 

 careful to take away all suckers from them at three 

 years end : You may abate the head half a foot from 

 the trunk, viz. three or four of the lustiest shoots, 

 and the rest cut close, and bare them yearly, that the 

 three, four or more you left, may enjoy all the sap, 

 and so those which were spared, will be gallant 

 pearches within two years. Arms of four years 

 growth, will yield substantial sets, to be planted at 

 eight or ten foot distance ; and for the first three 

 years well defended from the cattle, who infinitely 

 delight in their leaves, green, or wither'd. Thus, a 

 willow may continue twenty, or five and twenty 

 years, with good profit to the industrious planter, 

 being headed every four or five years ; some have been 

 known to shoot no less than twelve foot in one year, 

 after which, the old, rotten dotards may be fell'd, 

 and easily supply'd. But if you have ground fit for 

 whole copp'ces of this wood, cast it into double 

 dikes, making every foss near three foot wide, two 

 and half in depth ; then leaving four foot at least of 

 ground for the earth (because in such plantations the 

 moisture should be below the roots, that they may 

 rather see, than feel the water) and two tables of sets 

 on each side, plant the ridges of these banks with but 

 one single table, longer and bigger than the collat- 

 eral, viz. three, four, five or six foot high, and distant 

 from each other, about two yards. These banks 

 being carefully kept weeded for the first two years, 

 till the plants have vanquish'd the grass, and not cut 



