CHAP. XX 



SYLVA 181 



invincible fortifications, to the great security of their 

 musketiers upon occasion) they plant them according 

 to my description, and raise fences so speedily, and 

 so impenetrable, that our best are not to enter into 

 the comparison. Yet, that I may not be wanting to 

 direct such as either affect the other way, or whose 

 grounds may require some bank of earth, as ordinarily 

 the verges of copp'ces, and other inclosures do ; you 

 shall by line, cast up your foss of about three foot 

 broad, and about the same depth, provided your 

 mould hold it; beginning first to turn the turf, upon 

 which, be careful to lay some of the best earth to bed 

 your quick in, and there lay, or set the plants; two in 

 a foot space is sufficient; being diligent to procure 

 such as are fresh gathered, streight, smooth, and well 

 rooted; adding now and then, at equal spaces of 

 twenty or thirty foot, a young oakling or elm-sucker, 

 ash, or the like, which will come in time (especially 

 in plain countries) to be ornamental standards, and 

 good timber: If you will needs multiply your rowes, 

 a foot or somewhat less : Above that, upon more 

 congested mould, plant another rank of sets, so as to 

 point just in the middle of the vacuities of the first, 

 which I conceive enough : This is but for the single 

 foss ; but if you would fortifie it to the purpose, do 

 as much on the other side, of the same depth, height, 

 and planting; and then last of all, cap the top in 

 pyramis with the worst, or bottom of the ditch: Some, 

 if the mould be good, plant a row or two on the 

 edge, or very crest of the mound, which ought to be 

 a little flatned: Here also may they set their dry- 

 hedges, for hedges must be hedg'd till they are able to 

 defend and shade their under-plantation, and I cannot 

 reprove it: But great care is to be had in this work, 



