192 S Y L V A BOOK i 



fore us'd in fasces nuptiarum, since the jolly shepherds 

 carryed the white-thorn at the rapine of the Sabines; 

 and ever since counted l propitious. 



The distill'd water, and stone, or kernels of the 

 haw reduc'd to powder, is generally agreed to be 

 sovereign against the stone. The black-crab rightly 

 season 'd and treated, is famous for walking-staves, and 

 if over-grown, us'd in mill-work ; yea, and for rafters 

 of great ships. Here we owe due eulogy to the 

 industry of the late Lord Shaftsbury, who has taught 

 us to make such enclosures of crab-stocks only, 

 (planted close to one another) as there is nothing 

 more impregnable and becoming ; or you may sow 

 cyder-kernels in a rill, and fence it for a while, with 

 a double dry hedge, not only for a sudden and 

 beautiful, but a very profitable inclosure ; because, 

 amongst other benefits, they will yield you cyderfruit 

 in abundance : But in Devonshire, they build two walls 

 with their stones, setting them edge-ways, two, and 

 then one between ; and so as it rises, fill the interval, 

 or cofer with earth (the breadth and height as you 

 please) and continuing the stone-work, and filling, 

 and as you work, beating in the stones flat to the 

 sides, they are made to stick everlastingly : This is 

 absolutely the neatest, most saving, and profitable 

 fencing imaginable, where slaty stones are in any 

 abundance ; and it becomes not only the most secure 

 to the lands, but the best for cattle, to lye warm under 

 the walls; whilst other hedges, (be they never so thick) 

 admit of some cold winds in Winter-time when the 

 leaves are off. Upon these banks they plant not only 

 quick-sets, but even timber-trees, which exceedingly 

 thrive, being out of all danger. 



See Varro in AHs. Ovid, Fast. 6 de spina sumitur alba. 



