CHAP, xx SYLVA 20 1 



seen (saith he, speaking of apple-trees, lib. 3. cap. 101.) 

 in the pastures and hedge-rows about the grounds of 

 a worshipful gentleman dwelling two miles from 

 Hereford, call'd Mr. Roger Bodnome, so many trees 

 of all sorts, that the servants drink for the most part 

 no other drink but that which is made of apples : 

 The quantity is such, that by the report of the gentle- 

 man himself, the parson hath for tythe many hogs- 

 heads of cyder : The hogs are fed with the fallings of 

 them, which are so many, that they make choice of 

 those apples they do eat, who will not tast of any but 

 of the best. An example doubtless to be follow'd of 

 gentlemen that have land and living ; but Envy saith, 

 The poor will break down our hedges, and we shall 

 have the least part of the fruit : But forward, in the 

 name of God, graff, set, plant, and nourish up trees in 

 every corner of your ground ; the labour is small, the 

 cost is nothing, the commodity is great ; your selves 

 shall have plenty, the poor shall have somewhat in 

 time of want to relieve their necessity, and God shall 

 reward your good minds and diligence. Thus far 

 honest Gerard. And in truth, with how small a 

 charge and infinite pleasure this were to be effected, 

 every one that is patron of a little nursery, can easily 

 calculate : But by this expedient many thousands of 

 acres, sow'd now yearly with barley, might be culti- 

 vated for wheat, or converted into pasture, to the 

 increase of corn and cattel : Besides, the timber which 

 the pear-tree, black-cherry and many thorny plums 

 (which are best for grain, colour, and gloss) afford, 

 comparable (for divers curious uses) with any we have 

 enumerated. The black-cherry-wood grows some- 

 times to that bulk, as is fit to make stools with, 

 cabinets, tables, especially the redder sort, which will 



