224 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



better endure a naked transplantation, than the pine : 

 If you be necessitated to plant towards the latter end 

 of Summer, lay a pretty deal of horse-litter upon the 

 surface of the ground, to keep off the heat, and in 

 Winter the cold ; but let no dung touch either stem 

 or root : You may likewise sow in such earth about 

 February, they will make a shoot the very first year 

 ! of an inch ; next an handful, the third year three 

 foot, and thence forward, above a yard annually. A 

 Northern gentleman (who has oblig'd me with this 

 process upon his great experience) assures me, that 

 fir, and this f era/is arbor, (as Virgil calls the pine) are 

 abundantly planted in Northumberland, which are in 

 few years grown to the magnitude of ship-masts ; 

 and from all has been said, deduces these encourage- 

 ments, i. The facility of their propagation. 2. The 

 nature of their growth, which is to affect places 

 where nothing else will thrive. 3. Their uniformity 

 and beauty. 4. Their perpetual verdure. 5. Their 

 sweetness. 6. Their fruitfulness ; affording seed, gum, 

 fuel, and timber of all other woods the most useful, 

 and easy to work, Gfc. All which highly recommend 

 it as an excellent improvement of husbandry, fit to be 

 enjoyn'd by some solemn edict, to the inhabitants of 

 this our island, that we may have masts, and those 

 other materials of our own growth : In planting the 

 silver abies, set not the roots too deep, it affects the 

 surface more than the rest. 



4. The pine (of which are reckon'd no less than 

 ten several sorts, preferring the domestic, or sative 

 for the fuller growth) is likewise of both sexes, 

 whereof the male growing lower, with a rounder 

 shape, hath its wood more knotty and rude than the 

 female ; it's lank, longer, narrow and pointed ; bears 



