CHAP, iv S Y L V A 279 



or London side, to the increase of a thousand water- 

 men and other labourers, of which we cannot have 

 too many ? 



Now to demonstrate that not only the amoval of 

 these unsufferable nuisances would infinitely clarifie 

 the air, and render it more wholsome, and to return 

 to my subject of trees and plants ; the reputation they 

 have had for contributing to the health of whole 

 countries and cities, frequently occur in history : For 

 instance, in the island of Cyprus, abounding with the 

 trees of that name, and other resinous plants, curing 

 ulcerated lungs, GPc. Sardinia, melancholy and madness, 

 replanted with true Anticyran hellebore, was famous ; 

 whilst Thusus (especially in Summer) brought almost 

 all the inhabitants to lunacy and distraction for want 

 of it. And what the effects and benefit of such 

 plantations have produc'd, is conspicuous in one of 

 the most celebrated cities of the East, the famous 

 Ispahan, clear'd of the pestilence, since the surround- 

 ing it with that beautiful platan, as I have already 

 noted. To these add, the bay-tree, for abating all 

 such infections ; of which see many famous instances 

 in cap. vi. to which I refer. Not that there are no 

 nociferous trees, as well as saniferous, which by 

 removing the one, and planting other in their places, 

 make sensible changes for the better. I give instance, 

 when we speak of the yew ; and even that otherwise 

 incomparably useful shrub, the elder. 



Upon what therefore has been produc'd of expe- 

 dients for the melioration of the air by plantations of 

 proper trees ; I cannot but wish, that since these 

 precious materials may now be had at such tolerable 

 rates (as certainly they might from Cape-Florida, the 

 Vermuda, or other parts of the West-Indies) ; I say, 



