314 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



I have now finish'd my planting : A word or two 

 concerning their preservation, and the cure of their 

 infirmities, expect in the following chapter. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Of the infirmities of trees ^ &c. 



So many are the infirmities and sicknesses of trees, 

 and indeed of the whole family of vegetables, that it 

 were almost impossible to enumerate and make a just 

 catalogue of them ; and as difficult to such infallible 

 cures and remedies as could be desired ; the effects 

 arising from so many, and such different causes : 

 Whenever therefore our trees and plants fail and 

 come short of the fruit and productions we expect 

 of them, (if the fault be not in our want of care) it 

 is certainly to be attributed to those infirmities, to 

 which all elementary things are obnoxious, either 

 from the nature of the things themselves, and in 

 themselves, or from some outward injury, not only 

 through their being unskilfully cultivated by men, 

 and expos'd to hurtful beasts, but subject to be prey'd 

 upon and ruin'd by the most minute and despicable 

 insect, besides other casualties and accidents innumer- 

 able, according to the rustick rhyme, 



The calf, the wind-shoe and the knot, 

 The canker, scab, scurf, sap and rot, 



affecting the several parts : These invade the roots ; 

 stony and rocky grounds, ivy, and all climbers, weeds, 



