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S Y L V A BOOK in 



4. The proper season for this work, is for old trees 

 earlier, for young later, as a little after the change in 

 January or February, some say in December, the 

 wind in a gentle quarter : 



1 Then shave their locks, and cut their branchy tress, 

 Severely now, luxuriant boughs repress. 



But this ought not to be too much in young fruit- 

 trees, after they once come to form a handsome head; 

 in which period you should but once pare them over 

 about March, to cover the stock the sooner, if the 

 tree be very choice : To the aged, this is plainly a 

 renewing of their youth, and an extraordinary refresh- 

 ment, if taken in time, and that their arms be not 

 suffer'd to grow too great and large ; in which case, 

 the member must not be amputated too near the 

 body, but at some distance ne pars sincera trahatur : 

 And remember to cut smooth, and sloping upwards 

 if upright boughs, otherwise downwards; and be sure 

 to emplaster great wounds to keep out the wet, and 

 hasten the covering of the bark: besides, for interlu- 

 cation, exuberant branches, Gfc. spissae nemorum comae^ 

 where the boughs grow too thick, and are cumbersome, 

 to let in the sun and air; this is of great importance; 

 and so is the sedulous taking away of suckers, water- 

 boughs, fretters, Gfc. And for the benefit of tall 

 timber, the due stripping up the branches, and rubbing 

 off the buds to the heights you require: Yet some do 

 totally forbear the oak, especially if aged, observing that 

 they much exceed in growth such as are prun'd; and 

 in truth such trees as we would leave for shade and 



1 Tune stringe comas, tuncbrachia tonde : 



Tune denique dura 



Exerce imperia, & ramos compesce fluentes. 



Georg. 2. 



