14 S Y L V A BOOK in 



only acknowledge my self particularly oblig'd ; but 

 the whole nation for what they have contributed to 

 the sweetest, useful, and most innocent diversions of 

 life, gardens and plantations. 



One should be cautious in heading timber-trees, 

 especially the pithy ; unless where they grow very 

 crooked, in which case abate the head with an upward 

 sloop, and cherish a leading shoot : The beech is very 

 tender of its head. 



It is by the discreet leaving the side-boughs in con- 

 venient places, sparing the smaller, and taking away 

 the bigger, that you may advance a tree to what 

 determined height you desire : Thus, bring up the 

 leader, and when you would have that spread and 

 break out, cut off all the side-boughs, and especially 

 at Midsummer, if you espy them breaking out. 

 Young trees may every year be prun'd, and as they 

 grow older at longer intervals, as at three, five, seven, 

 or sooner, that the wounds may recover, and nothing 

 be deformed. 



Ever-greens do not well support to be decapitated ; 

 side-boughs they freely spare in April, and during the 

 Spring ; and if you cut at first two or three inches 

 from the body, and the next Spring after, close to the 

 stem, covering it with wax, or well temper'd clay, the 

 most tender may suffer such amputations without 

 prejudice. 



Note that the side and collateral branches of the 

 fir, cut, or broken off, spring no more ; and though 

 the tops sometimes do, yet they never prosper to 

 beautiful and erect heads, in which consists the grace 

 of that beautiful tree. 



Another caution is, that you be sure to cut off such 

 tender branches to the quick, which you find have 



