CHAP, ii S YL V A 19 



3. Thus shall they bear much fruit ; I dare say, 

 one as much as five of our common trees, all his 

 branches loaden. 



4. Thus shall your boal being low, defraud the 

 branches but little of their sap. 



5. Thus shall your trees be easie to dress, and as 

 easie to gather the fruit from, without bruising the 

 cyons, &c. 



6. The fittest time of the moon for the pruning is 

 (as of graffing) when the sap is ready to stir (not 

 proudly stirring) and so to cover the wound ; and 

 here, for the time of day, we may take Columella, 



frondem medio die arbor ator ne caedito^ 1. 1 1 . Old trees 

 would be prun'd before young plants : And note, that 

 wheresoever you take any thing away, the sap the 

 next Summer will be putting ; be sure therefore when 

 he puts to bud in any unfit place, you rub it off with 

 your finger ; and if this be done for three or four 

 years still at Midsummer, it will at last wholly clear 

 the side-boughs, and exalt the growth of the stem 

 exceedingly ; and this is of good use for elms, and 

 such trees as are continually putting forth where they 

 have been prun'd : Thus begin timely with your trees, 

 and you may bring them to what form you please. 

 If you desire any tree should be taller, let him break, 

 or divide higher : This for young trees : The old are 

 reformed by curing of their diseases, of which we 

 have already discoursed. There is this only to be 

 considered, in reference to foresters, out of what he 

 has spoken concerning fruit-trees ; that (as has been 

 touch'd) where trees are planted for shadow, and 

 meer ornament, as in walks and avenues, the brouse- 

 wood (as they call it) should most of it be cherished ; 

 whereas in fruit, and timber-trees (oak excepted) it is 



