CHAP, ii S Y L V A 23 



through the whole length of the trunk, till fastening 

 in the very Earth, they burst the including tree, as it 

 has happened in willows, where an ash-tree has sprung 

 likely from some key or seed dropt upon the rotten 

 head of it : But this accident not so properly pertain- 

 ing to this chapter, I conclude with recommending 

 the bowing and bending of young timber-trees, especi- 

 ally oak and ash, into various flexures, curbs, and 

 postures, oblig'd to ply themselves into different 

 modes, which may be done by humbling and binding 

 them down with tough bands and withs, or hooks 

 rather, cut skrew-wise, or slightly hagled and indent- 

 ed with a knife, and so skrewed into the ground, or 

 hanging of weighty stones to the tops, or branches, 

 till the tenor of the sap, and custom of being 

 so constrained, did render them apt to grow so 

 of themselves, without power of redressing : This 

 course would wonderfully accommodate materials 

 for knee-timber and shipping, the wheel-wright, 

 and other uses ; conform it to their moulds, and 

 save infinite labour, and abbreviate the work of hew- 

 ing and waste. 



.adeo in teneris consuescere multum est. 



and the poet, it seems, knew it well, and for what 

 purposes, 



When in the woods with mighty force they bow 

 The elm, and shape it to a crooked plow. 



so as it even half-made it to their hands. 



1 Continue in silvis magna vi flexa dornatur 

 In burim, & curvi formam accipit ulmus aratri. 



Geo. i. 



