CHAP, in S Y L V A 59 



adheres to the wood, as the integuments of wood 

 cleave to one another, and may be separated from 

 each other as the bark from the outwardmost ; and 

 being thus parted, will be found on their outsides to 

 represent the colour of the outermost, contiguous to 

 the bark ; and on the inner sides, to hold the colour 

 of the inner side of the bark, and all to have a deeper 

 or lighter hue on their inner side, as the bark is on 

 that part more or less tinged ; which tincture is 

 supposed to proceed from the ascendent sap. More- 

 over, by cutting the branch, the ascending sap may 

 be examin'd as well as the circles : It is probable, the 

 more frequent the circles, the larger, and more 

 copiously the liquor will ascend into it ; the fewer, 

 the sooner descend from it. That a branch of three 

 circles cut off at Spring, the sap ascending, will be 

 found at Michaelmass ensuing ; cut again in the 

 same branch, or another of equal bigness, to have one 

 more than it had at Spring ; and either at Spring or 

 Fall to carry a circle of pricks next the bark, at other 

 seasons a circle of wood only next it. But here the 

 comparison must be made with distinction ; for some 

 trees do probably shoot new tops yearly till a certain 

 period, and not after ; and some have perhaps their 

 circles in their branches decreased from their bodies 

 to the extremity of the branch, in such oeconomy 

 and order ; that (for instance) an apple-tree shoot of 

 this year has one circle of pricks or wood less, than 

 the graft of two years growth ; and that of two years 

 growth, may the next year have one circle more than 

 it had the last year ; but this only till that branch 

 shoot no more grafts, and then 'tis doubtful whether 

 the outmost twig obtain any more circles, or remain 

 at a stay, only nourished, not augmented in the 



