CHAP, in S Y L V A 63 



for height and thickness, to any fig-tree, as was still 

 remaining to the time of Herod, and would have 

 stood longer, had not the Jews cut it down, Jos. Antiq. 

 Be//. Jud. lib. vii. cap. 38. How these, and indeed all 

 other vegetables differ in the north, from those of the 

 south, growing on the same mountain, Monsieur 

 Brenier has shewn us ; some nipt and starv'd with 

 that penetrabile frigus and scorching heat, quite chang- 

 ing almost their very nature and constitution ; some 

 of them dry, and yielding nothing but leaves, others 

 of the same species are gummy, juicy, and succulent : 

 The lentiscus yields mastich in Cio ; in Italy, the oak 

 bears galls ; and thejraxinus exsudes manna in Cala- 

 bria : Thus do caelum and so/urn govern the vegetable 

 kingdom, for the mutual supply of the most useful 

 productions, especially that of the forest ; without 

 which, there could be no commerce in the world ; 

 for so has Providence ordain'd. Let us now proceed 

 with felling. 



24. Such as we shall perceive to decay, should 

 first be pick'd out for the ax : and then those which 

 are in their state, or approaching to it ; but the very 

 thriving, and manifestly improving, indulged as much 

 as possible. But to explore the goodness and sincer- 

 ity of a standing tree, is not the easiest thing in the 

 world : We shall anon have occasion to mention my 

 Ld. Bacon's experiment to detect the hollowness of 

 timber : But there is doubtless none more infallible, 

 than the boring it with a midling piercer made auger- 

 fashion, and by frequent pulling out, and examining 

 what substance comes along with it, as those who 

 bore the earth to explore what minerals the place is 

 impregnated with, and as sound cheeses are tasted : 

 Some again there are who by digging a little about 



