66 S Y L V A BOOK m 



it to every part of the tree, and to remand what is 

 crude and superfluous by the veins to the roots again; 

 whence, after it has been better digested, it is made 

 to ascend a second time by the other vessels in per- 

 petual circulation ; and therefore necessary so deep 

 an incision should be made as may serve to exhaust 

 both the venal and arterial moisture : But for this 

 nice speculation, I refer the curious to the already 

 mention'd Dr. Grew, and to the learned Malpighius, 

 who have made other, and far more accurate observ- 

 ations upon this subject : In the mean time, as to 

 that of the worm in timber-trees, and their rotting, 

 sometimes within, and sometimes without ; observe 

 that such as gape and rift outwardly, (as does that of 

 the oak, when fell'd) the sap thereby let out, the 

 timber and heart within is found to be much more 

 solid than that of the chesnut and other trees who 

 keep the moisture within (however seeming sound 

 outwardly) the timber is frequently extremely rotted 

 and perish'd : Lastly, concerning the bark, though 

 some are for stripping it, and so to let the tree stand 

 till about Mid-June, to preserve it from the worm 

 (all which time it will put forth leaves, and seemingly 

 flourish) yet that which is unbark'd, is obnoxious to 

 them, contracts somewhat a darker hue, which is the 

 reason so many have commended the season when it 

 will most freely strip) yet were this to be rather 

 consider'd for such trees as one would leave round, 

 and unsquar'd; since we find the wild oak, and many 

 other sorts, fell'd over-late, and when the saps begins 

 to grow proud, to be very subject to the worm ; 

 whereas, being cut about Mid- Winter, it neither 

 casts, rifts, nor twines ; because the cold of the 

 Winter does both dry, and consolidate ; whiles in 



