CHAP, in S Y L V A 67 



Spring, and when pregnant, so much of the virtue 

 goes into the leaves and branches : Happy therefore 

 were it for our timber, some real invention of tanning 

 without so much bark (as the Honourable Mr. Charles 

 Howard has most ingeniously offer'd) were become 

 universal, that trees being more early felled, the 

 timber might be better season'd and conditioned for 

 its various uses. But as the custom is, men have 

 now time to fell their woods, even from Mid-winter 

 to the Spring ; but never any after the Summer 

 Solstice: And now we speak of tanning, they have in 

 Jamaica the mangrave, olive, and a third whose barks 

 tan much better than do ours in England ; so as in 

 six weeks the leather is fit to be employ 'd to any use: 

 They have likewise there a tree, whose berries wash 

 better and whiter than any Castile-soap. 



26. Then for the age of the moon, it has religiously 

 been observ'd ; and that Diana's presidency in sifois 

 was not so much celebrated to credit the fictions of 

 the poets, as for the dominion of that moist planet, 

 and her influence over timber : However experienc'd 

 men commend the felling soon after a full-moon, and 

 so during all the decrease, and so to let the tree lie at 

 least 3 months, to render the timber strong and l solid: 

 For my part, I am not so much inclin'd to these 

 criticisms, that I should altogether govern a felling 

 at the pleasure of this mutable lady ; however there 

 is doubtless some regard to be had, 



2 Nor is't in vain signs fall and rise to note. 



Whilst as to other more recondit and deep astrological 

 observations, minute and scrupulous, perhaps not 



See Macrob. Sat. lib. vn. cap. 6. 



2 Nee frustra signorum obitus speculamur, & ortus. 



