CHAP, in S Y L V A 69 



sound and good as at any other period whatsoever ; 

 nay, all the whole Summer long, as in any month of 

 the year ; (especially trees that bear no fruit.) Theo- 

 phrastus will have the fir, pine and pitch-tree fell'd 

 when first they begin to bud : I enumerate them all, 

 because it may be of great use on some publick 

 emergencies. 



27. Then for the temper, and time of day : The 

 wind low, neither east nor west (but west of the two) 

 the east being most pernicious, and exposing it to the 

 worms ; and for which the best cure is, the plentiful 

 sobbing it in water ; neither in frosty, wet, or dewy 

 weather ; and therefore never in a fore-noon, but 

 when the season has been a good while dry and calm; 

 for as the rain sobs it too much, so the wind closes 

 and obstructs the moisture from ousing out. Lastly, 

 touching the species : Fell fir when it begins to 

 spring ; not only because it will then best quit its 

 coat and strip ; but for that they hold it will never 

 decay in water ; which howsoever Theophrastus de- 

 duces from the old bridge made of this material over 

 a certain river in Arcadia, cut in this season, is hardly 

 sufficient to satisfie our enquiry. 



28. Previous to this work of felling is the advice 

 of our countryman Markham, and it is not to be 

 rejected : Survey (saith he) your woods as they stand, 

 immediately after Christmas, and then divide the 

 species in your mind ; (I add rather in some note- 

 book, or tablets) and consider for what purposes every 

 several kind is most useful, which you may find in 

 the several chapters of this discourse under every head. 

 After this reckon the bad and good together, so as 

 one may put off the other, without being forc'd to 

 glean your woods of all your best timber. This done 



