CHAP, in S Y L V A 73 



who otherwise opine) and (which is the proper kerfe^ 

 or cutting place) is worth three farther off : And 

 haply, the successor is more apt to be tender, than 

 what was cut off to give it place ; but let this be 

 enquir'd into at leisure : If it be a Winter-fell, for 

 fuel, prostrate no more in a day than the cattle will 

 eat in two days, I mean of the browsewood, and 

 when that's done, kid, and set it up an end, to 

 preserve it from rotting. 



32. Dr. Plot recommends the disbranching to be 

 done in the Spring before felling, whilst the tree is 

 standing, that is, from May to Michaelmas, and so to 

 let it continue till the next Spring, and disburthen 

 them when fell'd, as the custom is in Staffordshire, 

 and the North ; for exceedingly contributing to a dry 

 seasoning, freeing it from the attack of worms and 

 other accidental corruption ; and thinks that the pre- 

 judice accruing thereby, as to the tanner, (in regard of 

 the more difficult excortication,) is no way to be 

 put in balance with the advantage and improve- 

 ment of the timber for paling, building of ships and 

 houses, &c. Accounting this method of that universal 

 importance, as to merit the deliberation of a parlia- 

 ment : In the mean while, by whatever method you 

 proceed as to this ; when once a tree is prostrate, and 

 the bark stripp'd off, let it so be set, as it may be best 

 dry; then cleanse the boal of the branches which 

 were left, and saw it into lengths for the squaring, 

 to which belong the measure, and girth (as our 

 workmen call it) which I refer to the buyer, and to 

 many subsidiary books lately printed, wherein it is 

 taught by a very familiar calcule mechanical and easy 

 method. 



33. But by none, in my apprehension, set forth, in 



jj 



