CHAP, in S Y L V A 75 



very conducible to the several arguments of this silvan 

 work. But to proceed. 



34. If you are to remove your timber, let the dew 

 be first off, and the south-wind blow before you draw 

 it : Neither should you by any means put it to use 

 for three or four months after, (some not as many 

 years) unless great necessity urge you, as it did 

 Duilius, who in the Punic War, built his fleet of 

 timber before it was season'd, being not above two 

 months from the very felling to the launching : And 

 as were also those navies of Hiero after forty days ; 

 and that of Scipio, in the third Carthaginian War, 

 from the very forest to the sea. July is a good time 

 for bringing home your fell'd timber ; But concern- 

 ing the time and season of felling, a just treatise 

 might be written : Let the learned therefore consult 

 Vitruvius particularly on this subject, 1. 2. c. 19. 

 Also M. Cato, c. 17. Plin. 1. 16. c. 31. Constantinus 

 and Heron. 1. 3. de rr. veget. 1. 4. c. 35. Columella 

 1. 3. c. 2, but especially the most ample Theophrastus 

 <I>VTUV fsropfac, 1. 5. Note, that a tun of timber is forty 

 solid feet, a load, fifty. 



35. To make excellent boards and planks, 'tis the 

 advice of some, you should bark your trees in a fit 

 season, and so let them stand naked a full year before 

 the felling ; and in some cases, and grounds, it may 

 be profitable : But let these, with what has been 

 already said in the foregoing chapters of the several 

 kinds, suffice for this article : I shall add one adver- 

 tisement of caution to those noble persons, and others 

 who have groves and trees of ornament near their 

 houses, and in their gardens in London, and the 

 circle of it; especially, if they be of great stature, 

 and well grown; such as were lately the groves in 



