88 SYLVA BOOK m 



sappy slab is cut away, is the best) he calls sapiena. 

 Finally, the grain of beech runs two contrary ways, 

 and is therefore to be wrought accordingly ; and 

 indeed the grain of all timber ought well to be 

 observed ; since the more you work according to it, 

 especially in cleaving, and the less you saw, the 

 stronger will be your work. 



12. Here it may be fitly enquir'd, whether of all 

 the sorts we have enumerated, the old, or the younger 

 trees do yield the fairest colour, pleasant grain and 

 gloss for wainscot, cabinets, boxes, gunstocks, Gfc. and 

 what kind of pear and plumtree give the deepest red, 

 and approaches nearest in beauty to Brasil : 'Tis 

 affirm'd the old oak, old walnut, and young ash, are 

 best for most uses, and yet for ship-carpentry this 

 does not always hold ; nor does the bigness of it so 

 much recommend it ; because 'tis commonly a sign 

 of age, which (like to very old men) is often brittle 

 and effete. Black and thorny plum-tree is of the 

 deepest oriency ; but whether these belong to the 

 forest, I am not yet satisfied, and therefore have 

 assigned them no chapter apart. But now I speak 

 of the plum-tree, I am assur'd by a worthy friend, 

 that the gum thereof dissolv'd in vinegar, does cure 

 the most contumacious tetters, when all other remedies 

 outward or inwardly applied, nothing avail'd. 



13. Lastly, I would also add something concerning 

 what woods are observed to be most sonorous for 

 musical instruments : We as yet detect few but the 

 German aer which is a species of maple, for the 

 rimms of viols, and the choicest and finest grain 'd fir 

 for the bellies : The finger-boards, back, and ribs, 

 I have seen of yew, pear-tree, Sfc. but pipes, recorders, 

 and wind-instruments, are made both of hard, and 



