104 SYLVA BOOK in 



burning ; for which we have commended the ash, 

 Gfc. in the foregoing paragraphs, and to which I pre- 

 tend not here to add much, for the avoiding repet- 

 itions ; though even an history of the best way of 

 charring would not mis-become this discourse. 



But something more is to be said sure, concerning 

 the felling of lignum, fuel-wood, (for so critics would 

 distinguish it from materia^ timber :) Benedictus Cur- 

 sius, Hortor. L. vm. c. xi. reckons up what woods 

 make the best firing ; also of coaling & dejacibus, 

 clearing, and what else belongs to vAoro/u*'a, especially 

 for the use of * sacrifices, which had their particular 

 sorts ; as in the temple of Despoena in Arcadia, where 

 they were prohibited the burning of olive-wood, or 

 the 0vTov /uavuco'v, the vaticinatric laurel, or the thick- 

 rin'd oak, nor any fungus or rotten wood, but what 

 was well dry'd, and apt to kindle without smoaking. 

 In the sacrifice of Jupiter they us'd white poplar, the 

 pine on the altar of Ceres : The Persian Magi burnt 

 their sacrifices with myrtil and the boughs of laurel ; 

 and in general, all the pagan Gods, that wood which 

 was sacred to the particular deity : Of all which to 

 particularize, let the curious enquire. We proceed 

 therefore with what concerns this most useful chapter. 



And first, that our fuelist begin with the under- 

 wood : Some conceive between Martlemas and Holy- 

 rood ; but generally with oak, as soon as 'twill strip, 

 but not after May; and for ashes, 'twixt Michaelmas 

 and Candlemas; and so fell'd, as that the cattle may 

 have the browsing of it, for in Winter they will not 

 only eat the tender twigs, but even the very moss ; 

 but fell no more in a day than they can eat for this 

 purpose. This done, kid or bavin them, and pitch 



1 v. Eustath. in Odyss. 3. 



