CHAP, iv SYLVA 105 



them upon their ends to preserve them from rotting : 

 Thus the under-wood being dispos'd of, the rest will 

 prosper the better ; and besides, it otherwise does but 

 rot upon the earth, and destroy that which would 

 spring. If you head, or top for the fire, 'tis not amiss 

 to begin three or four foot above the timber, if it be 

 considerable; but in case they are only shaken-trees 

 and hedgerows, strip them even to thirty foot high, 

 because they are usually full of boughs : and 'twere 

 good to top such as you perceive to wither at the 

 tops a competent way beneath, to prevent their sick- 

 ness downwards, which will else certainly ensue ; 

 whereas by this means even dying trees may be 

 preserved many years to good emolument, tho' they 

 never advance taller ; and being thus frequently shred, 

 they will produce more than if suffered to stand and 

 decay : This is a profitable note for such as have old, 

 doating, or any ways infirm woods: In other fellings, 

 some advise never to commence the disbranching 

 from the top, for though the incumbency of the very 

 boughs upon the next, cause them to fall off the easier, 

 yet it endangers the splicing of the next, which is 

 very prejudicial, and therefore advise the beginning at 

 the nearest. And in cutting for fuel you may as at 

 the top, so at the sides, cut a foot, or more from 

 the body; but never when you shred timber-trees : 

 We have said how dangerous it is, to cut for fire- 

 wood when the sap is up, it is a mark of improvident 

 husbands ; besides it will never burn well, though 

 abundance be congested : Lastly, remember that east 

 and north-winds are unkind to the succeeding shoots. 

 Now for directions in stacking (of which we have 

 said something in Chap, of Copp'ces) ever set the 

 lowest course an end, the second that on the sides and 



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