ii2 S Y L V A BOOK in 



not find (upon enquiry, which I have diligently 

 made of my Lord Brereton) that there is any certainty 

 of the rising of those logs in the lake belonging to 

 that place, so as still to premonish the death of the 

 heir of that family, how confidently soever reported ; 

 tho' sometimes it has happen'd, but the event is not 

 constant. To this class may be referred what is 

 affirmed concerning the fatal prediction of oaks 

 bearing strange leaves, which may be enquired of : 

 And of accidents fasciating the boughs and branches 

 of trees, Dr. Plot takes notice of in willows and other 

 soft woods, especially in an ash at Bisseter uniformly 

 wreath'd two or three times round : Such a curiosity 

 also hangs up in the portic of the Physic-Garden at 

 Oxford, in a top-branch of holly, which shews it 

 likewise happening sometimes even to harder woods, 

 and 'tis probable that such as we sometimes find so 

 helically twisted, have received some blast, that has 

 contracted the fibers, and curl'd them in that extra- 

 vagant manner. Wonderful contorsion and perplexity 

 of the parts of trees, may be seen and admir'd in tea- 

 roots, especially in that given to the Royal Society 

 by the Right Honourable the Lord Summer, (the 

 late most learned President,) amongst the natural 

 rarities of the repositary. 



29. But I will now describe to you the mystery of 

 charing, (whereof something was but touch'd in the 

 process of extracting tar out of the pines) as I re- 

 ceiv'd it from a most industrious person, and so con- 

 clude the chapter. 



There is made of char-coal usually three sorts, viz. 

 one for the iron-works, a second for gun-powder, 

 and a third for London and the Court, besides small- 

 coals, of which we shall also speak in its due place. 



