CHAP, iv S Y L V A 119 



33. And thus we have seen how for house-boot, 

 and ship-boot, plow-boot, hey-boot and fire-boot, the 

 planting and propagation of timber and forest-trees is 

 requisite, so as it was not for nothing, that the very 

 name (which the Greek, generally apply'd to timber) 

 vArj, by synecdoche^ was taken always pro materia ; 

 since we hardly find any thing in nature more univers- 

 ally useful ; or, in comparison with it, deserving the 

 name of material ; it being, in truth, as the mother 

 parent and (metaphorically) the passive principle 

 ready for the form. 



34. Lastly, to compleat this chapter of the universal 

 use of trees, 1 and the parts of them, something I could 

 be tempted to say concerning staves, wands, &c. their 

 antiquity, use, divine, domestick, civil and politicial ; 

 the time of cutting, manner of seasoning, forming, and 

 other curious particulars (how dry soever the subject 

 may appear) both of delight and profit : but we reserve 

 it for some more fit opportunity, and perhaps, it may 

 merit a peculiar treatise, as acceptable as it will prove 

 divertisant. Instead of this we will therefore gratifie 

 our reader with some no inconsiderable secrets : And 

 first we will begin with a few plain directions for such 

 persons and country gentlemen, as (being far distant 

 from, or unhandsomely impos'd upon by common 

 painters,) may be desirous to know how to stop, prime 

 and paint their timber-work at home, and save the 

 expence of work by any of their servants indu'd with 

 an ordinary capacity. 



Putty to stop the chaps and cracks of wrought timber, 

 is made of white and red-lead, and some Spanish-white 

 (not much) temper'd and bruised with so much lin-seed- 

 oyl as will bring it to the consistence of a past. Then, 



1 See for this Dr. Grew of the vegetation of trunks, cap. 7. 



