CHAP, vii SYLVA 183 



twenty pence, before his daughter became marriage- 

 able, which would amount to 100000 Francs (which 

 ij near ten thousand pound sterling) intended to be 

 given with his daughter for a portion. This was 

 good philosophy, and such as I am assur'd was 

 frequently practis'd in Flanders upon the very same 

 account : Let us see it once take effect amongst our 

 many slothful gentry, who have certainly as large 

 demesnes, and yet are so deficient in that decent point 

 of timely providing for their numerous children : And 

 those who have none, let them the rather plant : Trees 

 and vegetables have perpetuated some names longer, 

 and better than a pedigree of a numerous off-spring 

 (as I have already shew'd ;) and it were a pledge of a 

 noble mind, to oblige the future age by our particular 

 industry, and by a long lasting train, with the living 

 work of our own hands. But I now proceed to more 

 general concerns, in order to the quaeries, and first to 

 the proportion. 



1 8. It were but just, and infinitely befitting the 

 miserable needs of the whole nation, that every twenty 

 acres of pasture made an allowance for half an acre 

 of timber ; the ground dug about Christmas, casting 

 the grassy side downwards till June, then dug again, 

 and about November stirr'd afresh, and sown with 

 mast, or planted in a clump, well preserved, and fenc'd 

 for 14 or 15 years; unless that sheep might haply 

 graze after 4 or 5 years : And where the young trees 

 stand too thick, there to draw and transplant them in 

 the hedge-rows, which would also prove excellent 

 shelter for the cattle : This husbandry would more 

 especially become Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, 

 Cornwall, and such other of our countries as are the 

 most naked of timber, fuel, &c. and unprovided of 



