186 SYLVA BOOK m 



and improve them from the propagation of sallows, 

 willows, alders, abele, black-cherry, sycomore, aspene, 

 birch, and the like hasty and profitable growers, by 

 ranging them, casting of ditches, trenches, &c. as 

 before has been taught. 



21. In the mean while, 'tis a thing to be deplor'd, 

 that some persons bestow more in grubbing, and 

 dressing a few acres which have been excellent wood, 

 to convert them into wretched pasture, not worth a 

 quarter of what the trees would have yielded, well 

 order'd, and left standing ; since it is certain, that 

 barren land planted with wood, will trebble the ex- 

 pence in a short time. Of this, the Right Honourable 

 the Lord Viscount Scudamor may give fair proof, 

 who having fell'd (as I am credibly inform'd) a 

 decay'd wood, intended to be let to tenants ; but upon 

 second thoughts, (and for that his Lordship saw it 

 apt to cast wood) enclosed and preserved ; it yielded 

 him, before thirty years were expired, near 1000 

 pound upon wood-falls ; whereas the utmost rent of 

 the whole price of land yearly, was not above 8 pound 

 10 shillings. The like I am able to confirm by in- 

 stancing a noble person, who (a little before our un- 

 happy wars) having sown three or four acres with 

 acorns, the fourth year transplanted them which 

 grew too thick all about his lordship : These trees 

 are now of that stature, and so likely to prove ex- 

 cellent timber, that they are already judg'd to be 

 almost as much worth as the whole demesnes ; and 

 yet they take off nothing from other profits, having 

 been discreetly dispos'd of at the first designment. 

 And supposing the longaevity of trees should not 

 extend to the periods we have (upon so good account) 

 produc'd ; yet, neither is their arrival to a very com- 



