200 S Y L V A BOOK III 



great extremities, by the timber which they were at 

 last compell'd to cut down, and which, had it continu- 

 ed, would have prov'd the utter desolation of that 

 whole country. 



I have this instance from my most worthy and 

 honourable friend Sir William Cursius (late his Majes- 

 ty's Resident in Germany) who received this particular 

 from the mouth of Melander himself: In like manner, 

 the Princes and Freedoms of Hesse, Saxony, Thu- 

 ringia, and divers other places there, make vast in- 

 comes of their forest-fruit (besides the timber) for 

 swine only : So as in a certain wood in Hassia only, 

 twenty thousand have been fatted, yielding the Prince 

 30000 florins. 



I say then, whosoever shall duly consider this, 

 will find planting of wood to be no contemptible 

 addition, besides the pasture much improved, the 

 cooling of fat and heavy cattle, keeping them from 

 injurious motions, disturbance, and running as they 

 do in summer, to find shelter from the heat and 

 vexation of flies. 



27. But I have done, and it is now time to get 

 out of the wood, and to recommend this, and all 

 that we have propos'd, to his most sacred Majesty, 

 the honourable Parliament, and to the Lord High 

 Treasurer, principal officers, and commissioners of 

 the Royal Navy ; that where such improvements 

 may be made, it be speedily and vigorously prosecut- 

 ed; and where any defects appear, they may be 

 duly reformed. 



28. And what if for this purpose there were yet 

 some additional office constituted, which should have 

 a more universal inspection, and the charge of all the 

 woods and forests in his Majesty's dominions ? This 



