GARDEN LETTERS 187 



now, Madame, almost fourty yeares since first I writ it, 

 when Horticulture was not much advanc'd in England, 

 and neere thirty since first 'twas publish'd, which con- 

 sideration will I hope excuse its many defects. If in 

 the meane time it deserve the name of no un-usefull 

 trifle, 'tis all it is capable of. 



When manv yeares ago I came from rambling abroad, 

 observ'd a little there, & a great deal more since I 

 came home than gave me much satisfaction, & (as 

 events have prov'd) scarce worth one's pursuite, I cast 

 about how I should employ the time which hangs on 

 most young men's hands, to the best advantage ; and 

 when books & severer studies grew tedious, & other 

 impertinence would be pressing, by what innocent 

 diversions I might sometimes relieve my selfe without 

 complyance to recreations I tooke no felicity in, because 

 they did not contribute to any improvement of the 

 mind. This set me upon Planting of Trees, & brought 

 forth my * Sylva,' which booke, infinitely beyond my 

 expectations, is now also calling for a fourth impression, 

 and has ben the occasion of propagating many Millions 

 of usefull timber-trees thro'out this Nation, as I may 

 justifie (without im'odesty) from the many letters of 

 acknowledgment receiv'd from gentlemen of the first 

 quality, and others altogether strangers to me. His late 



