The Gardener's New Director. 449 



with the fap that (hould go to the top of the trees; And, 

 lartly, before you make your plantation, that you in- 

 dole the ground with hedges or rows of trees ten deep, 

 or more as vou think convenient, to protect the young 

 trees tioin the injuries of the weather. 



The ufes of this tree are fo commonly known, when 

 it is fit for the axe, that it is neediefs here to repeat them : 

 but there is one particular which dcferves your utmofl: 

 attention, which is, that you never cut down thefe, or 

 any trees, in the fummer time, when the fap is flow- 

 ing : for the timber of the trees that are cut at that 

 time, will never be fo fit for any purpole as thole trees 

 that are cut in winter, when the fap is at reft. This is 

 an Unerring rule, which you mull conftantly purfue. 

 Thofe perfons who deal in Oak-bark object much to this, 

 that they cannot get the bark fo eafily off their trees in 

 winter, as in fummer. 'Tis true it is fo, and their ob- 

 jection againft felling trees in winter is very juft ; and it 

 is equally certain, that the bark taken from thcfe trees 

 in fummer bears a much higl.er price than that taken 

 off in winter : but to pleafe the bark merchant, you have 

 no more to do, but, the fummer before you intend to 

 cut your Oaks, peel off the bark from the trunk of the 

 tree, and fuffer the tree to remain uncut until winter, 

 which will do it no hurt, though the b^rk be taken off, 

 nay, though it were to ftand for two years afterwards. 



The Beech. 



T 



HIS tree is propagated from feed, which is called 

 _^ Beerb-maJ}, and it may be fuun any time from 

 Oclober till February. The mice are fo fond ot it, that 

 it is with great difficulty it can be prcftrvcd from them : 

 The beft method I have found to prevent the vermin 

 from injuring the feed of this tree, is to fow a good deal 

 of foot with it, the tafte of which they abhor; and by 

 this means your feed will be preftrvtd. It dilij^hts in a 

 rich loamy foil, where it will profptr wonderluliy. It 

 will profper likewife upon the declivity of chalky orj^ra- 

 vclly hills, particularly if they are dry; but if \ou plant 



