xxiv EVELYN'S " SYLVA " AND PRESENT TIMES 



day, for we do not need now to produce oak for 

 building the old "wooden walls" of the country. 

 Shorter periods will raise the crops we most require, 

 but nevertheless these crops are as urgently needed 

 to be planted by us in the interests of our posterity 

 as were the oak trees for which the Sylva was in the 

 first instance written, though the author, as a matter 

 of fact, dealt with many species besides the oak. 

 Planting work is not difficult. We know the species 

 to use. In fact they and their characteristics were 

 known to the Classic poets of old. As Evelyn says, 

 Virgil (Georg. II) might have been writing of the 

 beautiful woods of this country, now but a fraction 

 in extent of what we require, in his well-known descrip- 

 tion (I quote the translation in the Sylva) — 



Some trees their birth to bounteous Nature owe ; 

 For some without the pains of planting grow. 

 With osiers thus the banks of brooks abound. 

 Sprung from the wat'ry genius of the ground : 

 From these same principles grey Willows come ; 

 Herculean Poplar, and the tender Broom. 

 But some from seeds inclos'd in earth arise : 

 For thus the mast-ful Chestnut mates the skies. 

 Hence rise the branching Beech, and vocal Oak, 

 Where Jove of old oraculously spoke. 

 Some from the root a rising wood disclose ; 

 Thus Elms, and thus the salvage Cherry grows. 

 Thus the green Bays, that bind the Poet's brows. 

 Shoots, and is sheltered by the mother's boughs. 

 These ways of planting Nature did ordain. 

 For trees and Shrubs, and all the Sylvan reign. 

 Others there are, by late experience found. 



This planting question should no longer be delayed. 

 Our waste lands should no longer be left unproductive, 



