S A Difconrfe of Foreft-Trces. 



and then let ftand till Anarch the fecond year,when it (hall be fuffi- 

 cient to disbranch them to one only (hoot ^ whether you fufFer 

 them xofiand^ or remove them elfevvhere. But to make an Efjay 

 what Seed is moft agreeable to the Soil^ you may by the thriving 

 of a promifcuous Semination make a judgement of it , Tranf- 

 planting thofe which you find leaft agreeing with the f lace 5 or 

 elfe, by Coffwg the Jiarvling in the places where thej^ are new fown, 

 caufrrtjem fometimes to overtake even their untouch'd contem- 

 foraries. But I now proceed to particulars. 



CHAP. III. 



Of the Oak: 



Oiki I. Y Have fometimes confider'd it very ferioufly, what fiiould 



I move rliny to make a whole Chapter of one only Line^ which 

 is lefs then the Argument of moft of the reft in his huge Volnmn : 

 but the weightinefs of the Matter does worthily excufe him, 

 who is not wont to fpare his Words^ or his Reader. Glandi- 

 feri maxime generis omnes^ quibus honos apud Romanos perpetuus, 

 ^^ Maji-bearing-trees were they principally which the Romans 

 " held in chtefeji reputation^ \\. 6. cap. :^. And in the following 

 where he treats oichaplets^ and the dignity of the Cives's Coronet^ 

 it might be compos'd, of the' Leaves or Branches of any Oal^, pro- 

 vided it were a beari»g^_^Tree, and had Acorns upon it. ft is for 

 the efteem which thefe wifi^ and glorious people^ had of this Tree 

 above all others, that I will ftrft begin with the Oak. 



2. The 04)^ is of /<'«n4tlnds i two of which are moft common 

 with us '■) the §^ercus urbana^ which grows more up-right, and be- 

 ing clean, and lighter is fitteft for Timber : And the Rebur or ^er- 

 cusSylvefiris^ which isofan hard, black grain, bearing a fmaller 

 Acorn^ and afFcfting to fpread in branches^ and to put forth his 

 Roots more above ground ^ and therefore in the planting, to be al- 

 low'd a greater diftance 5 viz.. from twenty five^ to forty foot ^ 

 whereas the other ftiooting up jmore ercdt will be contented 

 yj'nh fifteen: This kjnd is farther to be diftinguifti'd by his fullnefs 

 of leaves^ which tarnijl)^ and becoming yellow at the fall^ do com- 

 monly clothe it all the Winter, the Roots growing very deep and 

 ftragling. The Author oi Britannia Baconica fpeaks of an Oak , in 

 Lanhadren Park in CornwalI,^fihK\\ bears conftantly leaves fpeckl'd 

 with White j and of another call'd the r^/T^^c^s^-t?^)^, which I only 

 mention here, that the variety may be compar'd by feme ingenious 

 perfon thereabouts, as well as the truth of the £jita\ pr£-admonition 

 of Oaks bearing ftrange leaves. It is in the mean time the propa- 

 gation of this large fprcading, &c. 



3. Oak., which is elpecially recommended for the excellency of 

 the Timber J and that his Majejiies Forcfts were well and plenti- 

 fully 



