13 



4 V'tfconrfe of. Foreft-Trees. 



plant edgx^sx trees at Mid-fomer with fuccefs (the Earth adhering 

 to the Roots) and mifcarried in others where this Circutftjiance 

 only was omitted. 



To obferve therefore the €oalf^ and fide of the ftock, efpeci- 

 ally of ermi-trces )■ is not fucli a trifle as by Ibme pretended : 

 For if the Air be as much the Mother or l^urfe, as Water and Earth, 

 (as more then probable it is) fuch bloflbming Plants as court the 

 motion of tht Meridian Sun ^ do as 'twere evidently point out the 

 advantage they receive by their pojltion : And the frequent mojji- 

 fiefof moft Trees on the oppofite fide does fufficiently note the 

 unkindnefs of that Jjpe&^ ; and which- is moft: evident in the W^ 

 of Oaks white and fmooth i The Trees growing more kindly on 

 the South fide of an Hil/, then thofe which are expos'd to the 

 Norths with an hard, dark, rougher, and more moflie Integument. 

 I have feen (writes a worthy Friend to me on this occafion) whole 

 Hedge-rows of Apples and Fears that quite perifli'd after that {bel- 

 ter was remov'd : The good Husbands expefted the contrary, 

 and that the Fruit (hould improve, as freed from the predations 

 of the Hedge ; but ufe and cuft:om made that (belter necefiary 5 

 and therefore (faith he) ajiock^ for a time is the weaker,' taken 

 out o£ a Thicl{ety if it be not well protected from all fudden and 

 fierce invafions either of crude Air or Winds : Nor let any be 

 deterr'd, if being to remove many Tresx, he fhall eft;eemittoo 

 confumptive of time , for with a Erufh dipped in any white co- 

 lour, or Oaker, a thoufand may be marked as they ftand, in a mo- 

 ment 5 and that once done, the difficulty is over. I have been 

 the larger uponthefe two Remarks , becaufe I find them fo mate- 

 rial, and yet fo much neglefted. 



8. There are other jR»/ej- concerning the///«<!i^/<>« of Treej 5 the 

 former Author commending the JSIorth-ea^f-windhoth for theflou- 

 rilhing of the Tree, and advantage of the Timber t, but to my ob- 

 lervation, in our Climates^ where thofe ftiarp winds do rather/<j«- 

 k§r then blow fully oppofite upon our riantations, they thrive 

 beft 5 and there are as well other Circumstances to be confidered.as 

 they refpeft Elvers and Marpes obnoxious to unwholfom and poy- 

 IbnousF^^i-^ Hi//s, and -S"e<«y, which expofe them to the weather ; 

 and thok jjlvifiagi venti, our cruel, and tedious Western winds 5 all 

 which I leave to obfervation , becaufe thefe accidents do fo uni- 

 verfally govern, that it is not eafie to determine farther then that 

 thcTimheris commonly better qualified which hath endur'd the 

 colder Afpedts without thefe prejudices : And hence it is, that 

 Seneca obferves Woods moft: expos'd to the Winds to be the moft: 

 Jirfing^indfolid, 2ind that therefore C/»/>tf» made Achilles's Spear of 

 a Mountain-tree ^ and of thofe the beif which grow thin , not 

 much (helter'd from the North. Again, Thcophraffus feems to have 

 Ipecial regard to places ; exemplifying in many o£Gre$ce,wh\ch ex- 

 ceeded others for good Timber , as doubtlefs do our Oaks in the 

 Ftfrei? of Deana\[ others of England: and much certainly there 

 may reafonably be attributed to thefe advantages for the growth 

 of limber, and of almoft: all other Irees, as we daily fee by their 



general 



