A Difcourfe of Foreft^Tfees. 47 



befides the Ornament which they afford to thofe pleafent "tra^f, 

 forfome miles in circumference. I remember Monjieur Sorbiere, 

 in a Sceptical difcourfe tb A^onfeur di Martel , fpeaking of the 

 readinels of the People in Holland to furnifti, and maintain what- 

 Ibever may conduce to the publick. Ornament, as well as Cenveni" 

 ence 5 tells us, that their Plantations of thefe, and the like :Trees 

 even in their very Roads and common High-ways are better pre- 

 ferv'd, and entertain'd (as I my felf have likewife been often an 

 eye witnefs)then thofe about the How/ex and Gardens of fleafurt 

 belonging to the loobies and Gentry of mofl: other Countries : And 

 in effect it is a moft raviihing objedl: to behold their amenities in 

 this particular : With us fays he (fpeaking oiFrance) they make 

 a jcfi: at fuch political Ordinances , by ruining thefe publick and 

 uleful Ornaments, if haply fome more prudent Magistrate do at 

 any time introduce fhem. Thus in the Reign oiHenry the fourth, 

 during the Superintendency of Monjieur de Sulli, there was a relb- 

 lurion of adorning all the High-ways of Trance with Elms, C^f. but. 

 the rude and mifchievous fay fans did fo hack, fteal, and defiroy 

 what they had begun, that they were forc'd to defift from the 

 through profecution of the defign ^ fo as there is nothing more 

 expos'd, wild, and lefs pleafant then the common Roads oi France 

 for want o^Jliade, and the decent limits which thefe fweet, and 

 divertiflant Plantations would have afforded j not to omit that 

 Political uCe (as my Lord Bacon hints it where he fpeaks of the 

 Statues, and Monuments of brave men, and fuch as had^wcU de- 

 ierv'd of the Publick., erefted by the Romans even in their High- 

 vays,) (ince doubtlefs, fuch noble and agreeable objefts would 

 exceedingly divertjcntertain and take off the Minds and Difcourfes 

 o^ Melancholy people, and penfive Travellers, who having nothing 

 but the dull and enclos'd ways to caft their eyes on, are but ill 

 Cenvcrfation to themfelves, and others. 



4. What univerfalufe the French make of' the Titnber oi t\i\s 

 fole Tree for domeftic affairs may be feen in every room both of 

 poor and rich : It is of fingular account with the Joyner, for the 

 beft grain'd and colour'd Wain-fcot ^ with the Gun-fmith for 

 Stocks X, the Drum-maker for rimbs : the Cabinet-maker for Inlay- 

 ings, efpecially the firm and clofe Timber about the Roots, which 

 is admirable {ox fleclCd and chambletted works , and the older 

 it is , the more eftimable ^ but then it ftiould not be put in 

 v>ork. till throughly feafon^d j becaufe it will (brink beyond ex- 

 peftation : Befides thefe ufes of the Wood, the Fruit is (or preferv€s, 

 for Oy I And Food j and the very hufks and leaves being macerated 

 in warm water, and that liquor poured on the Carpet oi Walks and 

 Bowling-greens, does infallibly kill the Worms without endangering 

 the grafs ; not to mention the Dye which is made of this Lixive 

 to colour Wool/, Woods, and Hair, as of old they us'd it. That 

 which is produc'd of the thick.Jhel/ becomes beft Timber ^ that of 

 the thinner, better Fruit. Columella has fundry excellent rules 

 how to afcertain, and accelerate the growth of this Tree, and to 

 improve its qualities, which I recommend to the farther Induftri- 

 ouSj and pafs now to the lef principal. Fa CHAP, 



