^4 A. Difcourfe of Foreft-Trees. 



CHAP. XXV. 



Of the Acacia, Arbutus, Bays, Box, Yew, Holly, 

 Juniper, and Laurel-trees. 



Acacia. I. ^~T^He French have la4:ely brought in the Virginian Acacia^ 

 X which exceedingly adorns their Walkj : The Tree is har- 

 dy againft all the invafions of our Iharpeft feafons, but our high 

 mnas > which by reafon of its brittle nature it does not (b well re- 

 fift.5 and the Roots (which infinuate and run like liquorice under 

 ground) are apt to emaciate thejbil, and therefore haply not Co 

 commendable in onv Gardens^ as they would be agreeable for va- 

 2. riety of Walks and (hade : They thrive well in his MajeBies new 

 Plantation in St. James's Park. 

 Arbutus. I. But why do we thus negled the Arbutus^ and mak^ that 



fuch a rarity^ which grows fb common, and fo naturally in Ire- 

 land^ It is indeed with fome difficulty rais'd from theyee«/j j but 

 it may be propagated from the Layers, grows to a goodly Tree, 

 and is patient of our fevereft weather. - 

 tap. I. iS^yj are encreas'd both of their Suckers, znd Seeds, which 



fhould be dropping-ripe ere gather 'd : Pliny has a particular /)ro- 

 cef for the ordering of the feeds, and it is not to be rejected : 

 Which is, the gathering the Berries dry, 'mJanHary,and fpreading 

 them till their Iweat be over : then he puts them in dung and fows 

 them. ; As for the fteeping in tvine, water does altogether as well ; 

 others wafti the feeds from their mucilage, by breaking and brui- 

 fing the glutinous Berries ^ then fow them in March by fcores in a 

 heap •■) and indeed lb they will come up in cluSiers, but nothing 

 fo well, nor fit for tranjplantation, as where they are interr'd with 

 a competent fcattering , fo as you would furrow Peaje : Both»his 

 way , and by fetting them apart ( which I moft commend ) I 

 have rais'd multitudes, and that in the berries without any far- 

 2. ther preparation ; only for the firfl: two years they would be de- 

 fended from the piercing vpinds which frequently deftroy them 5 

 and yet the fcorching of their tender leaves ought not make you 

 d'pjpair, for many of them will recover beyond expeftation. 



3. This aromatic Tree greatly loves the fiade, yet thrives 

 beft in our hotteft Gravel, having once pafs'd thofe firfl: difficul- 

 ties : Age and Culture about the roots wonderfully augment its 

 growth , fb as I have feen Trees ncer thirty foot high of them ; 

 and almoft two foot diameter. They are fit alfoboth for Arbour 

 and Palifade-Tpork., lb the Gard'ner underftand when to prune, and 

 keep it from growing too woody. 

 Box. I. The Box which we heg\n to profcribe our Gardens, (hould 



not yet be banifh'd from our care 5 bccaufe the excellency of the 

 wood does commute for the unagreeablenefs of its fmell ; there- 

 fore, let us furnilh our cold, and barren Hil/s, and declivities 

 with this ufeful shrub : It will increale abundantly oijlips fetin 

 March. 2. The 



