A Difconrfe of Forcft-Trees. ^'. 



mofk light, without ^w/J", yet firm, and free from //p'^ which is 

 that fatty, whiter, and fifter part, call'd by the Aneients Alburnum, 

 which you are diligently to hew away : You (hall perceive fome 

 which has a /If/r^i/ convolution of the veins ^ but it is a vice pro- 

 ceeding from the (everity of unfeafonable Winters, and defed of 

 good nutriment. 



8. Moreover,it is expedient that you know \Vhich is the Grain, 

 and which are the Veins in Timber j becaufe of the difficulty of 

 working againft it : Thofe therefore be the veins which grow ( 

 latgeft, and are fofter for the benefit of cleaving and hewing ,/ 

 that the Grain which runs in waves, and makes the divers and 

 beautiful chamfers which fome woods abound in to admiration* 

 The Grain of Beech runs two contrary ways, and is therefore to be ' 

 wrought accordingly. 



♦ 9. For the p/<t<:e of growth, that Tir«//'er is efteem'd beft which . 

 grows moft in the «y»»,and on a dry and hale ground •-, The Climate 

 contributes much to its ^»<«//^)', and the N<?r^^er» fitnation is pre- , 

 ferr'd to the reft of the quarters ; fo as that which grew in Tufcany . 

 was of old thought better then that of the Venetian fide, and < 

 Irees of the vpilder kind, and barren, then the over much culti- '^ 

 vated, and great bearers : but of this already. - \ 



10. To omit nothing, Authorsh^ve fumm'd up the »4/are/ of V 

 Timber i as the hardeft Ebeny , Box , Larch , Lotus , Terebinth, 

 Eugh, &c. which are beft to recGi\epoliJhing ^ and for this Lin-feed, <^ 

 or the (weeter Nut-oyl does the effed beft : Plinji gives us the Re- 

 ceipt, with a decoftion of IValnut-Jhales, and certain rvild-pears : 

 Next tothele, Oak^£or ships, and Houfes-^ Cornel, Holly, S"c. for 

 Tins, Wedges, &c. Chef-nut, Horn-beam , Poplar, ^c. Then for 

 Bucklers, and Targets, were commended the more foft and moift ^ 

 becaufc apt to clofe, (well, and make up their wounds again ; fuch 



as Willovp, Lime, Birch, Alder, Elder, Jp, Poplar, 8cc. 



The Robur, or Wild-oak.Tiinhev, beft toftand7« ground; the 

 ^ercHs without. 



Pinet^ Pitch, wilder and Elm, are excellent to maktPumps and 

 Conduit-pipes, and for all Water-work/, &c. Fir for Beams, Bolts, 

 Bars -J being tough, and notfo apt to break as the hardeft Oak,' In 

 fum , the more odoriferous Trees are the more durable and 

 lafting. 



11. We did, in C^d!/>. 2 1 . mention certain Subterranean Trees, 

 which Mf Cambden fuppofes grew altogether under the ground : 

 And truly, it did appear a very Paradox to me, till I both law 

 and diligently examin'd that piece (^Plank^, Stone, or both (hall I 

 naa)ek)oi Lignum fojfile taken out of a certain ^arry thereof 

 at Aqua Sparta not far from Rome, and fent to the moft incompa- 

 rably learn'd D' Ent, by that obliging Virtuofo Cavalier dal Pozzo. 

 He that (hall examine the hardnef, and feel x\\e ponderoufnefi oVn, 

 firking \n water, d^c. will eafily take it for ajione--, but he that 

 (hall behold its ^r^/», fo exquifitely undulated, and varied,^' toge- 

 ther -vith its colour, manner of hewing,chips, and othef moftper- 

 feft rcfemblances, will never fcruple to pronounce it arrant vpood. 



Signor 



U 



