J 5 A DifcoHrfe of Foreft-Trees. 



ff/ents, and ferfe&ions their nature is fufceptible of by their diredi- 

 on and encouragement^ fuch as jElian fums up lib. 25. c. 14. 

 }^%tC'n cJ xArt'/o/, )Li n KOjKB ctoaaJ, &c. kind and gentle Lit.ths^ plenty of 

 large leaves , an ample and fair body , profound or fpreading 

 roots, ftrong againft impetuous wjtjds (for fo I afieft to read it} 

 extenfivc, and venerable ^ade^ and the like: Methinks there 

 were as much a fubjedt of glory as could be phancied of the kind ; 

 and comparable , I durft pronounce , preferable, to any of their 

 Recreations ^ and how goodly an Ornament to their Demejnes 

 and Dvpellings, let their own eyes be the judges. But I now pro- 

 ceed to inore general Concerns, in order to the glories, and firft 

 to the proportion. 



18. It were but ju(V, and infinitely befitting the miferable needs 

 of the whole Hat ion, thdit every twenty Acres of Faifure made an 

 allowance for half an Acre of Timber, to be planted in a clnmp, 

 well preferv'd, and fencdiox 14, or 15 years : And where the 

 young Trees ftand too thick, there to drave, and tranfplant them 

 in the Hedge-rovps, which would alfo prove excellent fielter for 

 the CattU .- This H$nbandry would more efpccially become North- 

 amptonJhire,Lincolnpire, Cornwall, and fuch other of our Countries 

 as are the moft naked of Timber, Fuel, &c. and unprovided of 

 covert : For it is rightly obferv'd, that the mod fiuitfulplaces leaft 

 abound in vpood, and do moft ftand in need of it. 



19. Such as are ready to tell ye their Lands are fo wet that 

 their Woods do not thrive in them , let them be converted to Pa- 

 Jiure 3 or beftow the fame induftry on them which good husbands 

 do in Meadows by draining : It is ajloathfulneji unpardonable ^ as 

 if the pains would not be as fully recompenc'd in the growth of 

 their Timber, as in that of their ^r/?/ * Where poor hungry Woods 

 grow, rich Corn , and good Cattle would be more plentifully 

 bred 5 and it were beneficial to convert Ibme Wood-land (where 

 the proper vertue is exhaufted) to Pajiure and Til/age y provided 

 that frefti land were improved alfo to wood in recompence, and td 

 balance the other. 



20. Where we find «%?»o«j and ftarv'd places (which fome- 

 times obey no Art or Induftry to drain, and of which our pale 

 and fading Corn is a fure indication) we are as it were courted to 

 obey Nature j and improve them for the propagation of Sallyes, 

 Willows, Alders, S eye amor e, A^ine, ^/rf/j, and the like hafty and 

 profitable grawers , by ranging them , cafting of Ditches, 

 Trenches, d^c. as before has been taught. 



2 1. In the mean while 'tis a thing to be deplor'd, that (bme per- 

 fons beftow more in ^r«^^/»g, and dreffing afeyf Acres which has 

 been excellent wood, to convert it into wretched pajiure, not 

 worth a quarter of what the Trees would have yielded, well or- 

 der'd, and left ftanding ; fince it is certain, that Z><irre« /<r»^ plant- 

 ed with wood will trebble the experce in a (hort time : This I am 

 able to confirm by inftancing a nolle perfon, who (a little before our 

 unhappy Wars') having fown three or four Acres with Acorns, the 

 fourth year tranfplanted them which grew too thick ail about his 



Lordpip 



