7 1 8 A D/fcourfe of Forcft-Trees . 



Lottdoti, where the Mounds and Fcmccs are ftripp'd naked to give 

 Sun to a few niUcrable Roots, which would thrive altogether as 

 well under them being skilfully jpr«»'<^ and lopp'd : Our Gardners 

 will not believe me , but I know it to be true, though Plwj 

 had not affirm'd it : As for Elms (faith he) thenjliade is fo gentle 

 , and berfTgne, that it nourishes whatfoever grows under it : and (lib. 



1J.C.72.) it is his opinion of all other Trees (very (cw excepted) 

 provided their branches be par'd away, which being difcreetly 

 done, improves the Timber as we have already ftiew'd. 



25. Now let us calculate a little at adventure, and much within 

 ^^ - what is both J^jj^c, and very polfiblc -^ antl we fhall find, that 



fffur Fruit-trees in each Acre throughout England, the produft fold 

 but at (Ixpence the Bufiel, will be worth above a Million yearly : 

 What then may we reafonably judge of Timber, admit but at the 

 growth of four pence per Acre yearly, (which is the loweft that can 

 be cftimated) it amounting to neer tvpo Mil/ions ? if (as 'tis fup- 

 pos'dj there may he five or/w and twenty Mil/ions of fquare Acres 

 in the Kingdom (^befides Fens, High-rvays, Rivers, d^c. not count- 

 ed J and without reckoning in the Maji, or loppings j which who- 

 foever (hall calculate from the annual Revenue the MaJi only of 

 Wejiphalia , a fmall and wretched Country in Germany does 

 yield to that Trince , will conclude to be no delpicable Im- 

 provement. 



26. In this poor Territory, every Farmer does by ancient cu- 

 Jiom plant fo many Oaks about his Farme as may fuffice to feed. 



his Stvine: ToefFedthis, they have been fo careful, that when of 

 late years the Armies infefted the poor Country, both Imperialijis^ 



f^ , and Protejiants, the only Bifhoprick of MunBer was able to pay 



eight hundred thoufandlZrownsper menfem (which amounts of our 



fXj. fnoney to 25000 //. Starling) befides the ordmary entertainment of 



their own Prince and private Families. This being incredible to 

 be prafris'd in fo extream barren a Country I thought fit to 

 mention either to encourage, or reproach us ; General Me- 

 lander was wont to fay. The good Hufbandry of their ^wcei/cyj- 

 had left them this (lock pro facta Anchor a 5 confidcring how the 

 People were afterward reduc'd to live even on their Trees when 

 the Souldiers had devoured their Hogs-^ redeeming themfelves 

 from great extremities by the Timber which they were at laft 

 compeil'd to cut down , and which, had it continu'd , would 

 have proved the utter defblation of that whole Countrey. I 

 have this InBance from my mofl: worthy and honourable Friend 



**• Sir William Curfius ( His MajeSiies Refident in Germany, ) ■ 



who receiv'd this particular from the mouth of Melandcr 

 himfelf : In like manner the Princes , and Freedoms of Hejfe, 

 Saxony, Thuringia, and divers other places there , make vaft in- 

 comes of their ForcB-fuit (befides the Timber) for Swine only. 

 I fay then, whofoever fliall duly confider this will finde plant- 

 ing of Wood to bo no contemptible Addition } befides the Pajiure 

 much improv'd, the cooling of fat, and heavy Cattle, keeping 

 them from injurious motions, difturbancc and running as they 



do 



