OF FOREST-TREES. 



51 



both erroneously. The best way is yearly to prune them of their dry cHAP. 11. 

 and superfluous branches, and to form their heads round and natural. — ^^^"Y""^ 

 The first year of removal where they are to abide, cut off all the shoots 

 to five or six of the most promising ; the next year leave not above three 

 of these, which dispose in triangle as near as may be, and then disturb 

 them no more, unless it be to purge them (as we taught) of dead sear- 

 wood and extravagant parts, which may impeach the rest ; and if after- 

 ward any pruned branch shoot above three or four cions, reduce them 

 to that number. One of the best ways of pruning, is what they practise 

 in Sicily and Provence, to make the head hollow, and like a bell, by 

 cleansing them of their inmost branches ; and this may be done either 

 before they bud, viz. in the new moon of March, or when they are full 

 of leaves in June or July, if the season prove any thing fresh. Here 

 I must not omit what I read of the Chinese culture, and which they now 

 also imitate in Virginia, where they have found a way to raise these 

 plants of the seeds, which they mow and cut like a crop of grass, which 

 sprout and bear leaves again in a few months. They likewise in Virginia 

 have planted them in hedges, as near together as we do gooseberries and 

 currants, for their more convenient clipping, which they pretend to do 

 with scissors. 



8. The Mulberry is much improved by stirring the mould at the root, 

 and letation. 



9. We have already mentioned some of the uses of this excellent tree, 

 especially of the White, so called because the fruit is of a paler colour, 

 which is also of a more luscious taste and less than the Black ; the rind 

 likewise is whiter, and the leaves of a mealy, clear, green colour, far 

 tenderer, and sooner produced by at least a fortnight, which is a 

 marvellous advantage to the newly-disclosed silk-worm ; also they arrive 

 sooner at tlieir maturity, and the food produces a finer web. Nor is this 

 tree less beautiful to the eye than the fairest Elm, very proper for walks 

 and avenues. The timber, amongst other properties, will last in the 

 water as well as the most solid Oak, and the bark makes good and tough 

 bast ropes. It suffers no kind of vermine to breed on it, whether standing 

 or felled, nor dar^ any caterpillar attack it, save the silk-worm only. The 

 loppings are excellent fuel ; but it is for the leaves that this tree is in 

 greatest and most worthy esteem, which, besides the silk-worm, nourish 



