OF FOREST-TREES. 



37 



return to my subject of trees and plants. The reputation they have had cHAP. i. 

 for contributing to the health of whole countries and cities, frequently "^^^^^^^ 

 occurs in history. For instance, the island of Cyprus, abounding 

 with the trees of that name, and other resinous plants, cures ulcerated 

 lungs, &;c. Sardinia, re-planted with true AnticyranHellebore, was famous 

 for curing melancholy and madness ; whilst Thusus (especially in sum- 

 mer) brought almost all the inhabitants to lunacy and distraction for want 

 of it. And what effects and benefits such plantations have produced, 

 is conspicuous in one of the most celebrated cities of the east, the famous 

 Ispahan, cleared of the pestilence since the surrounding it with the 

 iDeautiful Platan, as I have already noted. To these add the Bay-tree for 

 abating all such infections ; of which see many famous instances in 

 chap. V. book ii. to which I refer. Not that there are no nociferous 

 trees, as well as saniferous, which by removing the one, and planting the 

 other in their places, make sensible changes for the better. I shall give 

 instances, when we speak of the Yew, and even that otherwise incom- 

 parable useful shrub, the Elder. 



Upon what, therefore, has been produced of expedients for the 

 melioration of the air by the plantations of proper trees, I cannot but 

 wish, that since these precious materials may now be had at such 

 tolerable rates, as certainly they might from Cape-Florida, the Bermudas, 

 or other parts of the West-Indies ; I say, I cannot but suggest, that our 

 more wealthy citizens of London, every day building and embellishing 

 their dwellings, might be encouraged to make use of Cypress-wood 

 in their shops, at least for shelves, counters, chests, tables, wainscot, 

 veneerings, and mouldings ; since, besides the everlastingness of the 

 wood, enemy to worms and those other corruptions we have named, 

 it would likewise greatly cure and reform the malignancy and corrosive- 

 ness of the air. 



Volume II. F 



