184 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK nr. College Gardens. I myself have woven young Ash-poles into twists of 

 '"^^'"^/'^^ three and four braids, like women's hair, when they make it up to fillet 

 it under their coifs, which have strangely incorporated and grown 

 together without separation ; but these are rather for curiosity, than of 

 advantage for timber. 



Trees will likewise grow frequently out of the bole of the other ; and 

 some roots will penetrate through the whole length of the trunk, till, 

 fastening in the very earth, they burst the including tree, as it has 

 happened in Willows, where an Ash-tree has sprung likely from some 

 key or seed dropped upon the rotten head of it ; but this accident not so 

 properly pertaining to this chapter, I conclude with recommending the 

 bowing and bending of young timber-trees, especially Oak and Ash, 

 into various flexures, curbs, and postures, which may be done by hum- 

 bUng and binding them down with tough bands and withs, or hooks 

 rather, cut screw-wise, or slightly haggled and indented with a knife, 

 and so screwed into the ground, or by hanging of weighty stones to 

 the tops or branches, tiU the tenour of the sap, and custom of being so 

 constrained, do render them apt to grow so of themselves, without 

 power of redressing. This course would wonderfully accommodate the 

 ship-builder with materials for knee-timber, and prove useful to the 

 wheel-wright, as it would conform the wood to their moulds, save in- 

 finite labour, and abbreviate the work of hewing and waste : 



■ adeo in teneris consuescere multura est. 



Virgil, it seems, knew it well, and for what purpose : 



Continuo in silvis magna vi flexa domatur 



In burim, et curvi formam accipit Ulraus aratri. georg. ii. 



When in the woods with mighty force they bow 

 The Elm, and shape it to the crooked plow. 



