OF FOREST-TREES. 



187 



naturally, and from the beginning, disburthened of all superfluities, eased CHAP, 

 of, and of his own accord, avoiding the causes that may annoy him, ^""^ 

 should exceed the life of other creatures by very many years. What else 

 are trees in comparison with the earth, but as hairs to the body of man ? 

 And it is certain, that (without some distemper, or forcible cause) the hairs 

 dure with the body, and are esteemed excrements but from their super- 

 fluous growth." So as he resolves, upon good reason, that fruit-trees, well 

 ordered, may live a thousand years, and bear fruit : and the longer the 

 more, the greater, and the better, (for which an instance also in Dr. Beal's 

 Herefordshire Orchards, p. 21, 22,) because his vigour is proud and 

 stronger when his years are many. Thus you shall see old trees put 

 forth their buds and blossoms both sooner and more plentifully than 

 young trees by much ; and I sensibly perceive my young trees to enlarge 

 their fruit as they grow greater. And if fruit-trees continue to this age, 

 how many ages is it to be supposed strong and huge timber-trees will 

 last ; whose massy bodies require the years of divers IMethuselahs, before 

 they determine their days ; whose sap is strong and bitter ; whose bark 

 is hard and thick, and their substance solid and stiff ; all which are 

 defences of health and long life? Their strength withstands all forcible 

 winds ; their sap of that quality is not subject to worms and tainting ; 

 their bark receives seldom or never by casualty any wound ; and not 

 only so, but they are free from removals, which occasion the death of 

 millions of trees ; whereas the fruit-tree, in comparison, is little, and 

 frequently blown down ; his sap sweet, easily and soon tainted ; his bark 

 tender, and soon wounded ; and himself used by man as man uses 

 himself ; that is, either unskilfully or carelessly." Thus he. But Vossius 

 de Theolog. Gent. lib. v. cap. v. gives too little age to Ashes when he 

 speaks but of one hundred years, (in which, as in the rest, he seems to 

 agree with my Lord Bacon, Hist. Vit£e et JMort. Art. i.) and to the 

 Medica, Pyrus, Prunus, Cornus, but sixty. He had as good have held 

 his peace ; even Rosemary has lasted amongst us a hundred years. 



I might to this add much more, and truly with sufficient probability, 

 that timber-trees (especially such as be of a compact, resinous, or 

 balsamical nature, of which kind are the Yew, Box, Hornbeam, White 

 Thorn, Oak, Wahiut, Cedar, Juniper, &;c.) are capable of very long 

 duration and continuance. Those of largest root, (a sign of age,) aye 



