250 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. For the use of our cliimneys, and maintenance of fire; tlie plenty of 

 ^"^"^'^'^^ Avood for fuel, rather than the quality, is to be looked after ; and yet there 

 are some greatly to be preferred before others, as harder, longer lasting, 

 FUEL. better heating, and more cheerfully burning ; for which we have com- 

 mended the Ash, &c. in the foregoing paragraphs, and to which I pretend 

 not here to add much for the avoiding repetitions, though even an liistory 

 of the best way of charring would not misbecome this discourse. 



But something more is to be said, sure, concerning the felling of Lig- 

 num, fuel-wood ; for so critics would distinguish it from Materia, timber. 

 Benedictus Cursius, Hortor. lib. viii. cap. xi. reckons up what woods 

 make the best firing : also of coaling, et cle facihus, clearing, and what else 

 • V. Eustath. belongs to ?u).o7ojuta, especially for the use of sacrifices*, which had their 

 particular sorts, as in the temple Despoene in Arcadia, where they were 

 prohibited the burning of Olive-wood, the Vaticinatric Laurel, the thick- 

 rind Oak, or any fungous, or rotten wood, but were obliged to use what 

 was well dried, and apt to kindle without smoking. In the sacrifice of 

 Jupiter they used White Poplar, and the Pine on the altar of Ceres. 

 The Persian Magi burnt their sacrifices with INIyrtle and the boughs of 

 Laurel ; and, in general, all the sacrifices offered up to the pagan gods 

 were lighted with that wood which was sacred to the particular deity. 

 Of all which to particularize, let the curious inquire. We proceed, 

 therefore, with Avhat concerns this most useful chapter. 



And first, that our fuelist begin with the underwood : some conceive 

 between Martinmas and Holy-Rood ; but generally with Oak as soon as 

 it will strip, but not after May ; and for Ashes, betwixt Michaelmas and 

 Candlemas. Let these be so felled as that the cattle may have the 

 browsing of them, for in winter they will not only eat the tender twigs, 

 but even the very moss ; but fell no more in a day than they can eat for 

 this purpose. This done, kid or bavin them, and pitch them upon their 

 ends, to preserve them from rotting : thus the underwood being disposed 

 of, the rest will prosper the better ; and besides, it otherwise does but rot 

 upon the earth, and destroy that which would spring. If you head or 

 top for the fire, it is not amiss to begin three or four feet above the tim- 

 ber, if it be considerable ; but in case they are only shaken trees and 

 hedge-rows, strip them even to thirty feet high, because they are usually 

 full of boughs ; and it were good to top such as you perceive to wither 



