I 



294 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK nr. what a paling they would be to our most exposed plantations, mounting 

 up their wooden walls to the clouds. And, indeed, the shelving andnatural 

 declivity of the ground more or less to our unkind aspects, and bleak 

 winds, does best direct to the thickening of these protections ; and 

 the benefit of that soon appears, and recompenses our industry in the 

 smoothness and integrity of the plantations so defended. 



That e:reat care be had of the seeds which we intend to sow, has been 

 already advised ; for it has been seen that woods of the same age, planted 

 in the same soil, discover a visible difference in the timber and growth; 

 and where this variety should happen, if not from the seed, will be hard 

 to interpret ; therefore, let the place, soil, and growth of such trees, from 

 whence you have your seeds, be diligently examined ; and why not this, 

 as well as our care of animals for breed and store ? 



As to the form, obey the natural site, and submit to the several 

 guises ; but ever decline to inclose highways and common roads as much 

 as possible. For the rest, be pleased to reflect on what we have already 

 said to encourage the planting of the large spreading Oak above all 

 that species ; let the amplitude of the distance which they require, be 

 resigned to the care of the verderer, for grazing cattle, deer, &c. Trees 

 planted in this manner, form, as it were, a wild quincunx, which 

 presents to the eye a great and masculine beauty. 



But to advance the royal forests to this height of perfection, I should 

 again urge the removal of some of our most mischievous placed iron- 

 miUs; if thatat least be truewhich some have affirmed, thatwe had better 

 iron, and cheaper from foreigners, when those works were strangers 

 amongst us. I am informed that the New-English (who are now become 

 very numerous, and hindered in their advance and prospect of the conti- 

 nent by their surfeit of the woods, which we want) did, about twelve 

 years since, begin to clear their highways by two iron-mills. I am sure 

 their %eal has sufficiently wasted our stately woods and steel in the bowels 

 of their mother old England: and it were now but expedient their brethren 

 should hasten thither to supply us with iron for the peace of our days, 

 whilst his majesty becomes the great sovereign of the ocean, and of 

 Jree commerce ; nemorum vindex et instaurator magniis. This were the 

 only way to render hoth our countries habitable indeed, and the fittest sa- 



