OF FOREST-TREES. 



123 



very well ; nay, the stubs only, which are left in the ground after a felling, CHAP, 

 being fenced in as far as the roots extend, will furnish you with plenty, 

 which may be transplanted, from the first year or two successively, 

 by slipping them from the roots, which will continually supply you for 

 many years, after that the body of the mother-tree has been cut down : 

 And from hence probably is sprung that (I fear) mistake of Salmasius 

 and others, where they write of the growing of their chips (I suppose 

 having some of the bark on) scattered in hewing of their timber ; the 

 error proceeding from this, that, after an Elm-tree has been felled, the 

 numerous suckers, which shoot from the remainders of the latent roots, 

 seem to be produced from this dispersion of the chips : Let this yet 

 be more accurately examined ; for I pronounce nothing magisterially, 

 since it is so confidently reported. 



when they should be thinned, by taking away every second, or rather the less-thriving 

 trees, all over the plantation. Thus they may continue until the branches meet again, 

 when they should undergo a second thinning, taking care to grub up the old roots. When 

 managed in this manner, the trees will become noble, lofty, and valuable. 



Columella, in his twelfth chapter de Arboribiis, informs us, that Elms were principally 

 employed in making living props to vines ; and that vineyards, formed upon this extensive 

 plan, were named Arbusta, the vines themselves being called Arbustivce Files, to distinguish 

 them from others raised in more confined situations. Since the introduction of silk-worms 

 into Italy, the Mulberry-trees in many places, are pollarded for the double purpose 

 of supporting vines, and supplying leaves for feeding the worms. Once in two years the 

 Elms were carefully pruned, to prevent their leaves from overshadowing the grapes ; and 

 this operation was deemed of great importance. Corydon is reproached for a double 

 neglect, in suffering both his Elms and Vines to remain unpruned : 



Seniiputata tibi frondosa vitis in Ulmo est. ecl. 11. 1. 70. 



Virgil, in his elegant description of the implements of husbandry, recoinmends the buris 

 or plough-tail, to be made of an E Im bent in the woods : 



Continuo in sylvis mag na vi flexa domatur 



In burim, et curvi formam accipit Ulmus aratri. georg. i. 1. 170. 



From this passage, it is probable that the hint was taken of forming knee-timber 

 by bending down young Oaks. 



Among the ancients, it was customary to plant about their tombs such trees as bore 

 no seeds, particularly the Elm : 



Jove's Sylvan daughters bade their Elms bestow 



A barren shade, and in his honour grow. pope's homer, vi. 1. 530, 



Z 2 



