126 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. too big There are who pare away the root within two fingers of tlie 

 '■^"^'^^^ stem, and quite cut off the head; but I cannot commend this extreme 

 severity, no more than I do the strewing of oats in the pit ; which, 

 fermenting with the moisture and frequent waterings, is beUeved much 

 to accelerate the putting forth of the roots ; not considering that, for want 

 of air, they corrupt and grow musty, which more frequently suffocates 

 the roots, and endangers the whole tree. 



7. I have affirmed how patient this tree is of transplantation ; not 

 only for that I observe so few of them to grow wild in England, and 

 where it may not be suspected but they, or their predecessors, have been 

 planted by some industrious hand ; but for that those incomparable 

 walks and vistas of them, both at Aranjuez, Casal del Campo, Madrid, 

 the Escurial, and other places of delight, belonging to the King and 

 Grandees of Spain, are planted with such as they report Philip the Second 

 caused to be brought out of England; before which (as that most 

 honourable person, the Earl of Sandwich, when his Majesty's Ambassador 

 extraordinary at that court, writ to me) it does not appear there were 

 any of those trees in all Spain. But, of that plantation, see it more 

 particularly described in chapter vii. book iii. of this Discourse, whither 

 I refer my reader ; whilst, as to my own inclination, I know of no tree 

 amongst all the foresters, becoming the almost interminate Lontananza 

 of walks and vistas, comparable to this majestic plant. 



8. The Elm delights in a sound, sweet, and fertile land, something 

 more inclined to loamy moisture, and where good pasture is produced ; 

 though it will also prosper in the gravelly, provided there be a competent 

 depth of mould, and be refreshed with springs ; in defect of which, being 



" It seems to have been thought an excellence amongst the Roman husbandmen to be 

 able to transplant large trees. Virgil represents the old Corycian as possessed of that 

 knowledge in a high degree : • 



lUe etiam seras in versum distulit Ulmos, 

 Eduramque pyrum, et spines jam pruna ferentes, 



Jamque ministrantem platanum potantibus umbras. georg. iv. 1. 144. 



In these verses, it is remarkable that the poet has bestowed upon the trees such epithets 

 as prove them to have been of considerable stature. 



