136 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. mistake, or rather, for that he had not travelled much up into the country'. 

 '^^''^'^^ Virgil reports it will graff with the chestnut. 



2. The Beech serves for various uses of the housewife. 



Hinc olim juvenis tnundi melioribus annis, 

 Fortunatarum domuum non magna supellex 

 Tota petebatur ; sellas, armaria, lectos, 



Et mensas dabat, et lances, et pocula Fagus. couleius. 



Hence, in the world's best years, the humble shed 

 Was happily and fully furnished : 



Beech made their chests, their beds, and the join'd-stools : 

 Beech made the board, the platters, and the bowls. 



With it the turner makes dishes, trays, rims for buckets, trenchers, dresser 

 boards, and other utensils. It setves the wheeler and joiner, for large 

 screws, &c. the upholsterer uses it for sellies, chairs, bed-steads, &c. 

 It makes shovels and spade-graffs for the husbandman, and is useful to 

 the bellows-maker. Floats for fishers' nets, instead of corks, are made 

 of its bark. It is good for fuel, billet, bavin, and coals, though one 

 of the least lasting ; and its very shavings are good for fining of wine. 

 Peter Crescentius writes, that the ashes of Beech, with proper mixture, 

 is excellent to make glass with. If the timber lie altogether under water, 

 it islittleinferiorto Elm, asl find it is practised and asserted by shipwrights. 

 Of old they made their Vasa Vindemiatoria and Corbes Messorige, as 

 we our pots for strawberries, with the rind of this tree ; nay, and 

 vessels to preserve wine in; and that curiously wrought cup, which the 

 shepherd, in the Bucolicks, wagers withal, was engraven by Alcimedon 

 upon the bark of the Beech. And an happy age it seems : 



' From the authority of ancient times, and from the evidence of our own eyes, we must 

 suppose the Fir to be a native of this country. The quantity of this kind of ^ood, dis- 

 covered in many bogs of this island, leaves the matter beyond a doubt : But, with regard 

 to what Caesar says of the Beech, the argument against him is not so conclusive. The 

 ingenious Mr. Hasted, in the 19th number of the 6lst vol. of Phil. Trans, speaking of 

 Caesar's observation, says, " both of which (the Fir and Beech) were in the greatest plenty 

 " here at that very time ; the latter was particulai'ly so in the county of Kent, the only 

 "place he might be said to be acquainted with." But for this Mr. Hasted quotes no 

 authorities. 



