OF FOREST-TREES. 



137 



_ . Nec bella fuerunt, CHAP. 



Faginus abstabat cum scyphus ante dapes. tibul. V^^y^ 



No wars did men molest. 



When only beechen bowls were in request. 



Of the thin lamina, or scale of this wood, as our cutlers call it, are made 

 scabbards for swords, and band-boxes, superinduced with thin leather 

 or paper ; boxes for writings, hat-cases, and formerly book-covers. 

 I wonder we cannot split it ourselves, but send it into other countries 

 for such trifles. In the cavities of these trees bees much delight to hive 

 themselves. Yet for all this, you would not wonder to hear me deplore 

 the so frequent use of this wood, if you did consider that the industry 

 of France furnishes that country for all domestic utensils with excellent 

 Walnut, a material infinitely preferable to the best Beech, which is indeed 

 good only for shade, and for the fire, as being brittle, and exceedingly 

 obnoxious to the worm, where it lies either dry, or wet and dry, as has 

 been noted ; but, being put ten days in water, it will exceedingly resist 

 the worm. To which, as I said, it is so obnoxious, that I wish the use 

 of it were, by a law, prohibited all joiners, cabinet-makers, and such 

 as furnish tables, chairs, bedsteads, coffers, screws, &c. They have 

 a way to black and polish it, so as to render it like Ebony ; and, with 

 a mixture of soot and urine, imitate the Walnut ; but as the colour does 

 not last, so neither does the wood itself, for I can hardly call it timber, 

 soon after the worm has seized it, unless one spunge and imbibe it well 

 with the oil of spike, where they have made holes. Ricciolus, indeed, 

 much commends it for oars : and some say, that the vast Argo was built 

 of the Fagus, a good part of it at least, as we learn out of ApoUonius : 

 This will admit of interpretation. The Fagus yet, by Claudian, is men- 

 tioned with the Alder : 



Sic qui vecturam longinqua per aequora merces 

 Molitur tellure ratem, vitamque procellis 

 Objectare parat ; Fagos metitur et Alnos, 

 Et variam rudibus silvis accommodat usum. 



So he that to export o'er sea his wares, 

 A vessel builds, and to expose, prepares 

 His life to storms, first Beech and Alder cuts ; 

 And measuring them, to various uses puts. 

 Volume I. B b 



