256 



A DISCOUHSE 



BOOK I. Gelster, Whining, or Shrivelled Gelster, the Black Gelster, with which 

 -^"Y^^ Suffolk abounds. Then follow the Golstones, the Hard, and the Soft 

 Golstone ; (brittle and worst of all the Golstones ;) the Sharp and Slender- 

 topped Yellow Golstone ; the Fine Golstone : Then is there the Yellow 

 Ozier, the Green Ozier, the Snake or Speckled Ozier, Swallow-tail, and 

 the Spaniard : To these we may add (for they are governed and used 

 alike) the Flanders Willow, which will arrive to be a large tree, as big 

 as one's middle, the oftener cut the better ; with these our coopers tie 

 their hoops to keep them bent. Lastly, the White Sallow, which being 

 of one or two years' growth, is used for green-work ; and of the toughest 

 sort they make quarter-can hoops, of which, for our seamen, great 

 quantities are provided. 



19. These choicer sorts of Oziers, which are ever the smallest, also the 

 Golden Yellow and White, which is preferred for propagation and to 

 breed of, should be planted of slips of two or three years' growth, a foot 

 deep, and half a yard in length, in moorish grounds or banks, or else in 

 furrows ; so that, as some direct, the roots may frequently reach the 



water, Fluminihus Salices though we commonly find it rots them, and 



therefore never choose, to set them so deep as to scent it. 



20. The season for planting is January, and all February, though some 

 not till Mid-February, at two feet square ; but cattle being excessively 

 liquorish of their leaves and tender buds, some talk of graffing them out 

 of reach upon Sallows, and by this to advance their sprouting ; but as the 

 work would consume time, so have I never seen it succeed. 



21. Some do also plant Oziers, in tlieir Eyghts, like Quick-sets, thickj 

 and (near the water) keep them not more than half a foot above ground ; 

 but then they must be dilig'ently cleansed from moss, slab, and ouze, and 

 frequently pruned, especially the smaller spires, to form single shoots, at 

 least that few, or none, grow double ; these they head every second year 

 about September, the autumnal cuttings being best for use : But, generally, 



22. You may cut Withies, Sallows, and Willows at any mild and gentle 

 season, between leaf and leaf, even in winter ; but the most congruous 

 time both to plant and to cut them is, Crescente lund Vere, circa Calendar 



