OF FOREST-TREES. 



259 



three, four, or more you left may enjoy all the sap, and so those which chap. XX, 



were spared will be gallant pearchers within two years. Arms of four '"^'V'^i^ 



years' growth will yield substantial sets, to be planted at eight or ten feet 



distance ; and for the first three years well defended from the cattle, 



who infinitely delight in their leaves, green or withered. Thus, a Willow 



may continue twenty, or five-and-twenty years, with good profit to the 



industrious planter, being headed every four or five years ; some have 



been known to shoot no less than twelve feet in one year, after which 



the old rotten dotards may be felled, and easily supplied : But if you 



have ground fit for whole copses of this wood, cast it into double dikes ; 



making every foss near three feet wide, and two and a half in depth ; 



then leaving four feet at least of ground for the earth, (because in such 



plantations the moisture should be below the roots, that they may rather 



see than feel the water,) and two tables of sets on each side, plant the 



ridges of these banks with but one single table, longer and bigger than 



the collateral, viz. three, four, five, or six feet high, and distant from 



each other about two yards. These banks being carefully kept weeded 



for the first two years, till the plants have vanquished the grass, and 



not cut till the third, you may lop them transverse, and not obliquely, 



at one foot from the ground, or somewhat more, and they will head 



to admiration ; but such as are cut at three feet height are most 



durable, at least soft and aquatic : They may also be graffed betwixt 



the bark, or budded ; and then they become so beautiful as to be fit for 



some kind of delightful walks ; and this I wish were practised among 



such as are seated in low and marshy places, not so friendly to other 



trees. Every acre, at eleven or twelve years' growth, may yield you near 



an hundred load of wood : Cut them in the spring for dressing, but 



in the fall, for timber and fuel. 1 have been informed that a gentleman 



in Essex has lopped no less than two thousand yearly, all of his own 



planting. It is far the sweetest of all our English fuel. Ash not 



excepted, provided it be sound and dry ;^ and, emitting little smoke, 



is the fittest for ladies' chambers; and all those woods and twigs 



should be cut either to plant, work with, or burn, in the driest time 



of the day. 



To confirm what we have advanced in relation to the profit which may 

 be made by this husbandry, sqe what comes to me from a worthy person 



R r 2 



