262 



A DISCOURSE 



28. Wherein most of the former enumerated kinds differ from the 

 Sallows, is indeed not very considerable, they being generally useful for 

 the same purpose ; as for boxes, such as apothecaries and goldsmiths 

 use ; for cai't saddle-trees, yea, gun-stocks and half-pikes ; harrows, 

 shoemakers' lasts, heels, clogs for pattens ; forks, rakes, especially the 

 leeth, which should be wedged with Oak ; but let them not be cut for 

 this when the sap is stirring, because they will shrink ; for pearchers, 

 rafters for hovels, portable and light ladders, hop-poles, ricing of kidney- 

 beans, and supporters to vines, when our English vineyards come more 

 in request : Also for hurdles, sieves, lattices ; for the turner, kyele-pins, 

 great town tops ; for platters, little casks, and vessels, especially to pre- 

 serve verjuices in, the best of any. Pales are made of cleft Willow ; 

 also dorsers, fl'uit-baskets, cans, hives for bees, trenchers, trays, &c. and 

 for polishing and whetting table-knives, the butler will find it above any 

 Avood or whetstone ; it makes coals, bavin, and excellent firing, not 

 forgetting the fresh boughs, which, of all the trees in nature, yield the 

 chastest and coolest shade in the hottest season of the day ; and this 

 umbrage so wholesome, that physicians prescribe it to feverish persons, 

 permitting them to be placed even about their beds, as a safe and com- 

 fortable refrigerium. The wood being preserved dry, will dure a very 

 long time " ; but that which is found wholly putrefied, and reduced 

 to a loamy earth in the hollow trunks of superannuated trees, is, of all 

 other, the fittest to be mingled with fine mould, for the raising our 

 choicest flowers, such as Anemonies, Ranunculuses, Auriculas, and the 

 like. 



Quid majora sequar ? Salices, humilesque genistse, 

 Aut illae pecori frondem, aut pastoribus umbram 



SufRciunt, sepemque satis, et pabula raelli. georg. ii. 



What would be more ? Low Broom, and Sail ows wild, 

 Or feed the flock, or shepherds shade, Or field 

 Hedge about, or do us honey yield. 



k Willows, and all the soft woods, when used for poles or other purposes, should be 

 stripped of their bark, and steeped in water for some months, which will prevent the worm, 

 and render the wood much more durable. 



