Of OXFO^^D^SHITiE. 
nally recalled, by Valmtinian the third, toaffiil I^tim in Gallia a° 
gainft the In-roads of the Francks under Clodion^ and to fupport 
his then tottering, and qoickly after ruin'd IFeftern Empire : At 
what time, fays Mr. Speed'' (hot he quotes not his Author) they 
buryed alio then Treafures^ whereof we have found parcels in all 
Ages ever fince. 
^4. And this 'tis likely they might do, firft by throwing in 
Trtes^ which not lying clofe enough immediatly to fupport the 
Earthy were after cover'd with Hafeh (when the Nuts were fully 
ripe, which has occafioned their endurance to this very day) on 
which they heaped Earth ; which after fonse time finking below 
thefurface of the other ground might occafion this PoncI^ never 
thought to have been any other till the time abovc-mentlon'd. 
65. After the accidents of Oaks^ come we next to thofe of 
Ehns^ whereof there (lands one on 5i;?/f)/-Common, at the fjmrs 
next the ground at lead 6 yards diameter^ occafion 'd here, as (I 
fuppofe) at many other places, by ereftingaTurf feat round the 
bottom of the Tree^ it being elfewhere but of ordinary dimen- 
fions. But this is not fo extravagant in the excefs of the growth 
of its //T/^/^:. near the ground, but there is another more (Iran ge 
for a defefl: in that place, viz. a great old Elm growing near the 
North-eafc corner of the Bowling-green in Magdalene College 
Grove, -difcarked quite round, at moft places two foot, at fome 
at lead a yard, or four foot from the ground; which yet for 
thefe many years paft has flourifli'd as v^ell as any Tree in the 
Grove. 
66. Now how this iliould come to pafs (all Trees being be- 
lieved to receive their nourifliment between the woodmd. bark.^ 
and prefently to die upon their feparation) many have admired, 
but few attempted to explain, being further difcouraged by the 
abfence of thepith^ the Tree being within as hollow as a Drum^ 
and its outmoft furface, where unbark'd, dead and dry befide. 
All which I think had not ftartled me much, but that I found it in 
our Tranfa^ions ^ pofitively afferted, that if any circle be drawn 
round any common EngUfp tree (only Afi excepted) as Oak.^ 
Elm^ Poplar^ isrc. by incifion to the /i/^^^er (how thin foever the 
'knife be) fo that no part of the rind or harJ^ to the very folid 
'timber he uncut, the Tree will die from that part upwards. ; 
^ Hiftory of 3rita?t- lib- 6-cap.<,-\. * Philofoph. T.ranfadt. Numb. 43. 
67, FoF 
