OF FOREST-TREES. 183

ons of such over-grown Parts as have been cut off, should not ratherCHAp. II.accelerate it, by exposing their large and many Wounds to the Injuriesof the Weather , which will endanger the rotting of them, beyond allthat can be applied by Tar, or otherwise, to protect them : I do ratherconceive their Infirmities to proceed from what has not long since beenabated of their large spreading Branches , to accommodate with theMall ; as any one may conjecture by the great Impression which theWet has already made in those incurable Scars, that being now multi-plied, must needs the sooner impair them ; the Roots having likewiseinfinitely suffered by many Disturbances about them. In all Eventsthis Walk might have enjoyed its goodly Canopy, with all their bran-chy Furniture for some Ages to come, since his hardly one that firstthey were planted : But this Defect is providently and nobly suppliedby their Successors of the Lime-trees , which will sooner accomplishtheir Perfection, by taking away the Chefnut-trees y which will else dothem Prejudice.

But it is now (and never till now) that those Walks and Ranks ofTrees , and other Royal Amenities, are sure to prosper, whilst they areentirely under the Care and Culture of the most industrious and know-ing Mr. Wife , to whom, and to his Partner Mr. London , I not only ac-knowledge my self particularly obliged, but the whole Nation, for whatthey have contributed to the sweetest, useful, and most innocent Diver-sions of Life, Gardens and ‘Plantations.

One should be cautious in heading Timber-trebs , especially the pi-thy ; unless where they grow very crooked, in which Case abate theHead with an upward Sloop, and cherish a leading Shoot: The Beechis very tender of its Head.

It is by the Discreet leaving the Side-boughs in convenient Places,sparing the smaller, and taking away the bigger, that you may advancea Tree to what determined Height you desire : Thus, bring up theLeader , and when you would have that spread and break Out, cut offall the Side-boughs , and especially at Midsummer, if you espy thembreaking out. Young Trees may every Year be pruned, and as they growolder at longer Intervals, as at three, five, seven or sooner, that theWounds may recover, and nothing be deformed.

Ever-greens do not well support to be decapitated ; Side-boughsthey freely spare in April, and during the Spring ; and if you cut atfirst two or three Inches from the Body, and the next Spring afterclose to the Stem , covering it with Wax , or well tempered Clay^ themost tender may suffer such Amputations without Prejudice.

Note, that the side and collateral Branches of the Fir Cut, or broken'off, spring no more ; and though the Tops sometimes do, yet they ne-ver prosper to beautiful and erect Heads, in which consists the Graceof that beautiful Tree.

Another Caution is, that you be sure to cut off such tender Branchesto the Quick, which you find have been cropt by Goats , or any otherCattle , who leave a Drivel where they bite; which not only infectsthe Branches , but sometimes endanger the whole; the Reason is, forthat the natural Sap’s Recourse to the Stem , communicates the Venomto all the rest, as the whole Mass and Habit of animal Blood is by aGangreen , or venereal Taint.

5. Divers other Precepts of this Nature I could here enumerate, hadnot the great Experience , faithful and accurate ‘Description how this

necessary