V

n8 A DISCOURSE

Book III harder, longer-lasting, better heating , and chearfi.il ly burning ; forwhich we have commended the A/h, tSc. in the foregoing ‘Paragraphs,and to which I pretend not here to add much, for the avoiding Repeti-tions ; though even an History of the best way of Charring would notmifsbecome this Discourse.

But something more is to be said, sure, concerning the Felling of Lig*num, Fuel-wood (for so Critics would distinguish it from Materia Tim-ber :) Benediblus Curstus, Hortor. Lib . viii. Cap. xi. reckons up whatWoods make the best Firing : Also of Coaling de facibus, Clearing,*o’Jwnif’ an ^ w hat else belongs to § uAorofJucc, especially for the Use of* Sacrifices ,' which had their particular Sorts ; as in the Temple Defpoene inArcadia , where they were prohibited the burning of Olive-wood, or thecpvlov f&viAv, the Vaticinatric Laurel, or the thick-rind Oak, nor any.Fungus or rotten Wood, but what was well dry’d, and apt to kindlewithout fmoaking. In the Sacrifice of Jupiter they used white Pop-lar, the Pine, on the Altar of Ceres. The Persian Magi burnt theirSacrifices with Myrtle , and the Boughs of Laurel ; and in general, allthe Pagan Gods, that Wood which was sacred to the particular Deity.Of all which to particularize, let the Curious enquire, * We proceedtherefore with what concerns this most useful Chapter.

And first, that our Fuelift begin with the Dnder-wood : Some con-ceive between Martlemas and Holy-Rood ; but generally with Oak,as soon as "twill strip, but not after May ; and for AJhes, "twixt Mi*chaelmas and Candlemas ; and so fell’d, as that the Cattle may havethe browsing of it, for in Winter they will not only eat the tenderTwigs, but even the very Moss ; hut fell no more in a Day than theycan eat for this Purpose. This done, kid or bavin them, and pitchthem upon their Ends, to preserve them from rotting : Thus the Dnder-wood being disposed of, the rest will prosper the better • and besides,it otherwise does but rot upon the Earth, apd destrpy that Which wouldspring . 1 If you head or top for the Fire, 'th sot amiss to begin threeor four soot above the Timber, if it be considerable ; but in Cafe theyare only Jhaken-Trees and Hedge-rows, strip them even to thirty Foothigh, because they are usually full, of Roughs ; and stwerc good to topsuch as you perceive to wither at jfespps a competent Way beneath, toprevent their Sickness downwards, Which will else certainly ensue ;whereas'by this Means even dying Trees may be preserved many Yearsto goSd Emolument, though they 1 never advance taller ; ,and being thusfrequently sored, they will produce more than if suffered to stand anddecays This is a profitable Mote for soch as have old, doating, or any.ways infirm Wood's. In other Fellings, some advise never to co©*mence the disbranching from the Top ; for though the Incumbency of thfriiTfBoughshpon the next, cause them to fall off the casier, yet ltendangers the splicing of the next, which is very prejudicial, and th^'fore advise the Beginning at the nearest. And in cutting for Fuel, y oUmay as at the Top, so at the Sides, cut a Foot or more from the Body »but never when you sored Timber-trees. We have said how dangerousit is to cut for Fire-wood when the Sap is up, it is a Mark of impr°*vident Husbands ; besides, it will never burn well, though abundancebe congested. Lastly, remember that East and North-winds are un-kind to the succeeding Sbodts, ' o-jf " >

■Ndw for Directions, in Stacking (of which we have said something rUChap. of Coppices ) ever set she lowest Course an End, the ficond, so at

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