98

A DISCOURSE

bark, for that is ever an indication of youth, as well as the paucityof their circles, which, in disbranching and cutting the head off at fiveor six feet in height (a thing, by the way, which the French usually sparewhen they transplant this tree) may, before you stir their roots, serve forthe more certain guide ; and then plant them immediately, with as muchearth as will adhere to them, in the place destined for their station,abating only the tap-root*, (which is that downright and stubby partexpe- th e roots which all trees raised of seeds do universally produce,) andrience, will quickening some of the rest with a sharp knife (but sparing the fibrous,transplanting are the main suckers and mouths of all trees) spread them in the

young Oaks ; fofs or pit which hath been prepared to receive them : I say in the fofs,affirming the un ] e f§ y 0 u will rather trench the whole field, which is incomparably theup '"without best way, and infinitely to be preferred before narrow pits and holes,any abate- manner is, in case you plant any number considerable, the earth

ment, or the .

least -wound, being hereby made loose, and easier penetrable for the roots, aboutdoes exceed- w hich you are to cast that mould which, in opening of the trench, youthe^rowthof took from the surface, and purposely laid apart, because it is sweet,this tree a- mellow, and better impregnated. But, in this work, be circumspectaredeprived never to * nter y our stem deeper d ian you found it standing, for profoundof it- burying very frequently destroys a tree, though an error seldom observed.

If, therefore, the roots be sufficiently covered to keep the body steadyand erect, it is enough; and the not minding of this trifling circumstancedoes very much deceive our ordinary wood-men, as w T ell as gardeners,for most roots covet the air, though those of the Quercus Urbana leastof any; for, like the Esculus,

book x.

* Which yet

-Quae quantum vertice ad auras

Alhereas, tantum radice in Tartara tendit. georg, ii.

High as his topmost boughs to heaven ascend,

So low his roots to hell’s dominion tend.

And the perfection of that does almost as much concern the prosperityof a tree, as of a man himself, since Homo is but Arbor inversa; whichprompts me to this curious but important advertisement, that the positionbe likewise sedulously observed.

7. For the southern parts of all trees being more dilated, and the poresexposed (as evidently appears in their horizontal sections) by the constant