OF FOREST-TREES.
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planted on the very surface of the ground, the swarth pared first away, chap.and the earth stirred a foot deep or more, they will undoubtedly succeed ;but, in this trial, let the roots be handsomely spread, and covered a footor more in height, and, above all, firmly staked. This is practicable alsofor other trees, where the soil is over moist or unkind; for, as the Elmdoes not thrive in too dry, sandy, or hot grounds, no more will it abidethe cold and spungy; but loves places that are competently fertile,.or a little elevated from these annoyances, as we see in the mounds andcasting up of ditches, upon whose banks the female sort does morenaturally delight. It seems to be so much more addicted to some placesthan to others, that I have frequently doubted whether it be a pureindigene 0 'or translatitious; and not only because I have hardly everknown any considerable woods of them, (besides some few nurseries nearCambridge, planted, I suppose, for store) but most continually in tufts,.hedge-rows, and mounds; and that Shropshire , and several otherCounties, have rarely any growing in many miles together. In the meantime, some affirm they were first brought out of Lombardy , where indeedI have observed very goodly trees about the rich grounds, with Pinesamong them ; for I hear of none either in Saxony or Denmark , nor inFrance , growing wild, who all came and preyed upon us after theRomans. But I leave this, to the learned.
9. The Elm is, by reason of its aspiring ana tapering growth, unlefsit be topped to enlarge the branches and make them spread low, the leastoffensive to corn and pasture-grounds ; to both which, and the cattle,it affords a benign shade, defence, and agreeable ornament; but then,
•as to pastures, the wandering roots, (apt to infect the fields and grafswith innumerable suckers,) and the leading mother-root, ought to be quiteseparated on that part, and the suckers eradicated: The like shouldhe done where they are placed near walks of turf or gravel..
10. It should be planted as shallow as may be; for, as we noted,deep interring of roots is amongst the catholic mistakes, and this thegreatest to which trees are obnoxious. Let new-planted Elms be kept ’
“The Elm is certainly a native of this.couptry, of which there can be no stronger proof,than that there are near forty places in this kingdom..wluch have their owes from ifi.EiQstof which are mentioned in Doomsday-book.