176

A DISCOURSE

trefses, before the present trimming them up so high ; especially, sinceI fear the remedy comes too late to save their decay (could it have beenavoided,) if the amputations of such overgrown parts as have been cutoff, should not rather accelerate it, by exposing their large and manywounds to the injuries of the weather, which will endanger the rottingof them, beyond all that can be applied by tar, or otherwise, to protectthem. I do rather conceive their infirmities to proceed from what hasnot long since been abated of their large spreading branches, to accom-modate with the mall; as anyone may conjecture by the great imprefsionwhich the wet has already made in those incurable scars, that being nowmultiplied, must needs the sooner impair them; the roots having like-wise infinitely suffered by many disturbances about them. In all eventsthis walk might have enjoyed its goodly canopy, with all their branchyfurniture for so many ages to come, for it is hardly one since first they wereplanted : But this defect is providently and nobly supplied by their suc-cefsors the Lime-trees, which will sooner accomplish their perfection, bytaking away the Chesnut-trees, which will else do- them prejudice.

But it : is now, and never till now, that those walks and ranks of trees,and other royal amenities, are sure to prosper, whilst they are entirelyunder the care and culture of the most industrious and knowing Mr.Wise, to whom, and to his partner Mr. London , I not only acknowledgemyself particularly obliged, but the whole nation, for what they have con-tributed to the sweetest, most useful, and most innocent diversions of life,gardens and plantations.

One should be cautious in heading timber-trees, especially the pithy,unlefs where they grow very crooked; in which case abate the headwith an upward slope, and cherish a leading shoot. The Beech is 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 the leader,and when you would have that spread and break out, cutoff all theside-boughs, and especially at Midsummer, if you espy them breakingoutt Young trees may every year be pruned, and as they grow older at-