A DISCOURSE

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book hi. what a paling they would be to our most exposed plantations,, mountingup their wooden walls to the clouds. And indeed the shelving and naturaldeclivity of the ground more or lefs to our unkind aspects, and bleakwinds, does best direct to the thickening of these protections; and the be-nefit of that soon appears, and recompenses our industry in the smoothnefs.and integrity of the plantations so defended.

That great care be had of the seeds which we intend to sow, has beenalready advised; for it has been seen that woods of the same age, plantedin the same soil, discover a visible difference in the timber and growths,and where this variety should happen, if not from the seed, will be hard-to interpret; therefore let the place, soil, and growth of such trees, fromwhence you have your seeds, be diligently examined; and why not this 3Jas well as our care of animals for breed and store ?

As to the form, obey the natural site, and submit.to the several guises;but ever decline to inclose highways and common roads as much as pos~-sible. For the rest, be pleased to reflect.on what, we have already said to,encourage the planting of the large spreading Oak above-all'that species;,let the amplitude of the distance which they require, be resigned to thecare of the Verderer, for grazing cattle, deer, See. Trees planted in this,manner form, as it* were,, a.wild Quincunx which presents to the eye a.great and masculine beauty..

But to advance the Royal Forests to this height'of perfection, I should,again urge the removal of some of our most mischievous placed Iron --mills ; if that at least be true which some have affirmed, that we had better,iron, and cheaper from foreigners, when those works were strangers,amongst-us. I am informed that the Nezci-Engl/sh (who are now becomevery numerous, and hindered in their advance and prospect of the conti-nent by their surfeit of the woods,, which we want), did, about twelvevears since, begin to clear their highways by two Iron-mills. I am suretheir zeal has sufficiently wasted our stately Woods and Steel in the bowelsof their Mother Old England:, and it were now but expedient their Brethrenshould hasten thither to supply us with iron for the peace of our days,whilst his IVfajesty becomes the great Sovereign of the Ocean, and offree Commerce; Nemorum Vindex et Instaurator magmis. This were theoilly way to render both our countries habitable indeed, and the fittest sa-