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A Difcourfe of Forett-Trees. Chap.VIII.» find an incredible improvement in the more ftable Furziture of our Houfes, as inthefirft frugal, and better dayes of Rowe,when Tables made here at home, thofe times beheld, Of our own Wood, for that fame purpofe fell’d, Illa domi natas,noStraque ex arbore wei! Tempora viderunt : bos lignum fta at inufus, Annofam fi forte nucemdejecerat Enrus. Old walnut blown down,when the Wind fet Faft. Sr. R. Stapylton. Juv. 1.4. Sat.rr. for if it had been cut in that feafon, it would not have prov’d fo found, as we fhew in our Chapter of Felling. It is certain, that the Menfe nucing , were oncein price even before the Citriz,as Strabo notes; and nothing can be more beautiful, than fome Planks, and Works which I have beheld of it, efpecially that which comes from Grenoble, of all other the moft beautiful and efteemed. 3. They render moft graceful Avenues to our Country dwel« lings, and do excellently neer Hedge-rows; but had need be planted at forty, or fifty foot interval, for they affect to {pread both their Rootsand Branches. The Berg/tras ( which extends from Heidel: berg to Darmftadt) is all planted with Walnuts; for fo by another antient Law, the Bordurers were obliged to nurfe up, and take care of them and that chiefly, for their.ornament and fhade; fo as a man may ride for manymiles about that Countrey, under a continued Arbour, or Clofe-walk; The Traveller both refrefhed with the Fraét,and thefhade,which fome have cauflefly defam’d for its ill effects onthe head,for which the Fruit is a fbecifique and a notable figzature; although I deny not, but the fent of the fallen leaves, when they begin tobe damp'd with lying, may emit fomewhat a heady fteam, which to fome has prov’d noxious 5 but not whilft they were frefh, and lively upon the Trees. How would fuch publick P/aztations improve the Glory and Wealth ofa Nation / but where fhall ve find the fpir#ts among our Countrymen? Yes, I will adventure to inftance in thole Plavtations of Sir Richard Stidolph , upon the Downs neerLether-beadin Surry , and foabout Caffaulton, where many thoufands of thefe zrees' do celebrate the indufiry of the Owners 5. and will certainly reward it with infinite improvement, as1 amaflur'd they do in part already, and that very confiderably; befides the Orzament which they afford to thofe pleafant tras, forfome Miles incircumference. Iremember Monfienr Sorbiere , ina Sceptical difcourfe to Monfieur de Mar. tel, {peaking of the readinefle of the People in Holland to furnith and maintain whatfoever may conduce to the publick Ornament , as wellas convenience; tells us, that their Plantations of thefe A and the like Trees, evenin their very Roads , and common High- mayes, are better preferv'd, and entertain’d (asl myfelf have Chap. VIII. A Difcourfe of Forett-Trees. ruining thefe publick and ufeful Ornaments, if haply fome moré prudent Adagiftrate , doat any time intro duce them, Thus in the Reign of Henry the fourth , during the Superinten dency of MonJfieur de Sulli, there wasrefolution of adorn ingall the High-wayes ot France with Elms, @ec. but the rude and milch ievous Payfans. did fo hack, fteal, and deftroy what they had begun, that they were forced to defift from the thorough profe cution of the defign; foas there is nothing more expos’d » Wild, and lefle pleafant thenthe Common Roads of France for want of jhade, and the decent 4mzts whic h thefe {weet, and divertiffant Plantations woul d have afforded 5 not to omit that Political ufe > as my Lord Bacon hintsit, where he fpeaks of the Statues and Monuments of brave men, and fuch as had well deferv’d of the Publi ck, erected by the Komans even in their High wayes, ince doubt lefle, fuch take off the Adiads and Difcourfés of Melancholy peopl e, and noble. and agreeable objects, would exceedingly diver t, entertain, and penlive Travellers, who having nothing but the dull and enclofed Wayesto cafttheir eyes on, are but ill Converfation to themfelves and others, and in ftead of Celebrating, Contec their Superiours. Itis by acurious Perfoz, and induftrious Friend of mine, that the Sap of this Tree rifes, and defcends with the Sunsobferwd diurnal courfe ( which it vifibly flackens in the Night) and more plentifully atthe Root on the Somth-fide, though thofe on the North werelarger, and leffe diftant from the Bodyof the Tree; onely diftill'd from the ends, which were next the Stem, and not but from thofe which were cut off and feparated ; which wasn ever obferved to happenin the Birch, or other Sap-yielding Trees, 4. What univerfal ufethe French make of the Timber of this fole Tree, for domeftic affairs, may be feen in every Room both of Poor and Rich: Itisof fingular account with the Foyner, for the beft grain’d and colour'd Waincot, with the Gunfm ith for Stocks for Coach wheels excellent, and the Bodies of Coach es , the Drum. maker for Rimbs, the Cabinct-maker for Inlayi ngs, efpecially the firm and clofe Timber about the Roots, which is admir and chambletted works , fome wood efpecially, as able forfleckid that which we have from Bologwe veryblack of Colour,and {© admir ably ftreaked as to reprefent natural flowers, Landskips,and otherF der this the bettercoloured , Foyners put the board.ancys:To rens into an Oven after the batch is forth, or lay themin a warm Stable, and when’ they workit, polifh it over withits own Oyl very hot, which makes it look black and fleck, and the olderitis the more efteemable ; but thenit fhould not be put in worktil] thoro ughly feafoned be- eaufe it wil! fhrink beyond expeétation. It is only confide init much for beams, or Joyfts, becaufe ofitsnot good to brittlenefs of which yet, ithas beenobferved to give timely notic crackling before it breaks. Befides the ufés of the Wood,e, by the the fruit likewife beenoftenan eye-witnels)then thofe about the Houfes,and Gardens ofpleafure belonging to the Nobles and Gentry of molt other Countries: Andineffed it isa moft ravifhing obje&, to behold their amenities in this particular ; With w fayeshe ( {peak: with 4usk and all when tenderand very young, is for preferves, for food, and Oyl, of extraordinary ufe with the Painte r, in whites, ruining with’ ing of Frazce) they make a jeft at fuch political Ordinawces, by and other delicate Colours , alfo for Geld-fize, and Verni f ; and |
