1it grows blacker and handſomer. Theophraſtus
tells us, that the Rich uſed to make their
Doors of the Lote-Tree, the Scarlet-Oak, and
of Box. The Elm, becauſe it firmly main
tains its Strength, is ſaid to be very proper for
Jambs of Doors, but it ſhould be ſet with its
Head downwards. Cato ſays, that Levers
ought to be made of Holly, Laurel, and Elm:
For Bars and Bolts, they recommend the Cor
nel-Tree; for Stairs, the wild Aſh or the
Maple. They hollowed the Pine, the Pitch
Tree and the Elm for Aqueducts, but they ſay
unleſs they are buried under Ground they pre
ſently decay. Laſtly, the Female Larch-Tree,
which is almoſt of the Colour of Honey, for
the Ornaments of Edifices and for Tables for
Painting, they found to be in a Manner eternal
and never crack or ſplit; and beſides, as its
Veins run ſhort, not long, they uſed it for the
Images of their Gods, as they did alſo the
Lote, the Box, the Cedar, and the Cypreſs
too, and the large Roots of the Olive, and the
Egyptian Peach-Tree, which they ſay is like
the Lote-Tree.
tells us, that the Rich uſed to make their
Doors of the Lote-Tree, the Scarlet-Oak, and
of Box. The Elm, becauſe it firmly main
tains its Strength, is ſaid to be very proper for
Jambs of Doors, but it ſhould be ſet with its
Head downwards. Cato ſays, that Levers
ought to be made of Holly, Laurel, and Elm:
For Bars and Bolts, they recommend the Cor
nel-Tree; for Stairs, the wild Aſh or the
Maple. They hollowed the Pine, the Pitch
Tree and the Elm for Aqueducts, but they ſay
unleſs they are buried under Ground they pre
ſently decay. Laſtly, the Female Larch-Tree,
which is almoſt of the Colour of Honey, for
the Ornaments of Edifices and for Tables for
Painting, they found to be in a Manner eternal
and never crack or ſplit; and beſides, as its
Veins run ſhort, not long, they uſed it for the
Images of their Gods, as they did alſo the
Lote, the Box, the Cedar, and the Cypreſs
too, and the large Roots of the Olive, and the
Egyptian Peach-Tree, which they ſay is like
the Lote-Tree.
IF they had Occaſion to turn any Thing
long and round, they uſed the Beech, the
Mulberry, the Tree that yields the Turpentine,
but eſpecially the moſt cloſe bodied Box, moſt
excellent for Turning; and for very curious
Works, the Ebony. Neither for Statues or
Pictures did they deſpiſe the Poplar, both
white and black, the Sallow, the Hornbeam,
the Service-Tree, the Elder, and the Fig;
which Woods, by their Dryneſs and Evenneſs,
are not only good for receiving and preſerving
the Gums and Colours of the Painter, but are
wonderfully ſoft and eaſy under the Carver's
Tool for expreſſing all Manner of Forms.
Though it is certain that none of theſe for
Tractableneſs can compare with the Linden.
Some there are that for Statues chuſe the Jubol
Tree. Contrary to theſe is the Oak, which
will never join either with itſelf or any other
Wood of the ſame Nature, and deſpiſes all
Manner of Glue: The ſame Defect is ſuppos'd
to be in all Trees that are grained, and in
clin'd to diſtil. Wood that is eaſily plain'd,
and has a cloſe Body, is never well to be
faſten'd with Glue; and thoſe alſo that are of
different Natures, as the Ivy, the Laurel and
the Linden, which are hot, if glued to thoſe
that grow in moiſt Places, which are all in
their Natures cold, never hold long together.
The Elm, the Aſh, the Mulberry, and the
Cherry-Tree, being dry, do not agree with the
Plane Tree or the Alder, which are Moiſt.
Nay, the Ancients were ſo far from joining
together Woods different in their Natures, that
they would not ſo much as place them near
one another. And for this Reaſon Vitruvius
adviſes us againſt joining Planks of Beech and
Oak together.
long and round, they uſed the Beech, the
Mulberry, the Tree that yields the Turpentine,
but eſpecially the moſt cloſe bodied Box, moſt
excellent for Turning; and for very curious
Works, the Ebony. Neither for Statues or
Pictures did they deſpiſe the Poplar, both
white and black, the Sallow, the Hornbeam,
the Service-Tree, the Elder, and the Fig;
which Woods, by their Dryneſs and Evenneſs,
are not only good for receiving and preſerving
the Gums and Colours of the Painter, but are
wonderfully ſoft and eaſy under the Carver's
Tool for expreſſing all Manner of Forms.
Though it is certain that none of theſe for
Tractableneſs can compare with the Linden.
Some there are that for Statues chuſe the Jubol
Tree. Contrary to theſe is the Oak, which
will never join either with itſelf or any other
Wood of the ſame Nature, and deſpiſes all
Manner of Glue: The ſame Defect is ſuppos'd
to be in all Trees that are grained, and in
clin'd to diſtil. Wood that is eaſily plain'd,
and has a cloſe Body, is never well to be
faſten'd with Glue; and thoſe alſo that are of
different Natures, as the Ivy, the Laurel and
the Linden, which are hot, if glued to thoſe
that grow in moiſt Places, which are all in
their Natures cold, never hold long together.
The Elm, the Aſh, the Mulberry, and the
Cherry-Tree, being dry, do not agree with the
Plane Tree or the Alder, which are Moiſt.
Nay, the Ancients were ſo far from joining
together Woods different in their Natures, that
they would not ſo much as place them near
one another. And for this Reaſon Vitruvius
adviſes us againſt joining Planks of Beech and
Oak together.
CHAP. VII.
But to ſpeak of all theſe more ſum
marily. All Authors are agreed that
Trees which do not bear Fruit are ſtronger and
ſounder than thoſe which do; and that the
wild ones, which are not cultivated either with
Hand or Steel, are harder than the Domeſtick.
Theophraſtus ſays, that the wild ones never fall
into any Infirmities that kill them, whereas the
Domeſtick and Fruit-bearers are ſubject to
very conſiderable Infirmities; and among the
Fruit-bearers thoſe which bear early are
weaker than thoſe which bear late, and the
Sweet than the Tart; and among the tart ones,
ſuch are accounted the Firmeſt, that have the
Sharpeſt and the leaſt Fruit. Thoſe that bear Fruit
only once in two Years, and thoſe which are
entirely barren, have more Knots in them than
thoſe which bear every Year; the Shorteſt
likewiſe are the Hardeſt, and the Barren grow
faſter than the Fruitful. They ſay likewiſe
that ſuch Trees as grow in an open Place, un
ſhelter'd either by Woods or Hills, but ſhaken
by frequent Storms and Winds, are ſtronger
and thicker, but at the ſame Time ſhorter and
more knotty than ſuch as grow down in a Val
ley, or in any other Place defended from the
Winds. They alſo believe that Trees which
grow in moiſt ſhady Places are more tender
than thoſe which grow in a dry open Situation,
and that thoſe which ſtand expoſed to the
North are more ſerviceable than thoſe which
grow to the South. They reject, as abortive
all Trees that grow in Places not agreeable to
their Natures, and though ſuch as ſtand to the
marily. All Authors are agreed that
Trees which do not bear Fruit are ſtronger and
ſounder than thoſe which do; and that the
wild ones, which are not cultivated either with
Hand or Steel, are harder than the Domeſtick.
Theophraſtus ſays, that the wild ones never fall
into any Infirmities that kill them, whereas the
Domeſtick and Fruit-bearers are ſubject to
very conſiderable Infirmities; and among the
Fruit-bearers thoſe which bear early are
weaker than thoſe which bear late, and the
Sweet than the Tart; and among the tart ones,
ſuch are accounted the Firmeſt, that have the
Sharpeſt and the leaſt Fruit. Thoſe that bear Fruit
only once in two Years, and thoſe which are
entirely barren, have more Knots in them than
thoſe which bear every Year; the Shorteſt
likewiſe are the Hardeſt, and the Barren grow
faſter than the Fruitful. They ſay likewiſe
that ſuch Trees as grow in an open Place, un
ſhelter'd either by Woods or Hills, but ſhaken
by frequent Storms and Winds, are ſtronger
and thicker, but at the ſame Time ſhorter and
more knotty than ſuch as grow down in a Val
ley, or in any other Place defended from the
Winds. They alſo believe that Trees which
grow in moiſt ſhady Places are more tender
than thoſe which grow in a dry open Situation,
and that thoſe which ſtand expoſed to the
North are more ſerviceable than thoſe which
grow to the South. They reject, as abortive
all Trees that grow in Places not agreeable to
their Natures, and though ſuch as ſtand to the