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IF you love to have a thriving Wood, and to improve it for your best Advantage, your best way is, not to let it stand too long before you fell; for the oftener you fell your under-wood, the thicker it will be; as at ten or twelve years growth on a shallow ground, and twelve or fourteen years growth on your deep Soyl and best grounds; for there
be many Inconveniencies in letting your Woods stand too long before you fell them, or Trees in Woods that do not prosper.
First, When you let your Woods or Coppices stand long before you fell them, you cannot come to survey your Timber-trees, to see which be decaying, and in so doing you are uncharitable to your Coun∣trey, no good Common-wealthsman, no good Husband for your self, and no good Christian: For why should any Reasonable man let his Trees stand in his Woods, or elsewhere, with dead tops, hollow Trunks, Limbs falling down upon others and spoyling them, dropping upon young Seedlings under it, and killing them? The ill husband, while many of his Neigbours want such Timber (nay possibly he him∣self,) there he lets his Trees stand, which were formerly worth 10 or 5l. a Tree, or more, till they be not worth the half that they were: Here he loseth the use of his Money, more than Twenty in the Hun∣dred, if it be an Oak, he loses the Bark, with the use of the Ground, where 'tis likely several young Trees might have been, if that had been taken down in time.
I know that some persons of Quality say, that this is a great Orna∣ment to their Ground: But I think no greater than it would be to their persons to wear a Garment very Old, with half a skirt, a piece of a Sleeve, and all the Trimming off. But I shall never pronounce such Judgement against trees, having ten times more Mercy. Such as be thriving (unless they stand too thick) I would intreat you not to cut down; for you do not lose so much by suffering the Tree that is decay∣ing, to stand; but you hinder you or yours as much in cutting down a young thriving Tree.
There are too many men in this Kingdom, who before they sell their Estates will many times fell off all their Timber that was good, and which would have thriven well for many years, and so by the Moneys they make of that, they lengthen out the time before they sell. I wish that my Vote (though single) could perswade those men that are resolved to sell such Timber, that they would also sell their Land with it; and I do not question but the Purchaser (if a Lover of Tim∣ber, as most Purchasers are) would then give more for the Timber to stand, by at least 12d. in the pound, rather than have another man to buy it off from his Ground. I once observed an Ash-tree in the Wood-walks at Cashiobury, which stood in the Walk that I made through the Wood-walks to Hemsteed High-way; which Ash I measured as followeth, according to the customary way of measuring by the Line of Numbers; it was a fine straight tree, tapering a little, so that I needed but to girth it in one place; it girthed just 72 Inches, and was
58 foot long, from the place where the Root was sawn off, to the place where the head was cut off: The fourth part of 72 Inches, is 18 Inches.
And that fourth Number tells you the content in feet, &c. Extend the Compasses, one point fixed in 12, (the side in Inches of a superficial foot square) to 18 Inches the square of the Tree; keep the Compasses fixed, and set one point on 58 the Length of the Tree in feet, (but it must be the 58 on the left hand, or else the Compasses will go off the Rull) and then turn the Compasses twice to the Right hand, and the last movable point of the Compasses will fall upon 130 foot, and something above a half; but that Division is so small, a man can∣not read well how much it is, if it be above half a foot: This is the customary way with most men to measure trees, though it makes less than there is, which in reason ought to be considered in the price, and not in the false measure: but I will here shew you how to work both the customary and the true way, by the Rules of Natural Arithme∣tick; that so you may trie whether you have measured right by the Rule and Compass, or no; and also that you may see the sweet Agree∣ment between Geometry and Arithmetick.
And first to work it by the customary way; here we take the fourth part of the Circumference to be the side of the square of the Tree, (though erroneous) and measure it as a Cylinder. The fourth part of 72 In. is 18 In. which multiplyed in its self, gives 324, the superficial Inches of one end:
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉 〈 math 〉〈 math 〉Then 58 (the Length) multiplyed by 12, gives 696 Inches, the Length of the Tree in Inches;
And 696 Inches multiplyed by 324 Inches, gives 225504, the square Inches, which summe divided by 1728 (the square Inches in a solid foot) gives 130 foot and a half.
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉I thought by the point of the Compas∣ses it had been a little above ½ a foot, but it is just half a foot:
Thus having shewed you, both by Lines and Numbers, what there was of this Tree the customary way, I shall here shew how many foot of Timber there is in it, the true way, still supposing it to be a Cylin∣der, that is, a round Figure of equal Circumference in all parts: there be several wayes to measure it, as by having the Circumference, or by having the Diameter at the End, or by having the side of a square equal to the Base thereof; but we having the Circumference, which is 72 Inches, I shall proceed that way:
And first by the Rule and Compasses, the Circumference being 72 Inches: and the Length 696 Inches; how many solid feet are there in such a tree?
And from that to the Content in feet, 166, and near half; that Divi∣sion being so small it cannot well be read on a two-foot Rule.
Extend the Compasses from the 147 ••6/••••0 point, to 72 on the left hand; keep the Compasses fixed, and set one point on the Num∣ber 696 (the Length in Inches;) and then turning your Compasses twice from that Number towards the left hand, the point will fall upon 166. and near a half, the solid Content in feet:
Extend the Compasses from 42. 54, to 72 the Circumference in Inches, that Extent will reach from 58 foot (the Length) to another Number, and from that Number to 166 foot and somewhat more, but how much more I shall shew you with my Pen, and the ordinary way of working; though Log. is much easier, but some may not have ta∣bles, or not understand them if they have.
Now having the Circumference given, which is 72 Inches, we must find the Diameter, and the Rule is,
As 22 is to 7, so is 72 to 22 91/100 Inches, the Diameter near 23, as here it is wrought:
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉 〈 math 〉〈 math 〉Or you may do it by two turns of your Compasses;
Extend your Compasses from 22 to 7: the same Extent will reach from 72. to neer 23; for it wants but 2. of 22:
Or, if you will have it in more exact terms, then,
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉Now for the Content of the Head, multiply half the Circumference by half the Diameter, and it giveth the superficial Content,
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉This multiplyed by 696 (the Length of the Tree in Inches) giveth the solid Content in Inches, and that summ divided by 1728 (the Inches in a Cubical Foot,) sheweth you how many foot and parts are in the tree.
〈 math 〉〈 math 〉 〈 math 〉〈 math 〉The whole Content in Cube-feet is about 166, and a little more; for if you come within ¼ of a foot in such summes as this, with the Rule and Compasses, 'tis well.
When this Tree was sawn off a little above the Root, I told just 72 annual Circles; some of them were the greatest that I ever yet saw in any tree, and those were about the middle of its Age; some three made above one Inch, so that the tree then did grow above two Inches in Diameter in three years time; but at first and of late, for some 6 or 7 years it did increase but little; for it was neer at its full growth,
so that if you multiply 12 the Semi-Diameter (for it was 24 Inches at the Root-end) by 6, it gives you 72, so that it did grow one year with another 2 Inches in 6 year, or one Inch in Diameter in three years.
I do not bring this Tree in for its Greatness, but for its quick growth, and fine Length of Timber, which was helped by its situation, it stand∣ing in a Valley, and set round with many other great trees. If this tree had been sold alone, it being such a straight Tree, and such a tough grane (for your great grand Trees are alwayes the toughest) to some Pike-maker, &c. it had been worth 1 s. 6 d. the foot, at which price the very timber comes to 09 l. 15 s. 09 d. then the Head and Roots would well pay for the Stocking and making up the wood, and make up this summe Ten pound too.
I do not bring this to compare with Trees that are and have been; for the ingenious Author in his Discourse of Forrest-trees, pag. 84. tells you of a Tree worth 50l. as affirmed by Capt. Bullock; but I men∣tion it to shew those that love Trees, what Profit a thriving tree brings them yearly: And I dare affirm, that they had better pay Use for Money, than cut down a tree that stands in a good place, and is in a good thriving Condition: therefore if your trees be growing and in∣crease in shoot, be not too hasty in felling, and when they are decay∣ing it is too late, therefore let them not decay too long before you fell them.
When your Wood is come to the growth you intend to fell at, if your Wood be thick of wood, then fell the Timber-trees and under∣wood as close to the ground as you can; but if your wood be thin, then stock up your trees, especially if great timber; and the Winter after, into these holes where you stocked up the trees, set Elm, Cherry, Popler, Sarvice, aud Sallow-Cuttings; so will these trees, which are subject to grow from the running Roots, thicken your woods: the Roots will pay for the stocking; you will save a soot or two of the best of timber, and the Roots of other wood will grow the better in the loose ground where you made the holes: whereas the old Roots would keep the Ground from nourishing, or any from growing there for ma∣ny years. If your Ground be a shallow Soyl, do not fill up the holes quite, but set in some Running wood, the Ground being deep by the hills, will make the other wood grow better, and the ends of several Roots being cut, will shoot forth at the sides of the hole, and the holes will receive Seeds which the wind will blow into them, and there being weeds to choak them they will grow well.
For these Reasons I stocked up all the great trees which we felled
in our Wood at Cashiobury, and I set in an Elm and a Cherry by the sides of the holes, and the Spring after there came out of the side-roots of Maple, Cherry, &c. which made good shoots, and many Sallows came up in the holes, whereby our Woods were very well thicken'd, to the Conteut of my ingenious Lord, though many people were much against it, because it was not used so to be done.
If your Wood be thin, at every felling lay some boughs, which are most convenient, into the thin places; and before next fall you will have them well rooted, and good shoots from them; A man will doe a great many in one day, for which you will be well satisfied in time.
December and January is the best time to fell Timber, but the Oak in April; if you would have the Bark, when the Moon is decreasing, and the wind not East.
When the Stubs of your under-woods are grown great, stock them up: This is found to be good Husbandry with us in Hartfordshire, which they call Runting their Woods; it makes way for Seedlings, and young Roots to run the better: Do this at felling-time, whereso∣ever you have felled Trees at the Ground. When the Roots begin to rot they then come up best, then stock them all up, the other Wood will grow the better, and they will pay you well for your Charge; they will cost you about 6 s. a Stack, and here they will be worth 12 s. or more, when stocked up.
When you fell your Woods or Coppices, cut them smooth and close to the Stub, and a little slanting upwards, as I advised you about Lopping Pollards: the oftner you fell your Woods, Coppices, or Hedges, the thicker they will grow; for every felling gives way to the young Seedlings to get up, and makes the weak Plants shoot strong. Those Woods which increase by running Roots, as Elm, Cherry, Popler, Maple, Sarvice, &c. which thicken your wood much: And Felling makes the Roots of a tree to swell, as Lopping doth the Body; and so it produceth the greater shoots, and comes sooner to perfecti∣on: Whereas great wood, and old, and ill taken off from the Stub, ma∣ny times kills all.
When you fell your Woods, leave young Trees enough; you may take down the worst that stand, next fall; especially neer a great tree that you judge may go down next fall, for by its fall it may spoyl some: The Statute saith, you are to leave twelve score Oaks at every Fall, on an Acre; for want of them, so many Elms, Ashes, Beeches, &c. But leave according to the thinness of your wood, and where underwood sells well, there let your Timber-trees stand the thinner; and in
such Countreys where Coals are cheap, and Timber sells well, there let your Timber-trees stand thick, and then they will need but little pruning up.
Endeavour to plant in your Woods such sorts of Wood as the Ground is most proper for; if wet, then Alder, Sallow, Willow, Withy, &c. if shallow and dry, Ash, Cherry, Beech, Popler, &c. if shallow and wet, Hornbeam, Sallow, Sarvice, &c. but remember that the Oak and Elm be entertained in all places. If your Woods or Coppices be in Parks where you lye open to Deer, then at every Fall plant in them such woods whose Barks the Deer do not much love, such are the Hornbeam, Hasel, Sycamore, &c. When Trees are at their full growth, there be several Signs of their Decay, which give you warning to fell it before it be quite decayed: As in an Oak, when the top-boughs begin to die, then it begins to decay: In an Elm or Ash, if their head dies, or if you see they take wet at any great Knot, which you may know by the side of the Tree being discolour'd below that place before it grows hollow; or if hollow, you may know by knocking it with the head of an Axe, of which you may be the surer satisfied by boring into the middle of it with a small Auger; or if you see the Nighills make holes in it: these be certain Signs the Tree begins to decay, but before it de∣cayes much, down with it, and hinder not your self.