_Of the preseruation, and sale of high Woods._
[Sidenote: Of Trees which take wet inwardly.]
It is not sufficient for the Husbandman to sowe, plant, and encrease
wood about his grounds, conuerting his earth to the vttermost and
extreamest profit that may spring from the same: but he must also
be diligent to preserue and nourish his timber trées from all
inconueniences that may any way annoy or afflict them: and to this
end hée shall daily walke into his Woods, and with a searching eye
suruay euery Trée which is of any account, and sée if he can finde any
fault or annoyance about the same, and if casting his eye vp to the
top, where the maine armes shoote forth themselues, he perceiue that
by the breaking off of some arme or other riuen boughes, the wet and
droppings of the leaues is sunke and fretted into the Timber, which in
time will corrupt the heart, and make the Trée hollow. In this case he
shall presently mount the Trée, and with his Bill, either cut the place
so smooth that the wet may not rest thereon, or else hauing smoothed
it so much as he may with conuenience, mixe stiffe clay and fine hay
together, and with the same couer the place, in such manner, that it
may put off the wet till it haue recouered new barke.
[Sidenote: Of Barke-bound.]
If hée shall perceiue any of his younger Trées to be Barke-bound, that
is, so stiffe and straitly tied within their owne ryndes, that they
cannot encrease or prosper: in this case he shall with a sharpe drawing
knife, made in the proportion of a narrow _C_ draw and open the barke
euen from the top of the bole of the Trée downe to the roote, and then
clap Oxe dung into those slits, let the Trée rest, and in short space
you shall sée it mightily encrease.
[Sidenote: Of Hornets and Dores.]
If he shall perceiue that _Hornets_, and _Dores_, or such like, haue
found some little hollownesse in one of his Trées, and séeketh there
to shelter and hide themselues, which in little space they will soone
make larger, he shall forth-with besmeare all the place with Tarre and
Goose-dung, and it will driue them thence.
[Sidenote: Of the Canker.]
If he shall finde that by the droppings of other Trées, some of his
Trées shall grow cankerous, and loose their barke, which is an accident
very vsuall, and the Trées whose barkes are so lost, will with great
difficulty after prosper. In this case he shall annoynt the place with
Tarre and Oyle mixt together, and then couer the place with clay, where
the barke is wanting.
[Sidenote: Of Pismyers.]
If he shall perceiue any _Pismyer_ hilles or beds to be made against
any of his Trées, which is very noysome, for they are great destroyers
of the barks of Trées: he shall then with hot scalding water kill them,
and throw the hill downe leuell and plaine with the earth.
[Sidenote: Of Iuy, Woodbine, and Misseltoe.]
If he shall find any _Iuy_, _Woodbine_, or _Mysteltoe_ to grow in or
about any of his principall Trées, which doe strangle, suffocate, and
kéepe them from encreasing, he shall forth-with digge vp the roots
thereof, and then cut it away or loosen it from about the barks of the
Trées.
[Sidenote: Of Thunder and Lightning.]
Lastly, if he shall perceiue that by _Thunder_, _Lightning_, or other
plantarie stroakes, any of the armes of his well growne Trées be
blasted or slaine, he shall forth-with cut them away, euen close to the
quicke Wood, and make the place smooth and euen where they were ioyned:
thus shall the carefull Husbandman with a vigilant eye, regard euery
enormous and hurtfull thing that may offend his Timber, and by that
meanes possesse more benefit from a fewe Roodes, then others doe from
many Acres.
[Sidenote: Of the sale of tall Woods.]
Now when either necessity or the vrgent occasions of any néedfull vse,
enforceth the Husbandman to make sale of any part of his tall Wood,
in which Marchandise there is many prety and obscure secrets, such as
are hard to be shewed by any Verball demonstration, for truly there
is not any trucking or marting whatsoeuer, in which a man may sooner
deceiue, or be deceiued, men buying and selling in a manner hood-winkt:
for it is most certaine that no man can certainely tell either what
peny-woorth hée selleth, or the other buyeth, so long as the Trée is
standing, there be in Trées so many secret faults, and likewise when
they are downe, and come to the breaking or burkning (as the Wood-man
tearmes it) so many vnexpected vertues, as for mine owne part I haue
often séene a Trée whose out-side hath promised all good hope, the
barke being smooth and euen, the body large and great, and the armes
high set on, and spaciously extended; yet when this Trée hath béene
felled, and came to burkning, there hath béene found a hole in the
top, which hath runne cleane though the heart, and vtterly spoyled the
whole Timber: so likewise on the contrary part I haue séene a Trée very
foule at the top, which is suspitious for rottennesse, whose armes haue
growne so close and narrow together, that they haue promised little
burthen, yet being cut downe, I haue séene that Trée passing sound, the
armes double the loades in valuation, and the price being lesse then
any, the proofe and goodnesse to excéede all; so that I must conclude
it all together impossible to set downe any fixed or certaine rules
either for the buyer or seller: but for as much as there are diuers
worthie obseruances for both parts, and that it is as necessary to buy
well as sell well, I will runne through euery particular obseruation,
which doth belong both to the one and the other partie, with which
when a mans minde is perfectly acquainted, he may with much bolder
confidence aduenture to buy or sell in the open Market.
[Sidenote: How to chuse Timbers.]
[Sidenote: Of Mill Timber.]
[Sidenote: Timber to beare burthen.]
The first thing therefore that either buyer or seller should be
skilfull in, is the choyse of all sorts of Timbers, and to know which
is fit for euery seuerall purpose, the crooked and vneyely being for
some vses of much higher price and reckoning then that which is plaine,
straight, and euen growne, as thus for example. If you would buy Timber
for Mill-whéeles, the heads of round Turrets, or any kinde of any worke
whatsoeuer, you shall chuse that which is crooked and some-what bent,
being sound, firme, and vnshaken. If you will chuse Timber for Summer
Trées, Baulks, Iawnies, or Tracens, you shall chuse that which is most
hartie, sound, and much twound, or as it were wrythen about, which you
shall with great ease perceiue by the twinding or crooked going about
of the barke, the graine whereof will as it were circle and lay round
about the Trée. This Timber which is thus twound or wrythen, will by no
meanes ryue or cleaue asunder, and therefore is estéemed the best to
support and beare burthen, and the heart thereof will endure and last
the longest.
[Sidenote: Timber for Pales, Wainscote, &c.]
If you will chuse Timber for Pales, Singles, Coopers-ware, Wainscote,
or such like, then you shall euer chuse that which is smooth, euen, and
straight growne, without any manner of twynding or shaking, which you
shall perceiue by the straight and euen growing vp of the barke, whose
crests will ascend straight and vpright, euen from the roote to the
bottome, which is an assured token that all such Timber will shiuer and
ryue into as thinne parts as a man would desire.
[Sidenote: Timber for Pyles or Water-workes.]
Lastly, if you would chuse Timber to make Pyles of, to driue into the
earth, for the framing of Weares within the water, the heads of Ponds,
or any other worke within the water then you shall chuse that which is
most knottie (so it be sound) for that will driue without splitting,
and continue in the earth the longest: and of all Timbers the Elme
is accounted the best for this purpose, for it will continue almost
euerlastingly in the earth without rotting; yet notwithstanding, the
Oake is excellent good also: and thus much for the generall choise of
Oakes.
[Sidenote: Vse of the Elme.]
Now if you would chuse Timber for weather-boards, or to be vsed in
water-workes, or to make Planks for low moyst Vaults, then you shall
chuse the biggest, soundest and smoothest growne _Elme_, it is also
excellent good to make Kitchen tables of, or for boards, for the vse
of Butchers. If you will chuse the most principallest Timber, for
Cart or Waine Axel trées, for the naues of whéeles, or for any other
vse of toughnesse, you shall chuse the _Elme_ onely, for it excéedeth
all other Timbers, and though some Husbandmen are of opinion, that
the _Elme_ Axel-trée when it is throughly heated, is then most apt to
breake, they are much deceiued, for it will endure farre beyond Ash or
any other Timber, except Yewgh, which for the scarsity is now of little
vse in such a purpose. And herein you must obserue, that the _Elme_
which you chuse for Axel-trées must be straite, smooth, and without
knots, but that which you chuse for naues, must be most knotty, twound,
and the hardest to be broken or hewed asunder.
[Sidenote: Vse of the Ash.]
If you will chuse Timber for Ploughes, ordinary Axel-trées (for
those of _Elme_ are speciall) the rings of whéeles harrow bulls, and
such like, then you shall chuse the fairest, straightest, biggest,
and smoothest growne Ash that you can finde, and from the roote end
vpward, you shall cut out a length of Axel-trées, aboue it a length of
shelbordes, and aboue it (if the Trée be so large) a length for heads
and Skeathes, the largest armes which are somewhat bending, you shall
elect for rings for whéeles, and so according to the bignesse of the
Ash, and as your eye can proportion out what will be made of the same,
you shall make valuation thereof.
[Sidenote: Vse of the Wall-nut tree.]
If you would chuse Timber for ioyned Tables, Cupbords, or Bedsteds,
you shall then make choise of the fairest Walnut-trée you can finde,
being olde, straight, vnknotted, and of a high boale: and although
either Oake, or Ash will reasonably well serue for this purpose, yet
the Walnut-trée is by many degrées the best of all other, for it is
of smoothest graine, and to the eye most beautifull, prouided that by
no meanes you put it into any worke, before it be excéedingly well
seasoned.
[Sidenote: Vse of the Peare-tree.]
If you would chuse Timber for Ioynt-stooles, Chaires, or Chests, you
shall then chuse the oldest Peare-trée so it be sound, for it is both
smooth, swéet, and delicate, and though it be a very soft Wood, yet
in any of these frames it is an excéeding long laster, and the heart
thereof will neuer bréede worme, nor will it in any time loose the
colour.
[Sidenote: Vse of the Maple, Beech, and Poplar.]
If you would chuse Timber for Trenchers, Dishes, or any Tourners ware,
or for any in-laying worke, you shall then make choise of the fairest
and soundest Maple, being smooth and vnknotted, for it is the plainest
graine, and the whitest Wood of all other: and although either the
Béech or Poplar will reasonably well serue for these purposes, yet is
neither the colours so good, nor the Timber so long lasting. Many other
Trées there are which may serue for many other purposes: but these are
of most vse for our English Husbandman, and will sufficiently serue to
passe through all his businesses.
[Sidenote: Of Char-coale.]
Touching Char-coale, you shall vnderstand, that Oake, Elme, and Ash,
make your longest and best enduring Coale: the Birtch the finest and
brightest Coale, and the Béech or Sallow the swiftest Coale. Now for
your small Coale, the twigges of the Birtch makes that which kindles
the soonest, and the White-thorne that which endures the longest.
[Sidenote: How to value Timber.]
Thus when you know how to chuse euery seuerall Trée, and the true vse
and profit which can any way be made of the same, and by a practised
experience can cast by the suruay and view of a standing Wood, the
almost entire profit that may arise from the same, deuiding in your
memory how many are for euery seuerall purpose, and to what reckoning
they may amount one with the other, and blemishing (if you buy) the
good with the bad, or making good (if you sell) the bad with those
good ones which grow néere them, you may then boldly venture into any
sale either as a buyer or seller at your pleasure, and sure if you
know (as it is fit you should doe) the Market-able prices of all sorts
of Timbers in those places, where you are either to buy or sell, as
what a Mill-post is worth, what so many inches of well squared Timber,
contayning so many foote in length, what a dozen of boards of such a
size, what so many naues, spoakes, rings, sparres, or tracens, or what
so much sound and good Plough-timber is worth, and then looking vpon a
Trée, and computing what may euery way be made of the same, allowing
the wast which will hardly sometimes defray the charge of breaking vp
the Trée, you cannot but with great ease draw into your minde the true
value of euery Trée, and the vttermost profit or losse may any way rise
from the same.
[Sidenote: How to measure Timber by gesse.]
And in this worke I would haue you to obserue this rule very carefully,
that is, when you come to any great Timber-trée, to fathome or embrace
it about with both your armes, and then knowing what quantity your
fathome is, and how many fathome girdleth the Trée round about, you may
from former experience giue a certaine gesse what inches of squared
Timber that Trée will beare, for if you haue found in former trials
that twice your fathome in the rough barke hath borne twenty, or two
and twenty inches squared, and now finde that the present Trée on which
you looke, is no lesse, but rather with the bigger, you may boldly
presume, that being sound, this trée can carrie no lesse square of good
Timber: and thus much for the knowledge and choise of tall Woods.
[Sidenote: Best seasons for the sale.]
[Sidenote: The time for Chap-men.]
Now to come to the seasons & fittest times for sale of these high
Woods: you shall vnderstand that it is méete for euery good husband
which intendeth to sell any of his high Woods, to walke into the same
immediately after Christmas, & whether they be in woods, Groues,
hedge-rowes, or other places, to marke with a special marke all those
Trées which he intendeth to sell, as well for the wéeding and cleansing
out of all such as are decayed and wasted, as also to know the true
number of both the good and bad, and thereby in some measure to compute
the profit which will arise from the same, for to make sale of them
otherwise confusedly, might bring much losse to a man happily, selling
away those that would encrease their valewes, and kéepeing them which
daily would decrease their goodnesse, or so vnorderly vnmixing his
Wood, that where one faire and good Trée would draw a mans eye from
beholding diuers which are doated, now that onely taken away, the rest
will remaine, and neuer be sale-able, and therefore euer as néere as
you can so suite and match your Trées together, that in your sales
you may neuer passe away an absolute worthie Trée: but you may euer
couple some which haue defects to goe with it, as in these dayes we sée
Warriners and Poulters sell Rabbets, a fat and a leane euer coupled
together. When you haue thus marked out what you meane to sell, and
disposed your sale according to your best profit, after notice giuen
vnto the Country in the Market Townes néere adioyning, you shall begin
your sale the Candlemasse following, which sale you may continue all
the Spring, according to the greatnesse thereof, or the quicknesse of
buyers. Now for any rules or orders to be obserued in these sales, I
can prescribe you none certaine, because it is méete that euery one
binde himselfe to the customes of the Country in which he liueth,
whose variations are diuers, for almost euery one is seuerall, onely
in the maine they holde together, which is that they seldome make
publike sales for money downe vpon the head, but for a certaine payment
some fewe moneths after, which makes the Marchandise more lookt to,
and the sales goe away the faster; and in this the Sales-man must be
circumspect in the choise of his Chap-men, and where hée findeth any
doubt there to make one neighbour stand bound for another, as for
the earnest penny it is euer ouer and aboue the price, and must be
laide downe at the binding vp of the bargaine, which earnest is in
some Countries foure pence in the pound, in some eight pence, and in
some twelue pence, according to the goodnesse of the Timber, and hath
euer béene taken for a fée due to the Sales-man for his paines and
attendance: and sure if he be carefully honest, it is a merrit well
bestowed: if otherwise, it is much too much for falshood, for in him
consists the owners losse or profit, and therefore it may become any
man, of what place so euer, to take a strickt account from such an
officer: or if he haue any doubt euer to ioyne with him in commission,
another of contrary faction.
[Sidenote: When to cut downe Timber.]
When you haue made sale of your Timber, you shall by no meanes let it
be cut downe till the end of Aprill, at which time the sap ascending
vpward, will loosen the bark, and make it come from the body of the
Trée easily. You shall cut your Timber downe close by the earth, not
digge it vp by the rootes, vnlesse you meane vtterly to destroy it, for
from the spurnes of the roote will arise new Spiers, which in processe
of time, will come to another Trée. As soone as you haue felled your
Oakes, you shall with your Axe immediatly whilst the sap is wet, take
all the barke from the body and the armes, and setting it end-wayes
as vp one by another, so place it, that the winde may passe through
it, and dry it, and then sell it to the Tanners, which will giue you a
good price therefore, according to the worth and scarsity thereof. When
your Trées are barkt, you shall then sawe the body into such lengthes
of Timber, as shall be méete for the purpose for which it is bought,
or in such sort as it may be best portable: the armes also you shall
hewe from the body, and so burken or breake them vp, as they may be fit
to be loaded: all which done, and the Timber caried away, you shall,
if you intend to haue the Wood renew, fence in the sale, and kéepe it
safe from Cattell: and thus much for the preseruation and sale of high
Woods.