ersons_, and _Gentlemen_ to busie themselves withal, and who oftner
find out occasions to _Fell-down_, and Destroy their Woods and
_Plantations_, than either to _repair_ or _improve_ them.

But we are not without hopes of taking off these _Prejudices_, and of
reconciling them to a _Subject_ and an _Industry_ which has been
_consecrated_ (as I may say) by as _good_, and as _great_ Persons, as
any the World has produced; and whose Names we find mingl'd amongst
_Kings_ and _Philosophers_, grave _Senators_, and _Patriots_ of their
Country: For such of old were _Solomon_, _Cyrus_, and _Numa_, _Licinius_
surnamed _Stolo_, _Cato_, and _Cincinnatus_; the _Piso's_, _Fabii_,
_Cicero_, the _Plinies_, and thousands more whom I might enumerate, that
disdained not to cultivate these _Rusticities_ even with their own
hands, and to esteem it no small _Accession_, to dignifie their
_Titles_, and adorn their _purple_ with these _Rural Characters_ of
their affections to _Planting_, and love of this part of _Agriculture_,
which has transmitted to us their venerable _Names_ through so many
_Ages_ and _Vicissitudes_ of the World.

That famous _Answer_ alone which the _Persian Monarch_ gave to
_Lysander_, will sufficiently justifie that which I have said; besides
what we might add, out of the _Writings_ and _Examples_ of the rest: But
since _these_ may suffice after due reproofs of the late impolitique
_Wast_, and universal _sloth_ amongst us; we should now turn our
_Indignation_ into _Prayers_, and address our selves to our
better-natur'd _Countrymen_;{lxxviii:1} that such _Woods_ as do yet
remain intire, might be carefully _preserved_, and such as are
_destroy'd_, sedulously _repaired_: It is what all Persons who are
_Owners_ of _Land_ may contribute to, and with infinite _delight_, as
well as _profit_, who are touch'd with that laudable _Ambition_ of
imitating their Illustrious _Ancestors_, and of worthily serving their
_Generation_. To these my earnest and humble _Advice_ should be, That at
their very first coming to their _Estates_, and as soon as they get
_Children_, they would seriously think of _this Work_ of _Propagation_
also: For I observe there is no part of _Husbandry_, which Men commonly
more _fail_ in, _neglect_, and have cause to _repent_ of, than that they
did not begin _Planting betimes_, without which, they can expect neither
_Fruit_, _Ornament_, or _Delight_ from their _Labours_: Men seldom plant
_Trees_ till they begin t