wounds, took cold, and gangreen'd; some few others
which were a little smitten towards the tops, might have escaped all
their blemishes, had my gardener capp'd them but with a wisp of hay or
straw, as in my absence I commanded. As for the frost of those winters
(than which I believe there was never known a more cruel and deadly
piercing since England had a name) it did not touch a cypress of mine,
till it join'd forces with that destructive wind: Therefore for
caution, clip not your cypresses late in Autumn, and cloath them (if
young) against these winds; for the frosts they only discolour them, but
seldom, or never hurt them, as by long experience I have found; nor
altogether despair of the resurrection of a cypress, subverted by the
wind; for some have redress'd themselves; and one (as Ziphilinus
mentions) that rose the very next day; which happening about the reign
of the emperor Vespasian, was esteem'd an happy omen: But of such
accidents, more hereafter.

11. If you affect to see your cypress in standard, and grow wild, (which
may in time come to be of a large substance, fit for the most immortal
of timber, and indeed are the least obnoxious to the rigours of our
Winters, provided you never clip or disbranch them) plant of the reputed
male-sort; it is a tree which will prosper wonderfully; and where the
ground is hot and gravelly, though (as we said) he be nothing so
beautiful; and it is of this, that the Venetians make their greatest
profit.

12. I have already shew'd how this tree is to be rais'd from the seed;
but there was another method amongst the Ancients, who (as I told you)
were wont to make great plantations of them for their timber; I have
practis'd it my self, and therefore describe it.

13. If you receive your seed in the roundish small nuts, which use to be
gather'd thrice a year, (but seldom ripening with us) expose them to the
sun till they gape, or near a gentle fire, or put them in warm water,
(as was directed in those of cedar) by which means the seeds will be
easily shaken out; for if you have them open before, they do not yield
you half their crop: About the beginning of April (or before, if the
weather be showery) prepare an even bed, which being made of fine
earth, clap down with your spade, as gardeners do for purselain seed (of
old they roll'd it with some stone, or cylinder); upon this strew your
seeds pretty thick; then sift over them some more mould, somewhat better
than half an inch