st
any sort of barren ground, hot or cold, and often indicates where coals
are to be dug.

11. True it is, that time must bring this tree to perfection; it does so
to all things else, & _posteritati pangimus_. But what if a little
culture about the roots (not dunging, which it abhors) and frequent
stirring of the mould, double its growth? We stay seven years for a
tolerable quick, it is worth staying it thrice, for this, which has no
competitor.

12. And yet there is an expedient to effect it more insensibly, by
planting it with the quick: Let every fifth or sixth be an holly-set;
they will grow up infallibly with your quick; and as they begin to
spread, make way for them by extirpating the white-thorn, till they
quite domineer: Thus was my hedge first planted, without the least
interruption to the fence, by a most pleasant metamorphosis. But there
is also another, not less applauded, by laying along well-rooted sets (a
yard or more in length) and stripping off the leaves and branches,
letting only something of the tops appear: These, cover'd with a
competent depth of earth, will send forth innumerable suckers, which
will suddenly advance into an hedge; and grows as well under the shade
as sun, provided you keep them weeded, and now and then loosen the
earth; towards which, if thro' extream neglect, or other accident, it
grow thin, being close cut down, it will fill and become stronger and
thicker than ever.

Of this stately shrub (as some reckon it) there is lately found an
holly, whose leaves are as thorny and bristly, not only at the edges,
but all over, as an hedge-hog, which it may properly be call'd; and I
think was first brought by Mr. London out of France.

13. The timber of the holly (besides that it is the whitest of all hard
woods, and therefore us'd by the inlayer, especially under thin plates
of ivory, to render it more conspicuous) is for all sturdy uses; the
mill-wright, turner and engraver, prefer it to any other: It makes the
best handles and stocks for tools, flails, riding rods the best, and
carters-whips; bowles, shivers, and pins for blocks: Also it excels for
door-bars and bolts; and as of the elm, so of this especially, they made
even hinges and hooks to serve instead of iron, sinking in the water
like it; and of the bark is compos'd our bird-lime thus:

14. Pill a good quantity of the bark about Midsummer, fill a vessel with
it, and put to it spring-water; then boil it, till the gray and wh