ogress of British Forestry by means of the publication of his views in
the form of a small book. His aims and objects are thus described on the
title-page of the second or royal edition of 1615:--"NEW DIRECTIONS OF
EXPERIENCE AUTHORIZED BY THE King's most excellent Majesty, as may
appeare, for the increasing of Timber and Fire-wood, with the least
waste and losse of ground. WITH A NEARE ESTIMATION, what millions of
acres the Kingdome doth containe; what acres is waste ground, wherever
little profit for this purpose will arise--which waste being deducted,
the remaine is twenty-five millions; forth of which millions, if two
hundred and forty thousand Acres be planted and preserved according to
the directions following, which is but the hundred part of the
twenty-five millions, there may be as much timber raised, as will
maintaine the Kingdome for all uses for ever. And how as great store of
Fire-wood may be raised, forth of hedges, as may plentifully mainetaine
the Kingdome for all purposes, without losse of ground; so as within
thirty years all Spring-woods{lxvii:1} may be converted to Tillage and
Pasture. By Arthur Standish. Anno Domini MDCXV."

This was the only work of the sort which had been published up to the
time of Evelyn's _Sylva_ appearing about fifty years later, in 1662. It
is curious that he made no reference to this work written with similar
objects to those he himself had in view. Another work, however, he does
mention, evidently that of a practical horticulturist and
arboriculturist, probably belonging to a lower status of society than
himself. Writing of the _New Orchard and Garden_ (1597, 2nd. edit.
1623), he patronises the author by calling him 'our countryman honest
Lawson'; and after giving a long quotation from it with regard to
pruning, he complacently concludes by adding 'Thus far the good man out
of his eight and forty years experience concerning timber-trees.'

Evelyn had the satisfaction of seeing his work bear much fruit during
his own life-time, and this must have occasioned a quite exceptionally
keen pleasure to a man of his disposition. In his preface, dated 5
December 1678, to the fourth edition of _Sylva_, he writes in 'The
Epistle Dedicatory' to the King that 'I need not acquaint your Majesty
how many millions of timber-trees, besides infinite others, have been
propagated and planted throughout your vast dominions, at the
instigation, and by the sole directions of this work; because your