Sylva

Planting a woodland begins here with the earth beneath it: soil, seed, air and water. John Evelyn's forestry treatise then moves through raising young trees and transplanting them before turning to individual kinds, from oak and elm to walnut, willow, pine and cedar. This first volume combines practical guidance on tree cultivation with observations about the properties and value of different woods.

The account extends beyond growing trees to the work they make possible. One passage considers timber for cabinets, coaches and household fittings, explaining how grain, colour and seasoning affect its usefulness. Fruit, oil, husks and leaves also receive attention, showing how closely woodland knowledge was tied to everyday materials. An introductory essay by John Nisbet places Evelyn among his literary contemporaries. Readers interested in gardening history or older approaches to forestry will find both detailed observation and the language of an earlier age.