Many of his arguments could easily be shown to be wrong, and many of his recommendations could equally easily be proved to be inefficacious and inexpedient, just as old works on Agriculture can no longer be accepted as trustworthy text-books for the teaching of modern farming; because Vegetable Physiology forms the true and scientific basis of both the arts relating to the cultivation of the soil, Agriculture and Forestry; and Vegetable Physiology is a branch of botanical science which is only of comparatively recent growth.
Many works on Sylviculture or Forestry, on business principles, have appeared in England and Scotland within the last fifteen years, but this new edition of _Sylva_ makes no pretence to belong to such an up-to-date class of works.

It is merely a reprint of the last edition that was revised by Evelyn himself; and no notes of any description have been added, such as those to be found in the several editions published by Dr.Hunter.The present reprint is intended for those who love our forests and woodlands and the old trees surviving in parks and chases as links with the distant past; and it will also, for its own sake, appeal no less strongly to those who love to peruse a classic work, written in the very highly polished and ornate style affected by writers of distinction in the seventeenth century.
JOHN NISBET.
FOOTNOTES: {xxxi:1} This promise Charles afterwards failed to keep as, in 1672, he merely renewed the lease of the pastures for 99 years.
{lxvii:1} Coppices.
S I L V A, Or a DISCOURSE of FOREST-TREES, AND THE PROPAGATION of TIMBER In His MAJESTY's DOMINIONS.
As it was Deliver'd in the _ROYAL SOCIETY_ the xv^th of _October_, MDCLXII upon occasion of certain _Quaeries_ propounded to that _Illustrious Assembly_, by the _Honourable_ the Principal _Officers_ and _Commissioners_ of the _Navy_.
In TWO BOOKS.
Together with an Historical Account of the _Sacredness_ and _Use_ of Standing _Groves_.
TERRA, A _Philosophical ESSAY of EARTH_, being a _Lecture_ in Course.
To which is annexed POMONA: OR, AN _Appendix_ concerning _Fruit-Trees_, in relation to _CYDER_; The _Making_, and several Ways of _Ordering_ it.
Published by Express _Order_ of the ROYAL SOCIETY.
ALSO ACETARIA: Or, a DISCOURSE of _SALLETS_.
WITH _KALENDARIVM HORTENSE_; OR THE GARD'NERS ALMANACK; Directing what he is to do _Monthly_ throughout the _Year_.
* * * * * All which several _Treatises_ are in this _FOURTH EDITION_ much _Inlarg'd_ and _Improv'd_, By the AUTHOR _JOHN EVELYN_, Esq; Fellow of the _ROYAL SOCIETY_ * * * * * ........_Tibi res antiquae laudis & artis Ingredior, tantos ausus recludere fontes._ Virg.
* * * * * _LONDON_: Printed for _Robert Scott_ in _Little-Britain_; _Richard Chiswell_ in St._Paul's_ Churchyard; _George Sawbridge_ in _Little-Britain_; and _Benj.

Tooke_ in _Fleetstreet_.

MDCCVI.
TO THE KING.
For to whom, _Sir_, with so Just and Equal Right should I present the Fruits of my Labours, as to the _Patron_ of that _SOCIETY_, under whose _Influence_, as it was produced; so to whose _Auspices_ alone it owes the Favourable _Acceptance_ which it has receiv'd in the World?
To You then (_Royal Sir_) does this _Third Edition_ continue its Humble Addresses, _Tanquam MEMORUM VINDICI_; as of old, they paid their Devotions,{lxxv:1} _HERCULI & SILVANO_; since You are our +Theos hylikos+ _Nemorensis Rex_; as having once Your _Temple_, and _Court_ too, under that _Sacred Oak_ which You _Consecrated_ with Your _Presence_, and we _Celebrate_, with Just Acknowledgment to God for Your _Preservation_.
I need not Aquaint Your _Majesty_, how many _Millions_ of _Timber-Trees_ (beside infinite _others_) have been _Propagated_ and _Planted_ throughout Your vast _Dominions_, at the _Instigation_, and by the sole _Direction_ of this _Work_; because Your _Gracious Majesty_, has been pleas'd to _own_ it _Publickly_, for my _Encouragement_, who, in all that I here pretend to say, deliver only those _Precepts_ which Your _Majesty_ has put into _Practice_; as having (like another _Cyrus_) by Your own _Royal Example_, exceeded all your _Predecessors_ in the _Plantations_ You have made, beyond (I dare assert it) all the _Monarchs_ of this _Nation_, since the _Conquest_ of it.

And, indeed what more _August_, what more _Worthy_ Your _Majesty_, or more becoming our _Imitation ?_ than whilst You are thus solicitous for the _Publick Good_, we pursue Your _Majesty's_ Great _Example_; and by cultivating our decaying _Woods_, contribute to Your _Power_, as to Your greatest _Wealth_ and _Safety_; since whilst Your _Majesty_ is furnish'd to send forth those _Argo's_ and _Trojan Horses_,{lxxvi:1} about this Happy _Island_, we are to fear nothing from _without it_; and whilst we remain _Obedient_ to Your just _Commands_, nothing from _within_ it.
'Tis now some _Years_ past that Your _Majesty_ was pleas'd to declare Your Favourable Acceptance of a _Treatise_ of _Architecture_ which I then presented to _You_, with many _Gracious Expressions_, and that it was a most _useful_ Piece.