133. ¶ Howe a man shoulde shrede, loppe, or croppe trees. [Sidenote: In shredding trees, some men begin at the top.] It is the comon gyse, to begynne at the top of the tree, whan he shall be shred or cropped, bycause eche bough shulde lye vppon other whan they shall fal, so that the weight of the bowes shall cause theym to be 4 [Sidenote: It is not the best way.] the rather cut downe. But that is not beste, for that causeth the bowes to slaue downe the nether parte, and pulleth awaye the barke from the bodye of the tree, the whiche wyll cause the tree to be holowe in that place 8 in tyme commynge, and many tymes it shall hynder [Sidenote: [Fol. 53*.]] hym. And therfore lette hym begynne at the nether-moste boughe fyrste, and with a lyghte axe for an hande, to cut the boughe on bothe sydes, a fote or two foote 12 from the bodye of the tree. And specially cut it more on the nether syde, than on the ouer syde, soo that the boughe fall not streyght downe, but turne on the syde, and than shall it not slaue nor breke no barke. 16 And euery boughe wil haue a newe heed, and beare [Sidenote: Never crop or head a tree with a north or east wind,] moche more woode; and by thy wyll, without thou must nedes do it, crop not thy tree, nor specyallye heed hym, whan the wynde standeth in the northe, or in the eest. 20 And beware, that thou croppe hym not, nor heed hym [Sidenote: nor in sap-time.] (specially) in sappe-tyme, for than wyll he dye within fewe yeres after, if it be an oke. 134. ¶ To sell woode or tymber.