Some advise us to break the shells of pines to facilitate their delivery, and I have essay’d, but to my loss; nature does obstetricate, and do that office of her self, when it is the proper season; neither does this preparation at all prevent those which are so buried, whilst their hard integuments protect them both from rotting, and the vermin.    From Wordnik.com.  [Sylva, Vol. 1 (of 2) Or A Discourse of Forest Trees] Reference