( 6 ) 



of a fmall piece, as feen through the micro fcope ; this is fliewn tit jig. 

 15, HIKL. 



All the parts of which this wood confifts, feem to me, to be 

 formed with a cavity in each of them ; and, if we refieA on the mi- 

 nutenefs of the perpendicular vellels and tubes which are to be {een 

 in this fmall piece of \\ ood, we cannot biit contemplate them with 

 admiration, as I myfclf have often done ; for the real lize of this 

 piece of wood, from K to L, is not more than five hairs breadth. 



At H I, and alfo at K L, are fhewn the horizontal veflels in the 

 Lime-tree. I have obferved that, in fome places, they lie much 

 clofer together than here reprefented. 



In jig. 1 0, A B G D, are fliewn fome of thofe veflels and woody 

 tubes of the Lime-tree, which, in the former figure, appear cut 

 tranfverfely, and are here fliewn longitudinally. 



TO THE READER. 



Among the different f pedes of tvood defcribcd hy Mr. Leeinvenhoeli , 

 he makes no farther mention of the AJli than by laying dotim thej'ame 

 criterion to judge of its goodnefs as of the Oak. His tvords are as 

 follows : 



" The Afli timber brought from Norway, which is very flow 

 in its growth, is of a very Ipongy texture, and confequently of 

 a weak and perifliable nature, and by no means to be compared to 

 the Afli which grows in thefe parts, and in a good foil ; b}^ 

 reafon that this wood, as well as the Oak, at the firll of its 

 gro\\ th, every year forms very large veflels, and the reft of the year 

 much fmaller ones, confequently the quicker the growth, the fewer 

 of the larger, and the more of the fmaller veflels will be formed 

 within the fame fpace. I have examined many Norv^-ay Afli-trees, 

 and have obferved tliat, in the fpace of twenty, thirty, nay, forty 

 years, they had not acquired an inch in their femidiameter ; whereas 

 thofe growing in the neighbourhood of our town would encreafe an 

 inch in their femidiameter for many years fucceliivcly; and I conflder 



