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The labours of the farmer, the refources of wealth and inform- 

 ation, the rewards of patriotic focieties, and even the liberal 

 encouragement of the legiflature itfelf, have in vain flruggled 

 againft the weftern ftorms, during the latter part of the prefent 

 century; and the planters of our age, wearied with combating the 

 tcmpeft, have generally found it neceffary to fly from all elevated 

 and expofed fituations, and to abandon the pleafing idea of cover- 

 ing the nakednefs of mountains, the fterility of rocks, and the 

 bleak uniformity of bogs, with the luxuriant foliage of the oak 

 and the pine. 



Of all the forefl trees, which, in later times, have been cul- 

 tivated for general ufe, there is none higher in the eftimalion 

 of our farmers than the aih. It is a tree which buds late, but 

 finally iffues forth ftrong and fucculent flioots : fecure, by its 

 deciduous nature, from wintry blafts, it is, neverthelefs, extremely 

 fenfible to the efforts of fummer ftorms ; and becomes a faithful 

 regifter of the winds of our climate, marking their moft prevalent 

 diredion by the inclination of its boughs, and their violence, 

 by the degree wherein its tender Ihoots, or more mature branches, 

 are withered or blafted. 



Half a century has fcarce elapfed fince this ufeful fpecies 

 of tree was generally planted, and grew luxuriantly in every part 

 of Ireland : yet are there hardly any expofed places in the king- 

 dom where its top branches do not now, in one part or another, 

 exhibit the withered veftiges of commencing decay. Through 



Vol. VI. E many 



