32 BATH S0CIET7. Sept. I4. 



fomuch that a general deftruftion of that part of their woods is 

 apprehended. The time when thefe little animals moll, com- 

 monly attack the tree, is the Spring, after their Winter hoards 

 are exhaufted; and their manner of doing it is by gnawing the 

 bark quite round the leader of the tree, a few feet below the 

 top, chewing it for the fake of the moifture, and dropping the 

 "Woody parts like faw-dufl, which may be found fcattered on 

 the ground beneath. The tree, thus barked, decays in that 

 part, lofes its top by the firft rough wind, and of courfe gradu- 

 ally perifhes. One gentleman near Bath, whofe plantations 

 are about 40 years old, has lofh the greater part of his beft 

 Scotch Firs in this manner within the lafl: feven years. 



The Society, taking this fubjeft into conlideration, has 

 thought proper to inflitute an enquiry by letter, through dife- 

 rent pnrts of the nation, how far this complaint is general. You 

 are, tiierefore, refpeftfulLy requefted to enquire among your 

 friends who have Fir plantations ; and be fo obliging as to fay 

 how far, from fuch enquiry and your own obfervation, you 

 have reafon to think plantations are generally fuffering from 

 the aforefaid or any other caufe. 



And as, from the fuppofed negleft and fcarcityW oak timber, 

 planting and the prefervation of Woods is become an objeft of 

 great national confequence, you are alfo refpectfully requeflcd 

 to give your fentiments on the prefeut ftate of oak plantations 

 in general ; and how far you tliink the larch, or any other tree, 

 (capable of being fubftituted to advantage, for oak, in any 

 branch of Ihip-building) has been attentively cultivated in your 

 neighbourhood. Such, with any other communication on ru- 

 ral affairs, which you will be fo obliging as to make to this 

 Society, on or before the firil of November next, will be thank- 

 fully received. 



Ey order of the Society, 



With much refpe£t, 



Wm. MATTHEWS, Sec. 

 Bath, July loth 1791. 



