important fact remain, a glance at the Frontis- 

 piece, (the formof vvhicli tree has been improved 

 by culture,) must effectually remove it. 



The leading object of this performance has 

 been to ascertain how far the progress of na- 

 ture could be traced with certainty ; so as to 

 furnish a,minerring rw/e,forimprovingthe form, 

 increasing the weight, and preventing the de- 

 fects of Timber Trees. If this point have, for- 

 tunately, been estabhshed, there cannot be any 

 great failure in the subordinate ones ; as they 

 are (technically speaking) no other than the 

 branches of the same tree. 



The Plates will, it is presumed, considerably 

 facilitate the understanding of the subject.—^ 

 To the Engravers, the ingenious Messrs. But- 

 TERTTORTHsof Lccds, the author fccls consi- 

 derable obhgationsjfor their masterly execution 

 of the subjects, supposed usLturn], and their very 

 striking and correct delineation of suci. is are 

 really so. 



In the execution of the work, the author has 



