122 



Dry, barren soils sometimes cause rot- 

 tenness, by affording the trees only a scan- 

 ty nourishment, and hence occasioning 

 them to die gradually, before they attain 

 any tolerable age. It is not the pruner's 

 business to mend the soil; yet his art 

 may improve, and even increase its pro- 

 duce. The method of doing so will have 

 particular attention, under the article 

 Pruning. 



On rottenness and hollowness, the ef- 

 fects of extreme old age, little need be 

 said ; as, when they are so produced, every 

 man, who stands aloof from the tricks of 

 quackery, must deem them incurable : 

 most certainly we cannot effectually ar- 

 rest the slow and silent march of time; 

 but means may be used to retard its 

 " stealing steps." The truth is, that what 

 is usually called the effect of old age, is 



earth ; and both would be benefited, by si^^jh an ex- 

 change of good offices. 



