FIRST EDITION. ix 



that I have made great improvement. Former 

 Compositions have been made up of loam and cow 

 or horse -dung, of bees-wax, pitch, tar, chalk, rosin 

 mixed with grease, gums, &c. It is granted, that 

 such as these may sometimes be of use, but not in 

 general ; most of them being liable to become hard, 

 and to crack and peel off. I have tried them all, 

 with but very little success. I have also tried a 

 Composition of tarras (which is used as a cement 

 for building under water) : this also cracked and 

 peeled off after it became hard. Some of these 

 compositions become so hard, that, instead of giv- 

 ing way to the new bark as it is produced, they cut 

 and tear it, to the great injury of the tree. 



The Composition whi^h I recommend is not liable 

 to these inconveniencies ; it possesses an absorbent 

 and adhesive quality, and is moreover of such a na- 

 ture as not in the least to hurt the new and tender 

 bark ; for it easily gives way to it, and to the new 

 wood as they advance. On applying it to trees 

 which contain a strong acid, such as Oaks, Apple- 

 trees, Apricots, &c. when infected with the canker, 

 that disease may be seen oozing through the Com- 

 position and adhering to the outside, like copper- 

 dust, or rust of iron, and may be easily rubbed off 

 with the hand. This appearance I never could ob- 

 serve on the application of any other Composition; 

 which confirms my belief that it acts as a strong 

 stimulant. ^ 



When the wounds in fruit-trees are so large as 

 not to heal up in the course of a twelve-month, I 



