224 THE ORCHARD. [March. 



canker. The exposure of the wounds, the almost dormant state of 

 the sap, together with the additional check to its slow, but certain 

 ascent to the extremities occasioned by the amputation of limbs, 

 &c, predispose to mortification; whereas in early spring, when the 

 sap may be expected soon to follow the knife, the lips will quickly 

 grow and heal over. 



It is universally admitted, that the sap continues to flow, though 

 slowly, in the milder parts of the winter days, and that it must 

 rise continually during the winter months in ever-green trees, 

 otherwise their foliage would wither; and also in deciduous trees 

 (that is, such as shed their leaves in winter); because the branch of 

 an ever-green tree will grow on a deciduous tree, and not loose its 

 leaves in winter, as the Prunus Lauro-Cerasus, or European laurel, 

 on a cherry; and the ever-green oak, on a common oak. 



When pruning is judiciously done, and at a proper time, if 

 the branches are small, a fresh bark and fresh wood will, in one 

 season, completely cover the wounds; but if large, a time propor- 

 tionate to the size will be necessary for their covering and healing; 

 this process, however, is much accelerated by the application of a 

 proper composition, which excludes the air and wet, protects the 

 wounds from the effects of the various changes of the weather, the 

 surrounding bark from any injury by insects or worms, and yields 

 to its growth: all these ends will be effectually answered by an 

 application of the medicated tar prescribed in page AT; and applied 

 as there directed. 



The following compositions have been much spoken of: I shall 

 therefore publish them without any comments on their virtues, 

 leaving the result to the experience of those who have, or shall have 

 tried them; however, I must observe, that the methods of pruning 

 old or decayed trees, recommended by Mr. Forsyth, and accom- 

 panying his instructions for making the composition, are very judi- 

 cious, and should be duly attended to, whatever composition may 

 be determined on for use afterwards. 



Royal Gardens, Kensington, May 11, 1791. 



Directions for making a composition for curing diseases, defects, 

 and injuries in all kinds of fruit and forest trees, and the method 

 of preparing the trees and laying on the composition, by Wil- 

 liam Forsyth. 



"Take one bushel of fresh cow dung, half a bushel of lime 

 rubbish of old buildings, (that from the ceilings of rooms is prefer- 

 able,) half a bushel of wood ashes, and a sixteenth part of a bushel 

 of pit or river sand: the three last articles are to be sifted fine 

 before they are mixed; then work them well together with a spade, 

 and afterwards with a wooden beater, until the stuff is very smooth, 

 like fine plaster used for the ceilings of rooms. 



"The composition beinu; thus made, care must be taken to pre- 

 pare the tree properly for its application, by cutting away all the 

 dead, decayed, and injured part till you come to the fresh sound 

 wood, leaving the surface of the wood very smooth, and rounding 



