Forest Trees. 157 



any data for forming an opinion as to the 

 method of pruning pursued in former times 

 here; and it is fairly questionable whether 

 our ancestors bestowed much attention on 

 the matter, as it remains one of which com- 

 paratively few gardeners possess a competent 

 knowledge. 



In the time of George III. William 

 Forsyth enjoyed a good share of royal 

 patronage and favour, and was appointed 

 to the charge of the gardens at Kensington. 

 He seems to have been an intelligent man, 

 and to have devoted attention to the very 

 important subject of pruning fruit-trees. He 

 also made an attempt to provide a remedy 

 for that serious evil, the canker, for the cure 

 of which he invented some composition, but 

 which is, however, still among the problems 

 to be solved in arboriculture. Some trees, 

 such as the Ribstone pippin, seem to be 

 peculiarly prone to this malady. 



He published his book on gardening in 

 1802, under the title of A Treatise on the 

 Management and Culture of Fruit- Trees ; 

 there is an edition as late as 1824, with a 



