O CUKE OF THE DRY ROT. 



laid clofe along the walls round the room, would prevent the 

 growth of the plant, even without mortar ; and perhaps it is 

 only neceflary where the walls are next to the air. 

 and the method Charring the ends of the joifts for a few inches, and char- 

 of eure. j.||^g ^j^g ^- ^^ ^p ^j^g wainfcot at bottom, next to the walls would 



be fufficient; for the plant cannot adhere to any thing but wood, 

 and that poffefled of its natural juices, to a certain degree ; fo 

 that I queftion if old dry oak vyould receive it. 



All the white foft woods, as beech, poplars, and deals, are 

 for a long time ready to receive it. Repairing the damage with 

 frefli wood, without removing the earth and plant, is only feed- 

 ing the evil. 



The plant is of the creeping kind, and cannot rife two inches; 

 fo that wood in all cafes, muft be in contact with the earth to 

 fupport it. 



A fungus broader than the palm of one's hand, and an inch or 

 more in thicknefs, is commonly feen at the bottom of an old poft, 

 on the furface of the earlh ; but it is noteafy to difcern whe- 

 ther the wood or the earth furnifhes the matter; fotrue is the 

 obfervation of MuUer : — " Dans I'etude de la nature, on pent 

 nous comparer ^ de petits enfans qui comiuencent H ouvrir lesyeux^ 

 nous toulons purler heaucovp, et nous nefaifons que begayer." 

 1 am, Sir, 



Your nioft obedient Servant, 



BENJAMIN JOHNSON, 

 Jpfwich, Dec. 21, 1799, 

 To the Secretary, 



N. B. The qualities of this plant are unknown to moft Eng- 

 lith botanifts, as appears from their publications; but they are 

 known to the Germans, who have habitually ufed more wood 

 in their buildings than we have. 



Third Letter front, the Same. 

 SIR, 



Aflured thai the purfuits of the Society for the Encourage 

 roent of Arts, &c. aim at the full inveltigation of whateve 

 they propofe for the public benefit, I cannot perfuade myfelf 

 that_I am troublefome in going a little further into this fub- 

 jedl. 



I had 



ver 



