I OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. 195 



and mode of cure which I had adopted, as well as the effects 

 which my remedy had produced on trees of various kinds and 

 ages to which it had been applied. Those gentlemen seemed, 

 in a most particular manner, to interest themselves in ascer- 

 taining the utility and benefit that might arise from the applica- 

 tion of it to many thousand valuable trees in his Majesty's 

 woods and forests, which had received injuries of such a kind 

 as, if left to the unassisted efforts of nature, would occasion a 

 very considerable diminution in the value and the quality of the 

 timber, and might even terminate in their entire ruin'^. 



This very attentive and minute examination of the several 

 objects of their inquiry being followed by the clearest convic- 

 tion of the great public utility which would result from a gene- 

 ral application of the remedy, the commissioners were pleased 

 to make a representation of it to the Lords of his Majesty's 

 Treasury, under whose sanction it was submitted to the con- 

 sideration of the House of Commons by Mr, Rose, on the 

 24th of July, 1789 ; and on his motion, an humble address was 

 presented by that honourable house, to his Majesty on the 

 subjectf. 



In consequence of this address, a Committee of Members 

 ©f both Houses of Parliament undertook, at the instance of the 

 Lords of the Treasury, to investigate the efficacy of my compo- 

 sition ; for which purpose, they most attentively examined the 

 state, condition, and progress of cure, of the decayed and in- 

 jured trees in Kensington Gardens, to which it had been ap- 

 plied, in experiments of various kinds, for upwards of seven 

 preceding years ; and, after having by a very full enquiry, strict 

 investigation, and the most minute attention, satisfied their 

 minds in every particular, they reported to the Lords of the 

 Treasury the result of their examination, expressing their una- 

 nimous opinion and conviction, that " The Composition was 

 a discovery which might be rendered highly beneficial both to 

 individuals and the public." That report, and also a letter pre- 



* Mr. Nichol of Radbridge, Hants, Purveyor for Portsmouth Dock, in- 

 formed me that the average of the damaged timber brought to that place was 

 never less than one fourth of the total quantity of timber brought in annually ; 

 and not unfrequently it amounted to a third. If, however, the trees that have 

 received any injuries were prepared, and the composition applied as directed in 

 this treatise, the cavities, or wounds, would be filled up with new and sound 

 wood. And if recent wounds, occasioned by lopping or breaking off branches, 

 were immediately dressed in a proper manner with the composition, the tree 

 would sustain no injury ; as the wounds wonld be healed and covered over 

 with new and sound bark in a short space of time ; so that there would noi 

 be found a. foot of damaged timber. 



t SeeNp, 4, of the Appendix, 



