202 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISEASES, &c. 



having all their upper parts broken, by high winds, from their 

 trunks, which were withal so hollow and decayed^ that a small 

 portion alone of the bark remained alive and sound. Of these 

 trees, I cut away, at first, a part only of the rotten stuif, from the 

 hollow of the tree, and then applied the plaster to the place 

 where the operation had been performed, by way of an internal 

 coat of the composition. In a short time, however, the elforts 

 of nature, with a renovated flow of the juices, were clearly 

 discernible in their formation of the new wood, uniting with, 

 and swelling, as it were, from the old, till it became a strong 

 support to that part of the tree where the composition had been 

 applied. I then cut away more of the rotten wood frorr the 

 inside, applying the plaster in the same manner, with the same 

 good effects, and continued to use the knife in proportion to 

 the acquisition of new wood; so that, from the tops of these de- 

 cayed and naked trunks, stems have actually grown of above 

 thirty feet in height, in the course of six or seven years from 

 the first application of the composition; an incontrovertible 

 proof of its good effects in restoring decayed vtgetation. 



Many other elm trees which had received hurts from bruises 

 and other causes, and where disease and decay were already 

 evident, after cutting away all the iinfected part, and duly ap- 

 plying the plaster, were so completely healed, that the outline 

 of the wound is scarcely discernible on the bark, and the new 

 wood is as perfectly united to the old, as if it had been origin- 

 ally formed with the tree. 



Of oak-trees also, which had received very considerable 

 damage from various accidents, as blows, bruises, and cutting 

 of deep letters, the rubbing off the bark by the ends of rollers, 

 or wheels of carts, and mutilated branches, a perfect cure has 

 been made and sound timber produced. The acidity, or 

 corrosive quality, of the juice of oak-trees, when obstructed 

 in their circulation from any of the causes already mentioned, 

 and fermenting with the wet and moisture imbibed by the 

 wounds from the atmosphere, will bring on disease, and pro- 

 mote decay ; for, notwithstanding the hard texture of the oak, 

 when once the principles of decay begin to operate, the acri- 

 monious juices feed the disease, and accelerate its progress, as 

 much, perhaps, as in trees of a softer quality and texture ; but 

 when the diseased or injured part is entirely cut away to the 

 fresh sound wood, and the composition properly laid on, as 

 perfect a cure has been made as I have already related in the 

 recovery of the elm trees. Indeed, when I reflect that the oak 

 has been the boast of our early ancestors, and the means, un^ 

 der the blessing of God, of affording protection and safety, as 



