C i7° I 



ESSAY IXL 



ON THE SUDDEN DECAY OF SEVERAL TREES 

 IN ST. JAMES'S PARK. 



SEVERAL years ago I happened to be at a country-houfe 

 K-J where a narrow canal was filled, on the fides of which grew 

 fome limes of about forty years growth, and which continued to- 

 be in a flourifhing ftate. The next fummer all thefe trees died, 

 which was fuppofed to arife from the canal's being filled with 

 fome materials of a noxious nature to them : but as I was on 

 the fpot when the alteration was made, I knew that there was no- 

 thing uncommon in the ftrata of the foil which had been ufed for 

 this purpofe ; I therefore began to fufpecT: the real caule of this 

 accident, and determined to obferve what might be the event 

 under hmilar circumftances, if a proper opportunity mould 

 offer. 



It is well known that Rofamond's Pond, as well as fome fmaller 

 ones within the ifland of St. James's Park, have lately been filled 

 up ; and it is as well known that every tree which grew very near 

 to their margins hath died within the enfuing year, which there- 

 fore ferns to be owing to the following caufe. 



When a tree is planted at a diflance from water, the roots fpreacF 

 equally in every direction, in order to receive the moiflure which- 



3 is 



