OF FOREST-TREES. 



159 



boughs, if very great, are to be cut off at some distance from the body, CHAP. VI r. 

 but the smaller close v—^-v-^ 



Hornets and wasps, by breeding in the hollo wness of trees, not only 

 infect them, but will peel them round to the very timber, as if cattle had 



In the year 1791, Mn William Forsyth, superintendent of his Majesty's gardens at 

 Kensington, published the following composition for curing injuries and defects of fruit 

 and forest-trees, and for which he received a distinguished mark of his Majesty's appro- 

 bation. 



" Take one bushel of fresh cow-dung, half a bushel of lime-rubbish of old buildings, 

 " (that from the ceilings of rooms is preferable,) half a bushel of wood-ashes, and a six- 

 " teenth part of a bushel of pit or river sand. The three last ai-ticles are to be sifted fine 

 " before they are mixed ; then work them well together with a spade, and afterwards with 



a wooden beater, until the stuff is very smooth, like fine plaster, used for the ceilings of 

 " rooms. 



" The composition being thus made, care must be taken to prepare the tree propei'ly 

 "for its application, by cutting away all the dead, decayed, and injured part, till you come 

 " to the fresh sound wood ; leaving the surface of the wood very smooth, and rounding off 

 ♦'the edges of the bark with a draw-knife, or other instrument, perfectly smooth, which 

 " must be particularly attended to : then lay on the plaster, about one-eighth of an inch 

 " thick, all over the part where the wood or bark has been so cut away, finishing off the 

 " edges as thin as possible. Then take a quantity of dry powder of wood-ashes, mixed 

 "with a sixth part of the same quantity of the ashes of burnt bones; put it into a tin box, 

 " with holes in the top, and shake the powder on the surface of the plaster, till the whole is 

 " covered over with it, letting it remain for half an hour, to absorb the moisture ; then apply 

 " more powder, rubbing it gently with the hand, and repeating the application of the powder, 

 " till the whole plaster becomes a dry, smooth surface. 



" All trees cut down near the ground, should have the surface made quite smooth, round- 

 " ing it off in a small degree, as before-mentioned ; and the dry powder, directed to be 

 " used afterwards, should have an equal quantity of powder of alabaster mixed with it, in 

 " order the better to resist the dripping of trees, and heavy rains. 



" If any of the composition be left for a future occasion, it should be kept in a tub, or 

 "other vessel, and urine of any kind poured on it, so as to cover the surface, otherwise the 

 " atmosphere will greatly hurt the efficacy of the application. 



"Wliere lime-rubbish of old buildings cannot be easily got, take powdered chalk, or 

 " common lime, after having been slaked a month at least. 



" As the growth of the tree will gradually affect the plaster, by raising up its edges 

 " next the bark, care should be taken, where that happens, to rub it over with the fino-er 

 " when occasion may require, (which is best done when moistened by rain,) that the 

 "plaster may be kept whole, to prevent the an: and wet from penetrating into the 

 " wound." 



X2 



