182 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. trees to last so long, as the frequent cutting ; every such diminution is 

 "^'"^"^ a re-invigoration of the plant's juice, so that it neither goes too far, nor 

 rises too faintly, when it is timely refreshed with this remedy ; and, there- 

 fore, we see that the most ancient trees in church -yards, and about old 

 buildings, are either Pollards or Dotards, seldom arising to their full 

 altitude. It is true, as Mr. Nourse observes, that Elm and Oak fre- 

 quently pollarded and cut, hindering their mounting, increases the 

 bulk and circumference, and makes a shew of substance, when all the 

 while it is but a hollow trunk, filled with its own corruption, spending 

 the genuine moisture which should grow to the growth of the arms 

 and head, and interior substance of useful timber. 



For the improvement of the speedy growth of trees, there is not a 

 more excellent thing than the frequent rubbing of the bole or stem with 

 some piece of hair-cloth, or ruder stuff, at the beginning of spring : some 

 I have known done with seal's skin ; the more rugged bark with a piece 

 of coat of mail, which is made of small wire : this done when the body 

 of the tree is wet, as after a soaking rain, yet so as not to excorticate, 

 or gall the tree, has exceedingly accelerated its growth (as I am assured 

 to a wonderful and incredible improvement) by opening the pores, 

 freeing them of moss, and killing the worm 



Lastly, Frondation, or the taking off some of the luxuriant branches 

 and sprays of such trees, especially whose leaves are profitable for cattle, 

 is a kind of pruning ; and so is the scarifying and cross hatching of some 



■ It is abundantly evident that all trees inspire and expire from pores in their bark as 

 well as their leaves, so that vi'hatever interrupts either of these processes, must occasion 

 disease. Moss not only stops up the pores of the bark, but, by being a parasitical plant, 

 supports its own growth, by drawing nourishment from the tree on which it is placed. 

 Plants are never healthy but when their stems are clean, so that we should bestow every 

 attention towards keeping them so. Mr. Evelyn very judiciously recommends rubbing the 

 stems, in oi-der to keep the trees in a growing and healthy state : but notwithstanding the 

 justness of this idea, it of necessity becomes limited and confined. In the 67th Vol. of the 

 Philosophical Transactions for the year 1777, there is inserted a curious letter upon this 

 subjec t, from Mr. Marsham, to the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, from which it appears 

 that the growth of trees may be considerably increased by washing and rubbing their bark. 

 A continuation of Mr, Marsham's experiment is inserted in the 71st Volume of the same 

 Transactions. 



