xl 



PEEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



In order to render the art of giving immediate effect to 

 wood as intelligible as possible, I have in the following pages 

 considered it imder three general heads. 



First. I have given a histoiy of the art of removing wood, 

 from the earliest times down to the present; from which it 

 appears, that it has always been vague and fortuitous, at vari- 

 ance with what we know of the laws of natm^e and the anatomy 

 of plants, and for the most part both unsuccessful and expensive. 



Secondly. I have attempted to discover some plain and 

 rational theory, foimded in natm^e and experience, for the guid- 

 ance of the planter, and which may tend to raise it to the rank 

 of a useful art. 



Thirdly. I have endeavoured to deduce from this theory 

 such a practice as shall ensure success, by in some sort pre- 

 cluding contingency, and also to diminish the expense by the 

 one-half at least of the present amount. 



In attempting these objects, I trust that I have treated with 

 due respect the opinions of preceding writers. Where I have, 

 fi'om deliberate conviction, been forced to differ from them, I 

 have done it with regret ; being aware of the uncertainty in 

 which all knowledge, on so obscure a subject as vegetable phy- 

 siology, must ever be held, and in which, although much has been 

 already brought to light by the patient industry of the philo- 

 sopher, much, I am persuaded, still remains to be investigated. 



For the deficiencies of the present work I should wish next 

 to say something by way of apology, as I am conscious to my- 

 self how very greatly it stands in need of it. The fact is, it 

 was undertaken at the desire of numerous friends, who approved 

 of my system, which I have ventured to call the Peeser- 

 VATIVE, in order to serve as a manual for their own practice. 

 Accordingly, about eighteen months since, the first section was 

 written and printed, in order to convince myself, as well as 

 others, that I was in earnest in undertaking the task ; but it 

 was soon after interrupted, and in the end thrown aside for 

 other avocations. Within these few months the work was 

 more seriously resumed — each section was thrown off as soon 

 as it was composed ; and the consequence was, that some omis- 

 sions, which appeared prominent, were to be supplied in the 



