tihg partially that ftubborn ligature^ will re- 

 invigorate the whole tree, and call off the 

 before deftinated germinal fap to the en- 

 creafe of bodily wood : The germens at 

 fuch time exifting having been firft tontufed. 

 Nor can I help thinkingj but the remoteft 

 roots of fuch trees, enjoy a fenfible relief 

 on the fupprellion being thereby taken oifj 

 from their fending up the afpiring fluids they 

 had imbibed from the earth to their proper^ 

 but before obftrufted ends. 



Note, in this fort of bark-Jlittin^, a 

 mathematical exaftnefs in ftrait lines from 

 top to bottom of an Oak, is neither necef^ 

 fary, nor more ufeful, and if it refembles 

 that form of knife bark-Jlitting reprefented 

 at the beginning of this chapter, it will not 

 be amifs. As alfo that fuch Ax be fafhion* 

 ed more like a meat Cleaver j but (horter* 

 And if the agent has not a fteady hand, the 

 fame fhould have two gages, viz. one at 

 either end of the blade, if I may fo call it, 

 which will prevent thro' unfteadinefs, his 

 ftriking any end thereof into the very wood^ 

 by an unlevel chop ; which as much as may 

 be fliould be avoided. Likewife that a wet 



and 



4 



