OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. 289 



medy had been attended with fuch uninterrupted fuccefs, that 

 its falutary and certain effects were evident to every one who 

 favoured it with an attentive obfervation. Many, who vifited 

 me with the mod decided opinions againft the fuccefsful ap- 

 plication of any remedy for trees in a very advanced ftate of 

 decay, did not hefitate, on an inveftigation of the fubjea, to 

 acknowledge that their prejudices were not only removed, but 

 that their judgments were perfe&ly convinced of the power- 

 ful efficacy of the difcovery, and the very great advantages 

 which, both in an individual and a national view, might be 

 derived from it. 



Among the more early enquirers, were the commiflioners 

 appointed by parliament to examine into the ftate of the 

 woods, forefts, and land revenues of the crown ; who, in the 

 courfe of their furveys, had perceived a great number of trees 

 in the Royal forefts to be materially injured ; and their 

 anxiety to prevent the lofs or further damage of fo much 

 valuable timber induced them to honour me with a letter * 

 concerning the effects of injuries done to oak-trees, and the 

 means of preventing or curing defects in timber from various 

 caufes therein ftated. 



In reply to this inquiry of the Commiffioners, I did myfelf 

 the honour of addreffmg them two fucceflive letters f. 



Shortly after the date of thefe letters, the Commiflioners 

 favoured me with a vifit at Kenfington, to examine the 

 procefs and mode of cure which I had adopted, as well as the 

 effects which my remedy had produced on trees of various 

 kinds and ages to which it had been applied. Thofe gentle- 

 men feemed, in a mo ft particular manner, to intereft them- 



* See No. I. of the Appendix. 



•j- See Nos. II. and III. of the Appendix. 



P p felves 



