310 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISEASES, &c, 



detriment may be effectually prevented ?" I beg to fay, that 

 after many years clofe application, and flriclly critical obferva- 

 tion,I am fully convinced, that upon the excifion of the decayed 

 part, and the application of a Compofition, it is poffible to 

 heal any wounded tree, and even to reftore it to its former 

 liealth, if there be only an inch or two of bark remaining to 

 carry on the circulation of the vegetable economy. This is 

 no theory, but is demonftrated by a great variety of experi- 

 ments on fruit and forerl trees in his Majefty's Gardens at 

 Kenfington, now under my care ; and which trees, upon exa- 

 mination, have convinced all thofe who viewed them of the 

 practicability of producing the fineft, cleaneft, and moft pro- 

 lific branches from (lumps in a ftate of decay : and with con- 

 fidence I can afTert, that I have fucceeded fo well with his 

 Majefty's fruit-trees, that by cutting out the deceafed and dead 

 wopd, the trees have produced more and finer fruit in two 

 and three years, than a tree newly planted will in thirteen or 

 fourteen years ; and this advantageous circumftance is equally 

 vifible in the experiments I have made on elms, where 

 nothing remained but the bark. The oak, from experience, 

 I find equally as curable as any other tree; the bark may be 

 reftored, and the trees rendered as fit for the navy, as though 

 they never had been injured. 



In aniwer to the third queftion, I fay, that I am able to 

 44 fuggeft a complete remedy for the defects and that 

 remedy I fuppoie to be known only to myielf, as it is not a 

 fee ret drawn from books, or learned from men, but the effect 

 of clofe application, and repeated experiments. As to under- 

 taking the application of the remedy, I mult requeit you will 

 have the goodnels to permit me to fay, that as a fervant of 

 Jiis Majefty 1 do not think myfelf at liberty to form, any en- 

 gagement 



