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Received January 9, 17^9. 
V. A 'Letter to Dr. William Watfon, F, R. S. 
from the Hon. Daines Barrington, F. R.S. 
on the Frees which are fuppofed to be indF 
ge?ious m Great Britain. 
Dear Sir, 
January 2, 1769. 
Read Feb. 9 and 1 6 , I N C E you fent me the fpeci- 
men of ifuppofed chefnut, which' 
was taken from the old hall of Clifford’s Inn, I have 
been at fome pains to examine into the authorities for 
the prevailing notion, with regard to this being an in- 
digenous tree ; as alfo with relation to fome others,, 
which are generally conceived to be of the native 
grov/th of Great Britain. 
But, before I enter into other particulars, I fhall 
venture to lay down fome general rules, from which 
it may be decided, whether a tree is indigenous or 
not, in any country. 
1. They muft grow in large maffes, and cover con- 
fiderable tradts of ground ; nor muft fuch woods end 
abruptly, by a fudden change to other trees, except 
th® fituation and Rrata become totally different. 
2. If the tree grows kindly in copfes, and fhoots 
from the ftool, it muft for ever continue in Rich a 
wood. 
