up into healthy, vigorous trees, in far "less time than they could have con"ceived possible; while those left to un"assisted nature, had only produced ir"regular, unhealthy shoots, and were

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apparently in a state of decay." On which we may shortly observe, that the gardener, the woodman, and even the hedger, well know, that such trees cut down (though left to “unassisted nature”) seldom fail to shoot up most rapidly afterwards; and they know, also, that when they do not, it is occasioned by either a defect in the root, the soil, or maltreat

ment.

What had happened to the trees that produced only "irregular, unhealthy shoots," we know not; but we know many WAYS*

*If it be asked what such wAYS are; the answer is, they are already known ; (perhaps too well,) among Gardeners, and we do not choose to instruct mankind. in the means of doing private mischief.

of producing such appearances, upon trees whose roots are otherwise in a healthy state, with little trouble, and without the assistance of a second person: and it is impossible to mistake in regard to the good purpose such a striking contrast was intended to serve. In fact, the only UNCOMMON APPEARANCE here, is, the state of these unhealthy, decaying trees.

That " a tree cut down to the stump," produces another, which at "six, seven, or eight years growth, attains to a "size and height which trees sown, or

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planted, seldom attain to in thrice the "time," is a fact extremely well known; our reporters, however, attribute it to the efficacy of the composition only; and they do the same in regard to the quality of the wood, formed in and upon the wounds of trees, when in a healing state; they say, "we cut pieces of it out, "and compared them with other pieces "cut out of the original wood of the

same trees; and after as accurate a "secreting and comparison as we were "enabled to make, we could not disco"ver any difference either in the colour

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or texture:" but certainly there is nothing UNCOMMON in such an appearance; for it could not be otherwise, unless the composition had suspended the common operations of nature, and introduced in their stead, methods of its own. In short, the above, with other previous and subsequent remarks, furnish abundant proof of our first position, viz. that the reporters were by no means conversant with the subject; and hence, with the best possible intentions, they have been led to impute effects to wrong causes; consequently the operations of nature are degraded, in proportion as the merits of the composition are exalted.

For the truth of the above observations, we seriously appeal to the experi

ence of every person who has devoted much time to the subject; and to such as cannot be biassed by the opinions of others, we would say, form your own, by carefully observing nature's "unassisted operations" in any wood, two or three years after it has been fallen. There you may see, not only how rapidly new trees rise from old stumps, where the soil is tolerably good, and proper attention paid to displacing superfluous shoots; but likewise what astonishing exertions the same POWER makes in makes in healing wounds, whether occasioned by branches taken off, (provided they are cut close,) or by the drawing or dragging out the timber. In the latter business, many a ghastly scar is inflicted, and yet they heal unnoticed; indeed it is the facility with which the operation is attended, that occasions it to be so little observed and known. In the subsequent pages, we shall have to treat somewhat largely upon the nature of wounds in

forest trees; when, we trust, it will appear to every unprejudiced mind, that they are a part of the creation which can very seldom be benefited by means of Quackery*.

CA

BIAN

*It will be observed, the foregoing observations relate chiefly to forest trees, as my present business is with them. We may remark, however, in regard to fruit trees, that much of the same sort of reasoning will apply; though it is obvious that the writer we have quoted understood the culture of the latter much better than that of the former; still his merits, in regard to them, seem to hinge upon one circumstance :-he had attentively observed what " unassisted nature" could do, provided obstructions were removed out of her way; and these efforts, by a happy sort of dexterity, he all along exhibits as the effects of his composition.

The powers of nature being thus impressed into the service, he then, very consistently, puts the practices of the trade into requisition, by representing himself (in many parts of his book, but more particularly under the head "Pears") as the inventor of cutting down fruit trees, in order to renew their strength and fruitfulness; with how much truth, gardeners and nurserymen can easily tell us. If such discoveries are to pass