182

A DISCOURSE

trees to last so long, as the frequent cutting; every such diminution isa re-invigoration of the plant’s juice, so that it neither goes too far, norrises too faintly, when it is timely refreshed with this remedy; and there-fore we see that the most antient trees in churchyards, and about oldbuildings, are either Pollards or Dotards, seldom arising to their fullaltitude. It is true, as Mr. Nourse observes, that Elm and Oakfrequently pollarded and cut, hindering their mounting, increases thebulk and circumference, and makes a show of substance, when all thewhile it is but a hollow trunk, filled with its own corruption, spendingthe genuine moisture which should grow to the growth of the arms andhead, and interior substance of useful timber.

For the improvement of the speedy growth of trees, there is not a moreexcellent thing than the frequent rubbing of the bole or stem with somepiece of hair-cloth, or ruder stuff, at the beginning of spring : Some I haveknown done with seal’s skin ; the more rugged bark with a piece of coatof mail, which is made of small wire : This done when the body of thetree is wet, as after a soaking rain, yet so as not to excorticate, or gallthe tree, has exceedingly accelerated its growth (as I am afsured toa wonderful and incredible improvement) by opening the pores, freeingthem of mofs, and killing the worm

Lastly, Frondation, or the taking off some of the luxuriant branchesand sprays of such trees, especially whose leaves are profitable for cattle,is a kind of pruning ; and so is the scarrifying and crofs hatching of some

1 It is abundantly evident that all trees inspire and expire from pores in their bark aswell as their leaves, so that whatever interrupts either of these procefses, must occasiondisease. Mofs not only stops up the pores of the bark, but, by being a parasitical plantsupports its own growth by drawing nourishment from the tree on which it is placed.Plants are.never healthy but when their stems are clean, so that we should bestow everyattention towards keeping them so. Mr. Evelyn very judiciously recommends rubbing thestems, in order to keep the trees in a growing and healthy state : But notwithstanding thejustnefs of this idea, it of necefsity becomes limited and confined. In the 67th vol. of thePhilosophical Transactions for the year 1777, there is inserted a curious letter upon thissubject from Mr. Marsham to the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, from which it appearsthat the growth of trees maybe considerably increased by washing and rubbing their bark.A continuation of Mr. Marsham’s experiment is inserted in the 71 st volume of the sameTransactions,