Imatges de pàgina
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unfriendly to the cause of liberty, and by their actions they appeared far from being indifpofed to overturn a conftitution which the King had reluctantly fworn to maintain, and which he feemed de firous to overthrow on the first favourable opportunity. His fecret advisers, however, began to be afraid of the confequences, for the whole nation was aroufed. It was faid, that if Louis were fincere, inftead of choosing his minifters from among the adherents of the ancient fyftem, he would felect public functionaries, whofe civifm was unfpotted.

Fear or weakness at length inclined the court to listen to the general wish, and it was decided with equal fecrecy and cunning, either to gain over the new minifters, or difmifs them. It was accordingly agreed upon, that a patriot adminiftration

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fhould be formed; and as fome of the Girondifts were confulted as to the proper perfons to be put in nomination, the committee of the Place Vendôme inftantly pointed out Roland, as an able man, who had written en feveral different branches of administration, who poffeffed experience, enjoyed an unfullied reputation, and who, to a proper age and exemplary morals, added a decided attachment to liberty, the principles of which he had inculcated in his writings, anteriour to the commencement of the revolution.

The King, who was not unacquainted with these facts, confented, and Briffot waited on Madame Roland, in order to found her about the inclinations of her husband, refpecting fo important a charge as that of Minifter of the Home department. [To be concluded in our next.]

EXTRACTS EROM NICOL'S PRACTICAL PLANTER.

Obfervations on Pruning and Training the Oak for Ship timber. PLANTED Oaks generally require

to be headed down about the fecond or third year after planting. I fay generally for who in madness would head down a plant, evidently thriving, and forming for a timber tree? In fpeaking of heading down, I allude to bushes, or plants fo diftorted in the ftem, that they will not, if left to nature, haftily acquire an upright tendency, and confequently, might difappoint our beft wishes of feeing them speedily fhoot forth for timber of magnitude.

Therefore, to remedy this defect, the third feafon after planting, by which time the plants will have made good roots, and be eftablished in the foil, go over the field, and head down, to within two inches of the furface, every Oak of the above defcription; making clean wounds with a fharp knife. Such plants as have a good

leader, and clean, smooth fiem, are not to be touched; and moft of the fown Oaks will come under this de

feription. The feafon for perform

ing this operation, is November or March.

The plants thus treated will pufh vigorously the enfuing feafon; and about mid-fummer, they fhould be looked over, and divefted of all but two of the ftrongest shoots, by fimply rubbing off the others with the finger. Two thoots are retained, in cafe of accidents, until March following; at which time, the weakest, and alfo any other trifling ones that may have iffued in confequence of rubbing off thofe in the preceding fummer, are to be lopped clean off by the ftem.

At mid-fummer next following, the plants are again to be looked over; and whatever fpray may have iffued from the incifions difplace with the finger.

Henceforth, the plants will require no more attention on this score,

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but will become fine fingle-ftemmed dle of three or four feet, and is to be

trees; and must be treated, along with the fown plants as follow:Encourage a leader, by shortening every branch which feems to rival the fem to about two thirds of its length. These are not to be lopped off by the bole, but shortened at fome convenient twig or lateral, which may become an inferior leader to the branch; to the intent that the trunk may be ftrengthened in its annual progrefs, by the retention of branches, which, although they serve to detain the fap, may not, by their ftrength or luxuriance, operate to weaken the main ftem or leader of the tree.

The whole art of pruning and training timber centers here. The ftem is not to be smoothed up like a May pole, by being divested of every twig and branch without difcrimination; nor is the top to be let grow as, or be formed into, a bush, without being thinned. There is a medium, and to hit on this medium is all that

is re quired in the formation of beautiful and ftately timber. Nor is it neceffary to exercife the knife much, or lop a fingle branch by the bole, unless decayed or broke by accident. All that is neceffary in fhortening Strong branches, fuch as, in any confiderable degree, feem to cope with the ftem.

And this must be perfevered in fo long as the intention is to produce Straight timber: Firft, By aid of light ladders, after the plant shoots beyond reach from the ground, until of fufficient ftrength to bear a boy or other light perfon; Secondly, By a perfon mounting the tree with a light fharp bill, pocket faw, and knife. These are all the implements neceffary; and if the pruning is not neglected, but performed, as it ought to be, every second or third feafon, the amputation of no branch bigger than the wrist or ankle will become neceffary.

The bill fhould have a light han

ufed in fhortening the diftant extremities of branches not fufficiently ftrong to fupport a perfon's weight. The faw and knife are to be employed in fhortening branches within reach, and taking clean off by the bole, to the depth of the bark, all accidentally broken or bruifed ftumps ; ufing the faw for amputating, and the knife for afterward fmething the edges of the bark, and face of the wound. But obferve, that no formerly lopped or shortened branch, having a twig or lateral to lead on its growth, comes under the denomination of a ftump.

If, however, the extremity of any fuch branch exhibit the appearance of decay or mortification, let it be cut back to the quick, or to the next twig or lateral thereon; smoothing it in the manner as above. And if it be corrupted below all the twigs, let it be taken off by the bole; as, in that cafe, it comes under the title, and would foon put on the appearance of a stump.

From this view of the fubject, it is prefumed the intelligent reader will find no difficulty in Pruning and Training the Oak in the character of ftraight timber; nor, if the operation is regularly performed, fo as that the trees at no time be fuffered to run into confufion of fhoots, and if they ftand at proper diftances in refpect to each other, will he find the operation perplexing or tedious.

I come now to Pruning and Training the Oak in the character of crooked timber.

It may be neceffary to observe, firft, that from the natural inclination of the plant in queftion, there certainly will be lefs difficulty in training it in a crooked than ftraight pofition, provided a fufficiency of room be allowed. Secondly, that detached or hedge-row trees, thofe ftanding on the borders of plantations, or in open woods, rather than in clofe groves or thickets, are moft proper

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for this purpose. And, thirdly, we ought not to deem trees of from twenty to thirty years of age, too old for being thus trained.

Producing cuts fitted for ribs or knees, is the chief object here; and, to accomplish which, if we follow and improve the dictates of nature, will require little trouble or expence. That these knees, &c. be of the beft quality, is a matter of the greatest importance to the fhip-builder and mariner. Being produced from found wood of the trunk, rather than brittle wood of the extremities, will'encreafe their strength, and enhance their value. All the art requifite for this purpofe, is, to alter the pofition of the item or leader, by fubftituting in its place, a fide-bough, from time to time, according to the progrefs of the plant, the fize of the bend or knee, and the pofture of the fucceeding bough intended for a leader. The care confits in making clean and handfome wounds, and preventing mortification by the application of plaifter, &c.

I do not prefume that every oak tree is to be, or may be converted to this ufe; nor even that a tree which is naturally fitted for ribs is to be trained for knees, or the contrary, But rather, that the natural bends be as little conftrained as poffible; taking advantage of fuch turns only as will evidently answer the purpose, whether of ribs or knees. And it will alfo frequently occur, that a bottom cut, both long and straight, and feveral knes, &c. may be had of the fame tree.

It would now appear, that, to the manager of an oak wood, four important points for confideration prefent themfelves, viz. t, Whether there is a demand for crooked timber; 2d, Whether the probability of a demand ;` 3d, What demand for ftraight timber; and, 4thly, Selecting and claffing the trees, according to the purpose they will most obviously

anfwer. This, however, is to be understood of neglected trees which have been planted many years; as I conceive it quite practicable to form lately planted young trees, for any of the purposes above stated.

Thus, changing any particular branch, which forms a proper bend, into the principal leader, by ftopping the ftem fo as that this inferior branch be placed immediately under the amputation; the new leader will foon after incline upwards, put forth lateral branches, and afford an opportunity of repeating the formation of another bend, &c.

In purfing this object, however, care fhould be taken to reverse the bend or knee each time, lett the tree, by lofing its proper poife, become fubject to injury, or be thrown down by high winds. This should also be attended to in the cafe of its ftanding among other trees, that it take not up unneceffary room.

But, in preparing young trees for this purpofe, it becomes neceffery to deviate from the rules above ftated, of fhortening all branches which teem to rival the stem, and lopping nons by the bole. All ftrong branches, except thofe intended to be changed into leaders, fhould be cut clean away; as otherwife, they might retard the progrefs of the new leader, which, by its horizontal pofition, cannot be fuppofed to draw nourishment fo effectually as if growing upright. Small branches may be left, however, on the ftem; as it is not probable they will pufh fhoots to injure the leader, in the manner the laterals of fhortened, stronger branches might.

Here I fpeak of trees under thirty years old; and I hold it to be particularly injurious to lop branches by the bole, from plants of greater age. If wounds on the trunk are not fkinned over, and completely healed while it is clean and smooth, they do not fo readily heal afterwards.

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This is peculiar to the oak, and other rough barked trees; while the beech, and other fmoother barked plants, will bear to be pruned to the bole, with equal propriety, at a greater age.

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This matter, however, fhould be regulated by the State of health the plant is in judging by its vigour, whether, in all probability, it has ftrength fufficient Speedily to cicatrize the wound.

But it may be neceffary to obferve, that if young trees are properly kept in training for this purpose, the neceffity of lopping ftrong branches by the bole will rarely happen; for, shortened branches become twigs in a few years, if a proper leader be encouraged. And this should be done for fome twenty or thirty years, or until the trunk hath acquired ftrength fufficient to fupport the head, after being laid in a horizontal pofition.

ON THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS AND BRUISES IN TIMBER TREES.

From the Same.

BY Y the fyftem of pruning, it is in order to prevent farther decay, fhewn, that lopping of Strong it also becomes our duty to follow branches becomes not neceffary; and the moft rational and fimple mode of that all wounding, in pruning, fhould treatment. be performed on, or towards the extremities of boughs which have inferior laterals to partake of, and divert their luxuriance of growth from injuring the ftem or leader. It is alfo Thewn, that, from this mode, little ill is to be apprehended, and confequently, that the treatment of fuch wounds is fimple. True; and fo much the better for the plant and the intereft of its owner. Such wounds require no other attention than being lopped clean off with a fharp knife or bill; and, if the faw is ufed, being afterwards fmoothed with the knife.

And it were to be wifhed, for the fake of much timber, which otherwife might have been rendered more valuable, that wounds of another def. cription had been unneceffary, or had never been inflicted.

I here allude to the neceffity of lopping by the bole, all ftumps, &c. occafioned by formerly injudicious pruning, and the wanton folly of thofe who lop large branches by, or near to the item, when fimply fhortening them at a proper diftance would answer a better purpose. But, fince it becomes neceffary to clear formerly injured trees, of ftumps, &c.

With this view, I fhall briefly obferve, that, whenever it becomes neceffary to lop a ftump by the bole, or to shorten any branch larger than the wrift or ankle; in the former cafe, the wound fhould be to the quick, that is, to the level of the bark on the ftem at least; and in the latter, obliquely across the branch; fo as, from its pofition, to prevent moisture from lodging: being careful to prevent laceration, by notching the bark underneath, before the amputated part fall down, or to one fide.

In both cafes, the face of the wound and edges of the bark are to be made perfectly fmooth with the knife; and in a few hours after, or fo foon as they are quite dry, let the wound be carefully plaistered with tar, (fuch as is ufed for fheep-fmearing.) or laid over with white or blue lead, which has been well mixed up with oil, and rendered rather thicker than is commonly used for painting. The tar is, however, certainly preferable, being of a more healing nature; and, if laid on in a thin ftate, it is not fo apt to scale off by the action of the weather, as the paint.

This operation, as has already been

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mentioned, fhould be performed in the fall; at which time, the wound is not fo apt to crack, and likewife dries fooner than at any other season. If, however, in the courfe of the enfuing summer, or at any fubfequent period, the tar or paint is found to rend or scale off, care must be taken to renew and keep the plaister sound and fmooth, until the bark grow over and cover the wound; and this should be more particularly obferved in refpect of wounds on the trunk.

In the cafe of polling a tree, lopping an upright branch, or, in training for Ship-timber, topping the leader, &c. when, from the upright polition of the wounded part in queftion, plaiftering or painting, as above, might be deemed infufficient to prevent water from penetrating, and of confequence, injuring the trunk; it will be found neceffary, after laying over the wound with tar, &c. to cap it with lead, wax-cloth, or tar-pallion, which may be faftened with flate-nails or faddle-tacks; obferving to keep the cap in good repair, by examining it frequently, and laying it over with pitch or paint.

the value of the herbage in woods, can never counter-balance the lofs thus fuftained.

For, not one tree in ten, after being rubbed, (in the rifing of the fap, perhaps,) is ever found to flourish, but languish, and finally decay. And how can it be otherwife, without an extraordinary exertion of nature, if, by this rubbing, the outer and inner barks are separated from each other, and alfo from the wood, and if the fap-veffels are diftorted and broken? We might as foon fuppofe, that although the wrift were bared to the bone, the hand or fhoulder would remain unaffected.

For fuch wounds, it may be very difficult to prescribe a cure; but it is in the power of every one to prevent the neceffity of it.

We frequently fee trees wantonly bruifed by the wheels and frames of carts, coaches, &c. In this cafe, although we may venture to prescribe a remedy, we certainly have alfo to lament its being neceffary; inafmuch as fcars on the bark, or blemishes in the wood, unavoidably follow, though the tree may, in most cafes, refume its wonted vigour.

We have certainly alfo to lament the neceffity of applying a cure to bruifes and fractures, not unfrequently occafioned by the violence of pre

2dly, Of Bruifes, Fractures, &c. It is a lamentable fact, that much valuable timber has been ruined by inattention to accidental bruifes and fractures; and much, alfo, has been ruined by want of attention to prevailing winds, in tearing off the vent bruises, &c. How often do we find unfenced detached trees, and thofe ftanding in open woods, in a state of irrecoverable decay, proceeding from the pernicious rubbing of cattle on their boles!

Did the owners of these trees but reflect how far fuch bruifing is injurious to the timber, and their own interests, they would not abandon plants not fufficiently advanced in growth, and covered with ftrong outer bark, fo as to be unaffected by fuch rub bing, to a fate which never fails to produce their ruin. The trifling expence of fencing detached trees, or Ed. Mag. Feb. 1799.

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boughs of fome, and throwing other trees down in fuch a manner as to bruife or maim thofe left ftanding. This misfortune we cannot prevent; nor at all times, that of maiming trees, in thinning of grown woods which have been neglected, and where they ftand close together.

It therefore becomes our duty, first, fo foon as a fracture, from whatever caufe, occurs, to cut in to the quick or found wood, to smooth both it and the edges of the bark, and, when fufficiently dried, to lay the wound over with thin tar, as formerly directed. If an upright bough, or the

leader,

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