Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/266

238] &c.; we shall in this place introduce a concise account of Mr. 's improved method of curing injuries and defects in fruit, or in forest trees; for which has graciously rewarded him; on condition that it should be published. Mr. F. directs all the decayed, hollow, loose, rotten, injured, diseased and dead parts, to be cut away, till the knife extend to the sound or solid wood, so as to leave the surface perfectly smooth. The composition (prepared in the manner described, and rendered of the consistence of thick paint, by adding a sufficient quantity of soap-suds and urine) should then be laid on with a painter's brush, to the thickness of about 1-8th of an inch, and the edges finished off as thin as possible. Next, five parts of dry pulverized wood-ashes should be mixed with one part of bone-ashes, previously reduced to powder; and then be put into a tin-box, the top of which is perforated with holes: the powder must be sprinkled over the surface of the composition, being suffered to remain half an hour for absorbing the moisture; when an additional portion of the powder should be gently applied with the hand, till the whole plaster acquire a smooth surface.—As the edges of such excisions grow up, care ought to be taken, that the new wood may not come in contact with the decayed; for which purpose, it will be advisable to cut out the latter, in proportion as the former advances; a hollow space being left between both, in order that the newly-grown wood may have sufficient room to extend, and fill up the cavity, so that it in a manner forms a new tree. By this process, old and decayed pear-trees have, in the second summer after its application, produced fruit of the best quality, and finest flavour; nay, in the course of four or five years, they yielded such abundant crops, as young healthy trees could not have borne in 16 or 20 years. By such treatment, likewise, large, aged elm-trees, all the parts of which were broken, living only a small portion of bark left on the trunk, shot forth stems from their tops, to the height of above 30 feet, within six or seven years after the composition had been applied.—Thus it appears, that both forest and fruit-trees may be renovated, and preserved in a flourishing state; while the latter may be rendered more fruitful than at any former period.—We regret that our limits confine us to the present short account, and refer the reader to Mr. 's Treatise above cited, which is illustrated with 13 elegant engravings.  TREE-MALLOW, the, or , Lavatera arborea, L. an indigenous biennial, growing on the sea-shores, where it flowers from July to October.—This being the only native species of eleven plants, belonging to the same genus, we shall briefly remark, that all the Tree-mallows deserve to be more generally cultivated, both in gardens and fields; not only for their elegant flowers, which abound with honey, but chiefly for the valuable material obtained from their fibrous stalks:—We learn from , that such stalks may, with equal advantage, be converted into , and pack-thread or bass, serving as a substitute for hemp.  TREFOIL, or Trifolium, L. a genus of fifty-five species, 16 of which