. 38 1 b 3. 1I MPbORTANT ENPERIMENTS. ſn can b alſo For remarks and additional viſ obſervations. b IN the account of Middleſex, it would be improper to 35 omit taking notice, of ſome particulars I had an opportu- nity of ſeeing, at Earl's Court, in the pariſh of Kenfington, Fe the villa of Mr. John Hunter, the celebrated ſurgeon, who ü 1 is trying many experiments, which may be of conſiderable W ſervice, both to the gardener and the huſbandman. 6 Mr. Hunter's experiments, in regard to the vegetation of i trees, it would be improper much to anticipate, until the re- 101 fult of them can be fully aſcertained. He is very curious in dan plants, and has, in his green-houſes and hot-houſe, a great dr variety of the moſt choice and rare productions of nature, 11), in the collection of which he has neither ſpared pains nor bel expence. of With reſpect to foreſt-timber, this gentleman has at ph preſent an object under experiment, of very great impor- vel tance, whether conſidered as a matter of curioſity, or of I real utility. He conceives, that by a certain method in thie 00 training and management, he ſhall be able to direct or gr determine, the growth of trees,(but to what variety of ſpe- one cies this will extend, he is not yet certain), to any par- But ticular part of the trunk he may chooſe. For example, if fron from an oak, a plank is wanted of any given length and of thoſ an equal breadth at both ends, for a particular purpoſe, he grea is of opinion, that the tree may be trained and diſpoſed to raken V grow in ſuch a manner that it will yield the plank of the each V exact dimenſions required. He has a few under train of Kran different ſpecies, which ſhews the principle; but as Mr. dere Hunter very properly obſerves, there may be ſome trees Kad that may be more eaſily determined in their growth than others; and for this, as well as many other obvious rea- ſons, ſf V —