TREE, the first and largest of the vegetable kind, consisting of a single trunk, out of which proceed branches and leaves.—Trees are by Linnæus classed in the seventh family of the vegetable kingdom, and are distinguished from shrubs in that their stems come up with buds on them: but this distinction holds not universally, there being rarely any buds on the large trees in India.
It has been directed by Dr Hales and Mr Evelyn to wash and rub the stems of trees in order to promote their growth; and in the 67th vol. of the Philos. Transact. we have an account of the success of this method. Mr Marsham, in his letter to the lord bishop of Bath and Wells, informs us, that a tree so washed increased fully double the quantity in girth that an unwashed tree did. It was between 13 and 14 feet in height. He washed it from the ground to the beginning of the head, first using water and a stiff shoe-brush until the stem was well cleared from moss.
and dirt, and then using only a coarse flannel. The washing was begun as soon as the buds began to swell, and continued three four or five times a-week during all the dry time of the spring and forepart of the summer; but seldom after rains became frequent.—The same gentleman informs us, that a short and spreading tree, having ample room, will increase twice or three times, and perhaps four times, as much as a tall small-headed tree of the same age that stands near other trees.