\ OF FOREST-TREES. 107

It may be sown Englijh , or (what is more sweet and beautiful) theCH. XX.Spamjb , with equal Success. In the wejiern Parts of France and Corn- x ~ / ~T^ Jwal, it grows with us to an incredible Height (however our Foet givesit the: Epithet of hnmilis ) and so it seems they had it of old, as appearsby Graf ins his Genista Altinates , with which (as he affirms) theyused to make Staves for their Spears , and hunting Darts. The Seedsof Broom , vomit and purge , whilst the Buds and Flowers , beingpickled , are very grateful.

18. Lastly, ( Sambucus ) a considerable Fence may be made of the Elder.Elder , set of reasonable lusty Trunchions , much like the Willow ,and (as I have seen them maintained) laid with great Curiosity, and farexcelling those extravagant Plantations of them about London , wherethe Lops are permitted to grow without due and skilful laying. Thereis a Sort of Elder which has hardly any Fith ; this makes exceedingstout Fences, and the 'Timber very useful for Cogs of Mills, Butchers u s e s.Skewers , and such tough Employments. Old Trees do in Time be-come firm, and close up the Hollownefs to an almost invisible. Fith.

But if the Medicinal Properties of the Leaves , Bark, Berries , SCc.were thoroughly known, I cannot tell what our Country-man could ail,for which he might not fetch a Remedy from every Hedge , either forSickness or Wound: The inner Bark of Elder , applied to any Burn-ing, takes out the Fire immediately; That or, in Season, the Budsboiled in Water-grewel for a Breakfast, has effected Wonders in aFever ; and the Decoblion is admirable to astwage Inflammations andtetrous Humours , and especially the Scorbut: But an Extrabl orTheriaca may be composed of the Berries , which is not only efficaciousto eradicate this epidemical Inconvenience, and greatl y to assist Longce-vity (so famous is the Story of Meander) but is a Kind of Catholiconagainst all Infirmities whatever: And of the fame Berries is made an in-comparable Spirit, which drunk by it self or mingled with Wine , isnot only an excellent Drink , but admirable in the Dropste: In a Word,the Water of the Leaves and Berries is approved in the Dropste ;every Part of the Tree being useful, as may be seen at large in Block-witzius s Anatomy thereof. The Ointment made with the youngBuds and Leaves in May with Butter , is most soveraign for Aches,shrunk Sinews, Haemorrhoids , &c. and the Flowers macerated inVinegar, not only are of a grateful relish, but good to attenuate andcut raw and gross Humours. Lastly, The Fungus (which we callJews-Ears) dccobled in Milk, or macerated in Vinegar , is of knownEffect in the Angina and Sores of the Throat. And lest than this could Inot fay (with the Leave of the charitable Fhyfician ) to gratifie our poorWood-man ; and yet when I have said all this, 1 do by no Means com-mend thedVfw^os it, which is very noxious to the Air\ and therefore,though I do not undertake that all Things which sweeten the Air, aresalubrious, nor all ill Savours pernicious ; yet, as not for its Beauty,so neither for its Smell, would I plant Elder near my Habitation; sincewe learn from Biefius, that a certain House in Spain , seated amongst de Aimmany Elder-trees , diseased and killed almost all the Inhabitants, which P ote fi ate -when at last they were grubbed up, became a very wholsome andhealthy Place. The Elder does likewise produce a certain green Fly ,almost invisible, which is exceedingly troublesome, and gathers a fieryRedness where it attacks.

19. There is a Shrub, called the Spindle-Tree, ( Evonymnk, or Fu- evonymus.siiuurn) commonly growing in our Hedges, which bears a very hard

Wood ,