Bf*KCiiit)NE.\*. HORTUS J AM A IC EN ST Si 4sS 



ployedin felling the trunk, or iiacking olT the limbs ; l)ut thoy iufoi-mcd mc, that, if 

 any chanced to tly into tlieir eye, it would give them a severe pain ibr several hour* 

 afterwards, occasioning an inflammation, wliich was relievable by applying lime-juice 

 to the part.* 



The stories related of the fruit opappJcoCthts tree are certckinly to be classed among 

 Tulgar errors. The romantic tales of the early voyagers and travellers into Americi 

 have been copied by dilferent writers ; and the credibility of their relations, thus buili, 

 upon a series of such frail authorities, has at length been received as authentic and in- 

 disputable. Most of these historians affirm that " the apple is lovely to the eye, plea- 

 sant to the taste, but mortal in its effects ;" and that " certain sailors having taken re- 

 fuge from. sudden shawers of rain under the branches of this tree,- were terribly blisi 

 tered in their skins by the dropsvvlnch trickled from- the leaves.'*' 



It is true, that the apple bears some similitude, viewed at a small distance, to the 

 English crab-apple ; but the crab-apple was never admired for loveliness of aspect. It 

 seldom exceeds an inch iit diameter, is of a vellovvisli colour when ri|7e, and has scarcely 

 any jmlp at all ; the fruit consisting of the outer skin, or rind, a pulp alxuit as thick as 

 a wafer ; and then the stone or seed, which is perfectly- hard and inedible. Its taste is 

 bitterish; and, when it is green, acrimonions, like the husk of the cashew- nut ; vvliick 

 must necessarily render it. so- disgustful, that no-.person could eat it in this state for 

 pleasura. 



A gentleaian oS- my acquaintance, who was fond of- making experiments, to satisfy 

 himself upon doubtful points, cut the green fruit,- and a small quantity. of glutinous 

 juice issued out at the wound. He tasted this^ and likewise the bark and leaf of the 

 tree ; but couJd perceive only a slight astringency on his tongue Hs then cut ilceper 

 into the bark of the trunk, and tasted some of the milky juice tiiat oozed out He ob* 

 served that it tingled his tongue gentlj-, and rendered his saliva thin and fluid. He af* 

 terwards tasted the fruit nearly ripe, and, chewing the ripe part, found it perfectly in- 

 sipid. F"rom these facts it appears, that,, when greeix, .the juice of- the fruit is disa- 

 greeable trom its acrimony, and, when ripe, forits ins^ipidity. .- 



Browne says, that he has known many persons who have ignoranly ate of- the frui*^, 

 which they had mistaken for crab-apples ; that they gne rally vumlted in a shoi t time, 

 and continued to complain of a buruii^ heat in the raoiiih, thrtEit, and stomach, for 

 several liours after. He adds, that he never had known any one to-xlie by eating this 

 fruit, though. he had seen some who had:eaten nineor ten of-tlie apples at a time ; and 

 that oily emulsions and mixtures give speedy relief to- those who .are iiisorderevl wiik 

 tliem. Barham, indeed, mentions the case of a negroman, who ate several of theia 

 with a wilful and premeditated design of destroying himse.ifi that he complyiiied <f 

 great heat and burning in his stomach, but coul i not vomit ; that his tongue : wi'lle^l, 

 his eyes were red and staring ; aiul he.was incessantly calling fur water till he eMfdrtd. 

 Considering this negroe's intention to commit self-murder, as well as the .syinpto.us 

 T'hich followed, I tliink we may conclude that hex;hose tiie green and not the ripe fruit 

 for the purpose.; 



The white land-crabs are fond both of-the leaves and fruit. But I have known per- 

 sons taken extremely sick at tlieir stomachs alter eatmg these crabs, and who were not 

 relieved until they were disj^orged, by dnoking pleniiiuUy of warm water and oil. I 



Q q q 2 remember 



Jafqiiin informs, that lie and liis companions repeseil for three hours Under 5 mancliioJieal tree -wi'iiiotit 

 injury, aaii Uut.ruiu dropping trout tiw kjves v.'di pcifectly iauecuit> 



