AND COMPLETE HERBAL. 83 
Pract. It groweth in woods amongft oak and other trees, and in parks, faretiey 
and chafes, to feed deer, and in other places to fatten fwine. 
Time. It bloometh in the endof April, or beginning of May for the moft part, 
and the fruit is ripe in September. 
GovERNMENT AnD Virtues. It is a plant of Saturn, and therefore performs — 
his qualities and properties in thefe operations : the leaves of the beech tree are cool- 
ing and binding, and therefore good to be applied to hot {wellings to difcufs them ; 
the nuts do much nourith fuch beafts that feed thereon. The water that is found 
in the hollow places of decaying beeches, will cure both man and beaft of any fcurf, 
fcab, or running tetters, if they be wafhed therewith. You may boil the leaves into 
a poultice, or make an ointment of them, wt the time of year ferves. 
LIO BILBERRIES. 
THIS herb is alfo called by fome, whorts, and whortle-berries. 
Description. Of thefe, I fhall only fpeak of two forts, which are commonly 
Known in England, viz. the black, and red bilberries: And firft of the black. __ 
This fmall bufh creepeth along upon the ground, fearce rifing half a yard high, 
with divers {mall dark green leaves fet on the green branches, not always one againft 
another, and a little dented about the edges; at the foot of the leaves come forth 
{mall hollow, pale, bluth coloured flowers, the brims ending in five points, witha 
reddifh thread in the middle, which pafs into fmall round berries, of the bignefs and 
colour of Juniper berries, but of a purple fweetith tharp tafte; the juice of them 
giveth a purpleifh colour to their hands and lips that eat and handle them, efpecially 
if they break them. The root groweth aflope under ground, pentite forth in fun- 
dry places as it creepeth: it lofeth its leaves in winter. 
The red bilberry or whortle bufh, rifeth up like the former, hivings foley te harder 
leaves, like the box tree leaves, green and round pointed, ftanding on the feveral 
branches ; at the tops whereof only, and not from the fides as in the former, come 
_ forth divers round flowers, of a pale red colour, after which fucceed round, reddifh, 
fappy berries, which when ripe are of a fharp tafte: the root runneth in the Broads 
as in the former,. but the leaves of this abide all the winter. 
Pracz.. The firft groweth in forefts, on the heaths, and fuch like barren plaek ; 
the red grows in the northern parts of this land, as Lancafhire, Yorkfhire, &c. 
Time. They flower i in March and April, and the fruit of the black is ripe in eo 
June and July ae 
GoveRNMENT AND. ars: They are under the dominion of J opted Iti 
