BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. ^27 



The tliick oil of tlie nut, or (hell, tinges linen of a rufty, iron 

 colour, which can hardly be got out; and, if any wood be 

 fmeared with it, it preferves it from decay. If a proper metliod 

 eould therefore be fallen upon for extrading this oil from the fhell, 

 which at prefent is generally thrown away as ufelefs, it would 

 doubtlefs be aj^plicable to various good purpofes ; for 110 worm 

 would attack the wood, whofe pores are filled wirh it. It would 

 certainly be an excellent prefervative to houfe-timbcrs, if not to 

 fhips bottoms, mixed with other compofif ions ; though, for the 

 latter operation, perhaps it might be difficult to obtain it in plenty 

 fufficient, or at a price that would make it anfwer to the experi- 

 ment. But, where a lefs quantity might be wanted, there is great: 

 probability of obtaining it ; as the tree is fo eafily propagated, 

 grows in almoft any foil, bears luxuriantly, and lives to a very great 



age- 



From the body of the tree is procured, by tapping or incifion, a 



milky juice, which (lains linen of a deep black, and cannot be got 

 out again : but whether this has the fame property with that of 

 the 'E^H-lndhn ^nacarc/ium, has not yet been fully experimented; 

 for the infpiflated juice of that tree is the beft fort of lac which is 

 ufed for ftaining black in China and Japan. 



Dr. Grew mentions the juice being ufed for flainingof cottons: 

 but it is doubtful which of the fpecies he means; though Sir Hans 

 Sloane fuppofes it to be of the acajoUy or coJJhw^ here- mentioned. 

 However, it may be very well worth the trial. A few of the trees- 

 may be tapped in the bleeding feafon, the juice collefted in earthen 

 pots, kept in a place free from duft, or the pots covered with a linen 

 cloth, to prevent duft from mixing with it ; and, when of a proper: 

 eonfiftence, experiments may be made to fee if it has the fame pro- 

 perty with the Japan lac, which if it has, it may prove a valuable- 

 commodity \s\ It may be proper, for greater certainty, to vary the 

 experiment; to expofe fomt of the juice in fliallow, wooden re- 

 ceivers, covered with a fingle linen cloth, to the heat of the fun, 

 and reduce it to a confidence in the fame manner as the aloes ; or 

 infpiflate it in iron pots over a fire by gentle evaporation. If either 

 way (liould fucceed, a new and important article would be gained 

 to the commerce of the ifland. 



[i] Miller. 



way 



