BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 827 



202. Top-knot Plum. — Myrobalanus minor ^ frudiu purpureo. 



203. Maiden Plum. — Comjcladla. 



The fruit is eatable, though not inviting. The wood is hard, of 

 a fine grain, and reddi(h colour, but adapted only to the fmaller 

 pieces of workmanihip, being only three or four inches diameter. 

 The fruit is about tlie lize of the black-cherry; it turns black when 

 it is ripe, and has a fvveetifli and not unplealant taftc. 



204. Damson Plum. — Chryjophyllum, fruSiu m'lnorl glahro. 

 The fruit is full of milk, and retains it even in its moft perfe£l 

 ftate ; but although it is rough and aftringent before the fruit 

 Hpens, yet, when it comes to full maturity, it is fweet, gelatinous, 

 with an agreeable clamminefs, and is very much efteeraed. The 

 juice of the fruit (a little before it is perfcftly ripe), being mixed 

 with a fmall quantity of orange-juice, binds the body in a very ex- 

 traordinary manner, and doubtlcfs would make a powerful remedy 

 on many occafions. But Browne doubts, whether, if it was in- 

 fpiflated by fire, the native aufterity of it might not be greatly di- 

 miniflied. 



205. Cocco Plum. — Chryfohiilanus fnitcofus. 



This is very common in Portland and Carpenter's Mountains, 

 3nd feems to thrive bed in a cool, moid foil. It grows to the height 

 of fix or {Q'iQW feet, and bears a fruit not unlike the Englifti plum 

 in fize and fliape. Of thefe fome are red, fome white, and others 

 black, without any eflential difference in the Ihrubs of either fort. 

 The fruit is perfcdly infipid, but contains a large nut, inclofing a 

 kernel of very delicious flavour, which makes up abundantly for 

 the infipidity of the pulp. The fruit of the feveral complexions 

 mentioned have been preferved with fugar, aad fent by way of 

 |>refent to Europe ; but the red and black kinds are generally 

 preferred. 



-06. Yellow, or Jamaica Plum. — Spondias, follis pinnatisy 



ovatis, cortice rubenti. 



207. Hog -Plum. — Spondias,foHis paucioribus, nitidis. 

 It is,Q[ £.^(y [Q determine, whether thefe two trees are variations 

 only, or ^ffj^i^Qt; fpecics, they fo nearly referable each other. They 



5 N 2 rife 



