ASH.] NATURAL HISTORY 15 



[In 1633 five sorts of Apricots were known : " The common, 

 the long and great, the musk, the Barbary, and the early 

 Apricock."] Johnsorfs edition of Gerard's "Herbal," p. 1448. 



Ash. 



That body, where against 

 My grained ash an hundred times hath broke. 



CORIOLANUS, iv. 5, 112. 



ASH is good for shafts and spears. The leaves thereof 

 helpeth against venom, and the juice thereof wrung and 

 drunk helpeth best against serpents. And Ash hath so 

 great virtue, that serpents come not in the shadow thereof 

 in the morning nor at even. And if a serpent be set 

 between a fire and Ash-leaves, he will flee into the fire 

 sooner than into the leaves. In Greece the leaves thereof 

 is poison to beasts, and grieveth not other beasts that chew 

 their cud, and grieveth not beasts in Italy. 



Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. 62. 



THE fruit like unto cods is termed in English Ash-keys, 

 and of some Kite - keys. It is a wonderful courtesy in 

 nature that the Ash should flower before these serpents 

 appear, and not cast his leaves before they be gone again. 

 Three or four leaves of the Ash-tree taken in wine each 

 morning from time to time do make those lean that are 

 fat, and keepeth them from feeding which do begin to 

 Wax fat. Gerard's " Herbal," s.v. 



(WHETHER by the power of magic or nature I determine 

 not) I have heard it affirmed with great confidence, and 

 upon experience, that the rupture to which many children 

 re obnoxious, is healed by passing the infant through a 

 ride cleft made in the bole or stem of a growing Ash-tree, 

 ihrough which the child is made to pass; and then carried 

 second time round the Ash, caused to repass the same 

 iperture again, that the cleft of the tree suffered to close 

 ind coalesce, as it will, the rupture of the child, being 

 irefully bound up, will not only abate, but be perfectly 

 :ured. The white and rotten dotard part composes a 

 ground for our gallants' sweet powder. 



Evelyns " Sylva," p. 62 (ed. '1706). 



