440 OBSERVATIONS ON 



insect is of the genus of synips. Some poplars in the garden 

 are quite loaded with these excrescences. 



CHESTNUT TIMBER 



John Carpenter brings home some old chestnut trees 

 which are very long; in several places the wood-peckers 

 had begun to bore them. The timber and bark of these 

 trees are so very like oak, as might easily deceive an 

 indifferent observer, but the wood is very shakey, and 

 towards the heart cup-shakey (that is to say, apt to sepa- 

 rate in round pieces like cups) so that the inward parts 

 are of no use. They are bought for the purpose of 

 cooperage, but must make but ordinary barrels, buckets, 

 etc. Chestnut sells for half the price of oak ; but has 

 sometimes been sent into the king's docks, and passed 

 off instead of oak. 



LIME BLOSSOMS 



Dr. Chandler tells, that in the south of France, an 

 infusion of the blossoms of the lime tree, tilia, is in much 

 esteem as a remedy for coughs, hoarsenesses, fevers, etc. 

 and that at Nismes, he saw an avenue of limes that 

 was quite ravaged and torn in pieces by people greedily 

 gathering the bloom, which they dried and kept for these 

 purposes. 



Upon the strength of this information we made some 

 tea of lime blossoms, and found it very soft, well-flavoured, 

 pleasant, saccharine julep, in taste much resembling the 

 juice of liquorice. 



BLACKTHORN 



This tree usually blossoms while cold N.E. winds blow ; 

 so that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season, 

 is called by the country people, blackthorn winter. 



