The Natural History of Selborne 447 



LIME BLOSSOMS. 



DR. CHANDLER tells that in the south of France an infusion of the 

 blossoms of the lime tree, THia, is in much esteem as a remedy 

 for coughs, hoarsenesses, fevers, &c., 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 a very soft, well-flavoured, pleasant, 

 saccharine julep, in taste much resembling the juice of liquorice. 

 WHITE. 



BLACKTHORN. 



THIS tree usually blossoms while cold north-east winds blow ; so 

 that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season is called by 

 the country people blackthorn winter. WHITE. 



IVY BERRIES. 



IVY BERRIES form a noble and providential supply for birds in 

 winter and spring ; for the first severe frost freezes and spoils all 

 the haws, sometimes by the middle of November ; ivy berries do 

 not seem to freeze. WHITE. 



HOPS. 



THE culture of Virgil's vines correspond very exactly with the 

 modern management of hops. I might instance in the perpetual 

 diggings and hoeings, in the tying to the stakes and poles, in 

 pruning the superfluous shoots, &c., but lately I have observed a 



