164 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



the shops, may be obtained by bleeding the live tree, 

 and also by boiling the chips and sawdust of the 

 wood. It is aromatic, slightly bitter, and prescribed 

 in chronic rheumatisms, and other diseases. The 

 capsules and also the bark are aperient, and used in 

 medicine, the former being the more powerful. 



The lignumvitce has been reared by artificial heat 

 in this country; but, as it grows slowly even in the 

 West Indies, its growth here must of course be still 

 slower, and therefore it does not admit of being culti- 

 vated, except in botanical collections, or as a curiosity. 

 6. BLACK-THORN. The Black-thorn, or Sloe, 

 though armed with spines, or prickles, like the other 

 thorns, is yet a very different genus of tree. It is a plum, 

 though one in a state of nature, and not much regarded 

 as fruit. It is the Primus spinosa of botanists. It is 

 hardy, and a native of many parts of this country ; though 

 seldom cultivated, as it makes but an unsightly hedge, 

 and does not rise to be valuable as a tree. The leaves 

 have sometimes been used for tea; and it is alleged 

 that the " rough-flavoured teas" of cheap dealers are 

 more indebted for their roughness to the sloe, than 

 to any ingredient from China or elsewhere. It is 

 also understood that the berries of the sloe enter 

 pretty largely into the composition of much of the 

 wine that is miscalled Port. The wood, which is 

 very tough and hard, answers well for walking-sticks, 

 pegs, and other small purposes. 



7. CRAB TREE. The common Crab Tree (Pyrus 

 mains') is found native in many parts of this country, 

 where it rises to the height of a considerable tree. 

 When the soil is very rich, the fruit attains the size 

 of a small apple, and is used in feeding hogs. The 

 timber is hard and compact, answers remarkably 

 well for turning, and for the working parts of machi- 

 nery, while the shoots make excellent walking-sticks. 

 Near the bottoms of the eastern slopes of the Welch 

 mountains, there are many crab trees, both singly 



