HOPS. 299 



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 separate in round pieces like cups) so that the inward 

 parts are of no use. They are bought for the purpose of cooper- 

 age, but must make hut ordinary barrels, buckets, &c. 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, &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. 



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. 



IVY BERRIES. 



IVY berries afford 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. 



HOPS. 



THE culture of Virgil's vines corresponded 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 new circumstance, which was a neighbouring farmer's harrowing 



* I imagine, however, that they are by no means spoiled, but, on the contrary, rendered 

 more nutritious, after freezing. ED. 



