CHAP, ix S Y L V A 107 



but from those which were cut off and separated, 

 which was never observ'd to happen in the birch, or 

 other sap-yielding trees. 



1 Mr. Oldenburg speaks of one of the present kings 

 in Europe, who drinks much of the juice of this 

 tree, and finds great benefit thereby. 



4- What universal use the French make of the 

 timber of this sole tree, for domestic affairs, may be 

 seen in every room both of poor and rich : It is of 

 singular account with the joyner, for the best grain'd, 

 and colour'd wainscot ; with the gun-smith for stocks, 

 for coach-wheels excellent, and the bodies of coaches, 

 (they make hoops and bows with it in New-England, 

 for want of yew :) The drum-maker uses it for rimbs, 

 the cabinet-maker for inlayings, especially the firm 

 and close timber about the roots, which is admirable 

 for fleck'd and chambletted works, some wood es- 

 pecially, as that which we have from Bologne, New- 

 England and Virginia, (where they are of three or 

 four sorts, differing in their leaves, fruit and stature) 

 very black of colour, and so admirably streaked, as to 

 represent natural flowers, landskips, and other fancies : 

 To render this the better-coloured, joyners put the 

 boards into an oven after the batch is forth, or lay 

 them in a warm stable, and when they work it, 

 polish it over with its own oyl very hot, which 

 makes it look black and sleek, and the older it is, 

 the more esteemable ; but then it should not be put 

 in work till thoroughly seasoned, because it will 

 shrink beyond expectation. It is only not good to 

 confide in it much for beams or joysts, because of its 

 brittleness, of which yet, it has been observ'd to give 

 timely notice, as also the chesnut, by the crackling 



1 Philosoph. Transact, vol. Ill, num. xl, p. 802. 



