io8 SYLVA 



BOOK I 



before it breaks. Besides the uses of the wood, the 

 fruit with husk and all, when tender and very young, 

 is for preserves (condited in separate decoctions, by 

 our curious ladies) also for food and oyl ; of extraord- 

 inary use with the painter, in whites, and other 

 delicate colours, also for gold-size and varnish ; and 

 with this they polish walking-staves, and other works 

 which are wrought in with burning : For food they 

 fry with it in some places, and eat it instead of butter, 

 in Berry, where they have little or none good ; and 

 therefore they plant infinite numbers of these trees 

 all over that countrey : The use of it to burn in 

 lamps, is common there. The younger timber is 

 held to make the better-coloured work (and so the 

 oak) but the older more firm and close, is finer cham- 

 bleted for. ornament ; and the very husks and leaves 

 being macerated in warm water, and that liquor 

 poured on the carpet of walks, and bowling-greens, 

 does infallibly kill the worms, without endangering 

 the grass : Not to mention the dye which is made 

 of this lixive, to colour wooll, woods, and hair, as of 

 old they us'd it. The water of the husks is sovereign 

 against all pestilential infections, and that of the 

 leaves to mundifie and heal inveterate ulcers. That 

 which is produced of the thick-shell, becomes best 

 timber, that of the thinner, better fruit. Columella 

 has sundry excellent rules how to ascertain and accel- 

 erate the growth of this tree, and to improve its 

 qualities ; and I am assur'd, that having been grafted 

 on the ash (though others say no incision improves 

 it) it thrives exceedingly, becomes a handsome tree, 

 and what is most estimable, bears its fruit within 

 four years, all which I recommend to the farther 

 industrious. The green husk dry'd, or the first 



