158 SYLVA BOOKI 



trays, and trenchers, wooden-heels; the bark is preci- 

 ous to dyers, and some tanners, and leather-dressers 

 make use of it ; and with it, and the fruits (instead 

 of galls) they compose an ink. The fresh leaves 

 alone applied to the naked soal of the foot, infinitely 

 refresh the surbated traveller. The bark macerated 

 in water, with a little rust of iron, makes a black 

 dye, which may also be us'd for ink : The interior 

 rind of the black alder purges all hydropic, and serous 

 humours ; but it must be dry'd in the shade, and not 

 us'd green, and the decoction suffer'd to settle two or 

 three days, before it be drunk. 



Being beaten with vinegar, it heals the itch cert- 

 ainly : As to other uses the swelling bunches, which 

 are now and then found in the old trees, afford the 

 inlayer pieces curiously chambletted, and very hard, 

 &c. but the faggots better for the fire, than for the 

 draining of grounds by placing them (as the guise is) 

 in the trenches ; which old rubbish of flints, stones, 

 and the like gross materials, does infinitely exceed, 

 because it is for ever, preserves the drains hollow, 

 and being a little moulded over, will produce good 

 grass, without any detriment to the ground ; but this 

 is a secret, not yet well understood, and would merit 

 an express paragraph, were it here seasonable, 



& jam nos inter opacas 



Musa vocat salices.. 



