The Orchard. 567 



broken, as the branches alfo or the figgcs when they are grecne : the fruit breaketh out 

 from the branches without anie bloflbme, contrary to all other trees of our Orchard, 

 being round and long, falhioned very like vnto a fmall I'eare, full of fmall white grains 

 or kernels within it, of a very fweete tatte when it is ripe, and very mellow or foft, that 

 it can hardly be carried farre without bruifing. 



The other two forts you may eafily know and vnderftand, by fo much as hath been 

 faid of them. Take only this more of the Figgc tree, That if you plant it not againft a 

 bricke wall, or the wall of an houfe, &c. it will not ripen fo kindly. The dwarfe Figge 

 tree is more tender, and is therefore planted in great fquare tubs, to be remoued into 

 the funne in the Summer time, and into the houfe in Winter. 



The Vfe of Figges. 



Figges are ferued to the table with Rayfins of the Sunne, and blanched 

 Almonds, for a Lenten difh. 



The Figs that growe with vs when they are ripe, and frefh gathered, are 

 eaten of diuers with a little fait and pepper, as a dainty banquet to entertaine 

 a friend, which feldome pafleth without a cup of wine to wafh them downe. 



In Italy (as I haue beene enformed by diuers Gentlemen that haue liued 

 there to lludy phyficke) they eate them in the fame manner, but dare not 

 eate many for feare of a feuer to follow, they doe account them to be fuch 

 breeders of bloud, and heaters of it likewife. 



The Figges that are brought vs from Spaine, are vfed to make Ptifan 

 drinkes, and diuers other things, that are giuen them that haue coughes or 

 colds. 



It is one of the ingredients alfo with Nuts and Rice, into Mithridates 

 counterpoifon. 



The fmall Figges that growe with vs, and will not ripen, are preferued by 

 the Comfitmakers, and candid alfo, to ferue as other moift or candid ban- 

 quetting ftufTe. 





CHAP. VIII. 

 Sorbus. The Seruice tree. 



THere are two kindes of Seruice trees that are planted in Orchards with vs, and 

 there is alfo a wilde kinde like vnto the later of them, with Amen leaues, found 

 in the woods growing of it felie, whofe fruit is not gathered, nor vfed to bee 

 eaten of any but birds. And there is another kinde alfo growing wilde abroad in many 

 places, taken by the Country people where it groweth, to be a Seruice tree, and is cal- 

 led in Latine, Ana Tfieophrafli, whofe leaues are large, fomewhat like Nut tree leaues, 

 but greene aboue, and grayifh vnderneath : fome doe vfe the fruit as Seruices, and for 

 the (ame purpofes to good effeft, yet both of thefe wilde kindes wee leaue for another 

 worke, and here declare vnto you onely thofe two forts are nourfed vp in our Or- 

 chards. 



The more common or ordinary Seruice tree with vs, is a reafonable great tree, co- 

 uered with a fmooth barke, fpread into many great armes, whereon are fet large leaues, 

 very much cut in on the edges, almoft like vnto a Vine leafe, or rather like vnto that 

 kinde of Maple, that is vfually called the Sycomore tree with vs : the flowers are white, 

 and growe many cluftering together, which after bring forth fmall browne berries 

 when they are ripe, of the bignefle almoft of Hafell nuts, with a fmall tuft, as if it were 

 a crowne on the head, wherein are fmall blacke kernels. 



The other kinde, which is more rare with vs, and brought into this Land by lohn 

 Tradefcante, heretofore often remembred, hath diuers winged leaues, many fet toge- 

 ther like vnto an Amen leafe, but fmaller, and euery one endented about the edges : 

 the flowers growe in long clufters, but nothing fo many, or fo clofe fet as the wilde 

 kinde : the fruit of this tree is in fome round like an Apple, and in others a little longer 



like 



