TH^ ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 41 



The Beech Tree. ^ (c. d. 1.) 



In treating of this tree, you must understand that I mean 

 the great mast-beech, which is, by way of distinction 

 from that other small rough sort, called in Sussex the 

 smaller Beech, but in Essex the Horn-bean. 



I suppose it is needless to describe it, being already 

 well known to my countrymen. 



Flace.} It groweth in woods and among oaks and other 

 trees, and in parks, forests, and chaces, to feed deer ; 

 and in other places to fatten swine. 



Time.'l It bloometh in the end of April, or beginning 

 of iNIay, for the most part, and the fruit is ripe in Sep- 

 tember. 



Government and Virtues.'] It is a plant of Saturn, and 

 therefore performs his qualities and proportion in these 

 operations. The leaves of the Beech-tree arc cooling 

 and binding, and therefore good to be applied to hotsweU 

 lings, to discuss them; the nuts do much nourish such 

 beasts as feed thereon. The water that is found in the 

 hollow places of decaying Beeches will cure both man 

 and beast of any scurf, scab, or running tetters, if they 

 be washed therewith ; you may boil the leaves into a 

 poultice, or make an ointment of them when time of 

 year serves. 



Bilberries, called hy some Whorts, and Whortle- 

 Berrics. %. (h. d. 1.) 



Of these I shall only speak of two sorts which are com- 

 mon in England, viz. the black and red berries. And 

 first of the black. 



Descript.'] The small bush creepeth along upon the 

 ground, scarce rising half a yard high, with divers small 

 dark green leaves set in the green branches, not always 

 one against the other, and a little dented above the edges ; 

 at the foot of the leaves come forth small, hollow, pale, 

 bluish coloured flowers, the brims ending with five points, 

 with a reddish thread in the middle, which pass into 

 small round berries, of the bigness and colour of junipec 



