350 OBSERVATIONS ON 



to bore them. The timber and bark of these trees are so very 

 like oak, as might easily deceive an indifferent observer, but the 

 wood is very shakey, and towards the heart cup-shakey (that is 

 to say, apt to separate in round pieces like cups), so that the 

 inward parts are of no use. They are bought for the purpose of 

 cooperage, but must make but ordinary barrels, buckets, &c. 

 Chestnut sells for half the price of oak ; but has sometimes been 

 sent into the king's docks, and passed off instead of oak. 



LIME BLOSSOMS. 



Dr. Chandler tells, that in the south of France, an infusion of 

 the blossoms of the lime-tree, tilia, is in much esteem as a remedy 

 for coughs, hoarsenesses, fevers, &c. and that at Nismes, he saw 

 an avenue of limes that was quite ravaged and torn in pieces by 

 people greedily gathering the bloom, which they dried and kept 

 for these purposes. 



Upon the strength of this information we made some tea of 

 lime -blossoms, and found it a very soft, well-flavoured, pleasant, 

 saccharine julep, in taste much resembling the juice of liquorice. 



BLACKTHORN WINTER. 



This tree usually blossoms while cold N.E. winds blow ; so 

 that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season, is called 

 by the country people, blackthorn winter. 



IVY-BERRIES. 



Ivy-berries afford a noble and providential supply for birds in 

 winter and spring ; for the first severe frost freezes and spoils all 

 the haws, sometimes by the middle of November ; ivy-berries do 

 not seem to freeze. 



HOPS. 



The culture of Virgil's vines corresponded very exactly with 

 the modern management of hops. I might instance in the 

 perpetual diggings and hoeings, in the tying to the stakes 



