158 lawson's history 



quent, and very large. The grain seems exactly 

 the same as that in Europe. We make little use 

 thereof, save for fire wood. 'Tis not a durable 

 timber. It affords a very sweet nut, yet the jDork 

 fed thereon (though sweet) is very oily, and ought 

 to be hardened with Indian corn, before it is kill- 

 ed. Another sort called buck beech is here found. 

 Horn beam grows in some places very plentifully, 

 yet the plenty of other wood makes it unregarded. 



The virtues of sassafras are well known in Eu- 

 rope. This wood sometimes grows to be above 

 two feet over, and is very durable and lasting, 

 used for bowls, timbers, post for houses, and oth- 

 er things that require standing in the ground. 

 'Tis very light. It bears a white flower, which is 

 very cleansing to the blood, being eaten in the 

 spring with other sallating. The berry, when 

 ripe, is black ; 'tis very oily, carminative and ex- 

 tremely prevalent in clysters for the colic. The 

 bark of the root is a specific to those afflicted with 

 the gripes. The same in powder, and a lotion 

 made thereof, is much used by the savages to mun- 

 dify old ulcers, and for several other uses, being 

 highly esteemed among them. 



Dogwood is plentiful on our light land, incli- 

 ning to a rich soil. It flowers the first in the 

 woods ; its white blossom making the forest very 

 beautiful. It has a fine grain, and serves for sev- 

 eral uses within doors, but is not durable. The 

 bark of this root infused, is held an infallible reme- 

 dy against the worms. 



