300 OBSERVATIONS ON VEGETABLES. 



GALLS OF LOMBAKDY POPLAR. 



The stalks and ribs of the leaves of the Lombardy poplar are em- 

 bossed with large tumours of an oblong shape, which by incurious 

 observers have been taken for the fruit of the tree. These galls are 

 full of small insects, some of which are winged, and some not. The 

 parent insect is of the genus of cynips. Some poplars in the garden 

 are quite loaded with these excrescences. WHITE. 



CHESTNUT TIMBER. 



John Carpenter brings home some old chestnut trees which are very 

 long; in several places the wood-peckers had begun 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. WHITE. 



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 WHITE. 



BLACKTHORN. 



This tree usually blossoms while cold north-east winds blow ; so that 

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

 country people, blackthorn winter. WHITE. 



IVY BERRIES. 



Ivy berries form 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. WHITE. 



HOPS. 



The culture of Virgil's vines correspond very exactly with the 

 modern management of hops. I might instance in the perpetual 

 diggings and hoeings, in the tying to the stakes and poles, in pruning 



