154 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI. 
~ Thefe, ‘near the Roots,’ are Two Inches broad, and: near one thick, 
-gorwing to Eighteen or Twenty Inches high, ending ina fharp Point. 
Each Side of the Leaf is guarded, at every Half-inch Diftance, with a 
‘ftrong {mall Prickle. 
Out of the Middle of thefe Leaves rifes a flender conic Stalk, fome- 
‘times divided into Two Forks, at uncertain Diftance from the Root. 
This rifes about Eighteen Inches above the Top of the Leaves, bearing, 
near the Summits, feveral pendulous yellow monopetalous Flowers, whofe 
Ore are divided into Six Segments ; thefe furrounding the Stalk for near 
Four Inches downwards from the Top, making a very agreeable Appear~ 
ance, 
Each Flower hath a {mall Aperture at the End; thro’ which a great 
Number of {mall blackifh Seeds drop out, when ripe. 
It will not, I hope, be improper, in this Place, to obferve the Method 
of planting, cutting, and boiling of Aloes, fince there are many Parts of 
his Majefty’s Plantations, befides thefe Summer-Iflands, that would pro- 
duce this Plant, with proper Care and Nourifhment. 
The Land defigned for Aloes muft be firft weeded clean, and then 
holed Three Inches deep, at about Six Inches Diftance. 
Then the Suckers from the old Plants, or thofe produced from the 
Seeds, are planted in thefe Holes. | 
The Land, for the firft Year, muft be kept clean from Weeds;  after- 
‘wards, the Shade of the Leaves.of the Plant will keep the Weeds under. 
Being thus planted, there will be no Occafion to replant it for Seven 
Years. 
It comes to its Perfeétion in a Year’s time. 
‘The Month of March is the propereft Seafon to make the Aloes ; which 
is done in the following manner : 
_Every Slave hath by him Three or Four portable Tubs. 
_ The Leaves, being cut near the Roots, are thrown into thefe, with 
‘their broken Ends downwards ; and as the Leaves are full of large longi- 
tudinal Veins or Veffels, they yield an eafy Paflage to the Juice (which 
“is of a greenifh-yellow Colour) to drip out. 
This being boiled for about Five Hours in a Copper, or Kettle, the 
-watry Particles evaporate ; and the Remainder comes to a Confiftency, and 
thickens, as Sugar doth when fufficiently boiled. 
The way to know when it is enough boiled is, to dip a Stick in the 
Liquor, and obferve whether the Aloe, flicking to it when cold, breaks 
{hort : If it doth, then it is boiled to Perfe@ion, and fit to be poured into 
Gourds or Calabafhes, or other Veflels, for Ufe. 
Aloe is much made ufe of in Purges, and juftly efteemed of great Ser- 
\wice in many Cafes. 
However, Dr. Yames, in his Medicinal Diationary, fays, it ought 
not to be given to Women with Child, nor to Perfons fubje& to the 
“Piles ; for it rarefies the Blood too much, and caufes Hemorrhoids. 
HEn- 
