The Natural Hiftory of the Book VE, 
The Mis.etog, or Brrv’s Turp. 
a8 HE Origin of this Shrub is a fmall white Berry, containing a very 
- glutinous milky Juice. 
,  Thefe, when ripe, are eaten by Birds ; and ty them often voided upon 
other Trees, where they ftick very faft, and foon after germinate. 
I am apt to believe, that this brownifh Juice hath likewile a corrofive 
Quality, which frets and wears away the outward Bark of the Tree on 
which it flicks; by this means opening a Paflage for the new tubular 
Roots of the Berry, to penetrate among thofe larger Veficls of the Tree, 
thro’ which the nutritious Juices are conveyed. 
_ Thefe Roots being thus able to fuck Nourifhment, the young Sprout 
foon grows generally at firft in Two or Three fpiral Convolutions or 
Twiftings round the Branch: By thus grafping, it not only ftrengthens 
its weak Roots, and takes a firmer hold of the Tree ; but fuch a Liga- 
ture, as it grows, finks deep into the Bark, and prevents, in a great mea- 
fure, the further progreflive Motion of the Juices; fo that thefe, receding 
but a little Way back towards the Root, are abforbed, and fucked 
up, by the numerous Mouths in the Roots of this foftering Shrub, which 
daily penetrate more and more into the Tree. 
What confirms me in this Opinion, is, that the Branch, from the Place 
where the Mifletoe takes Root, to the Top, is generally in a very decay- 
ing. Condition. 
The Leaves of this parafitical Shrub are of a dark Green, fet on ina 
pennated manner, never terminated by an odd one. 
This grows to about Three Feet high, and bufhy, bearing a {mall white 
Flower, fucceeded by a Berry, as above defcribed. 
The milky Juice, being {queezed out, is made ufe of to cure Fluxes 
and Lasks. 
It grows chiefly upon Orange-trees. 
The NARROW-LEAVD MiIssLETOE. 
ne Be Is grows in Tufts, confifting of Six or Seven narrow Leaves, of 
é about Six Inches long. | 
They are generally to be found in the Clefts of the Bark of Cedar- 
trees. ; 
The Sprrntr WEED. 
aps is a {trong Shrub, having many fubftantial Roots. 
Its Leaves are pennated about Three Inches long, and {harp- 
pointed. - 
The 
