Plinies Naturall Hiflorie* 



A 



Chap, xvio 



^ of the Boffes^ Wennes^ and Nodofities^ called Brufcum andMcllufcm„ 

 of the mid Fifiicke cr Bladder nut-tree called Sm^hyhdm" 

 dron t alfo^ihree kinds of the Box-tree, 



THc bunch or knurrc in the MapIcjCallcd Brufcumjis paffingfairc^ but yet that which is ni- 

 mcdMollufcumjCxcellethit. Both the one and the other fwell like a wen out of the Ma- 

 ple. As for the Brufcum jitis curled & twined after a more crawling and winding manner 

 whereas the Mollufcum is fpread with a more diizdi and ftreight courfc of the grai ne. And cet- 

 B tesjif there might bcplankes hereof found,broad ynough to make tables^doubtlefle they would ^ 

 be eftcemcd and preferred before thofe of the Citron- wood,But now itferveth only for writing 

 tables, for painels alfo and thin bords in wainefcot work, to let out beds heads and feelings, and 

 fuch are feldorae feene. As for Brufcum^there bee tables made of itjinclining to a blackifh co- 

 lour.Moreoverjthere befoundin Alder trees^fuch nodofitiesj but notfo good as thofcjby how 

 much the wood of the AlderitlclfeisinferiourtoiheMaplei forbeautieand colHincfle. The 

 male-Maples doe put forth leaves and flourifh before the female.Yeajand thofe which grow up- 

 on drie grounds, are ordinarily better efteemed than thofe of moift and waierifh places, in like 

 fbrtasthe Afbes. 



Beyond the Alpes there is a kind of Bladder nut-tree, whereof the wood is very like unto the 

 C white Maple, and the name of it is Staphylodendron* Itbearethcertainecods, and within the 

 fame,kernels in taft like theFilberd or Hazell-nut* 



Now for the Box tree,the wood thereof is in as great requeft as the very beft : feldome hath 

 it any graine crifpcd daraaskc wife, and never but about the root, the which is dudgin and full 

 of worke.For oiherwife the grain runneth ttreight and even without any waving : the wood is fad 

 ynough and weightie: for the hardnefle thereof, and pale yellow colour, much fetby and right 

 commendable. As for the tree it felfc5gardeners ufe to make arboursjbordersjand curious works 

 thereof .Three forts there be of the Box-tree : the firfl is called thcFrench boxe,it groweth taper* 

 vjife,{l'iarpe and pointed in the top,and runneth up to a more than ordinarie height. Thefecond 

 is altogether wild,and they name it Oleaftrumjgood for no ufe at all; and befidcs carieth a f^rong 

 D and (linking favor with it.The third is ourltalianBoxCjandfo called. Ofafavagekind 1 take this 

 tobealforhowbeit, by fetting and replanting,brought to a gentle nature. Thislpreadeth and 

 brancheth more broad : and herewith a man ftall fee the borders and partitions of quarters in a 

 garden, growing thicke and greene all the year long,and kept orderly with cutting and clipping. 

 Great ftore of Box-trees are to be feene upon the Pyrensean hils,the Cytorian mountaines, and 

 the whole Berecynthian tradl.The thickeft and biggeft Box-trees be in Corfica,and they beare a 

 lovely and amiable flowcr,which is the caufe, thatthe honic of that Ifland is fo bitter. There is 

 notabeaft that will eat the fruit or gtaine thereof. The Boxes of Olympus in Maccdonie, are 

 more {lender than the reft,and but low of growth.This tree loveth cold grounds jyci lying upon 

 the Sunne.The wood is as ha^d to burne asyron : it will neither flame or burnecleare it feife,no£ 

 E iervetomakecharcolcof. 



Chap. XVii. 



of the Elme^foure kinds, 



BEtween thefc wild trees aboYefaid,and thofc that beare firuit, the Elme is reckoned of a mid- 

 dle nature,in regard of the wood and timber that it dooth affoord, as alfo of thefriendfhip 

 * and acquaintaincc that it hath with Vines . The Greekes acknowledge two forts thereof s 

 namelyjihe one of the mountaines, which is the taller and bigger : and the other of the plaines 

 and champion,-, which is the rather more like a ftirub,thc branches that it fhooteth foorth are fo 

 p. , fmall and {lender. In Italic men hold the Elmes about Atinuni to bee the tallefl, and of thofc 

 they preferrc them which grow in drie grounds, and have no water commingto them, before 

 ihofeby river fides. A fecond fort of them, which are not all out fo great, they call the French 

 Elmes.The third kindbelcalianElmes, thickcr^rowne with leaves than the rcfljand thofe pro- 

 ceeding in greater number from one ftemme. In the fourth place bee raunged the wild Elmes* 



The 



