OF FOREST-TREES. 



11- 



gives us the process of at large, in his chapter of the Ilexes. To this add CHAP. IV. 



that most accurate description of this tree, and the Vermicula, (see '^—''v-'^ 



Quiqueranus, 1. ii. de Lalid. Provincise, 1550,) naturally abounding about 



Alost. The acorns of the Coccigera, or Dwarf Oak, yield excellent 



nourishment for rustics, sweet, and little, if at all, inferior to the Chestnut, 



and this, and not the Fagus, was doubtless the true Esculus of the 



ancients, the food of the Golden Age. The Wood of the Enzina, when 



old, is curiously chambletted and embroidered with natural vermiculations, 



as if it were painted. Note, That the Kermes-tree does not always 



produce the Coccum, but n^ar the Sea, and where it is very hot ; nor 



indeed when once it comes to bear acorns ; and therefore the people 



do often burn down the old trees, that they may put forth fresh branches, 



upon which they find them. This (as well as the Oak, Cork Beech, and 



Corylus) is numbered amongst the felices and lucky trees; but for 



what reason the Alaternus, which I shall next speak of, together with 



the Aquifolium, (Holly,) Pines, Salix, &c. should be excommunicated, 



as infelices, I know not, unless for their being dedicated to the infernal 



deities ; of which Macrob. Sat. Hb. ii. c. xvi. In the mean time, take 



this for a general rule, that those were called infelices only, which bore 



no fruit ; for so Livy, lib. v. Nulla felix arhor, nihil frugiferum in agro 



relictum. Whence that of Phoedrus, lib. iii. Fab. upon Jupiter's 



Esculus, 



O nata, merito sapiens dicere omnibus : 

 Nisi utile est quod facinius, stulta est gloria. 



Reciting the ancient trees sacred to the deity, the most desirable being 

 those that were fruitful, and for use. 



ALATERNUS \ 



This tree, which we have lately received from the hottest parts of 

 Languedoc, (and that is equal with the heat of almost any country 

 in Europe,) thrives with us in England, as if it were an indigene and 



' RHAMNUS (ALATER-svs J inermis, floribus dioecis, stigmate triplici, foliis serratis. — 

 Lin. Sp. PI. 481. Common ala ternus. It is of the class and order Pentandria Monogi/nia.—' 

 Of this evergreen shrub there are many varieties, all of •which are naturalized to our 

 climate. 



Volume IT. L 



