(770 
better to employ the remainder of my travelling-time, in making 
Obfervations of a Philofophical nature, fo the remembrance of 
it, fince my return into my Native Soyle, hath prompted me 
to enquire after, and to take fpecial notice of the Produ&ions of 
Nature there: Among- which I lhall at this time chiefly impart 
to you, what hathoccurr'd tome aboutthe-ofteoeottdy which I 
have therefore the more carefully obferv'd, becaufe I have hi- 
therto met in Authors with little fatisfaition concerning the 
fame. 
i # Therefore, I find, that it growes in a Sandyrfzt not Gra- 
velly Soyle 3 and not at all (that I know) in any rich or Clayie 
Ground. 
2. It fhcots down two mens depth under ground, fo that,be- 
ing found above the furface of the Earti^you may fti!l find down- 
wards of its branches till you come to the faid depth. Where 
it is to be noted, that the branches moft commonly grow 
ftreight up , yet fometimes alfo fpread fidewayes. 
3. The branches are n©t of an equal thicknefs, but, like 
plants growing above ground, fome of them thicker, fome flen- 
derer ; and the farther they are diftant from the common ftem , 
the thinner they are 5 the ftalk being thickeftof all, ufually 
equalling the thicknefs of an ordinary Arm or Legg, and the 
branches, the thicknefs of on s little finger. 
4. The Place, where 'tis to be found, hath its peculiar 
mark, to find the ofteocolla by ^ which is, that upon the Sand , 
which is here every where yellowifh , there appears a whitifli 
fatty Sand, which, if it be dug into, hath under it a dark fatty, 
and, how hot and dry foever theother Sand be, a fomewhat moift 
and putrid matter, like rotten Wood 5 which matter fpreads it 
felf here and there in the Earth, juft as the ofteocolla it felf 
doth, and is called by thofe, whom I have employ'd to look for 
it, the Flower of this Subftance. 
5. The OfteeceUa being thus found , is altogether foft, yet 
rather friable than du&il : Wherefore if one hath the curiofity 
of getting out of the ground a whole piece of it with its branches, 
he rauft very carefully remove the Sand every way from it, and 
then let it lie fo a while 5 its quality being, That remaining ex- 
pofed to the Sun for half an hour or fomewhat longer, it 
growes 
