:: i Ihe Orchard . 
567 
broken, as the branches a Kb or the figges when they are greene : the fruit breaketh our 
from the branches without anie blofiomc, contrary to all other trees of our Orchard, 
being round and long, fafhioned very like vnto a fmall Peare, full of fmall white grains 
or kernels within it, ofa very fweetetafte when it is ripe, and very mellow orfoft,that 
it can hardly be carried farre without bruifing. 
a The other two forts you may eafily know and vnderftand, by fo much as hathbeen 
Paid of them. Take onl y-thjs more of the Figge tree,That if you plant it not againft a 
bricke wall, orthe wall ol an houfe, &c. it will not ripen fo kindly. The dwarfe Fiuge 
tree is more tender, and is therefore planted in great fquare tubs, to be remoued into 
the lunne in the Summer time, and into the houfe in Winter. 
Tfic Vfe of Figges. 
Figges are ferued to the table with Ray fins of the Sunne, and blanched 
Almonds, for a Lenten difh. 
The Figs thatgrowe with vs when they are ripe, and frefh gathered, are 
eaten of diuers with a little faltand pepper, as a dainty banquet to entertaine 
a freind, which feldome palfeth without a cup of wine to wafh them downe. 
In Italy (as I hauc beene enformed-by diuers Gentlemen that haucliued 
there to (tudy phyficke) they eate them in the fame manner, but dare not 
eate many for feare ofa feuer to follow , they doe account them to be fucb 
breeders of bloud, and heaters of it likewife. 
The Figges that are brought vs fromSpaine, ate vfed to make Prifan 
drinkes , and diuers other things, that are giuen them that haue coughes.or 
colds. , 
It is one of the ingredients alfo with Nuts and Rite, into Mithridates 
counterpoifon. 
The fmall Figges that growe with vs, and will not ripen, arc preferued by 
the Comfitmakers, and candid alfo , to ferue as other moift or candid ban- 
quetting ftuffe. 
Chap. VIII. 
Seriut. ThcSeruicetree. 
T Here are two kindes of Seruice trees that arc planted in Orchards with vs, and 
there is alfo a wilde kinde like vnto the later of them, with Aflien lcaucs, found 
in the woods growing of it felfe , wbofe fruit is not gathered , nor vfed to bee 
eaten of any but birds. And there is another kindealfogrowing wilde abroad in many 
places, taken by the Country people where it groweth, to be a Seruice tree, and is cal- 
led in Latine, Aria TheophraBi, whofe leaues arc large, fomewhat like Nut tree lcaues, 
but greene aboue, and gray ifii vnderneath : fome doe vfe the fruit as Seruiccs, and for 
the fame purpofes to good effetS, yet both of thefe wilde kindes wee leauc for another 
worke, and here declare vnto you onely thofe two forts are nourfed vpinourOr- 
chards. 
The more common or ordinary Seruice tree with vs, isareafonablegreatrree co- 
uered with a fmooth barkc,fpread into many great armes, whereon are fet large lea’ues, 
very much cut in on the edges, almoft like vnto a Vine lea fe, orrather likevntothat 
kind of Maple, that is vfually called the Sycomore tree with vs : the flowers are white, 
and growe many cluttering together, which after bring forth fmall browne berries 
when they are ripe, of the bignefle almoft of Hafell nuts, with a fmall tuft, as ifit were 
a cro wne on the head, wherein are fmall blacke kernels. 
The other kinde, which is more rare with vs , and brought into this Land by Iohn 
Tradefeantc, heretofore often remembred, hath diuers winged leaues, many fet toge- 
ther like vnto an Aflien lesfe , butfmaller, andeuery one endented about the edges : 
the flowers growe in long clufters, but nothing fo many , or fo clofefetas the wilde 
kinde : the fruit of this tree is in fome round like an Apple, and in others a little longer 
Bbb a like 
