H Y O 
H Y M 
The ordinary contrivance with whip-corcl is one of 
the eafieft, for that will infallibly fhorten and lengthen 
as the air grows moifter and drier. 
Some recommend a cat-gut as the belt, which may 
be a yard in length fufpended, having a plumbet or 
piece of lead, with an index or pointer hanging at the 
lower end, by means of which the cat-gut will twill 
or untwift as the air dries or moiftens, and fhorten and 
lengthen fo as to raife and fink the plumbet with 
the index, and this index will point out the degree 
fought for. 
The weight of this lead or plumbet, fhould be about 
two ounces. 
Some perfons who approve a fine whip-cord inftead 
of cat-gut, ufe a greater weight of lead ; the twilling 
and untwifting of the cat gut or whip-cord, will make 
the lead with the index turn round, as well as rife 
and fall. The degrees may be made upon an open 
fcrew of brafs Within,' with which the plumbet and 
index has its motion. 
When you are provided with a barometer and Hy- 
grometer, compare the motions of the one with the 
other, in order to judge what proportion the rife or 
- fall of the quickfiiver in the barometer bears to the 
twilling of the cat-gut or whip-cord •, the degrees 
of which motion may be oblerved by the index or 
pointer of the Hygrometer ; and at the fame time 
both thefe mull be compared with the rifing and fall- 
ing of the fpirit in a thermometer, to know what de- 
gree of heat or cold attends every different change 
of w r eather. 
HYGROSCOPE [of Jypk, moilt, and o-y. 07 riw, to 
view or confider,] a machine the fame as the hygro- 
meter, and for the fame ufes. 
Thefe inllruments are of good ufe in conlervatories, for 
meafuring or Ihewing the dampnefs or drinefs of them 
in the winter feafon. 
HYMEN YE A. Lin. Gen. Plant. 512. Courbaril. 
Plum. Nov. Gen. 49. tab. 14. Locuft-tree. 
The Characters are, 
The outward involucrum of the flower is divided into 
two parts , the inward is of one leaf indented in five 
parts ; the fewer hath five petals , which are equal in 
fixe , and fpread open. It hath ten declining fiamina, which 
are fiecrt, terminated by oblong fummits. In the center 
is fuuated an oblong germen , fupporting a declining fiyle , 
crowned by an acute Jligma ; the germen afterward be- 
comes a large oblong pod , with a thick ligneous fhell , di- 
vided into fever al partitions tranfverfiy , in each of which 
is lodged one comprejfed large feed , furrounded with a fa- 
rinaceous pulp. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the firll fedlion of 
Linnaeuses tenth clafs, intitled Decandria Monogynia, 
which includes the plants whofe flowers have ten fta- 
mina and one flyle. 
We know but one Species of this genus, viz. 
Hvmen^a ( Courbaril .) Hort. Cliff. 484. Locufl-tree. 
Courbaril bifolia, flore pyramidato. Plum. Nov. Gen. 
49. Two-leaved Courbaril with a pyramidal flower , com- 
monly called Locuft-tree in America. 
This is a very large fpreading tree in the Well-Indies, 
where it grows in great plenty : it hath a large Hem, 
covered with a ruffet bark, which divides into many 
fpreading branches, garnifhed with fmooth ftiff leaves, 
which Hand by pairs, their bafe joining at the foot- 
flalk, to which they Hand oblique, one fide being 
much broader than the other, the two outer fides 
being rounded, and their infide llrait, fo that they 
refemble a pair of Iheep-fhears ; they are pointed 
at the top, and Hand alternately on the llalk. The 
flowers are produced in loofe fpikes at the end of the 
branches, fome of the Ihort ligneous foot-llalks lup- 
porting two, and others three flowers, which are com- 
poled of five yellow petals ilriped with purple ; the 
petals are Ihort and fpread open ; the llamina are much 
longer, and of a purplilb colour •, thefe flowers are 
fucceeded by thick, fieffiy, brown pods, fhaped like 
thefe of the Garden Bean ; they are fix inches long, 
and two inches and a half broad, of a purplilb brown 
colour, and a ligneous confluence, with a large fu- 
ture on both edges; thefe contain three or four 
roundilh eompreflfed feeds, divided by tranfverfe par- 
titions. 
The wood of this tree is elleemed as good timber 
in the Well-Indies, and it yields a fine clear refin which 
is called gum anirne in the Ihops, which makes an 
excellent varnilb. 
It is eafily raifed from the feeds if they are frefh ; 
thefe mull be fown in pots, and plunged into a hot- 
bed of tanners bark : there fhould be but one feed put 
into each pot, or if there is more, when the plants 
appear, they Ihould be all drawn out to one foon after 
they come up, before their roots entangle, when it 
will be hazardous doing it ; for if great care is not 
taken, the plant intended to be left may be drawn out 
with the other. As the roots of this plant are but 
flender, fo they are very difficult to tranfplant ; for 
unlefs a ball of earth is preferved to their roots, they 
feldom furvive their removal, therefore they mull be 
feldom tranfpl anted from one pot to another. The 
plants mull conftantly remain in the tan-bed in the 
Hove, and ffiould be treated in the fame way with 
other tender plants of the fame country, giving but: 
little water to them, efpecially in the winter. When 
thefe plants firll appear, they make confiderable pro- 
grefs for two or three months, after which time they 
are at a Hand perhaps a whole year without ffiooting, 
being in their growth very like the Anacardium, or 
Cafhew Nut, fo is very difficult to preferve long in 
this country. 
HYOSCYAMUS. Tourn. Inlt. R. H. 1 1 7. tab. 
42. Lin. Gen. Plant. 218. [of A, a fwine, and 
a Bean, q. d. Hog’s-bean,] Henbane; in French, 
Jufquaime. 
The Characters are, 
The flower has a cylindrical empalement of one leaf 
which is permanent , [welling at the bottom , and cut into 
five acute fegments at the top. It hath one funnelfhaped 
petal , with a floor t cylindrical tube , and an erect fpread- 
ing rim , cut into five obtufe parts , one being larger than 
the others ; it hath five, inclined ftamina , terminated by 
roundifh fummits. In the center is fituated a roundifh 
germen , fupporting a fender flyle , crowned by a round 
Jligma. The germen afterward becomes an oval obtufe 
capfule fitting in the empalement , divided in two cells 
by an intermediate partition , opening with a lid at the 
top , to let out the many fmall feeds which adhere to the 
partition. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the firll fedion of 
Linnaeus’s fifth clafs, intitled Pentandria Monogynia, 
in which he includes thofe plants whofe flowers have 
five llamina and one llyle. 
The Species are, 
1. Hyoscyamus {Niger) foliis amplexicaulibus fmuatis, 
floribus feffilibus. Hort. Cliff. 56. Henbane with finu- 
ated leaves embracing the Jlalks , and feffile flowers. Hy- 
ofeyamus vulgaris, vel niger. C. B. P. Common Black 
Henbane. 
2. Hyoscyamus {Major) foliis petiolatis, floribus pe- 
dunculatis terminalibus. Henbane with leaves having 
foot-Jlalks , and flowers with foot-ftalks terminating the 
branches. Hyofcyamus major, albo fimilis, umbilico 
floris atro-pupureo. T. Cor. Great Henbane like the 
white , but with a dark purple bottom to the flower. 
3. Hyoscyamus {Albus) foliis petiolatis, floribus feffi- 
libus. Hort. Upfal. 56. Henbane with leaves having 
foot-ftalks , and flowers fitting clofe to the branches. Hy- 
ofcyamus major, albo fimilis, umbilico floris virenti. 
juffieu. Greater Henbane like the white , with a green 
bottom to the flower. 
4. Hyoscyamus {Minor) foliis petiolatis, floribus fo- 
litariis lateralibus. Henbane with leaves having foot- 
ftalks , and flowers proceeding Jingly from the fides of the 
branches. Hyofcyamus minor albo fimilis, umbilico 
floris atro purpureo. Tourn. Cor. 5. Smaller Hen- 
bane like the white , with a dark purple bottom to the 
flower. 
5. Hyoscyamus {Reticulatis) foliis caulinis petiolatis 
cordatis fmuatis aeutis, floribus integerrimis, corollis 
vemricofis. Lin. Sp. 257. Henbane with heart fhaped, 
7 & flnuated s 
/ 
y 
