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The thorny Elaeagnus lie takes to be the common sort, which grows naturally in Bohemia, and 
of which he saw some trees in the curious garden of the famous Boerhaave, near Leyden. The 
leaves of this are not more than two inches long, and about three quarters of an inch broad in the 
middle; they are white, and have a soft cottony down on their surface; at the footstalk of every 
leaf comes out a pretty long sharp thorn, the leaves being alternate, the spines come out on each 
side of the branches. The flowers are small, and have a strong scent when fully open. They were 
both observed by Tournefort in the Levant. 
CULTURE. 
The narrow-leaved Oleaster is extremely hardy, and seldom injured by frost; but it is not of 
very long life, and therefore young plants should be raised by seeds. 
Genus 10 . Euonymus. Spindle-tree . Class Y. Pentandria. 
Order I. Monogynia. 
Species!. Common Spindle-tree. (Euonymus Europ^us.) 
The common Spindle-tree, when growing in hedges, is seldom seen of any considerable size, 
but is a shrub; if planted single, however, and properly trained, it will have a strong woody stem, 
and rise more than twenty feet high, dividing into many branches. Leaves lanceolate, about three 
inches long, and an inch and quarter broad in the middle, opposite, entire, of a deep green colour. 
The flowers come out at the end of May, or the beginning of June, in small bunches from the side 
of the stalks on slender peduncles. The petals are whitish, and spread in form of a cross. 
The fruit ripens in October, at which time the seed-vessels spread open and expose the seeds, 
which being of a beautiful red colour, these shrubs make then a good appearance. 
From its use for skewers it has the name of Prick-wood, and is called by Gerarde Prick Timber- 
tree. The wood is said to be used by the musical instrument makers. For skewers and toothpicks 
the branches should be cut when the shrub is in blossom, for it is then tough, and not easily broken; 
in that state it is also used by watch-makers, for cleaning watches. According to Linnaeus, kine, 
goats and sheep eat it, but horses refuse it. No animal, however, seems to browze upon it but the 
goat. The berries are said to be fatal to sheep. 
Species 2. Broad-leaved Spindle-tree . (Euonimus Latifolxus.) 
This rises with a stronger stem than the first, and grows to a larger size. The leaves are ovate- 
lanceolate, about four inches long, and two broad in the middle, opposite, entire, light green, on 
short foot-stalks. The flowers come out from the side of the branches, upon very slender peduncles, 
two inches and a half long, branching out into a loose bunch, and the flowers on separate pedicels. 
Petals five, at first white, but changing to purple. The same number predominates in the other 
parts of the fructification. The fruit is much larger than that of the common sort, and the peduncles 
being weak, it always hangs down. Native of Austria, Hungary, and most of the southern parts 
of Europe. This was seldom seen in England, till Mr. Miller procured it from France; and it is 
now become very common in the nurseries. 
CULTURE. 
1 2. These sorts may be propagated either by seeds, or layers; if by seeds, they should 
be sown in autumn, soon after they are ripe; then the plants will come up the spring following; 
6 D 
