Well.
Some of this is very knotty, which would make the best Returns for England,
tho' the Masters of Vessels refuse it, not understanding its Goodness.
'Tis a very good and durable Wood, to bottom Vessels for the Sea withal;
and they say, that it is never eaten by the Worm. The Nuts have
a large Kernel, which is very oily, except lain by, a long time, to mellow.
The Shell is very thick, as all the native Nuts of America are.
When it has its yellow outward Coat on, it looks and smells much like a Lemon.
{Maple.}
The Maple, of which we have two sorts, is used to make Trenchers,
Spinning-wheels, &c. withal.
{Chinkapin.}
Chinkapin is a sort of Chesnut, whose Nuts are most commonly very plentiful;
insomuch that the Hogs get fat with them. They are rounder and smaller
than a Chesnut, but much sweeter. The Wood is much of the Nature of Chesnut,
having a Leaf and Grain almost like it. It is used to timber Boats,
Shallops, &c. and makes any thing that is to endure the Weather.
This and the Hiccory are very tough Rods used to whip Horses withal;
yet their Wood, in Substance, is very brittle. This Tree
the Vine much delights to twist about. It's good Fire-Wood,
but very sparkling, as well as Sassafras.
{Birch.}
The Birch grows all on the Banks of our Rivers, very high up.
I never saw a Tree on the Salts. It differs something, in Bark,
from the European Birch. Its Buds in April are eaten by the Parrakeetos,
which resort, from all Parts, at that Season, to feed thereon.
Where this Wood grows, we are not yet seated; and as to the Wine,
or other Profits it would yield, we are, at present, Strangers to.
{Willow.}
The Willow, here, likewise differs both in Bark and Leaf. It is frequently
found on the Banks of fresh Water, as the Birch is.
{Sycamore.}
The Sycamore, in these Parts, grows in a low, swampy Land, by River-sides.
Its Bark is quite different from the English, and the most beautiful
I ever saw, being mottled and clowded with several Colours,
as white, blue, &c. It bears no Keys but a Bur like the sweet Gum.
Its Uses I am ignorant of.
{Aspin.}
I never saw any Aspin, but in Rapahannock-River, from whence I brought one,
(that was presented me there as a great Present) but it died by the way.
{Holly.}
Of Holly we have two sorts; one having a large Leaf, the other a smaller.
They grow very thick in our low Woods. Many of them are very strait,
and two Foot Diameter. They make good Trenchers, and other Turnery-Ware.
{Red-Bud.}
The Red-Bud-Tree bears a purple Lark-Heel, and is the best Sallad,
of any Flower I ever saw.
