It is accounted durable,
therefore some use to build Vessels with it for the Sea;
it proving well and durable. These all bear good Mast for the Swine.
{Bastard Spanish.}
Bastard-Spanish is an Oak betwixt the Spanish and Red Oak;
the chief Use is for Fencing and Clap-boards. It bears good Acorns.
{Black Oak.}
The next is Black Oak, which is esteem'd a durable Wood, under Water;
but sometimes it is used in House-work. It bears a good Mast for Hogs.
{White Iron.}
White Iron, or Ring-Oak, is so call'd, from the Durability and lasting Quality
of this Wood. It chiefly grows on dry, lean Land, and seldom fails of bearing
a plentiful Crop of Acorns. This Wood is found to be very durable,
and is esteem'd the best Oak for Ship-work that we have in Carolina;
for tho' Live Oak be more lasting, yet it seldom allows Planks
of any considerable Length.
{Turkey Oak.}
Turkey-Oak is so call'd from a small Acorn it bears, which the wild Turkeys
feed on.
{Live Oak.}
Live-Oak chiefly grows on dry, sandy Knolls. This is an Ever-green,
and the most durable Oak all America affords. The Shortness
of this Wood's Bowl, or Trunk, makes it unfit for Plank to build Ships withal.
There are some few Trees, that would allow a Stock of twelve Foot,
but the Firmness and great Weight thereof, frightens our Sawyers
from the Fatigue that attends the cutting of this Timber.
A Nail once driven therein, 'tis next to an Impossibility to draw it out.
The Limbs thereof are so cur'd, that they serve for excellent Timbers,
Knees, &c. for Vessels of any sort. The Acorns thereof are as sweet
as Chesnuts, and the Indians draw an Oil from them, as sweet as that
from the Olive, tho' of an Amber-Colour. With these Nuts, or Acorns,
some have counterfeited the Cocoa, whereof they have made Chocolate,
not to be distinguish'd by a good Palate. Window-Frames, Mallets,
and Pins for Blocks, are made thereof, to an excellent Purpose.
I knew two Trees of this Wood among the Indians, which were planted
from the Acorn, and grew in the Freshes, and never saw any thing
more beautiful of that kind. They are of an indifferent quick Growth;
of which there are two sorts. The Acorns make very fine Pork.
{Willow Oak.}
Willow-Oak is a sort of Water-Oak. It grows in Ponds and Branches,
and is useful for many things. It is so call'd, from the Leaf,
which very much resembles a Willow.
{Fresh-water Oak.}
The Live Oak grows in the fresh Water Ponds and Swamps, by the River sides,
and in low Ground overflown with Water; and is a perennial Green.
{Ash.}
Of Ash we have two sorts, agreeing nearly with the English in the Grain.
One of our sorts is tough, like the English, but differs something
in the Leaf, and much more in the Bark. Neither of them bears Keys.
The Water-Ash is brittle. The Bark is Food for the Bevers.
{Elm.}
There are two sorts of Elm; the first grows on our High-Land,
and approaches our English. The Indians take the Bark of its Root,
and beat it, whilst green, to a Pulp; and then dry it in the Chimney,
where it becomes of a reddish Colour. This they use as a Sovereign Remedy
to heal a Cut or green Wound, or any thing that is not corrupted.
It is of a very glutinous Quality. The other Elm grows in low Ground,
of whose Bark the English and Indians make Ropes; for as soon
as the Sap rises, it strips off, with the greatest ease imaginable.
It runs in March, or thereabouts.
{Tulip-Tree.}
The Tulip-Trees, which are, by the Planters, call'd Poplars,
as nearest approaching that Wood in Grain, grow to a prodigious Bigness,
some of them having been found One and twenty Foot in Circumference.
I have been inform'd of a Tulip-Tree, that was ten Foot Diameter;
and another, wherein a lusty Man had his Bed and Houshold Furniture,
and liv'd in it, till his Labour got him a more fashionable Mansion.
He afterwards became a noted Man, in his Country, for Wealth and Conduct.
One of these sorts bears a white Tulip; the other a party-colour'd,
mottled one. The Wood makes very pretty Wainscot, Shingles for Houses,
and Planks for several Uses. It is reckon'd very lasting;
especially, under Ground, for Mill-Work. The Buds, made into an Ointment,
cure Scalds, Inflammations, and Burns. I saw several Bushels thereon.
The Cattle are apt to eat of these Buds, which give a very odd Taste
to the Milk.
{Beech.}
Beech is here frequent, and very large. The Grain seems exactly the same
as that in Europe. We make little Use thereof, save for Fire-Wood.
'Tis not a durable Timber. It affords a very sweet Nut,
yet the Pork fed thereon (tho' sweet) is very oily, and ought to be
harden'd with Indian Corn, before it is kill'd. {Buck Beech.}
Another sort call'd Buck-Beech is here found.
{Horn-Beam.}
Horn-Beam grows, in some Places, very plentifully; yet the Plenty
of other Wood makes it unregarded.
{Sassafras.}
The Vertues of Sassafras are well known in Europe. This Wood
sometimes grows to be above two Foot over, and is very durable and lasting,
used for Bowls, Timbers, Posts for Houses, and other Things that require
standing in the Ground. 'Tis very light. It bears a white Flower,
which is very cleansing to the Blood, being eaten in the Spring,
with other Sallating. The Berry, when ripe, is black; 'tis very oily,
Carminative, and extremely prevalent in Clysters for the Colick.
The Bark of the Root is a Specifick to those afflicted with the Gripes.
The same in Powder, and a Lotion made thereof, is much used by the Savages,
to mundify old Ulcers, and for several other Uses; being highly esteem'd
among them.
