{Dog-Wood.}
Dog-Wood Is Plentiful On Our Light Land, Inclining To A Rich Soil.
It Flowers The First In The Woods; Its White Blossom Making The Forest
Very Beautiful.
It has a fine Grain, and serves for several Uses
within doors; but is not durable.
The Bark of this Root infused,
is held an infallible Remedy against the Worms.
{Laurel.}
Laurel, before-mention'd; as to its Bigness and Use, I have seen Planks
sawn of this Wood; but 'tis not found durable in the Weather;
yet pretty enough for many other Uses.
Bay and Laurel generally delight in a low, swampy Ground. I know no Use
they make of them, but for Fire-Wood, excepting what I spoke of before,
amongst the Ever-Greens.
{Ever-green.}
A famous Ever-Green I must now mention, which was forgotten amongst the rest.
It is in Leaf like a Jessamine, but larger, and of a harder Nature.
This grows up to a large Vine, and twists itself round the Trees
it grows near, making a very fine Shade. I never saw any thing of that Nature
outdo it, and if it be cut away close to the Ground, it will presently
spring up again, it being impossible to destroy it, when once it has got Root.
'Tis an ornamental Plant, and worth the Transplanting. Its Seed
is a black Berry.
{Trumpet-Vine.}
The Scarlet Trumpet-Vine bears a glorious red Flower, like a Bell, or Trumpet,
and makes a Shade inferiour to none that I ever saw; yet it leaves us,
when the Winter comes, and remains naked till the next Spring.
It bears a large Cod, that holds its Seed.
{Maycock.}
The Maycock bears a glorious Flower, and Apple of an agreeable Sweet,
mixt with an acid Taste. This is also a Summer-Vine.
{Indico-Trees.}
The Indico grows plentifully in our Quarters.
{Bay-Tulips.}
The Bay-Tulip-Tree is a fine Ever-green which grows frequently here.
{Sweet Gum.}
The sweet Gum-Tree, so call'd, because of the fragrant Gum it yields
in the Spring-time, upon Incision of the Bark, or Wood. It cures
the Herpes and Inflammations; being apply'd to the Morphew and Tettars.
'Tis an extraordinary Balsam, and of great Value to those
who know how to use it. No Wood has scarce a better Grain;
whereof fine Tables, Drawers, and other Furniture might be made.
Some of it is curiously curl'd. It bears a round Bur, with a sort of Prickle,
which is the Seed.
{Black Gums.}
Of the Black Gum there grows, with us, two sorts; both fit for Cart-Naves.
The one bears a black, well-tasted Berry, which the Indians mix
with their Pulse and Soups, it giving 'em a pretty Flavour,
and scarlet Colour. The Bears crop these Trees for the Berries,
which they mightily covet, yet kill'd in that Season, they eat very unsavory;
which must be occasion'd by this Fruit, because, at other times,
when they feed on Mast, Bears-Flesh is a very well-tasted Food.
The other Gum bears a Berry in shape like the other,
tho' bitter and ill-tasted. This Tree (the Indians report)
is never wounded by Lightning. It has no certain Grain;
and it is almost impossible to split or rive it.
{White Gum.}
The white Gum, bearing a sort of long bunch'd Flowers,
is the most curled and knotted Wood I ever saw, which would make
curious Furniture, in case it was handled by a good Workman.
{Red Cedar.}
The red sort of Cedar is an Ever-green, of which Carolina affords Plenty.
That on the Salts, grows generally on the Sand-banks; and that in the Freshes
is found in the Swamps. Of this Wood, Tables, Wainscot,
and other Necessaries, are made, and esteemed for its sweet Smell.
It is as durable a Wood as any we have, therefore much used
in Posts for Houses and Sills; likewise to build Sloops,
Boats, &c. by reason the Worm will not touch it, for several Years.
The Vessels built thereof are very durable, and good Swimmers.
Of this Cedar, Ship-loads may be exported. It has been heretofore
so plentiful in this Settlement, that they have fenced in Plantations with it,
and the Coffins of the Dead are generally made thereof.
{White Cedar.}
White Cedar, so call'd, because it nearly approaches the other Cedar,
in Smell, Bark, and Leaf; only this grows taller, being as strait as an Arrow.
It is extraordinary light, and free to rive. 'Tis good for Yard, Top-Masts,
Booms and Boltsprits, being very tough. The best Shingles for Houses
are made of this Wood, it being no Strain to the Roof, and never rots.
Good Pails and other Vessels, free from Leakage, are likewise made thereof.
The Bark of this and the red Cedar, the Indians use to make their Cabins of,
which prove firm, and resist all Weathers.
{Cypress.}
Cypress is not an Ever-green with us, and is therefore call'd
the bald Cypress, because the Leaves, during the Winter-Season, turn red,
not recovering their Verdure till the Spring. These Trees are the largest
for Height and Thickness, that we have in this Part of the World;
some of them holding thirty-six Foot in Circumference. Upon Incision,
they yield a sweet-smelling Grain, tho' not in great Quantities; and the Nuts
which these Trees bear plentifully, yield a most odoriferous Balsam,
that infallibly cures all new and green Wounds, which the Inhabitants
are well acquainted withal. Of these great Trees the Pereaugers and Canoes
are scoop'd and made; which sort of Vessels are chiefly
to pass over the Rivers, Creeks, and Bays; and to transport Goods and Lumber
from one River to another. Some are so large, as to carry thirty Barrels,
tho' of one entire Piece of Timber. Others, that are split down the Bottom,
and a piece added thereto, will carry eighty, or an hundred.
Several have gone out of our Inlets on the Ocean to Virginia,
laden with Pork, and other Produce of the Country.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 39 of 106
Words from 39576 to 40587
of 110081
