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. It is ripe in April and May.
They grow in Trees, generally small, but some are a Foot Diameter.
{Pelletory.}
Pelletory grows on the Sand-Banks and Islands. It is used
to cure the Tooth-ach, by putting a Piece of the Bark in the Mouth,
which being very hot, draws a Rhume from the Mouth, and causes much Spittle.
The Indians use it to make their Composition, which they give
to their young Men and Boys, when they are husquenaw'd, of which you shall
hear farther, when I come to treat of the Customs, &c. of that People.
{Arrow-Wood.}
Arrow-Wood, growing on the Banks, is used, by the Indians,
for Arrows and Gun-Sticks. It grows as strait, as if plain'd,
and is of all Sizes. 'Tis as tough and pliable, as the smallest Canes.
{Chesnut.}
The Chesnut-Tree of Carolina, grows up towards the hilly Part thereof,
is a very large and durable Wood, and fit for House-Frames, Palisado's,
Sills, and many other Uses. The Nut is smaller than those from Portugal,
but sweeter.
{Oak-Vine.}
This is no Tree, but call'd the Oak-Vine, by reason it bears a sort of Bur
as the Oak does, and generally runs up those Trees. It's so porous,
that you suck Liquors thro' a Length of two Foot.
Prickly-Ash grows up like a Pole; of which the Indians and English
make Poles to set their Canoes along in Shoal-Water. It's very light,
and full of Thorns or Prickles, bearing Berries in large Clusters,
of a purple Colour, not much unlike the Alder. The Root of this Tree
is Cathartick and Emetick, used in Cachexies.
{Poison Vine.}
The Poison Vine is so called, because it colours the Hands of those
who handle it. What the Effects of it may be, I cannot relate;
neither do I believe, that any has made an Experiment thereof.
The Juice of this will stain Linnen, never to wash out. It marks
a blackish blue Colour, which is done only by breaking a bit of the Vine off,
and writing what you please therewith. I have thought,
that the East-India Natives set their Colours, by some such Means,
into their finest Callicoes. It runs up any Tree it meets withal,
and clasps round about it. The Leaves are like Hemlock,
and fall off in Winter.
{Canes and Reeds.}
Of Canes and Reeds we have many sorts. The hollow Reed, or Cane,
such as Angling-Rods are made of, and Weavers use, we have great Plenty of,
though none to the Northward of James-River in Virginia.
They always grow in Branches and low Ground. Their Leaves endure the Winter,
in which Season our Cattle eat them greedily. We have them
(towards the Heads of our Rivers) so large, that one Joint will hold
above a pint of Liquor.
{Bamboo.}
The small Bamboo is next, which is a certain Vine, like the rest
of these Species, growing in low Land. They seldom, with us,
grow thicker than a Man's little Finger, and are very tough.
Their Root is a round Ball, which the Indians boil as we do Garden-Roots,
and eat them. When these Roots have been some time out of the Ground,
they become hard, and make good Heads to the Canes, on which
several pretty Figures may be cut. There are several others of this kind,
not thoroughly discover'd.
{Palmeto.}
That Palmeto grows with us, which we call the dwarfish sort;
but the Palmeto-Tree I have not yet met withal in North-Carolina,
of which you have a Description elsewhere. We shall next treat
of the Spontaneous Fruits of this Country; and then proceed to those
that have been transplanted from Europe, and other Parts.
{Natural Vines.}
Among the natural Fruits, the Vine first takes place, of which
I find six sorts, very well known.
