Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Sloe-tree

SLOE-TREE, Black-thorn, or Scroggs, Prunus spinosa, L. an indigenous shrub, growing wild in hedges, and woods; flowering in the months of March and April. It generally attains the height of from 10 to 12 feet, and spreads its branches from the root; producing small, round, black berries in autumn, which possess a very austere taste, till mellowed by frost.

Being of very quick and bushy growth, the sloe-tree is well adapted for hedges and other fences; though it is not calculated for situations where its spreading roots might obstruct the growth of vegetables planted in its vicinity.—The wood is hard and tough; on which account it is usefully converted into walking-sticks, teeth for rakes, and turnery-ware.—Dr. Withering observes that, from the effects which follow the punctures made by the thorns of this tree, he has reason to believe, they contain some poisonous matter; especially if such wounds be inflicted in autumn.—The young and tender leaves, when dried, afford, in his opinion, the best substitute for the foreign teas.—If bruised, and infused in currant or raisin-wine, sloes impart a beautiful red colour, and a pleasant rough, sub-acid taste, resembling that of Port-wine; a fact too well known to the dealers in that favourite and expensive liquor.—Characters impressed on linen, or woollen cloth, with the juice of the fruit, are said to be permanent. On adding green vitriol to this liquid, the shade is not changed; but, if it be employed for writing on paper, or dyeing linen, and afterwards exposed to the air, an indelible black colour will be the result, and which is superior to that obtained from the best galls.—The dried berries of the black-thorn dye-linen of a red hue, which, on repeated washing, changes to a durable light-blue.—The bark boiled in ley, also yields a red tinge; and, in order to facilitate the decortication of this shrub, it ought to be effected in the spring:—a decoction of the root, on adding a solution of bismuth, communicates a cinnamon shade to wool.—The blackish bark is farther, useful for preserving cheese from corruption; a fact attested by Bechstein: the same rind, together with the unripe berries, may be advantageously used in tanning.

In a medicinal respect, a handful of the flowers of the sloe-tree, either infused in water, or boiled in milk, and strained, affords a draught which operates as a safe and gentle purgative.—According to Dr. Withering, the bark, when reduced to powder, and administered in doses of two drams each, has cured some species of the ague.—An inspissated extract of the same substance forms an excellent astringent, which is frequently employed on the Continent, as a substitute for the more expensive, but less efficacious Indian drugs of this description: and it is highly probable, that such preparation might, in many cases, be employed with safety, instead of the Peruvian bark, which is seldom obtained in a genuine state from the shops.—The leaves of the sloe-tree are eaten by horses, sheep, and goats: the bark is relished by hares, deer, and other wild quadrupeds.