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prejudice. To these add the Whitting, or Quicking-tree, (Lat. Fraxinus Sylvestris, and by some Fraxinus Cambro-Britannica) which in its season, as some affirm, will run plenteously, and whence they would have us expect a soverain Drink against some stubborn distempers, especially such as are Scorbutical and Splenetick, I have kept (faith Dr. T.) some of the juice of the Berries (which being express'd ferments of it self) these two years in Bottles, and it hath now the taste of an austere Cyder: And I suppose from its gratefull smell, that it may be kept till it ripen and become a strong Vinous Liquor. It is the Houshold drink of some Families in these parts about Wales and Herefordshire, and some out of Curiosity have brew'd ripe Berries with strong Beer and Ale, and kept it till it transcended all other Beer in goodness.
Dr. Tonges attempts upon the Poplar, Aspe, Elme, Oake, Ashe, Elder, Whitting-berry or Quicking-tree, Thorn, Buckthorn, Tile, Nut, Sloe, Briar, Bramble, &c. have not succceded; and he doubts, that they, and all Apples and Pears have some degree of Gummines in their ]uices, so that they will not run.
To the 4th Query, Dr. B, Apparently the sap riseth by the inward Birk, where you may see the quick begin, and where the Graft first incorporateth.
Dr. T. There are Circles observ'd in Trees, which are the distances of those Films or Coats, by which the Tree receives its yearly increase in thickness. Through these, looking full of Circular Pores, the Sap seems to ascend in the same manner between coat and coat, as between the Birk and the Body; and probably between the two outermost of these Coats, as large a quantity of Sap, as between the Bark and Body. Now the Ascent of Sap is by all parts and pores of the Tree, in such small quantities, as can hardly be discerned, unless the Tree be quite saw'd off, especially near the Root; for then it will appear, how it ascends. In Birches, and such like, the Sap issues very plentifully in all parts of the body, when they are cut down near the Root. And in other Trees that have Pith, as the Willow, &c it may be observ'd, when they are saw'd asunder near the Root, whether any Sap issues or no by the Pith.
The Bark is double outward and inward. The outward is
