The Vse of the Line tree.
It is planted both to make goodly Arbours, and Summer banquetting houses, either belowe vpon the ground, the boughes seruing very handsomely to plash round about it, or vp higher, for a second aboue it, and a third also: for the more it is depressed, the better it will grow. And I haue seene at Cobham in Kent, a tall or great bodied Line tree, bare without boughes for eight foote high, and then the branches were spread round about so orderly, as if it were done by art, and brought to compasse that middle Arbour: And from those boughes the body was bare againe for eight or nine foote (wherein might bee placed halfe an hundred men at the least, as there might be likewise in that vnderneath this) & then another rowe of branches to encompasse a third Arbour, with stayres made for the purpose to this and that vnderneath it: vpon the boughes were laid boards to tread vpon, which was the goodliest spectacle mine eyes euer beheld for one tree to carry.
The coles of the wood are the best to make Gunpowder. And being kindled, and quenched in vinegar, are good to dissolue clotted bloud in those that are bruised with a fall. The inner barke being steeped in water yeeldeth a slimie iuyce, which is found by experience, to be very profitable for them that haue been burnt with fire.
17. Tamarix. Tamariske tree.
The Tamariske tree that is common in our country, although in some places it doth not grow great, yet I haue seene it in some other, to be as great as a great apple tree in the body, bearing great arms; from whose smaller branches spring forth young slender red shootes, set with many very fine, small, and short leaues, a little crisped, like vnto the leaues of Sauine, not hard or rough, but soft and greene: the flowers be white mossie threads, which turne into dounie seede, that is carried away with the winde.
Tamariscus solijs albidis. White Tamariske.
There is another kinde hereof very beautifull and rare, not to be seene in this Land I thinke, but with Mʳ. William Ward, the Kings seruant in his Granary, before remembred, who brought me a small twigge to see from his house at Boram in Essex, whose branches are all red while they are young, and all the leaues white, abiding so all the Summer long, without changing into any shew of greene like the other and so abideth constant yeare after yeare, yet shedding the leaues in Winter like the other.
The Vse of Tamariske.
The greatest vse of Tamariske is for spleneticke diseases, either the leaues or the barke made into drinkes; or the wood made into small Cans or Cups to drinke in.