The Vse of this Sumach.
It is onely kept as a rarity and ornament to a Garden or Orchard, no bodie, that I can heare of, hauing made any tryall of the Physicall properties.
22. Vitis, seu potius Hedera Virginensis. The Virginia Vine, or rather Iuie.
This slender, but tall climing Virginia Vine (as it was first called; but Iuie, as it doth better resemble) riseth out of the ground with diuers stems, none much bigger then a mans thumbe, many lesse; from whence shoote forth many long weake branches, not able to stand vpright, vnlesse they be sustained: yet planted neere vnto a wall or pale, the branches at seuerall distances of the leaues will shoote forth small short tendrels, not twining themselues about any thing, but ending into foure, fiue, or six, or more small short and somewhat broad clawes, which will fasten like a hand with fingers so close thereunto, that it will bring part of the wall, morter, or board away with it, if it be pulled from it, and thereby stay it selfe, to climbe vp to the toppe of the highest chimney of a house, being planted thereat: the leaues are crumpled, or rather folded together at the first comming forth, and very red, which after growing forth, are very faire, large, and greene, diuided into foure, fiue, six, or seuen leaues, standing together vpon a small foote-stalke, set without order on the branches, at the ends whereof, as also at other places sometime, come forth diuers short tufts of buds for flowers; but we could neuer see them open themselues, to shew what manner of flower it would be, or what fruit would follow in our country: the roote spreadeth here and there, and not very deepe.
The Use of this Virginian.
We know of no other vse, but to furnish a Garden, and to encrease the number of rarities.
FINIS
And thus haue I finished this worke, and furnished it with whatsoeuer Art and Nature concurring, could effect to bring delight to those that liue in our Climate, and take pleasure in such things; which how well or ill done, I must abide euery ones censure: the iudicious and courteous I onely respect, let Momus bite his lip, and eate his heart; and so Farewell.
FINIS.