Some other curious Gentlemen have endeavour’d to inoculate their plants on the stock of the Medlar and that with a manure of human Ordure, but this has never been approv’d; and I have known some tree brought to a very ill end by such management.

The natural soil is certainly the best for their propagation; and that is in hollow places, that are warm and near salt water, best known by their producing the same sort of Tendrils as are observ’d about the roots of the Arbor itself.  Some cautions however are very necessary, especially to young Botanists; and first, to be very diligent in keeping their trees clean and neat; a pernicious sort of insect, not, unlike a Morpione or Cimex, being very subject to breed amongst the Fibrillae, which, if not taken heed of, and timely destroy’d, proves often of very dangerous consequence.

Another caution, no less useful, we have from that excellent and judicious Botanist Mr. Humphrey Bowen, to beware of a poisonous species of Vulvaria, too often mistaken for the wholesome one, and which, if suffer’d too near our trees, will very greatly endanger their well-being.  He tells us, in the 12th volume of his large abridgment of la Quintinye, that before he had acquir’d his judgment and experience, some of his plants have often been sufferers through this mistake; and he has seen a tall thriving tree, by the contact:  only of this venomous shrub, become porrose, scabiose, and cover’d with fungous Excrescences not unlike the fruits of the Ficus sylvestris in which case the succus also has lost both its colour and vertue; and the tree itself has so much partaken of the nature of the venomous shrub that had hurt it, that itself has become venomous, and spread the poison through a whole Plantation.

These distempers of a tree of the greatest use and value, have employ’d the labours of the most eminent Botanists and Gardeners, to seek out remedies for them:  In which, however, none have succeeded like the celebrated Dr. Misaubin who from his profound knowledge in Botany has composed a most elaborate work upon all the things that can happen, both to the Arbor Vitae and Vulvaria also:  There he has taught a certain cure for all these evils; and, what is most wonderful, has even found out a way of making the most venomous Vulvaria itself wholesome, which he practises daily, to the satisfaction of all that apply to him.

These venomous Vulvaria are but too common in most gardens about London; there are many in St. James’s Park, and more in the celebrated gardens at Vaux-hall over the water.

The NAMES and VIRTUES.

Besides the common name of Arbor Vitae, a very learned Philosopher and great Divine would have it call’d, Arbor Scientiae boni & mali; believing, upon very good grounds, this is the tree which grew in the middle of the garden of Eden, and whose fruits were so alluring to our first mother.  Others would have it call’d the Mandrake of Leah, persuaded it is the same whose juice made the before barren Rachel a joyful mother of children.