Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. V. Of the Larch-Tree, with his Agarick and Turpentine.

THis Tree is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine also Larix, in English Larch-Tree, and of some Larix-Tree. The Agarick is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Agaricum & Agaricus, and so likewise in Shops. The Italians, Spaniards, and other Nations, do imitate the Greek word, and we in English call it Agarick. The Liquid, Rozen, or Tur∣pentine, is by the Greeks called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Larix Resina Laricea, or Larigna, or Terbinthina Venetia, in English, Turpentine, and Venice Turpen∣tine.

The Forme.

The Larch-Tree is almost as tall as the Pine or Firr-Tree, but not quite, with a Body growing straight up, as they do: the Bark whereof is thick rugged, and

and full of chaps, which being cut in sunder is red within, but the bark amongst the boughs is smooth, slippery, and somewhat white without: the branches grow one above another in a comely Order, having divers smal yellow knobs or bunches set at severall distances, from whence arise many small leaves growing in clusters thick together like tassells, which fall away at the approach of Win∣ter, and gain fresh every spring; which is peculiar only to this Tree of all the Rosen bearing Trees. The blossoms are very beautiful and delectable, being of an excellent fine Crimson Colour, and very sweet, which afterwards turn in∣to small soft Cones, like unto Cypresse Nuts while they are close, but longer then they; being made up of a multitude of thin Scales like leaves, under which ly small seeds having a thin filme growing on them very like to the wings of Bees or Wasps: the substance of the wood is very hard, of colour somewhat red, especially that which is in the middle, and very profitable for works of long continuance. Yet that report that the wood of the Larch Tree cann•••• be set on fire is false, it being preferred before all other wood, for all 〈…〉〈…〉thes work, and for Miners to melt the Ore of Mettal, because it holdeth fire longest and strongest, by reason of the Rosen that is in it. The Agarick which grow∣eth on this Tree, is a kind of Mushrome or Excrescence, not such as is upon other Trees; but covered with a hard blackish bark which being cut and pared away that which is underneath is whiter, softer, more loose and pongy then any other of the Mushromes; that is the best which may easily be broken, and is light, and in the first taste sweet, hard and well compact; that which is heavy, blackish, containing in it little threds like sinews is counted pernicious and deadly. The liquid Rosen that proceedeth from this Tree, is very like in co∣lour and substance to the whiter honey, as that of Athens or Spain, which not∣withstanding issueth not forth of it self; but runneth out of the Stock of the Tree when it hath been bored to the very heart with a great and long Augur or Wimble. It is commonly called Venice Turpentine, though the true Tur∣pentine issue from the tree Terebinthus. The figure of this Larch Tree, with the Agarick growing upon it, you may see lively represented either in Gerrard or Parkinson.

The Place and Time.

The Larch Tree groweth in many woods about Trent and Brixia in Italy, and neer the river Benacus, and Padus, and in Galatia a Province of Asia, as Dioscorides and Galen do record, and in Agaria a countrey of Sarmatia, from whence the Agarick took the name; in Silesia also, Moravia, Lusatia; As the Agarick is gathered in most of these places, so is the Turpentine, but especial∣ly from the woods about Trent. Of all the Cone trees this only is found with out leaves in the Winter; in the Spring, grow fresh Leaves out of the same knobs from which the former did fall. The Cones are to be gathered before winter so soon as the leaves are gone; for, after the scales are loosed and open∣ed, and the seeds drop away. The Rosen or Turpentine is to be gathered in the hottest part of the Summer, and the Agarick towards the latter end of the year, but in November and December especially.

The Temperature.

The leaves, bark, fruit, and kernel are of a dry and binding temperature. The Agarick is hot in the first degree, and dry in the second: It cutteth, ma∣keth thin, cleanseth, taketh away obstructions and stoppings of the Entrails, and purgeth by stool; The Rosen of this Tree is moister then any other Rosen▪ and without either that sharpnesse or biting which some of the others have,

The Signature and Vertues.

Agarick, whose copped form holds out the Signature of the Head, being boyled in Lye with other Cephalical helps, comforteth the brain and memory very much; It is good for the giddinesse of the head if it be washed therewith, as also to stay the rheums and catarrhs thereof, and cleanseth it much from scurfe and Dandraffe, being taken with the syrup of Vinegar, it is good against the pains and swimmings of the head, or the falling sickness. It purgeth phlegme Choler and Melancholy from the Brain, Nerves, Muscles, Marrow of the Back; it cleanseth the Breast, Lungs, Liver, Stomach, Spleen, Reins, Womb, Joynts, it provokes Urine and the Terms, kills Worms, helps pains in the Joynts and causeth a good colour; It is very seldom or never taken alone, because it doth somewhat trouble the stomach, and therefore I shall set down a receipt or two, The first is the syrup of Roses solutire with Agarick. Take of Agarick cut thin an ounce, Ginger two drach••••s, Sal Gem. one drach. Polypo∣dium bruised 2. ounces, sprinkle them with white Wine, and steep them two daies over warm Ashes, in a pound and a half of the infusion of Damask Roses, and with two pound of Sugar boyl it into a Syrup; It cureth the yellow I am∣dies proceeding of obstructions, and is a sure remedy for Agnes and cold sha∣kings, which are caused of thick and cold humors: It purgeth phlegme from the Head, relieves the senses oppressed by it, it provokes the Terms in Women, it purgeth the stomach and Liver and provoketh Urine. All the aforesaid ver∣tues are attributed to the Pills of Hier•• with Agarick, which are made as fol∣loweth. Take of Species Hiera Pic••a, Agarick of each half anounce, Aloes one ounce, Hony, Roses, so much as is sufficient to make into a Masse according to Art. Of this you may safely take a scruple at night going to bed, having eat a light supper three hours before; and you may safely go about your businesse the next day, for it will work very gently, and therefore you may continue ta∣king it a week together, for it will not work much the first time, and conse∣quently affect little. Some give it only with Oxymel, which is a syrup made with Vinegar and Honey, and so it cureth all sorts of Agues, either Tertians or Quotidians, easeth the griping pains of the stomach and belly, or such as have had falls or bruises, or are bursten bellyed, all which actions it chiefly per∣formeth, by purging those gross and vitious humors that trouble the parts, and Members of the Body, and are causes of all these diseases. It is good against shortnesse of breath, the inveterate cough of the Lungs, the Ptisick, Consump∣tion, and those that spit blood; Half a drach. or two scruples being taken in Wine, either by infusion, or the powder, is an Antidote against all Poysons, and cureth the bitings of Serpents very quickly; It is applyed also outwardly for the same purpose. The Rosen or Turpentine of this Tree, taken to the quan∣tity of an ounce will gently open the belly, and more to the stool, provoke Urine, cleanse the Reins, Kidneys and Bladder and helpeth to break and avoid the g••avel and stone, and easeth those which have the stone: if it be first washed with Plantane or Rose Water, then made in Pills with the powder of white Amber, Red Coral, Mastick and a little Camphir, it doth wonderfully help to purge and cleanse the reins, and stop the running of them. Being ta∣ken with honey it helpeth to expectorate rotten phlegme, from those which are troubled with a continual Cough, and is profitable also for the Ptisick or Consumption of the Lungs. This Turpentine as it is clearest for inward uses and serveth insteed of the true Turpentine, so well that they are commonly used out for another: so is it best also for outward salves, and doth both draw, cleanse, and heal all sores or ulcers, and green wounds; and therefore there is scarce a salve for that purpose wherein Turpentine is not. Oyl drawn Chymi∣cally from Turpentine is singular good to be used in wounds, being more dry∣ing

and consolidating then the Turpentine it self, as also to warm and ease the paines of the Joynts and Sinews caused of Cold, and being mixed with a little Oxe Gall, it is good for the worms, and deafness of the ears. The water which is distilled with the Oyl, is used for freckles and spots in the face, and a scruple weight of it taken in white Wine purgeth phlegme by Vomit▪ Some use to mingle Bay Salt and Turpentine together, and therewith spread a leathern gir∣dle, which being worn about the wast of them that have the Itch cureth them: So Parkinson: it being an Excrescence, is good for all manner of excrescences by Signature.