- This tree is common, especially in North
Wilts. The butchers doe make skewers of it, because it doth not taint
the meate as other wood will doe: from whence it hath the name of
prick-timber.
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Osiers.- Wee have great plenty of them about Bemarton, &c. near
Salisbury, where the osier beds doe yield four pounds per acre.
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Service-trees grow naturally in Grettwood, in the parish of Gretenham,
belonging to George Ayliffe, Esq. In the parke of Kington St. Michel
is onely one. At the foot of Hedington Hill, and also at the bottome
of the hill at Whitesheet, which is the same range of hill, doe growe
at least twenty cervise-trees. They operate as medlars, but less
effectually.
Pliny, lib. xv. c. 21. "De Sorbis. Quartum genus torminale appellatur,
remedio tantum probabile, assiduum proventu minimumq{ue} pomo, arbore
dissimili foliis plane platani". Lib. xvi. cap. 18.- "Gaudet frigidis
Sorbus sed magis betulla". Dr. Gale, R.S.S. tells me that "Sorbiodunum",
now Old Sarum, has its denomination from "sorbes"; but the ground now
below the castle is all turned to arable.
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Elders grow every where. At Bradford the side of the high hill which
faces the south, about Mr. Paul Methwin's house, is covered with them.
I fancy that that pent might be turned to better profit, for it is
situated as well for a vinyard as any place can be, and is on a rocky
gravelly ground.
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