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White Poplar
Description. The white poplar grows great, and reasonably high, covered with thick, smooth, white bark; especially the branches, having long leaves cut into several divisions almost like a vine-leaf, but not of so deep a green on the upper side, and hoary white underneath, of a reasonable good scent, the whole form representing the form of colt's-foot. The catkins which it brings forth before the leaves, are long, and of a faint reddish colour; which fall away, bearing seldom good seed with them. The wood hereof is smooth, soft, and white, very finely waved, whereby it is much esteemed. PLUMS.
They are so well known, that they need no description. Government and virtues. All plums are under Venus, and are, like women, some better, some worse. As there is great diversity of kinds, so there is in the operation of plums, for some that are sweet moisten the stomach, and make the belly soluble, those that are sour quench thirst more, and bind the belly; the moist and waterish do sooner corrupt in the stomach, but the firm do nourish more, and offend less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers under the name of damask prunes, do somewhat loosen the belly, and being stewed, are often used, both in health and sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach, to procure appetite, and a little to open the body, allay choler, and cool the stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, are good to wash and gargle the mouth and throat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to the palate, gums, or almonds of the ears. The gum of the tree is good to break the stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vinegar, and applied, kills tetters and ringworms. Matthiolus says, the oil pressed out of the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains in the ears. And that five ounces of the said oil taken with one ounce of muscadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the cholic.