st 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.

The learned _Madame D'Acier_ in her notes upon _Homer_ contends it
should be called _Nepenthes_. She gives many