Gerard's Herbal Vol. 5
The Kinds.
The Latin name Malus reacheth far among the old writers, and is common to many trees, but we will briefly first entreat of Mali, properly called Apple trees, whose stock or kindred is so infinite, that we have thought it not amiss, to use the same order or method with Apples that we have done with Pears. that is, to give them several titles in Latin and English, and one general description for the whole.
The Description.
1, 2. The Apple tree hath a body or trunk commonly of a mean bigness, not very high, having long arms or branches, and the same disordered: the bark somewhat plain, and not very rugged: the leaves tbe also broad, more long than round, and finely nicked in the edges. The flowers are whitish tending unto a blush colour. The fruit or Apples do differ in greatness, form, colour, and taste; same covered with a red skin, others yellow or green, varying infinitely according to the soil and climate, some very great, some little, and many of a middle sort; some are sweet of taste, or something sour; most be of a middle taste between sweet and sour, the which to distinguish I think it impossible; notwithstanding I hear of one that intendeth to write a peculiar volume of Apples, and the use of them; yet when he hath done what he can do, he hath done nothing touching their several kinds to distinguish them. This that hath been said shall suffice for our History.
Our author gave four figures more out of Tabernamontanus, with these titles.
3. Malum reginale: the Queening or Queen of Apples.
5. Platomela sive pyra æstiua: The Summer Pearmain.
6 .Platurchapia sive pyra hyemalia: The Winter Pearmain.
The Place.
The tame and grafted Apple trees are planted and set in gardens and orchards made for that purpose: they delight to grow in good and fertile grounds: Kent doth abound with Apples of most sorts. But I have seen in the pastures and hedgerows about the grounds of a worshipful gentleman dwelling two miles from Hereford called Master Roger Bodnome, so many trees of all sorts, that the servants drink for the most part no other drink but that which is made of apples; The quantity is such, that by the report of the gentleman himself, the parson hath for tithe many hogsheads of cider. The hogs are fed with the fallings of them, which are so many, that they make choice of those apples they do eat, who will not taste of any but of the best. An example doubtless to be followed of gentlemen that have land and living: but envy saith, the poor will break down our hedges and we shall have the least part of the fruit. But forward in the name of God, graft, set, plant and nourish up trees in every corner of your grounds, the labour is small, the cost is nothing, the commodity is great, yourselves shall have plenty, the poor shall have somewhat in time of want to relieve their necessity, and God shall reward your good minds and diligence.
The Time.
They bloom about the end of April, or in the beginning of May. The forward apples be ripe about the Calends of July, others in September.
The Names.
The Apple tree is called in Latin, Malus and Pomus: in High Dutch, Opffelbaum: in Low Dutcha, Appelboom: in French, Pommier: in English, Apple tree.
The Latins name the fruit, Malum or Pomum: in High Dutch, Opfell: in Low Dutch, Appel: in French and Spanish, Mansanas, in English, Apple.
The Temperature.
All apples be of temperature cold and moist, and have joined with them a certain excremental or superfluous moisture: but as they be not all of like coldness, so neither have they like quantity of superfluous moisture. They are soonest rotten that have greatest store of moisture, and they may be longer kept in which there is less store: for the abundance of excremental moisture is the cause why they rot.
Sweet apples are not so cold and moist, which being roasted or boiled, or otherwise kept, retain or keep the soundness of their pulp.
They yield more nourishment and not so moist a nourishment as do the other apples, and do not so easily pass through the belly.
Sour apples are colder and also moister: the substance or pulp of these when they be boiled doth run abroad, and retaineth not his soundness: they yield a lesser nourishment, and the same raw and cold.
They do easily and speedily pass through the belly, and therefore they do mollify the belly, especially being taken before meat.
Harsh or austere apples being unripe, are cold; they engender gross blood, and great store of wind, and often bring the colic.
Those apples which be of a middle taste contain in them oftentimes two or three sorts of tastes, and yet do they retain the faculties of the other.
The Virtues.
A. Roasted apples are always better than the raw, the harm whereof is both mended by the fire, and may also be corrected by adding unto them seeds or spices.
B. Apples be good for an hot stomach: those that are austere or somewhat harsh do strengthen a weak and feeble stomach proceeding of heat.
C. Apples are also good for all inflammations or hot swellings, but especially for such as are in their beginning, if the same be outwardly applied.
D. The juice of apples which be sweet and of a middle taste, is mixed in compositions of divers medicines, and also for the tempering of melancholy humours, and likewise to mend the qualities of medicines that are dry: as are Serapium ex pomis Regis Saporis, Confectio Alkermes, and such like compositions
E. There is likewise made an ointment with the pulp of apples and swines' grease and Rose-water, which is used to beautify the face, and to take away the roughness of the skin, which is called in shops Pomatum: of the apples whereof it is made.
F. The pulp of the roasted apples, in number four or five, according to the greatness of the apples, especially of the Pome Water, mixed in a wine quart of fair water, laboured together until it come to be as apples and ale, which we call lambs' wool, and the whole quart drunk last at night within the space of an hour, doth in one night cure those that piss by drops with great anguish and dolour; the strangury, and all other diseases proceeding of the difficulty of making water; but in twice taking it, it never faileth in any: oftentimes there happeneth with the foresaid diseases the gonorrhæa, or running of the reins, which it likewise healeth in those persons, but not generally in all; which myself have often proved, and gained thereby both crowns and credit.
G. The leaves of the tree do cool and bind, and be also counted good for inflammations, in the beginning.
H. Apples cut in pieces, and distilled with a quantity of camphor and buttermilk, take away the marks and scars gotten by the smallpox, being washed therewith when they grow unto their state and ripeness: provided that you give unto the patient a little milk and saffron, or milk and mithridate to drink, to expel to the extreme parts that venom which may lie hid, and as yet not seen.
