Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/135

SPI ftnd during moist weatlier. When the young plants appear, they must be carefully weeded, and thinned to the distance of five inches : in Ottober, they will be fit for use ; when the longer leaves only should be gathered ; those in the centre being sut^eied to grow to a larger size; so that a bed, thus managed, will afford a supply of this vege- table during the winter, till the spinach sown for spring-use, is fit for the table ; which generally suc- ceeds in April. Bechsteiv remarks, that the agriculturists of Germany strongly recommend the culture of the common spinach, on land which has been once ploughed after a crop of barleys where it will pro- duce early and excellent spring- food, either for sheep, hogs, or cattle: it may, farther, be mown two or three times during the sum- mer, and afterwards be fed off by sheep, or suffered to run to seed. This vegetable is greatly. esteem- ed at the table ; but, when dressed with melted butter, it passes speedily through the bowels, with- out being duly digested ; and con- sequently affords little nutriment. It is particularly improper for per- sons of weak and relaxed habits j as it debilitates the alimentary canal j excites looseness j and not unfre- quently occasions the heart-burn, or acidity in* the stomach, Spinage, the Wild. See peren- nial Goose-foot. SPlNDLE-TllEE.theCoMMON, Prick -TIMBER, Gatteridge-^ Tree, or Louse-berry, Evonymus Europteus, L. an indigenous shrub, which, in favourable situations, at- tains the height of 20 feet : it grows in woods and hedges, and is very common in Devonshire j where it SPI [115 flowers in the months of May and June, The berries of this elegant shrub operate violently, both as an emetic, and cathartic : — if eaten by sheep, they infallibly destroy them. Re- duced to powder, and sprinkled oa the skinofmenor animalsjtheseber; ries are said to exterminate vermin of every description. — When the Spin- dle-tree is in blossom, its wood is remarkably tough, and broken with difficulty J in such state, it is em- ployed by watch-makers, for clean- ing time-pieces ; by musical instru- ment-makers, turners, and for ve- neering, — We learn, however, from BoHMER, that some artisans, work- ing in this wood, have asserted, that they became subje6t to nausea and vomiting. — ^I'he shoots of the Spindle-tree, in the spring, are so grateful to cows, that they generally damage the banks of fences, in or- der to obtain their favourite food.— Sheep and goats also eat the leaves ; but they are disliked by horses. In dyeing, the bark of this shrub imparted, according to Siefert, a pleasing sea-green colour to wool- len cloth, by adding to the decoc- tion of such rind, one-sixth part of a solution of verdigrease, saturated with crystals of tartar. The tint was so permanent, that no change took place in its shade, after having been exposed for a fortnight to the rays of the sun. — ^The seed-capsules of the Gatteridge-tree, when fer- mented in alum- water, produce a durable pale-yellow dye. Spine, Luxations of* See Dis- tortion, and Ribs. SPINNING, is the art of twist- ing flax, hemp, silk, cotton, wool, or similar matters, so as to reduce them into yarn or thread. Spinning is generally performed, J 2 either