#Flashback to that time I accidentally trespassed on Chequers

[the-busy-ghost]

Sorbus, the Service tree (of which there are four sorts) is rais'd of the Chequers or Berries, which being ripe (that is) rotten, about September, may be sown, like Beech-mast: It is reported that the Sower never sees the fruit of his labour; either for that it bears only being very old, or that Men are commonly so before they think of planting Trees: But this is an egregious mistake; for these come very soon to be Trees, and being planted young, thrive exceedingly; I have likewise planted them as big as my arm successfully: The best way is therefore to propagate them of Suckers or Sets; they delight in reasonable good ground, rather inclining to cold, then over hot; for in places which are too dry they never bear kindly. The Torminalis is the kind most frequent with us; for those of the narrower and lesse indented Leaf, is not so common in England as in France, bearing a sort of Berry of the Pear shape, and is there call'd the Cormier; this Tree may be grafted with itself, or on the White-thorn, and Quince. The Timber is useful for the Joyner, for the Engraver of Wood-Bows, Pulleys, Skrews, Mill Spindles and other Goads to drive with, etc. Pistol, and Gun-stocks, and for most that the Wild-tree serves; and being of a very delicate Grain, for the Turner, and divers curiosities, and looks delicately, and is almost everlasting, being rub'd over with Oyl of Linseed, well boyl'd and may be made to counterfeit Ebony, or almost any Indian Wood, colour'd according to Art: Also it is taken to Build with, yielding Beams of considerable substance: the shade is beautiful for Walks, and the Fruit not unpleasant, especially the second kind, of which with new Wine and Honey, they make a Condilum of admirable effect to corroborate the Stomach; and the Fruit alone is good in Dysenteria and Lasks. The water distill'd from the Stalks of the Flowers and Leaves on M.B. and twice Rectified upon fresh matter, is incomparable for Consumptive and Tabed Bodies, taking an Ounce daily at several times: Likewise it cures the Green-sicknesse in Virgins, and is prevalent in all Fluxes; distill'd warm into the Ears it abates the pain: the Wood or Bark contus'd and applied to any green Wound, heals it; and the Powder thereof drank in Oyl Olive, consolidates inward Ruptures: Lastly the Salt of the Wood taken in decoction of Althaea to three Grains, is an incomparable Remedy to break and expel Gravel. The Service gives the Husbandman an early presage of the approching Spring, by extending his adorned Buds for a peculiar entertainment, and dares peep out in the severest Winters.

John Evelyn in the second edition of his "Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesty's Dominions" (1670), discussing various sorbus or 'service' trees.

Here Evelyn largely seems to be discussing Sorbus Torminalis, also called Wild Service Tree or Chequer/Checker Tree (or Elsbeere in Germany). He explicitly compares this with the 'Cormier', i.e. Cormus Domestica. I don't know enough about herbalism or botany to be entirely sure that his comments couldn't equally apply to other sorbus trees like the rowan (or mountain ash, sorbus aucuparia) or the whitebeam (sorbus aria) which are much more common up here in Scotland, but as far as I can see, this passage doesn't really consider the rowan so much as the wild service tree.

The fruits of the wild service tree were also called chequers or checkers and used to be sold frequently in fruit markets in the south. The tree may also be the source of many pub and farm names (Chequers Inn, etc.) though this should not be overstated and not all Chequers names can be connected with the tree: for example, the name of the famous Chequers in Buckinghamshire, currently the country residence of the Prime Minister, could equally be derived from an early owner who had a connection with the English Exchequer.

I'll try and explain a couple of the unfamiliar terms I can understand below, though this is only a quick post and I don't have time to dive into medical history right this second. Obviously I would not recommend trying 17th century remedies at home anyway.

Torminalis = 'Sorbus Torminalis' or wild service tree.

Cormier = 'Cormus Domestica' or service tree.

White-thorn = hawthorn

Gravel = kidney stones