that of the Indian fig, the hasty and plentiful putting forth of the sap. 612. There be three things in use for sweetness; sugar, honey, manna. For sugar, to the ancients it was scarce known, and little used. It is found in canes: Query, whether to the first knuckle, or further up? And whether the very bark of the cane itself do yield sugar or no? For honey, the bee maketh it, or gathereth it; but I have heard from one that was industrious in husbandry, that the labour of the bee is about the wax; and that he hath known in the beginning copulation certainly extendeth not to plants. The nearest approach of it is between the he-palm and the she-palm, which, as they report, if they grow near, incline the one to the other, insomuch as that, which is more strange, they doubt not to report, that to keep the trees upright from bending, they tie ropes or lines from the one to the other, that the contact might be enjoyed by the contact of a middle body. But this may be feigned, or at least amplified. Nevertheless I am apt enough to think, that this same binarium of a stronger and a weaker, like unto masculine and feminine, doth hold in all living bodies. It is confounded of May honeycombs empty of honey; and withsometimes, as in some creatures of putrefaction, wherein no marks of distinction appear: and it is doubled sometimes, as in hermaphrodites: but generally there is a degree of strength in most species. 609. The participles or confiners between plants and living creatures, are such chiefly as are fixed, and have no local motion of remove, though they have a motion in their parts, such as are oysters, cockles, and such like. There is a fabulous narration, that in the northern countries there should be an herb that groweth in the likeness of a lamb, | quired. and feedeth upon the grass, in such sort as it will bare the grass round about. But I suppose that the figure maketh the fable; for so, we see, there be bee-flowers, &c. And as for the grass, it seem-you shall see the roots as it were bare without eth the plant having a great stalk and top doth prey upon the grass a good way about, by drawing the juice of the earth from it. Experiments promiscuous touching plants. 610. The Indian fig boweth its roots down so low in one year, as of itself it taketh root again, and so multiplieth from root to root, making of one tree a kind of wood. The cause is the plenty of the sap, and the softness of the stalk, which maketh the bough, being over-loaden, and not stiffly upheld, weigh down. It hath leaves as broad as a little target, but the fruit no bigger than beans. The cause is, for that the continual shade increaseth the leaves, and abateth the fruit, which nevertheless is of a pleasant taste. And that no doubt is caused by the suppleness and gentleness of the juice of that plant, being that which maketh the boughs also so flexible. 611. It is reported by one of the ancients, that there is a certain Indian tree, having few but very great leaves, three cubits long and two broad, and that the fruit, being of good taste, groweth out of the bark. It may be, there be plants that pour out the sap so fast, as they have no leisure either to divide into many leaves, or to put forth stalks to the fruit. With us, trees, generally, have small leaves in comparison. The fig hath the greatest; and next it the vine, mulberry, and sycamore, and the least are those of the willow, birch, and thorn. But there be found herbs with far greater leaves than any tree; as the bur, gourd, cucumber and colewort. The cause is, like to in a fortnight, when the sweet dews fall, filled like a cellar. It is reported also by some of the ancients, that there is a tree called occhus, in the valleys of Hyrcania, that distilleth honey in the mornings. It is not unlike that the sap and tears of some trees may be sweet. It may be also, that some sweet juices, fit for many uses, may be concocted out of fruits, to the thickness of honey, or perhaps of sugar; the likeliest are raisins of the sun, figs, and currants; the means may be in 613. The ancients report of a tree by the Persian sea, upon the shore sands, which is nourished with the salt water; and when the tide ebbeth, bark, being as it seemeth corroded by the salt, and grasping the sands like a crab; which nevertheless beareth a fruit. It were good to try some hard trees, as a service-tree, or fir-tree, by setting them within, the sands. 614. There be of plants which they use for garments, these that follow: hemp, flax, cotton, nettles, whereof they make nettle-cloth, sericum, which is a growing silk; they make also cables of the bark of lime trees. It is the stalk that maketh the filaceous matter commonly; and sometimes the down that groweth above. 615. They have in some countries a plant of a rosy colour, which shutteth in the night, openeth in the morning, and openeth wide at noon; which the inhabitants of those countries say is a plant that sleepeth. There be sleepers enough then; for almost all flowers do the like. 616. Some plants there are, but rare, that have a mossy or downy root; and likewise that have a number of threads, like beards, as mandrakes, whereof witches and impostors make an ugly image, giving it the form of a face at the top of the root, and leaving those strings to make a broad ourd down to the foot. Also there is a kind of nard in Crete, being a me that hath a root hairy, like a rough-footed dove's foot. So as you may see, there are of roots, bulbous roots, fibrous roots, and hirsute roots. And, I take it, in the bulbous, the sap hasteneth most to the air and sun; in the fibrous, the sap delighteth more in the earth, and therefore putteth downward; and the hirsute is a middle between both, that besides the putting forth upwards and downwards put- lemons, and pomegranates; for the powder of teth forth in round. sugar, and syrup of wine, will serve for more times than once. 617. There are some tears of trees, which are combed from the beards of goats: for when the goats bite and crop them, especially in the mornings, the dew being on, the tear cometh forth, and hangeth upon their beards: of this sort is some kind of laudanum. 618. The irrigation of the plane-tree by wine, is reported by the ancients to make it fruitful. It would be tried likewise with roots; for upon seeds it worketh no great effects. 619. The way to carry foreign roots a long way, is to vessel them close in earthen vessels. But if the vessels be not very great, you must make some holes in the bottom, to give some refreshment to the roots; which, otherwise, as it seemeth, will decay and suffocate. 620. The ancient cinnamon was, of all other plants, while it grew, the dryest, and those things which are known to comfort other plants did make that more sterile; for in showers it prospered worst: it grew also amongst bushes of other kinds, where commonly plants do not thrive, neither did it love the sun. There might be one cause of all those effects; namely, the sparing nourishment which that plant required. Query, how far cassia, which is now the substitute of cinnamon, doth participate of these things? 621. It is reported by one of the ancients, that cassia, when it is gathered, is put into the skins of beasts newly flayed; and that the skins corrupting and breeding worms, the worms do devour the pith and marrow of it, and so make it hollow, but meddle not with the bark, because to them it is bitter. 622. There were in ancient time vines of far greater bodies than we know any, for there have been cups made of them, and an image of Jupiter. But it is like they were wild vines; for the vines that they use for wine, are so often cut, and so much digged and dressed, that their sap spendeth into the grapes, and so the stalk cannot increase much in bulk. The wood of vines is very durable, without rotting. And that which is strange, though no tree hath the twigs, while they are green, so brittle, yet the wood dried is extreme tough, and was used by the captains of armies amongst the Romans for their cudgels. 623. It is reported, that in some places vines are suffered to grow like herbs, spreading upon the ground, and that the grapes of those vines are very great. It were good to make trial, whether plants that use to be borne up by props will not put forth greater leaves and greater fruits if they be laid along the ground; as hops, ivy, woodbine, &c. 624. Quinces, or apples, &c., if you will keep them long, drown them in honey; but because honey, perhaps, will give them a taste over-luscious, it were good to make trial in powder of sugar, or in syrup of wine, only boiled to height. Both these would likewise be tried in oranges, 625. The conservation of fruit would be also tried in vessels filled with fine sand, or with powder of chalk; or in meal and flour; or in dust of oak wood; or in mill. 626. Such fruits as you appoint for long keeping, you must gather before they be full ripe; and in a fair and dry day towards noon; and when the wind bloweth not south; and when the moon is under the earth, and in decrease. 627. Take grapes, and hang thein in an empty vessel well stopped; and set the vessel not in a cellar, but in some dry place, and it is said they will last long. But it is reported by some, they will keep better in a vessel half full of wine, so that the grapes touch not the wine. 628. It is reported, that the preserving of the stalk helpeth to preserve the grapes; especially if the stalk be put into the pith of elder, the elder not touching the fruit. 629. It is reported by some of the ancients, that fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long. C30. Of herbs and plants, some are good to eat raw; as lettuce, endive, purslane, tarragon, cresses, cucumbers, musk-melons, radish, &c.; others only after they are boiled, or have passed the fire; as parsley, clary, sage, parsnips, turnips, asparagus, artichokes, though they also being young are eaten raw : but a number of herbs are not esculent at all; as wormwood, grass, green corn, centaury, hyssop, lavender, balm, &c. The causes are, for that the herbs that are not esculent do want the two tastes in which nourishment resteth; which are fat and sweet; and have, contrariwise, bitter and over-strong tastes, or a juice so crude as cannot be ripened to the degree of nour ishment. Herbs and plants that are esculent raw have fatness, or sweetness, as all esculent fruits: such are onions, lettuce, &c. But then it must be such a fatness, (for as for sweet things, they are in effect always esculent,) as is not overgross, and loading of the stomach: for parsnips and leeks have fatness, but it is too gross and heavy without boiling. It must be also in a substance somewhat tender; for we see wheat, barley, artichokes, are no good nourishment till they have passed the fire; but the fire doth ripen, and maketh them soft and tender, and so they become esculent. As for radish and tarragon, and the like, they are for condiments, and not for nourishment. And even some of those herbs which are not esculent, are notwithstanding poculent; as hops, broom, &c. Query, what herbs are good for drink besides the two aforenamed; for that it may, perhaps, ease the charge of brewing, if they make beer to require less malt, or make it last longer. 631. Parts fit for the nourishment of man in plants are, seeds, roots, and fruits; but chiefly seeds and roots. For leaves, they give no nourishment at all, or very little: no more do flowers, or blossoms, or stalks. The reason is, for that rocts, and seeds, and fruits, inasmuch as all plants consist of an oily and watery substance commixed, have more of the oily substance, and leaves, flowers, &c. of the watery. And secondly, they are more concocted; for the root which continueth ever in the earth is still concocted by the earth; and fruits and grains we see are half a year or more in concocting; whereas leaves are out and perfect in a month. 632. Plants, for the most part, are more strong both in taste and smell in the seed than in the leaf and root. The cause is, for that in plants that are not of a fierce and eager spirit, the virtue is increased by concoction and maturation, which is ever most in the seed; but in plants that are of a fierce and eager spirit, they are stronger whilst the spirit is enclosed in the root, and the spirits do but weaken and dissipate when they come to the air and sun; as we see it in onions, garlick, dragon, &c. Nay, there be plants that have their roots very hot and aromatical, and their seeds rather insipid, as ginger. The cause is, as was touched before, for that the heat of those plants is very dissipable; which under the earth is contained and held in; but when it cometh to the air it exhaleth. 633. The juices of fruits are either watery or oily. I reckon among the watery, all the fruits out of which drink is expressed; as the grape, the apple, the pear, the cherry, the pomegranate, &c. And there are some others which, though they be not in use for drink, yet they appear to be of the same nature; as plums, services, mulberries, rasps, oranges, lemons, &c.; and for those juices that are so fleshy, as they cannot make drink by expression, yet, perhaps, they may make drink by mixture of water. Poculaque admistis imitantur vitea sorbis. And it may be hips and brier-berries would do the like. Those that have oily juice, are olives, almonds, nuts of all sorts, pine-apples, &c., and their juices are all inflammable. And you must observe also, that some of the watery juices, after they have gathered spirit, will burn and inflame; as wine. There is a third kind of fruit that is sweet, without either sharpness or oiliness: such as is the fig and the date. 634. It hath been noted, that most trees, and specially those that bear mast, are fruitful but once in two years. The cause, no doubt, is the expense of sap; for many orchard trees, well cultured, will bear divers years together. 635. There is no tree, which besides the natural fruit doth bear so many bastard fruits as the oak doth for besides the acorn, it beareth galls, oak apples, and certain oak nuts, which are inflammable, and certain oak berries, sticking close to the body of the tree without stalk. It beareth also misseltoe, though rarely. The cause of all these may be, the closeness and solidness of the wood and pith of the oak, which maketh several juices find several eruptions. And therefore if you will devise to make any super-plants, you must ever give the sap plentiful rising and hard issue. 636. There are two excrescences which grow upon trees; both of them in the nature of mushrooms: the one the Romans call boletus; which groweth upon the roots of oaks, and was one of the dainties of their table; the other is medicinal, that is called agaric, whereof we have spoken before, which groweth upon the tops of oaks; though it be affirmed by some, that it groweth also at the roots. I do conceive, that many excrescences of trees grow chiefly where the tree is dead or faded; for that the natural sap of the tree corrupteth into some preternatural substance. 637. The greater part of trees bear most and best on the lower boughs; as oaks, figs, walnuts, pears, &c.; but some bear best on the top boughs, as crabs, &c. Those that bear best below, are such as shade doth more good to than hurt. For generally all fruits bear best lowest, because the sap tireth not, having but a short way: and therefore in fruits spread upon walls, the lowest are the greatest, as was formerly said: so it is the shade that hindereth the lower boughs, except it be in such trees as delight in shade, or at least bear it well. And therefore they are either strong trees, as the oak, or else they have large leaves, as the walnut and fig, or else they grow in pyramis, as the pear. But if they require very much sun, they bear best on the top, as it is in crabs, apples, plums, &c. 638. There be trees that bear best when they begin to be old, as almonds, pears, vines, and all trees that give mast: the cause is, for that all trees that bear mast have an oily fruit; and young trees have a more watery juice, and less concocted, and of the same kind also is the almond. The pear likewise, though it be not oily, yet it requireth much sap, and well concocted, for we see it is a heavy fruit and solid, much more than apples, plums, &c. As for the vine, it is noted, that it beareth more grapes when it is young; but grapes that make better wine when it is old; for that the juice is better concocted; and we see that wine is inflammable, so as it hath a kind of oiliness. But the most part of trees, amongst which are apples, plums, &c. bear best when they are young. 639. There be plants that have a milk in them when they are cut, as figs, old lettuce, sow-thistles, spurge, &c. The cause may be an inception of putrefaction: for those milks have all an acrimony: though one would think they should be lenitive. For if you write upon paper with the milk of the fig, the letters will not be seen until you hold the paper before the fire, and then they wax brown: which showeth that it is a sharp of fretting juice: lettuce is thought poisonous, when it is so old as to have milk; spurge is a kind of poison in itself, and as for sow-thistles, though coneys eat them, yet sheep and cattle will not touch them and besides, the milk of them rubbed upon warts, in short time weareth them away; which showeth the milk of them to be corrosive. We see also that wheat and other corn, sown, if you take them forth of the ground before they sprout, are full of milk, and the beginning of germination is ever a kind of putrefaction of the seed. Euphorbium also hath a milk, though not very white, which is of a great acrimony: and salladine hath a yellow milk, which hath likewise much acrimony; for it cleanseth the eyes. It is good also for cataracts. 640. Mushrooms are reported to grow, as well upon the bodies of trees, as upon their roots, or upon the earth; and especially upon the oak. The cause is, for that strong trees are towards such excrescences in the nature of earth; and therefore put forth moss, mushrooms, and the like. 641. There is hardly found a plant that yieldeth a red juice in the blade or ear; except it be the tree that beareth draconis sanguis; which groweth chiefly in the island Socotra: the herb amaranthus, indeed, is red all over; and brazil is red in the wood: and so is red sanders. The tree of the sanguis draconis groweth in the form of a sugar-loaf. It is like that the sap of that plant concocteth in the body of the tree. For we see that grapes and pomegranates are red in the juice, but are green in the tear: and this maketh the tree of sanguis draconis lesser towards the top; because the juice hasteneth not up: and besides, it is very astringent; and therefore of slow motion. 642. It is reported that sweet moss, besides that upon the apple trees, groweth likewise sometimes upon poplars; and yet generally the poplar is a smooth tree of bark, and hath little moss. The moss of the larix-tree burneth also sweet, and sparkleth in the burning. Query of the mosses of odorate trees, as cedar, cypress, lignum aloes, &c. 643. The death that is most without pain, hath been noted to be upon the taking of the potion of hemlock; which in humanity was the form of execution of capital offenders in Athens. The poison of the asp, that Cleopatra used, hath some affinity with it. The cause is, for that the torments of death are chiefly raised by the strife of the spirits; and these vapours quench the spirits by degrees; like to the death of an extreme old man. I conceive it is less painful than opium, because opium hath parts of heat mixed. 644. There be fruits that are sweet before they be ripe, as myrobalanes; so fennel seeds are sweet before they ripen, and after grow spicy. And some never ripen to be sweet; as tamarinds, berberries, crabs, sloes, &c. The cause is, for that the former kind have much and subtle heat, which causeth early sweetness; the latter have a cold and acid juice, which no heat of the sun can sweeten. But as for the myrobalane, it hath parts of contrary natures; for it is sweet and yet astringent. 645. There be few herbs that have a salt taste; and contrariwise all blood of living creatures hath a saltness. The cause may be, for that salt, though it be the rudiment of life, yet in plants the original taste remaineth not; for you shall have them bitter, sour, sweet, biting, but seldom salt; but in living creatures, all those high tastes may happen to be sometimes in the humours, but are seldom in the flesh or substance, because it is of a more oily nature; which is not very susceptible of those tastes, and the saltness itself of blood is but a light and secret saltness: and even among plants, some do participate of saltness, as alga marina, samphire, scurvy grass, &c. And the report, there is in some of the Indian seas a swimming plant, which they call salgazus, spreading over the sea in such sort as one would think it were a meadow. It is certain, that out of the ashes of all plants they extract a salt which they use in medicines. 646. It is reported by one of the ancients, that there is an herb growing in the water, called lincostis, which is full of prickles: this herb putteth forth another small herb out of the leaf; which is imputed to some moisture that is gathered between the prickles, which putrefied by the sun germinateth. But I remember also I have seen, for a great rarity, one rose grow out of another like honeysuckles, that they call top and top-gallants. 647. Barley, as appeareth in the malting, being steeped in water three days, and afterwards the water drained from it, and the barley turned upon a dry floor, will sprout half an inch long at least: and if it be let alone, and not turned, much more; until the heart be out. Wheat will do the same. Try it also with peas and beans. This experiment is not like that of the orpine and semper-vive, for there it is of the old store, for no water is added, but here it is nourished from the water. The experiment would be farther driven : for it appeareth already, by that which hath been said, that earth is not necessary to the first sprouting of plants, and we see that rose-buds set in water will blow: therefore try whether the sprouts of such grains may not be raised to a farther degree, as to an herb, or flower, with water only, or some small commixture of earth: for if they will, it should seem by the experiments before, both of the malt and of the roses, that they will come far faster on in water than in earth; for the nourishment is easilier drawn out of water than out of earth. It may give some light also, that drink infused with flesh, as that with the capon, &c., will nourish faster and easilier than meat and drink together. Try the same experi H ment with roots as well as with grains: as for example, take a turnip, and steep it a while, and then dry it, and see whether it will sprout. 648. Malt in the drenching will swell; and that in such a manner, as after the putting forth in sprouts, and the drying upon the kiln, there will be gained at least a bushel in eight, and yet the sprouts are rubbed off, and there will be a bushel of dust besides the malt, which I suppose to be, not only by the loose and open lying of the parts, but by some addition of substance drawn from the water in which it was steeped. There be herbs also less the heat of the sun. that have the same difference; as the herb they call morsus diaboli; which putteth forth the root down so low as you cannot pull it up without breaking; which gave occasion to the name and fable; for that it was said, it was so wholesome a root, that the devil, when it was gathered, bit it for envy: and some of the ancients do report, that there was a goodly fir, which they desired to remove the whole, that had a root under ground eight cubits deep; and so the root came up broken. 654. It hath been observed, that a branch of a tree, being unbarked some space at the bottom, and so set into the ground, hath grown; even of such trees, as if the branch were set with the 649. Malt gathereth a sweetness to the taste, which appeareth yet more in the wort. The dulcoration of things is worthy to be tried to the full for that dulcoration importeth a degree to nourish-bark on, they would not grow; yet contrariwise ment: and the making of things inalimental to become alimental, may be an experiment of great profit for making new victual. 650. Most seeds in the growing leave their husk or rind about the root; but the onion will carry it up, that it will be like a cap upon the top of the young onion. The cause may be, for that the skin or husk is not easy to break; as we see by the pilling of onions, what a holding substance the skin is. we see, that a tree pared round in the body above ground will die. The cause may be, for that the unbarked part draweth the nourishment best, but the bark continueth it only. 655. Grapes will continue fresh and moist all winter long, if you hang them cluster by cluster in the roof of a warm room; especially if when you gather the cluster you take off with the cluster some of the stock. 656. The reed or cane is a watery plant, and groweth not but in the water: it hath these pro 651. Plants, that have curled leaves, do all abound with moisture; which cometh so fast on,perties: that it is hollow, that it is knuckled both as they cannot spread themselves plain, but must needs gather together. The weakest kind of curling is roughness, as in clary and burr. The second is curling on the sides; is in lettuce, and young cabbage: and the third is folding into a head; as in cabbage full grown, and cabbage-lettuce. 652. It is reported that fir and pine, especially if they be old and putrefied, though they shine not as some rotten woods do, yet in the sudden breaking they will sparkle like hard sugar. 653. The roots of trees do some of them put downwards deep into the ground; as the oak, pine, fir, &c. Some spread more toward the surface of the earth; as the ash, cypress-tree, olive, &c. The cause of this latter may be, for that such trees as love the sun do not willingly descend far into the earth, and therefore they are, commonly, trees that shoot up much; for in their body their desire of approach to the sun maketh them spread the less. And the same reason under ground, to avoid recess from the sun, maketh then spread the more. And we see it cometh to pass in some trees which have been planted too deep in the ground, that for love of approach to the sun, they forsake their first root, and put out another more towards the top of the earth. And we see also, that the olive is full of oily juice; and ash maketh the best fire, and cypress is a hot tree. As for the oak, which is of the former sort, it loveth the earth, and therefore groweth slowly. And for the pine and fir likewise, they have so much heat in themselves as they need stalk and root, that being dry, it is more hard and fragile than other wood, that it putteth forth ne boughs, though many stalks come out of one root. It differeth much in greatness, the smallest being fit for thatching of houses, and stopping the chinks of ships better than glue or pitch The second bigness is used for angle-rods and staves; and in China for beating of offenders upon the thighs. The differing kinds of them are, the common reed, the cassia fistula, and the sugar-reed. Of all plants it boweth the easiest, and riseth again. It seemeth, that amongst plants which are nourished with mixture of earth and water, it draweth most nourishment from water; which maketh it the smoothest of all others in bark, and the hollowest in body. 657. The sap of trees when they are let blood, is of differing natures. Some more watery and clear, as that of vines, of beeches, of pears: some thick, as apples: some gummy, as cherries: some frothy, as elms: some milky, as figs. In mulberries the sap seemeth to be almost towards the bark only, for if you cut the tree a little into the bark with a stone, it will come forth; if you pierce it deeper with a tool, it will be dry. The trees which have the moistest juices in their fruit, have commonly the moistest sap in their body, for the vines and pears are very moist; apples somewhat more spungy; the milk of the fig hath the quality of the rennet, to gather cheese; and so have certain sour herbs wherewith they make cheese in Lent. 658. The timber and wood are in some trees |