134100Natural Hiſtory;
that all Seeds, Roots, potted, and ſo ſet into the Earth, will proſper the
better.
better.
The cutting off the Leaves of Raddiſh, or other Roots, in the beginning
11474. of Winter before they wither; and covering again the Root, ſomething
high with Earth, will preſerve the Root all Winter, and make it bigger in
the Spring following, as hath been partly touched before. So that there is
a double uſe of this cutting off the Leaves: For in Plants, where the Root is
the Eſculent, as Raddiſh, and Parſnips, it will make the Root the greater;
and ſo it will do to the Heads of Onions, and where the Fruit is the Eſculent,
by ftrengthning the Root, it will make the Fruit alſo the greater.
11474. of Winter before they wither; and covering again the Root, ſomething
high with Earth, will preſerve the Root all Winter, and make it bigger in
the Spring following, as hath been partly touched before. So that there is
a double uſe of this cutting off the Leaves: For in Plants, where the Root is
the Eſculent, as Raddiſh, and Parſnips, it will make the Root the greater;
and ſo it will do to the Heads of Onions, and where the Fruit is the Eſculent,
by ftrengthning the Root, it will make the Fruit alſo the greater.
It is an Experiment of great pleaſure to make the Leaves of ſhaddy
22475. Tre@s, larger than ordinary. It hath been tryed (for certain) that a Cions
of a Weech Elm, grafted upon the ſtock of an ordinary Elm, will put forth
Leaves, almoſt as broad as the brim of ones Hat. And it is very likely,
that as in Fruit-Trees, the Graft maketh a greater Fruit; ſo in Trees that
bear no Fruit, it will make the greater Leaves. It would be tryed therefore
in Trees of that kinde chiefly; as Birch, Aſh, Willow, and eſpecially the
Shining Willow, which they call Swallow-Tail, becauſe of the pleaſure of the
Leaf.
22475. Tre@s, larger than ordinary. It hath been tryed (for certain) that a Cions
of a Weech Elm, grafted upon the ſtock of an ordinary Elm, will put forth
Leaves, almoſt as broad as the brim of ones Hat. And it is very likely,
that as in Fruit-Trees, the Graft maketh a greater Fruit; ſo in Trees that
bear no Fruit, it will make the greater Leaves. It would be tryed therefore
in Trees of that kinde chiefly; as Birch, Aſh, Willow, and eſpecially the
Shining Willow, which they call Swallow-Tail, becauſe of the pleaſure of the
Leaf.
The Barrenneſs of Trees by accident (beſi@es the weakneſs of the
33476. Soil Seed, or Root, and the injury of the Weather) coming either of their
overgrowing with Moſs, or their being hide bound, or their planting too
deep, or by iſſuing of the Sap too much into the Leaves: For all theſe three
are remedies mentioned before.
33476. Soil Seed, or Root, and the injury of the Weather) coming either of their
overgrowing with Moſs, or their being hide bound, or their planting too
deep, or by iſſuing of the Sap too much into the Leaves: For all theſe three
are remedies mentioned before.
WE ſee that in Living Creatures that have Male and Female, there is
44Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Compound
Fruits and
Flowers. copulation of ſeveral kindes, and ſo Compound Creatures; as the
Mule, that is generated betwixt the Horſe and Aß; and ſome other
Compounds which we call Monſters, though more rare: And it is held,
that that Proverb, Africa ſemper aliquid Monſtri parit, cometh, for that the
Fountains of Waters there being rare, divers ſorts of Beaſts come from
ſeveral parts to drink, and ſo being refreſhed fall to couple, and many
times with ſeveral kindes. The compounding or mixture of Kindes in
Plants is not found out; which nevertheleſs, if it be poſſible is more at
command than that of Living Creatures, for that their luſt requireth a
voluntary motion; wherefore it were one of the moſt notable Experiments
touching Plants, to finde it out, for ſo you may have great variety of now
Fruits, and flowers yet unknown. Grafting doth it not, that mendeth the
Fruit, or doubleth the Flowers, & c. But it hath not the power to make a
new Kind. For the Cions ever over-ruleth the Stock.
44Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Compound
Fruits and
Flowers. copulation of ſeveral kindes, and ſo Compound Creatures; as the
Mule, that is generated betwixt the Horſe and Aß; and ſome other
Compounds which we call Monſters, though more rare: And it is held,
that that Proverb, Africa ſemper aliquid Monſtri parit, cometh, for that the
Fountains of Waters there being rare, divers ſorts of Beaſts come from
ſeveral parts to drink, and ſo being refreſhed fall to couple, and many
times with ſeveral kindes. The compounding or mixture of Kindes in
Plants is not found out; which nevertheleſs, if it be poſſible is more at
command than that of Living Creatures, for that their luſt requireth a
voluntary motion; wherefore it were one of the moſt notable Experiments
touching Plants, to finde it out, for ſo you may have great variety of now
Fruits, and flowers yet unknown. Grafting doth it not, that mendeth the
Fruit, or doubleth the Flowers, & c. But it hath not the power to make a
new Kind. For the Cions ever over-ruleth the Stock.
It hath been ſet down by one of the Ancient, That if you take two
55477. Twigs of ſeveral Fruit Trees, and flat them on the ſides, and then binde
them cloſe together, and ſet them in the ground, they will come up in one
Stock; but yet they will put forth in their ſeveral Fruits without any com-
mixture in the Fruit. Wherein note (by the way) that Unity of Continu-
ance, is eaſier to procure, than Unity of Species. It is reported alſo, That
Vines of Red and White Grapes, being ſet in the Ground, and the upper
parts being flatted, and bound cloſe together, will put forth Grapes of the
ſeveral colours, upon the ſame Branch; and Grape-ſtones of ſeveral co-
lours within the ſame Grape: But the more, after a year or two, the unity
(as it ſeemeth) growing more perfect. And this will likewiſe help, if
55477. Twigs of ſeveral Fruit Trees, and flat them on the ſides, and then binde
them cloſe together, and ſet them in the ground, they will come up in one
Stock; but yet they will put forth in their ſeveral Fruits without any com-
mixture in the Fruit. Wherein note (by the way) that Unity of Continu-
ance, is eaſier to procure, than Unity of Species. It is reported alſo, That
Vines of Red and White Grapes, being ſet in the Ground, and the upper
parts being flatted, and bound cloſe together, will put forth Grapes of the
ſeveral colours, upon the ſame Branch; and Grape-ſtones of ſeveral co-
lours within the ſame Grape: But the more, after a year or two, the unity
(as it ſeemeth) growing more perfect. And this will likewiſe help, if