198164Natural Hiſtory;
is made of ſome tangible Body which hath weight;
but it is not impoſſible,
perhaps, that it ſhould be made of Spirit or Vapor in a Body, (which Spirit
or Vapor hath no weight) ſuch as is the matter of Ignis fatuus. But then you
will ſay, that that Vapor alſo can laſt but a ſhort time. To that it may be an-
ſwered, That by the help of Oyl and Wax, and other Candle ſtuff, the flame
may continue, and the wick not burnt.
perhaps, that it ſhould be made of Spirit or Vapor in a Body, (which Spirit
or Vapor hath no weight) ſuch as is the matter of Ignis fatuus. But then you
will ſay, that that Vapor alſo can laſt but a ſhort time. To that it may be an-
ſwered, That by the help of Oyl and Wax, and other Candle ſtuff, the flame
may continue, and the wick not burnt.
SEa-coal laſt longer then Char-coal;
and Char-coal of Roots, being coaled
11775.
Experiment
Solitary,
Oeconomical
touching cheap
Fewel. into great pieces, laſt longer then ordinary Char-coal. Turf, and Peat,
and Cow-ſheards are cheap Fewels, and laſt long. Small-coal or Char-coal pour-
ed upon Char-coal make them laſt longer. Sedge is a cheap Fewel to Brew
or Bake with, the rather, becauſe it is good for nothing elſe. Tryal would
be made of ſome mixture of Sea-coal with Earth, or Chalk; for if that mix-
ture be, as the Sea-coal-men uſe it privily, to make the Bulk of the Coal
greater, it is deceit; but if it be uſed purpoſely, and be made known, it is
ſaving.
11775.
Experiment
Solitary,
Oeconomical
touching cheap
Fewel. into great pieces, laſt longer then ordinary Char-coal. Turf, and Peat,
and Cow-ſheards are cheap Fewels, and laſt long. Small-coal or Char-coal pour-
ed upon Char-coal make them laſt longer. Sedge is a cheap Fewel to Brew
or Bake with, the rather, becauſe it is good for nothing elſe. Tryal would
be made of ſome mixture of Sea-coal with Earth, or Chalk; for if that mix-
ture be, as the Sea-coal-men uſe it privily, to make the Bulk of the Coal
greater, it is deceit; but if it be uſed purpoſely, and be made known, it is
ſaving.
IT is at this day in uſe in Gaza, to couch Pot-sherds or Veſſels of Earth in their
22776.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Gathering of
Wind for
Freſhneß. Walls, to gather the Wind from the top, and to paſs it down in Spouts
into Rooms. It is a device for ſreſhne ſs in great Heats. And it is ſaid, there
are ſome Rooms in Italy and Spain for freſhneſs, and gathering the Winds and
Air in the Heats of Summer; but they be but Pennings of the Winds, and
enlarging them again, and making them reverberate, and go round in Cir-
cles, rather then this device of Spouts in the Wall.
22776.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Gathering of
Wind for
Freſhneß. Walls, to gather the Wind from the top, and to paſs it down in Spouts
into Rooms. It is a device for ſreſhne ſs in great Heats. And it is ſaid, there
are ſome Rooms in Italy and Spain for freſhneſs, and gathering the Winds and
Air in the Heats of Summer; but they be but Pennings of the Winds, and
enlarging them again, and making them reverberate, and go round in Cir-
cles, rather then this device of Spouts in the Wall.
THere would be uſed much diligence in the choice of ſome Bodies and
33777.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Tryals of
Airs. Places (as it were) for the taſting of Air, to diſcover the wholeſomeneſs
or un wholeſomneſs as well of Seaſons, as of the Seats of Dwellings. It is
certain, that there be ſome Houſes wherein Confitures and Pies, will gather
Mould more then in others; and I am perſwaded, that a piece of raw Fleſh
or Fiſh, will ſooner corrupt in ſome Airs then in others. They be noble
Experiments that can make this diſcovery; for they ſerve for a Natural
Divination of Seaſons, better then the Aſtronomers can by their Figures;
and again, they teach men where to chuſe their dwelling for their better
health.
33777.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Tryals of
Airs. Places (as it were) for the taſting of Air, to diſcover the wholeſomeneſs
or un wholeſomneſs as well of Seaſons, as of the Seats of Dwellings. It is
certain, that there be ſome Houſes wherein Confitures and Pies, will gather
Mould more then in others; and I am perſwaded, that a piece of raw Fleſh
or Fiſh, will ſooner corrupt in ſome Airs then in others. They be noble
Experiments that can make this diſcovery; for they ſerve for a Natural
Divination of Seaſons, better then the Aſtronomers can by their Figures;
and again, they teach men where to chuſe their dwelling for their better
health.
THere is a kinde of Stone about Bethlehem which they grinde to powder,
44778.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching
Increaſing of
Milk in
Milk-Beaſts. and put into Water, where of Cattel drink, which maketh them give
more Milk. Surely, there would be ſome better Tryals made of Mixtures
of Water in Ponds for Cattel, to make them more Milch, or to fatten them,
or to keep them from Murrain. It may be, Chalk and Nitre are of the
beſt.
44778.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching
Increaſing of
Milk in
Milk-Beaſts. and put into Water, where of Cattel drink, which maketh them give
more Milk. Surely, there would be ſome better Tryals made of Mixtures
of Water in Ponds for Cattel, to make them more Milch, or to fatten them,
or to keep them from Murrain. It may be, Chalk and Nitre are of the
beſt.
IT is reported, that in the Valley near the Mountain Carmel in Judea, there
55779.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching
Sand of the
Nature of
Glaß. is a Sand, which of all other, hath moſt affinity with Glaſs, inſomuch, as
other Minerals laid in it, turn to a glaſſie ſubſtance without the fire; and
again, Glaſs put into it, turneth into the Mother-ſand. The thing is very
ſtrange, if it be true; and it is likelieſt to be cauſed by ſome natural Furnace
of Heat in the Earth, and yet they do not ſpeak of any Eruption of Flames.
It were good to try in Glaſs works, whether the crude Materials of Glaſs
mingled with Glaſs, already made and remoulten, do not facilitate the making
of Glaſs with leſs heat.
55779.
Experiment
Solitary,
touching
Sand of the
Nature of
Glaß. is a Sand, which of all other, hath moſt affinity with Glaſs, inſomuch, as
other Minerals laid in it, turn to a glaſſie ſubſtance without the fire; and
again, Glaſs put into it, turneth into the Mother-ſand. The thing is very
ſtrange, if it be true; and it is likelieſt to be cauſed by ſome natural Furnace
of Heat in the Earth, and yet they do not ſpeak of any Eruption of Flames.
It were good to try in Glaſs works, whether the crude Materials of Glaſs
mingled with Glaſs, already made and remoulten, do not facilitate the making
of Glaſs with leſs heat.